BIG ANNOUNCEMENT TO MAKE: IF ANYBODY WANTS TO READ A STORY OUT OF THAT JUST MIGHT GET PUBLSHED, please keep checking back to my webpage (go to my bio, then click on homepage. You'll come to a matmice Shadowcatwhisperer homepage) and click on the link at the bottom to visit. It's going to be based on real life experiences – put into an animals' PoV. It'll be posted in chapters, like this one, though they might be a little shorter. If you enjoyed this fanfic, you'll love my original story, though you might not, if you don't like animals or adventure. You can leave a review on whether or not you liked it. Thanks!

I got a lot of reviews from one person (no names mentioned, cough-BabylonianPrincess-cough) so I'll put the responses to ALL of them down here:

BabylonianPrincess Thanks for reviewing – what? Eight times. Or something like that, anyway. It's great to see someone actually liking my stories. :) SotS gets really annoying, hey? She should have put the Dragon Night bit in a separate story… but who cares. Oh well. You've got only fanfiction now. I hope one of them is mine. :) Hmm… guess what. I'm a sadist and an insomniac and a geek and a nerd and a girl with major problems. Yeah, all of them. The spirit's annoying, I know. But there's something else that Aradia inside the spirit wanted for Jasmine and Lief… I'm not going to tell you what. Thanks so much for the positive comments and you don't have to review every chapter. I don't mind. :) No funeral was needed, coz I'm here and alive! I'll give you a marshmallow: (()

PJ Blindclown: Hey, you read the newest chapter and reviewed. That's what matters. :) Oh really? Why didn't I realize that? ;… I have no idea. You decide for me… thanks! I'm giving out marshmallows! Here's one for you! (()

Thanks also to Starlit Moonshadow. I love your name! (() Anyway… major fluff this chap. I hope. Note: I don't know if any information in this is true, so bear with me if the information about Kree and Filli is wrong.

Another note: Whoever thought Peace's death was sad and touching… well, let's just say I got carried away. ;;;

And one last note: Thanks a lot to PJBlindclown for letting me bounce my ideas on her, and for giving me the idea for this whole chapter. So – in the end – it was dedicated to her. And may her pet... you know what I'm going to say. This chapter is for you, for all the cool ideas and reviews you've given me. Don't lost hope – God will understand!

Chapter 10: Relationship Renewed

Jasmine crept down the stairs, tiny lamp in hand and dagger at her side. She was fully clothed and ready for anything. Or so she thought.

"Now, where was the surgery?" Jasmine murmured in a near-whisper to herself, bare feet treading lightly on the tiled floor of the hallway leading to her room.

But she wasn't going that way. No, she was looking for a last sight of Kree.

But once she… descended… to the underworld, she would see Kree again. Yes, her faithful pet and friend even before Filli, Lief, Barda… before all of them. Even before Aradia. She had known Kree since she was eleven months old. He had been a tame bird then, bought from the healer just down the road.

But that was when they were living in the townside. When they had to escape and did so to First Wood in the Forests Of Silence, the blackbird had quickly become… wild. Untamed. Kree had evolved from the meek, tame household bird that he was trained to be and transformed into the perfect guide: Willing, bright, loyal and trustworthy, but with sharp senses that a human lookout could never have.

And that was how the two of them had found Filli. Alone and almost frozen solid, Kree had picked him out from the branches of a deciduous tree in Mid Wood while the two were exploring the regions. Jasmine had brought him back and nursed him back to life.

But now Kree was gone, and he would never save her life again. Or anyone else's, for that matter. It was up to her to save him this time, but… she had failed. Miserably. And she had no excuse.

Lost in her depressing thoughts, she didn't notice a tiny light glowing from behind a closed door: a tiny study Lief liked to go to when he couldn't sleep. (A/N: See where this is going?)

She trudged on ahead, not noticing anything but her tiny path.

Lief was just standing up. He gave a luxurious stretch as he picked up his lamp, covering a yawning mouth with the other.

He suddenly gave a frown, lines creasing his forehead. What's that? He wondered, noticing a silhouette of some kind outlined against the stone floor, filtering itself underneath the closed door. He quickly extinguished his light, wincing as the flame died with a reluctant hiss.

