:This is never going to end. I am going to be moshing through the snow for the rest of my sad little life.: Dannyn scowled, his body feeling as if it was frozen solid. Being a Herald he was used to such dismal conditions, but it didn't mean he had to like it. With a shiver he buried his nose further into his cloak's collar, muttering several curses under his breath. His mood had been steadily worsening throughout the morning, especially after Treyvin had blocked him out. The Companion was so whole-heartedly focused on finding the girl, it shamed Dannyn. Truly, the child must be far worse off than they.

:Finally you begin to get it, Chosen.: Treyvin drawled, stopping for a brief moment to shake some of the snow from his mane. :If you are miserable, can you imagine how she's feeling?: Dannyn could hear the accusation, and he knew Trev was right. The girl's chances of survival were slim to none. The only reason they knew she was alive was through Kaea, even before she had reached her Chosen; they had a 'connection' that led Companion to would-be-Herald.

:Dannyn! I Sense something. Use your Empathy to search for the girl, she's broadcasting!: the Companion 'shouted,' accelerating his canter into an all out gallop. Dannyn did as he was told, lowering his shields to search for the child. His mind spreading out over every hill, in every cave, across every plain within his reach.

The Herald shook his head, he couldn't find her. "Trey, I can't seem to get a lock on he-" Without warning, a tidal wave of pain, confusion and utter desolation washed over him, smashing the air out of his lungs. Dannyn gasped, barely able to breathe as he slammed his shields back up. The girl was sane, barely, and frighteningly determined. :Trey! She's. north of here! She's heading to Haven!:

Without so much as another word the Companion slightly altered his direction, from northwest to north. If Dannyn could Sense the girl with his weak Gift of Empathy, she must be close. Relentlessly they plowed through the snow, a blue and white blur as Treyvin flew across the terrain.

:Kaea! How have you been dealing with this? That girl is nearly mad, and I cant bear to think of how hard it will be for you to bring her back.: Treyvin cried, nimbly leaping over a small, frozen creek. His mind was buzzing with the child's emotions and thoughts. Not only was she broadcasting Empathetically, but with Mindspeech as well.

The female Companion barely responded, just sending a flood of worry to Treyvin. :Protect her, Trev, I am coming as fast as I can. I wont be much longer than a few candlemarks.: With those few words, Kaea withdrew into herself, focusing all her energies towards reaching the girl that would be her Chosen, if she lived long enough.

----------

"I'm tired" Alsea mumbled, all feeling seeping out of her body. Her head began to droop and her eyelids sagged. Even she knew she could not stand without rest for much longer. With a soft whimper she flopped down into the snow, raising her head up to the sky, as if asking for forgiveness. "I need to rest now, Daddy. Ok? I'm too tired to reach Haven now." With a yawn she stretched, arching like a cat. Exhaustion weighed heavily on her shoulders and with another, smaller, yawn she curled into a little ball. A cocoon of blackness welcomed her, enveloping her, protecting her from all the horrors and betrayals of the light. Alsea could rest in peace, protected by the darkness.

All sounds began to blur into each other, the soft little 'piff' sound of the snow falling on snow, the howling of the wind and the faint shouts in the distance. None of it mattered, all that mattered now was that she get her rest, and continue onto Haven in the morning. She would make her Daddy proud.

"NO! No! Just hold on! Don't fall asleep!"

The outside world could wait until she had had her nap.

----------

"NO! No! Just hold on! Don't fall asleep!" Herald Dannyn screamed, diving off his Companion and blundered through the snow. He couldn't let the girl die, not like this. "Please! Just a few more minutes! Don't sleep!" Losing all that was left of his grace and dignity, he fell, sprawled in the snow. With a muffled swear he pushed himself back up onto his knees, dragging himself forward to the still body of Alsea. "C'mon, child, you're so close to something than this. You have to wake up!" Gently Treyvin came up behind his Chosen, nuzzling him briefly before turning to the girl.

Dropping to his knees the Companion curled around the small child, doing his best to keep her warm with his own body heat. :Dannyn, in the saddlebags. Get your bedroll from the saddlebags.: Treyvin ordering softly, his pale sapphire eyes watching his Chosen solemnly. :She may yet live, Chosen.:

The Herald nodded, biting his lip and getting himself firmly under control. He could not allow himself to slip, there was a life on the line. Rising he moved to Treyvin's side, digging into the saddlebags to retrieve his bedroll. Carefully, he lifted her up, blanching at how cold she was to the touch, and placed her inside the bedroll; making sure to keep her close to his Companion. "Poor thing," he breathed, ignoring the tear that slipped down his cheek. "She's so young. She doesn't deserve to die like this."

:Kaea will be here before dawn. If the child lives until then she should live.: Treyvin's mindvoice was bland, and Dannyn knew he was hiding his emotions in an attempt to make him feel better. The Herald smiled softly and pressed his cheek up against that of his Companion's, before rising to search for something that could be used as some form of shelter.

-----------

The blackness was warm. There was no sadness here, and Alsea need not have to worry about a thing anymore. She was happy.

:No, Chosen. This is not happiness. I can give you true happiness, but you will have to leave the darkness. Will you leave the darkness for me, Alsea?:

Alsea whimpered, covering her eyes as the bright figure invaded her darkness. :NO!: she shrieked, pain came with the light, she did not want to live in the light anymore. :NO! Leave me be! You've come to hurt me! GO AWAY!: Crystalline tears streamed down her cheeks as she glared at the bright lady before her. She would not leave the protection of the darkness.

:My Chosen, my Alsea. I could never ever hurt you. You are my Chosen, I need you. I will protect you from betrayal. I will ward off all the pain. Will you not come with me, Alsea?: The woman whispered, holding out a hand to Alsea. The chiild blinked as the figure's shape began to flicker, changing between that of a horse and a woman. The darkness around her was slowly beginning to turn grey.

:Will you take me to Haven?: She whispered, hesitantly placing her hand in the palm of the bright lady's hand. Her wide violet eyes stared up at the brilliant sapphire of the woman's, she saw only kindness in those deep blue depths. :I had promised that I would go to Haven.:

A gentle chuckle escaped the lady as she embraced the child, a embrace that held many wordless promises of love. :I am Kaea. You are my Chosen, Alsea. I will take you to Haven.: