They gathered in Terry's rooms a bell before she arrived, the Tehea giving the instructions on who did what talking and how much of it, then turned to a more appealing source of conversation: Midwinter fests. Kehel and Ty had duties at the castle the first two days, the others the last three days. Ty did not look forward to the ceremonies—but the boys did. Mel and Terry took on a heated argument as to which one of the visiting Ladies were more beautiful, Leej lay down at his ease and ignored them, occasionally trying to shut them both up—he had a girlfriend and no intention of arguing such matters. Otian was explaining to Kehel what he wanted in a girl as Kehel tried not to laugh, occasionally shooting an amused glance to Ty, who was struggling not to laugh. She, of course, had no girlfriends to look forward to—nor did she want one.

The Panther, on the other hand, was berating her something fierce. She told her over and over to shut up, but it would not be quiet, telling her of every eligible man in the entire palace, until it came to a subject at which she turned furiously red with anger.

We've talked about this! Ty shouted at her. No way, no how. You're imagining it like you've been imagining everything else. I'm pretending to be a girl, curse Mithros. This is where I draw the line—don't even START!

Ah, ah, ah! The Panther cried triumphantly. What did I tell you? There is something there somewhere. Deep within all those ridiculous shadows, there's something. I told you all those months ago—I told you!

You told me nothing useful, as damned overly-annoyingly normal. Now cut this out right now or so help me Goddess, I will—

I told you to wait for Midwinter, didn't I? Well, as it is we are about four days from Midwinter. What do you think he'll try?

Nothing! I am the Tehea and I am pretending to be a boy. If he does try anything, Mithros strike me, I will very well—

You know, the Panther said suddenly, on a lighter tone, that boy—Otian—he's been looking at you very strangely for a while.

What? Ty replied, jumping up. Whatever do you mean, you crazy cat?

The Panther growled playfully. Well, yes, the copper-curls seem to have been looking at you rather carefully since you showed me to them. When you said she, he seemed to jump from his skin. Perhaps he suspects?

Otian suspects nothing of his Tehea, Ty said firmly, though pondering this carefully. What is it with you attacking my pack anyway? First Kehel, now Otian, who are you going to start on next? Terry?

Well, the Panther growled pensively. He is rather tender with you, isn't he? Interesting…

Oh no, Ty warned. Don't you start on him now…

Well, he does rather look out for you, doesn't he? Maybe he's—

"Ty, she's here!" Kehel whispered in her ear. Her mind back in her body, she nodded. She then strode over to the door and opened it to admit Kel.

"Lady Knight," she greeted her. The rest of the pack stayed silent, moving into their ring positions. Ty walked over to her place and sat down with her legs crossed, then motioned to Leej.

"Would you do the honors?" she asked him.

"Absolutely," Leej whispered.

The meeting was over and done with in fifteen minutes, but the next four days dragged on forever. Kel was going to keep a lookout, ask the Provost about the immigrating masses, but knew little else, which was exactly what the Tehea had asked them.

Even though all the boys were delighted at the coming of Midwinter, Ty became visibly crankier and crankier. The Panther would not leave her alone, and as she tried to sleep in her heap of rustled sheets, gazing longingly at the small bed where Sabi had slept so long ago, thinking of all the things the Panther had bugged her with during the day. It was too much to bear.

She groaned and buried her face in her pillow. No, she felt nothing, no and no. No and no and no and NO. The Panther was playing with her because she felt like it, there was nothing lurking in the shadows of her mind, no and no and no. And if there was, she didn't want to see it. But there was nothing, really, nothing at all. It was just the Panther messing with her head. It really was, there was nothing else to it. Nothing else at all.

In the mornings, the pack was annoyingly joyful and Ty tired, not to mention grumpy. One day, the very day before midwinter, she cracked. She needed an outlet for all this frustration if she didn't want to fry the castle in her sleep.

"Terry, Practice Courts, now," she said to him, slamming down her cutlery. His joyful smile—he had been talking about something or other with Mel—at once turned into a frown of worry, and he took five rolls and marched out with her. Otian and Mel stared. Leej kept eating. Kehel slowly put his cutlery down and pondered.

Ty blew open the doors as they came in, making a lot of unnecessary noise. Her hold on her temper seemed so stretched that anything could set it off and therefore throw her awareness from inside her mind—it might not blow the castle to pieces due to Jonathon's protections and Numair's, but it would certainly set it afire.

"Tehea, what is it?" he asked as he closed the doors.

"I am aggravated enough to blow the palace to pieces—possibly all Corus," she replied.

