Disclaimer:I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! and if I say anything to offend anyone or I make any references that are from somewhere else/not originally mine, I do not own them either. I only own TEYVA! Oh, and Azari is on loan! ^^
GOING HOME
The sensation of flying was amazing. Maude was behind him, holding onto his waist so that she didn't go flying herself. He was holding onto a harness. Devi and Shai didn't mind flying at all. They thought it was great fun to exercise their wings. Othai wasn't having such a good time. Maude had him sandwiched between her front and Ryou's back. He had managed to
make himself as small as he could be without looking like a cub. Lilith had snorted when she had seen him.
They were flying over a thick forest when Ryou saw some familiar spiky hair. "YUGI!!!!!" Ryou could only say the name of his friends as Lilith began to soar down to them. He even said 'Seto' once in awhile, which surprised Maude, since he had told her all about his former life.
Yugi and all of his friends ducked for cover as Lith shrank and came to a rest on the ground, dumping Maude and Ryou. Yugi slowly came out from behind his bush to stare wide-eyed at Lith, Maude and Ryou. Then, finally, "Ryou!!! You're not DEAD!!!!!" And Ryou was stampeded by happy friends who tried to hug him to death. Maude and Lith just stood off to one side, smiling vaguely.
Ryou thought, as they were hugging him, I survived being kidnapped by my aunt's maniac maid, being chased by people who want my blood, and being under the vigorous training of two ancient teenagers and now I'm going to die because of their affection for me! Ack! "Please, don't kill me," he managed to gasp.
They let go of him and he got a good look at each of them. Yugi, with his funny hair, grinning. Joey, grinning too, with his funny hair. Tea jumping up and down. Mai and Tristan dancing around in a circle, then realizing what they were doing. Tea stopped jumping for a moment to give him a kiss on the cheek. Ryou blushed. Devi had flown up into a tree when they
had attacked him. She flew back to his shoulder and he introduced her to everyone.
Maude and Lith, along with Othai and Shai, had begun to edge backwards, clearly wanting to get away unnoticed. Ryou wouldn't let them. He managed to get away from his friends long enough to run over and grab Maude my the arm and Lith by the front of her healer's robes. He dragged them over to Yugi and introduced them. "Yugi, this is Lilith, a healer, and this is Maude, an animal healer and warrior person." Maude bowed ancient warrior fashion. Lith nodded her head. Yugi just stared at them in their ancient clothing. Ryou introduced them to all of the others. Maude and Lith's reactions were always the same; bow and nod, bow and nod. Tea smiled in a friendly way at both of them and managed to get a small return smile from Lith.
Mai looked at both of them appraisingly, then said 'Hello'. Tristan smiled at both of them. Joey shook Lith's soft hand, apparently unaffected by her beauty. But when he turned to Maude, his breath caught in his throat and he just stared at her. Maude looked at him curiously. Finally she hesitantly held out her calloused hand for him to shake. He took a startled look
at her hand, then shook it very gingerly. Ryou and Tristan grinned evilly at him.
Introductions done, they began to travel. Tea asked Maude and Lith if they would like some different clothes. They both considered it and thought it best. Tèa promised them new clothes once they got back.
As they walked, Mai tried to talk to Lilith. Lith was very nervous and didn't talk much. Maude was readjusting the daggers she had insisted on bringing. Lith, Ryou, and Yugi had talked her out of bringing her sword. Joey kept on looking askance at the places where her daggers were concealed. Maude walked cat-quiet, talking to no one. Once Téa, trying to be
friendly, came up quietly behind Maude. She had found a knife at her throat. Maude realized her mistake and apologized. After that, everyone made sure they made noise when approaching her.
They finally wandered into a space of land that Ryou recognized. "This is my aunt and uncles property!" He looked around, excited. "But why were you guys here?"
Tristan looked uncomfortable. "Well, they were, ah, having your, um, funeral." All of his friends looked guiltily at him.
Ryou stopped dead. "Oh my. This is going to be interesting. Very interesting. How will we explain this?" he asked Maude and Lith, turning to them. Maude sat down on a rock cross-legged and meditated for a moment. Lith just shook her head and looked hopefully at Maude as she came back over.
Maude shook her head. "The only way to clear things up is to tell your aunt and uncle everything. Especially the Rat." Maude always referred to Ratri as 'the Rat'.
All five of his other friends looked at him. Yugi finally spoke in a panicked tone. "Ryou! Where's your Millennium Ring?!"
