**Here's the next chapter, it's umm a little weird, but read it anyway. ** Thought…** :~ mind speech ~: Read!!! ~CJ~**

Dancing with River was getting boring for Sandry. He was nice and all, but there was something about him that made her think that his mind was elsewhere. They had danced three songs together, and he hadn't so much muttered a word about anything other than her friend, Tris.

"Nice weather you have, this time of year," commented Sandry, trying to get the subject off Tris. **Oh, that wasn't smart, of course he'll think of Tris when the weather's involved, **

"Yes, I suppose." Was his short reply. "Can Trisana change the weather back at the Winding Circle?"

"Well, she sometimes likes to make thunderstorms, but usually she leaves the weather as it is."

"Does she like to go outside during thunderstorms?"

Sandry sighed, "Why don't you ask her yourself? I'll introduce you to her, if you'd like."

River's eyes widened, "W-well, s-sure."

"Come on," She said, her eyes dancing. She took his hand and dragged him over to where Daja and Tris were sitting. :~ You guys, I've brought company for you…..~:

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Tris and Daja looked up at Sandry, who had just mind-spoke to them. :~ What? Who's the guy with you…. He's pretty cute. You've come to share? ~:

Sandry glared at Tris. "Tris, Daja, may I present-"

"River Farthington, at your service milady." He interrupted, kissing Tris on the hand. Tris blushed slightly, and looked at Sandry.

:~ You put him up to this, didn't you?~: she accused.

:~ I did nothing of the sort. Be prepared, he's going to ask you to dance. ~: she warned.

:~ I doubt it.~:

"Trisana, I would be honored if you would have this dance with me." River asked, his eyes hopeful.

Tris's jaw dropped, "I-I would love to," she stammered.

River flashed an awesome smile and offered his arm. Tris took it and followed him onto the dance floor, still in a slight daze.

"How'd you know that he wanted to dance?" asked Daja.

"Oh, well, lets see. He wouldn't stop talking about how beautiful her eyes were, or her hair. Or how about when he continually asked me questions about her at the circle. I don't know how I figured out that he wanted to dance with her."

Daja giggled. "Are you going to stay and watch love bloom between the two?"

"No, I think I'll take a walk in the garden, before someone notices I'm not dancing." Sandry smiled and walked slowly to the door to the garden.

Daja turned back to the dance floor and watched as River spun Tris around, making her laugh and smile.

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Briar walked back to the girl, she was wearing pretty shabby clothes, and her shoes, Briar noticed were made of a type of felt that was only found in the streets. Her hair was very muddy, it hadn't been washed for days. She looked a little familiar to Briar and he felt some sort of connection to this person, yet he never met her before.

"What wrong?" he asked, sitting next to her. He put his arm around her and gave her a tissue from his pocket.

"Oh. Just. Every-thing." She said between sobs. "I. I don't know where to begin." She looked up at him. He was a little surprised when he saw her eyes were two colours, blue and green.

"That's alright, start at the worst part."

"Well, I don't think I should be telling you this. I don't even know your name" she pointed out, her crying stopping.

"My name is Briar. You can tell me anything, I've no one to tell."

She looked at her hands, "I don't think I should tell you, yet." She looked back up at him. "You understand?" her eyes were full of sadness that was yearning to escape.

Briar nodded. "Of course. You can tell me anything when you're ready." For some reason, Briar felt a little sad, betrayed, that this girl wouldn't tell him what was wrong. He put on a small smile, "What's yer name then?"

The girl smiled back, pushing her gloominess into the back of her mind. "My name is Cynthia."

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Sandry walked slowly through the gardens, hugging her shoulders and gazing at the stars.

"There beautiful, aren't they." Said a voice behind her. Sandry looked behind her. A man stood there. He had shaggy hair, and was wearing a dirty suit, like he had never bathed in days. He also had a very bad smell to him.

Sandry put on a small smile. Her instinct told her to run, but she pushed it aside. "Yes, they are lovely." **Poor man,** she thought, **maybe I should offer him some money to buy food and shelter.**

"Yes, well, Lady Roach, you'd better enjoy them while they last!"

"Ex-excuse me?" Sandry exclaimed.

"You heard me!! You think that disguise will fool me for long, sweetheart? I know you anywhere. And you'd better not skip out on me again, or you'll be in for a thrashing!"

Sandry was petrified. "I-I think you have the wrong person, sir, or you're very drunk." She said shortly. Her instincts were screaming at her to run, but she couldn't move.

"Oh, do ya now, my pretty Lady Roach, do you wanna know what I think? I think that you are in very much trouble, the Thief-Lord will have yer head for skipping town on us. I was sent here to give you a message and bring you home." The man pulled out a knife.

A scream pierced the night sky. Sandry realized it was her own and turned to run. The knife just missed her arm as she spun. The man was blocking the way to the door, so Sandry ran in the other direction. The man of course chased her, his knife leaving a scar down her arm. Sandry was too busy trying to stop the bleeding to even think of using her magic to help her, or to call her friends. The man was swiftly gaining and Sandry was in an extreme amount of pain.

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:~ Sandry!~: cried three loud voices. Briar, Daja and Tris all grabbed their right arm in pain, and the feel of blood was on each of their hands. Fear crept into their heads.

Tris left River in the middle of the dance floor, and Daja ran away from Lark, in the middle of a conversation. Both of them ran into the garden.

Briar, already in the garden, jumped up from the bench. Another scream from Sandry was heard to Briar's ears, and he ran into the garden, a surprised Cynthia at his heals. "Sandry!" he called. "Where are you."

"Briar?" said a small voice from behind a small bush. "I'm here, please help-"

Briar turned a corner, and gasped. A large, smelly, dirty man was advancing on Sandry. He quickly turned to his magic, and sent the bushes to surround the man. The man, in shock, whipped at the branches with his knife, cutting it to no avail. Briar's magic is much stronger than a knife. When he was sure the man couldn't get out, Briar ran to Sandry's side.

"Sandry. Sandry, wake up" he whispered softly, shaking her. He looked at her arm, a bloody mess, and ripped off a piece of his tunic. Bandaging it up, he picked her up, just as Tris and Daja found them.

"Wh-what happened?" asked Daja, almost in tears.

"Who did this?" asked Tris menacingly. Briar nodded his head to a large bush.

"In there,"

Tris glared at it, her magic creating lightning at the tips of her hair. She gathered it up and sent it into the bush, careful not to hurt the plant. Yelps were heard from inside, but Tris didn't stop until Daja pulled her away, "Sandry first, hurting later," Tris turned to follow Briar back to the manor, with Daja at her side.

Cynthia, feeling slightly guilty, followed Daja at a distance, and snuck her way to find Briar's room inside the manor.

**Woah! That was an un-expected twist! I like wrote that and was like 'woah, that's cool.' So anyways, hope you like my piece of action. Review please! ~CJ~**