High School. A Teens Best Friend. Yeah Right.

By Risty Maskell and Silver15

Disclaimer: Nope, not ours.

Summary: Aww geez, you read this far. You guys don't need a summary.

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I rode for what seemed like hours. It was getting darker and I was soon forced to slow down for fear of injuring Flamedancer. I figured that there was no rush anyway; I had plenty of time to get away.

I was desperately trying to fight the urge to shut my eyes when I saw the small figure lying on the road, just in front of me. Reacting as quickly as I could, I pulled my horse back before he trod on the person. Flamedancer reared up and I slipped from his back. I hit the ground and felt a sharp pain in my head. I blacked out…

I came around a few minutes later. At first I couldn't see properly, but someone was patting my face and saying my name over and over. Then something started licking my hand. I looked up attempting to focus my eyes.

What I saw completely shocked me. It was little Colan sitting on me, Billee's younger brother. His head was bleeding badly and he had a black eye. Next to him, licking my hand was my beloved dog, Laddie.

"Colan" I sat up and gave him a hug. "What happened to you?"

"Daddy…" he whispered. "Where's Billee, Emma?"

"At school" I looked at him worried. His head wound required immediate attention. As I looked around, I suddenly realised that Flamedancer had disappeared, no doubt because he was frightened. Without him, we had no way of getting anywhere.

I tried to focus on my own injuries. I could feel the pain in my head and I knew that I must of hit it hard. My leg and shoulder also hurt. I wasn't sure if I could walk properly.

Laddie rubbed his head against my arm and looked at me. Colan clung to me, refusing to let go. They were both relying on me to do something.

First things first, I decided. Slowly, wincing from the pain in my shoulder, I unwrapped the bandage from my arm and looked at it carefully. It was a bit bloody in places, but it was better than nothing. I quickly wrapped it around Colan's head and prayed that it would be enough. Then I unfastened my riding cloak and wrapped it around the young elf. He snuggled against me and put his thumb in his mouth. Within two minutes, he was fast asleep. Problem one solved. Now I was faced with the problem of how to get home.

I figured that there were only two places Flamedancer would go to. Either back to my house, or to the school. If he went back to school, I knew that Billee would realise that something was wrong and come after me. The only other thing I could do was to send Laddie after Billee, but I didn't want to do that unless I really had to. I needed my dog here, to protect us if necessary. I decided that if Flamedancer went to the school, he would get back before dinner. Someone would find us within the next twenty-four hours. If no one came, then I would send Laddie.

I got to my feet slowly, not wanting to wake Colan and trying to ignore the pain shooting through my body whenever I moved. To my right was a large tree and I sat up against it, Colan still snuggled against my chest and Laddie sitting at my side, sharing his body heat with me. I put my hand in my pocket and my fingers closed around something hard. I pulled it out and discovered that it was Jaime's Discman. I played it, listening to the song and the message she had recorded for me. And as I listened to it, over and over again, I cried into Laddie's soft fur as it began to rain around us. I hoped someone would find us soon. I just wanted to be back with my friends…