*

In the east, a ridge of mountains stood silhouetted by the rising sun. Below the landscaping of the high desert was bathed in early morning light. The sun rose over the vast desert as a man and woman did salutations. The woman with dark golden blonde hair sat back and waited for the man to finish. He turned to her, his longish sandy blonde hair hiding his deep green eyes. She smiled and rose to her feet. He watched as she walked back toward the modest home in her long tan robe. He looked back to the sun and rose. Pausing for a moment, he then followed her to the home.

He entered the back door and saw her sitting at the small green coffee table drinking a glass of orange juice. He went to the cabinets, poured himself some coffee, and sat next to her. She watched him drink the coffee and sat down her glass.

" How can you drink that brown sludge?" she asked wrinkling her nose.

" Quite simple really, Nenet," he said motioning to the cup. " First I pour it into the cup, then I put the cup to my lips, and then I swallow the liquid."

Nenet rolled her reddish-brown eyes and took a drink of her orange juice. "Anyway, when do you think the others will get up? We have a lot to do today, that whole Erik thing."

" They will get up when they get up." He got up to wash his cup and saw someone in the doorway. " Good morning Maurice."

A tall African man stood in the doorway dressed in black flannel pajamas, leaning against the doorway some. His dark brown hair was in long dreadlocks that were tied in a ponytail. He glanced at Nenet and then turned back to the other man with his light hazel eyes.

" Good morning Damien, Nenet."

" Would you like some coffee or juice, Maurice?" Nenet asked rising from her seat.

" No, that's fine. I'll wait till the others rise." He walked over to the kitchen window and looked out. " You might want to hurry before the others get up to take a shower. You might not get to take one later one." His tone was slightly ominous.

" Nenet you go first, I'll take mine after you." Damien said and gestured to Nenet. She nodded and got up to the shower, putting her glass in the sink as she left the room.

Damien sat down at the table and Maurice joined him. They sat in silence until Damien spoke first.

" How bad do you think it will be today?"

Maurice straightened his back and looked Damien in the eye. " Really, really bad. Sylvia and Choo nearly killed Natalie. Erik and the rest of the Iliaster will want revenge. I hope we are prepared for them."

" You are a good leader Maurice, you have taught us well. And besides, we outnumber them."

" True, but both Choo and Eugene rely on water. So we are somewhat equal."

" I could ask Loïc and the Red Cave for help," said a woman's voice from the doorway. Both Maurice and Damien looked to the doorway and the dark haired woman who stood there. Her hair went in curling lock to her waist and framed her pale white skin and dark blue eyes that held flecks of copper in them. She walked forward some in her long blue silk nightgown and stood next to Maurice.

" We don't need his help in this Morganne." Maurice looked at her sternly.

Morganne looked at Maurice in defiance but then looked away. She looked to Damien then to Maurice then left the room muttering in French. Damien laughed a bit.

" She's funny when she's mad" Damien said; Maurice smiled.

" Damien go wake the others and tell them to get ready and meet me in the living room by," Maurice looked at the clock hanging on the wall, " at least seven-thirty. Okay."

" You got boss." Damien got up to wake the others while Maurice went off to get dressed.