A/N: Hi people.. bet you though I'd died… **nervous chuckle** I'll try to keep this A/N short, cause I'm sure y'all just want to read the chapter… I have no excuse for this delay except for a severe writers block and an overabundance of things to work on right now… Please R&R, it was the power of a review that finally got me to sit down and make myself write this!

Quick re-cap: In the last chapter Aravian took Luthar to a landen village and gave him his birthday present, a kindred puppy named Elasia. Turns out she is his Familiar, and now they are on the way to Aravian's house for his b-day party.

Disclaimed

*~~~Chapter 8: Half-Breed~~~*

It was dusk by the time the four of them started heading for Aravian and Falonar's home, where Luthar's party was. It was common practice among the First Circle for birthday parties to be held at other people's homes.

"Hey, it's the half-breed!"

Aravian stiffened in front of Luthar on the path. Luthar, catching a certain and much hated psychic-scent, nearly rose to the killing edge. Ravar Yaslana.

Ravar and his cronies, Calvar, Yorinar and Menar, were standing off by the trees. They had their bows with them, like they'd just been hunting when Aravian and her friends had passed by. Aravian gritted her teeth—it had to have been in that stretch of open land between Lucivar's home and… well, most everyone else's that they'd happened upon them. The boys never bothered her when there were a lot of people around, anyone who might go back to her parents or Lucivar. Apparently they'd stopped considering Luthar any kind of threat though.

The four sauntered over to them, ignoring Luthar and blocking the path in front of Aravian. Ravar smiled, his hawk eyes snapping. "Half-breed," she bit the inside of her cheek at the insult, "fancy seeing you out here." A glance shot back to Luthar. He said, rather pointedly, "Off to do, well, lascivious things with your… friend?" He twisted the last word cruelly.

Luthar lunged at the cocky older boy, but Aravian caught him around the middle before he could get into anything. He struggled against her, but even by virtue of age and gender he wasn't a match for her. He felt himself getting red in the face, mostly with anger.

The others laughed. "Look at that," Menar said, "the little girl half-breed is stronger than him!"

Luthar glared at them, making them shout with laughter all the more. Aravian's arm tightened where it was strung around his middle, and he glared at her too. What was wrong with her?!?

Luthar's anger rose higher as she addressed the others in a calm voice. "Why don't you all just get out of here? I haven't done anything to you; just get back to your hunting."

*Are you insane?!* he sent to her. Elasia jumped in front of them, barking madly. The boys looked at the small puppy incredulously, then started laughing all the harder. Yorinar picked up a rock as if to throw it at her.

Avaesel slowly stalked around his friends, a low growl rumbling in his throat, the silvery fur of his back standing on end. All the boys took a step back, but Ravar said in an impressively casual voice, "We're not afraid of some overgrown cat!" It squeaked at the end.

Avaesel roared, his cat-voice waving through octaves that made his birthright Green jewel glow with an inner fire.

It was with a quickness that should have been surprising that the four of them faded back out through the trees. They muttered and threw glances back over their shoulders as they went.

Luthar turned to Aravian, swelling with anger like a ship's sail with wind. Except redder. "Aravian, what was that?! Hell's Fire… I would think you'd be wanting to get at them just as much as I would! More so! The nerve of them! I can't believe they'd say that to you or- or call you a-" His throat was closing up, choking on his anger.

Aravian, surprisingly, wouldn't meet his eyes. She was looking down at her hands. Her fingers twined absently through the end of the long braid she always kept her hair in. Avaesel was twisting around her legs in a slow way, but his keen eyes never left the spot in the trees where the boys had gone through. Luthar watched the almost hypnotic movement until he could breathe properly again, then looked back to Aravian. She was still looking down.

"Aravian."

Her eyes flicked up, then back down.

Impatiently, he grabbed her hands to still them. She reluctantly looked up to meet his clear gold eyes with her deep blue ones.

"Why wouldn't you let me go after them? They were insulting you; you usually take a person's head off if they so much as look at Avaesel or me the wrong way! By the Darkness, I've had to take a bow out of your hands before you shot someone!"

She shook her head, her eyes scrunched closed, her breath coming out in a little hhhsss. "Luthar, there were more of them than us, and besides, even if you'd beat them to bloody pulps it wouldn't help the situation anyway."

His eyebrows rose at that. Situation? he thought.

He mimicked his thoughts. "Situation? Ara, have they been bothering you?"

At a brisk pace she started walking away from him. "Leave it alone, Luthar."

He stood rooted to the spot and scowled. It took him a moment to start walking again, taking a few quick steps to catch up to her (thankfully he was still taller than her, his legs still longer.) "What do you mean? I mean, I knew they were jerks, they were horrible to you when we were kids, but they quit after Orian mentioned them to my Father, right? They got their asses kicked! The only reason it wasn't worse was because they were kids! Ara!" He grabbed her arm, making her stop and talk to him.

