AN: Thank you to Banadar and Heir Guardian for being the first two to
review! Just so you know this is the revised version of my story and if
you've read it before I think you should reread it and let me know what you
think!
Disclaimer: Check back to chapter one!
Chapter Two
If it had been something they recognized Kara would have said so. So Flier asked the dyheli to stop moving and she strung her bow, she always carried with her outside the Vale. ::Kara, get a better look. Where? How far away?:: She looked around vainly -- the forest was so thick the beast could get just outside the little clearing they were in.
Kara came in to let Flier use her eyes. ::Behind us, looks like a horse, close:: With that message came a picture of the most beautiful horse Highflier had ever seen, all white with blue and silver tack, the mane and tail was free of forest debris despite (or maybe in spite of) his trek. "Oh!" Was all she could say, she dismounted before she even thought of what she was doing. The dyheli stag was conspicuously silent, but she didn't notice because at that moment the stallion calmly walked into the clearing.
A thousand thoughts ran through her head, mostly along the line of 'who owns him, how could they be so careless and lose him.' and, 'Where would an Errolds Grove villager get the money for him?' It seemed the only logical thing was to assume that he was lost from the village. But.
The stallion walked right up to her and she got the feeling that he was deeply amused. She realized that to anyone who hadn't been brought up around dyheli would have been confused by it. With a whinny that sounded like a laugh he promptly answered her questions, because when she looked into his eyes it seemed the world ceased to exist. She lost all the anger and sadness she had earlier, now there was just a feeling of happiness. There was a brush across her mind and a voice unlike the ones she knew spoke.
::I Choose you, little sister.::
And with those simple, yet complex, words came the feeling of wholeness, like finding you other half, the half you didn't know was missing.
"Y-you Choose me?" Flier whispered, afraid if she talked any louder this wonderful Companion would go away. He nodded.
::Talion.:: he told her in his deeply warm, amused mental voice.
"Talion? Oh, your name?" She asked and again he nodded. She had a million questions to ask but the first one she could think of was, "Where is Mees?" She looked around and couldn't see him.
::I sent him back to your home, little sister.::
"Oh, ah, thank you." She winced at how stupid she sounded, but what did one say to a Companion?
There was a dry mental chuckle. ::Why, anything you want of course. And now it is time go Chosen, get on.:: That brought her out of her shocked numbness. And in replace of that numbness was joy, pure and simple. She threw her arms around him and wept in relief and happiness. Now she didn't feel so directionless, there was no more indecision. It was un-debatable, she *would* be a herald!
When she was done the Companion -her Companion- turned so that she could mount up. As she did so her bond-bird, until this moment forgotten, sent down a message from the canopy up top. ::Me like him, make bond mate happy again.:: It wasn't until then that Flier realized how her unhappiness must have been affecting her falcon.
There was something worrying her, sort of in the back of her mind, and she knew it was important, but all thoughts flew out of her head as Talion suddenly leaped ahead, just as quickly pivoted and galloped back toward the Vale at a canter that would have been breakneck in an ordinary horse, especially in a forest as tick as this. ::First,:: Talion told her, ::We must tell someone what has happened, so there is no panicking.:: She gave her agreement in mind-speech since his mane was in her face. ::They won't try to stop me at least.:: She remembered being told about how her Aunt Shandi had to be raced out of the village because her family would have stopped her.
When they got just outside the Vale she saw people sitting in a clearing. One was her magic teacher Healing-Adept Firesong, another was his mate, the kestra'chern Siverfox. He'd taught her how to use her Gift of Empathy. The other one was her father.
What are they doing out here? She thought. They seem to be waiting for someone. Oh, probably just for mum. At that moment Silverfox looked up the trail and saw her, his eyes widened slightly. She had never had the satisfaction of seeing Silverfox surprised before. (Though if she didn't have too much respect for him she probably could have startled him by sneaking up on him.) The other two broke off their conversation and followed Silverfox's gaze. She couldn't see Firesong's reaction behind his mask though she sensed he was surprised then disappointed. Her father though was dumbfounded, but as Talion slowed his canter and trotted sedately up to them ( putting on a show Firesong would be proud of.) his shock melted away to delight and she let go of the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.
