disclaimer: Don't own these characters. ::sigh:: They are the creations of Magaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. First death gate fic ever!! Yay yay! It deserves its own section. Write all you death gate fanatics!! Write write! My second fic. Please review and be nice. I heart Haplo!

My Heaven in Hell

She's beautiful. Swift movements and old scars telling the story of her life. Her hair is dark with the tips a pale yellow, same as all Patryn. Multi-colored tattoos all over her lithe body, leaving only her palms and face bare. Flowing shirt revealing her heart rune in between her breasts, vital and glowing faintly. Her eyes are staring intently at the opening in front of us, holding a sadness that I know too well. She doesn't notice me staring at her. Surprising, since she seems to sense every change of the wind, every small branch creek.

"I don't know Haplo...looks too dangerous." Marit whispers. She's on her haunches, holding up a small dagger to move aside the leaves in her way. "Too quite." Finally looking back at me, I quickly avert my eyes. "Are you even listening?" Her tone is angry.

"There is no other way. The next gate is just ahead. We need to get to a safer location at least." I change my face to stone, stopping the sadness from creeping into my eyes. So hopeless. Even if we find somewhere to rest, we will need to go back out into the Labyrinth again the next day. Will it never end? And why am I acting so strange over this female? I have had several lovers on my journeys to the final gate. Why is this one different?

"Ok, let's go then." She suddenly sprints out on the plain and scans swiftly left and right, up and down. Can't be to careful in this place, this hell, our home.

I follow her and motion to a nearby cave I spot to my left. She nods and runs in that direction. As I see her start to climb, I sense movement behind me. With a spell on my lips I turn and see a creature I haven't seen in all my years of running. It is about the size of a small boulder with large round eyes. Furry black hair covers it and a little pink tongue is seen coming from its mouth. I am taken aback. It's almost...cute? I curse at myself for freezing up and place my finger on the first rune. The creature sees the glowing tattoo and leaps away quickly in fright. At that, I run to the cave at full speed and halt when I get to the entrance.

Marit is searching the cave while I shake my head at the small creatures actions. Did the Labyrinth create an animal to run away from its prey? Odd, how my heart almost did not want to harm it. I must be getting old. I'm already 27 gates, old for a runner in this part of the Labyrinth.

"It's clear." Marit states.

"This will do fine." I nod silently . "I'll look for a stream."

She waves me away, placing her attention on her search for dry wood.

***********

/How did I get myself hooked up with this odd Runner? I was fine on my own./

I look after Haplo, seeing his form disappear into the glowing sunset. /Why do I have this feeling that he's always looking at me? Why would he? We are all the same..His eyes are so full of some emotion I can't name. Interest? Understanding? Love?/

Grunting in disgust , I pile the wood into a triangle and start a fire. It is burning nicely when he returns with his water skin full of clear water. He moves with grace that comes from years of hiding. Where one sound would mean his doom. His two tone hair is cut short so as not to get in his way. Sitting, he takes a swallow of the liquid and hands it to me. Then our eyes meet, and I try to stop blushing. Was I staring?