Yes! Today I finished school! I haven't updated in forever because I had four exams to study for! It's been mayhem! Again, I'd like to send out a thanks to those who have been faithfully been reviewing…it's always nice to know that people actually like what I wrote! Hahaha enjoy…

"Well, let's see how your back looks," Alanna said with a smile as Daine turned around and pulled up her shirt hem. The red headed healer unwrapped the gauze and made a hissing sound when she saw the deep gashes.

"What's wrong? Is it not fully healed yet?" Asked Daine

"Um…Daine, it's not healed at all. I must be because it was a stormwing that did this to you." The woman cursed and then fell silent.

"What do we do then?"

"Well I had hoped that the ointment I put on them would work, but it definitely didn't! I am going to have to sew it together, which means I need you to lay down on your stomach and I am going to put you to sleep for a while, unless you want to stay awake?" Alanna asked with a touch of humor.

"Mithros, no! How long am I going to have to sleep for? I'm getting sick of being stuck in here! I want to go see the people, and kitten and Zek."

Alanna chuckled, "As long as it takes me, and then probably only a few hours, just to let them set a bit."

Daine grumbled, but was soon drowning to sleep in violet clouds…

Numair paced outside Daine's door. This is ridiculous! Alanna should not be taking this long! Mithros, she was only just checking her cuts. What if something is really wrong? Daine had better be fine, or I would have rather have just been executed by Ozorne than have to live without her! That's it, I'm going in there! Numair paused outside his Magelet's door, and was almost whacked on the nose when it flew open, presenting a very angry Lioness.

"Numair, I can't concentrate with you pacing around out here mumbling to yourself-

"What's going on? What's wrong with Daine?"

"You're like a mothering hen! Her gashes weren't healing, so I am sewing them together. Now, if you please, would you mind shooing off so I can do this. The sooner I get back in there, the sooner she'll be out!" Alanna was astonished at how fast Numair left after that comment, with only a mumble of an apology. "Men…" she said, and then shut herself in the room.

When Daine awoke several hours later, the sunlight that had been streaming through her window was now very faint, but she could still see well enough around the room. Looking down on her chest, she saw a small creature, "Zek!" Daine exclaimed as she hugged the pygmy marmoset who was just as delighted to see his friend.

>The hyenas came in and told me what happened to you. The mammoth had dropped me off in the menagerie with kitten. It was nice to see her, even if she couldn't move or speak.>

The girl smiled and was astonished when Zek told her the extent of the damage to the palace. "At least Numair is alive," she said more to herself than the monkey. Daine pondered to herself about what had gone on before Alanna had come in to look at her cuts. His embrace and concern had felt so nice and comforting…

>Daine? Can you hear me?>

"Oh, sorry Zek, I was..."

>Mooning over the storkman...now, I for one am hungry! Can we go eat?>

Daine chuckled and slowly got off of the bed, feeling a lot of pain in her back. Together the two of them followed their noses to the Mess, where there were many soldiers eating a warm meal. Daine went over to a group of soldiers who were waiting in line for servants to put food on their plates. Daine for her meal of fish and assorted vegetables, and Zek picked out some grapes and other bright colored fruit. Daine scanned the crowd to see if there was anyone from the Tortallian delegation, and finding no one, she sat down in a table to herself at the back.

Zek ate really quickly, and soon got bored as Daine slowly picked through her food, trying to coax herself into feeling hungry. "Do you want to go find Kit? You don't have to wait while I eat," she told him.

>Actually, I think I will. Maybe she has discovered something fun with Bone.>

Daine chuckled as the monkey ran off, and then concentrated on her food. She was just about to put a piece of orange in her mouth, when a warm body slid in next to her…

Numair was bored. He wanted to see his Magelet! After Alanna had sent him on his way, he had gone to see Lindhall, and then ended up in his room reading a book. Well, reading didn't really describe what he did. Numair had started at the pages, but his mind kept wandering to Daine. When Ozorne had told them that she was planning a revolt, he knew it was a lie instantly. Lord Martin, on the other hand, (A/N: is that who it was? I'm too lazy to go fetch my book!) had not, and kept complaining about "the fool girl." That was, until Numair had set him straight. His knuckles still hurt after connecting with the man's ribs…

This is silly, she must be awake by now! I definetly won't find her by sitting in my room. That said, well thought, Numair set off down the halls. He walked by Daine's room, to find her not in it, and had planned to search until her could finally behold her amazing eyes and smile with eyes. Numair was sidetracked, however by a wonderful sent that was floating toward his nose. Food! He thought, and felt that it would be better to get a meal in before he became exhausted from hunger.

In the Mess, Numair hunted for a familiar face, and stopped, when a monkey ran by without seeing him. It was Zek. Numair looked to where the monkey had come from, and spotted his Magelet sitting all by herself at a table in the back.

Completely forgetting about his stomach, Numair found himself unconsciously moving toward her, until he slid in beside her.

"Hello Magelet," a warm voice tickled in her ear.

Daine whipped her head around to find Numair's face very close to her's. Both unknowingly blushed, and Numair smiled when his stomach growled. A smile also lit up Daine's face, and the mage was captivated at the magical effect it had on him. Sometimes he wondered if she had another type of magic that he did not know about.

"Hungry, Master Mage?"

"Maybe just a bit; I was hoping you would share with me."

"No way! I had to stand in line forever, and so should you!" Daine smiled again, and pulled her plate farther away from the man.

Numair grumbled, but when Daine turned her head around to witness an argument between two soldiers, he attempted to use one of his sleight of hand tricks that he knew.

Before he knew it, Daine had turned around and grabbed the hand that was hovering over her plate. "Thought you could trick me?"

"Well I was hoping you would let me…" he paused, looking down at their grasped hands.

Before she knew what she was doing, Daine was rubbing her fingers over his knuckles and inside of his palm.

Numair was shocked, and after a minute, a slight and tiny moan escaped him. Daine smiled, "I knew I could get your mind off food for a minute." Secretly, she had been enjoying just as much as he did, even if it was a simple gesture.

Ahh Magelet, Numair thought, you don't know what you do to me. He found himself asking her if she wanted to go for a walk outside.

Daine gave an enthusiastic nod and they two made their way to the moonlit outdoors.

A/N: Well I believe that is it for now! My creative juices have been all used up for the moment. If you have read this, why not just add a little review as well? Hahah, thanks!