Ryou sighed and brought them off the road. He told them everything. They all listened with rapt attention, not missing a word. Othai whined and put his head in Joey's lap. Joey began petting him absently. Maude and Lith, having already heard the story, engaged themselves in a long conversation with a Robin.
Once Ryou was done telling his story, Othai had managed to wiggle himself all the was onto Joey's lap. When Maude whistled to him, he took his time getting up. He gave Joey a playful lick on the nose and bounced over to Maude. She scratched him behind his ears and he sounded almost like he was purring.
Everyone just sat there, considering his story. Tea was the first to stand up. "Just sitting here won't do any good. We need to get to Ryou's aunt and uncle's so that he can tell them what happened and we can organize a search for Ratri" Maude, the first to react, smiled for the first time. Lith nodded in agreement. Yugi, Joey, Mai, and Tristan all stood up and began following Ryou as he started down the road again.
Maude walked over to Tèa. "Good thinking. Have you ever thought of studying the warrior's trade?"
Téa looked up at her, startled. "There's nowhere to study those things and only those things. You can take marshal arts and fencing or archery, but there aren't any schools where you learn that sort of thing."
Maude looked taken a back. Then she sighed in surrender. "I should have guessed. So many things have changed since Lith and I began our training." Maude flipped her braid off her shoulder. "I guess it is time for us to come out of our lair and teach the old ways. You people seem sorely in need of it. I could begin teaching you the ways of the warrior, if you like. I could also help you find your bond creature." She looked questioningly at Tèa.
Tèa gasped. "Would you? I would love to learn! And find my bond creature, "she added as an after thought.
Maude smiled. "We will find your bonded first. They will help you in your lessons." Maude bowed and moved away, once again silent and statue-like.
Ryou was talking to Yugi. "How much farther is it to their house?"
Yugi shrugged. "We came out here to camp for a night. Our tents are over in that clearing." He pointed over to a break in the trees off to the side, just in sight of the road.
Ryou nodded. It was getting late and he wasn't really looking forward to sleeping on the ground again. Devi ruffled her feathers by his ears in agreement.
Yugi began leading them off the road. Mai was still trying to engage Lilith in conversation. Lith wasn't having any of it. The most she ever said was, "How nice," or, "Good for you."
Joey and Tristan were the last in line, both walking silent, Joey with his eyes on Maude's back. Othai, feeling Joey's eyes on Maude, turned around once and Joey could have sworn the wolf had winked at him.
When they got to the clearing, Ryou's heart sank. Only two tents. Mai and Tèa in one, Yugi, Tristan, and Joey in the other. Maude sank to the ground by the fire pit. Othai stretched out next to her. She slid her pack from her shoulder and took out some bread, the same type she had been nibbling on all day. She stared into Othai's eyes, and after a few moments he loped off into the bushes. At Ryou's questioning look she said, "He's gone off hunting."
Lilith sat down next to Maude. Everyone else formed a circle. Joey sat next to Maude, and Tèa sat next to him. Ryou sat next to Lith and Mai and Yugi sat next to him. Tristan took the only remaining seat. Maude took some flint and tinder out of her pack and started a small fire. Everyone scooted closer to it to get warm.
Ryou said to Yugi, "How far did you guys come out?"
Yugi considered this question for a few minutes. "About a mile," he said at last.
Ryou nodded and pursed his lips in thought and at that moment Othai ran whimpering into the circle of light. Maude jumped up. "Othai!" She ran over to him and held his muzzle in her hands. After a few moments she let him go and stood up. Her face was white. "The Rat knows we're here. She's using your ring thing to track you, Ryou!"
Everyone stared stupidly at her in their surprise. Lith was the first one to jump up. Without a word she Changed into a dragon and jerked her head for them to mount. Everyone did, Maude last of all, holding onto Othai. Maude caught Yugi's eye. "You'll have to come back later to get your camping gear."
Yugi nodded and held on to Lilith as she took flight. A few moments after, a large group of black-clad horsemen came thundering into the clearing. The riders cursed and flung down their weapons in rage as soon as they saw the campsite was deserted. All but one. A bowman. He sighted the nearest of the dragon riders and shot.
With a small cry, Maude clutched at her stomach. A black arrowhead had sprouted from it. She fell quietly from Lilith's back.
Othai shrieked his outrage but could do nothing about the small gray figure returning to the earth. Tèa screamed and Joey tried to dive off after her. Ryou and Tristan held him back. Mai stared in shock after Maude.
Joey struggled with them. "She's going to die! How can you just sit here and watch it happen?"
Ryou looked at him sadly. "Joey, there is nothing we can do. If any of us try to help her, then there will be two deaths."
Tristan nodded and finally let go of Joey's arm. Mai looked back at Joey with a worried expression on her face. Lilith didn't know what was going on.
Suddenly, Ryou, who had a bit of telepathy with Maude, heard her mind-scream: Tell.........Lith to.......keep....going. Get...to........your.....aunt and uncles..........house. Catch....the..Rat. And...tell Tèa.....I'm sorry .......I couldn't ...... teach ..her.
And then she was silent. Ryou mind-yelled at Lilith to keep flying to his aunt and uncles house. Othai was whimpering and hiding his eyes. In the silence, they all heard the dull thud of something hitting the ground. Joey let out a muffled sob. Tèa was covering her face and tears were silently coursing down Ryou's face. Yugi asked, unknowing, "What happened to Maude?"
Everyone stared at him. Ryou managed to say, "Shot with arrow." But that was all. Yugi understood. He bowed his head. Othai then took his paws off of his eyes. He looked up a Ryou with excitement. Ryou tried to grasp the thought that Othai was frantically throwing at him. He finally got, Death not!!! Ryou sat up straight and wiped his eyes. He looked at
Othai. "What?!?!?!? Do you mean she's not DEAD?!?!?!?!?!?!" Othai wagged his tail and licked Joey's face.
"Not.....dead?" Joey said uncertainly.
Tèa let out a whoop of joy and Yugi and Tristan started smiling broadly. Mai looked at Ryou in disbelief.
"SHE'S NOT DEAD!!!!!!!!! ALL RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!" Joey started bouncing up and down like he was a very young child on a pony ride.
Ryou thought for a moment. "It's a good thing she's not dead, but we'll have to wait to come back and get her. And, what are the chances of her still being alive then?"
Joey glared at him. "Oh go and ruin my happiness, why don't ya!!!"
At that point Tristan called out to them. "There's their house, Ryou!!"
Lilith went into a dive and they landed on the front lawn. Lith Changed back into herself just as Ryou's aunt and uncle came running out. "RYOU BAKURA WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?" his aunt screamed at him.
Ryou ignored her question. "Is Ratri here? I need to talk to her."
His uncle shook his head. "She disappeared about the same time that you did. Easy, Agatha." Ryou's aunt was shaking Ryou's shoulders and screaming at him.
"WE WERE SO WORRIED!!! YOU NEVER SENT US SO MUCH AS A LETTER!!! WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!" She shook his shoulders one last time and then gave him a bone crushing hug.
"In hell, Aunt Agatha." Ryou regained his breath and Lilith caught his eye. She and Othai were edging towards the woods. "Aunt Agatha, I need to tell you a very long story. You too, Uncle Gregory. But first we need to call the police and find a friend of ours."
Aunt Agatha spotted Lilith. "Ryou, where are your manners? Introduce us to your friend!"
Lilith stepped forwards. She looked at Aunt Agatha. "Heelo. I'm Lily."
Ryou, Joey, Tristan, Tèa, Yugi, and Mai all stared at her. A fake name? Did Lilith not trust his aunt?
Aunt Agatha smiled. "Nice clothing, dear."
Lilith stiffened, but said nothing. Ryou decided that it was time to go look for Maude. "Aunt, please go call the police. We need to go find someone." Ryou and the rest of his friends all turned and made their way towards the trees, leaving his aunt and uncle standing on their front lawn.
Once they were in the forest, Ryou turned to Lilith. "Why did you give my aunt a false name? You don't trust her, do you?" he accused.
Lith looked at his, expressionless. "No, I do not trust her," she said frankly. "There is something about her that is not right." She said no more and began swiftly running through the underbrush. Othai rushed after her, frantically sniffing here and there.
They all followed, all hoping that when they found Maude, if they ever did, that she would still be alive. Ryou tried to catch up with Lith, but she only ran faster. They spread out and searched everywhere. Nothing.
They finally came to a semi-clear spot. Red-brown stained a large spot of grass. Joey fell to his knees. No Maude in sight.
Something moved in the shadows.
"Who's there?" Ryou shouted.
Seto Kaiba stepped out of the bushes with someone in his arms. It was Maude. He took a few more steps forward and said, in a soft voice, eyes on Maude, "I found her on the ground here. I thought she was dead." Maude moaned a little bit. "But she isn't. She was muttering something about rats. And you, Ryou. And your Millennium Ring. Is it true you lost it?"
Everyone stared at Kaiba. Joey mouth was opening and closing, but nothing was coming out. Tea finally said, "Kaiba? What are you doing here?"
Seto never looked away from Maude. "Does it matter? She's not dead yet. And the longer you stand there looking like stupid fish, the more blood she loses."
Lilith came forward. "Set her on the ground," she ordered Seto.
When he hesitated, Othai growled and Lith got impatient. "I'm a healer, for the Mother's sake!!! PUT HER ON THE GROUND!!!!"
Seto set her down quickly. She was wrapped in his coat. He had managed somehow to get the arrow out of her and shoved some dirt in the wounds to stem the tide of blood seeping out of her. Lilith kneeled next to her and said, "Maude? Can you hear me? It's Lilith. I'm here to help you. Maude?"
Maude groaned and looked at Lilith. "Lith? O thank the Mother you're here!"
"Quiet, quiet. I'm going to heal you, but I'm going to have to keep you awake. You'll need to help me." Lith placed her hand on Maude's forehead. Maude sighed tiredly and winced as one of her broken ribs shifted.
Seto stared at Lilith. "Who do you think you are? Some mystical little person who thinks they can pull on the magick of the universe?" he said in a mocking voice.
Maude, opening one eye, said, "Seto, she knows what she's doing."
Seto, reluctant, nodded. He watched as Lith began to glow with a green aura. Maude's white aura also began to shimmer. Everyone else sat down some ways away to watch, hoping Lith could save Maude. Seto was the only other person who stayed nearby. Maude gasped in pain and grabbed his hand. Seto let her, but looked a bit bewildered. Othai spread himself across her feet to hold them down.
After about a half an hour, Lilith let go of Maude. Maude still had Seto's hand clenched in her's. Joey was glaring at Seto. Maude didn't have a gaping hole in her stomach anymore and she had stopped bleeding. Maude looked up at Lith and Seto. "Thank you." And then she fell asleep.
Lith looked at Seto. "Thank you for helping."
Seto actually blushed. "You're welcome." He gathered the sleeping Maude into his arms again and looked at the others. "Which way is your uncle's house, Ryou?" Othai looked up at him and grinned in his own wolfish way.
Ryou pointed the way they had come. Seto and Lith started in that direction. Tea and Mai caught up with them and Tristan, Joey, Yugi, and Ryou followed.
Mai looked at Lilith. "Are there anymore Old Ones like you and Maude?"
Lilith thought for a moment. "Yes. Let's see.........there's Fern and Jaron. Fern is an sea witch and Jaron is an earth mage. There's Teyva and Azari. Teyva is a spirit mage, very rare gift, and Azari is a dark witch. And....there's someone I know I'm forgetting. Oh yes. Fyari and Halcyon. Fyari is a fire mage and Halcyon is an air mage."
Mai stared at her. "Could they help us?"
Lilith looked at her. "They probably could. I should ask them. Thank you for your suggestion."
Mai smiled. "Always trying to be helpful."
When they got back to his uncle's house, they went in and put Maude in the guest bedroom. Seto insisted on staying with her. Othai went with Seto. Everyone else went into the living room and began discussing their problem. Ryou's aunt and uncle were nowhere to be found.
"Mai gave me a very interesting idea, Ryou. There are a few others like Maude and myself. I could call them and ask for their help." Lith looked at Ryou.
Ryou looked thoughtfully back at Lith. "Ok. They might be helpful. How quickly can they get here?"
"That all depends on how busy they are. And if they want to help. I'm pretty sure Teyva will come, she'll help anyone. And Fern, Jaron, and Halcyon will probably come. If Halcyon comes, Fyari will too. But I'm not sure about Azari. Teyva might be able to talk her around." Lith stood up and stretched. "I'll go talk to them." She opened the door and went outside. She
sat on the front lawn and began meditation.
Tristan looked at Ryou. "She is amazing. So is Maude. But they're kinda weird, too."
Joey looked at Tristan. "What's weird is Seto Kaiba sitting by Maude's bed like a trained dog."
Yugi, before now silent, said, "I don't care how weird they might seem. As long as they can help Ryou get rid of Ratri, I think they're fine."
Tea and Mai nodded agreement.
After two hours, Lilith came back in. "They're all coming." She then fainted with exhaustion.
Ryou caught her. They took her upstairs and put her on the bed next to Maude. Seto looked at her. "What happened to her? Is she dead?" Othai whuffled Lilith's hand in concern.
Joey looked at Seto scornfully. "No, she's not dead. And were about to have help, thanks to her. Show some respect!?"
Seto looked at Joey, shocked. Just then there was a knock on the front door. Ryou was about to go answer it, but Tèa held him back. "What if it's Ratri? I'll go." She left the room.They heard the sound of the door opening and a soft 'oh' from Tèa. She came back, followed be two seventeen year old girls.
