Disclaimer: I do not own anything, not even my room, mom owns that.
Reviews would be much appreciated. Chapter 3 is going to be a summery cuz
I don't want to write all the quotes.
A/N Okay, so something important happens in this chapter4 humor me. If you don't like it well I call up the all mighty bunny slugs.
Chapter 3 The laziness strikes, enjoy summery.
Ruby and Mat walk over to peddler. Mat drags Ruby to the front. Padin Fain (the peddler) talks about a war going on in another country and false dragons. Perrin joins the two and village council comes out. Peddler joins V.C. to decide about what to do about the war.
Perrin, Mat, and Ruby all talk about war. Nynaeve al'Meara, the wisdom, comes over and basically tells them to shut up. Egwene, now the wisdoms apprentice, scowls at them all.
The gleeman finally comes out and asks Egwene to help him with his performance, Nynaeve leaves. Thom Merrilin, the gleeman asks about how Ruby's so tall and has red hair, and about Perrin is near Ruby's height and stocky. Mat and Perrin explain that they have gone further than anyone in 2 Rivers.
Gleeman puts on a short show that stops when Moiraine pops up with Lan. Gleeman and Moiraine go separate ways and Tam tells Ruby to get ready to leave. Turns out Perrin got a coin from Moiraine
Turns out Tam believes that there was something on the road earlier, a black rider that several of the boys have been seeing. Tam and Ruby go home, they plan to come back tomorrow for Bel Tine.
END "in italics" = thoughts
Chapter 4 Winter Night, Ewww! Look at the big uglies!
There were only a few hours of the day left when the al'Thors arrived back at their farmhouse. It was small compared to others that were built to house whole families. Tam and Ruby were considered strange, just the two of them living alone.
A sheep-pen, house, and barn formed a triangle around the farmyard. Ruby leaned against the sheep-pen and and patted the ram. All the sheep appeared sleepy eyed and calm.
"I don't think the black cloaked man came here." Ruby turned to her father, who was studying the ground. "The sheep wouldn't be so settled if he did."
Tam continued to check around going so far to check the well for poisoning. "I suppose he didn't, all this talk about men and horses I can't see or hear just make me look crossways at everything." He transferred well water into a bucket and started for the house. "I'll start the stew for supper, as long as were here we might as well get caught up on a few chores."
Ruby grimaced, wishing she were back with her friends. Walking to her room, she changed into a pair of loose breeches she designed herself. They were a dark brown that tied at the ankle and the waist. She had made them by taking a long skirt and cutting it down the middle on both sides, then sewing it. Ruby picked up a length of rope and tied it around her waist.
Pausing a minute, Ruby decided to buckle her quiver back around her waist. She put on her cloak and picked up her bow. The bow, she had made herself and few people could draw it all the way, most assumed it wouldn't work and didn't try.
Tam had already stabled Bella, assuming Ruby would want to change for chores. Ruby gathered eggs, watered the sheep and weeded the crops. She frowned when she did that. Most crops should have been knee high by now; however few beans had come up and cabbages were small and stunted. Ruby shrugged and started on chopping wood.
This was why she had changed. Chopping wood required strength and concentration, she didn't need a skirt blowing around and getting in the way. The pile got bigger and bigger finally reaching the eaves of the house.
She was so lost in the motions of chopping she didn't notice her arms aching, or Tams approach. Tam placed a hand on her shoulder bringing her back to reality. Ruby blinked and set the axe down. Twilight had come on while she worked.
"Let's wash up girl, and see about some supper. I've already carried in the water for hot baths before sleep."
"Anything hot sounds good to me." Ruby replied, snatching her cloak, and donning it. She barely registered the fact that sweat had soaked her blouse and wind tried to freeze it. "And sleep too for that matter, I might just sleep though the festival."
"Care to make a wager on that." This time he spoke with a slight mischievous glint in his eye. "You would not want to miss a chance to be with Mat would you? After he came to help you unload hmmm?"
"Father! It's not like that I swear!"
They walked in the house, fears momentarily forgotten. Tam had completely lit the house with candles as well as a fire merrily crackling in its place. Ruby went to get bowls to set the long oak table. It was made to seat 16 but hadn't since her mother had died. There was a chair in the corner that Tam used to read in, Ruby preferred to curl up on the rug in front of the fire.
