Will the kyree be able to help Yyira come to terms with her Gift? Or will the frightened child lock herself away within her own mind forever?

Can the love of one cub keep her sane, regardless?

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A Pile of Puppies

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:Are you sure about this, Huorra?: Winterstar Mindsent for what had to be the twentieth time that morning.

The kyree flicked an ear at him, and he got the impression that she was growing annoyed with his fretful worrying. :We can't take her to the Vale, not until you clear it with the Elders. My Clan will take care of her until then.:

Winterstar nodded, glancing over at the child who walked on the other side of the kyree, one small hand curled tightly in Huorra's neck ruff. Autumn brown hair highlighted with russet and gold hung down her back in a clumsy braid; she hadn't allowed him to touch her since the night she'd ran to them. Considering what Huorra had told him about where the child had lived, he understood her fears, but it still hurt. A Tayledras would never harm a child, especially not like that.

Wide, dark brown eyes gazed around the forest where they walked, amazement and curiosity shining in their liquid depths. Her face was sharp, all angles and hard edges, too thin from never having enough to eat. As it was, she was an unusually pretty child. When her face fleshed out and gained some healthy color, she'd be beautiful.

Yyira seemed to sense him watching her, and turned her head to look at him nervously. Winterstar tried giving her a reassuring smile, and was met only with suspicion.

:It will take time, Winterstar.: Huorra Sent softly, her 'voice full of affectionate comfort. :You shouldn't let her reluctance to trust hurt you so.:

:I know. I know. But--:

= = = = = = = = = = = = =

Yyira was overwhelmed by the vast forest she found herself in, the enormous trees towering so far above her that she couldn't see their tops. She listened in wonder to all the sounds the forest made; the fluting song of an unseen bird, the rustle of a foraging animal, the whisper of wind through the leaves.

But most of all, she listened to the silence. The blessed silence within her own mind.

Her fingers tightened in Huorra's thick fur, and the kyree flattened her ears. Yyira quickly loosened her grip, apologetically petting and smoothing the gray-brown fur back into place. It was kind of strange that the creature that had so terrified Yyira that first night was now the only creature she trusted.

But Huorra had made the voices inside her head go away. Huorra had taught her how to keep those voices from ever coming back.

She didn't trust the man with the silver hair and pale blue eyes. Ice eyes that looked at her with thoughts she couldn't read, couldn't hear. Huorra had told her that Winterstar could be trusted, that he was a good man and wouldn't harm her. And he had shown her nothing but  gentle kindness so far, generously sharing his food, finding her places to bathe and always respecting the boundaries she had thrown up around herself. Speaking to her with a soft voice in a language she couldn't understand.

She wanted to trust him, wanted to curl up safe in his arms and let his beautiful, alien words sing away the bad dreams.

But he was a man, and men had horrible thoughts. Men did terrible, frightening things that hurt pretty little girls.

Bad girl. Bad girls must be punished.

= = = = = = = = = = = = =

:I'm worried, Winterstar.: Huorra padded across the large cavern, coming to a stop at the edge of the hot spring where Winterstar bathed. They'd been at the kyree Clan's caves for three days, and this was the first time he'd seen his friend.

:What's wrong?: he asked, sitting up straighter as he turned to look at her.

:It is the cub, Yyira. I'm afraid…: the kyree hesitated, and Winterstar could taste her fear through the mindlink.

:Huorra, what's happened?:

:She's locking herself inside her own mind, Winterstar. She won't 'Speak to any of us, not even to my son. And her nightmares are growing steadily worse. I'm afraid that she's…:

:Driving herself mad.: Winterstar finished.

Fear chilled his blood, making his heart pound, a deafening thudding inside his ears. An insane, tortured child with that powerful a Gift… He shuddered. The thought didn't bear thinking.

He heaved himself out of the pool, water streaming from his body and soaking Huorra's fur as she pressed herself against his legs. He reached for the towel folded by his clothing, quickly drying himself off before wrapping it around his long hair.

He stroked Huorra's muzzle, rubbed reassuringly behind her ears. :I'm going to get Shadowhawk. She's a Mindhealer.:

= = = = = = = = = = = = =

Bad girls must be punished. Worthless whore. Ungrateful bitch.

Yyira hid in one of the strange alcoves that riddled the kyree caverns. The odd, rippling stone curtain shielded her from sight, and the soft green globe above her head was soothing.

But the memories… she couldn't hide from the memories. They crowded inside her mind, replacing the voices she'd thought were gone forever. Whispering, hurting, crowding, pushing, pushing, pushing, always pushing. Pushing her closer and closer to the edge of sanity, towards the abyss filled with nightmare images of cruel men and frightened children.

:Yyira-friend?:

The voice brushed lightly against her mind, fuzzy and curious. The memories receded.

:Yyira-friend?:

A questing muzzle was stuck beneath the stone curtain, nostrils flaring as the owner snuffled inquisitively at her feet.

:Yyira-friend!:

Laarn bounded into the alcove, cheerfully squashing her as he crowded into the tiny space and licked her tear-streaked face in affectionate greeting.

:Yyira-friend is hurt. Yyira-friend shouldn't hurt.: The concerned puppy nosed at her arms until he got her to hug his neck. :Yyira-friend come play with Laarn? Laugh and play and make hurt go away.:

She got an image of several kyree cubs playing together, bounding after a bouncing ball of mage energy in a game of Catch and Keep. Laarn was inviting her to play with them. She wasn't sure just when the young cub had adopted her and made her mind communal territory. But he was the only one who spoke to her, innocently bounding past her shields and blocks no matter how strong she made them.

:Yyira-friend come play?: the cub asked again, sticking his cold nose into her ear and making her squeak.

:Yes, Laarn, I'll come play.: Yyira gave in easily. It was hard to deny Laarn anything, and his puppyish exuberance was catching. And, though she wouldn't admit it, she was glad for his friendship, and his presence within her mind. He kept the memories away, chased them out where they couldn't hurt her anymore.

He swiped his tongue across her face again before bouncing out of the alcove. Pushing the curtain aside, she followed him, laughing.

When he wasn't curled up on top of her, he was a rangy young pup, all long legs and overlarge paws and too-big ears perked up on top of his head. His tongue lolled out of the side of his mouth as he dropped his jaw open in a grin, his tail wagging happily. His thoughts brushed her mind once more, wordless and full of love, before he bounded out of the cavern.

Heart lifting, Yyira raced after him, her waking nightmare forgotten in childish fun.

= = = = = = = = = = = = =

Huorra gazed affectionately at the pile of puppies all collapsed in an exhausted heap, one on top of the other. Hope stirred in her heart as she noticed Yyira curled up in the middle of the pile, one thin, pale arm thrown over the black-furred shoulder of her son, Laarn. Maybe they could help the human-cub after all.

:You did good today, Laarn.:

:She's mine, mother. I have to help her.: the cub replied sleepily.

Huorra rose and padded silently from the chamber, heart suddenly heavy. He was so young. They were both so young to form such a Bond.

Winterstar, please hurry. Before she drags my son down into madness with her.