Don't get hurt! She added to the mice. The original idea of ants was impossible because she didn't communicate with insects. She already knew what she was going to do. She would go with the mice.

After she said the goodbyes, she went behind a bush to shape-shift into a mouse. Unfortunately, she could not take her pack with her.

Ready? She asked the mice.

Yes, replied the lead mouse gravely. His name was Gray, for his color. The mice told Daine that they didn't like long names.

Are you sure that the Stormwings are in that cave? Asked Daine. The mice had also told her where the Stormwings' lair was. Are they all there tonight?

Yes, said Gray's mate, Night. We heard them enter their lair. We are angry at them for taking over the territory. They are foul beasts.

Then let's go, said Daine the Mouse. But remember, be careful!

The mice lead the way to a bluff that was covered with trees. Beyond its barrier of trees, there was a cave. As a mouse, Daine smelled the Stormwings' foul odor. The mice crept into the cave from different sides, two by two, and with intervals before the next pair went. It was a slow business, but Daine knew it was the only way. Finally she entered.

The cave was huge. Stormwings lounged everywhere, some fluttering their wings, and some admiring them. There was group that included the male Daine had met, sitting in a circle. Daine crept as close as she dared to them, to listen.

"Maybe we should have asked Uusoae to help."

"No!"

"She would only ruin everything."

"But she could create chaos…" said the first one.

"She would foil our plans, Mickeash!" said the third one.

"But that girl already knows we're up to something!" said the one that was called Mickeash. Daine knew they were talking about her.

"We can't trust Uusoae!" said the second one.

"Eldor's right, Mickeash! Knowing her, she would probably create chaos against us, not for us!" the third one said.

"We've got planning to do! Stop talking about Uusoae! If she hears you, she will create chaos for us! Do you want that?" said a fourth Stormwing.

"No, O mighty leader!" chorused all the Stormwings.

"Then get back to planning! If we're to take over, we must plan! All we've been doing the past week is spying on that fool of a girl! When will we kidnap her already!"

Daine was astonished. She crept backwards to the cave wall to think. Take over what? Did the Stormwings mean to take over Tortall? Why would they need to kidnap Kel? If they were trying to kidnap someone powerful, why were they not planning the kidnapping of Alanna?

Daine's mind worked. She knew that Kel's father was also the ambassador of the Yamani islands…. That's it! she thought. With Kel gone, herfather would search for her. He did care about her a lot. And with him gone, the Stormwings could do whatever thy wanted! They could assume his shape and tell the Yamanis whatever they wanted to tell them! So it worked two ways! If they wanted to take over Tortall, they could also take over the Yamani islands as well!

Though there was one thing that Daine didn't understand. Why would the Stormwings want to take over anything?

She crept up to the circle again in time to hear the chief Stormwing say,

"WE WILL TAKE OVER THE EASTERN LANDS!" It sounded as a very loud boom to the mice, and they ran from the cave.

When they were back at their camp, Daine saw Numair was back. She was in trouble now.

She shape-shifted, dressed, then walked up to Numair.

"Where have you been?" exclaimed Numair. "I've been searching for you for a half hour!" Seeing tufts of fur still on her, the mage realized what Daine had been up to. "Oh no you didn't…" he trailed off. There was a silence. Then Numair shrieked, "Daine, Daine, Daine! I told you not to put yourself in danger! You could have gotten yourself killed!"

Daine sighed. "But-"

"It'll give the baby wrong ideas!" interrupted Numair.

Daine exclaimed, "Shhh!", but the damage was already done.

"What baby?" asked Aynna, who was closest to them. She didn't get an answer. In perfect unison the Riders all said, "Oh."

There was silence.

Then all of a sudden, a million voices started saying a million different things:

"You should have told us!"

"We didn't want to put you in danger!"

"Daine, Daine, Daine!"

"We should have known there was something wrong…."

"You could have been killed!"

"Why, Daine!"

"SHHHH!"

That last voice was Numair's. Everyone got quiet.

The next day, they all rode to Mindelan, and got set up. Mindelan was the plainest of fiefs. The village was in front of a forest, and the castle behind it. The Riders and mages crossed through the village and forest, and soon got to the castle. They would form a dome-like shape around it, with the Mindelan knights as well, and defend. Scouts were sent, bows were strung, and all other weapons were sharpened.

Soon the scouts raced back, stumbling and tripping over roots, and warned of the attacking Stormwings.

The battle was quick. Only ten of the Riders were wounded, because they had been extra careful, and the Stormwings had been very careless, not to mention how few in numbers the immortals were. Even the least wise thought it suspicious.

Then they were warned about where the rest of the Stormwings were. They were attacking Corus.

But the Riders, Numair, and Daine knew they couldn't make it to Corus.

Even knowing that, Daine insisted on going to Tortall's capital city.

"Daine, no!" was Numair's response to that. "Think about the baby!"

"Numair, I have to!" said Daine. Her voice was edged with exasperation.

"Daine…!"

"Numair, I've already shape-shifted once, what harm could another shape-shift do?"

Eventually Numair agreed. The newly-wed would shape-shift and fly to Corus, with their packs in their beaks.

When they got to Corus, and the Wildmage had dressed, Daine felt a kicking in her stomach, which after two seconds switched to a slithery feeling, was replaced again by what felt like antlers, and so on. She told Numair.

"Why, it's a young shape-shifter!" was the mage's reply.

Daine sighed.

There was a long, dreary battle that followed. Eventually Tortall's side won.

After Daine had the baby, the couple were very preoccupied with the baby girl, and forgot all their earlier troubles.

The ending I think is a little too short, but I just wanted to finish the story! Please review, so I can make my writing better!