Kassi of Pirate's Swoop ~ I like being evil - *evil smirk* - its fun to
write cliffies! And I'm glad u like it . . . wow, I haven't heard from u in
a while . . . *cry* I feel so sad . . . or not. Anyway, thanks for
reviewing!
Stormcloud ~ thank you for ur review, and thanks for keeping with me at every chapter! I love that!
Babyjayy ~ Thank u, and yes, I know that I didn't say who it was . . . *wink* I wanna keep u in suspense and guessing!
Butterflygrl ~ Thank u for reviewing and keeping with my story! I'm ecstatic! And I really like ur guess. Still, though, u don't find out if ur right till I decide to post that chapter. *secret smile*
Angel-kiss7 ~ I'm sure ur not crazy. In fact, the very same thing happened to me! I went to check if my story really did show Chapter 17 (I can never be too sure if it really updated or not) and it showed up, and then I clicked the arrow button to go back, and the chapter completely disappeared. And I couldn't bring it back up at all. Weird. I hope u got to read it at least. Thnx for reviewing!
Dorkeegirl168 ~ yes, I like ur reviews, and this one was just . . . weird! I was laughing so hard cuz it was just . . . I don't know, sugar-high? LoL very funny and thank u 4 brightening my day! Thank u for liking my story! (Did that sound stupid to anyone? Just wondering).
Queen of Sheba ~ (hey I like saying this better!) Thank you for ur review!!! I know, it seems that many pplz had problems with my last chapter, (including me!) but thank u for reviewing despite that fact . . . ur awesome!!! And thank u for the praise, I consider myself very lucky (also for even getting this far on my story!) *blushes and beams* I'm updating! And, once again, I must say . . . THANK YOU!!!
Brownbear ~ Thank u, I'm glad u like my character . . . (cuz I actually OWN Lela's character, but never mind about that . . .)
Luv*a*lot ~ Yeah, I LUV ur reviews! They're always so long and funny and rambling and encouraging!!! Hmm, glad u like the shadow . . . this chapter's another teaser chapter . . . LoL . . . and LoL are u trying to be Superman? Or maybe the Update-girl . . . well, since I'm trying to say everything in my one little response . . . u have to update also, so r u stalking yourself? Hmm, did that make sense? Oh well. I like PotC, although I haven't read many fanfics on that one yet. I'm always in the book fanfics section. Hmm, and seems that I can't really remember anything else I was going to say, so I'll just let my readers start reading . . .
n/a (Josie) ~ thank u, and I don't ever plan to stop writing!! ;)
*****
A/N: OMG u pplz r awesome!!! I luv u all . . . thank u SOOOO much for all the reviews and everything!!! I luv u guys!!! Okay, done with that *makes a check on "to do" list* so lets get on with the story!
*~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~*
We had been trekking for a while. Not that Ted or James minded.
In fact, they were having fun discussing various things that boys usually learned in weaponry. Of course, since I wasn't a boy, I had no clue to what they were talking about. So, after a while, I tuned them out, and just walked, thinking my own thoughts.
This, I can tell you, was not much better. Because the first thing I thought about was home. I wanted to go home.
Trying to direct my thoughts onto another path, I began thinking about Maydria. And this definitely did NOT help. It just made me think of the endless horrible possibilities that might occur - being attacked by ogres under Maydria's leadership, falling into a river and drowning, being killed by an arrow, from either an enemy, or a knight on patrol who thought we WERE the enemy. NOT reassuring thoughts.
Ironic as it seems, as I was thinking about arrows, one whizzed over the air right above my head.
Instinctively, I ducked.
"Lela. Look out!" Ted called from somewhere to my right.
I looked up, ducked, and rolled as a sword sliced through the air where I was a second ago.
What was going on?
My unvoiced question was answered by James' cry, "Bandits!"
Thank you, I thought sarcastically to all the deities that were listening, as I ran from the bandit wielding the sword. I really needed to be attacked by bandits.
A sword flashed among the dark-colored clothing of the bandits. Ted was already in action.
So was James. He had a bow and arrows, and was firing at random at the bandits, but with deadly accuracy. Most fell before him.
I was left standing at the side, as usual, weaponless.
Ted noticed. With a graceful move that I envied, he managed to twist his blade around his opponent's, and pulled the sword out of his grasp. Now that he had two swords, he tossed one to me.
Finally I could do something.
I let all thought go, and released myself to the drifting sensation that meant I was in sync my natural sword-wielding talent.
As the blade flashed and glittered, I just relaxed into the moves that seemed so familiar and natural to me.
When it was obvious I wasn't about to be cut into a million pieces by my opponent, a stout and fierce-looking bandit, I risked a glance around.
It looked as if we had accidentally stumbled into an outlaw camp. Oh, wonderful.
Looking around at the action, I saw that Ted was holding his own very well. He had managed to stop quite a few bandits from ambushing us.
James was nowhere to be seen, although arrows rained down everywhere. Each struck their target, and the raiders were beginning to drop like dead flies.