Was that Jasmine's shadow, or the shadow of an unwanted intruder?

He waited for the light to pass by, then slowly opened the door. It slid open without a sound – thanks to the servants of the palace – with barely a touch of the doorknob. Peering out, he saw who it was.

What is she doing out there in the dark? He thought, alarm passing through his system. What if she – Oh no. He opened the old, polished oak door the whole way and leapt outside, dagger out and ready. If it's not Jasmine…

Jasmine crept down the hallway, not enveloped in her thoughts. I hope this is the right way to go, she thought worriedly, taking a right turn. She had been good at directions, but in the middle of the night and taking a few glasses of strong wine…

Finally she arrived at her destination. Opening the door with barely a touch of the hand, she slipped in discreetly. Finding there was no one around, she padded to the Lifespan box and stared in.

Her doubts were erased as she stared into the small compartment, shimmering with powerful spells to keep life inside. Kree lay motionless in the tiny space provided for him, wing clumsily bandaged to keep more blood in.

But it was too late now. She had no choice. He had been her closest friend, and now he was gone. Just like that. So she would go to him. There was no time for life-bringing spells; it was too late for that, and Ranesh would still be up anyway. The two lovers and librarians worked in shifts throughout the day and night.

That brought her to Lief. Would he even miss her? Maybe her mind was clouded from so much sorrow. She really needed a rest…

Lief followed the would-be intruder up the steps, into… why would he – or she – go into the infirmary? Maybe there was a herb of some sort in there that he – or she – wanted. Maybe.

He blinked as the intruder disappeared inside, and followed suit, frowning. Why not the Royal Jewel Room? Why not the Library? There were plenty of other rooms that held precious artifacts, while the infirmary held nothing but medicines and healing spells. An injury was rare; many were protected by charms and spells of health. Only the Toran Plague was able to break through the tightly woven web of fitness in the last decade, and with the Shadow Lord temporarily quelled, there was almost no need for –

Kree! Lief suddenly understood. It was Jasmine. No other could possibly be that agile and lithe as well as knowing the palace inside out. The two had been exploring many, many times before. Tucked away in the shadows, he watched her place the lantern on the small table beside the Lifespan box, and take away the lid. She stared down, watching Kree, beautiful eyes emotionless. Seemingly emotionless.

As Jasmine slipped a rough piece of material underneath the bird and scooped it up into her arms, she heard a downpour start outside. Shuddering at the cold that suddenly swept through her system, she tucked Kree inside her brown leather jacket and padded outside, heading towards the cliffs at towards the back of the palace. Lief followed silently, making less noise than a panther. He wanted to see where this went before barging in.

He could see the tears dripping down her cheeks now. He could see the suffering she felt inside now. He could see clearly the emotions she had hid inside so efficiently. He could see her pain. He could see her for real now. He could see her inner emotions displayed out before him now.

And he didn't like it. Where was the strong, stubborn Jasmine he once knew? Where had the beautiful, nimble girl of eighteen? Here, before him, there was only a shell of the girl he used to know and love.

But he still loved her now. He did. And he would help her through the time of misery that she felt.

But he wouldn't be able to help her if he didn't know what she was going through at the moment.

From the darkness of the doorway, he watched her slip the hatch open and leap out onto the rooftop of the palace, balancing under the downpour precariously. She was immediately soaked, but didn't stop. She kept going doggedly, shielding herself against the sweeping, moaning winds.

Lief didn't go out there. Instead he took to the many linked attics, listening for her near silent footsteps. He sensed her, in a way. Through their unlinked link.

He followed her to the southern end of the palace, where he felt her jump down the uneven steps of around ten floors, almost slipping in the rain.

He ran down the many flights of stairs, stopping only to grab an amethyst pendant from a hidden cache. He had a feeling he would need it.

But the slight hindrance only minimized his lead by a second. He was out before her, slipping into a clump of bushes, immediately soaking himself in the furious rain. He watched her run down the slippery trail, footing light and sure on the slightly moss-covered cobblestones. He watched her, then followed, making sure to stay invisible until the time he would reveal himself.

He wondered where exactly she was going. He followed her, tucking the charm into his pocket.

