--BRAND NEW AND SHINEY, REVISED AND MODIFIED! Hope you like the update! (Includes all chapters!) :) (Nov. 12/06)--

- Now at the end of all the re-submitted chapters I will outline any revisions to the actual plot I made, so you don't have to re-read everything if you do not want to. ;) -

Arrrrrghhhhhhhh!... Why do so many of my comments seem to begin in such a manner?

Eep! I had to re-read my old chapters, and I'm ashamed with my grammar and spelling. I MustHaveProblemsWithSpacesToo,KeptForgettingThemInPlaces. xD

Ya. No guarantees to when I'll post. X..x I'm not very reliable. I hope to get some chapters up before I loose interest again.

The chapter seemed longer as I was typing it, but I have realized it's kinda short. Sorry. :x I at least tried to not leave it at a cliff hanger. I'm also sort of at a block on what to write next. If you have some suggestions to spark my imagination again, which will easily propel my into my planned plot, they are always accepted. :O Until next time.

Replies:

Thanks to any loyal readers who return. xP Yes, Seanait, I'm aware I'm a hypocrite when I tell people not to leave things hanging. xD Just take it like... hmm... uh... uh... Advice? Ya.. My sad attempt at advice that people will stop reading! (Ya... that's it... Erm.) xD Haha... (Nervously looks around)

A Warriors tale

By Saber88

()()()()()()()()()()Chapter Nine()()()()()()()()()()

Corporeal Nightmares and Traitorous Memories

Atrasi quivered with fatigue in the back of the opaque cavern she resided in. She had conflicting emotions about many things, such as being glad she didn't have to explain anything to anyone, but feeling disappointed no one came to check on her and see what was amiss.

The roan shifted her bulk, her long legs folded neatly beneath her lithe form. Images of the day's events whirled forebodingly through her skull as she analyzed the mysterious incidents.

Why on earth would the Garliths save her – then even, after that, heal her? Was she some part of their wicked plan? Were they really who – or what – everyone supposed them to be?

Hophotheus totally didn't act like he did all the days since their initial meeting. He seemed cocky at first, than… docile? Around that female Garlith, anyway; and where was the last one, Korthaeth, prowling around?

What disturbed Atrasi the most, though, was no one would ever believe she had met with the creatures, or been attacked by the Leoth. So, how then, would she describe her actions to Haeteh and Vex?

With that and many other thoughts in mind, the unicorn fell into an uneasy, restless sleep.

The mahogany equine noticed the change of the land immediately as she exited the cave. The trees embracing the Vale had shed most of their leaves, and they were all beautifully hued – orange, gold, crimson. All the green seemed to fade from the grass and other frondescence.

Some of the other unicorns were already awake, but they seemed to glance at her strangely and keep their distance. The quiet mare decided not to worry about this – it could just be her over-active imagination.

In that case… were all the events yesterday… imagined? Atrasi swiftly observed her muscled body for any injuries, but could not see any. Not even a scar.

Anxiety rose like cold heartburn in the female's throat. Of course it happened… there was no way she could possibly imagine that it wasn't a hallucination. She could never have dreamt up that terrible pain...

To confirm this, Atrasi galloped somewhat recklessly from the protection of the Vale, scattering birds wildly. They chittered angrily at the unicorn until they resettled, agitated.

Soon the mare had come to the location she recalled distinctly from the other day.

Atrasi nickered aloud in surprise, dismay - and fear. There was no sign of the confrontation. The earth was bare, grasses clean and not stained with the life-fluids of the battling creatures. No carcass, bones – anything! – remained. Not even the footprints that had disturbed the loamy, thick soil.

A wretched groan escaped Atrasi's lips; a nightmare's reality?

Were these Garliths driving her to some mental state close to insanity?

Then she remembered hearing Hoph say: "No one must know!"

Why?

That was a question she asked herself far too often, and far more often than that she had no answers.

Atrasi trudged back towards the Vale, and when she was near the center, a familiar ebony stallion cantered toward her, his façade a grimace of anxiety.

"Atrasi! Why are you evading me and Vex – hold up!" Haeteh shouted, stopping beside her and observing her masked face, "What has upset you?"

The mare's flanks heaved in a sigh, and she cast her gaze away from that of the male, "I'm not avoiding you, Haeteh. Or Vex. Just… something I thought happened to me… has left no evidence."