I looked up and spotted him. He had climbed up a tree, where he wasn't easily seen, but could see everything that was going on. That was smart.
I felt exultant. We were winning!
But as I thought that last thought, more of the bandits came pouring in from everywhere.
So much for being victorious.
Now, we were outnumbered, 5 to 1.
*~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~*
I let go of all thought and threw myself completely into the fight.
I was vaguely aware of shouts and horrified cries.
Turning, I saw a small puff of mist settle over a cluster of bandits. All of them fell down, unconscious.
Everything seemed to happen at a distance. Little puffs of shimmery air appeared all over the place. Whoever it touched dropped, instantly unconscious.
None of the air touched Ted, James, or I. I couldn't say the same for the bandits.
They were now scattered all over the place, sprawled and out cold. The few remaining were completely terrified now. They fled.
James was able to pick off all of them with arrows, shot with deadly aim.
We had won, after all.
*~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~*
We left the scene behind, since none of us were sure what had happened, or when the unconscious bandits would wake up.
None of us wanted to find out.
After we had set up camp a mile away, and started a warm fire, were we able to discuss what had happened.
"What happened back there?" James asked. "I mean, they just . . . fell."
"I don't know." Ted said, frowning. "I was too wrapped up in the fighting."
Both turned to me.
I shrugged. "I only saw little puffs of smoke. White smoke. Whoever it touched fell."
James nodded. "Same with me."
"I think someone WAS following us." I offered. "And they helped us."
Both of the boys gave me incredulous looks.
"And why would they help us?" Ted asked.
"And why can't Ted find their footprints, then?" James added.
Ted absorbed the information and questions and sank deep into thought.
James and I waited silently to hear what he was going to say.
"I think one of us is a mage," Ted said finally. "I can't think of any other reason."
"A mage?" I repeated. "Like, as in . . . magical?"
Ted nodded. "It's possible. Highly likely."
"Especially as you don't even know your background." James commented to Ted.
Ted considered that. "True. But I don't think it was me. I'm not magical - no way, no how."
"So, our theories are . . . either we have an invisible follower who doesn't even leave tracks, or . . . one of us is a mage?" James said.
"Well, what's your opinion? What do you think?" I asked him.
"You really want to know?" James asked. "All right, if you really must know, I think both of you are crazy."
I rolled my eyes. "Get serious, James!"
"I am serious," he replied. "Both of your ideas are strange."
I just shrugged.
This discussion hadn't really gotten us anywhere. We all had different opinions and ideas on what had happened.
I was convinced that we were being followed.
Ted was convinced that one of us was a mage.
And James was convinced that we were all paranoid.
But the real problem was - who was right?
*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*
Stormcloud ~ thank you for ur review, and thanks for keeping with me at every chapter! I love that!
Babyjayy ~ Thank u, and yes, I know that I didn't say who it was . . . *wink* I wanna keep u in suspense and guessing!
Butterflygrl ~ Thank u for reviewing and keeping with my story! I'm ecstatic! And I really like ur guess. Still, though, u don't find out if ur right till I decide to post that chapter. *secret smile*
Angel-kiss7 ~ I'm sure ur not crazy. In fact, the very same thing happened to me! I went to check if my story really did show Chapter 17 (I can never be too sure if it really updated or not) and it showed up, and then I clicked the arrow button to go back, and the chapter completely disappeared. And I couldn't bring it back up at all. Weird. I hope u got to read it at least. Thnx for reviewing!
Dorkeegirl168 ~ yes, I like ur reviews, and this one was just . . . weird! I was laughing so hard cuz it was just . . . I don't know, sugar-high? LoL very funny and thank u 4 brightening my day! Thank u for liking my story! (Did that sound stupid to anyone? Just wondering).
Queen of Sheba ~ (hey I like saying this better!) Thank you for ur review!!! I know, it seems that many pplz had problems with my last chapter, (including me!) but thank u for reviewing despite that fact . . . ur awesome!!! And thank u for the praise, I consider myself very lucky (also for even getting this far on my story!) *blushes and beams* I'm updating! And, once again, I must say . . . THANK YOU!!!
Brownbear ~ Thank u, I'm glad u like my character . . . (cuz I actually OWN Lela's character, but never mind about that . . .)
Luv*a*lot ~ Yeah, I LUV ur reviews! They're always so long and funny and rambling and encouraging!!! Hmm, glad u like the shadow . . . this chapter's another teaser chapter . . . LoL . . . and LoL are u trying to be Superman? Or maybe the Update-girl . . . well, since I'm trying to say everything in my one little response . . . u have to update also, so r u stalking yourself? Hmm, did that make sense? Oh well. I like PotC, although I haven't read many fanfics on that one yet. I'm always in the book fanfics section. Hmm, and seems that I can't really remember anything else I was going to say, so I'll just let my readers start reading . . .
n/a (Josie) ~ thank u, and I don't ever plan to stop writing!! ;)
*****
A/N: OMG u pplz r awesome!!! I luv u all . . . thank u SOOOO much for all the reviews and everything!!! I luv u guys!!! Okay, done with that *makes a check on "to do" list* so lets get on with the story!
