Disclaimer: You know the drill. Don't own 'em. Can't have 'em.

A/N: No reviews anymore. I feel so cheep, and like the flavor of the week ::Sniff::

Chapter 7

Mara sat outside the cave and looked up at the sky. The sun was just coming up over the horizon, casting a pale blue glow over the world. A warm body came up behind her and nudged her gently on the shoulder. She twisted around and looped a companionable arm around Kai.

There is a great evil here, little sister. His voice rumbled in her head. I can smell it. His lips drew back in a snarl.

I know my brother. I saw it in the town tonight.

What?! He roared in her mind and aloud as well causing the sleeping figure behind them to move restlessly before quieting.

Mara looked over into the cave to see the young man sleeping as if he had not in days. He probably hasn't. She thought, doing a quick calculation. Two days up and running from the day she found him dragged up, broken and bleeding on the river bank, to tonight. He's going to sleep for a week. She turned back to Kai. I saw something in the town. It was too dark to make out what it was specifically but four shadow creatures landed in the town and when one of them looked at me I…. She shuddered, remembering feeling the cold grip of fear and despair. Kai turned his warm golden eyes on her.

It saw you? Little sister, we should leave and not look back. There is too much that is unknown and dark here for us to be able to defend against it.

Mara shook her head. We can't leave Kai. We need to be here.

Why Mara? He asked, frustration overflowing in his mind. Why do we need to be here, so far from our land. You never did tell me what it was that called you so far, so strongly.

I don't know! She answered just as frustrated. I don't know why I felt drawn here! I know we're out of our depth and still I can't leave! She turned to look again at Velkan, sleeping peacefully at the back of the cave, oblivious to their conversation.

He looked younger when he slept, one lock of dark hair falling over his face. She studied him in the dark. When he slept he looked several years younger. His face was wiped clean of the few worry lines that creased his forehead and around the lines of his mouth. Testaments to too many battles fought. She knew the look. She felt something vibrating beneath her arm and realized that Kai was laughing, in only the way a great cat can.

Something amuse you? She asked wryly.

If you can not see it, then far be it from me to enlighten you. Mara growled in mock anger at him and he hit her lightly with his paw. Go to sleep little sister. I will guard you this day until the warrior wakes. Mara nodded and yawned, allowing herself to at last feel the last day and a half she had gone without resting.

Let me say one more thing before you sleep, little sister. Kai said as she found a spot at the back of the cave and curled up, knees to chest, on the cold stone. When we found the warrior, I smelt the same evil on him.

I know, but the scent is not as strong on him as it would be if he were the cause of it. Mara said groggily. And he looked like he needed the help.

Kai nodded and lay down before the entrance of the cave, eyes focused outward for any signs of danger. Mara closed her eyes and fell instantly asleep.

Smoke. It stung her eyes and clogged her nose as she threw the entire weight of her small body up against the door. It stayed firm.. She backed up to the far wall of the cellar, where mother had locked her at the first sound of swords, and ran full tilt at the door. The wood, weakened by the smoke and fire, gave under her shoulders and she fell forward over the food chest that mother had put there to bar the door . Fire climbed the walls and licked over the ceiling. She quailed a little at the flames and searched frantically for mother.

She found her lying on the bed in the main room of their tiny cottage. Her body broken and bleeding, her eyes glazed in the empty stare of the dead. Mara wailed piteously. How could this have happened? Who had done this?

The answer to the last question she knew already. The horned men in their ships had come again. That was what the clashing of swords meant. Either them or the Saxons had returned again. She shuddered at the thought.

Kissing the pale, cold forehead of her mother goodbye, she backed away, running out the door just as a long fire eaten beam crashed down behind her heals. Blindly she ran down the hill toward the coast. She heard something running behind her faster than herself. She pumped her short ten year old legs harder but it made no difference. Whatever was behind her was gaining speed.

Just a little farther ahead was the path, down the cliff to the coast. She knew of a series of caves there she could hide in. Mother had shown her them one day, after uncle Conner had come with news of an attack in a village several miles away, and given strict orders to hide there if something like this should ever happen to them. Ten yards ahead. She was almost to the path. Five. Four.

Something large and heavy hit her from behind, knocking the breath from her lungs as she crashed hard to the ground. Something sharp and feeling vaguely like claws bit into her back.

Mara woke with a yell, imprisoned in someone's arms. She struggled and bit, blindly fighting her captor until the soft words that were being spoken forced there way through her consciousness.

"It's alright. It's just a dream. Your safe." The voice said softly over and over, never changing tone despite the teeth and nail marks she left in skin. Finally she recognized it and fell still. Velkan stopped rocking her and let her go carefully. She turned around to look him in the face.

"That must have been some nightmare." He commented quietly. She nodded and looked down at the bloody furrows in his arm.

"I'm sorry about that." She said apologetically. He shrugged.

"I've had worse." She nodded.

"I'll be fine now if you want to go back to sleep." She told him, trying to keep the shakiness from her voice. He shook his head.

"I'll be fine. I'm going to keep watch." She nodded again. "You should sleep though. You can't have gotten much." She looked at him warily, thrown off by the concern in his voice. Finally she crawled to the back of the cave and lay down, back facing the wall.

She did not expect to be able to fall back asleep after the dreams but as soon as her eyes closed she felt darkness overtake her in, mercifully, dreamless sleep.

Velkan watched her as her breathing gradually slowed in the pattern of sleep. She looks so much younger when she's asleep. He thought to himself. Eighteen if that. He recognized her nightmares as the same kind of dreams that haunted old veterans and wondered what had happened in her life to give her such sleepless nights.

It wasn't until he heard the low warning growl coming from the throat of the cat that he realized his hand was hovering over her hair, to brush back an errant strand that had fallen forward over her face. He pulled it back quickly.

Wise human. He heard a soft voice in the back of his head. You wouldn't want to loose it.

Velkan shook his head. It was going to be a long day.