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THE THIRD GUARDIAN
Chapter 10
The site Jecht chose was a very good one. They could not be seen from the road and the heavily forested land offered plenty of protection from fiends. Jecht and Braska had gathered firewood and gotten water from a small but clear spring located roughly a hundred feet away.
Auron sat leaning against a tree, still holding Raiel. The shaking had diminished but was still visible. Her eyes held a haunted, almost unworldly expression and she hadn't said a word.
As the better hunter, Auron had left only long enough to find and bring down a small animal for their meal. Dressed, seasoned with the spices from Lord Braska's packet, it was now slowly roasting over their small fire, its tempting smells hardly noticed.
While Auron was hunting, Jecht had taken his place holding Raiel. His anger was so great that he was barely able to contain it.
"Maintain tight formation, ignore anything else! Our one job is to protect Lord Braska. Nothing else is important!" Only the truth and common sense of Auron's words had prevented him from slashing to pieces as many of those low-lifes as he could possibly get to!
He had no idea that he possessed that much self-control. He had literally felt sick at his stomach. And he was very worried that Raiel hadn't spoken, just staring silently, seeing things he could only imagine. He knew that they had to get her talking, get the horror out.
Locked in her own world, Raiel was seeing herself standing in late afternoon sunshine on a dock in Luca with her brother and her father. Some uniformed men had approached, surrounded and were questioning her father which puzzled her because she knew he had done nothing wrong. They had only moments before tied up and disembarked to pick up some cargo before continuing on to Kilika.
Her brother, standing just behind her, was holding her shoulders so tightly that it hurt but she was too scared to complain. She clearly remembered the men asking her father about them. He had said, "They're just some kids I'm transporting. Supposed to take 'em to Kilika. Don't know 'em."
She was horrified! What was he saying? "just some kids..."? Dad?
She could feel her brother's hand trembling as he tightly gripped her shoulder. One of the men turned to them and said roughly, "Beat it, you two! Now!"
Seeing the look in his father's eyes as he shot a look to his son and obeying his father's silent plea, her brother practically dragged his sister down the dock as fast as he could. As she began to protest and cry, he hissed at her through clenched teeth, "No, Raiel! Not now! Be quiet!"
As he dragged her along, she managed to look back over her shoulder and her horrified eyes saw the men beating her father mercilessly. Beaten bloody and senseless, they threw him off the dock into the water. Then they laughed.
She screamed, but her brother clamped a violently shaking hand over her mouth and forced her to keep walking, though he was mostly carrying her by that point. Finally turning into an alley, he held her tightly as they both cried their hearts out. Their father was dead. Murdered because he had soft blond hair and beautiful green eyes. Because he had been born Al Bhed. His denial of them had saved their lives.
The uniforms, the taunts today had triggered an unknown ticking bomb in her mind and had sent her reeling back to that time. She wasn't a Guardian on a dusty road, she was a barely-nine-year-old child on a dock in Luca and these men were coming to kill her adored, loving father. If she could stop them, her father wouldn't die. Her beloved brother would not have to go to Bevelle. He wouldn't die. She would have her family.
Auron was again holding Raiel. Very softly he said, "Raiel, they will pay. They aren't getting away with anything. I promise you that."
This brought the first response they had gotten from her. She turned so she could see his face, look into his eyes. In a soft but hoarse, trembling voice, she asked as her eyes searched his soul, "Are you Yevonite, Auron?"
He looked into her eyes and said firmly, "No. I was at one time but am no longer. I cannot serve a church that unleashes such animals as we saw today on innocent people. No, I am not!"
She studied his eyes and saw truth in them.
Very quietly, even gently, he asked with great concern, "What happened today, Raiel?"
Again she checked his eyes. He could control his face but he couldn't control the honesty in his eyes. Slowly, softly, at times haltingly, she told what she had relived.
The three men were silent, each digesting and dealing with the senseless, barbaric tragedy of her father's death that she had witnessed.
After some minutes, Jecht asked in a soft, gentle growl, "How did ya get home?"
She paused, remembering. "My brother and I had sailed with Dad since we were babies and we spent almost all of our time with him at sea, especially after Mother died, so we both knew how to handle the boat. C – my brother was an excellent navigator, so after dark we - slipped back to the boat and sailed her back to Kilika."
Auron finally asked, "Why did your brother go to Bevelle, enter training?"
"So we could live. He thought that if he went – learned - then he could teach us and we would be able to defend ourselves. He would learn their plans and how they operated. Then soldiers and guards couldn't kill us."
