Okay 3rd chapter is here.  Hope you liked the last two, I'm starting to develop plot, but not much of one.  Here's a physical description of Deva:

Shoulder length curly blond hair, blue eyes, small nose, large mouth, normal ears, and her height is about 4'11''.  The kyree come up to about her chest.  She's currently 10 years old.

Thanks will be at the end

On with the chapter

Oh My!

Herald Alter was making his way back from his circuit on border duty.  It had been uneventful for him.  He was now making his way back to Haven, with one last stop on the way.  He had left the border at around 9 o'clock that morning, and had taken the scenic route through the trees.  Virile, his companion had agreed that they were well due for a rest, after all of the work they had done.

They pulled into their last town before heading back to the keep.

Damn I'm tired.  These old bones aren't in the same shape they used to be

: Dearheart, you aren't in the same shape as you used to be.  Neither am I.  I just can't wait to get back to Haven and to its wonderful lush green grasses.  I can't wait.:  That was his companion responding to his unshielded thoughts.

:  I hope this next town is hospitable towards all Companions and you will not have to spend the night in a closed stall.:  Herald Alter responded with pity for his pour four-legged companion.

:Don't we all!:

They made good time and within a candlemark had made it to New Hope.  Dusk was setting and it would be hard to make it to the keep before the sun dipped below the mountains.  The owner of Worlds Apart was a sleazy looking man with hair slicked back and a look of complete (and totally fake) sincerity.

            "Dear Herald, if you may dismount from your Companion, we will have one of the stable hands take care of the beast.  We will have fresh food on a table when you are ready."  With that Sleaze ball turned and disappeared into the bright lamps in the inn.

:Well he certainly treated me well.  Beast my butt!  He has no clue how close he was to loosing his manliness.:  Virile snorted and tossed his head while Alter dismounted and headed into the inn.

:Don't kill anyone.:  He gave a simple warning and waved his companion away with a smile.

:Ok Chosen, I promise no one will be hurt…Badly:   Virile added as an after thought. 

True to the innkeepers  word a small boy appeared as soon as Alter had dismounted and gently took the reins from the Herald and led Virile away.

Alter sighed and preceded through the inn's door.

I'll be glad when tomorrow comes so we can leave

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POV of Julian

I sprinted faster, willing myself to pick up the pace so I could get to the town in time to help Deva and Chica.  They were my siblings and as such I could never let harm come to

them without trying to do something to protect them.  Ahead there was a large log and quickly I jumped it, landing on the other side, another thump was heard as Wernal cleared the log as well.

Where would we most likely find villagers or the mayor?  Hmmm…TAVERN!

:Wernal, lets go to the Tavern first, it seems like we would find most of the village men who might be willing to help there.:  I quickly sent this to my sibling.

:Sounds about right.  Let's pick up the pace a bit, we don't want them to die.:  At the same time we changed directions and charged even faster towards the town's Tavern.  WE approached it at amazing speeds, running straight through the village square and through the Inn's stable where I caught a glimpse of an amazingly white horse being un-tacked by the local stable hand.

Could that be a Companion?

I

 had just enough time to get that thought out before we burst (literally) through the inn's now shattered wood door. 

:Devastation has fallen into the Revered Stream, Chica pulled her out but both of them are currently suffering from hypothermia.  We need your help before they die(I don't feel like going into detail about what he said, but he got his point across).: Without hesitation I broad sended to everyone the information about Deva and Chica.  Silence filled the room from everyone except a person in the back who sported nothing but white.  So I had been right, that was a Companion in the Stables.

"Kyree, I do not know of who you speak, but I will help you get this girl back to the village.  Give me a minute to saddle my Companion Virile and we will be on our way."  I was grateful to this Herald, and bowed my head.

:I thank you greatly Herald, be fast though they were in the stream for more then 12 min. and the only reason they are alive now is because they have bonded.  Please Hurry.:  I sent to him.  :I will be waiting outside for you:

I turned quickly and headed out the door, leaving the silent room with all of the stares and gaping faces.  I ran through everything we had done so far and realized someone I had completely forgotten to tell.

