Disclaimer: I do not own the Kiesh'ra, it's characters, it's plot or anything else Amelia Atwater-Rhodes has created. Other then most of the plot ( I say most of because eventually some of this might tie in with FalconDance) the only thing I do own are the Centauri race and even that is an idea that has been around for a long time.
When everything was packed and the slow burning fire in the center of what had been our summer camp began to die the herd moved into formation and began shifting back and fourth. They were more nervous then she had originally thought, it wasn't just the fact that someone was coming…It was who was coming that was disturbing them. Quietly she slipped closer to the outskirts of the herd, watching them closely. Yes indeed, something big was afoot and it seemed everybody knew what it was about or at least had some sort of inkling…everybody but her.
Calling to mind all of her ancient history lessons she skimmed over what might be the cause of this. Being called to the circle out of season was a thing rarely done, an had we been called in the first place? Was there some unknown danger that rested on our borders? Was the leader to be dethroned? No, surely not. Namirak had just gotten the throne and had done nothing but good for his people as he promised and by the way they were all dancing back and fourth nervously it was something that came from the outsides. War? Usually not, after all they had no bad blood with any of the other elaivas. But if not any of that what then?
Making her way towards the center of the stamping people she spotted Flynn and made her way over to him. Most of the time during a move she traveled alone, and by a different route, away from the rest of the herd, there wasn't really anything to worry about in Centauri lands so no body worried about her. It was one of the few times she could slip into her vipers form without risking being stepped on. Under the current situation though she felt the need to at least tell him before she vanished into the grass.
But as she made her way toward him she found herself instead face to face with Anjou, current master of the herd. Unlike the position of Lord of the Herds herd master was a rank passed down from father to son. They were second to the lord only and dangerous as a result. Anjou had never cared for her, he had kept her away from his own offspring and all who wanted his favor followed suite. Doing as he did. He made sure that the herd was never truly at ease with her. Those who did take the risk and befriended the pale snake quickly fell out of his favor. If she hadn't been under the Lord's protection she would have been thrown out long ago.
Forcing her to stop and acknowledge him he blocked her path. Anjou wasn't the kind of person who could be easily avoided, standing a full hand over everyone except for Flynn he was larger then most of the others and had the look of a fighter from head to toe. When he implied something there were occasions when you could get out, but when he demanded there was no other way. Stopping and taking up a soldier's stance she looked at the ground in front of her feet, a knot forming in the pit of her stomach.
"You are staying here and will travel with the herd. We won't have you sneaking off." He said briskly, the normal scorn barely held back. His short, steel gray horse's ears were pined back against the rest of his humane skull as he glared giving him a baleful look.
"Sneaking? I never sneak Master Anjou." Each word came out forcefully, and cold, her eyes flashing betraying the anger she didn't dare let out with words. He was angry, obviously and the force of it was directed at her. She didn't blame him really, under such circumstances it wasn't exactly easy to get the rest of his people to listen to him but the wording of his request was uncalled for and they both knew it.
"I would argue the matter but we don't have time."
The horse masters voice was quiet yet sullen and dangerous. To argue with him now would be foolish, the whole herd was on edge and the tension was becoming almost unbearable. To madden the master more would do nothing for her.
"Fine then." Stalking away, her shoulders rigid she breathed in sharply. She would have to travel with the herd, end of story. Letting out the breath with a sigh she prepared herself for the long grueling day ahead…
The herd barely made the 'deadline', for dead was what it truly was. The Centuari stumbled with weariness having come a grueling fifty miles. Moving from dawn to dusk with barely a single stop for water or rest they had all pressed on valiantly. She had been carried as the pace would have been too much for her humane form and dismounting she thanked the raven haired bruja who had carried her for the last leg of the journey. She had been tossed back and forth throughout the day. No one could carry her for very long. First it had been Flynn then her friend Andromache, after that there were a few others as well as the raven haired girl.
As worn and tired as she was though her senses were still sharp, and she was alert as ever, it was one of the first thing she had been taught. Shifting slightly she thought she could feel someone watching her…Twin holes being burned into her back. She turned around sharply and saw a bruja watching her. The face was so familiar…yet at the same time so distant. Her eyes were blue which in itself was a rarity and held the knowledge of immeasurable wisdom. Complimented with a silver white coat and hair of the same shade she was an ethereal sight.
Nodding to her slowly the pale woman smiled at Caer, a smile that made her feel chills up and down her spine. Slipping back into the crowd she vanished among the chaos. Shivering slightly Caer wrapped her arms around herself and climbed up the stairs towards the room where she was staying. It was sparse and plain. She hadn't yet gotten out the few things that added color to the drab sage and honey hues that coated the room and it would have to be dusted and cleaned before she could really do anything with it. It was the price a nomad had to pay. Still though her hides were in her pack and her blankets were still locked in her closet along with some more of her clothes. She would be comfortable enough.