Yes. He understood that. "Did he train others besides you?"
"No. He was going to leave the Service, go to Home and begin training others there. But he – was killed."
More silence.
Auron asked, "Do you know how or where?"
Her eyes lowered, she slowly shook her head. "He had always told me - that if he didn't come back within a certain time frame after a mission that I should pack what I could, book passage on the first boat available and return to Kilika, not saying anything about my plans. His last mission - I waited a week beyond that time frame and when he – still – didn't return, I did as he had instructed. A month later, his few personal belongings from the barracks were shipped to me by the Monks but there was no note or explanation."
Auron said very quietly, "I want you to know that I have highest regard for your brother, Raiel. What he did was incredibly difficult and I truly respect what he did. I understand why he did it. He was a very brave man."
Softly, wistfully, sadly, Raiel commented, "He just wanted us to have a chance to live."
Jecht asked Auron, "How did ya know that guy today?"
Auron answered, "Digan had entered training with the Monks to be a Warrior. I was several years ahead of him and had been assigned as his unit commander. I saw his weak character and shallowness, his lack of morals, his general unsuitability for the profession so I recommended that he be dismissed. The Monks agreed and terminated his training but he always blamed me for his ouster. The best he could do after that was to get hired as a temple guard. Frankly, I'm surprised that he has achieved any standing even as that."
"Today's behavior was nothing that I wouldn't expect from him. For all I know, he may just be taking a relief contingent to Djose or one of the other temples. Temple guards are periodically rotated – and Digan and truth are not well acquainted. He would never be put in charge of anything of much importance."
In a very low voice, Raiel asked, "Would he harm Rin?"
Auron considered before answering. "I honestly don't think so, Raiel. Digan is basically a coward. Rin is well-known and has built up a lot of good will all over Spira. To harm him would jeopardize what little position Digan has and he's not about to do that. Not even temple units use inns; they are expected to camp and live off the land. So, no, I don't think he will bother Rin."
After a moment, a faint smile touched her mouth. "There aren't any settlements for him to find. Cid has taken everyone to Home."
The first hints of smiles slowly made their way to the lips of her companions. If the unit they had encountered was indeed on such a mission, Raiel's silence made sure that they would walk a very long way on a wild goose chase.
Auron asked, "When did he do that?"
"My brother sent word to him that a campaign was being discussed, soon to be in the planning stage, would be carried out in the future against the Al Bhed in Spira. Cid started gathering them immediately. It has taken a while but, with a very few exceptions like Rin, no pure-blooded Al Bhed are left on the continent."
Silent moments passed before Raiel looked at the Summoner and said, "Lord Braska, I'm so sorry to have disrupted our progress. I'm sincerely sorry. I'll do my best to see that it never happens again."
Braska sent one his sweet, gentle smiles to her. "Dear Lady Raiel, you owe an apology to no one. Indeed, it would not be inappropriate for me to offer a most sincere apology to you. For so long I was part of the church hierarchy and, though I tried to bring about change, I had no success. Surely there was more I could have done! For my part and for my failure, I am truly sorry, my dear. I ask your forgiveness."
Raiel answered softly, "Lord Braska, no one could have done more than you. You yourself have suffered because of the position the church has taken. It isn't your fault."
Jecht checked the food roasting over the fire. "Looks like this is ready."
Making an attempt to lighten the mood, he shot a look at Auron and continued, "Dunno if it's fit to eat since Red always manages to catch the toughest thing out there but we can try it."
Falling in with Jecht's efforts, Auron snorted as a smile flitted across his features. "You are more than welcome to find our next meal, Jecht. I think we still have some jerky left."
Jecht grinned, shrugged and admitted, "Only huntin' I ever did was in the streets of Zanarkand."
Cutting off a serving of the meat, he placed it on one of the wrappers saved from Rin's meal packets and handed it to Lord Braska.
"Hm. Using our best china, I see. I always did enjoy good food and fine company – tonight I have both!"
There were smiles at Braska's gentle humor.
Jecht next held out a wrapper of meat to Raiel. She wanted nothing to eat but she looked into the caring brown eyes so earnestly looking at her and smiled, "Thank you, Jecht." She just hoped her churning stomach wouldn't revolt.
As Jecht handed food to Auron, Auron moved the arm that had been around Raiel which somewhat startled her. She hadn't really been aware that they had been sitting like that but her emotions were too battered to give it any thought right now.