*~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~*
We had been trekking for a while. Not that Ted or James minded.
In fact, they were having fun discussing various things that boys usually learned in weaponry. Of course, since I wasn't a boy, I had no clue to what they were talking about. So, after a while, I tuned them out, and just walked, thinking my own thoughts.
This, I can tell you, was not much better. Because the first thing I thought about was home. I wanted to go home.
Trying to direct my thoughts onto another path, I began thinking about Maydria. And this definitely did NOT help. It just made me think of the endless horrible possibilities that might occur - being attacked by ogres under Maydria's leadership, falling into a river and drowning, being killed by an arrow, from either an enemy, or a knight on patrol who thought we WERE the enemy. NOT reassuring thoughts.
Ironic as it seems, as I was thinking about arrows, one whizzed over the air right above my head.
Instinctively, I ducked.
"Lela. Look out!" Ted called from somewhere to my right.
I looked up, ducked, and rolled as a sword sliced through the air where I was a second ago.
What was going on?
My unvoiced question was answered by James' cry, "Bandits!"
Thank you, I thought sarcastically to all the deities that were listening, as I ran from the bandit wielding the sword. I really needed to be attacked by bandits.
A sword flashed among the dark-colored clothing of the bandits. Ted was already in action.
So was James. He had a bow and arrows, and was firing at random at the bandits, but with deadly accuracy. Most fell before him.
I was left standing at the side, as usual, weaponless.
Ted noticed. With a graceful move that I envied, he managed to twist his blade around his opponent's, and pulled the sword out of his grasp. Now that he had two swords, he tossed one to me.
Finally I could do something.
I let all thought go, and released myself to the drifting sensation that meant I was in sync my natural sword-wielding talent.
As the blade flashed and glittered, I just relaxed into the moves that seemed so familiar and natural to me.
When it was obvious I wasn't about to be cut into a million pieces by my opponent, a stout and fierce-looking bandit, I risked a glance around.
It looked as if we had accidentally stumbled into an outlaw camp. Oh, wonderful.
Looking around at the action, I saw that Ted was holding his own very well. He had managed to stop quite a few bandits from ambushing us.
James was nowhere to be seen, although arrows rained down everywhere. Each struck their target, and the raiders were beginning to drop like dead flies.
I looked up and spotted him. He had climbed up a tree, where he wasn't easily seen, but could see everything that was going on. That was smart.
I felt exultant. We were winning!
But as I thought that last thought, more of the bandits came pouring in from everywhere.
So much for being victorious.
Now, we were outnumbered, 5 to 1.
*~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~*
I let go of all thought and threw myself completely into the fight.
I was vaguely aware of shouts and horrified cries.
Turning, I saw a small puff of mist settle over a cluster of bandits. All of them fell down, unconscious.
Everything seemed to happen at a distance. Little puffs of shimmery air appeared all over the place. Whoever it touched dropped, instantly unconscious.
None of the air touched Ted, James, or I. I couldn't say the same for the bandits.
They were now scattered all over the place, sprawled and out cold. The few remaining were completely terrified now. They fled.
James was able to pick off all of them with arrows, shot with deadly aim.
We had won, after all.
*~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~*
We left the scene behind, since none of us were sure what had happened, or when the unconscious bandits would wake up.
None of us wanted to find out.
After we had set up camp a mile away, and started a warm fire, were we able to discuss what had happened.
"What happened back there?" James asked. "I mean, they just . . . fell."
"I don't know." Ted said, frowning. "I was too wrapped up in the fighting."
Both turned to me.
I shrugged. "I only saw little puffs of smoke. White smoke. Whoever it touched fell."
James nodded. "Same with me."
"I think someone WAS following us." I offered. "And they helped us."
Both of the boys gave me incredulous looks.
"And why would they help us?" Ted asked.
"And why can't Ted find their footprints, then?" James added.
Ted absorbed the information and questions and sank deep into thought.
James and I waited silently to hear what he was going to say.
"I think one of us is a mage," Ted said finally. "I can't think of any other reason."
"A mage?" I repeated. "Like, as in . . . magical?"
Ted nodded. "It's possible. Highly likely."
"Especially as you don't even know your background." James commented to Ted.
Ted considered that. "True. But I don't think it was me. I'm not magical - no way, no how."
"So, our theories are . . . either we have an invisible follower who doesn't even leave tracks, or . . . one of us is a mage?" James said.
"Well, what's your opinion? What do you think?" I asked him.
"You really want to know?" James asked. "All right, if you really must know, I think both of you are crazy."
I rolled my eyes. "Get serious, James!"
"I am serious," he replied. "Both of your ideas are strange."
I just shrugged.
This discussion hadn't really gotten us anywhere. We all had different opinions and ideas on what had happened.
I was convinced that we were being followed.
Ted was convinced that one of us was a mage.
And James was convinced that we were all paranoid.
But the real problem was - who was right?
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