The house was not near as clean has one with a good wife, but it was cozy, and look lived in. Her father took a sample of the stew. "A bit longer."
Ruby washed her face and hands; she peered over the rim of the washstand. Tam was rummaging through the cabinets and pulled out a long old key. He turned the lock and answered Ruby's inquiring look.
"Best to be safe. Maybe I'm taking a fancy, or maybe the weather is blacking my mood but. I'll see to the back door." Ruby was stunned. No one locked their doors; there wasn't any reason to. She thought she got an unpleasant feeling in her stomach, but quickly dismissed it for hunger.
Overhead Ruby heard a scraping sound. Curious, Ruby tiptoed upstairs to find out why Tam decided to move the furniture. Maybe he was barricading something?
She bumped into Tam on the stairs and saw he had a sword with him. Remembering that she should have set the tea on, she jumped down the stairs after apologizing. Over her shoulder she asked Tam, "Where did that come from? Did you get it from a peddler? How much did it cost?"
Tam drew the sword and Ruby got her first look at it. It looked nothing like the swords she had seen before; the closet thing to it was Lan's. There were Herons marked on the hilt, blade, and scabbard. Something about the herons seemed familiar to her, but she couldn't place it.
"I got it a long time ago, a long way from here. And I paid entirely too much; two coopers is too much for one of these. Your mother didn't approve, but she was always wiser than I. I was young then and it seemed worth the price at the time. She always wanted me to get rid of it, and more than once I thought she was right, that I should just give it away."
"Give it away? How could you give something as beautiful as that away?"
"Not much use herding sheep is it? Can't plow a field or harvest a crop can it?" He seemed to slump as he fingered the blade. "But if I am not taken by just a black fancy, if our luck runs sour, maybe in the next few days we'll be glad I tucked it in that old chest instead." He slid it in its sheath. "The stew should be ready, I'll dish it out while you fix the tea."
Ruby nodded and walked over to the kettle that was bubbling fiercely now. She couldn't stop thinking, where had Tam gone to get that sword. Why would it 'seem like a good idea'? She picked up the kettle with a cloth and walked over to the table. Ruby spared a glance at her bow as she poured the steaming water.
There was a sudden thump on the door, as if something had just run into it. Ruby held the kettle with one hand and reached for her bow. Tam noticed this and spoke uncertainly, "One of the neighbors, Master Dautry wanting to borrow." Ruby's grip tightened, on both bow and kettle. She ignored the heat from the kettle, even if Master Dautry was a shameless borrower, it was far too late.
Tam placed the bowls on the table. Both hands had tightened on his sword hilt. "I don't think." The door burst open and a creature filed the doorway. It was waaay taller than anything Ruby had ever seen, and was dressed in black chain mail. It looked half animal and carried a wicked looking sword.
She took it all in, and did the one think that came to mind, she screamed and through the kettle with all her strength at the creature. The kettle brained it and opened halfway there, spilling scalding water on its animal like face.
The creature roared, in a mix of human and animal voice, Tam shot forward and slashed at it. It fell only to reveal another right behind it. Ruby knocked an arrow and fired, the arrow hit the thing in the throat. Before she could celebrate, Ruby noticed what seemed to her an army, of the creatures.
"Run girl! Hide in the woods!" The bodies in the doorway jerked, the other things were pulling them out of the way. The whole scene made Ruby want to sick up, but she knocked another arrow. "There are too many too hold! Out the back, Go I'll follow!"
Ruby trust the arrow back into her quiver and turned. She didn't want to leave her father, but he told her to run. She was ashamed she didn't try to argue with him. As she ran to the back she heard objects being thrown, chairs overturned.
When she came to the back door she tried to lift the bar. Then she cursed herself and backed up, Tam had locked the door. She threw open the side window and heard one of those things slamming on the door. Pure fear ran unchecked through her body. Ruby jumped out just before the half human creature turned the door to splinters.
She heard them speaking in low grunts. She didn't need to know what they were saying to figure out something. "Tam!" She thought. Ruby stood up and yelled. "They're coming back! I'm outside! Run, father!" When she finished she was running toward the woods.
Ruby could feel tears starting to form, she attempted to block out the sounds of breaking glass, splintering wood. All her thoughts were focused on getting away, and hoping Tam was okay.
