This chapter is dedicated to steffie, u r an absolute legend :P

read ballerina after you've read this... its a great story by pearlwalrus

Sofie and Padi quickly saddled their horses, Sofie's was a large grey stallion named Thunder, and Padi's was a jet black stallion named Night. The two girls brought their horses outside, mounted and began their ride at a walk. As soon as they were clear of the market places and the city slums and through the palace gates, they moved quickly from a walk to a trot, a trot to a canter and then to a gallop. As they whirled along the desert landscape, Sofie felt uplifted, she felt free. It was such an incredible feeling to her, to be surrounded completely by the beautiful yet so very harsh desert landscape, to have the wind in her face and hair and the beautiful sunrise, a giant mixing bowl full of shades of orange, pink, blue, purple and speckled with the occasional cloud.

After the pair had galloped for about a mile, they entered the Fatrah's Tribal lands. A tiny man, who came only up to Sofie's waist, waved to them as he sat on the top of a tree nearby. Padi and Sofie waved back at him, his name was Jimanji, and he was the sentry for the tribe. As the kind old man often informed them, it was an easy task to guide the perimeter, thanks to all the magick which lay on the borders of their land. All he really had to do was if he felt one of the spells detect an intruder, he would magick himself to that spot and if need be, make the campsite invisible, just another uninteresting mile of desert.

Presently as the girls arrived, seeing Jimanji there they new all was well. Riding on they soon came into view of the campsite and slowed down to a canter, and coming closer to a trot, then to a walk. Walking their horses over to the well, both girls hopped down and tethered them to a nearby post. Many of the littlest fairy children had come to observe these strange creatures by now, even though the pair were frequent visitors to their camp the young folk still paid special attention to them.

As Sofie began to make her way to the tent of the Fatrah elders, Padi reached into her pockets and held out some sweets to the fairies. As usual, she was pounced on and soon every little one was chewing, sucking or munching their way through a chocolately, sticky toffee or fudge, and then Padi too began to walk over to the Elder's tent, hastening her pace to a jog so she could catch up with Sofie.

As she came to the door of the tent, she whirled around to see a dark figure melting into the shadows. All the while as she had made her way across the campsite she had felt as though she had been watched, and just now had confirmed her suspicions. About to pursue her follower, Padi ran up to her.

"Let's go inside Sofie. Is something wrong? What is it?" Padi looked over to the spot Sofie was staring at, wondering what on earth could enthral her friend so in such an ordinary space.

"Oh, it's nothing Padi" Sofie said, not wanting to alarm her friend. "Let's go inside, the elders will be wondering where we are." Sofie then parted the opening to the tent, and moved inside, touching her head in respect to the inhabitants. Padi followed her a moment later, taking one last look at the spot which seemed to worry her friend so. Upon entering, she too touched her head in respect. There were four elders of the Fatrah clan and they, knowing the best for the tribe, were the leaders. Closest to the girls was an old man named Ouea, which means wisdom in Makarin. His long silver beard touched the floor but his piercing blue eyes bore into the soul of the princess and her companion. Next to him sat Yenka, the friendliest of them all. The old woman sat cross-legged on a pillow, as did the rest of them, and smiled at her visitors, her beautiful green eyes welcoming as always. Then there was Poytor, the grumbler of the group. He could always find something to complain about and happily did so as often as he could. Then the final member of the group was Iere, a quiet old woman, who seldom said much but when she did her opinion was the most valued of them all. She led the clan, being the oldest one there.

At a motion from Yenka, the two took their seats and began with some pleasantries. They moved on to talk about the state of the oasis, any intelligence the fairies may have received that could benefit the people of Makra and finally, as a plate of Biro, or dried Gutar, a small sweet and fleshy fruit encased in a tough peel, was passed around the circle they were discussing the nearby kingdom of Koravi, whose crown prince, Motatiaro, was currently on his was from his home town to visit the Makran Palace for a week or so. Matty, as he was known to Padi and Sofie, Sofie and Padi had grown up together and were the best of friends. In fact, Padi had worked out long ago that Matty was falling for Sofie, although Sofie herself had no idea. Padi thought it to be a match made in heaven, and secretly she could not wait for the day Sofie worked it all out, although she knew it would hurt to be the odd one out, and have Sofie move away to Koravi.

Snapping back to reality, out of her pleasant day dream, she found that the meeting was breaking up, and good byes were being said.

Touching her head as she mentioned each name, Sofie was farewelling the Elders. "Farewell Iere, Yenka, Poytor, Ouea. I shall see you all again soon. Dharsha." Dharsha was the traditional Fatrah goodbye, it was used as a wish for the person's good health, prosperity and a want to see them again soon. Padi also said her goodbyes and the duo exited the tent.

Walking across the tribe, Sofie was wary of the shadows, and kept an eye and an ear out for anything unusual. She saw and heard nothing. Puzzled, she walked along side Padi and the two untied their horses and set out, back across the desert.

Padi had noticed her friend's odd behaiviour, and questioned her about it. "Sofie, are you alright? You seem to be acting oddly, you seem distant. Has this got anything to do with what happened outside the elder's tent earlier?" She watched her friend's face as Sofie answered.

"You know Padi, the whole time I was walking through the Fatrah camp, I felt like I was being watched. Then when I looked around as I came to the Elder's tent, I saw something, a movement in the shadows."

"Do you think that it was a person? Could it have been an animal of sorts?" Padi was puzzled by her friend.

"No, I don't think so. It was too big a movement. And why would an animal have been lurking in the shadows?"

"Of that I have no idea. Why did you not tell me of this before?" But Sofie did not answer her because something caught her eye. "What is it Sofie?"

Sofie pointed, and Padi could see a glimmer in the desert sand. "Let us go and see what that is. A glimmer like that comes from a jewel only, and why would a gem be in the desert?" with that she began to turn her stallion to pursue the odd gleam. Padi followed close behind.

Looking over her saddle, Sofie quickly dismounted and moved over to the gem, with Padi close behind. She knelt down to see that it flashed so many different colours Sofie could not keep track. It was definitely a magickal item and she felt drawn to it. Feeling Padi leaning over her shoulder, she picked it up cautiously. All of a sudden, an eerie laughter began to fill the air and the wind picked up dramatically. Padi tried to scream but found her voice caught in her throat. Feeling Sofie collapse under her, she blacked out.

A/N: So do you like it? I tried to write a cliffy but you're going to have to tell me whether it worked or not! Please R&R guys!

To my wonderfully fantastic reviewers…

Iloveme2815: thankyou so much! By the way I like ur name :P

Beavergirl: I updated the other one too ellie.. now u have to!

Masked Dragonfly 0926: Thankyou so much, I can't tell you how much I appreciate the support!

Pearlwalrus: thnx steffie.. I updated first so now u've gotta!

Hottie: lol loz… weve got French 2moz ew feral

Iridescent mists: thankyou so much for the encouragement! I'm so glad you like them!

BixentaNdraste: thankyou as well!

Thanks heaps to all of my reviewers, I have been so thrilled with the fantastic amounts of support and compliments I have been given! but if you do find something that needs improving, please tell me because I can only get better!

Love always

R&R

Jess