Sinking to the floor a blanket thrown around her shoulders to lazy to bother making her bed she took a deep breath and tried for the last time tried to make sense of the days strange events. Once again though they made no sense and laying her head against the wall she slipped into a troubled sleep. Lucid dreams traveled through her mind as she slept fitfully, she heard the cries of hunt and wondered what the prey was when she realized how fast she was running. A wolfs cry and the beating of wings were heard in her ear. Then the pale stranger she had seen earlier appeared and muttered a few words before fading into the darkness. Ra-ahenleh-heasha. Child of fate remember, La nasa. …I command it.
The blank watery images gave way, to and crystal clear images appeared. She saw a man, his dark hair contrasting with his skin look at a child and then look away tears slipping out of his crimson eyes. Above him appeared a girl not much older then Caer with blood streaked black wings. Watching, waiting…Next the image of the man and girl faded away and she heard wing beats, accompanied by a flash of blue and a shape shifter took to the sky with a form unlike anything she had ever seen or heard of. An last but not least a woman looked down at her, pale viridian eyes unreadable and distant. Then blackness.
"Caer, Caer you have to get up now!"
Snapping out her fit full sleep she wiped her golden hair out of her eyes and quickly made her way to the door. She could sense her friends frantic emotions even from across the room and opened the door as quickly as she could. Before she could say another word Serena grabbed her and held her in a tight embrace, her body shaking.
"Caer they've come…she's come, she wants you back! She says you're to go with them, today. That's the reason we had to come so soon." The white vipers knees threatened to give out as she heard her friend's words.
"Who? Who wants me back? My place is here!" Stepping back Serena in full human form looked her in the eye for a brief moment before turning away. Her brown hair fell over her face like a chocolate cascade, obscuring her heavily tearing eyes.
"Syfka, that falcon…it's her, she's here with four others. They summoned Anjou here yesterday mourning. She...she says that your old enough now to come back with her and…and be prepared for the destiny that awaits you." The last words were spoken in barely a whisper.
"No…I can't she can't make me!" The last part off the sentence was almost screamed as Caer took off down the corridor. Flying down the flight of stair she emerged into the sunlight, her eyes still ringed with weariness and her hair tousled from sleep. What did they want with her? Why had they come back? For gosh sakes they had left her here! She may always be an outsider in the land of the horse but there was no way that she would go with the shm'Ahnmik to their islands. Not if she refused enough, not if she dug her heals in deep enough. Surely they wouldn't force her…
"Yes we would." A cool voice cut in.
Disturbing her frantic thoughts she looked up. She hadn't realized that she had been running so quickly that she was now in the center of the circle. Right where the falcons and the rest of the herd were waiting. Barely noticing her friend come up behind her she simply stared at the falcon royalty. The woman before her was tall and pale with golden hair and somewhat familiar crystal blue eyes that seemed to see through her rather then at her. Most interesting of all were the multi-colored blue strands framing her face.
Her presence was cold and I shivered slightly as she spoke again.
"It has been to long since I have last seen Maeve's kin. I fear I left you here for longer then what was good for you. But, those things can't be unmade can't they? You're coming with me we haven't got all day to argue."
But Caer wasn't about to come quite so easily…Digging her heels into the ground she glared at the falcon and hissed through her teeth. Green eyes flashed as she spoke and her tone was deadly.
"Make me." The simple words were spoken as a threat and though she knew they were powerless she would not step back and leave quite so easily. For many years she had livid the life of a nomad with a people who though they never really accepted her did care about her for the most part. She owed her life to them not this bird that merely dropped her here all those long years ago.
"Child you amuse me but we have no time." Turning her falcon fair face towards the guards she nodded to them and they took a menacing step towards the girl.
Suddenly though Flynn was at her side. Placing himself between her and the falcon guards, flicking his tail angrily it was obvious that he was seething with anger. Every muscle in the shifters dappled body was tense and his hands formed into fists as he glared at Syfka along with Caer. Summoning up his own power Caer watched with wide eyes as a ring of flames surrounded her. Never had she seen him use this gift…an never had she seen it so powerfully displayed. Slowly in her mind things began to piece together, why Flynn resembled Anjou, the whispers surrounding the two…But fire was a power only the aristocracy had and if Flynn was such then…Her thoughts were broken by angry words.
"How dare you leave her here for twenty years and then suddenly demand her back! She isn't even one of your own! If you dare try to-"
His words were cut off as the blue-black tar of falcon magic hit him and sent him to his knees. For a moment the flames still held, a veil to hide them, but in a moment even that was gone. Caer cried out as he simply lay there, on his knees, trembling as if he no longer had a grasp at anything. This was the man who had raised her, taken care of her, been a father and a protector to her for all these years…How could they be so cruel?
"It is time" she thought she heard the falcon say to her guards. Barely aware of them lifting her up and away she just heard the pale lady say; 'So sorry about your brother Anjou…but he was no more then an illegitimate bastard anyway. Such a pity though, he had such great power, he could have bested you in a moment." She laughed and then once again…There was blackness.
A/N: Any guesses as to who Caer might be? Any flames? Any comments? All you have to do is go down to the little button in the corner and let me know...