The rocking of the palace, no the entire area around Haven, brought Healers at a run. The mental cries brought Companions, Mages, and Heralds, boiling from Companions field, the Palace, or Heralds Collegium like bees from a hive.

The Healers did not know what to do and so followed protocol. They restrained the screaming girl, far tighter than needs be. Then they filled her with sedatives to stop the quaking of her body and Haven. Unknown to the Healers this also stopped the mental screams.

Now the only sounds of Haven were a buzz of fearful confusion from most people and the anguished screams of a young Companion. The Companions quickly filled in the confused Heralds.

:A young Companion. She cannot reach her Chosen. The Chosen is afraid, the fear is leaking to the young Companion.:

"Get the Chosen to her Companion," was the order from so many Heralds. The sedated girl was put on a pallet just outside the House of Healing. The Companion could now help her stricken Chosen.

The nearness of the Companion did not help the girl. When the Companion lay next to her Chosen the girl quivered and withdrew. When the Companion nuzzled her Chosen the girl flinched as if struck.

Talia quickly moved through the crowd. She had wanted to help the girl before, now it was a duty to help the new Herald. The waves of chaos from the girl's emotions settled when Talia's hand touched Jessica's forehead. The emotions rose up and formed avatars to express themselves.

There was an extremely tall one shouting: anger. An even bigger one rocking in the corner of Jessica's mind: confusion. One slightly smaller than man height was covering it face, sobbing, and squeaking in panic: fear. Then a tiny one, no bigger than a child, running back and forth trying to calm the other emotions: sanity.

"'Oo are yer? Bog off ya great bloody tart," screamed the huge red angry manifestation in a bad cockney accent. "I want ter go 'ome!"

"Iyay on'tday understandyay. Iyay on'tday ikelay ityay. Iyay antway otay ogay omehay. Erewhay amyay Iyay?" The largest confused one was whimpering in Pig Latin.

"You need to calm down them down," said a high voice from Talia's elbow. Looking down she saw Sanity. "I can't control them now. Sanity and happiness are an impossible combination. They are trying to stay happy by not accepting the facts. If I am in control there might not be happiness but they will listen. I'd start with confusion, she is holding me back most."

"Talia spent hours calming anger, fear, and confusion. The only way she knew that it was working was the slow growth of sanity, and sanity began to help. When Talia disengaged from the girls mind it was morning. "Her sanity is well in control now. I tamed the emotions, but she has to accept some things herself," Talia whispered as fatigue caught up with her.

The girl had noticeably improved. She was still curled tightly in a ball as before but now she was curled against the Companion. A small hand reached out toward the Companion and the Companion nuzzled her Chosen's hand. A small smile light up the newest Heraldic trainee's face.

:Wake up Chosen. You worry many people.: rang the voice in Jessica' head.

"Who are you?" murmured the girl.

:I am Ana, Chosen. And I love you. You are never alone Chosen. I am here.: The mind voice comforted the girl.

She opened her eyes to a plane of purest white. Following the curve of the elegant neck Jessica looked up into a face that surpassed equine in the way an ocean outshines a pond. The blue eyes opened a place in her heart that was lonely but she never knew it before. Then a rush of love filled the void.

Then the realization hit Jessica. Ana. One of her best friends. She would never see them again. The tears welled and Jessica began to cry. "I want to go home."

:Would you go home and leave me Chosen? I love you. But I could not come with you. Would you leave me to return to your home?: she was asked . The Companions, her Companion, sounded distressed at the possibility.

"No, I could not leave. This cannot be really. Is it?" Jessica's emotions began to wreak havoc but then a simple idea washed all confusion and fears away. This is just a hallucination. You will wake up in your dorm, hating college. This is just a dream.

"That's right. Just a dream," Jessica repeated. She didn't listen to Ana's rejection of the idea. "I like dreams. You can do anything."

:No Chosen. This is not a dream. You are awake. In Valdemar. Don't try jumping off a roof or walking on top of the river. Because it won't work.: chided the Companion.

"How did you know what I was thinking?" Jessica asked slightly panicked. Her mind was her one sanctuary.

:I know what you think the moment you think it. Unless you shield yourself from me. But you won't do that, right Chosen?: This time the voice was slightly threatening but had laughter highlighting the undertones.

"The horse thinks she is real funny. Well than I have some funny for you. A horse walks into a bar the bartender says 'why the long face?'," Jessica laughed. "Get it. Or even better: A horse walks into a bar and says 'ouch,"

:Just being my Chosen doesn't mean I won't kick you. I am not a horse.:

"I love you too," Jessica said quietly and hugged Ana.

:Now don't be sappy but I love you too Chosen.:

Talia, who had been watching the two interact, was pleased. Getting along was key for the bond to develop. But Talia also felt a small tinge of jealousy, the same small jealousy that cropped up when Heralds Mindspoke with their Companions. She couldn't speak with words to Rolan and wanted to.

Talia banished the green monster. She rose quickly to find accommodations for the new Herald Trainee. As Talia left one side of the conversation followed her away.

"I'm sorry you have P.M.S.: Pissy Mare Syndrome. Let me tell you a joke:

"This Kentucky horse breeder had a filly that won every race in which she was entered. But as she got older she became very temperamental. He soon found that when he raced her in the evening, she would win handily, but when she raced during the day she would come in dead last. He consulted the top veterinarians and horse psychologists to no avail. He finally had to give up because it had become ... a real night mare."

There was hearty laughter from Jessica but Ana did not appreciate the horse jokes. She flicked her Chosen with the long, luxurious, white tail, right in the face.