The Immortals, Tamora Pierce

Chapter 10: Confrontation

When Daine woke up the next morning out of habit, she had been so embarrassed at her own display in front of Numair. Groaning, she hoped that no one else knew about it, as she remained somewhat conscious about the other night and tried going about as though nothing had happened. She must have been really good about it as even Numair did not say anything, but did continuously try to get her to talk to him. With the other staffs, he was more candid, relax even as he would sometimes do simple things like juggling or even do simple parlor tricks that entertained the rest of her crew greatly.

Today it was going to be a good day that she was to be out in the field to do some research, alone. At least when there, she would have no one bothering her, and she could perhaps have a decent conversation with the animals. Since the appearance of their generous sponsor, Daine had not exactly been able to talk to them a lot more than usual and feels sadden by it as well. With a few words exchanged with her main co-workers, Daine was off before Numair could self-invite himself to join her for an overnight trip out.

Numair heard the sound of the jeep's engine started up and by the time he got to where it was parked, Daine was already driving out of the headquarters gates as the sand and dust of the Savannah was left in her wake. He was in silent contemplation on what he could possibly, do. It would be a good opportunity he had thought, but then there is a consequence to him shape-shifting without having clothes somewhere to cover himself with when he were to change back.

"You!" Daine hissed out in annoyance as she was taken aback by his sudden appearance, but what she saw next was even more distressing as she gave a surprised cry and turned around as she shielded her eyes.

"My apologies, I did try to cover myself," Numair told her sheepishly with the boyish grin upon his face as he reached for the covering that was in the jeep when Daine had tried to pull it away from him originally.

When night had fallen, Numair used the pretense of feeling tired to return to his room for an early night much to the disappointment to the others, and placed a spell around the room before he took off into the skies in the form of a black hawk. It was not to say easy to find Daine, but it was at least a good thing that he was high up enough to see the light of her fire set up after much flying.

Daine saw him, he noticed when he was perched atop of the tree not too far where she had her sleeping bag rolled out in the tent, in fact when he had glided over to the jeep to land atop of it, Daine had tried calling out to him verbally. Instead, Numair tried tugging out some form of covering with one of the discarded canvas and towels that might be big enough to wrap around him. Daine had tried to coax him into letting it go and refusing to let him have it despite of how he had tried to communicate using the limited actions of a bird of prey.

"Well you could have just let me take the coverings like what I wanted," Numair told her as he wrapped part of the sheets over the towel that were used to cover his more sensitive body parts.

When he had first transformed, Daine was shocked, but it was also a good thing that she was not one of those screamer types when something of this level happened to them. And another reason was also because it did nothing to help the situation, or make the problem any better.

"Odds bobs, you were the one that…that transformed!" a frustratedly annoyed Daine looked away as she crossed her arms before of her chest.

"Yes well, I did try to warn you," Numair told her after he wrapped the clothe around his lower regions, more securely before turning to face her back looking amused at her behavior.

"I'm decent, you can turn around now," he informed her, only to see her eyes widened before frowning at him angrily again.

"That's not decent!" Daine told him, "That's just being half-decent!" she told him with a growl, walking away from him, feeling her ears going a little hot and so is her face.

It was interesting, seeing her reaction as Numair looked at her through silent musing eyes that dances with the light of the camp fire that Kagome had going on. He watches her as always with following her every movement with his eyes, and it was starting to annoy Daine like a feline whose hackles are up.

"Are you ready to accept what I have talked to you about?" Numair asked her with contemplating eyes.

Daine remained silent, her jaw clenching and unclenching looking at him with hard uncertain eyes of what to say or do about this unusual confrontation. Under normal circumstances, what had just happened would have sent most people running away in shock and denying what their eyes had just seen like it was some sort of a bad nightmare. With Daine, being of another person with the same 'talent', she was more shock at his ability to do so, but did thought that he perhaps had the same 'skill set' as her.

That however was found untrue when she saw the way that he interact with the animals and how they were unable to talk to him like they did her, or so they told her. He was for sure someone far different that she was and when he told her that she had the Gift of Wild Magic, it was really rather hard to imagine or believe what he was saying. Especially how wildly insane it sounded coming from someone who has everything, one would think that he was one of those eccentric people that are queer in their own ways.

Numair saw the hesitance in her eye when he looked into her confused eyes, so easy to read, expressive and innocent. "I really want to help,"

"You can trust me Daine," he told her, reaching out to take her hand into his in a gentle grasp as he never broke their eye contact.

Her mouth went dry, when their eyes met with such intensity that it made her feel uncomfortable and brought out buried memories of her past. Daine swallowed as she drew her hand back that was now shaking slightly at the memories that she had tried so hard to suppress. What happened that day awaken the animalistic side of her, and leading her to originally fear her Gift. Talking and being able to hear animals was all really very Dr. Dolittle, and she was told by her mother to never do it openly with so much worry in her eyes that it scares her.

Had Numair not came along, her little secret was never a problem, and now, she was unsure of it and where to go from here. If life taught her anything, was that even the kindest of person, could turn out to be an enemy in disguise.

"No," Daine whispered almost too inaudibly, as Numair reached out in worry to perhaps calm her or something.

"No!" she shouted out so loudly with her voice that it attracted the attention of nearby animals as they came to her side at her distress, growling as they surrounded the camp. Numair stopped, and he grew aware of the extra guests that they were having at the moment.

Night predators that one would usually not be seen working together were now gathered, some protectively around her and the rest were zoning in on him in a threatening manner. As they created a dangerous body of fur protecting Daine against him.

"Daine?" Numair started calling out her name worriedly as the predatory animals are starting to close in on him.

A/N:

Hello Readers
Just up-ing another chapter, been so omg busy that I'd have to forgo sleep to do out an update at least. Sorry for those of you that have been waiting for a new chapter, I hope that you enjoy it!