The Beginning
" Why were you gone?" Ardeth asked Mariana.
" Evelyn came and got me…she had a vision and she was scared." Mariana answered.
" A vision? Of what?" Ardeth asked.
" Rick dying." Mariana said with a bit of a choke.
" How?" Ardeth asked.
" She didn't see all of it, all she saw was him dying, then she woke up." Mariana answered.
" Well, the least you could have done was tell me you were leaving." Ardeth said a little irritated.
Mariana's expression changed from one of sadness to one of anger.
" If she had wanted me to wake anyone else up, I would have!" Mariana snapped.
Ardeth stepped back. She was angry and he didn't want to provoke her anymore than he already had.
" I'm sorry Mariana, your right." Ardeth said and sat over on the bed.
Mariana sighed.
" Its not your fault…I guess giving up my robes has effected me more than I thought it would…I'm turning back into the person I was before I became a Medji." Mariana stated sitting down beside Ardeth.
Ardeth nodded. He had noticed that too. Back then, she had no control over her power…they were wild…but her attitude had changed. Now, if anyone made her mad in the smallest portion, she could and would kill. Ardeth silently hoped that neither visions would come true…suddenly, there was darkness in the room.
Mariana and Ardeth looked at each other at the same time. Mariana stood up.
" He's here." she stated.
Both of them ran out the door and down the hall to get Rick and Evy…their fight was about to begin.
Rick and Evy had been talking and stopped when they noticed it had gotten dark before it was even time to.
" Rick…" Evy said looking nervous.
" It just got dark. Its not suppose to be dark." Rick said sarcastically, grabbing his rug sack.
" Lets go find Ardeth and Mariana." Rick said walking to the door. He opened it.
" Ahhh!" Rick screamed.
Evy screamed at Rick screaming.
" Geese!" Rick said angrily, lowering his fist from where he was bout to punch the person because they had scared him.
" O'Connell." Ardeth started.
Rick looked in Ardeths eyes.
" He's here isn't he?" Rick asked.
" Yes." Mariana replied.
" But, he cant be here, we haven't figured out what we are going to do." Rick said.
" I think that's why he's here, he knows we probably don't have a plan yet." Evy said looking at Mariana, who looked back.
" Yeah, and he wants to make sure we don't get one." Mariana replied looking back at Evy.
" Great." Rick said looking around, then at Evy.
" Well, we had better come up with one right now." Rick said.
" Right." Ardeth replied.
" O'Connell! O'Connell!" Izzy yelled coming into the room.
" What the hell is going on? I know you know, you probably ticked someone off!" Izzy said.
" Izzy, calm down, its time to get serious. Do you think if it came down to it, you could fly?" Rick asked putting his hand on Izzy's shoulder.
" I…I suppose, but where am I going to get a plane?" Izzy asked.
" Where do you usually get one?" Rick replied.
" O'Connell, I cant work there, much less borrow a plane." Izzy replied.
" Izzy, I don't think you'll have to worry about someone trying to stop you from taking a plane, they will have other things on their mind." Rick answered.
" Aright find I'll try O'Connell…what do you mean other things?" Izzy asked.
" Don't worry, just do what your told, and be ready to go when you see us." Rick answered.
" Right, I'll do my best O'Connell." Izzy said leaving.
" Right, now as for us…" Rick said starting to talk.
Evy looked at Mariana with a look of worry. Mariana did the same.
Shakiri and Yakah were watching Alex play, and Jonathan was unconscious laying on the bed from drinking too much *water*. All of a sudden, it got dark. Shakiri and Yakah looked at each other strongly.
" Little O'Connell, it is time to protect you." Shakiri said to Alex who stopped playing and looked up.
Yakah walked over to Jonathan and tried waking him. Jonathan wouldn't wake. Yakah looked at Shakiri then he yelled " Yallah!"
Jonathan jumped up and fell off the bed.
" What the bloody…" Jonathan yelled half scared.
" You, it is best you stay sober now." Yakah interrupted.
" What? Why? What's going on?" Jonathan asked.
" He has come." Shakiri replied.
" Who?" Jonathan said stumbling over to Alex.
" Kurai." both the Medji's answered together.
" Here?" At the fort?" Jonathan asked.
" No, he is not here, but wherever your family is, they must not be far from him…much less here." Shakiri said looking out the window.
" Well, then you had better do good at protecting my nephew!" Jonathan said seriously.
" Do not worry, it is why we are here." Shakiri answered.
" Oh, and seeing as how there are two of you…maybe one of you can protect me?" Jonathan asked shyly.
They looked at him.
" Do not worry, no harm will come to either of you." he replied.
" Good." Jonathan answered.
" You stupid animals! You have no common sense!" Malik yelled still trying to get out of her cage. She saw that it was dark.
" Oh boy, its starting…I hope everyone is alright." she said to herself.
" I hope Alex will be alright." Evy said grabbing what she was going to need.
" Evy, he will be fine, he's at the fort and we are miles from there and it will stay that way, as long as we are over here, no danger should lead to him." Rick said.
" Besides, I don't think Kurai would want to go to the middle of an armed fort for a kid, when he could come out in the middle of no where, in the desert for us." he added loading his guns and putting them in their holsters.
" Rick…" Evy said looking at him.
" Don't worry Evy…we wont let your vision come true " I wont let it happen, because you don't deserve the pain." Rick said softly.
Ardeth and Mariana were both doing he same getting ready, except Ardeth was sharpening his sword, and Mariana was working her fingers.
" Ardeth, as long as I have my powers, you wont be harmed." Mariana said.
" Mariana, I don't want you to use your powers for me. You must save them for Kurai, because you only have a certain amount of energy before you tire." Ardeth said turning to her.
" But…" Mariana started.
" Please, do not think about your vision, you must concentrate." Ardeth said caressing her cheek.
" Very well." Mariana replied.
" Alright, lets go." Rick said looking at Evy who nodded.