Dedren fussed at a clump of grass and mentally frowned, for the past week she hadn't been able to sleep without the ghost crying in her mind. She tore at the grass so hard it ripped from the ground in a shower of dirt, she knew that there was no such things as ghosts! She searched her memories for any hint that companions suffered from mental illness as a human would. A week without sleep was doing her temper no good, she gazed at the healer's wing wondering if she should talk with one of them.

She froze grass still dangling from her mouth, a startling realization hit her, she normally slept near the healer's garden at night, enjoying the sharp scents of the medical herb garden. Could one of the patients be an empath? The floods had brought in several patients, who needed more help than their ravaged villages could handle. Dedren spit out the grass and headed toward the healer's wing. She could just glance in and see if she sensed anything. She nosed open the gate that companions used when visiting their injured heralds and walked over to one of the open doors peeking inside.

A healer trainee looked up and smiled, but didn't pay much attention, a companion looking into the hallway was not uncommon sadly. It seemed peaceful enough, the healer's calm movements showed confidence and no urgency, a good sign. Dedren walked around the building, looking into the open windows, waiting for a second beside those that were closed, she opened herself up to those within, feeling the pain of injuries and illness, but nothing horrid or like the ghost child. She ended in the garden again puzzled and trying to think where next t check, or if she should go have a chat with Roland and admit she was going insane.

"Hello again."

Dedren's head flew up eyes wide in surprise, not again she thought, it couldn't be, but the voice was the same soft calm tone. The same girl that had surprised in the field a few weeks earlier, the same girl she had almost stepped on again. This day was not looking up for Dedren. Then she noticed the bandage on the girl's forehead and the paleness of recent illness, chuffing very softly she nudge one of the girl's hands. She wanted to ask what had happened, the girl was reed thin and listless. Should she even be outside alone?

"I see you have tangled your mane again. If you bend dowwn I'll get that knot out for you." Lyrissa said softly, surprising Dedren even more. Few other than heralds reconized one companion from another. She opened herself cautiously and searched the girl, nothing, it was almost as if the girl didn't exist. Ears springing upright she looked at the girl trying to make sense of it, the child had the tightest shields about her Dedren had ever seen in this life or her former life.

Dedren, I need to speak with you.

Dedren turned to see Roland standing at the garden gate, she nuzzled the girl in a gesture of reassurance. Then followed the grove born stallion back to the field. Wondering briefly if he had heard of her night time visitor and thought her insane too. She glanced back at the girl and made a mental note to investigate the shields later.

Lyrissa watched the the way the companions ears flickered, a tinge of sorrow at being left out. Still what did she expect, companions only spoke to their heralds and each other. Healer Devan's bright voice interrupted her dark musings, "And how are you this morning?"

"I feel better." Lyrissa smiled shyly, "I am very glad to be outside."

"I'm afraid it's time to go inside again, but I think if the weather holds you might be able to spend a bit of the afternoon in the garden." Devan gently lifted the light form and carried her inside, " I think today will be the last treatment you need, from here a bit of time and good food should have you back to normal before you know it."

Lyrissa was glad to hear that, she knew that the healing was all that kept her from being a useless cripple and so bore the agonizing pain as gracefully and calmly as she could. But the fact of it was the healing was a torment that she could barely handle, each night the bone and muscle that was being forced to knit swiftly ached as if a Karsite demon was tearing up her spine. She laid awake in the moonlit room and cried quietly waiting for the pain to subside of her body to become so tired she fell asleep.

It was late in the afternoon before she was brought back outside drowsy from the herbs and worn out from the healing, but happy, the healer's were confident that everything was aligned and she'd be back on her feet soon. She smiled wearily as she saw the companion from earlier approach, briefly curious about the seeming attitude of sorrow that hung about the gleaming white creature, as if she suddenly carried a weight to great for her to handle. "Hello again."

Dedren wanted to scream and cry at the unfairness of the world, but at the same time she looked into the soft gray eyes and felt herself falling forever, no not falling, she was flying. It didn't matter she could see the soul that lay curled within the small body, a soul and heart that would welcome with open arms, sooth and calm the frightened. A heart that could love in spite of everything, a soul that would soar above it's own pain, a spirit that was soft as water and as persistent, this was her other half.

"My name is Dredren, my sweet Lyrissa and I Choose you." The bonding flowed over them weaving their souls together, binding their lives into one single flame that would push back the darkness that much more. "I'll never leave you no matter what happens. I won't let you go."

Lyrissa stoked the silken white mane torn between wonder and shock, unable to say a word. all she could think was , ' It has to be a mistake, I am nothing at all.'