Chapter12

Out of the Frying Pan into the Fire

Disclaimer: I do not own CCS or any of the CCS characters. The other characters are mine however and if any have any resemblance to any readers of T&A-TQOD it is purely coincidental. This is my story and I have not copied it from anyone. So please don't steal it. Thank you.

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Time & Again - The Queen of Darkness

Rakes &Pitchforks?!

Feuding Families.

Ages (So far)

Sakura 16

Madison 17

Li 20

Eriol 21

Alex de Winterton 21

Keno 19

Meridan 8

Lydian 6

Thane 17

Marci 10

The long blades of grass swayed back and forth as the distant sounds of someone traveling on the dusty road made its way over the sounds of birds singing and bees humming in the flowers beside the road.

A shadow appeared in the distance. It steadily grew bigger until it revealed a figure sagging over the saddle of an exhausted horse. Dusty strands of hair covered a pale face and a small hand clinging helplessly onto the reins of the animal. Any further and the figure would fall off the horse if they leant any more to the left on the lagging animal.

The horse was no better. With no food and no water except for the brief stops made hastily over the last week and a half, it was no wonder that there was foam coming out of the poor animal's mouth and an exhaustion that the rider couldn't understand or did and did not care.

The figure groaned groggily and clasped at the horses mane to pull herself back over the saddle. Emerald eyes filled with fatigue looked out of dirty strands of what once was honey-brown hair to try and make sense of the double vision she was seeing of the path ahead. Wincing with saddle soreness she became aware of her dry and cracked lips from the lack of water she did not have and felt the warmth of blood run down her chin.

She knew she was not in a good condition and the horse no better. She felt the animal dying beneath her and all she could do was force the poor thing to go further. There were no villages, no people around and there hadn't been for a few days; she didn't want to stop and then have the horse die on her, abandoning her in a dead land. No she couldn't stop yet. Not till the next town.

She was a traitor now. She had torched the powerful weapon of the Rebellion and then made her escape away from a place that she had never wanted to be at in the first place. Damn that Mountain Witch for sending her there.

The horse stumbled and she cried out as it went down and took her with it. She was thrown to the ground and rolled coughing at the mountain of dust that she raised. She lay on her side not moving, just staring at the blades of grass as it swayed back and forth. She heard rasping and clenched her fingers into the dirt as she forced herself to roll over and watch the horse struggle for breath. It gave up trying to breathe at long last and she watched it shudder and then remain still. She had killed an innocent animal in her desperation to run away.

Somehow, she had no idea how, but she managed to gather enough energy to collect her things from the saddle and stumble along the road in search of a town. She thought, later on, that her head was filled with a gushing sound. She soon discovered that it was a stream. She could see it through that groove of trees to the left.

She sank to her knees and scooped water into her cupped palm and swallowed generously. It hit her stomach like a brick and she bent over as she retched. How long had it been since she had last eaten? She rested her forehead against the grass and tried to get her breath back. When she thought that she could sit upright again, she bent over and saw her reflection in the water. She looked a fright. Her hair was all in knots and hanging over her face. Her clothes were covered in dust and mud from the journey and she was as pale as a ghost. She reached into the cool water to drink again and that was the last thing she remembered.

--

The cicadas sang away as they did every summer. And summer was certainly here again. The water was cold and the banks were muddy where the grass didn't grow. The willow and pine trees that shaded the village were tall and strong as they were every year.

Thane watched the ends of the willow dance through the water's surface as the current took them as far as the tree itself would allow. For every moment that he sat here and watched this simplicity of nature he was free from the plaguing images of reality that were the truth of his life.

Just watching the sunlight glisten through the water and make different colours as the water moved, to see the odd fish dart out from a rock and the quickly hide again, to smell the flowers on the river bank and just to sit here and daydream – these were the small comforts he wished he could have everyday.

Thane was seventeen years old and the only son to a blacksmith. He helped his father everyday and knew that that simple reality would be his lot for the rest of his life. He would follow in his father's footsteps and that was that.