The meat was moist and very tender. Wiping a bit of juice from his chin, Jecht said, "Gotta hand it to ya, Red, this ain't bad! Guess I better let ya continue to handle the huntin'."
Auron grunted. "Good. I can take only so much jerky."
"Well, ya seemed to enjoy them fish we had, didn't ya?"
"Yes and I seem to recall that Raiel brought in the first catch and only at her insistence over your protests did you get the next one."
"Well, I had always heard that it was supposed to be 'Ladies first' or somethin'. Didn't want to hurt anybody's feelin's."
Raiel gave Jecht's boot a gentle kick. "Yeah, right, Jecht. We believe that." Raiel's heart hadn't even begun recovery from the mental and emotional firestorm of the afternoon but she didn't want to cast a pall over the efforts the others were making. She had to at least try to appear normal though she wasn't fooling her companions for even a moment.
She managed to eat a couple of bites, then wrapped the remainder. "I'll save this for later." Her stomach had given it's warning.
Auron finished his and returned his arm to its place around her as she leaned back. She just didn't have enough emotional energy left to try to dissect the meanings, possibilities or anything else. It was enough that he had put it there and he was at ease with it.
As the last of twilight faded into evening, she asked him tiredly, "Which watch?"
He paused a moment before he answered, "Jecht chose an excellent site and we have good protection here. We can sleep tonight."
She just nodded. She would have stood her watch but didn't know if she would have been able to maintain anything close the alertness it required. This was one time when a full night's sleep would not only be tremendously appreciated, but needed. Her physical, mental and emotional resources were pretty much drained.
She listened to the low quiet voices of the men as they talked and the next thing she knew she was beginning to slowly regain consciousness after a complete night of comfortable, warm sleep.
She was going to have a long stretch but, with a "thunk!" her elbow bumped into something hard. Opening and blinking blurry eyes as she tried to rub her smarting elbow, all she could see was something red pulled all the way up to her nose. And whatever she was leaning against behind her moved.
"Glad I didn't remove that armor last night."
She turned to find a smiling Auron behind her. His breastplate! No wonder that had hurt. "Oh! Sorry..." Then she said a little shyly, "Thanks for sharing your coat. I really rested well."
He just smiled back and she sat up to find Jecht grinning at her. "If all that snorin' was any indication, ya oughta feel great this mornin'."
His boot got kicked and he laughed as only he could. "Nobody could hear the world coming to an end over that racket you make, Jecht! Worse than a stampeding herd of frantic, wild chocobos!"
He laughed again. "I love ya, little girl."
Braska opened his blue eyes, watching these three wonderful people he had grown to love so much. They had no idea how much their banter and chatter meant to him, how much easier they made his journey. He understood now why so many Summoners either failed or just gave up the quest. It was so unbelievably difficult! Without the right people with you, it would be impossible. Maybe that is part of what made it so special when a Pilgrimage was successfully completed. It was a test on so many levels to everyone involved.
Jecht was continuing his banter with Raiel. "If I was so loud, how did ya manage to sleep so good while we were at Rin's?"
"I just imagined a stampeding herd of chocobos outside - and stuffed a pillow over your mouth!"
"Is that why I dreamed I was drownin' the whole time we were there? Thought I was havin' nightmares from eatin' so much of Rin's good cookin'!"
She just grinned at him, then got the fire going again and went to get some water.
Returning with the water and positioning it above the fire to heat, the others looked at her questioningly - not sure if the emotional trauma of the previous day had disturbed her mind.
Jecht finally asked, "Raiel, why are ya heatin' water?"
She just looked at him with innocent sincerity and answered, "You don't want coffee this morning, Jecht?"
"Coffee?"
With a grin, she pulled out a package of coffee she had purchased from the inn at Djose before their departure. Her popularity rating escalated rapidly.
She wrapped some of the grounds in a piece of cloth she had also secured from the inn and, tying the ends securely with a short length of cord, dropped it in the heating water.
As the water came to a boil, the indescribable smell of brewing coffee filled the cool morning air. Their attention was so focused on the thought of having hot coffee that Raiel was afraid the men were going to cut their throats while shaving.
When she judged it ready, each got a small drinking cup from his smallpack and had the unexpected treat of hot, freshly-brewed coffee while at camp.
A smiling Braska said, "Raiel, that was wonderfully kind and thoughtful of you. We are in your debt."