The piceous stallion cocked a fictional brow, "Hm?"

"Never mind, please." Atrasi murmured; she lowered her head as she tried to shoulder past the larger equine.

Haeteh whinnied and stamped his hooves on the frozen plane and leapt back in the path of the mare, forcing her eyes to his flaxen orbs, "Atrasi," said the male quietly, in an emotionless voice, "Please tell me what's troubling you."

"Well… I can try." Atrasi warily snapped her opaque eyes around the clearing, as if looking for anyone that might be eavesdropping on their conversation. In a low, hushed tone, the mare described to her companion what she believed had occurred the other day.

When she reached the end of her crazy tale, Haeteh couldn't help but burst out into gusts of laughter, pulling back at such an outrageous story. "Garliths-" he huffed between the near-roaring chuckles, "-save-" another fit of laughter, "-a unicorn? Hah! Ahahah! You're nuts!"

Atrasi rolled her eyes balefully at the male, this time more forcefully shoving past the beast and storming away, heart and mind feuding. How dare he accuse me of such? But the other part replied brokenly, Why did he laugh? No one will believe me if he does not.

Not even Vex. Why had she become so sour now, so suspicious? What had gotten into her shoulder friend?

Haeteh stumbled out of the female's way, his mirth abruptly ceasing into a stunned silence at this rare display of unbridled rage – a rare display of her feelings at all! Was he wrong to see the humor in her seemingly ludicrous telling?

But suddenly Vex came sidling up beside him, more comfortable then ever in his presence, and for the first time he looked at her carefully; really observing the dwindling relationship between the two mares. Was he the reason the two seemed so – angry, so bitter - to each other? Or was he just holding himself at high standards thinking it was because of him?

Vex asked innocently, "What's gotten into her, dear friend?"

Haeteh nearly glared at the indolent female, "Your shoulder friend is quite upset, and I think I have just worsened the situation."

The alabaster unicorn snickered, "Nah. She's just moody."

Suddenly the obsidian stallion felt a contempt that was akin to Atrasi's at such a comment from Vex –and in such a tone!- "Atrasi is you dear companion, as well mine! She has been your shoulder friend for so long, and you just shun her like that? If you really were her friend, you would be after her right now to try and resolve whatever argument you two have had for sevendays now. And you would see what is wrong currently –don't give me any of the-" he mimicked the female's voice, "-'she's just moody!' Anyone who knows Atrasi worth a darn would recognize she is suffering from some distress!"

For the second time that afternoon, a unicorn was left baffled in the Vale, while her friend stormed off to his small den.

Yay:O I'll get a chapter up before Tuesday, at latest. I'll actually try! Cheers to all the readers!

The chapter seemed longer as I was typing it, but I have realized it's kinda short. Sorry. :x

Character/Creature Reference:

Atrasi (Ah-tr-a-see)– Beautiful red roan mare. Daughter of Klorn and Pasch.

Orjae (Or-juh-aee) - A stallion healer of the Vale of dusty ash/brown hues with a golden mane. Son of the deceased Jojora and Kleetah

Prince Dellex (Dell-ex) – Prince of the Vale, not king because his mother still lives, though his father has been deceased for a few years. Light brown with white spots. Son of Koran and Leip.

Vex (Veh-ex) – A quarrelsome white mare, Atrasi's shoulder friend. Daughter of Quin and Sevorth.

Haeteh (Hey-tay)– A strange plainsdweller male and a new addition to the Vale, has an ebony coat and odd golden eyes.

Hophotheus (Haw-foh-thee-us) – One of the three Garliths. Claimed to be of the Clan Keathsss, the last survivors of the Garliths. Scales are a grayish-blue.

Korthaeth (Kor-aee-th)– An unexplained companion to Hoph, another Garlith; Male. He has emerald scales.

Orphikoss (Or-feh-koss) – The only female Garlith in attendance. She has red scales edged with gold; the edging on her scales is a trait only female Garlith's possess.

Leoth(Le-oh-th): Six-legged wolf/reptile beast. A threat to all.

Kanth (Kah-nth): A high-backed hyena/dog-like creature. Social and territorial, they attack trespassers with little hesitation or trepidation.

Garlith (Gar-lith): A reptilian animal with long talons and feathered wings, able to walk on two or four legs.

-EDIT----

- Rephrased conversation.

Happy reading!

-Saber88-