Author's note: Um…not much to say, really. Thanks for the reviews; Add, quarries are full of rock…witness almost any Power Rangers episode…and Tara senses through rock or earth more easily than man-made objects, like houses. A fight in a quarry would catch her attention very quickly, I think…and since I'm the author, what I say goes.
I'm joking. Except for the bit about rock and earth. That bit's true.
Chapter 2: History Lessons.
"Merrick?"
He tilted his head in her direction. "It's getting busy in here. Maybe we should bug out?"
"Why?"
"{Because you've beaten up most of these people at one time or another. And they're looking quite excited, and sort of crowding around.}" He frowned at the Animarian but nodded and rose to his feet. She slipped her hand into the crook of his arm and managed to guide him off the floor without walking into anything.
"I can manage." he said brusquely once they were out of the bar.
"I have no doubt." Tara agreed.
"Are you going to leave?" Merrick demanded.
"I don't think so, no."
"I do not need a minder." he said through gritted teeth.
"I know that."
"Then why are you here?"
Tara was silent for a long time. "Tell me, Merrick…do you know of nuclear weapons?"
"Answer the question."
"I am." He sighed.
"Yes."
"The first test was—fifty years or more ago. It was tested on an island—miles from anywhere, uninhabited." Her voice had gone cold and remote. "The bomb exploded, and it was as though—as though hot lead had been poured into my gut. I collapsed…I am told I was unconscious for almost a week. And when I woke I could not feel the earth."
"Stop." Merrick said softly. Ignoring him, she went on.
"In all my life since the War, I have never been separate from the earth like that. It took four days before I could feel anything…nearly a month, for it to be as it was before." She took a step towards him, laying one hand on his arm. "I am here because even you feel fear. I am here because there was no one to be there for me."
"I'm not afraid." Merrick said.
"I am." He frowned at her. "You're a warrior, Merrick. You've always been a warrior. I'm afraid you will try to fight this way. I'm afraid more people will be affected." He stared uselessly in her direction for a long moment.
"You sound like the Princess," he muttered finally, "or Cole."
"We're all right about this. Never mind now, though. Where are we going?"
Merrick blinked. "I am going to my room. You do not need to come."
"We've been through this, Merrick. Not leaving, remember? You may as well just get used to me." Merrick muttered under his breath but didn't raise any more objections.
*****************************************************************************
Tara waited patiently outside his room for some time; when he stopped moving around she went in.
"Tara?" Merrick asked, startled.
"Yes, Merrick."
"What are you doing?" Her hand touched his arm and he jumped.
"Not leaving."
"Not…what do you mean?" She laughed a little.
"Go to sleep, Merrick. I'll be here if you wake up." He moved his arm slightly; her hand moved with him.
"You won't be able to sleep."
"I'm not tired." Sighing, he gave up and lay back.
******************************************************************************
Half an hour later Tara laughed softly.
"You'd sleep easier if you actually relaxed, Merrick."
"Easy for you to say." Merrick grumped. She shifted slightly. "What are you doing?"
"Moving so my leg doesn't fall asleep. Relax, Merrick." She was silent for a moment, then she started humming.
"What is that?" She broke off.
"Music, Merrick." Before he could say anything, she went on, "My people used this tune as an aid to meditation. I sang it, after a major battle in the War, to help calm and heal the earth and the troops who had fought."
"Did it help?"
"I thought so at the time. I'm not sure now. I was very young then, and I was only beginning to learn what I could do."
"How young?"
"Six hundred odd." Merrick smiled faintly.
"Not so young."
"Depends on your scale. My brother was over two and a half thousand then." The wistfulness in her voice prompted him to ask, "What happened to him?"
"He left. I made him go." She sat in silence for a moment before going on, "We had a…refuge. A place where no evil was allowed, and no one died or was hurt…but the trip was one-way. Once you were there, you didn't return."
"And he went to this place and left you?"
"He didn't want to. He and I were the last of our kind. But I couldn't leave. And he…" She must have lowered her head; her next words were muffled. "He didn't belong here. Much as most of the people of Animaria wouldn't; they were too different." Merrick nodded, understanding what she meant.
"How long ago?"
She hesitated before answering, "Before Animaria."
"A long time to be alone."
"You would know." she said wryly. "I am not truly alone, though. I have Earth to keep me company."
"Except when you don't." Merrick muttered.
Tara was silent for a long time after that, and finally Merrick moved, sitting upright. Her hand fell away from his arm but she didn't move away from the bed.
"Tara?"
"Yes, Merrick." Her voice was perfectly calm and level. He hesitated, and finally she sighed. "Lie down, Merrick."
"You are angry."
"Yes. I am. Lie down."
"Why are you angry?"
"That was a hateful thing to say, Merrick. I am trying to help you. Would you rather Cole was here to get you around? Alyssa?" She paused for just a second before going on to say, "Princess Shayla?"
"No." he said softly. "I would not."
"Then stop trying to drive me away. Now lie down. Dawn is only a few hours away." She began humming again, picking up the same tune, and Merrick found himself relaxing into sleep.