She tripped and felt something brush the back of her shoulders. Ruby used her bow like a quarterstaff and swung it. She then realized that it was just the hoe-handle Tam had been working on. "Idiot! Coplin fool idiot!"
Resolution came to her. She had to go back and find Tam. Those things made her scarred, but Tam was more important. She slowly made her way back, with one arrow knocked and moving from tree to tree.
Shadows danced in the house, and Ruby quivered but held her bow steady. "I have to find Tam" One of the windows burst open as Tam came crashing out. He rolled and dashed to the back of the house. "He thinks I'm."
"Father!" She yelled, "I'm over here!"
Tam turned and yelled back, "Run girl!" He ran opposite of Ruby. "Hide!" More of the big ugly things followed him.
Tears silently burst forth as Ruby collapsed in the barn. She was safe, but Tam, her only surviving family member, her father, was leading those things away from her. She clutched the bow; it would be useless in close quarter combat. She laughed, "If I move like I was stalking a rabbit, they'll never hear me or see me."
Ruby crept out into the trees. She prayed that they wouldn't see her. As she was walking something reached out and grabbed her, a hand covered her mouth.
She panicked and franticly reached back for a hold on her attacker.
"Don't break my neck girl." Came out a horse whisper. Ruby immediately stopped. She turned and glomped onto her father. They dropped to the ground. Tam was stroking her hair. "I wouldn't have tried that if I had thought how much you've grown in the last few years, but I had to make sure you didn't speak out, some trollocs can hear like a dog, some better." "Trollocs?!" "I'm sure, but what brought them to two Rivers.I never saw one before tonight, but I've talked with some who have, so I know a little. Maybe enough to keep us alive, Listen closely. A trolloc can see better than a man in the dark, but bright lights blind them, for a time at least. That may be the only reason we got away from so many. Some can track by sent or sound, but they're said to be lazy. If we can keep out of their hands long enough they should give up." Ruby nodded and filled the information away. "Do you think they're still following us?" "Maybe, maybe not, they don't seem very smart. Once we got into the forest, I sent the ones after me to the mountains without much trouble." Tam touched his side then looked at his hand. "Your hurt! You've got blood on your hand." "Keep your voice down, and it's just a scratch. Nothing to do about it now, anyway. At least weather seems to be warming." Ruby was rubbing her arms. She touched Tam's forehead with her hand. "Your on fire! I have to get you to Nynaeve." "In a bit, girl" "We don't have time to waste. It's a long way in the dark." Ruby moved and was about to try and lift Tam when she remembered Nynaeve talking to Egwene. "Remember when they are bleeding greatly its best not to move them." She had no idea how bad Tam was so she nodded to herself and made her way to the house. She was going to get the cart and bring them to Tam. She looked back in the direction of the house, if the trollocs weren't still there and if they were. "I'll be back in a minute father." "Where are you going?" "We need the cart and blankets." "Careful." "I will be, careful as a mouse explores a hawks nest." She leaned down to pick up the sword. If she could shoot them at a distance, and if they snuck up on her. Ruby shouldered the bow and held the sword at her hip. She ran.