She headed down a narrow, muddy path, only slipping once. She put out a hand to balance herself, stabilizing herself precariously. He almost reached out to help her, then realized his predicament. If he showed himself now, he would never get to the bottom of this.

Now he knew where she was going. She was heading down to the cliffs at the southern edge of Deltora – a highly dangerous point, especially in rotten weather. And the weather was way past rotten now. Most people only went there to get themselves killed, or kill another.

Now he knew her ambitions. She was going to jump! Jump, into the raging seas. Jump, only to impale herself on the jagged, unforgiving rocks. Those rocks had killed many an innocent passer-by, and they were forever and always stained with dry, crusty blood.

And she would join Kree in the underworld.

He wouldn't let that happen.

Jasmine skittered down the last of the muddy path, mentally begging forgiveness from all those who had known and loved her. She knew it was wrong, but Kree had been her first ever friend. Not even Aradia, Lief or Barda could fill that place in her heart. Now her lifelong friend was gone, and she was half-crazed by the aftershock.

She wouldn't be able to survive without him.

If he couldn't be raised from the dead, she would go to him.

Reaching the warning rope, she stopped and looked around, scanning her darkened surroundings with a practiced eye. Had anyone followed her?

Suddenly, something leapt out at her from the darkness, immediately unarming her so that all her weapons were thrown, discarded, onto the muddy ground. Jasmine landed on the sodden grass with a muffled thump, the attacker on top of her. She struggled to get away, pushing at the attacker, not even noticing who he was. Kree was dropped in the process, he too landing in the mud with a disgraceful plop.

Lief, meanwhile, was trying to soothe her. "Jasmine, it's me, don't worry. Jasmine –" he loosened his grip around her shoulders, shaking her gently. "Jasmine, it's Lief. Look at me." When she froze, staring up at him with a piteous expression on her features, he got up, pulling her up with him. "Jasmine, don't. Please. You – I need you here. I… I'd die if you walked away right now. I'd never be able to live with myself. And… and what of the kingdom? It wouldn't have a king again. Please Jasmine…" he stopped, at a loss for words. There she was, eyes streaming with tears, staring at him.

"I can't, Lief. He… he was my first ever friend. He… he's saved my life countless times, and I was only able to thank him with extra morsels of food and love. That's all I could do. And… and when I received a chance to redeem myself, pay back my debts… I failed him, Lief. I failed him." Her voice shook with untold emotions, but she carried on. She would have to explain everything to him. He had a right to know. "He… no one can replace him, Lief. Not even you. You… you have a separate place in here –" she placed both hands on her heart " – but you'll never be able to replace him. No one will." She knelt, picking him up and making sure there was no more damage done to him.

"But he'll live on forever in your heart. You have him in there –" he placed his hands on top of her heart "- and you'll never lose him."

Jasmine looked up at him, eyes brimming with unshed tears. "Never, ever?" she asked like a little child.

"Never, never ever," he reassured her, caressing her wet onyx hair. "You'll always be with him, and he'll always be with you. I'll always be with you."

"I know now." Something dripped down Jasmine's cheeks; was it merely the rain? "I know."

Lief stood there with Jasmine in his arms, cradling her gently. "You do."

When he moved, it was only to talk to her. "How about we bury him here, where we're standing? He'll be with us in body and soul." When Jasmine gave a tiny nod, he unwrapped himself from his embrace and knelt down, his love following. He dug a little hole in the mud, fingers squelching in the slop, and stood back, allowing Jasmine to place the frail body inside. Remembering the charm he had brought out with him, he took it out, as well as the one he wore around his neck: moonstone.

"Amethyst for healing, and moonstone for sleep," Jasmine whispered, placing the two side by side around Kree's body.

"Say good bye

"And move on,

"It doesn't matter

"If he's gone.

"He'll always live

"In your heart –

"Forevermore," he whispered to her, patting the earth around him. It seemed like he was merely sleeping, hidden away under the mud.

"The soul will live on

"When the body falls

"No wandering

"Within the halls

"Of pain and sorrow –

"Nevermore," Jasmine murmured back, biting back a sob. Childhood rhymes brought back painful memories.

Dedicated to PJBlindclown