GOING HOME
The sensation of flying was amazing. Maude was behind him, holding onto his waist so that she didn't go flying herself. He was holding onto a harness. Devi and Shai didn't mind flying at all. They thought it was great fun to exercise their wings. Othai wasn't having such a good time. Maude had him sandwiched between her front and Ryou's back. He had managed to
make himself as small as he could be without looking like a cub. Lilith had snorted when she had seen him.
They were flying over a thick forest when Ryou saw some familiar spiky hair. "YUGI!!!!!" Ryou could only say the name of his friends as Lilith began to soar down to them. He even said 'Seto' once in awhile, which surprised Maude, since he had told her all about his former life.
Yugi and all of his friends ducked for cover as Lith shrank and came to a rest on the ground, dumping Maude and Ryou. Yugi slowly came out from behind his bush to stare wide-eyed at Lith, Maude and Ryou. Then, finally, "Ryou!!! You're not DEAD!!!!!" And Ryou was stampeded by happy friends who tried to hug him to death. Maude and Lith just stood off to one side, smiling vaguely.
Ryou thought, as they were hugging him, I survived being kidnapped by my aunt's maniac maid, being chased by people who want my blood, and being under the vigorous training of two ancient teenagers and now I'm going to die because of their affection for me! Ack! "Please, don't kill me," he managed to gasp.
They let go of him and he got a good look at each of them. Yugi, with his funny hair, grinning. Joey, grinning too, with his funny hair. Tea jumping up and down. Mai and Tristan dancing around in a circle, then realizing what they were doing. Tea stopped jumping for a moment to give him a kiss on the cheek. Ryou blushed. Devi had flown up into a tree when they
had attacked him. She flew back to his shoulder and he introduced her to everyone.
Maude and Lith, along with Othai and Shai, had begun to edge backwards, clearly wanting to get away unnoticed. Ryou wouldn't let them. He managed to get away from his friends long enough to run over and grab Maude my the arm and Lith by the front of her healer's robes. He dragged them over to Yugi and introduced them. "Yugi, this is Lilith, a healer, and this is Maude, an animal healer and warrior person." Maude bowed ancient warrior fashion. Lith nodded her head. Yugi just stared at them in their ancient clothing. Ryou introduced them to all of the others. Maude and Lith's reactions were always the same; bow and nod, bow and nod. Tea smiled in a friendly way at both of them and managed to get a small return smile from Lith.
Mai looked at both of them appraisingly, then said 'Hello'. Tristan smiled at both of them. Joey shook Lith's soft hand, apparently unaffected by her beauty. But when he turned to Maude, his breath caught in his throat and he just stared at her. Maude looked at him curiously. Finally she hesitantly held out her calloused hand for him to shake. He took a startled look
at her hand, then shook it very gingerly. Ryou and Tristan grinned evilly at him.
Introductions done, they began to travel. Tea asked Maude and Lith if they would like some different clothes. They both considered it and thought it best. Tèa promised them new clothes once they got back.
As they walked, Mai tried to talk to Lilith. Lith was very nervous and didn't talk much. Maude was readjusting the daggers she had insisted on bringing. Lith, Ryou, and Yugi had talked her out of bringing her sword. Joey kept on looking askance at the places where her daggers were concealed. Maude walked cat-quiet, talking to no one. Once Téa, trying to be
friendly, came up quietly behind Maude. She had found a knife at her throat. Maude realized her mistake and apologized. After that, everyone made sure they made noise when approaching her.
They finally wandered into a space of land that Ryou recognized. "This is my aunt and uncles property!" He looked around, excited. "But why were you guys here?"
Tristan looked uncomfortable. "Well, they were, ah, having your, um, funeral." All of his friends looked guiltily at him.
Ryou stopped dead. "Oh my. This is going to be interesting. Very interesting. How will we explain this?" he asked Maude and Lith, turning to them. Maude sat down on a rock cross-legged and meditated for a moment. Lith just shook her head and looked hopefully at Maude as she came back over.
Maude shook her head. "The only way to clear things up is to tell your aunt and uncle everything. Especially the Rat." Maude always referred to Ratri as 'the Rat'.
All five of his other friends looked at him. Yugi finally spoke in a panicked tone. "Ryou! Where's your Millennium Ring?!"
Ryou sighed and brought them off the road. He told them everything. They all listened with rapt attention, not missing a word. Othai whined and put his head in Joey's lap. Joey began petting him absently. Maude and Lith, having already heard the story, engaged themselves in a long conversation with a Robin.