"Looks like there's no one here." Ruby crept to the sheep-pen. At first she thought they were all the sheep were asleep, then she realized the truth, they were dead. Anger filled her blood, her grip tightened on the hilt if the blade. "They kill for fun, they don't even eat the animals they kill, and they just leave everything to rot." Ruby entered the house first, she saw inside only dead bodies. She saw white coated everything, flour most likely. First she started moving through the mess, looking for blankets or anything useful, she kept muttering to herself. Then she heard something scrap along the floor. In the blink of an eye she grabbed the sword and spun to face the intruder. Unbeknownst to Ruby, her eyes had begun to glow a steady blue, as well as a on and off blue outline surrounded her. This had scarred the trolloc. "Others go away. Narg stay. Narg smart." Ruby could barely understand a word it said. It sounded like stones grating. "Narg know some come back sometime. Narg wait. You no need sword. Put sword down." Ruby took in the image of the trolloc. It had a wolf muzzle beneath the eyes, and goat hooves. She glanced at her sword, pointed at the trolloc. "Narg no hurt. You put sword down." Ruby thought it was trying to sooth her? "Stay back, why did you do this? Why?" "Vlji daeg roghda!" (Does anyone know what that means?) Narg growled and then smiled, his own ugly toothy smile. "Put sword down. Narg no hurt. Myrddrall want talk you. Others come back, you talk Myrddraal." It took a step closer with a hand on it's own hilt. "You put sword down." Ruby cursed. Myrddraal! She tightened her grip; she had to get out if a Myrddraal was going to be here. She smiled her own toothy smile at the trolloc. "All right, I'll talk." The wolf trolloc lunged forward with a snarl. Ruby saw it in slow motion as she parried its sword with her own. She wasn't prepared for the speed or strength it had and was thrown on her back. The trolloc came at her again. She tried to bring her sword up. Ruby gasped for air as the heavier body came crushing down on her. She fought to avoid grouping hands or snapping jaws. Then, the would be murderer and rapist made a mistake. One of the trollocs hairy hands found one of Ruby's breasts and squeezed. Ruby seethed and anger came like a flood. She felt raw power, anger, confidence, all emotions mixed in her. She didn't know what she did, but at the same time she knew exactly what it was. Ruby brought her hands against the trolloc as it reached for her throat. She did everything automatically, the energy gathered in her palms. She whispered words that formed on the edge of her consciousness. "Moko Takabisha." All the pent up energy blasted out and hit Narg at point blank. He flew across the room and through a wall. He had a hole burned through his chest. Ruby jumped out and shouted "PERVERT!!" she clamped a hand over her mouth. "Where did that come from? How did I know how to do that? One thing I know I wont forget it." Ruby picked up the sword and things she had gathered. She walked to the barn after inspecting her handiwork on the trolloc. Others would be here, even if she had a new trick she would be outnumbered. She filled a water bottle with water from the bucket that had somehow remained untouched during the whole attack. Ruby made her way to the barn, her mind was seeped in emotion, in that power she discovered, she was sure it was not The One Power, a word floated on the edge of her mind told her something else. Too bad she couldn't read the word. Her bowstring was taught; the bow had miraculously remained unbroken. She got to the barn and searched for the cart. First she saw Bella and cow were gone, hopefully escaped. Then she saw the cart with a shaft cut down. Ruby rocked the cart and tried to tip it back over. For a second it looked like it was going to fall back on her, then sat down with a groan.
Taking the sword, Ruby raised it above her head, and swirling in that mass of emotion, she cut through the undamaged shaft with one hit. Her eyes looked at the blade and noticed it was still sharp, and glowed a blue that seemed to fade from it. She threw everything in the back of the cart and started out. "Its strange, the flame and void give me precision, but if I swear that was like the anti-void, I wish I knew what it was."
Ruby worked her way through the woods to Tam. She thought she would have tripped on the way, but the it was like the ground had smoothed out for her. She shook her head as she approached Tam. He wasn't moving, and for a second Ruby thought he had stopped breathing.
Ruby touched Tam on the face, tears threatened to burst forth again.
"Is that you girl? Worried about you, dreams of days gone, nightmares." Tam seemed to fall back asleep.
She cradled him as she picked him up and set him in the cart. "Don't worry," she whispered, "I'll get you to Nynaeve just as quick as I can." Ruby removed Tams belt and put it on herself. She then sheathed the blade and shouldered the bow. "We'll be safe in the village in no time, and the Wisdom will set everything right. You'll see. Everything's going to be all right." She pulled on her coat and looked at Tams wound. She washed it the best she could, then bound it.
She made a type of litter from the shaft of the cart. She had used the blankets to tie everything together. When Tam started mumbling she got worried. What if the trollocs heard? Still, she could bring herself to put a hand over his mouth. He only had a single small wound, she had checked, but that had been festering and gave one bad fever.
As Ruby started for Emonds Field she wondered about that power she had used, and decided to not tell anyone, but maybe Perrin and Mat, or Tam. She didn't want any MORE people shunning her. They might think it was channeling. She shook her head all that filled her were thoughts of getting Tam to the Wisdom.
End.
A/N So, Ruby now has the Moko Takabisha. She won't get the others for a while. Rand channeled on instinct and never forgot what he did, but he couldn't learn so easy. Ruby will be the same with chi. No one can teach her so she's going to get unexpected help.