She just smiled. "I thought it would make our mornings a little better. Anything besides plain cold water would be an improvement. But thank you, Lord Braska. I just want the three of you to enjoy it."
She looked at Auron and found his dark eyes smiling at her. She had figured out that if you want a real smile out of Auron put a cup of fresh coffee in his hand.
Though there was nothing to eat for breakfast, the coffee warmed their stomachs and put smiles on their faces.
Having enjoyed their luxury, the fire was extinguished, the campsite cleaned, their meager belongings repacked and another day was underway.
This time Auron started out on Point, Jecht at Escort and Raiel as Rear Guard. She was thinking, 'Please don't let there be many enemies today!' but there they were, in spite of her silent plea: two Snow Flans and a Lamashtu. Before Jecht and Raiel could even leave their positions to join Auron in the fight, Braska yelled, "Aeon!" A startled Auron glanced back at the Summoner then quickly retreated to safety.
This would be the Guardians' first look at Ixion. The sheer drama of the summoning and Ixion's appearance was breath-taking.
As he began to spin his staff, the atmosphere around Lord Braska took on the appearance of an enormous electrified sphere; there were moments when the Guardians had to shield their eyes from flashes that were as white-bright as the sun itself.
Finally the unimaginable electrical energy that had built up was completely concentrated in one end of the Summoner's staff and, with a swoop, the ornate end of the staff pointed into the sky. From it sprang intense, powerful bolts of electrical power and lightning that flashed upward even higher into the sky - and out of that blinding, white ball of pure energy, Ixion majestically appeared.
His coat was silvery grey in color with snow-white stockings on each leg. His mane and tail, quite fancifully styled, were of the same pure white. But most eye-catching was the amazing twisted gold unicorn-like horn that protruded from his forehead. It began straight out as any normal unicorn would have, but then it swirled upward in an arc before straightening again, the end of which was tapered to a point. When the stunning Aeon touched down on the ground, small sparks and lightning flashes danced around his prancing hooves. The fiends were surely wishing they were somewhere else.
As if his entrance wasn't enough, apparently Ixion wanted to make an impression in this first appearance. He reared up on his hind legs, gathering and concentrating his powerful energy, then suddenly releasing it from the tip of his fantastic horn in a furious, non-stop stream of crackling, sizzling lightning that completely enveloped the enemies in a white-hot ball of electrical power. Then he unleashed another blast that obliterated the three enemies from the face of Spira. Talk about an electrifying performance!
His attack complete, Ixion reared up on his hind legs again, forelegs pawing the air as if celebrating his victory and showing off for the humans watching him.
The Guardians were almost gape-mouthed at what they had seen. Raiel was so excited that she was bouncing up and down on her toes, hands clasped beneath her chin, an ear-to-ear smile on her face, totally delighted at the exhibition.
Ixion noted that his performance was properly appreciated by these small humans and was pleased. Dismissed by the Summoner, he vanished in one last flash of brilliant light.
Jecht finally recovered enough to emit a low, "Woooow."
Auron just shook his head.
Raiel exclaimed in breathless excitement, "I don't even have words to describe that! It was – was just – amazing!"
Lord Braska turned to his Guardians and said, "He is amazing, isn't he? If you don't mind, I will take a short rest. That takes a fair amount of energy. I'll be more prepared next time. I need to summon him and the others more often to build up my strength."
Auron and Jecht quickly went to the Summoner's side, assisting him on his wobbly legs to a tree near the side of the road where he sat and rested for a time. Raiel went in search of a nearby water source to get him a cold drink, but none was available. Returning she apologized, "I'm sorry, Lord Braska. I couldn't find any water."
She offered to throw a Water spell but no one volunteered to get soaked.
Braska smiled, "Raiel, that coffee this morning more than makes up for it. Don't give it another thought."
Raiel pointed to the jug that Auron carried on the right side of his belt. "What's in that?"
Auron gently touched the jug. "Sake."
"What's that like?"
"It's rice wine. Quite potent."
"Oh. Can I taste it?"
One eyebrow rose. "You're sure?"
"Yes, why not?"
Auron loosed the jug from his belt, removed the cap and handed it to her, anticipating sputters and funny faces when she tasted the strong drink.
She tipped the jug up and took a big swig. Swishing it around her mouth for a moment before swallowing, she licked the residue from her lips and, handing back the jug, said, "That's not bad. Thanks."
Blinking, the three men looked at her. She hadn't batted an eye.
