A/N: Thank you all SO MUCH for the reviews! They make my day; truly. I'm really happy that y'all are enjoying this, though now I'm worrying that you'll like the ending. (It's a lot of pressure to meet standards.) Ah well, I've got lots of things to worry about, this is just another one. Enjoy this chapter!

McCoy stood outside the hut, enjoying the breeze. The morning sun lit up the rainbow sky as well as the land before him, while behind him part of the cliffs were still in shadow. In fact, the whole expanse in front of him was serrated hills and bluffs. The jagged landscape ended abruptly at the sea; it was surprisingly close. However he estimated that a journey from Tiysha's hut to the beach would take several days simply because the cliffs were so treacherous.

He glanced to his sides. The level they were on was probably the widest and most stable. To the west it curved around out of sight, sloping up gently. To the east he also couldn't see where their level ended. Smooth rock soared above and below them.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" He turned and saw Tiysha standing just outside her door. She watched the shadows shorten and lengthen among the cliffs stretched out before them.

"Yes," he said. The weather was pleasant, though the breeze made him slightly chilled in his short sleeves. McCoy didn't mind, though. The headache which had persisted ever since the mirror universe was gone. His mind felt clearer and sharper than it had in a long time.

Which meant he was fine. He was better. He had to get to Jim and Spock.

Tiysha beckoned him over. When he was closer she said knowingly to him "I know you are anxious to get back. Your friends were in the lower settlement, no?"

"What do you mean 'were'?" McCoy asked. Had the Enterprise beamed them up? He didn't have his communicator so he couldn't tell.

"I mean that there is war," Tiysha said gravely. "The upper village has attacked the lower."

McCoy felt his insides freeze. So he had seen a rally. He remembered the blood-hungry crowd; the cruel weapons…

She regarded him for a moment. "Come," she said, walking inside. "If you do plan on hiking to the first settlement today, then at least eat and pack food." She said it serenely, yet seemed to leave no room for argument. McCoy followed her in.

He wasn't sure how much time passed. The hut had no windows. They shared a meal of thick soup, and then chatted for a long while. Tiysha had a way of keeping one captivated with her words. She got up and started setting a small pack for him. He started when he realized he had stayed longer than he intended. And yet, as he reviewed their conversations, he found that he still did not know much about her.

When Tiysha returned from the back room she had a slight frown on her face. "What's wrong?" he asked.

"I do not like that blood has been spilled during the Time of Raining Light," she admitted. Her countenance was serious. "And I fear that worse things are coming."

McCoy grew uneasy. "How do you know?"

She looked at him. "I know. But that does not make decisions any easier." Tiysha seemed almost hesitant; unsure. McCoy tried again, more cautiously.

"Is everything alright?"

"No, Doctor," she said, her voice growing softer. "No. And it is getting worse. You are a brave, compassionate man, and you follow your heart. But listen to what I have to say. Descend the cliffs in front of the huts. Quickly, now. Do not turn around, and do not go to the east or west. Descend them and don't look back. Once it's passed you may resume your journey to find your friends. But you must hurry." She ushered the confused man out the door, giving him his pack but never belying her seriousness.

"Tiysha, I, well, I must thank you-"

"You're welcome," she interrupted. "Now go!" With a shove she retreated back into her hut, whipping the stretch of animal hide over the entrance.

For a brief moment McCoy just stood there. Then he turned and settled at the edge of their level, looking down the cliff. It wasn't too bad. He rolled onto his stomach and started sliding over the edge when he heard the 'worse thing' coming.

Hoof beats.

McCoy froze. They were coming from the east, which meant it had to be the upper settlement. The warlike one. His eyes snapped back to the hut.

It didn't take long to decide. He scrambled back onto the level. "Tiysha!" he shouted, still getting his feet under him. He rose and started running towards the hut. "You have to-"

A horse ran across directly in front of him. McCoy jerked back to avoid being trampled. Equines were suddenly all around the area, their riders, too. Someone grabbed his arm and yanked, and though he lost his pack, he pulled himself free.

