Disclaimer: All Valdemar related items in the below story are the possessions of Mercedes Lackey, not me.

            A/N April break ended on Monday *big sad sigh* so I guess I won't have quite as much time to update, or slobber over my reviews.  Anyhow, hope you enjoy this chapter, and share that with me through a pretty review.

            I woke up late, Elsa was already in class and I didn't want to bother her.  Thankfully I didn't have any math monster nightmares.  I did, however suffer the unpleasant experience of waking at least twice with the definite knowledge, passed along through my bond with Elsa, that something bad was happening.  Of course I didn't know any details, so I couldn't be expected to report on them.

            Justifying, I thought not, it was a matter of respecting Elsa's teachers.  It wasn't right to interrupt her education just to satisfy my curiosity.  Yes, I was simply concerned in the best interest of my chosen.  Good pony.

            :You're finally awake?: Elsa's tired mind voice interrupted me.  I winced mentally.  If she told me that she had experienced another vision last night I would have to report on it, and I desperately didn't want to.  I had kept awake half the night replaying my previous conversation with the grove born … I still didn't even dare to think his actual name. 

            :Yes, awake, I had the most wonderful thought that you wouldn't tell me about any of your visions until after reporting them: I hinted with a subtlety that matched my anxiety. Anxious would have been a mild description of me right about then, I might try petrified, that fits rather well actually.

            :You did so well reporting the last one …:

            :Your turn!: I crowed triumphantly.

            :You are really that frightened?:

            :Yes!  I would give up sugar forever if it meant I never had to speak to anyone more than two years my senior ever again:

            :That frightened?:

            :Yes!:

            :Well, I guess I could report from now on then Asia, why didn't you tell me sooner?:

            :I didn't really have a chance to…:

            :Alright, you goofy pony.  Can I tell you what I saw?:

            :Yes, I want to know that, I just can't report it, unless you want your favorite equine  friend to die of a heart attack:

            :I seriously doubt you were that frightened Asia: Elsa remarked.

            I decided not to push the issue any farther, we had an understanding and I had gotten out of initiating conversation with a stranger :So will you tell me what you saw?:

            Elsa's happiness died out of her mind voice as she soberly detailed her vision to me :It was the clan again.  On another raid I think … they didn't use Harold though, I think he might still be recovering from the last time they used him.  To the clan people are just tools.  Harold will be rested until he is able to work again, and then he will follow their orders.  If he refuses he will die to defy them.  So will anyone else they find with gifts:

            :Anyone?:

            :Anyone who isn't a girl.  They don't think females should use their gifts.  That's mostly the clan leader's view though, not everyone's … not that it matters much since they all do as he says anyway:

            :You must have seen something more than that, you woke me twice with your fear:

            :Are you sure it wasn't just the dark that scared you?: Elsa teased.  I sent her an image of flattened ears, Elsa had hands and convenient things like that, but I knew she couldn't warn someone of impending violence with her ears, or kill flies with her tail for that matter, so naturally I had every right to feel superior. 

            Elsa shot me an image of her eyes rolling and then returned to telling me about her vision :It looked to be a small town, one of those little ones where only the inhabitants know the name.  They are looking for something, I don't know what, but they are searching:

            :Searching by burning and looting and pillaging?  Wouldn't they ruin what they wanted that way?:

            Elsa sent me a mental shrug, :I need to pay attention to my class, the teacher looks she is catching on to our talking; I'll speak to you later.  After I make my report:

            :Alright Elsa.  I hope you don't get in trouble:

            :Not likely, enjoy your morning:

            I sighed.  I was well and truly awake, no point in trying to sleep some more.  This left me with exactly nothing to do with myself for the day.  Except think, the last thing I needed extra time for.  I promptly decided that I would be best served to find some friendly peers to pass the day with, or better yet, a few rambunctious foals.  There was nothing like a good game with a kid to take the mind off of things, as long as no contact was necessary with their parents.

            I decided to find Tally.  She would probably be near the river grazing, Fred was in classes along with Elsa.  I set off reluctantly leaving the cozy stable to enter the comparatively chilly morning air.  Almost fall, which meant snow would be coming soon.

            Tally was right where I had expected her to be and she was amenable to conversation so I immediately set about detailing everything Elsa had shared with me from her vision.

            :She's going to tell one of her teachers instead of leaving the task to poor little old me: I concluded happy to wait on my friend's response.

            :That isn't much to go on. Was there anything else?:

            :Not that she told me yet, I am worried about this clan; they seem like a big problem.  Why have we allowed them free reign.  Elsa told me they have been around for quite a while:

            :They were probably a minor threat, and a place to pick up those with gifts and no companions, or anyone who might turn highway man.  They must have remained peaceful to now else they would have been dealt with sooner:

            :We should deal with them now, they give me the creeps.   There is something wrong about them:

            :Something wrong?: I detected quite a bit more humor on those words than was needful, I also got the unnecessary impression of music.  :You are just jealous that I am so good at song-writing: I informed her.

            :Yes, jealous, as jealous as I would be of plague: Tally teased back.

            :You could cut a girl some slack, I mean I was sick!:

            :No excuse for a song that awful: Tally teased.

