Chapter Two: They're coming

A/N: Hey guys, sorry about the review thing on the last chapter. I only just realized how bad it sounded. Anyway, as an apology, I bring you the next chapter!

Tancred dove forward and picked up the unconscious Emma. Even as he walked toward the couch the sparrow feathers were receding to be replaced by her normal features.

Tancred laid Emma down on the couch and felt her pulse. Steady, but faint. Whatever had happened had seriously drained her of all energy she possessed.

Tancred went to the kitchen and got a rag, which he proceeded to dunk in cold water and ring out. He then took it back to Emma and placed it on her forehead, trying to wake her up a bit.

Emma's eyes suddenly flew open and she gasped, looking around with frightened eyes.

" Emma! Emma talk to me, what happened?" Tancred's voice took on a tone of concern and urgency.

Emma groaned and lay back on the pillow behind her head on the couch.

" I was in the shop" It was evident that each word took a little bit of energy that she didn't have.

" Never mind Emma, you need to rest. Just lay back and go to sleep." Tancred wanted to know what had happened, who had scared Emma this badly, who had hurt her, so that he could find them and deal with them. But he knew that if Emma kept talking she would slip back into unconsciousness. And Emma unconscious was not something that appealed to him.

Emma obligingly closed her eyes and was asleep within the minute. Tancred sat by her side. He knew that if something was out to get Emma, it would have to go through him.

Part Two

Several hours later Emma woke. Tancred was still sitting by her side, watching her, so when the first tear slid down her cheek, he was there to wipe it off. She sat up, the tears flowing now.

" Oh, Emma" Tancred sighed and slid onto the couch next to her. He enveloped her in a hug. It gave Emma a feeling of safety, and she rested her head on his chest.

" I'm here" Tancred said, which in and of itself comforted her. They sat like that for a long time.

When Emma's feeling of fear had abated, she looked at Tancred, took a breath and began to explain.

" I was in the shop, alone obviously, when the doorbell rang. I went to open it, but before I even got there someone started breaking in. They were smashing the windows and breaking down the doors. I only just managed to slip out of my bedroom window when they came in. They didn't see me change into a sparrow, but they yelled after me. They told me that there was nowhere to hide. I went to Liv's house, but there was a van parked outside, and the moment I lighted down on the sidewalk people wearing the same stuff jumped out and went after me. I took off in time to escape, but with all the places I went it was the same. But they weren't the same. They were different people in every van. I-I didn't know what to do. I came here, but the wind around the house made it very difficult. I skipped right over the main gate, which was locked. That's when you found me."

Her story came to an end, leaving Tancred filled with fear for his sparrow. Then a grim determination came over his face. " Well whoever they are, they aren't going to get you. That much I know." With that he walked to the door and started spinning in front of it. Emma looked out the window and saw that wind had started encircling the gate.

The wind kept getting faster, until eventually it was going at tornado speeds. Then it slowly expanded along the length of the property, ensuring that any one that was lurking was blasted far away.

Emma knew that this was one of the most effective things Tancred could have done, and felt immensely relieved once he had.

"Thank you Tancred" she said, relaxing a little. Tancred came over and sat by her. He smiled, knowing that what he had just done had put her at ease. And then it started. There was a battering on the door, a tapping on the windows. Emma looked mortified. She glanced at Tancred and whispered two words.

" They're coming."