Once Ryou was done telling his story, Othai had managed to wiggle himself all the was onto Joey's lap. When Maude whistled to him, he took his time getting up. He gave Joey a playful lick on the nose and bounced over to Maude. She scratched him behind his ears and he sounded almost like he was purring.
Everyone just sat there, considering his story. Tea was the first to stand up. "Just sitting here won't do any good. We need to get to Ryou's aunt and uncle's so that he can tell them what happened and we can organize a search for Ratri" Maude, the first to react, smiled for the first time. Lith nodded in agreement. Yugi, Joey, Mai, and Tristan all stood up and began following Ryou as he started down the road again.
Maude walked over to Tèa. "Good thinking. Have you ever thought of studying the warrior's trade?"
Téa looked up at her, startled. "There's nowhere to study those things and only those things. You can take marshal arts and fencing or archery, but there aren't any schools where you learn that sort of thing."
Maude looked taken a back. Then she sighed in surrender. "I should have guessed. So many things have changed since Lith and I began our training." Maude flipped her braid off her shoulder. "I guess it is time for us to come out of our lair and teach the old ways. You people seem sorely in need of it. I could begin teaching you the ways of the warrior, if you like. I could also help you find your bond creature." She looked questioningly at Tèa.
Tèa gasped. "Would you? I would love to learn! And find my bond creature, "she added as an after thought.
Maude smiled. "We will find your bonded first. They will help you in your lessons." Maude bowed and moved away, once again silent and statue-like.
Ryou was talking to Yugi. "How much farther is it to their house?"
Yugi shrugged. "We came out here to camp for a night. Our tents are over in that clearing." He pointed over to a break in the trees off to the side, just in sight of the road.
Ryou nodded. It was getting late and he wasn't really looking forward to sleeping on the ground again. Devi ruffled her feathers by his ears in agreement.
Yugi began leading them off the road. Mai was still trying to engage Lilith in conversation. Lith wasn't having any of it. The most she ever said was, "How nice," or, "Good for you."
Joey and Tristan were the last in line, both walking silent, Joey with his eyes on Maude's back. Othai, feeling Joey's eyes on Maude, turned around once and Joey could have sworn the wolf had winked at him.
When they got to the clearing, Ryou's heart sank. Only two tents. Mai and Tèa in one, Yugi, Tristan, and Joey in the other. Maude sank to the ground by the fire pit. Othai stretched out next to her. She slid her pack from her shoulder and took out some bread, the same type she had been nibbling on all day. She stared into Othai's eyes, and after a few moments he loped off into the bushes. At Ryou's questioning look she said, "He's gone off hunting."
Lilith sat down next to Maude. Everyone else formed a circle. Joey sat next to Maude, and Tèa sat next to him. Ryou sat next to Lith and Mai and Yugi sat next to him. Tristan took the only remaining seat. Maude took some flint and tinder out of her pack and started a small fire. Everyone scooted closer to it to get warm.
Ryou said to Yugi, "How far did you guys come out?"
Yugi considered this question for a few minutes. "About a mile," he said at last.
Ryou nodded and pursed his lips in thought and at that moment Othai ran whimpering into the circle of light. Maude jumped up. "Othai!" She ran over to him and held his muzzle in her hands. After a few moments she let him go and stood up. Her face was white. "The Rat knows we're here. She's using your ring thing to track you, Ryou!"
Everyone stared stupidly at her in their surprise. Lith was the first one to jump up. Without a word she Changed into a dragon and jerked her head for them to mount. Everyone did, Maude last of all, holding onto Othai. Maude caught Yugi's eye. "You'll have to come back later to get your camping gear."
Yugi nodded and held on to Lilith as she took flight. A few moments after, a large group of black-clad horsemen came thundering into the clearing. The riders cursed and flung down their weapons in rage as soon as they saw the campsite was deserted. All but one. A bowman. He sighted the nearest of the dragon riders and shot.
With a small cry, Maude clutched at her stomach. A black arrowhead had sprouted from it. She fell quietly from Lilith's back.
Othai shrieked his outrage but could do nothing about the small gray figure returning to the earth. Tèa screamed and Joey tried to dive off after her. Ryou and Tristan held him back. Mai stared in shock after Maude.
Joey struggled with them. "She's going to die! How can you just sit here and watch it happen?"
Ryou looked at him sadly. "Joey, there is nothing we can do. If any of us try to help her, then there will be two deaths."
Tristan nodded and finally let go of Joey's arm. Mai looked back at Joey with a worried expression on her face. Lilith didn't know what was going on.