Next time: Ruby finds out she's adopted.
A/N Okay, so something important happens in this chapter4 humor me. If you don't like it well I call up the all mighty bunny slugs.
Chapter 3 The laziness strikes, enjoy summery.
Ruby and Mat walk over to peddler. Mat drags Ruby to the front. Padin Fain (the peddler) talks about a war going on in another country and false dragons. Perrin joins the two and village council comes out. Peddler joins V.C. to decide about what to do about the war.
Perrin, Mat, and Ruby all talk about war. Nynaeve al'Meara, the wisdom, comes over and basically tells them to shut up. Egwene, now the wisdoms apprentice, scowls at them all.
The gleeman finally comes out and asks Egwene to help him with his performance, Nynaeve leaves. Thom Merrilin, the gleeman asks about how Ruby's so tall and has red hair, and about Perrin is near Ruby's height and stocky. Mat and Perrin explain that they have gone further than anyone in 2 Rivers.
Gleeman puts on a short show that stops when Moiraine pops up with Lan. Gleeman and Moiraine go separate ways and Tam tells Ruby to get ready to leave. Turns out Perrin got a coin from Moiraine
Turns out Tam believes that there was something on the road earlier, a black rider that several of the boys have been seeing. Tam and Ruby go home, they plan to come back tomorrow for Bel Tine.
END "in italics" = thoughts
Chapter 4 Winter Night, Ewww! Look at the big uglies!
There were only a few hours of the day left when the al'Thors arrived back at their farmhouse. It was small compared to others that were built to house whole families. Tam and Ruby were considered strange, just the two of them living alone.
A sheep-pen, house, and barn formed a triangle around the farmyard. Ruby leaned against the sheep-pen and and patted the ram. All the sheep appeared sleepy eyed and calm.
"I don't think the black cloaked man came here." Ruby turned to her father, who was studying the ground. "The sheep wouldn't be so settled if he did."
Tam continued to check around going so far to check the well for poisoning. "I suppose he didn't, all this talk about men and horses I can't see or hear just make me look crossways at everything." He transferred well water into a bucket and started for the house. "I'll start the stew for supper, as long as were here we might as well get caught up on a few chores."
Ruby grimaced, wishing she were back with her friends. Walking to her room, she changed into a pair of loose breeches she designed herself. They were a dark brown that tied at the ankle and the waist. She had made them by taking a long skirt and cutting it down the middle on both sides, then sewing it. Ruby picked up a length of rope and tied it around her waist.
Pausing a minute, Ruby decided to buckle her quiver back around her waist. She put on her cloak and picked up her bow. The bow, she had made herself and few people could draw it all the way, most assumed it wouldn't work and didn't try.
Tam had already stabled Bella, assuming Ruby would want to change for chores. Ruby gathered eggs, watered the sheep and weeded the crops. She frowned when she did that. Most crops should have been knee high by now; however few beans had come up and cabbages were small and stunted. Ruby shrugged and started on chopping wood.
This was why she had changed. Chopping wood required strength and concentration, she didn't need a skirt blowing around and getting in the way. The pile got bigger and bigger finally reaching the eaves of the house.
She was so lost in the motions of chopping she didn't notice her arms aching, or Tams approach. Tam placed a hand on her shoulder bringing her back to reality. Ruby blinked and set the axe down. Twilight had come on while she worked.
"Let's wash up girl, and see about some supper. I've already carried in the water for hot baths before sleep."
"Anything hot sounds good to me." Ruby replied, snatching her cloak, and donning it. She barely registered the fact that sweat had soaked her blouse and wind tried to freeze it. "And sleep too for that matter, I might just sleep though the festival."
"Care to make a wager on that." This time he spoke with a slight mischievous glint in his eye. "You would not want to miss a chance to be with Mat would you? After he came to help you unload hmmm?"
"Father! It's not like that I swear!"
They walked in the house, fears momentarily forgotten. Tam had completely lit the house with candles as well as a fire merrily crackling in its place. Ruby went to get bowls to set the long oak table. It was made to seat 16 but hadn't since her mother had died. There was a chair in the corner that Tam used to read in, Ruby preferred to curl up on the rug in front of the fire.
