Someone asked for ages in this story so here we go. They are not accurate or in accordance with the book, but they work for my purposes. If you really hate it that much then ignore this and pretend that they're however old they really are.

Alanna- 47 Numair-48 Jonathon- 50 George- 56 Daine- 32 Kel- 25 Roald- 25 Karissa/Corin- 23 Jacob- 28 Malagant- 49 Simon- 40

~~**~~**~~**~~**~~** Now I guess I can write some more on the story. ~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**

~Daine~ The voice came into Daine's mind as she was scouting behind the rest.

~Yes, I am here~ Daine replied. ~What is it you have found, Silvermind?~

Silvermind was a fox that Daine had enlisted the aid of the day before. He knew the area well and was more then eager to help. So long as she kept the dragon away from him. ~A woman~ came the reply. ~She is following your tracks. She seems to be tiring though, her face is white like snow~

~Show me her face~ Daine commanded

The image of a young woman with dirty fire-red hair, a lot like Alanna's, tired teal eyes and a pale face stumbling after their tracks popped into her mind. No matter how tired this young woman was she was following them well, Daine had not heard her coming. "Corin?" she said in amazement, speaking aloud. She covered her mouth, hoping that those ahead of her had not heard. "What is she doing here?"

~What should I do, sister?~ Silvermind asked.

~Wait there for me, I will come. Make sure she is not harmed~ Daine then hurried off in the direction that she could feel Silvermind.

When she reached the fox she knelt down beside the fox, behind a bush. In front of them was Corin, a very tired looking Corin, but it was still Corin. "Why is she so tired?" Daine wondered. "She's Shang, she should not be weary at all."

Silvermind looked up at her, his eyes curious. ~She's with pup, child if you prefer~ he reminded her. ~It is harder to travel that way. And she was attacked around dawn by a few large men that smelled like rotted meat, she has good reason to be tired~

Large men that smell like meat? Daine wondered. Trolls! She crept out in front of Corin and said, "Why are you here?"

Corin's eyes weren't tired anymore, they were flashing and two daggers were in her hands before Daine drew a breath. Daine's eyes widened and she held her hands up. "Corin!" she cried. "It's me, Daine!"

Corin sighed with relief and the daggers were gone. "Daine," she said. "You have no idea of how happy I am to see you!" She stumbled over and collapsed in the older woman's arms. "I'm that tired!"

Daine patted Corin's head. "It's okay Corin. But why are you following us?" She held Corin out at arms' length and tried her hardest to look like she was in charge. But it didn't work, she had been friends with Corin since the other girl had come to the palace a few years ago.

"I want to help find Karissa, she's my twin after all. I can do it," she said, her mouth set in a stubborn line. "I can, no matter if I am or am not pregnant. I'm the Shang Lynx."

Daine sighed. "Then come with me and we'll see what the others have to say about this."

Corin pulled back. "No!" she said. "Jacob will send me home, he worries. Please, I'll keep following you. No one but you knows that I'm here. And you only because of that fox." She jerked her head towards the bush Silvermind still knelt behind.

Daine blushed. "You're good at following," she admitted. She looked at Corin and the pleading in her eyes decided her. "All right. I won't tell. But be careful. And if you get hurt, tell an animal, they'll tell me. Be well."

She clasped her hand with Corin's then turned and vanished ahead. "Good," Corin said. "Now I'll be safer."