Suddenly, Ryou, who had a bit of telepathy with Maude, heard her mind-scream: Tell.........Lith to.......keep....going. Get...to........your.....aunt and uncles..........house. Catch....the..Rat. And...tell Tèa.....I'm sorry .......I couldn't ...... teach ..her.
And then she was silent. Ryou mind-yelled at Lilith to keep flying to his aunt and uncles house. Othai was whimpering and hiding his eyes. In the silence, they all heard the dull thud of something hitting the ground. Joey let out a muffled sob. Tèa was covering her face and tears were silently coursing down Ryou's face. Yugi asked, unknowing, "What happened to Maude?"
Everyone stared at him. Ryou managed to say, "Shot with arrow." But that was all. Yugi understood. He bowed his head. Othai then took his paws off of his eyes. He looked up a Ryou with excitement. Ryou tried to grasp the thought that Othai was frantically throwing at him. He finally got, Death not!!! Ryou sat up straight and wiped his eyes. He looked at
Othai. "What?!?!?!? Do you mean she's not DEAD?!?!?!?!?!?!" Othai wagged his tail and licked Joey's face.
"Not.....dead?" Joey said uncertainly.
Tèa let out a whoop of joy and Yugi and Tristan started smiling broadly. Mai looked at Ryou in disbelief.
"SHE'S NOT DEAD!!!!!!!!! ALL RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!" Joey started bouncing up and down like he was a very young child on a pony ride.
Ryou thought for a moment. "It's a good thing she's not dead, but we'll have to wait to come back and get her. And, what are the chances of her still being alive then?"
Joey glared at him. "Oh go and ruin my happiness, why don't ya!!!"
At that point Tristan called out to them. "There's their house, Ryou!!"
Lilith went into a dive and they landed on the front lawn. Lith Changed back into herself just as Ryou's aunt and uncle came running out. "RYOU BAKURA WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?" his aunt screamed at him.
Ryou ignored her question. "Is Ratri here? I need to talk to her."
His uncle shook his head. "She disappeared about the same time that you did. Easy, Agatha." Ryou's aunt was shaking Ryou's shoulders and screaming at him.
"WE WERE SO WORRIED!!! YOU NEVER SENT US SO MUCH AS A LETTER!!! WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!" She shook his shoulders one last time and then gave him a bone crushing hug.
"In hell, Aunt Agatha." Ryou regained his breath and Lilith caught his eye. She and Othai were edging towards the woods. "Aunt Agatha, I need to tell you a very long story. You too, Uncle Gregory. But first we need to call the police and find a friend of ours."
Aunt Agatha spotted Lilith. "Ryou, where are your manners? Introduce us to your friend!"
Lilith stepped forwards. She looked at Aunt Agatha. "Heelo. I'm Lily."
Ryou, Joey, Tristan, Tèa, Yugi, and Mai all stared at her. A fake name? Did Lilith not trust his aunt?
Aunt Agatha smiled. "Nice clothing, dear."
Lilith stiffened, but said nothing. Ryou decided that it was time to go look for Maude. "Aunt, please go call the police. We need to go find someone." Ryou and the rest of his friends all turned and made their way towards the trees, leaving his aunt and uncle standing on their front lawn.
Once they were in the forest, Ryou turned to Lilith. "Why did you give my aunt a false name? You don't trust her, do you?" he accused.
Lith looked at his, expressionless. "No, I do not trust her," she said frankly. "There is something about her that is not right." She said no more and began swiftly running through the underbrush. Othai rushed after her, frantically sniffing here and there.
They all followed, all hoping that when they found Maude, if they ever did, that she would still be alive. Ryou tried to catch up with Lith, but she only ran faster. They spread out and searched everywhere. Nothing.
They finally came to a semi-clear spot. Red-brown stained a large spot of grass. Joey fell to his knees. No Maude in sight.
Something moved in the shadows.
"Who's there?" Ryou shouted.
Seto Kaiba stepped out of the bushes with someone in his arms. It was Maude. He took a few more steps forward and said, in a soft voice, eyes on Maude, "I found her on the ground here. I thought she was dead." Maude moaned a little bit. "But she isn't. She was muttering something about rats. And you, Ryou. And your Millennium Ring. Is it true you lost it?"
Everyone stared at Kaiba. Joey mouth was opening and closing, but nothing was coming out. Tea finally said, "Kaiba? What are you doing here?"
Seto never looked away from Maude. "Does it matter? She's not dead yet. And the longer you stand there looking like stupid fish, the more blood she loses."