The house was not near as clean has one with a good wife, but it was cozy, and look lived in. Her father took a sample of the stew. "A bit longer."
Ruby washed her face and hands; she peered over the rim of the washstand. Tam was rummaging through the cabinets and pulled out a long old key. He turned the lock and answered Ruby's inquiring look.
"Best to be safe. Maybe I'm taking a fancy, or maybe the weather is blacking my mood but. I'll see to the back door." Ruby was stunned. No one locked their doors; there wasn't any reason to. She thought she got an unpleasant feeling in her stomach, but quickly dismissed it for hunger.
Overhead Ruby heard a scraping sound. Curious, Ruby tiptoed upstairs to find out why Tam decided to move the furniture. Maybe he was barricading something?
She bumped into Tam on the stairs and saw he had a sword with him. Remembering that she should have set the tea on, she jumped down the stairs after apologizing. Over her shoulder she asked Tam, "Where did that come from? Did you get it from a peddler? How much did it cost?"
Tam drew the sword and Ruby got her first look at it. It looked nothing like the swords she had seen before; the closet thing to it was Lan's. There were Herons marked on the hilt, blade, and scabbard. Something about the herons seemed familiar to her, but she couldn't place it.
"I got it a long time ago, a long way from here. And I paid entirely too much; two coopers is too much for one of these. Your mother didn't approve, but she was always wiser than I. I was young then and it seemed worth the price at the time. She always wanted me to get rid of it, and more than once I thought she was right, that I should just give it away."
"Give it away? How could you give something as beautiful as that away?"
"Not much use herding sheep is it? Can't plow a field or harvest a crop can it?" He seemed to slump as he fingered the blade. "But if I am not taken by just a black fancy, if our luck runs sour, maybe in the next few days we'll be glad I tucked it in that old chest instead." He slid it in its sheath. "The stew should be ready, I'll dish it out while you fix the tea."
Ruby nodded and walked over to the kettle that was bubbling fiercely now. She couldn't stop thinking, where had Tam gone to get that sword. Why would it 'seem like a good idea'? She picked up the kettle with a cloth and walked over to the table. Ruby spared a glance at her bow as she poured the steaming water.
There was a sudden thump on the door, as if something had just run into it. Ruby held the kettle with one hand and reached for her bow. Tam noticed this and spoke uncertainly, "One of the neighbors, Master Dautry wanting to borrow." Ruby's grip tightened, on both bow and kettle. She ignored the heat from the kettle, even if Master Dautry was a shameless borrower, it was far too late.
Tam placed the bowls on the table. Both hands had tightened on his sword hilt. "I don't think." The door burst open and a creature filed the doorway. It was waaay taller than anything Ruby had ever seen, and was dressed in black chain mail. It looked half animal and carried a wicked looking sword.
She took it all in, and did the one think that came to mind, she screamed and through the kettle with all her strength at the creature. The kettle brained it and opened halfway there, spilling scalding water on its animal like face.
The creature roared, in a mix of human and animal voice, Tam shot forward and slashed at it. It fell only to reveal another right behind it. Ruby knocked an arrow and fired, the arrow hit the thing in the throat. Before she could celebrate, Ruby noticed what seemed to her an army, of the creatures.
"Run girl! Hide in the woods!" The bodies in the doorway jerked, the other things were pulling them out of the way. The whole scene made Ruby want to sick up, but she knocked another arrow. "There are too many too hold! Out the back, Go I'll follow!"
Ruby trust the arrow back into her quiver and turned. She didn't want to leave her father, but he told her to run. She was ashamed she didn't try to argue with him. As she ran to the back she heard objects being thrown, chairs overturned.
When she came to the back door she tried to lift the bar. Then she cursed herself and backed up, Tam had locked the door. She threw open the side window and heard one of those things slamming on the door. Pure fear ran unchecked through her body. Ruby jumped out just before the half human creature turned the door to splinters.
She heard them speaking in low grunts. She didn't need to know what they were saying to figure out something. "Tam!" She thought. Ruby stood up and yelled. "They're coming back! I'm outside! Run, father!" When she finished she was running toward the woods.
Ruby could feel tears starting to form, she attempted to block out the sounds of breaking glass, splintering wood. All her thoughts were focused on getting away, and hoping Tam was okay.
