Usual disclaimers apply.

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Chapter 51

"Hey, Mama." My greeting was given with me turning from my new horse. I had brought him to a large open area far away from the paddock and prying eyes of the villagers.

"Any reason for training with him this far from home?"

"I didn't want prying eyes," I muttered before turning. "And I didn't want to hurt Mavri's feelings."

Mama nodded in understanding, "I feel the same about Argo." She admitted. "Though the twins assure me that Argo completely understands and that she's rather glad that she won't have to worry about hard rides after giving birth to twins."

Snorting I slid onto my stallion's unsaddled back. "Yeah, Emily informed me this morning if I didn't name him soon, he was going to let Eve tell everyone his name was Damn Horse."

"Your mom would love that."

"Wouldn't she?" I sat up and loosely tied the reins before letting go of them. Finding my seat, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. "Go." I whispered. Allowing myself to just feel the horse beneath me I relaxed and use my other senses as I rode this way for a few moments. "Stop."

Opening my eyes as we stopped I leaned forward and patted the strong neck in front of me. Smiling I finally slid from his back. Moving to stand in front of him I whispered in his ear and got a knock with his nose on my shoulder for the trouble.

"I take it you found his name?" Mama asked.

"Yep." Smiling I motioned for Mama to join me. "Mama meet Jedi. Jedi, this is Mama."

Scratching behind Jedi's ears Mama smiled at me. "It fits. The way you two are together. I can already see the trust, mutual understanding."

I nodded, "Besides, it's just cool."

"And there is that, young Padawan." Mama teased.

"So, what brings you so far from the family homestead?" I questioned as I began to use a lead rope to put Jedi through some of the newer things I had been trying to teach him.

"Can't a mother just want to spend some time with her eldest?"

"She can, but I have a feeling that isn't the entire case here."

Putting her arm around my shoulders Mama pulled me in for a hug and a kiss to the forehead. "Your mom and I have been thinking…"

"Look out, known world," I teased.

"Watch it," Mama replied cuffing me gently on the back of the head. "Anyway, your mom and I have decided that it's time for you to run an errand for the tribe," holding up her hand to stop the questions she continued. "All that I am telling you now is that you and Rory will be allowed to go alone on the errand."

Grinning, I grabbed Jedi's reins and began the walk back to the village next to Mama. "So, what is this errand?" I asked.

Pulling me close to her again Mama dropped a kiss to the top of my head, "Nope. I am not giving you any other information, little one. Your mom would have my hide. Besides I think she and Ephiny are looking forward to telling you and Rory about this errand."

Sighing heavily, I leaned into Mama's side and nodded. We walked in a comfortable silence until reaching the outskirts of the village. Taking in the scene in front of us I began to chuckle until I was almost doubled over laughing. "Oh, for the love of the gods…." Mama trailed off before giving her war cry and running towards the village.

"Well, Jedi," I patted my horse's neck as I finally stopped laughing, "You can't say there is ever a dull moment with Eve and her friends around."

Entering the village proper I stopped next to the old oak as I watched the chaos in front of me. "Glad to see you made it back." Rory greeted me. "I must say that Trouble, Addy, Mavis, and Alex have made it interesting for sure."

"Yep." Shaking my head, I watched as the four naked girls managed to give Mama, Mom, Ephiny, and Eponin the slip. Chaos was in the middle of the trouble allowing the girls to use him as a shield.

"Will you look at that," Rory shook her head. "That is one smart horse."

"A smart horse with some help," I added pointing to Zoey and Emily near the now open goat enclosure.

"What is it with Eve and goats?" Rory asked.

"That would be her big sister's fault," Daria had come up to us with a grin. "The goats and the troll, wasn't it?"

"Troll, Cyclops, who knows anymore?" Zivah asked as she joined us.

"Amazons to the trees!" Eve shouted only to be caught mid-leap by Mama.

"Enough!" Mama's voice was short of a roar and the entire village went quiet. "Mavis, Addy, Alex get over here." She commanded as Mom, Ephiny, Eponin, and lastly, Autolycus.

"If you aren't a parent to one of these miscreants," Mom began. "Then I suggest you get back to whatever it is you're supposed to be doing."

Watching the gathered Amazons scatter I chuckled again. "Look, even Chaos is taking off."

"No doubt due to your sisters telling him to go and hide." Zivah put in as she watched Emily and Zoe slowly make their way towards the kitchens.

"Think they're going to ask Yaya to hide them?" I asked.