Auron hesitantly asked, "You've - had sake before?"
"No. First time just now. Why?"
"It wasn't too strong?"
Raiel laughed. "You want strong you ought to try some home-made Al Bhed beer! Then you're talking strong!"
Her companions were quiet, not quite sure how to process what they had just witnessed. By all that they observed, she could just as well have had a drink of cool water. If she noticed their side-long glances, she gave no evidence of it.
She appeared to be remembering something as she seemed to look at a time in the distance and a genuine smile took up residence on her lips.
As always, it was Jecht who asked. "What ya thinkin' 'bout, little girl?"
The smile turned into a happy laugh. "About the time when, as kids, Rin and I decided to try some beer that someone had made. We went behind some sand dunes with a bottle of it. Rin tried it first and he was so funny. His face turned bright red and his eyes watered until he couldn't even see." She laughed again at the image in her memory.
"Then he handed it to me and I had to try it because he had - and I don't think I fared any better than he had. But it seemed to get a little easier with each sip. We didn't realize that we were getting royally drunk!"
Her laughter was beautiful and contagious.
When Braska was ready, they returned to the road and started walking again, getting that many more steps closer to Zanarkand, still so many months away from them.
Their progress was uninterrupted for nearly a half hour before they encountered a pair of Ochus. Braska instantly yelled, "Aeon!" before any of the Guardians could move. Auron again made a hasty retreat as Lord Braska began to summon Ifrit who also knew a thing or two about impressive entrances. (Having observed Ixion's "antics", Ifrit had made up his mind that he wasn't going to be outdone by some fancy horse!)
The Summoner stood with arms outstretched, then began spinning his staff until a circle of fire appeared at either end. Then holding the staff perpendicular before him, the power of the firestorm slammed into the ground, first spreading out to form Ifrit's golden Aeon-emblem around the place where the Summoner stood, then suddenly sweeping Lord Braska up high into the sky on an enormous ball of fire and earth from which the mighty Aeon appeared, catching the Summoner on his massive shoulder and gently lowering him safely to the ground - to the great relief of the Guardians.
The incredible Aeon gathered his strength and again flew up into the air, blasting out fireballs with which to form into his Hell Fire attack. The Ochus were incinerated.
As their pyreflies floated into the sky, Ifrit, checking his audience, looked at the Guardians and Raiel surrendered to the impulse to applaud, garnering surprised looks from the other two Guardians, but pleasing the Aeon enormously.
Now that she understood that the Aeons enjoyed having their efforts noticed and appreciated, she could express the delight she experienced in watching them. In breathless excitement, she had to ask, "Lord Braska, what is it like to fly up like that and have Ifrit catch you?"
Braska turned to her and laughed. "It is a truly unique experience, I can tell you that! The first time I summoned him, it nearly caused my heart to fail. But since that first time I rather enjoy it, actually!"
Always eager to try something new, to experience something different, Raiel wished so much she could do that – just once. Just to know what it was like! Lord Braska read the expression on her face and laughed. "I don't think Ifrit can give you a ride, dear Raiel. As much as I wish he could." The Summoner dismissed the pleased Aeon before his Guardian could talk him into letting her try it.
"Oh, I wouldn't expect him to, but it would be so fantastic!"
Braska looked at her thoughtfully. "Where did you get your adventuresome spirit, Raiel?"
She thought for a moment before answering. "Dad - always said that you can't discover new oceans unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore. I always wanted to find and try new things - so I had to learn to turn loose and just go do it."
Braska nodded. "Your father was a wise man. He had the courage to give you the freedom to fly. And you have. He would be so proud of you, my dear!"
Raiel just looked at him a moment before saying quietly, "I don't feel like I've flown, Lord Braska. Seems like most things that have happened in my life are things I had no control over. I've just worked really hard learning how to fight. I failed once as a Guardian - and now I'm here, a Guardian again. No, I haven't flown anywhere."
Braska responded gently, "Oh, but you have, my Lady Guardian. You've soared above so many and have accomplished that which the great majority will never even dream of. I expect you will do many great and exciting things in your lifetime, Raiel. It is in your spirit."
Raiel didn't know how to respond. Seeing her face, Braska smiled. She couldn't see it but it was clear to him. Listening, Jecht and Auron were also thoughtful.
In formation again, the walk resumed. As the day progressed, the altitude and nature of the land around them began changing rapidly from plateau to flatlands. Everything was becoming greener, the air softer - and the enemies more plentiful. Lord Braska seemed to be in the mood to use the Aeons much more frequently today so at least the Guardians didn't have to fight every battle.