She tripped and felt something brush the back of her shoulders. Ruby used her bow like a quarterstaff and swung it. She then realized that it was just the hoe-handle Tam had been working on. "Idiot! Coplin fool idiot!"
Resolution came to her. She had to go back and find Tam. Those things made her scarred, but Tam was more important. She slowly made her way back, with one arrow knocked and moving from tree to tree.
Shadows danced in the house, and Ruby quivered but held her bow steady. "I have to find Tam" One of the windows burst open as Tam came crashing out. He rolled and dashed to the back of the house. "He thinks I'm."
"Father!" She yelled, "I'm over here!"
Tam turned and yelled back, "Run girl!" He ran opposite of Ruby. "Hide!" More of the big ugly things followed him.
Tears silently burst forth as Ruby collapsed in the barn. She was safe, but Tam, her only surviving family member, her father, was leading those things away from her. She clutched the bow; it would be useless in close quarter combat. She laughed, "If I move like I was stalking a rabbit, they'll never hear me or see me."
Ruby crept out into the trees. She prayed that they wouldn't see her. As she was walking something reached out and grabbed her, a hand covered her mouth.
She panicked and franticly reached back for a hold on her attacker.
"Don't break my neck girl." Came out a horse whisper. Ruby immediately stopped. She turned and glomped onto her father. They dropped to the ground. Tam was stroking her hair. "I wouldn't have tried that if I had thought how much you've grown in the last few years, but I had to make sure you didn't speak out, some trollocs can hear like a dog, some better." "Trollocs?!" "I'm sure, but what brought them to two Rivers.I never saw one before tonight, but I've talked with some who have, so I know a little. Maybe enough to keep us alive, Listen closely. A trolloc can see better than a man in the dark, but bright lights blind them, for a time at least. That may be the only reason we got away from so many. Some can track by sent or sound, but they're said to be lazy. If we can keep out of their hands long enough they should give up." Ruby nodded and filled the information away. "Do you think they're still following us?" "Maybe, maybe not, they don't seem very smart. Once we got into the forest, I sent the ones after me to the mountains without much trouble." Tam touched his side then looked at his hand. "Your hurt! You've got blood on your hand." "Keep your voice down, and it's just a scratch. Nothing to do about it now, anyway. At least weather seems to be warming." Ruby was rubbing her arms. She touched Tam's forehead with her hand. "Your on fire! I have to get you to Nynaeve." "In a bit, girl" "We don't have time to waste. It's a long way in the dark." Ruby moved and was about to try and lift Tam when she remembered Nynaeve talking to Egwene. "Remember when they are bleeding greatly its best not to move them." She had no idea how bad Tam was so she nodded to herself and made her way to the house. She was going to get the cart and bring them to Tam. She looked back in the direction of the house, if the trollocs weren't still there and if they were. "I'll be back in a minute father." "Where are you going?" "We need the cart and blankets." "Careful." "I will be, careful as a mouse explores a hawks nest." She leaned down to pick up the sword. If she could shoot them at a distance, and if they snuck up on her. Ruby shouldered the bow and held the sword at her hip. She ran.
