Title: Trust Betrayed
Author: jessalae
Disclaimer: Anything you recognize, I don't own.
A/N: "-...-" is thoughts.
-o-o-O-o-o-
"-I officially hate rain,-" Kel thought in disgust as Peachblossom splashed his way through the mud. The day had gotten progressively worse from the time she awoke until now, with the sun starting to sink below the trees. "-Of course, I had to keep Raoul in the dark about what had happened. How was I supposed to know he'd stick me on a mission with Dom!-" She mentally composed herself. "-Well, I'm trying to forgive him. It's going to take a lot, though. He's still an idiot. I don't know quite what I saw in him.-" She wrapped her cloak around herself more tightly and stared ruefully at the rainy sky. She was forced to stop abruptly as Dom signaled for a halt.
"We'll make camp here," he called, making his voice carry over the squad of men. "It looks drier than everywhere else we've seen." A few of the soldiers chuckled. Kel rolled her eyes and dismounted.
"-Always one for sarcasm, Dom was.-" she thought wryly. "-But he could have picked a time when I was in a better mood.-"
-o-O-o-
The fire crackled and popped, the rain hissing where it fell on the burning wood. It had been a struggle to find logs dry enough to burn, but after a long and tedious effort the men had managed to get the fire going. Kel sat huddled in on herself, listening to the soldiers gab among themselves. Suddenly there was a loud crash from the east. Everyone turned in surprise, trying to see what had made the sound. Kel peered into the blackness without luck, then started to her feet.
"I'm going to see what that was," she said.
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Dom asked. "Those bandits we're after could be around, and it's dark. Why don't you take someone with you?"
The worry in his voice irritated Kel. "I think I know how to take care of myself, Dom. I'll take my glaive if it makes you feel better." She hefted the weapon and tramped off.
-o-O-o-
Two minutes into the woods she was wishing she had brought a lantern or a torch. The moon was covered by thick, dark clouds that let no light through. She stumbled over tree roots and rocks, muttering Yamani curses under her breath. The ground slanted slightly upward. Five minutes, and still no sign of anything that could have made that noise.
"-This is ridiculous. I can't see three feet in front of my nose. I could be walking into an ambush, or off the edge of a cliff, and I wouldn't know it!-"
Her second theory became shockingly accurate as she found herself stepping into midair. She tried desperately to regain her balance, but to no avail. She fell, grabbing onto the edge of whatever she had stepped off of at the last second.
"Help! Help me!" She shrieked, hoping desperately that Dom could hear her.
And, if he could hear her, that he would come.
-o-o-O-o-o-
A/N: For those of you that were worried, Kel is NOT going to end up with Dom. This is a K/N story.
Many thanks to Jessie for her help with this chapter and the upcoming chapters.
With regards to the amount of HELPFUL reviews I have been receiving, I have to say there are very few. Most of the suggestions I got were not from reviewers, but from friends at my school. At least they were varied. (They ranged from balls to duels to Dom parasailing off Balor's Needle.) Come on, people, I need some feedback here! Lucky for you, it's not absolutely necessary for a few chapters since I actually know what's going to happen. But brush up on your constructive criticism skills!
-- jessalae