The bucket of water his father had sent him to get was beside him. But he could afford a few more moments out in the sunshine. He had just pushed to his feet to head back when he saw it. His black eyes went wide in surprise and then wider still in horror as the body washed up against the bank not that far from him.

The face was still buried in the water and he knew that the person was either dead or would be if their face remained like that for long. Acting on instinct he splashed through the water and turned the person's face to the surface and he nearly dropped it back into the water when he saw that it was a girl about his age.

Her skin was pale and her hair was in knots and her clothes were stained like she had been traveling for a while. His grandmother was the village healer and so he knew the basics of tending to people. He knelt down and placed his ear near the girl's mouth and listened. Nothing. He knew that she couldn't have been dead long. Her face had yet to take on the pale grey of death.

He turned her on her side away from him and gave her a good thump on her back. He repeated this a couple of times before he was rewarded. She spluttered and water came out of her mouth before she coughed and rolled back onto her back. She groaned and his eyes widened further when the darkest emerald green eyes stared up at him.

He could see the confusion in her eyes as she looked at him and he watched her slender hand reach up towards him before her eyes rolled back up into her head and she passed out once again.

" Thane? " a voice called and he looked up startled. " Thane where are you? "

A young girl around the age of ten came into view and she spotted him.

" Thane, what are you doing? Papa has been – " her young eyes so like his own widened in fear.

" Marci! Go and get grandmother! Go! " he yelled and he watched her run off. He lifted the young girl out of the water and dragged her onto the grass. Five minutes passed when he heard voices. His father and several others arrived before his sister and his grandmother and other villagers arrived. They all gasped and all turned to look at him.

" I found her in the water grandmother. Can you do anything? "

" Is she alive child? " the elderly woman asked as she crossed the stream and came towards them.

" Yes, I thumped her on the back like you showed me and she spat out the water in her chest and she breathes again. "

" Good lad. I have taught you well. Now let me have a look at her. "

" What happened Thaniel? "

Thane looked over at the tall, well-built man with dark hair and beard streaked with silver. His father was one of the most respected men in the village. He was a considerate man with strong beliefs but he was not a bad man. Yes he had a temper if you crossed him but he loved his children. He took care of them the best he could since the death of his wife several years ago.

" I don't know father. I was collecting the water like you asked and she floated down the stream."

" I see. Marsali, what can you tell? Is she hurt? " Thane's grandmother looked up and met his gaze.

" She is very exhausted and hasn't had anything to eat in a while. She has strong calluses on her hands that suggest she is used to work of some form. Other than that – at the present time, I cannot tell you anything more. "

" Is she a threat? " his strong voice asked.

" I don't think so but like I said there is not much we can tell until she is awake and we learn more about her. "

" Alright then. Let's get her back to the village. Meric give me a hand here. " he called to another of the villagers.

Thane watched his father and the man called Meric carry the young girl away towards the village. He turned to his grandmother.

" Grandmother couldn't you tell anything about her? Will she be all right? "

" There is something about her but what that is I will not be able to tell till later. For now lad, you better bring that bucket for your father's forge. He will be angry if you forget it. Come now my lad, help your old grandmother up. "

Thane escorted his grandmother across the stream and back towards the village, the bucket of water on his arm….

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Li lifted his head and sniffed at the air. There was death present on the wind. Feeling the fur on the back of his neck rise he ran forward and burst out of the tall grass and skidded to a stop in the dirt kicking up a cloud a dust.

The girl's mount was lying dead in the middle of the road and her things were gone. He sniffed the ground and picked up her scent. He followed it down the road. Why did she decide to get herself into trouble every time he turned around to hunt? He held off hunting as long as his growling stomach would allow so this wouldn't happen and look what happened. He went off for an hour and she disappears. He'd nip her on the leg for this one.

Then he'd ignore her.

That would show her.