"Well, this is a surprise," Darian Firkin understated.
"His name's Talion, he chose me," she said for lack of anything else to say.
"Well," Firesong sighed, "I guess that means I will not get to finish your training." So he was disappointed! And to think it was over me. She mused distractedly. "But say hello to Herald Elspeth, Darkwind, Envoy Karal, and Herald Talia for me please."
Silverfox also sighed, "I will miss you little one. It was quite fun watching you sneak up on Firesong." Silverfox chuckled. "Not many who can do that even though he is getting old!" He tugged playfully on Firesong's braid; the latter just rolled his eyes and promptly reminded Silverfox of his age.
She was eternally grateful to Silverfox for making light of this situation; otherwise she would just be a ball of nerves. Highflier looked at her father who was looking at her. "Father?" She asked timidly, suddenly not sure. Her fears were put to rest when Darian just smiled and walked towards her. She leaned down when he was beside Talion and he gave her a strong hug and a kiss on the forehead. Giggling a little Flier looked up and saw a whole troop of hertasi suddenly surrounding them, appearing as quietly as shadow. That made her think of the new name her brother and friends made for her. So, while the hertasi loaded Talion's saddle bags with provisions she told the mages about it. "What do you think?" She asked finally.
Her father smiled again. "That, lovey, is up to you. Do you like it?" His response left her startled, the other two nodded in agreement. "If you choose 'Shadowcat' for your name then that will most likely be your name until you die."
"Yes, I like it a lot, will you tell everyone?" She choked out at last, her throat tight with emotions.
Her father smiled and nodded as the hertasi finished their packing. Talion whirled around and cantered off, the newly named Shadowcat turned back and waved until she couldn't see them anymore. Cat felt a stab of regret, she had wanted time to say good-bye to her mother.
::There is always the holidays little sister.::
With that thought lodged firmly in her mind Cat turned around and faced forward into the unknown, she smiled.
Disclaimer: Check back to chapter one!
Chapter Two
If it had been something they recognized Kara would have said so. So Flier asked the dyheli to stop moving and she strung her bow, she always carried with her outside the Vale. ::Kara, get a better look. Where? How far away?:: She looked around vainly -- the forest was so thick the beast could get just outside the little clearing they were in.
Kara came in to let Flier use her eyes. ::Behind us, looks like a horse, close:: With that message came a picture of the most beautiful horse Highflier had ever seen, all white with blue and silver tack, the mane and tail was free of forest debris despite (or maybe in spite of) his trek. "Oh!" Was all she could say, she dismounted before she even thought of what she was doing. The dyheli stag was conspicuously silent, but she didn't notice because at that moment the stallion calmly walked into the clearing.
A thousand thoughts ran through her head, mostly along the line of 'who owns him, how could they be so careless and lose him.' and, 'Where would an Errolds Grove villager get the money for him?' It seemed the only logical thing was to assume that he was lost from the village. But.
The stallion walked right up to her and she got the feeling that he was deeply amused. She realized that to anyone who hadn't been brought up around dyheli would have been confused by it. With a whinny that sounded like a laugh he promptly answered her questions, because when she looked into his eyes it seemed the world ceased to exist. She lost all the anger and sadness she had earlier, now there was just a feeling of happiness. There was a brush across her mind and a voice unlike the ones she knew spoke.
::I Choose you, little sister.::
And with those simple, yet complex, words came the feeling of wholeness, like finding you other half, the half you didn't know was missing.
"Y-you Choose me?" Flier whispered, afraid if she talked any louder this wonderful Companion would go away. He nodded.
::Talion.:: he told her in his deeply warm, amused mental voice.
"Talion? Oh, your name?" She asked and again he nodded. She had a million questions to ask but the first one she could think of was, "Where is Mees?" She looked around and couldn't see him.