They had hardly gotten underway this last time when yet another set of enemies popped out at them: a Garm (easily dispatched by Jecht), a Snow Flan (maged by Raiel) and a Bunyip (Auron's opportunity for exercise).
As yet more pyreflies drifted upward, Raiel asked, "What is a Snow Flan doing down here?"
Auron shook his head. "No way to know. Sometimes a fiend is found outside of its normal area. Confusion of some sort, maybe."
More fiends. Bite Bugs (Jecht's Blitzball), Funguar (Raiel's Fire spells), Bunyips (more exercise for Auron) and more Ochus (cue Ifrit). Everybody including the Aeons were ready for a break by the end of the day. Even the sky was now frowning with heavy, gray clouds.
Jecht and Raiel gathered firewood and water while Auron went hunting. Jecht and Raiel were headed back to the campsite located in a heavily wooded area when the first fat drops of rain began to spatter around them.
"Oh, great! Just freaking great!"
Jecht looked at Raiel puzzled. It was just rain. What was the big deal?
She saw him looking at her, question marks in his eyes. "Rain. Walk mile after mile after mile today, fight at least a thousand enemies and now that we can finally rest, it starts to rain!"
Jecht considered several things to say and decided that the best thing to say was nothing. He didn't have nearly enough information to go on yet. She'd walked miles in a drowning downpour and it didn't really bother her. Why now?
'Ok, Jecht, just keep ya mouth shut an' wait,' he told himself.
Back in camp, Lord Braska was already setting up the two tents, smiling at the prospect of not sleeping in the rain. He looked up as the two entered the camp, then noticed the thunder on Raiel's face.
Behind her, Jecht was making strange, unreadable hand signs, then shrugged and rolled his eyes. Braska decided the best thing to do was be quiet and see if he could figure out what was going on. He and his precious wife had had a wonderful, loving marriage but he knew there were times when it was best to simply keep one's tongue quiet. This appeared to one of those times, as well.
Raiel looked around for the tree with the thickest covering of limbs and branches she could find, arranged the wood and cast Fire on it. The wood caught but the feeble flame whiffed out in a small wisp of white smoke.
She threw Fire again.
And again.
And again.
The wood was now just too wet to support a fire and Raiel looked as disheartened and dejected as the now-soaked feathers in her braid.
Braska joined Jecht who was quietly seated on the large nearby log.
Auron returned with the game he had caught for their food. As he began cleaning and dressing it, he glanced around. "Fire not going yet?"
Both Braska and Jecht tried to catch his eye. Glancing at the two men, Auron saw Jecht scrunch up both eyes and quickly shake his head several times. What did that mean?
Raiel threw Fire several more times. Braska and Jecht watched from their log, mouths firmly shut. Finally she tried Fira. The wood held a flame for a few minutes, then succumbed to the now-steady rain.
Auron, field dressing nearly complete, wiped the water from his eyes, then asked, "You still haven't got the fire ready yet, Raiel?"
Braska sighed.
Jecht closed his eyes.
Very deliberately, Raiel walked over to Auron; standing beside him, hands on hips, she slowly informed him, "Auron. It is raining. It is very difficult to keep a fire going in the rain."
"We need fire if this is going to cook. Aren't you hungry?"
"Yes, Auron, I'm hungry! But the rain keeps putting the fire out!"
"Well, can't you do something?"
Raiel stood unmoving for a moment. Braska and Jecht got up and moved back.
"You want fire, Auron?"
"Yes!"
"Then you shall have fire!"
She turned toward the small pile of wood under the big tree, began rapidly intoning the words of a spell and raised both arms above her head, a dead giveaway that a high level spell is forthcoming.
Auron suddenly realized that he had made a mistake and leaped to his feet, catching her wrists from behind a nano-second before she threw what was probably something akin to a Double-Super-Triple-Firaga. "Raiel! No! Uh, wait. Maybe that isn't such a good idea, after all. Okay, I know you can't keep a fire going in the rain. I guess - I had hoped that we would have something besides jerky tonight. I'm sorry."
Raiel turned around and looked up into the tanned face she found so beautiful. She watched as a steady stream of water dripped down that one stubborn lock of black hair that flipped forward and trailed from his forehead to the end of his nose where it fell to the front of his coat.
She sighed.
"Help me find a place, Auron, and I'll try again."