She met his eyes with something like anger. "Leave it alone, Luthar." Her words were measured out like they hurt her teeth.

"Ara… they never stopped, did they? Just got smarter." His words were deadpan with a cold certainty. He felt his anger starting to simmer again, chilled this time. Deadlier.

"No, they never stopped. Happy?" Her words were snarled at him.

His voice was a chill wind. "You know I'm not happy."

Aravian shivered a bit, despite herself. She'd never seen Luthar like this. What had suddenly happened to her quiet friend? The bookworm with a strange fascination for landens? Mother Night, she'd never thought Luthar could be frightening.

His hand tightened on her arm. "You're going to go to your parents or my father and tell them." It wasn't a question.

"No."

His thin lips tightened. "You will, or I will, Aravian."

Aravian was starting to get angry. Luthar was ordering… her? "No! Damn you, I've, dealt with them for years. I can handle them!"

" 'You've dealt with them for years.' Hell's Fire, that's exactly why you should go to someone! Obviously whatever you're doing, or not doing if how you handled them before is any indication, it isn't working! You can't handle them, not if they're not stopping!"

She looked down at the ground, but her voice was strained and fierce. "Luthar, I can fight my fight my own battles. I don't need, or want, anyone else's help." And with that she jerked her arm out of his grasp and started walking again, though slow enough that he could easily walk beside her. He didn't.

Luthar felt like she'd punched him in the chest. He'd thought they were always there for each other, but obviously if she could keep this from him for so long, and brush him off like that, then they weren't. Damn her.

*~~~~~*

Luthar arrived at his party several minutes after Aravian, and got several curious glances from the people already there. He wasn't quite late for his own party, the only ones there already were his parents, Daemonar, Nickolaes and Saetan, with Sylvia. (A/N:see end authors note about that) The others hadn't arrived yet. And of course Aravian and Falonar.

Aravian was leaning against a window frame across the room, resolutely looking out it and not turning around. Nickolaes caught his eye and flicked a glance at Aravian, raising a concerned eyebrow. Luthar pretended he hadn't noticed, and went to stand with his parents and grandfather and Sylvia. They all wished him a warm happy birthday, pretending not to notice his and Aravian's separation. Daemonar and Nickolaes waved at him from near the door to the kitchen but didn't stop their conversation. Elasia went off to a corner and plunked down with thud, her mouth stretching in a jaw-cracking yawn.

After awhile, when everyone else had arrived and wished him their happy birthdays, and dinner had been served, he felt a brush of thick fur against his thigh and looked down to see Avaesel. *She didn't mean anything by it. She thinks that if she tells anyone they'll think she's weak.* Avaesel sent it on a spear thread.

He had finally managed to get himself away from all the others, although not from the odd glances that would flick from him to Aravian, and he didn't want to hear this. Luthar fought to keep his heart hard. *That's stupid. Aravian's one of the strongest people I know. But everyone needs help sometimes. She obviously just doesn't think she can trust any of us.*

Avaesel nudged his mammoth head against his hand. *You know how Aravian thinks. She doesn't even realize she insulted you, she just hates the thought of anyone thinking she can't handle something.*

Luthar reluctantly looked up to where Aravian had been standing before, with Lucivia and Teele and Lijah. She wasn't there anymore, and neither was Lucivia. Teele and Lijah looked concerned. He ignored that for the moment and looked back down at Avaesel. *You know, you really are smarter than most people.*

*Of course,* his winter voice was smug, *I'm a cat.*

*~~~~*

Aravian helped Marian with dishes in the kitchen. Occasionally Marian would look at her in a concerned way, but she left her to her own devices and didn't ask any questions. For that, Aravian was grateful.
It showed just how involved in her thoughts she was when she jumped at Lucivia's soft "Ara?" The older girl had entered and Marian gone without her even noticing.
"Yes?" She scrubbed at a glass harder as she heard a slight tremble in the word.
Lucivia lay a gentle hand on her shoulder. Her red jewel glittered in its gold setting on her long finger. When Aravian didn't shrug the hand away, she squeezed her shoulder lightly. "What's wrong, hon? You and Luthar have been acting strange all night."
Aravian hung her silver head. She didn't know how to explain what was wrong, when she wasn't even sure she knew herself. All she knew was, "I've ruined Luthar's birthday." She sniffled pathetically and hated herself for it.
Lucivia tilted her face up, looking surprised. She ran one finger along her cheek. A single silvery teardrop hung from it. She hugged Aravian around the shoulders. "Ara, are you crying? Con't cry. It's alright. Really. I'm sure you didn't ruin his birthday."
Aravian looked at the floor and shook her head. "Thanks, Lucivia, but just leave me alone, okay? Please?"
There was a pause. "Sure, Ara." She squeezed her shoulder and left.
Outside the door, Lucivia looked around with narrowed eyes. She spotted Luthar standing in a corner, to all appearances attempting to affect the persona of a potted plant. She made a beeline for him.
Flicking his shoulder a touch less than gently, she caught his attention so he met her eyes. She told him in a quiet voice that asked for no response, "Aravian is in the kitchen. I don't know what happened before, but I know she feels badly, Luthar. She's crying."
Luthar looked stricken. She rested her hand on his shoulder a moment before returning to her friends, who were mingling with Daemonar and his group. She spared only a moment of though to wonder where her oldest brother was.
Nickolaes had watched Aravian and his cousin most of the evening, extremely confused, sincerely concerned and intensely curious as to what the two could be fighting about. Nothing in his memory had split them, ever.
After Lucivia left the kitchen looking disquieted he slipped in behind her. He saw Aravian leaning against the countertop near the wall. Her eyes shot up to him when he entered, then away just as quickly.