"You look it," he commented. "But why? Why do you hate Midwinter so much? What is wrong?"

"Its just—the Panther is driving me insane," she muttered angrily. He looked at her, then walked over to the corner of the court and picked up a pair of canes. Tossing one at her, he came and took a fighter's stance in front of her.

"But why is she? And what dance?" he asked, getting his balance on his feet.

"No dance, random," Ty said, nodding to him and then diving into an opening. She knew perfectly well that on random Terry would pound her to death. Probably exactly what she was after anyway. "its mating season for her, the inner hunt. She's off and searching all the ruddy castle and won't let me sleep—messes with my mind. Ah—nice dive. But really, all I wish is that she'd just—ow—be quiet for once, she's driving me—gods, be a little easier on me—ruddy insane."

Terry dove in again, and Ty parried. The Panther whispered in her mind once more, you like him, and she lost it.

Terry's eyes widened in shock as Ty came at him in full force. Diving into every possible opening, making him step further and further back until he was practically against the wall. Ty was not keeping calm, she was losing it, and he could see it. Kicking the wall, he jumped over her and got behind her, and set about pounding her lightly.

He dove into a rib opening—she parried and dove his cane butt into his own ribs. He rolled his eyes and mashed it back at her, unbalanced her, and struck her knees from under her. She fell with her back to the floor, but before he could pounce on her, she jumped onto her knees with the agility that came of being a member of the feline family.

Immediately she was on him again, not even wincing if he struck her, only determination and anger in her eyes. Terry had enough time only to muse that she'd be full of bruises when he was done before finally taking her cane from her.

Ty threw herself at the wall behind her and pounded her fists raw. She seemed to be inattentive of her pain, of her own bruises and bleeding wounds, only trying to free everything plaguing her. Terry was rather sweating mildly, but Ty has sweat herself through.

The doors opened again, and the rest of the pack entered. Terry rushed over to them, telling them of what the problem was. Leej, Mel and Otian became visibly worried, glancing at Ty pounding herself. Kehel's face hardened visibly, and he placed what looked like five other rolls into Terry's hands before marching right over to Ty.

Unceremoniously he took hold of the raging girl. Immediately she was fighting him, and the boys winced as he carried her away from the Practice Courts—he was going to have painful bruises that night.

"Help me," he told the others. "Run to the Bathing House and get everyone out—if I can dump him in cold water, he might snap out of it."

"The Weed will kill him for being soaked," Otian said as he broke into a run toward the Bathing House, turning and running backwards to speak to him.

"What do you think he'll do if he finds him pounding himself senseless?" Kehel replied testily. Otian nodded and turned, running speedily to the Bathing House. Kehel took much longer to arrive—Ty might not be feeling pain at the moment, but Kehel did, and it was difficult to carry Ty and the bruises and pains she was causing all at once.

When he finally arrived, the pack was waiting for him, pooling the last of the freezing water into the grand tub. People would complain at its temperature—they might as well. It didn't really matter. Kehel tried to dump Ty inside, but the youngling simply would not let go of him. Resigned to the worst, he jumped in.

Finally Ty snapped out of it. The shock of the cold water had done it after all—she was back to herself and already spluttering about being cold. Then as she turned to glare at the pack, she saw Kehel.

"You dumped me into this mess?" she demanded angrily.

"Yes," he said, climbing out. Leej handed him a towel, and Otian held the other for Ty. As she got out, she grimaced and smiled thinly though thinly at him.

"Thank you, cub, for helping me," she whispered, though all the pack heard her.

Terry wiped his sweaty brow with the back of his sleeve. "Does this happen to you every year? Should we seek cover tomorrow?"

Ty sighed, then looked at him seriously. "You really want to know? I have no idea. This is not the first time this has happened to me, I've had two others, but they are so spaced out I don't know. I've been holding it in to stop myself from hurting someone. Didn't fancy the Weed on me, see. But I don't think you need to run for cover—just dump me here again, like Kehel did."

"Guys, you had better run," Terry said as the First Bell rang. "You're obviously going to be late—but do lets avoid it being too late."

"We'll lie to the Weed," Leej said, nodding them away. "Make up some kind of excuse. Go!"

As they ran, Kehel and Ty hardly looked at each other out of embarrassment. As they passed Kehel's room, Ty whispered "thank you" again before leaping into her room.

Kehel froze as he was about to open the door. He could hear the racket made by Ty as she sorted through her things and quickly getting changed. Ty never repeated things. Why had she thanked him twice?

Smiling slightly to himself as he ran into the room and changed, he shook with fear, for the millionth time thinking about what Midwinter might cost him.