::I sent him back to your home, little sister.::
"Oh, ah, thank you." She winced at how stupid she sounded, but what did one say to a Companion?
There was a dry mental chuckle. ::Why, anything you want of course. And now it is time go Chosen, get on.:: That brought her out of her shocked numbness. And in replace of that numbness was joy, pure and simple. She threw her arms around him and wept in relief and happiness. Now she didn't feel so directionless, there was no more indecision. It was un-debatable, she *would* be a herald!
When she was done the Companion -her Companion- turned so that she could mount up. As she did so her bond-bird, until this moment forgotten, sent down a message from the canopy up top. ::Me like him, make bond mate happy again.:: It wasn't until then that Flier realized how her unhappiness must have been affecting her falcon.
There was something worrying her, sort of in the back of her mind, and she knew it was important, but all thoughts flew out of her head as Talion suddenly leaped ahead, just as quickly pivoted and galloped back toward the Vale at a canter that would have been breakneck in an ordinary horse, especially in a forest as tick as this. ::First,:: Talion told her, ::We must tell someone what has happened, so there is no panicking.:: She gave her agreement in mind-speech since his mane was in her face. ::They won't try to stop me at least.:: She remembered being told about how her Aunt Shandi had to be raced out of the village because her family would have stopped her.
When they got just outside the Vale she saw people sitting in a clearing. One was her magic teacher Healing-Adept Firesong, another was his mate, the kestra'chern Siverfox. He'd taught her how to use her Gift of Empathy. The other one was her father.
What are they doing out here? She thought. They seem to be waiting for someone. Oh, probably just for mum. At that moment Silverfox looked up the trail and saw her, his eyes widened slightly. She had never had the satisfaction of seeing Silverfox surprised before. (Though if she didn't have too much respect for him she probably could have startled him by sneaking up on him.) The other two broke off their conversation and followed Silverfox's gaze. She couldn't see Firesong's reaction behind his mask though she sensed he was surprised then disappointed. Her father though was dumbfounded, but as Talion slowed his canter and trotted sedately up to them ( putting on a show Firesong would be proud of.) his shock melted away to delight and she let go of the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.
"Well, this is a surprise," Darian Firkin understated.
"His name's Talion, he chose me," she said for lack of anything else to say.
"Well," Firesong sighed, "I guess that means I will not get to finish your training." So he was disappointed! And to think it was over me. She mused distractedly. "But say hello to Herald Elspeth, Darkwind, Envoy Karal, and Herald Talia for me please."
Silverfox also sighed, "I will miss you little one. It was quite fun watching you sneak up on Firesong." Silverfox chuckled. "Not many who can do that even though he is getting old!" He tugged playfully on Firesong's braid; the latter just rolled his eyes and promptly reminded Silverfox of his age.
She was eternally grateful to Silverfox for making light of this situation; otherwise she would just be a ball of nerves. Highflier looked at her father who was looking at her. "Father?" She asked timidly, suddenly not sure. Her fears were put to rest when Darian just smiled and walked towards her. She leaned down when he was beside Talion and he gave her a strong hug and a kiss on the forehead. Giggling a little Flier looked up and saw a whole troop of hertasi suddenly surrounding them, appearing as quietly as shadow. That made her think of the new name her brother and friends made for her. So, while the hertasi loaded Talion's saddle bags with provisions she told the mages about it. "What do you think?" She asked finally.
Her father smiled again. "That, lovey, is up to you. Do you like it?" His response left her startled, the other two nodded in agreement. "If you choose 'Shadowcat' for your name then that will most likely be your name until you die."
"Yes, I like it a lot, will you tell everyone?" She choked out at last, her throat tight with emotions.
Her father smiled and nodded as the hertasi finished their packing. Talion whirled around and cantered off, the newly named Shadowcat turned back and waved until she couldn't see them anymore. Cat felt a stab of regret, she had wanted time to say good-bye to her mother.
::There is always the holidays little sister.::
With that thought lodged firmly in her mind Cat turned around and faced forward into the unknown, she smiled.