He stood still just inside the doorway. "Aravian?"

She shifted. "You never call me 'Aravian.' " Her clear voice was quiet.

"Are you crying?" His eyebrows drew together and he took several steps into the room.

"No."

He touched her cheek lightly and she jumped. "Your face is wet." He drew his fingers away.

Her darker eyes met his a little belligerently. His gaze was more unnerving than his sisters, his eyes being a pale ice-like shade of blue in his golden face and dark hair. "It's nothing," she said roughly. She didn't care if she sounded rude; she was mad he'd seen her like this. Behind him, in the doorway where he'd just been, she saw Luthar.

Nickolaes must have seen her gaze shift, because he turned. He glanced between them and said tactfully, "I think I'll go see what Daemonar's doing," and left.

Luthar and Aravian stood looking at each other for a moment. Then he shifted and asked uneasily, "Are you crying?"

She stamped her foot. "Hells Fire, Mother Night and may the Darkness be merciful! If one more person asks me that I'll- I'll… well I'll do something rash, I swear I will!"

The corner of his mouth quirked up in a smile. Then he sighed. "Ara…I don't know. Listen, if you don't want me to, I won't tell anyone about… you know."

She nodded and dragged a hand across each cheek. He gave her a rough hug, and she squeaked (an annoyingly feminine sound in her opinion) before squirming away with a half-annoyed smile. Things were back to normal.

*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*

Okay, I'm thinking of writing a ficlet of when Jaenelle returns after QotD. It would also explain why Saetan lives at the Hall and with Sylvia, despite that thing at the end of QotD. Should I do it, or just write a paragraph at the beginning of some chapter like I did to explain her schedule?

Any way, here are the thank yous … I love you people, and remember, if you hurt me you'll never get the next chapter! **cowers**

Skie: hehe.. next chapter soon… riiiight. Erm. **coughs** I'll remember that bit of advice about a car J I'm sure north shore and tinley park are no different, so that'll be useful when I have to argue with my dad (who drives a ford). And yes, about the Luthar-Aravian. Don't be so observant! Although I guess I wasn't exactly subtle. ;)

Kiana Darkk: You know, the way you keep changing your name's a tad confusing! Lol. No more switches, pweeeese???? Glad that people like Elasia!

Alanna Roseguard: Mwuhahaha! People love Elasia! The Evil Plan takes form! Erm **looks around nervously** Thanks for the review… *sidles away*

Goddessnmb1: Oh god, another request for chapters soon! You people are conspiring to make me feel guilty, aren't you?! Thanks much for reviewing!

Wordweaver: Lol. Good to see others see my logic! Thanks for reviewing.

StorytellingStar: Cool pen name, btw. Thanks so much for the great review! Erm, 'dying for the next several chapters' eh? Hehehe…. **looking around nervously**

Fire in my soul: Oh, another person who said they couldn't wait *starts crying with guilt* What's your idea for your fic? If you want a beta, send me an e-mail! (Deastra@aol.com)

Keesha: I do have trouble writing long chapters.. I'm attempting to work on it. You'll have to wait and see about Aravian and Luthar!! I'm not answering that! And the Familiars do get along… sort of :-/ J I'm glad you like the story, thanks for the review!

Cat: Lol, quick, to the point. Thanks for the… succinct review! ;)

Lady Amethyst: **immensely flattered** Thank you! I can't believe this is your fave, it has no plotline so far! (But you've seen it start in this chapter!) **reads over response so far** You know what I mean. Anyway, you are so nice, thank you so much, I'm so sorry, and thank you!!

Kapies: You weren't going to review?! Well, see what reviewing gets you? It gets you the next chapter ;)