"Nah, think they're going to try and find food so they can hide out." Rory teased.

Shrugging my shoulders, I began walking towards the barn. "Probably," I agreed. "Let me get Jedi put up and then Rory and I have a meeting with the queen and regent.

"Jedi?" Zivah asked as Rory began to snicker.

"My horse."

"But what does it mean?" Zivah pressed.

"It's from the future," Rory interrupted. "Was a big thing."

"But WHAT is it?" Zivah asked once more.

"It means that Jedi and I have a special connection," I broke in before Rory could speak. "Jedi were a fictional group of people that could use nature, the world around them to their advantage. They sensed things and learned to use it."

"Trust the force," Rory deadpanned as I shook my head.

"The Force?" Daria interrupted.

"It's what the Jedi use," Rory shook her head and grinned at me. "Trust it we must."

"Thanks, Yoda." I gave her a shove and then finished rubbing down Jedi before letting him out into the field with the other horses. "Let's go and see if our moms are ready to tell us about this errand."

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Rory and I were finishing up our dinner in front of the fire we'd made and I had never been happier knowing how to use a flint. The wind had come up and it was getting cooler though we had managed to find a nice group of trees to shelter us and the horses from most of the wind.

"I still can't believe our moms are letting us go to Amphipolis by ourselves." Rory's eyes glowed with excitement and I shook my head as I finished off the last of my sandwich before draining my bowl of soup.

Stirring the leftover soup in the pot I finally turned back to Rory, "Well, seems like we will have enough soup for the morning and if we're lucky enough I might be able to find something to throw in the pot."

"Sounds good." Rory yawned and after cleaning up after herself leaned back on her bedrolls. "Are you sure that Mavri doesn't mind me riding him?" She asked for about the fifteenth time.

"Positive." I leaned back on my bedrolls and pulled a blanket over me. "I told you that it was Mavri's idea. He wants to teach Jedi a thing or two about how to be my horse among other things, according to the twins and I know you're more comfortable riding him than another horse."

"Yeah," Rory rested her head on her hands as she rolled onto her back. "Do you remember the first-time I road Mavri?"

Laughing I mirrored her position and watched the starts twinkle. "Do I? You were so nervous and all he did was walk as slowly as possible around the paddock."

"Yeah," Rory giggled. "However, after Xena showed me how much fun riding could be…." She trailed off and I began to laugh once more.

"That look from Mom when she saw how you'd taken to riding Mavri. I swear she was so nervous you'd have thought the Horde was invading."

"Or Auntie was teaching us about the birds and the bees," Rory chimed in with a laugh.

"And that glare she gave Mama." I shook my head as our laughter stopped. Wiping my eyes, I looked up at the stars once more. "I miss the future, Rhys."

"Me too," linking her hand in mine Rory gave it a squeeze. "I miss so much about it, but I don't miss other things."

"Such as?"

"I have a family here." Rory squeezed my hand once more. "And I can now kick ass and don't need to rely on a girl to beat up the boys for me anymore."

"Yeah, well, you looked so pitiful. I had to do it." I defended teasingly as we finally moved our hands under the blankets we now sported. "Think we'll ever get to go back?"

"Back to the future?" Rory asked.

"Yeah."

"Not unless we've got an old car, some power lines, and a little bit of lightening."

"Then I suppose we are here for good." I sighed. "Because I don't see any Stargates, a Tardis, or even a wormhole."

"Heck, we don't even have a rune to help us through time," Rory grinned. "How did that go? From the book?"

Thinking hard I finally shook my head, "I can't remember right now. I look through my writing and see if I can find it."

"Yeah, that was a great book and serious."

"It was," I agreed. Finally feeling sleepy I began to close my eyes. "Night, Rory."

"Night, Sam." Rory replied quietly. Lying there with my eyes closed I finally heard the soft snores coming from Rory. Allowing myself to fall into a light sleep as well the last thing I remembered was trying to remember or find that rune."

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I think I may be back. To all those who have offered PM, followed, or favorited my stories. Thank you.

It's been busy around here, and sometimes RL must take over. I have finally been able to get back to the keyboard and I am hoping to work on my other stories as well, sooner rather than later.

I know this chapter might be a little short (for me) but I wanted to get it posted and figured it would give me incentive to write more. Soon. Hope you enjoy.

Kik

**Does anyone know which book, or even the author of the book I am referring to in this story? A hint- Meg and Charles Wallace are major characters in the series.