Queen's Own: This is my chap!! I'm doing the POV of Alyx, the newly Chosen Herald, Doss' Chosen. Watch me mess with the minds of Companion and human alike *grins wickedly*. But whatever you do, don't blame it on me! It is the fault of my muse, Sami, a Change- *looks at muse* -well, I am forced to admit, I'm not sure what he was. Something monkey like, that's slightly catlike- anyways, it's his fault!!

Sami: don't you dare blame me!!!!

Queen's Own: I got Siri in to disclaim for us today. She hasn't been working much lately, so she's disclaiming.

Siri: this extremely annoying author who won't give me any work and the equally annoying muse who pushed me out of a job don't own anything. It all belongs to Mercedes Lackey.

Queen's Own: That's not nice, Siri!! Consider yourself out of a disclaiming job!

Siri: *sulks off complaining about obnoxious writers who don't love her*

Sami: Anyway, here's my ficcie. Well, actually it's Ysa's and mine. We share like good muses!!! *glares at Siri* Thank you so very much to all our reviewers!!! And here, is the next chapter!

2- Alyx: Hyperness

Alyx dismounted from his Companion with a great deal of energy -which was the way he did everything in life. All throughout his thirteen Alyx had always had a reputation for being two things: hyper and extremely energetic. Some even said annoying, though Doss -his extremely awesome and wonderful Companion- had assured him this was not at all true.

:You are wonderful, and I love you,: she'd told him when she'd plucked him from the only life he'd ever known. :All the other Heralds will too.: Considering the fact that he had lived in a guard outpost near the border, it had been a very military life, a life that had not suited Alyx at all. Doss was most definitely his savior.

"I'm Dean Erek." This statement came from a short, slender man. He was muscular and would have looked more at home in a tavern down by Exile's Gate than in the Herald's Collegium. As it was, you couldn't judge a book by its narrow-eyed, thin lipped, whipcord over bone cover. Erek was one of the kindest men a person could ever hope to find, even among the ranks of the Heralds, as his lifemate, Daymi, a Silver Arrow, would tell everyone she could find. Of course, she was biased, but she did have a reputation in the circle for being extremely honest. "Welcome to the Herald's Collegium." Alyx smiled at him, with his brown eyes as well as his mouth.

"I'm Alyx!" he said excitedly. "And I'm Doss' Chosen! And I am so happy to be here- you have no idea!!!!!" Dean Erek chuckled.

"You do seem rather energetic," he said, smiling kindly at the boy. Alyx stopped bouncing up and down -a feat his Companion marveled at, as they'd been together for almost two weeks and she still couldn't get him to stop bouncing- and stood quietly. His only movement was to rake short black hair back with one callused hand.

:Tell your Chosen, he's done wonders!: Doss informed Erek's Companion.

Alyx's temporary calm broke as he caught sight of a slender redhead dressed in Gray walking nearby. She had her arm around a Companion stallion. He went trotting over to the pretty girl as Doss heaved a sigh and followed. Erek smiled, a smile that was tinged with worry as he recognized the girl as the Circle's only Firestarter, Meriya. He could only hope Doss could keep the boy out of trouble.

Alyx almost bounced up to the girl. "Hi! I'm Alyx, and this is Doss! What's your name?! Who's your Companion?! How long have you been a Trainee?! What are your Gifts?!" He stopped his stream of questions as the girl fixed him with one green eye. That eye was not amused, or even very friendly. Alyx, humbled for the second time in a few short minutes, stood still and waited. Doss wondered if the end of the world had come, for this boy to be calm so much.

"I'm Meriya." The girl's voice was clipped. Alyx studied her as well as listened. She was pretty, with a small nose, high cheekbones and emerald eyes. Her hair was red, and cut short."This is Lyan. He Chose me a year ago. As for my Gifts, I'm a Firestarter." If she'd hoped for this to shut him up, she was sadly mistaken.

"A Firestarter! Wow! That's amazing! I don't know what my Gifts are! How did you find out?! When will I find out?! I-" He stopped talking again as Doss nudged him. Unfortunately, she miscalculated and he went sprawling. Meriya, acting on instinct, caught him. Her cheeks went as red as her hair.

:Chosen,: Doss cautioned as he stood again. :I would be careful. Meriya has a temper to go with her Gift.:

"Don't worry!" Alyx said cheerfully. "I'll be careful!" Meriya snorted, as did Lyan and Doss.

There was an uncomfortable silence for a few seconds. Lyan took advantage of that to throw a very suggestive look at Doss which both Alyx and Meriyacaught. Meriya blushed though didn't seem too surprised. "Wow! Doss, do you like him?!" Alyx was bouncing again. "Will I be in your head?! Or will I not?! How does that work?!" Meriya fixed him with another stare and he shut up.

"Your Companion," she said slowly, as though talking to an idiot. "Will block you out. Doss and Lyan have been friends for a very long time. This hardly comes as a shock." She glared at her Companion, and Alyx was startled to see little flamelets dancing around her hair.

"Wow!" he said excitedly. "Meriya! Your hair's on fire!

:That's normal, Chosen,: Doss said firmly. :Now, come on. Let's go back to the Dean.:

Alyx nodded. "Bye Meriya!!! I'll see you soon!!" He ran back to the Dean. Doss sighed and followed, finding it hard to believe that one boy could have so much energy.

:See you later, Lyan,: she said, her mindvoice hinting and exasperated at the same time. :Right now, I need to Trainee-sit.: Lyan sent back a mental laugh.

Queen's Own: I apologize for shortness. Alyx is eternally hyper!!!!!!!

Sami: Reviews make me and Ysa keep working!! She's doing the next chap so it's not my fault if she doesn't update soon!!