A/N: Don't normally like to do author's notes at the beginning but wanted to sort out something quickly. Ember is wearing clothes, like I described before, and when I said 'lack of clothing' I meant relative to what the others would be used to. For some of the guys that's still the most naked they've ever seen a girl. Right, that sorted, on with the story.
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6. The Prettiest
"Why is it that we can hear her speak when she doesn't make a sound?" Jasson asked Alanna as they made their way up the rough track.
"I don't know," she replied, pushing an overhanging branch out of the way, "but I sure would like to find out."
Ember ran up to the cave, calling for Starfire, there was no reply. Upon entering the cave she saw that the dragon must have gone to stretch her wings. She walked back out into the clearing and climbed onto the rock to wait for the others.
Not long afterwards they came out into the clearing.
-She's gone out to stretch her wings,- Ember informed them, twisting over onto her stomach so she could watch them with her head in her hands. –but she'll be back later.-
Daine came and perched on the lower rim of the rock, lifting Kitten up so she could walk over to see Ember. Alanna and the others took the opportunity to relieve themselves of their armour. Ember watched them with the same curiosity as she had everything else they had done.
"You know Starfire then?" Daine asked, feeling a little odd when the girl replied without moving her lips.
-She's my guardian. My parents were killed when I was a baby, Blaze-Starfire has raised me ever since then,- Ember replied.
The others had finished by now and came over to join the other two. Ember moved farther up the rock to make room for the others who found themselves a space on top of the huge rock.
"Ember says that she was raised by the dragon, Starfire," Daine informed the others. "She lost her parents when she was a baby."
"Can't you speak?" Jasson asked, finding his tongue at last.
She shook her head, -why should I?-
"Well…" he couldn't really think of an answer.
Ember shuffled closer to Thom, who was sat a little to her left and touched his shirt, pulling gently on the material as she rubbed it between her fingers. –What's this?-
"A shirt," he replied as he grinned down at her, "made from wool."
-Wool?- she queried.
"It's made from a sheep's coat," Faleron explained from her other side. Alanna and Daine were conversing in low voices.
-I have never seen a sheep,- Ember explained to them a little sadly, -there are a great many things that I have never seen.- She stopped as the sun caught the bright gold band on Neal's finger.
-Can I see?- she asked, pointing at it. He handed it over and she held it carefully in between her forefinger and thumb before placing it on her palm and tracing its smooth edges. –What is it?- she asked, looking up.
"A wedding band," he replied, holding his hand out for it back.
Ember frowned in puzzlement then, just as someone was about to explain to her she said, -oh, a sign to others that you already have a mate, yes?-
Thom laughed and Neal grinned at her, "More or less."
Kitten chattered to her and she listened before turning to Daine, -she says you also have a mate, Numair, and a kit of your own.-
Daine looked surprised as she nodded, "Did she just tell you that?"
Ember nodded and tilted her head as Kitten added something else. Then she broke into a peal of musical laughter, still laughing she explained to them all what Kitten had said, -she says that your kit isn't nearly as pretty or as clever as her, it can't even walk anywhere without falling over!-
Daine grinned affectionately at the little dragon. Ember was watching the two princes, Jasson still wouldn't look at her, but Liam smiled.
-You're brothers aren't you?- she asked, smiling back at Liam.
He nodded, "Jasson's my younger brother. I also have a younger sister and an older brother and sister."
-Are they all as pretty as you?- she asked innocently.
He flushed, not knowing what to say. The others laughed while Alanna added, "You should have seen their father when he was younger!"
"Aren't I pretty?" asked Neal with an impish grin.
-Oh yes,- Ember agreed, -you're all very pretty.-
"I'm counting down until Neal asks who's the prettiest," Thom said in a stage whisper to Jasson with a wink.
"Well now that you mention it," Neal began with a grin, "who is the prettiest?"
"No need to include me," Thom said, "I'm in far too illustrious company to compete."
"We're both married, count us out too," Alanna said gesturing to herself and Daine with a meaningful look at Neal, which he completely ignored.
Ember looked from one to the other, none of whom really looked like they wanted to be in this contest bar Neal. Jasson was looking particularly uncomfortable and desperately wanted to be excluded from the competition as well, but his voice didn't seem to be working.
-You,- she said pointing to Faleron with a smile, who smiled awkwardly in return. The others faces' displayed emotions ranging from dismay, relief and amusement.
"Faleron, huh?" Alanna said with a grin in Neal's direction, he looked slightly put out.
-Did I do something wrong?- Ember asked anxiously.
"No, no," Daine replied soothingly.
Alanna twisted her left earring absentmindedly.
-That's pretty,- Ember commented, then her face lit up, -I'll be right back,- With that she leapt nimbly from the rock and ran into the cave.
"She's half wild," commented Thom wryly as they watched her go.
"Fun though," Alanna said with a grin. "And she certainly likes you boys."
"Boys? I'll have you know I'm a man," retorted Neal huffily.
"Well, if you think about it, she's never seen a man before," Daine said, shooting a quick glance at Neal and grinning.
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A/N: Ha! Faleron's the prettiest! Felt I had to break from tradition a bit *grins*. Anyway hope you liked the latest instalment but I'll level with you guys. Other than the fact that I've got exams coming up and so I won't be writing or updating until they're over, I'm not sure how much longer I'm going to continue this, I've got a little more, which I will post, but I can't promise that I'll finish this story. Unless I think of a really quick way to end it, which I don't envisage. Well, hope this doesn't put you off reading, just being honest with you guys.
xxx