The next few weeks passed slowly and with no new evidence to who the girl was. Niko was hardly ever around to school Tris more about weather patterns, so she spent her time with Lark and Sandry, learning how to weave some more. One more break in was heard of during the weeks, but this time it was in the weaver halls. Someone stole a yard or two of bandages. Mages were looking all over the grounds for her and no one would give any of the four mages any new information.

Briar was acting especially odd, if the girls did say so themselves. Tris noticed it first. He'd been acting that way since the night he'd come to her room and spoken to her about the girl. Sandry caught on soon and then Daja did finally after about a week. All tried to pry it from him or sneak a peek at what he might be thinking/feeling, but he blocked them from his mind. When questioned, he just told them to keep their nebs out of other people's business.

After a few more days of this treatment going by, the girls finally rounded on him when they were on the roof watching the sky.

"What's your problem?" Tris asked, breaking the long silence that had been settled on them since they'd nestled down up there.

The boy mage didn't even move when she spoke, making her think he might be sleeping. Leaning over, she saw his eyes were wide open and staring off into space. Scowling, she snapped, "BRIAR!"

This time he twitched and his jaded eyes darted over to her and back. "What do you want Copper Curls?"

Snorting at her nickname, she asked again, "What's been your problem lately?"

"I don't have a problem," he replied simply.

This time Daja and Sandry back Tris up. "Yes you do," the noble said. "You've been nearly avoiding everyone for days and you're like withdrawn."

Daja nodded and added, "You always look dazed too, like your mind is on something else."

"Or someone else," Tris accused, narrowing her eyes. Her mind had flittered back to their conversation that one night, when he spoke of the girl.

Briar sat up, stretched almost like a cat up from a nap, and turned to look at his housemates. Shielding his eyes from the sun, he looked impassive for the most part. "Back off Tris," he said, looking at her with no emotion whatsoever. "It's none of your business, or yours." He clearly turned to the other girls when he spoke. After that, he just strode past them and back down the ladder to get back inside.

Tris listened on the breezes she had going through the house until she was positive he couldn't hear them. She turned to the girls and quickly told them about what Briar had said before. Daja seemed to be lost in thought while Sandry looked quite surprised.

"Do you think he could be in contact with her?" Sandry asked, biting her bottom lip a little.

Daja came out of her daze and shrugged a little. "Maybe. They are thieves, you know," she said, earning a glare from Sandry but still sticking her theory. "Well, it would be common grounds for them!"

Tris shook her head, her curls bouncing with her. "I don't think so," she said thoughtfully, her brows snapping together. "I mean, he had told me she had ran from him before. So, why would she be trusting him or even talking to him now? It doesn't make sense. And Niko has been gone for so long, searching for her."

If it wasn't her imagination, Sandry could have sworn Tris's voice got a little colder when she said her last sentence. Putting a comforting hand on Tris's shoulder, she smiled warmly at her. "Don't worry about it Tris," she said, "You know if need be, Briar can handle himself and if not, we'll be there to back him up. And Niko…well, he's doing what needs to be done to find this girl because right now, she's a danger to everyone, especially herself." Letting Tris simmer on that, Sandry stood and stretched. She walked to the ladder and announced, "I'm going to check on Little Bear and talk to Lark. He's still acting sorta sick."

"I'll come too. See you Merchant girl," the trader girl said, climbing down the ladder after Sandry.

Once they were gone, Tris just sat there alone. She brought her knees up to her chin and rested her head on it. She knew what Sandry was saying, and maybe she was right. Tris knew she was rather jealous of this mystery girl, for she was taking up more of Niko's time than ever. She also supposed she was resentful that the mystery girl seemed to have captured Briar's attention too. She had nothing more than sisterly affection for the thief, but she just felt like maybe this girl could be trouble. Maybe she's luring him into some deadly trap and going to suck his life out or something, she thought to herself.

Or maybe you're just worrying too much, came Sandry's voice. Obviously Tris hadn't thought exactly to herself. Try giving whoever this is a chance before discarding her, okay? Now come down, Lark has some news I think you might want to hear. It concerns our mystery girl and the odd behavior of the animals lately.

Sighing and getting up, she reached the roof later and climbed down. Tris didn't even think to look and see someone headed for the eastern edge of Winding Circle…someone who looked suspiciously like their male housemate.

Author's Note – YAY! Done with another chapter, and I'm off to write another! I'm going to try to update regularly now…so look out for more! Btw, those of your reading my Inuyasha story, that will be updated soon as well. Look out for it!