"Looks like there's no one here." Ruby crept to the sheep-pen. At first she thought they were all the sheep were asleep, then she realized the truth, they were dead. Anger filled her blood, her grip tightened on the hilt if the blade. "They kill for fun, they don't even eat the animals they kill, and they just leave everything to rot." Ruby entered the house first, she saw inside only dead bodies. She saw white coated everything, flour most likely. First she started moving through the mess, looking for blankets or anything useful, she kept muttering to herself. Then she heard something scrap along the floor. In the blink of an eye she grabbed the sword and spun to face the intruder. Unbeknownst to Ruby, her eyes had begun to glow a steady blue, as well as a on and off blue outline surrounded her. This had scarred the trolloc. "Others go away. Narg stay. Narg smart." Ruby could barely understand a word it said. It sounded like stones grating. "Narg know some come back sometime. Narg wait. You no need sword. Put sword down." Ruby took in the image of the trolloc. It had a wolf muzzle beneath the eyes, and goat hooves. She glanced at her sword, pointed at the trolloc. "Narg no hurt. You put sword down." Ruby thought it was trying to sooth her? "Stay back, why did you do this? Why?" "Vlji daeg roghda!" (Does anyone know what that means?) Narg growled and then smiled, his own ugly toothy smile. "Put sword down. Narg no hurt. Myrddrall want talk you. Others come back, you talk Myrddraal." It took a step closer with a hand on it's own hilt. "You put sword down." Ruby cursed. Myrddraal! She tightened her grip; she had to get out if a Myrddraal was going to be here. She smiled her own toothy smile at the trolloc. "All right, I'll talk." The wolf trolloc lunged forward with a snarl. Ruby saw it in slow motion as she parried its sword with her own. She wasn't prepared for the speed or strength it had and was thrown on her back. The trolloc came at her again. She tried to bring her sword up. Ruby gasped for air as the heavier body came crushing down on her. She fought to avoid grouping hands or snapping jaws. Then, the would be murderer and rapist made a mistake. One of the trollocs hairy hands found one of Ruby's breasts and squeezed. Ruby seethed and anger came like a flood. She felt raw power, anger, confidence, all emotions mixed in her. She didn't know what she did, but at the same time she knew exactly what it was. Ruby brought her hands against the trolloc as it reached for her throat. She did everything automatically, the energy gathered in her palms. She whispered words that formed on the edge of her consciousness. "Moko Takabisha." All the pent up energy blasted out and hit Narg at point blank. He flew across the room and through a wall. He had a hole burned through his chest. Ruby jumped out and shouted "PERVERT!!" she clamped a hand over her mouth. "Where did that come from? How did I know how to do that? One thing I know I wont forget it." Ruby picked up the sword and things she had gathered. She walked to the barn after inspecting her handiwork on the trolloc. Others would be here, even if she had a new trick she would be outnumbered. She filled a water bottle with water from the bucket that had somehow remained untouched during the whole attack. Ruby made her way to the barn, her mind was seeped in emotion, in that power she discovered, she was sure it was not The One Power, a word floated on the edge of her mind told her something else. Too bad she couldn't read the word. Her bowstring was taught; the bow had miraculously remained unbroken. She got to the barn and searched for the cart. First she saw Bella and cow were gone, hopefully escaped. Then she saw the cart with a shaft cut down. Ruby rocked the cart and tried to tip it back over. For a second it looked like it was going to fall back on her, then sat down with a groan.
Taking the sword, Ruby raised it above her head, and swirling in that mass of emotion, she cut through the undamaged shaft with one hit. Her eyes looked at the blade and noticed it was still sharp, and glowed a blue that seemed to fade from it. She threw everything in the back of the cart and started out. "Its strange, the flame and void give me precision, but if I swear that was like the anti-void, I wish I knew what it was."
Ruby worked her way through the woods to Tam. She thought she would have tripped on the way, but the it was like the ground had smoothed out for her. She shook her head as she approached Tam. He wasn't moving, and for a second Ruby thought he had stopped breathing.
Ruby touched Tam on the face, tears threatened to burst forth again.
"Is that you girl? Worried about you, dreams of days gone, nightmares." Tam seemed to fall back asleep.
She cradled him as she picked him up and set him in the cart. "Don't worry," she whispered, "I'll get you to Nynaeve just as quick as I can." Ruby removed Tams belt and put it on herself. She then sheathed the blade and shouldered the bow. "We'll be safe in the village in no time, and the Wisdom will set everything right. You'll see. Everything's going to be all right." She pulled on her coat and looked at Tams wound. She washed it the best she could, then bound it.
She made a type of litter from the shaft of the cart. She had used the blankets to tie everything together. When Tam started mumbling she got worried. What if the trollocs heard? Still, she could bring herself to put a hand over his mouth. He only had a single small wound, she had checked, but that had been festering and gave one bad fever.
As Ruby started for Emonds Field she wondered about that power she had used, and decided to not tell anyone, but maybe Perrin and Mat, or Tam. She didn't want any MORE people shunning her. They might think it was channeling. She shook her head all that filled her were thoughts of getting Tam to the Wisdom.
End.
A/N So, Ruby now has the Moko Takabisha. She won't get the others for a while. Rand channeled on instinct and never forgot what he did, but he couldn't learn so easy. Ruby will be the same with chi. No one can teach her so she's going to get unexpected help.
Next time: Ruby finds out she's adopted.