*Rubbing temples in frustration.* I – HATE – YOUNGER – SIBS! Especially when they're mine.

Leaf: I agree. Have any of you ever had to deal with a psycopathic younger sib when trying to do something constructive?

Anyways, the pick- I mean, pie goes to Fireblade for the answer of PICKLE! Congrats. Everyone else still gets cookies though. New question will be at the bottom.

And kudos to Cat for a couple names. Much as Kyrette likes the name, however, there won't be anyone named Featherbrain. I think.

---

The initial excitement had worn off over the course of the week, leaving Star calm. The hundred little things were done, she had said goodbye to everyone, and she was just waiting for Hawk now.

"Well, Star," came that damnable voice again. "I guess you're leaving today."

Hello Icewing. Goodbye, Icewing. Star guessed that either Icewing didn't mindspeek or that (thankfully) she hadn't mindspoken that last. "Yes, my brother Hawksong and I are leaving today. In a few minutes, in fact."

"Good luck then. Bet you couldn't wait to get going."

In no small part because that would mean getting away from you. Star almost smiled. Fortunately, Icewing walked away before Star could say something she'd regret later.

"Ready to go yet, sister-mine?"

"I think."

"Then let's go. Unless you've remembered what you couldn't."

"Huh?"

"Never mind." They proceeded out of the Vale.

***

Icewing watched from a distance as the pair left. Finally. Then Windshadow came up behind her.

"Hello Icewing. It's been a while."

"You're right, it has been a long time. Are you busy this week? Maybe we could have supper or something." I don't exactly have to be subtle about it, he knows how I feel. Or felt.

He smiled. "Tonight's good, if you want."

"It's fine for me. I'm going to go help set up the forge now, see you then." YES! YES! YES! He said yes!

***

"This place is wierder then I remember," Star commented. "I think that tree moved again."

"That's because it did. The farther away we get from a Vale, the worse it gets. We're heading South and East, near the Plains. If she's around, we could say hi to Shai'dra."

Soon enough they came to a clearing. It was strange, with a hard floor, but worked well enough. They looked around. Nothing was there.

"I think I'll go scout out a bit now. Just stay here," Hawk added after a minute. So she sat down and proceeded to work on a wood chain. She had never done one before, but it looked interesting, not to mention time-consuming, so it seemed a good pass time.

A couple marks and a few snapped branches later, Star had given up – for now, on the chain. Anyone who can make one of these should be made into a demi-god. They're impossible! She placed the knife on a nearby rock and, with nothing better to do, she took a nap.

She woke up a little later feeling refreshed. Something nagged her, though, a sound to her left. Oh. The bush is moving. That's nice.

The bush is moving?

Yes, the bush was moving. No, wait, it had stopped. No, it's starting again. "Ok, Hawk," Star called. "You got me again. Now c'mon out and tell me where we are."

Nothing.

"Hawk?" Still nothing.

I'm getting freaked now… "HAWKSONG! Stop trying to be funny and get over here!" Her patience snapped. She slid a sling from her pocket, found a rock, picked it up slowly and then, lightning quick, flung the stone into the bush. A startled yelp was emited, and a large, furry body hurled itself at her. They went tumbling over the clearing.

Changewolf? Why did it have to be a Changewolf? Changewolves had some wolf-like habits, and one of those was to ignore humans so long as they preformed the same office. But Star had flung a stone at it, which most certainly did not fall under ignoring it.

They rolled and twisted around the clearing, the wolf focusing on getting her throat, Star on not letting it do so. Her head sudenly collided with a rock, and she saw stars. He he. Stars.

Then something shiny caught her eye. Her knife! She snatched it and stabbed the Changewolf in the eye, through the eye into the brain. It let out a piercing howl, and several more answered. There's more?Ah, sketi!

Star shoved the dead Changewolf off of her, then stood up. The rest of the pack would be here soon. Walking over to her bag to get Hawk's sword, something jumped at her from behind.

"AHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Hawk took a few steps back and blinked. "Oops?"

"You idiot! I thought you were a Changewolf!"

"Umm, no, I'm not. Why?"

She gestured to the wolf lying at the edge of the clearing. "His pack is going to show up any minute now."

"That's not good. Looks like we're going to have to run."

***

"My lungs hurt," Star complained about a mark later. "Can we stop for a bit?"

"Sure, sure. As soon as we find somewhere to stay."

"Look, to your right. What about there."

"Good enough as any other place, I guess."

They walked into yet another clearing, looking around suspiciously. After a minute, they decided that it was safe, and they removed their packs to set up camp.

They were eating supper – caught by Hy'a – when suddenly, she felt a sharp pain in the back of her head, and everything went black.

***

Yay! Cliffhangers are addictive! I put one in my other fic too.

So, review fast, get another chapter faster.

Oh, yes, the question. From Take a Thief: Which temple is Skif's cousin Beel a novice at?

Ciao