"What's this?"

"An off-worlder!"

"This place…"

"Whoa, there!" A Ka'ari mounted on a decorated horse drew up in front of him. McCoy glanced around, not liking his odds. He was surrounded, and so was the hut. The Ka'ari peered down at him.

"Aren't you the off-worlder who escaped us?" he asked.

"So what if I am?" McCoy snapped. "Not everyone jumps to get killed!"

The Ka'ari looked him over. McCoy crossed his arms and glared back at him. "Where are my friends?"

The rider shrugged. "Two are dead, although more could be gone by now. We started riding yesterday evening to come this way." He leaned forward over the horse. "How did you survive?"

"Life's full of surprises." McCoy glanced back at the hut. "Listen, just get a move on with whatever you're planning. Take me and go; no sense sticking around."

The Ka'ari didn't move. "You are a peculiar man," he trailed.

"Hey, Tennek!" someone shouted. The rider poked the hut. "What do you suppose this is?"

Tennek looked at the Ka'ari disdainfully. "It's a shelter, Dinwick, what do you think it is?" Tennek returned his attention to McCoy.

"Well who would build a shelter out here?" Dinwick complained. "There's nothing out here."

"They probably moved on," Tennek snapped. "As we should, too. Mount up!"

There was a flurry of motion everywhere at once. There was the clanking of weapons and a stomping of hooves. McCoy decided this was his chance. He ducked out of a reaching arm and started racing for the edge. This was just going from bad to worse.

Someone snagged the back of his shirt. He rolled and then suddenly saw raised hooves kicking above his head. He twisted and barely avoided being smashed by the horse's feet. Whoever had grabbed his collar grabbed it again, and he was suddenly being dragged on his back across the ground.

"Hey!" He surged and kicked free of his opponent. There was a shout from the Ka'ari and two more started after him. He clocked one in the head with his elbow and kneed the other in the stomach. He whirled and suddenly felt a blow swipe across his cheek. He stumbled, and a fist landed in his side. McCoy went down, but hooked his arm into a Ka'ari's elbow and brought him down, too. A few jabs in the ribs and he wriggled out of a position where he could get pinned. He surged to his feet when someone grabbed his ankle. He kicked and the hand loosened. Then two pairs of arms had his shoulders. McCoy snapped his head to face these new attackers and froze.

The hut was ablaze.

With Tiysha still inside.

Something surged in McCoy after that. "My, God, Tiysha!" He wrenched free of the hands holding him back and started sprinting towards the hut. Red flames greedily licked the sides and black smoke boiled into the gaudy rainbow sky. It seemed surreal. In a land so picturesque, a monster was devouring a home.

"TIY-SHA!" McCoy screamed again. Somebody tackled him and they rolled a couple times on the ground. McCoy kicked and punched. "God, do you know what you're doing? There a woman in there!" He was so close to the hut he could feel the heat on his face.

"What is the meaning of this!" Tennek demanded, riding up to them. A few riders whooped and cheered, throwing sticks and other things into the bonfire. There was a cacophony of crows, hollers, and horses, with the crackling hut forever in the background.

"Don't you check if someone is inside!" McCoy spat, still struggling. "Tiysha! You're killing her!"

Tennek watched the blaze with disinterest. "If that is the case," he said. "Then she is already dead." McCoy was suddenly flipped onto his stomach and his arms yanked back. He bit back a cry of pain as he was yanked up. He kicked and squirmed and suddenly found himself on a shiny black horse. Its rider, behind him, kept a firm hand on his back and McCoy felt his wrists tied around in front of the horse's neck. There was a smacking sound and the horse let out a shrill shriek. McCoy tugged at his bonds and then they were off galloping with the other raiders, leaving Tiysha and her burning home far behind.

Goodness, McCoy, your heart's in the right place and I have a feeling you would run into a burning building to try and save someone. It's a pity those riders had to show up. Maybe some reviews can save everyone (hint, hint). I'm kidding, review in your own good time of your own free will. Bless y'all!