He ran and followed her scent to the stream. Then his heart skittered and accelerated. Her bag was sitting by the stream but where she was he couldn't see. She never left her bag. She always had it with her. He traced her scent and then his heart stopped completely when his mind made the connection. She had fallen into the river. Significantly bigger in size here then downstream where he knew it narrowed into a smaller stream. He picked the strap of her bag between his teeth and then started to run. Hopefully her stupid hide stopped her downstream.

She was definitely getting two nips in each leg for this….

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Emerald eyes scanned the room with surprise and fear. Where the hell was she? And why wasn't she dead? The last thing she could remember was toppling toward the water of the river. By all logical reasons – she should be dead. So what had happened?

The door opened and she shrank back into the bed with alarm. A young girl walked in sighing. She looked up and saw that the person she was meant to watching was in fact watching her. It startled her. She screamed and ran out the room calling for her grandmother. Sakura pushed the covers back determined to at least see where she was. She climbed out of the bed and then cried out as her head spun and she landed with a thump on the wooden floor and she clutched at the table beside her bed for support.

She heard feet running and then the next thing she knew there was a strong grip on her arm helping her up and she looked up into wise, caring, old eyes. Those grey eyes grew alert with surprise and then widened significantly further in shock as they scanned her from head to foot.

For what had caused those old eyes to widen in shock was the colour of certain emerald eyes…..

" Is something wrong? " Sakura asked blinking in confusion.

" Forgive me child but I just was surprised by the colour of your eyes. I have never seen such a colour before. " Sakura blinked.

" Here let me help you back into the bed – you must feel exhausted. There you go, good girl. " Sakura settled back into the bed and tried to relax.

" What happened? How did I get here? "

"My grandson Thane found you in the stream. I'm guessing you fell in further up the river. You seem to have been traveling a lot. Marci will bring you some food and then you can bathe. "

Sakura watched the young girl that she had first seen blush and then scamper out of the room to do her grandmother's bidding. Sakura shifted to look back at the old woman in front of her. Her eyes were bright and were filled with something that Sakura couldn't understand.

" Why do you look at me like that? " Sakura demanded suddenly.

" Not one to bite your tongue are you girl? " the old woman chuckled delighted.

" That's how I was trained." Sakura replied. " I didn't mean any offense. " she amended with the manners she remembered.

"My name is Marsali and that was my granddaughter Marci, Thane's sister. And the reason I seem pleased is because the Mountain Witch told me to look out for a green eyed girl with combat skills. That she would pass through this way and that she would be able to help us with those weak minded rapscallions across the way. "

" Mountain Witch? " Sakura question dread filling her heart. What had Catriona got in store for her now?

" Yes she said that you be against the idea at first because of her but that I was to persist until you listened. Although I didn't know that you would come to us so unexpectedly. Ah, here is some food to regain your strength. Thank you Marci. " she took the food from her and handed it to Sakura.

" Eat up and then we will get a nice hot bath for you and some new clothes. " she bowed and then left. Sakura could here her giving orders down below.

" Damn you Catriona. What are you getting me into this time? " she muttered as she sipped at the soup. How did the Mountain Witch get her prophecies this far away?

--

Sakura snapped out of her sleep with a start. She heard the loud shouts and curses and instantly recognized the clang of steel weapons. She shot out the bed and ignored the weakness that dragged at her as she hurried down the stairs in her borrowed night gown.

She threw open the door and stared at the torches as two groups faced off against each other. They looked like two angry mobs. She recognized Marsali at the head of the group with others that she didn't recognize. What was going on here?

" Go back to your Imperialist houses and take your stench with you. Your tainted thoughts and ideals are not welcome here. " Marsali snarled.

" You stupid old woman can't you see that this is the only way we can hope to survive?! If we sit around here for much longer and do nothing than we are all going to suffer the consequences. "

" We will never agree to your foul views of stupidity. Be gone. "

Sakura watched the stand off in curiosity. What was going on here exactly? She watched as one man spat on the ground and raised his weapon.

" You heard her get out of here! " he lunged forward heading for one man. He blocked and the two quickly started fighting. Cheers and cries rang through the air and Sakura felt her jaw hit the ground. She had jus left one battle behind her and now here she was in another. Geez….