            :You just don't sing it right is all … but seriously Tally, I am worried about the clan.  They frighten me:

            :As much as your own shadow?:  Tally was being relentless!

            :I'm serious Tally!  I think they are dangerous: that last comment hurt.  I would never have confided my fears in her if I had thought she would throw them I my face.  Tally seemed to pick up on that.

            :Look I'm sorry Asia.  It's just that it seems like you've been almost avoiding me for the past while.  That was uncalled for and I'm sorry:

            :No Problem Tally: I replied :I wasn't staying away from you specifically, I just needed some time to think:

            :I think that you and your chosen know more about the clan than anyone else here, if you two think it means bad news I have no reason to doubt you:

            :Thanks Tally:

            We shared a few moments of rich silence, each grazing contentedly.  Finally I decided to break the silence :What do you say to a jaunt around the field, winner gets a good brushing courtesy of the loser's chosen:

            :A race Asia?  We haven't raced since we were foals!:

            :Why not?  It'll be fun!:

            :I hope Elsa is good at brushing, because you are going to lose:

            :I just hope the same of Fred: I shot back.  We set out for the edge of the field.  We had raced often as foals and knew without asking where we would start and finish.

            :Mark: I stated as we arrived at our usual starting point.

            :Set: Tally added.

            :Go!: We chorused.

            Our race was half through when the foresight hit Elsa.  It was a strong one, I could tell that much.  I couldn't see it, we were too far apart, but I didn't need too.  It was obvious, to me at least that it was about the clan.

            :What's wrong?: Tally asked, we had been flank to flank when I stopped to tune in on Elsa.

            :It's another of the visions.  She won't let me help with them.  Not that either of us knows much about it yet.  They are in the process of working out her classes for her gifts:

            :Oh, we can finish the race another time then.  Why don't we go check on her?:

            :That would be good.: I agreed more than half-dumb with worry for Elsa.

            Before we were halfway back to the palace Elsa spoke to me :I'm fine Asia, just another of the same thing, with details this time:

            :You sure?:

            :Yes, and I told my instructor all about the ones last night, and this one:

            :Good.  What are they going to do?:

            :I don't know yet.:

            :Where exactly are you?:

            :I'll meet you at the edge of Companions Field, they let me have the rest of my last morning class off … it's practically over anyhow:

            :Oh … any idea what they're looking for yet?:

            :Not really.  They don't look at the places they destroy for it, it's like they are trying to make us mad or something:

            :Why would they do that?:

            :Who knows, I never claimed they were bright, just mean.  For that matter they might just enjoy destroying.  Or they could just destroy the places they look and don't find anything, out of anger or to avoid looking in the same place twice, I just don't know Asia:

            :Well, we'll figure it out, eventually: I replied as Tally and I continued to meet my chosen.

            :I hope so, maybe these dumb visions will stop plaguing me if we stop the clan:

            :I doubt it Elsa, a gift is a gift, whether or not you want it.  At least it is something to stop them with:

            :I guess:

            I sighed.  More dark thoughts to contemplate and I had to cheer up my depressed chosen.  Then again if I didn't try we could wallow in misery together … that was appealing.  Wallowing, yes, it would be like a great big pity party.

            :I'll catch up with you later Asia, I'm going to meet Fred by the obstacle course…:

            :Oh … sorry 'bout that Tally: I sent her sympathy as well as a mental wince.

            :He still isn't any better.  Maybe if he would just ask someone for pointers, but practicing the wrong stuff over and over only seems to make him worse!:

            :Ouch, I feel your pain … and laugh at your plight:

            :Ha!  I doubt it, your chosen can ride!:

            :Not that well:

            :Well enough, anyway I have to go:

            :Asia, what are you doing?: Elsa asked me, she  must have said something I hadn't quite caught.

            :I was talking to Tally:

            :Oh, well, I was just thinking that maybe there's no point worrying about the whole clan thing right now, I mean we can't do anything so we might as well no worry for now:

            :Good thinking.  We can go to the obstacle course … Fred and Tally are going for a run and we could race them … and maybe we could give Fred some riding tips; Tally would be your best friend for life if you could help him improve his riding:

            :Alright, that sounds like fun … I mean who really wants lunch anyway:

            :Nobody: I replied cheerily.  So, my chosen had cheered me up not the other way around.  No wallowing then, oh well, maybe next time.

            :Tell her we're coming:

            :Alright: I told Elsa and then sent my proposal to Tally, her relief at our offer of help was so evident that it was nearly comical.

            :Don't forget to tell your legs to run fast: Elsa teased.  I just snorted at that … and sent Elsa an image of her flying from my back, arms waving humorously as my legs decided not to run.

            There would be plenty of time later for idle thoughts and of course brooding, it was definitely time to race.  We might even have outrun our problems, for a little while.

A/N hahaha … I am probably just about the only junior in my school that will go to bed at anything approaching a reasonable hour tonight, there is a big history project for the every US history class(which is of course a required class for juniors) all divisions due tomorrow, so naturally everyone waited until tonight to do it (even though it was assigned during the first quarter and it's now the fourth)… always knew that not procrastinating would pay off someday.  Anyway that means I can laugh at my friends and of course write another chapter (the preceding one to be exact). Anyway… please reviewJ