Lilith came forward. "Set her on the ground," she ordered Seto.
When he hesitated, Othai growled and Lith got impatient. "I'm a healer, for the Mother's sake!!! PUT HER ON THE GROUND!!!!"
Seto set her down quickly. She was wrapped in his coat. He had managed somehow to get the arrow out of her and shoved some dirt in the wounds to stem the tide of blood seeping out of her. Lilith kneeled next to her and said, "Maude? Can you hear me? It's Lilith. I'm here to help you. Maude?"
Maude groaned and looked at Lilith. "Lith? O thank the Mother you're here!"
"Quiet, quiet. I'm going to heal you, but I'm going to have to keep you awake. You'll need to help me." Lith placed her hand on Maude's forehead. Maude sighed tiredly and winced as one of her broken ribs shifted.
Seto stared at Lilith. "Who do you think you are? Some mystical little person who thinks they can pull on the magick of the universe?" he said in a mocking voice.
Maude, opening one eye, said, "Seto, she knows what she's doing."
Seto, reluctant, nodded. He watched as Lith began to glow with a green aura. Maude's white aura also began to shimmer. Everyone else sat down some ways away to watch, hoping Lith could save Maude. Seto was the only other person who stayed nearby. Maude gasped in pain and grabbed his hand. Seto let her, but looked a bit bewildered. Othai spread himself across her feet to hold them down.
After about a half an hour, Lilith let go of Maude. Maude still had Seto's hand clenched in her's. Joey was glaring at Seto. Maude didn't have a gaping hole in her stomach anymore and she had stopped bleeding. Maude looked up at Lith and Seto. "Thank you." And then she fell asleep.
Lith looked at Seto. "Thank you for helping."
Seto actually blushed. "You're welcome." He gathered the sleeping Maude into his arms again and looked at the others. "Which way is your uncle's house, Ryou?" Othai looked up at him and grinned in his own wolfish way.
Ryou pointed the way they had come. Seto and Lith started in that direction. Tea and Mai caught up with them and Tristan, Joey, Yugi, and Ryou followed.
Mai looked at Lilith. "Are there anymore Old Ones like you and Maude?"
Lilith thought for a moment. "Yes. Let's see.........there's Fern and Jaron. Fern is an sea witch and Jaron is an earth mage. There's Teyva and Azari. Teyva is a spirit mage, very rare gift, and Azari is a dark witch. And....there's someone I know I'm forgetting. Oh yes. Fyari and Halcyon. Fyari is a fire mage and Halcyon is an air mage."
Mai stared at her. "Could they help us?"
Lilith looked at her. "They probably could. I should ask them. Thank you for your suggestion."
Mai smiled. "Always trying to be helpful."
When they got back to his uncle's house, they went in and put Maude in the guest bedroom. Seto insisted on staying with her. Othai went with Seto. Everyone else went into the living room and began discussing their problem. Ryou's aunt and uncle were nowhere to be found.
"Mai gave me a very interesting idea, Ryou. There are a few others like Maude and myself. I could call them and ask for their help." Lith looked at Ryou.
Ryou looked thoughtfully back at Lith. "Ok. They might be helpful. How quickly can they get here?"
"That all depends on how busy they are. And if they want to help. I'm pretty sure Teyva will come, she'll help anyone. And Fern, Jaron, and Halcyon will probably come. If Halcyon comes, Fyari will too. But I'm not sure about Azari. Teyva might be able to talk her around." Lith stood up and stretched. "I'll go talk to them." She opened the door and went outside. She
sat on the front lawn and began meditation.
Tristan looked at Ryou. "She is amazing. So is Maude. But they're kinda weird, too."
Joey looked at Tristan. "What's weird is Seto Kaiba sitting by Maude's bed like a trained dog."
Yugi, before now silent, said, "I don't care how weird they might seem. As long as they can help Ryou get rid of Ratri, I think they're fine."
Tea and Mai nodded agreement.
After two hours, Lilith came back in. "They're all coming." She then fainted with exhaustion.
Ryou caught her. They took her upstairs and put her on the bed next to Maude. Seto looked at her. "What happened to her? Is she dead?" Othai whuffled Lilith's hand in concern.
Joey looked at Seto scornfully. "No, she's not dead. And were about to have help, thanks to her. Show some respect!?"
Seto looked at Joey, shocked. Just then there was a knock on the front door. Ryou was about to go answer it, but Tèa held him back. "What if it's Ratri? I'll go." She left the room.They heard the sound of the door opening and a soft 'oh' from Tèa. She came back, followed be two seventeen year old girls.