Mother's going to kill me

:Werner, Tell mother what happened and tell her where to find Deva.  Tell her we'll meet her there.:

At first there was a feeling of confusion then understanding from my sibling as her remembered that we had yet to tell our mother.  I waited patiently as he contacted mother and told her what had happened.  I knew she would be anxious for Deva and would set out right away to find her, being the over protective mother she was.

The Herald arrived at this point having tacked up his Companion and instantly I ran off followed by the Companion and taking up rear guard was Wernal.  We pounded our way swiftly through the trees, each one a testimony of our drawing closer to the target.  We spent the next candlemark and a half in silence, slowly drawing closer to our intended target.

  As we reached the spot the bundle that was my siblings stirred slowly.  A kyree head poked up and shakily stood up, obviously on the verge of collapse.  I rushed over to help my neuter sibling stand up, using me as a support Chica was able to stand up and take a couple of wobbling steps so that the Herald could pick Chica up and put her(I'm going to refer to Chica as her from now on, but I know Chica's neither boy nor girl) on the back of his Companions saddle.  Next he reached down and carefully picked up Deva, who to me, looked very unconscious.

Her lips were still blue and her skin a white marble color that reminded me of the benches in the church.  The Companion knelt down on all fours so he was pretty much laying down, let his Herald on and then stood up again with a little strain.

We set off again, this time at a much slower pace, and within moments I could Feel my parents drawing closer with every minute that passed.  We were a quarter of the way to Deva's cottage when Mother and Father burst through the trees looking a little scared and afraid for their two pups. 

I quickly filled them in on what had happened so far as we proceeded even closer to Deva's cottage.  It took us a little more than a candlemark to reach her cottage at the slow pace we were going.

I shoved the door open with my nose and held it open as the Herald, Companion, and all of the Kyree that consisted of my family made their way inside.  The Herald lay Deva down on the bed along with Chica.

He understands the importance of a bond like they have

I was surprised that he had treated Chica the same as Deva and was glad he did.  It was obvious he wasn't scared of kyree's, he acknowledge the fact that they were intelligent animals like his companion and treated them accordingly.

POV  Herald Alder

I laid the girl -Deva- if I remembered correctly.  She looked a right mess.  She sported a couple of bruises on her hands and all along her body.  I quickly stripped her of the wet clothing and covered her in blankets.

:Place the Kyree next to her.  They need to strengthen the bond they have.:  I immediately took my Companions advice and placed the kyree directly next to her.  Absentmindedly I rubbed my eyes and yawned.  It had definitely been a long night.  I made my way out of the cottage and out to the paddock that held an old gray mare.  Virile came up behind me and placed his big head on my shoulder.  I started scratching his forehead.

:Doesn't look like we'll be able to leave tomorrow, does it?:  I knew the answer before Virile even sent it.

:Sorry, Chosen, but no.:  I allowed myself one more sigh before starting to un-tack Virile and give him a good brush down.  I made my way inside the cottage again after placing Virile in the paddock with the gray mare and uttering an apology for the paddock space.

:Chosen, I've slept in far worse than this.  Here is much nicer than that stable at the inn.  This mare is actually intelligent.  I suppose the girl has animal mindspeech(sp?).  Don't worry my Dearheart and simply go to be, you need the rest!: 

Agreeing completely with Virile I found a bed in the loft of the cottage and fell asleep, trusting the kyree to keep watch on the girl until she woke up.

Fin

I am Soooooooooooooooooooooo sorry for not posting this sooner.  I kind of got a writers block so gomen!

I would like to thank:

TheFyrbird – I'm glad I made you happy J If you tell me what bugged you, maybe I can fix it.  I'll try to word things better.

Emerald Flame - I'm honored you thought this was ML.  I'm trying to fix the last two chapters and change a bit about them.  I tried to avoid using phrases that are more modern, tell me if I missed something so I can fix it

Silver Magiccraft – Here's your next chapter, and I hope you can draw a better conclusion.

Cat – I'm glad you like it

Terryie – I'm going to have her have flashbacks of what happened during the 'Lessons'

Etcetera-cat – I'm glad you think it's interesting and thanks for the info on Hypotermia

SlightlyIndigo – Somehow I don't think she'll found an Empire, and I sure hope she can live up to her name

Thanxs a bunch and just for your info, I'm addicted to reviews (hint hint, nudge nudge)