She watched as the chaos escalated and people fought and struck out at one another. Sakura's anger grew. What the hell was going on here? She scanned the crowd and locked eyes with Thane. He was surprised by her appearance and quickly made his way towards her.

He took her arm and led her back inside. He closed the door and met her concerned gaze.

" Are you alright? You didn't get hurt did you? " he asked looking her over.

" Thaniel, what is going on out there?! " Sakura demanded over the sounds of cursing and yelling.

" It's those marauders. They think that they can come into the village and say whatever they like. No matter how many times we tell them that we are not interested in their silly beliefs, they still try to make us see reason. It is ridiculous. " he spat.

" What are they trying to make you do? " Sakura asked frowning.

" They are trying to make us pick up weapons and march to find the invading army and fight them. " Thane replied angrily.

A gasp rendered the air as Sakura stared at him.

" W-what? " she choked.

" That's right. We are happy here, why should we go looking for trouble? But they cannot see that. Every now and then they come here to pick up the fight once again. Why won't they leave us alone? "

" They want you to fight against Draven? " she whispered thinking over all the ramifications of such an act. Lives would be lost against that monster.

" Draven? That is the monster's name then? "

" Wha-? Oh, yes. That is the man's name. I've heard many stories about him in the South. I've seen an entire mountain side and the sky aglow with fire that was he and his men torching entire villages. "

" Dear God. " Thane's eyes widened in horror. " Is that what they want us to go up against? "

" Who are those people? " Sakura asked looking towards the door as shouts rose.

" They're – " the door flew open making Sakura jump as a young man like Thane burst in. He looked at Sakura before spotting Thane.

" Thane we need your help! Come on! "

Sakura watched him run out the door and she looked past the doorway to the mayhem outside. Sighing in resignation, she walked outside and narrowly missed being brained with a long staff that someone had commissioned. Instinctively she ducked and succeeded in knocking the weapon out of the man's hands. She glared at the man and whacked the man in the chest; winding him and making him crumble to the ground.

Sakura tried to spot Thane but she couldn't see him among all the chaos. She slipped back into her training routine as easily as if she hadn't missed weeks of training in the Rebellion. She ducked and swung and used all her training techniques to safely disable the fools that charged at her cock-handed.

She spotted one woman raising a broom of all things above a young man's head and charged at her with her battle cry. The young woman froze and looked at her in horror as torches flared and flickered in the night. The young man whipped around and Sakura planted the end of the staff in the ground and launch herself into the air towards the woman. Her foot connected with the young woman's shoulder and sent her sprawling into the ground in a cloud of dust.

The woman scrambled onto her back and looked at Sakura in horror. Sakura rolled to her feet and lowered the end of the staff to the woman's throat.

" If you know what is best for you, stay right where you are and don't move. " her voice was full of commandment.

The fighting slowly faded as they watched the two women face off. People lowered their weapons and watched in amazement.

" Put down your weapons and leave. This battle is over. We are not interested in what you have to say. Leave – NOW! " she raised her voice and scanned the crowd with her furious gaze.

The woman backed away from her hastily and jumped to her feet before she ran across the street, looking over her shoulder in fear.

Sakura relaxed her stance and dropped the staff as if burnt. " Sakura? " she turned and saw Thane standing beside her. So it was he that she had protected.

Her knees buckled and Thane caught her as she fell. She looked up at him gratefully and then lent against him when all her energy suddenly left her. " Hang on. " he said as he lifted her and carried her back towards his grandmother's home.

--

" Are you alright? " Sakura suffered Marsali's administrations quietly and nodded when the old eyes glanced at her.

" You protected me. " Thane said as he stood near the window. Sakura met his grateful gaze and smiled faintly.

" You're courage was very generous my dear. But it was foolish of you to under-go something so strenuous in your condition. You could have suffered greatly, but I thank you for looking after my dear Thaniel. " Marsali said kindly.

