People had questions/comments that I could actually answer/respond to! So here goes:

Rosefyre: premarital sex is okay within the tribes. However, all those who choose to partake in risky behavior will be held responsible for all the consequences their actions may bring about.

QueenFrosteen: very good question! Kaprice doesn't exactly have the Gift. The gods gave her their power for one purpose: to give her the ability to change the past. That's the only thing it could actively do. She wasn't born with it, the power isn't hers (like the Graveyard hag and Daine's ability to raise dead dinosaurs). She can't light candles, she can't turn men into trees, she can't shoot lightning bolts out of her fingers. The few perks that the power came with, however, allows her to also have a little of the Sight (knowing random things), but her Sight isn't very reliable. The only reliable thing her power offers her is the fact that she could see other people's magic (think of the coal-thing the Goddess gave to Alanna that allows Alanna to see magic). But you'll learn more about that later. And just as Daine had to return her dinosaur power, Kaprice will have to return hers (when and if it's all over). So, basically Kaprice doesn't have the worries of an untrained Gift since it's not the Gift and not her own power.

Demented-dreamer: I'm glad your willing to love Ryker for Kaprice's sake, but what if Kaprice doesn't want him anymore? Ryker and Kaprice get together? Hmm…we'll have to see about that *smile*. And guess what? You will learn what happened three years ago in the next few minutes if you keep reading! However, it won't be from Kaprice or Ryker's point of view…

Regen: sorry about the confusion. Ryker is very rational and levelheaded about things…as long as they don't concern Kaprice.

ThePenMage: *smile* I would give Ryker to you, if he was mine to give away. Sadly, he's not. He's his own man…err…character. Maybe if you keep your fingers crossed, he won't be married to one of the tribal girls (or Kaprice) by the end of the story. To you and MagixPawn both: I'm glad you like Ryker's name.

For everyone who asked me if I can update faster: I would if I could. But I won't be able to keep up with writing enough chapters to post one each day. And I'm not sure if rosefyre could beta within a day either. But hey, at least I am updating every other day, right?

Alright, that's it. Here's a 'thanks!' to everyone who reviewed. I would have loved to leave everyone a response, but I don't want to bore you. However, if u do want me to leave you a response, leave me an interesting/strange review. It's a sure way to get me to respond.

Warning, Warning: I'm changing perspectives again. The first part is from the Goddess' view, but we do get back to Kaprice toward the end.

7. Pity

The Goddess' head was cocked to the side; she was looking into a mirror.

But she wasn't looking at her reflection.

There were the slightest of footsteps behind her, and she immediately recognized the gait.

"You are watching the mortals again," Mithros' voice rumbled behind her.

The picture of the handsome, sandy haired young man, his face creased with worry, disappeared from the mirror's surface. The Goddess turned to face the other god. "Yes," she agreed.

Mithros shook his head. "You shouldn't watch them so much. Your pity for the girl increases at every viewing."

"So what are you saying? That I shouldn't watch her any longer?" The Goddess scoffed.

He shrugged. "I can have someone else watch."

"No." The tone the Goddess used clearly expressed her refusal. "I will watch her."

Mithros stared at her, clearly displeased.

"It was agreed that she would be my responsibility. You can have someone else watch her," she said, waving her hand in a dismissive manner, "but I will continue to watch."

"Do you consider that wise?" he asked after a moment.

She gave an indifferent shrug. She then turned back to the mirror. Instead of showing her the young man again, this time it showed her a solitary figure, wrapped entirely in a desert robe from head to toe, walking tiredly on the desert sands. Even though the desert hood covered the person's head and face, the was no mistakening who it was.

"The footprints that she left behind have been taken care of. The tribesmen will not be able to trace and retrieve her. Our plan is going well."

She heard what he said but did not give any signal to acknowledge it.

Mithros sighed before walking away.

He was afraid that she would let her pity interfere with what they had to do.

And truth be told, she was afraid of that too.

Kaprice was at a good age; ready to take the action that was necessary. The gods had been waiting for this moment for nineteen years. They had waited. They had cursed. They had sighed. And now the moment was finally here. Everything was going according to plan.

There had been a few moments when things hadn't been going as they had wanted. But the gods had quickly interfered and set things to rights again.

For example, when the young Ryker had first come into Kaprice's life at her first Dawne, he had swept her off her feet. And she had been so happy…

But the gods couldn't have that. That disturbed their plans. And so the gods had implanted an idea into the mind of one of the mortals, a mortal who was a friend of Ryker's and part of his clan.

And the mortal had acted on the idea perfectly, luring Ryker away from Kaprice the morning after the last night of Dawne. He had told Ryker that something had happened out in the desert: his father and a couple of the other tribe's men had wandered out during the night and been attacked savagely by a beast. He had told Ryker that assistance was needed immediately.

Ryker had been furious after traveling a sizeable distance away into the desert with several of his other comrades and discovering that his father and the others were healthy and whole.

And he was even more so after the others told him that they would not let him return back to camp.

Back to Kaprice.

And he had not even told her beforehand that he was leaving, for he had thought that he would be back in time to properly say goodbye.

Poor girl…

She was so unhappy. So unsatisfied with her life.

But it was necessary. The gods needed her to be unsatisfied, elsewise she'd never be willing to leave. And they needed her to. They needed her to run away.

But that didn't mollify her pity for the girl.

She wished there was some other way…

~*~*~*~

Kaprice gave a frustrated cry and threw her canteen down by her feet. She had just finished her water, and she was still thirsty. And hungry.

She was utterly exhausted, but she'd been unwilling to stop and rest for too long.

She had walked through the night; now, she was guessing that it was sometime mid-day. She hadn't stopped for the desperately needed sleep because she wanted as much distance between her and the camp as possible. If they found her now…

Well, it doesn't really matter now. Even if they don't find me, I'll find my death just wandering here on the sand.

She was dead either way. Unless, by some chance, she found an oasis.

She quickly scanned the horizon, hoping…hoping…

But not finding.

With a great sigh, she plopped herself down onto the warm sand. She leaned back to lie on her back, careful of her shoulder which had continued to throb painfully even though the bleeding had stopped hours ago.

She closed her eyes as sleep came over her, no longer caring if the mischievous wind decided to bury her under sand while she slept.

~*~*~

A.N. - a short chapter, but oh well. Thanks for responding to my question last chapter. But now I'm not sure if I should be happy or worried that most everybody likes Ryker. *makes face*

there, didn't I tell you that you would find out what happened three years ago? Of course, it is from the Goddess' point of view, so it will be different from Kaprice's, but now you know.

So, story status: 1. kaprice is stuck wandering in the desert with no provisions.

2. The gods are happy that their plan is going well.

3. Mindy confronts Ryker, and Ryker must …oh wait…that's part of the next chapter. You haven't read that part yet. I must remember not to give things away too early.

Well, alright, till next time then. And I'd really like it if you reviewed (I'll give you all the coconuts you want; my monkey has a secret stash up his…heh…nevermind)

~krizsta