Hi everyone! Sorry I haven't updated, but I am in the navy and I have been really busy lately. I just thought that maybe you should know I will update as often as I can but the last month has been busy. Anyway, I don't own anyone but Onyx.

CHAPTER THREE

Slowly, Onyx gathered her legs beneath her, the pain and exhaustion evident in her ever move. Firesong watched her careful movement and wondered if he would be able to help her in any way. Seeing her leg, covered with what must be her blood, reminded Firesong that she would be needing a healer tonight, preferably one waiting for her when they arrived. Reaching out with his mind, Firesong easily found Darien.

:Darien, we are going to have a guest for a while. Her name is Onyx and she is in desperate need of a healer and a place to rest for a while.: Firesong could sense Darien's unease.

:If you think that this is a good idea, and that she would be no danger, then I bow to your judgment, Firesong.:

:I would  not endanger the Vale, and you know that, if I thought she posed the slightest danger, I would not have extended the invitation.: Firesong replied. :Please have Nightwind wakened, I think she should look at Onyx tonight.:

Onyx glanced at Firesong, he had a far away look to him, and she realized he was thought sending to his friends. He must be making plans about what to do with me, she thought to herself, then turned her attention back to her predicament. She had gathered her front legs beneath her with little problems aside from exhaustion; it was getting her hind legs to work properly that was the problem. The right one, the one with the wound, was incapable of supporting weight, and she was too exhausted to heave herself up with only the left one. She was getting very frustrated with herself after a few attempts sent her crashing back to the ground before she could get her front legs situated  to support  her weight. That was when she felt a small inflow of energy, startled she looked back towards the mage, he had put his hand on her without her even realizing it, and was sending her the energy she needed to get to her feet. With a little more effort and his help she was finally able to stand, if only on three legs. She looked at him with gratitude and took a few experimental steps.

It was a long, tiring walk back to the Vale, the two them talked very little, not really wanting to waste the energy and knowing that any questions they had would be answered in due time. When they finally reached the Vale, Firesong felt relief; Onyx on the other hand felt quite a bit of awe. In all her travels she had never seen a place such as this one; the human creations that she had seen were big and ugly, having no true place in nature. But this place was incredible, she could see that they had used magic to form it, but it was so well done that it felt as thought it were a natural part of the surrounding environment. A thousand questions entered her mind as they walked through the front entrance, but she knew that they could wait.

Waiting for them was a woman with long dark hair wearing a flowing robe that was wonderful deep green. She walked forward when she saw them approach with a smile and an open mind, proving to Onyx that she could be trusted as well.

:Hello Onyx, my name is Nightwind, and I am a trondi'rn, I help the non-humans of our community with anything they might need, from healing to simple grooming. Will you allow me to tend your wound?: Her mindvoice was clear and kindly, Onyx accepted her offer readily and soon found herself in a very roomy cave that was lined with large pillows and blankets. Within moments she was sound asleep.

Nightwind was trying desperately to understand just what happened to this strange creature. The wound was deep and infected with, of all things, magic. But the magic was of a different sort than the unicorn was made of, so, searching her mind for a solution, Nightwind set to work. 

Onyx woke the next morning to find the dark haired woman curled up in the pillows on the opposite side of the cave. She was feeling entirely refreshed, and her leg no longer hurt, glancing at it, she was amazed to see it had begun to knit closed over night. And feeling of it with her magic, proved that whatever it was that refused to let it heal was gone. Instinctually she set her own natural healing powers into motion. Gathering her legs beneath her, she made her way out of the cave without disturbing the healer. Breathing in the fresh air of the vale made her feel more revitalized then she had felt in a long time. Giving a slight nicker, she set off at a slow trot to explore this new and seemingly wonderful place.

The unicorn wound her way through the maze of plants and trees, occasionally catching glimpses of the small lizard-like creatures. Compared to the outside world, the creatures that flew above her and the plants that were growing all around her were very strange; despite this, Onyx felt at home among the foliage. It reminded her very much of her home, and she felt the familiar pang of loneliness. Then she came to a fork in the trail, looking side to side, she could not decide which way to go, which was unusual since unicorns had very little trouble in making decisions. Then, off to the right, she smelled water, and deciding to investigate, she headed in that direction.  What she found was the last thing that she expected.

Darien was lounging in the hot springs, talking with some of the scouts and mages that were also taking advantage of the water. It was one of the largest and most popular of the springs, and at the moment was filled with nearly twenty taylen'dras.  They were all talking among themselves on various different subjects, some of the scouts just coming off the night shift and were relaxing before heading to their bed, while others were mages or visitors who had just gotten up.  Darien lay his head back while trying to get the energy to get out and get on with his day. He had just turned for a towel when a snort and shuffling sound was heard from one of the nearby trail entrances. Darien swung towards the noise just as the entire pool area went silent; standing not ten feet away was the strange creature from the night before.

Please Review! I know that was not exactly an exciting chapter, but I will admit I ran into a bit of writers block. Any reviews are helpful and if anyone has ideas on where I should go from here please let me know. I am really stuck.

Thanks and bye for now.