Author's Note: Holy update... so if there are any inconsistences, I'm sorry but it has been 7 years. My writing style has changed (for the better I think/hope) as well, and I do hope you continue to enjoy the story.

XXXXX

As Sarah awoke, she felt strange. Heavy eyed and blurry with a dull pain that pulsated throughout her body. Yesterday when she used her abilities, it was as if she used too much. The attack on the fortress and her quick abduction made it clear to her that something else was going on in this strange place. Everything that happened to her was so fast and there was no time to absorb it. Thor and she were promised at the month of joining, this Faye person was trying to toy with her, and there was still a question about her attacker from before. Leading a relatively quiet life before all of this, everything was just too much.

Adding to the problem was a fine specimen laying not even an inch from her. Thor was handsome, intelligent, and he wanted her of all people. He seemed to have a knack for strange things, or in this case, people. His rag tag team of superiors of the Ochre Ring was enough to be said for. Although he wasn't very normal himself. Everyone knew about him, and yet no one could say they knew him for who he was. Herself included. Loving someone without knowing them didn't sound like love to her. Just a crush that she'd rather be without until otherwise noted. However, that was proving to be impossible.

Sarah watched him stir as she moved over slightly. He made it very difficult for her to choose her old life again. Tiz, Clarisa, Thor, Chen, even the strange Zagi made her wish to stay over the solitude of the time not too long before this. The night would be coming soon, and she had to make her final choice absolute by then. Having his children didn't sound too bad, if nothing else they'd be well looked after. All the people adored him, and that was putting it lightly. Obsessive was more correct. The man could do no wrong, and Sarah couldn't help but sigh in defeat. He made everyone love him, just at different levels.

Thor must have heard her sigh because he slowly opened his sapphire eyes and looked into her emerald. Both of them blushed a bright red and glanced away. Neither really used to the sight of the other so close. The silence lasted a moment, but it was still awkward enough for Sarah to start to rise up. "You don't have to go," he said trying to resist pulling her back down to him. Being forceful wasn't exactly his trait, blunt yes but forceful no.

"Well," she started to say as her stomach growled. "There's that…" Laughing a bit, she took a quick breath in and out as she smiled at him. "Hunger calls, and you should eat too. I suppose you have a lot of questions and that comes with needing fuel."

"I suppose I can't argue with that," he said as he followed her cue off of the bed. Standing up, she still felt wobbly. The hunger probably didn't help with that, but she did want to clear the air. Just not on an empty stomach. "The rest will be eager to learn as well. If you can control plants, that would be a game changer. We would actually have a chance out there. However, the others that attacked you before… if they can do the same that poses other problems too." Thinking out loud, he put his hand to his chin and almost ran into Sarah as she stopped.

"I'm not something to be used. Got it?" she said with a dark look on her face. She didn't even dare to look at him, the air too dark as he talked about having a chance out there. As much as she wanted to help, it was her abilities to use as she wanted. "If word gets out that I can do this, think of the chaos. Any death would be linked to me not watching over them. Then I would be forced to leave. However, yesterday's events probably already motivated that thought. Therefore, I didn't tell you." Continuing to walk, she noticed his steps hesitated behind her. Giving her space was a good idea. She was in low spirits already with that thought.

As she opened the door to the meal hall, the hush washed over the crowd. Murmurs started back up as soon as Thor walked in. He walked passed her and to his normal spot at the head of the hall. Two young ladies weren't shy at least. Tiz and Clarisa bounded up to her with tears in their eyes. "Are you ok?! That was insane yesterday. We were told that you had got rid of the vines coming in for the attack. We were forced to stay deep in the fortress, so we couldn't help." It was a barrage of questions and comments that she couldn't keep straight between the two.

Patting them both on the head, she welcomed their embraces to her. "Now now, all is good now. But I am hungry and so let's eat and we can talk about it later. Right now, the conversation is just a little much." She tried to smile, but it probably didn't come across the same as usual.

"So, she lives," Chen said to Rada as they watched the three young ladies sit down as they sat next to Thor. "I swear she has more lives than anyone I know. Luck or skill, I'd put money on skill at this point. The only other one with such luck was Thor here, and even then, he's an annoying genius." Thor ignored her comment but kept his eye on Sarah. She had been through more than he dared to admit in such a short time.

"She has a keen sense of survival," he said as a plate was placed before him from one of the young girls in the kitchen. He thanked her and slowly ate his meal. Food was helping him place her sudden mood change. He would never dream of using her, but then that's what she must have been afraid of. There was so much at stake for her, and everything to gain for his clan. It was unfair, however there wasn't much of a choice. Her staying would be so beneficial, not only for his sake, but the sake of the entire population. Imagine if they would somehow find out if it was a gene or slight frequencies to use for future populations. There'd be no need to worry about survival except in the most basic of senses.

Her words rang into this head over and over. It all fell to her and how they handled it. If a death did happen and people knew she could control the plants, there would be chaos. However, if handled right it could be used to their advantage. Finally seeing her have food in front of her as Tiz came back with a load of it, he relaxed a bit more. He wondered if her powers made her as tired and hungry as she looked. Probable, and they would get to talk later.

"Well, well, well," Zagi said as he approached Thor, Chen, and Rada. "So, I see the love birds are squabbling a little this morning." Noting the odd sense in the air, he sat down with a half-eaten piece of bread in his hand. As much as Thor wasn't in the mood to argue, he couldn't really deny that.

"Leave it be, Zagi," Chen said before Thor could say anything. "Yesterday was a bit more than odd. But even I admit I'm a little weirded out by it."

"Hard to deny that much," Rada said quietly as well as the group glanced over to Sarah before glancing back to Thor awaiting a response.

"We are going to discuss it and then we will decide what to do. Whatever happened exhausted her, and I didn't want to push. Not that she gave me a chance to, she was pretty determined to eat."

"Well, she is determined at everything she does," Rada said with a shrug with Chen smirked and nodded. "Why would this be any different?" Even Thor smiled with that comment.

"But still, if she can control the plant life… that's life changing for us, Thor." Leave it to Zagi to bring out the obvious, but the way he worded it made Thor want to shut him up.

"I realize that, but she is still under my protection. I will not risk her life or make her do something she doesn't wish to do. If this gets out in the wrong way, it wouldn't be good for any of us and especially her. The people are already questioning her loyalties and now this too. The rumors are everywhere now. We will have to handle this soon, but I want to hear what she has to say."

"Understood," they said as they carried on their meal.

Sarah finished her meal and listened to the girls talk about their lessons. Poisonous and medicinal plants life seemed to be the topic lately. She was lost in the talk as she kept feeling eyes on her. Everyone's in general, but Thor's made her neck burn. His gaze was piercing, but she welcomed it. The heat was something she never felt with anyone and her glance was always met with his when she looked to see what he was doing.

Just then she saw Brenton appear. He was with a woman, she presumed Fiona, and their son Van. Fiona had the reddest hair she had ever seen. Van followed that nature with his strawberry blonde hair. She was just relieved that he survived the attack. He smiled brightly and waved when he saw her glance. Fiona and him exchanged some friendly words and then they continued their way to Sarah.

"Well, hello little lady! Glad to see you're ok," he said in his usual loud voice. "This is my Fiona and Van I told you about."

"Pleased to meet you," Sarah said with a bright smile and Fiona returned the favor.

"Same to you. Brenton was so happy to hear that you were doing better. I only heard through the rumors. That sure was something I heard about yesterday. I'm glad you were here to stop it. No telling what would have happened if you weren't there to protect us," she said in a contrasting soft voice from her mate.

Hearing it that way made Sarah blush from embarrassment. Maybe some would take it negative that she could control plants, but at least one person was understanding.

"Well, I'm glad I could help." Sarah moved aside and Brenton and his family sat down to eat as well. They talked about life on the Ring, before the Dagger Pagoda and after. It was interesting to hear about all the ingenuities that Thor thought of that made their life better. Thor was an amazing man… and she could have him. All she had to do was say so. However, looking over she could see them all looking at her. Especially Zagi. He always had something up his sleeve.

As the meal hall cleared out, Clarisa and Tiz went over to do their own thing and Brenton with his family left as well. Leaving Sarah alone as she stood up to face the issue she was dealt with. Earlier she could hear the rumors of what happened. Whispers of if she was even human. By that time, it was clear by Thor as well. He approached her, and she squared off with him not knowing what to expect. It was too late to turn back now.

"We should probably have that talk now," he said placing a hand on her shoulder as he led her out of that room. Walking in silence, she didn't feel like asking him where they were going. As they walked, she got the picture. He was taking her somewhere she had only been to once. The place where she had met everyone the first time. No one was in there this time though and he took his seat at the head of the table, motioning her to sit as well. Sitting a few steps away, she sighed.

"Well," she started trying to find the words. He waited patiently, not looking agitated. "I can control plants, and I have ever since I was little. I don't remember much of my past, but the figures seem to be attached to it somehow. There was a woman, Faye, who said she knew me rather well. Or rather I was protective of her until a while ago. I lived alone for this reason. Not wanting to hurt or be hurt. It's why I never took part of the Month of Joining because I was so scared that someone would find out. I don't know much of my abilities, and I know even less on if it's natural or not. Yesterday was the most I used, and I have even less of an idea if they can control the same thing. Faye seemed to be able to."

Not knowing what else to say or not, she looked up at him as he was lost in thought. "Do you think they have a facility? If you say your abilities are not natural, then maybe there is a facility somewhere on the continent?"

"There's a possibility, but I have no idea. The scars on my body might be why I cannot remember a thing. Something must have happened. Something major and everything is starting to come around now. If anything were to happen because of me… I don't know what I would do." Her voice started to break as he rushed over to her to embrace her.

This woman had been through more than he could imagine. It was his duty to protect her and help her find out what happened. Even before everything else. He made up his mind. "I will help you figure this out. As your potential mate, it should be my job to help you. I want to help you, even more than making you mine in the Month of Joining. This has obviously taken a lot for you to say, and I vow to protect you and help you in everything regarding your abilities and your past. I will make an official statement to help you here as much as I can."

"Thank you," she said weakly as the tears came out with his kind words. Even more than her body, he wanted her soul to be at ease. Whatever she had done to deserve this man was beyond her. As she took a moment to collect herself, she took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I promise to do what I can to continue a normal way of life here. But if your people are in danger… I will not allow that as a duty to them and myself. This place is my first home in years. I will not ruin that for anything."

"You are a strong woman," he said with a smile caressing her face softly, using his thumb to rub the tears away gently.

"Do we have a choice to be otherwise on this planet?" They both laughed as they placed their foreheads together. Home… could it be that she finally found it at last.