Disclaimer: Anything you recognize in this story is owned by Tamora Pierce. I am writing this story for my own enjoyment and, hopefully, the enjoyment of readers.

Thank you so much to my first two reviewers (and hopefully not my last), Knights of Ne and warrior of Tortall.

Sorry, the last chapter was kind of short. The chapters are a lot longer after the last one, don't worry.


Chapter 2: Journey of Problems

The villagers staggered onward, following the three men who were leading the procession. The rest of the men were riding to the sides or behind the people walking and the wagons.

Anne sometimes let young children ride Tinring while she led them. She was worn out, but some of the children were only just learning to walk.

They stopped in Cria, Gala, and got new supplies. The villagers were given the choice to either stay in Cria, or stay with the few men who had to go ask the crown.

Anne, despite her mother and mother-in-law's warnings, decided to continue to Corus, Tortall, with the men and the other women who had decided to go on.

Her mothers' pleaded with her to leave the baby behind, but Anne shook her head firmly and brought the baby with her.

The continuing group left Cria three days after they had arrived. They carried what they needed in their saddlebags. They didn't bring a wagon.

Anne fashioned a basket for her baby. The basket was then tied to the back of her saddle. The baby never cried when they were moving, so to get her to go to sleep at night, Anne left the baby in the basket and led Tinring around their camp until the baby was asleep.

They had been making good progress, occasionally sending scouts ahead to check traveling conditions. On one such time, Anne was riding at the back of the line, when she heard the warning bird call from the scout.

She and the other woman, Mary, grabbed bows and after checking in the bushes, dismounted and hid in the thick underbrush by the side of the road.

They lay flat on their stomachs peering out onto the road, one of Anne's hand's on the baby's basket and the other on her bow. She had been taught as a young girl to shoot.

The cause of the warning signal came into view. It was a large group of bandits that easily outnumbered Anne's group. She chose a bandit and shot.

Mary did the same.

The men of the group grabbed staffs and swords. Some grabbed the horses and brought them away from the bandits. Others snuck into the bushes and went around the back of the bandits so they were surrounded.

It was a miracle, but in the end, all of the bandits were killed. Unfortunately, so were two of the travelers.

Anne and Mary helped bury the dead men and carve a small cross for each grave.

They stopped not far from the area of road the fight had taken place on, to rest and give the healer traveling with the group a chance to heal those who had been hurt.

The forest animals were quiet as the night drew near. No one heard anything, no rustle of leaves, no chirping birds, no chattering of an angry critter. If the travelers hadn't been so weary, they might have been more suspicious.

But as the last person dropped off the sleep, the travelers paid for their lack of observance. The bandits returned.

Anne had trouble falling asleep, so when she heard the crack of a twig and a curse, she eased out of her bedroll, grabbed her bow, and the baby's basket and poked Mary.

Mary shrieked, causing the whole camp to wake up and see the bandits. The bandits didn't wait or hesitate, they just charged. And killed all who didn't manage to flee. The people who fled had no chance to save anyone else. They ran away, but were caught by the bandits after the bandits stole their horses.

Anne didn't follow the people fleeing, she ran in the opposite direction. She dodged the bandits and fled into the woods behind them, all the time clutching her baby to her chest. But she didn't manage to get away completely. An arrow hit her in the side as she ran hunched over.

Anne screamed, but kept running. She squeezed through tight spots where she knew the bandits couldn't follow.

At last she came to a small stream. She tore strips from the bottom of her petticoat and washed and bandaged herself as bast she could. The baby lay gurgling beside her as she passed out.

In the morning, Anne awoke, but just barely. Her arrow wound had developed an infection over night. Her temperature rose as she drifted in and out of consciousness.

In her dream, Anne saw a tall figure, hooded in black. Beside the figure were two wolves. One was pitch black and the other was pure white. Anne thought "What an odd animal to be near the Black God"

The wolves nodded at her gravely in her dream, and just as she died, she heard a voice in her head.

"I will come."


Oooh, do you like it? I do. Hope you do too. Tell me, tell me.

Thanks for reading, everyone.

Meadow Runner