ALL these characters belong to the wonderful Tamora Pierce. This is my first fanfic in a couple months so be nice. Once again I'll try and keep writing others for you guys-- as long as you like this one. so with all that said and done.. enjoy the story........P.S. this might be a little out of character in the beginning.. im not sure.


Daine and Numair had been on the road for two weeks now. Both of them were getting restless and so were the two horses they had with them. The weather was hot and muggy and just not the best situation to be on the rode in.
They stopped for a break and Numair reached into one of the saddlebags to get a snack for them. Spots shifted back and forth. "Quit it," Numair said, getting annoyed. It was hard to reach for something when the horse kept moving around. Daine came over and attempted to calm him down, with no luck. She could not use her magic... she was drained form the healing of almost a dozen animals that were injured when Numair last lost his temper. So she could not mindspeak to Spots to soothe him."Stay still!" Numair said in somewhat of a yell. "Don't yell at him Numair, he can't help it." Daine told the mage.Daine was in front of the horse holding his reigns and trying to calm by rubbing his muzzle. She knew they needed to get home, and until then not much was going to change.
Getting what he wanted Numair walked away. "Horses can be so idiotic," he mumbled. "Horses aren't the idiots," Daine snapped back, "it's their owners." She had turned to face Numair, leaving her back to Spots. "I am not idiotic!" he yelled back, "it's the horse."It was childish to continue and he knew it, but by then it was already said. "Quit yelling at me," Daine yelled and half cried as tears began to sting her eyes. It was then that Spots reared in the air

Daine spun to get him under control but as she turned he came down , knocking her in the head. She fell down unconscious. Spots accidentally steppedon her side, and her arm. He then ran from what he knew would surely get him in trouble. He galloped into the woods.
"Daine!" Numair cried, and ran for the girl who lay motionless on the ground. She was unconscious but alive. He could see that in her shallow breathing. Lifting her as gently as possible he carried her into the small wagon yielded by mangle. He layed her down and mounted the horse. It was a burden having mangle carry so much but it was the quickest and easiest way. He rode on for nearly two more hours before he reached his destination.

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As soon as he entered the gates Alanna came up to greet them."Where's Daine?" she asked. Eyes both sad and worried, he went to the wagon where Daine was still settled. "What on earth happened?!" Alanna cried. Numair explained the whole frightening story as he carried Daine into the nearest room with a bed.

5 or so healers came to tend to her. It appeared she had two broken ribs, a broken arm, and a concusion (i think i spelled that wrong).


Two days went by and Daine was still unconscious. Numai stayed on the bed across from her, not sleeping or eating and it showed. Shadowy circle had formed around his eyes, but he refused to budge until she came around. He insisted it was all his fault.

Now he knelt by her bed, one of her hands in his. Her eyelids fluttered slightly then slowly opened. "Wha...what happened?" she whispered."It's all my fault, I'm so sorry," he said kissing her hand. She looked at him dazedly-- "Who are you?:"