I don't own Mercedes' characters! Please enjoy!

Chapter 8: Gates and Fires

          The little girl weighed hardly anything, in Tris' arms, as they continued their flight. Taven and Eiliona were not far behind them, and gaining behind all three of them was the blood mage. The mage stopped running and threw a crack of power at the ground. The ground shook, being poisoned by the bloodpath mage and his evil powers.

          Tris gasped as she felt the evil power flow under her feet. She screamed in both mind and body as she knew where that power would be directed. : Taven! Eiliona! To me! : Her friends run towards her as the power surges closer as they continue to run. "Grab on to me and Eiliona!" Tris screams at Taven, her eyes rolling wildly, being as the power is only seconds from them. Taven did as ordered, and a flash of red magic collides with… nothingness.

          Ashira sighs as she watches the flock in the mountains, "Why couldn't my parents…"

          "Ouch!" Tris cried as the bright light spit her, Taven, the little girl, and Eiliona out of it. "Was that a gate?"

          "How should I know?" Taven growls irritably, stepping in sheep dung and making a horrible face.

          : Where in Vakandis' name are we? : Eiliona gasped in horror at the sight of the mountains.

          "We're not in Karse anymore, Toto," Tris chuckled.

          "You're from KARSE!" Ashira turned white and started sputtering nonsense.

          "Actually, we are from Valdemar, but we were kidnapped. We escaped while inside Karse," Tris clarifies. "I'm Shiantris; this is Taven, and the Firecat Eiliona. We rescued this little girl from a bloodpath mage and haven't heard her name, yet. Oh, and you can call me Tris."

          "Oh!" Ashira sighs in relief, "I'm Ashira. You're in the mountains near the Forest of Sorrows."

"Nice to meet you! Do you know a place that we could stay for the night?" Tris asks pleasantly.

          "The villagers are scared of strangers; you'd best stay with me and my family."

          "That would be fine," Tris smiles genuinely at Ashira.

          Night draws near as the four humans and Firecat walk down the mountain. The little girl was still hanging on to Tris with her life. They glance down to where they are heading, and almost run into Ashira's back.

          "What's wrong?" Taven whispers suspiciously.

          "My house is on fire!" Ashira tries to run toward the burning building, but Taven grabs her, barely holding her back.

          "Eiliona, can you check to see if anyone is alive, by using mindspeech?" Tris asks worriedly.

          : Yes. There are two presences in the forest. They might be who Ashira seeks. :

          "Did you hear Eiliona, Ashira?" Tris questions softly.

          "Yes. I know a way around the village to the forest, follow me."

          "It's not like we have much of a choice!" Taven grumbles.

The little girl in Tris' arms keeps looking at the ground until Tris places her down. The little girl frowns as she walks up to Taven, and kicks him behind his knee, making him fall flat on his face and into more sheep dung. The little girl runs back to Tris and holds her arms up.

Tris chuckles and picks the girl up happily whispering, "If you hadn't done it, I would've!"

The little girl smiles at Tris and hugs her, "Kira."

"Is that your name?" Tris coaxes the young girl to speak more.

"Yes. Can I call you sister?"

"Of course," Tris hugs little Kira gently, as the forest is but a hop, skip, and jump away.

"Do you believe in ghosts?" Ashira whispers.

"Yes. I once read that Herald Vanyel and Bard Stephan's ghosts roamed these very woods. There are supposed to be Hawkbrothers in the forest now," Tris grins at Ashira.

"G-ghosts!" Taven pales considerably.

"You'd best walk downwind until you get that dung off of your face," Tris chuckles.

"There is a stream but a little ways into the forest," Ashira tries to be helpful as her hands shake.

A special thanks goes out to Fireblade K'Chona for her review! And yes, Fireblade, this is way over Selenay! The Gods are meddling in Shiantris' life! I wonder how many different places Shiantris will travel with her new set of companions. And I don't mean the white horses!

Where is everybody else? Are you being good boys and girls and doing your homework? I just had to tease, me being a Kitsune and all. But seriously, I think more feedback is needed besides a 'this is good, please continue' phrase. I need some humor tips! The only things I can think of are pranks! I've been reading too many Harry Potter fanfictions involving the Marauders! Please review! Your help will be greatly appreciated, and who knows, your name might get placed in this story!

Hoping to see you soon!

Snowfire the Kitsune