" It was nothing. " she replied tiredly. " But I can't understand what they want you to go up against Draven and his army? Why go up against an antagonist and seek a fate worth than

death? "

" Where did you learn to fight like that? " Marci asked tentatively from behind Marsali.

Sakura met the younger girl's eyes and looked away sadly. How could she tell them about the Rebellion? She had fled with treason snapping at her heels and she could not draw any attention to herself that she had been a part of such a revolutionary group. To do so would bring Tori and the others on top of her head and she would have to face the decisions that she had made.

" I was fortunate to learn from some of the best. " she replied reluctantly.

" Who? " Thane asked looking at her from his position near the window. She could see his reflection in the window, the sky dark and brooding.

" Why don't you explain why you fight with them? " she asked instead eyeing them all shrewdly. " Why make the situation worse by throwing words and angry gestures to fuel the fire? "

" What else can we do? " Marci asked. " What can you do when they tell us that we should do to save the village? They refuse to listen to our reasoning. "

" Have you ever heard of negotiating? " Sakura quipped. She wasn't in the mood for silly actions of humanity.

" Negotiating? Huh! " Marsali spat as she tiredly got to her feet. " They are too stubborn and mule-headed to listen. "

" So you have sat down with them and discussed each side of the story huh? " Sakura arched her brow and narrowed her gaze as Marsali looked away and shuffled towards the door.

" They will not listen, that is why we fight. "

" I know, " Sakura let sarcasm colour her words. " How about you don't pay any attention to them and stop fighting. Maybe they will get the hint that you are not interested in fighting and then they will go away and do their own thing. "

" And loose half the village child? " Marsali rasped and shook her head. " Nay, that we cannot allow. We have struggled to keep the village as prosperous as it is. To loose so many would cause our lively hood to shrivel and die. "

" Hmph!" Sakura crossed her arms and glared as the old woman left the room.

" Why do you argue so? " Thane asked as he turned and faced her leaning against the window frame. " Why not accept that we have tried everything that you have said? "

" Because I don't believe that you have tried hard enough. " Sakura's gaze shifted to Marci as she gasped in shock.

" If you wanted peace as badly as you claim, " she pinned Marci's gaze and held as she spoke determinedly. " Then you wouldn't give up trying. I think you enjoy the fighting a little too much. "

" How can you say something like that? " Marci demanded angrily.

" I was taught to watch the movements of the people around you and gauge their actions, not to mention that if you go back to the basics of human morality you will find that if we want something as badly as you claim, then you would do anything to reclaim the peace that you once had. From what I have seen tonight makes me believe that there is more to this than meets the eye"

"Like? " Thane asked watching her calmly.

" Like perhaps that there is something that you are not telling me. " Sakura replied calmly.

" I'm afraid that you are mistaken Sakura. " he replied pushing away from the wall. " We want peace as much as the next person, but we really have tried everything. " He walked towards Marci and placed his hand on her shoulder. " It has been a long night and you need to sleep. Goodnight Sakura. If you need anything please ask. " with that he steered his sister out the room and closed the door behind him.

Sakura sat in the dark and let her thoughts wander. She was young true, but she had grown in both body and mind since her coming to the past and she knew when she smelled a rat. Why would they insist on fighting? Surely if they had tried reasoning it should have worked. Going looking for Draven was suicidal. Why would anyone want to go to their death?

She guessed this was why Catriona had sent her this way. It would seem that there was something here for her to do and she wouldn't be able to move on until she had learnt what was needed to be accepted.

Then there was nothing that she could do until she learnt more….

TBC

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I know this chapter ended rather bluntly but I decided to cut this chapter and continue it into another chapter as it was far too long to read.

Author's Review:

Once again the mystery just gets bigger and bigger doesn't it? Why would Catriona tell a small village elder that she was to expect Sakura to come along? And what is her purpose there? And how is Sakura meant to deal with feuding families when she is lost and without her wolfie companion?

You'll just have to read on to see what happens. Ooh and do I sense a little…. love… in the air?

Please click on the button below and review pretty please!