(A/N) Kaijuu/pokemon aren't my creations, and I'm not getting any money for it. Paws off my original ideas and characters!

The Adamant Key

Chapter 8: Healing Lessons

By Trivnar Silversword

Rowan raised a hand and wiped tears away from her reddened eyes. She must control herself. All that was in the past; there was no need to dwell on it now. She had more pressing problems at the moment.

She sat up and straightened her clothes, then smoothed out her hair and redid her ponytail.

"Rowan?" It was Galatea, standing beside the tent and speaking through the canvas, which muffled her voice. "Scucca is here to see you. Can he come in, or will you come out?"

Scucca? What did the empath want with her?

"Send him in." Rowan shifted to face the entrance and crossed her legs. Scucca passed through the flap and stood before her, fixing her with his strange golden eyes.

"I waited until your emotions had settled before coming. May I sit down?"

Rowan pulled her gaze away from his blue hair, at which she had been staring, and concentrated on his words.

"Uh, yes, of course. Make yourself at home." As if you can make yourself at home in a tent she thought sarcastically. Waiting until he had settled down, she asked, "you waited until my emotions... settled? You can do that?"

He nodded. "Yes. I could sense everyone in camp if I wanted to, but so many emotions would give me a headache. My shields are boosted right up."

"Your... shields? Would you mind explaining about your gift? You've kinda confused me," she confessed. As much as she didn't want to familiarise herself with those she considered her enemies, Scucca intrigued her.

"Not at all!" he grinned. "I was born with it, like you, but unlike you, I began to use it right away. As a child I could sense the moods of the people around me, and was especially sensitive to people I knew well, like my parents. Of course, I assumed that everyone had this ability and was very surprised when I learnt the contrary.

"Essentially, I sense other people's feelings. The more I am exposed to a person, the deeper I can read. If I stay with one person for a very long time, or if I share and understand the feelings of another I sometimes absorb bits of them. It's rather awkward." He blushed slightly.

"... Absorb bits of them?" Rowan frowned, "you lost me again."

"It's difficult to explain..." Scucca cast about for the right words. "It happened between Tyuru and me, since we are old friends. I don't only know his feelings, but his thoughts as well. And I always know what kind of mood he's in, no matter how far away he is. That is why I must always shield. I must not familiarise myself with other people."

Rowan was no longer entirely sure she wanted to be sitting so near Scucca. He could read other people's thoughts? It gave her the creeps. She realised with a start that Scucca could probably sense her fear. Blushing, she changed the topic.

"Scucca means demon, doesn't it? Why..." Rowan trailed off as a thought occurred to her.

The golden eyes turned to the floor. "Why am I called that? Because that is what my mother thought I was. She was scared of me."

"... I'm sorry..."

He shrugged. "Old wounds. They don't matter. What matters now, is you." The golden gaze rose to meet hers and Rowan found she couldn't look away.

"Me?"

"I believe that my gift will be able to help you awaken yours. Since Tyuru only gave us a week, I suggest we get started as soon as possible."

Scucca stood and held the tent door open for her. "Come on! I have already dismissed Galatea, so it will just be the two of us."

Rowan left the tent, feeling less than enthusiastic. "So... how are we going to go about this?"

Scucca led the way, grinning eagerly. "You have so much talent... I can't wait to see it put to work! You will learn by doing. We will practice on the wounded tauros."

He looked so happy that Rowan couldn't help grinning along with him. "Are you always this excited?"

He blushed. "Eh... actually, it's Tyuru that's excited. I'm merely getting dragged along by his feelings. One of the pains of being an empath; I pick up the moods of those around me. If every one around me is depressed, I'm depressed, even if someone suddenly gave me a huge sack of gold."

Rowan thanked her lucky stars that she had been born a healer and not an empath.

The second-in-command led her to where all the tauros were picketed. Most of them bore burns from the battle, while a few had cuts. Their painful cries tore at her heart, even though she could see that they had been tended to.

Scucca led her over to a tauros who had a burn all along his left flank. The empath gently removed the poultice covering it, exposing the wound.

"OK, I doubt you'll be able to do much of anything the first time and it's likely to exhaust you, but it will come with time and practice. I want you to place your hands on the burn."

Rowan let the Kaijuu sniff at her fingers so he wouldn't start at her touch, then knelt beside him. Carefully, she laid her hands on his flank.

"Close your eyes."

She did as Scucca instructed, feeling slightly silly. The tauros' skin was hot beneath her hands. Rowan felt Scucca place his warm hands on top of hers and a whole new world of awareness opened before her.

She knew the Kaijuu before her. It was a female, and was the mount of someone named Gavin. The tauros was puzzled at the behaviour of the two humans beside her, but they were not hurting her, so she quickly forgot about them.

The air was very damp, and it would rain soon. She didn't mind the rain, but her mate did. He would buck and snort and complain until it stopped. The female felt a rush of affection for her mate, who had been badly cut during the fight.

The empath guided Rowan through the tauros' upper thoughts, which swirled erratically, deep into the Kaijuu's innermost thoughts. There lay the pain. The tauros' whole side pained her horribly, so that every step hurt. The fur had been burned away, and flies bit at the tender skin.

Feel the tauros' pain. Scucca instructed in a voice that she did not hear aloud, but in her soul. Take the pain. Lock it away. Heal her, so she hurts no more. Do not think of what you're doing. Simply let the energy flow out of you and do!

Rowan felt something tug at her, pulling at something important. She tensed, resisting. Relax. Do not fight it. You want to help this tauros, don't you?

Yes. Yes! Healing Kaijuu was what she did. It was her duty. Rowan relaxed and she felt a coolness spread out from her fingertips. Heal... heal! Soothe the Kaijuu's pain!

She sensed another presence taking hold of the coolness she had created and guide it, directing it to the areas in worse condition. I'm healing the Kaijuu by touch, Rowan thought ecstatically.

The rush of emotion broke her concentration and the flow of healing energy abruptly stopped. Scucca lifted his hands off hers and she was once more kneeling beside the tauros.

The empath was peering at the Kaijuu's flanks. "It is certainly less red... and where the flesh was only lightly burned has been healed."

He beamed at her but she did not share his enthusiasm, her ecstasy flowing away as quickly as it had come. "After all that... I barely managed to heal anything at all!"

Scucca sighed. "I told you... it will take time. The important thing is that you found your gift within yourself. There is no doubt that it is there. You simply have to learn how to control it."

She crossed her arms. "And how will I learn that?"

"Practice, practice and more practice." He grinned devilishly. "I'm going to wear you out until you can't stand up. I-"

The rest of his words were drowned out by a tremendous clap of thunder. Rowan jumped in surprise and the tauros moved off towards the others. The first flash was followed by another, directly overhead, then the heavens suddenly opened. In seconds, both Rowan and Scucca were drenched.

She laughed and lifted her face to the clouds, letting the rain run down her throat. I wonder where Kepa is... I hope he's somewhere dry...

Scucca must have seen the look of concern cross her face, for he leaned closer and asked, "Is everything all right?"

Rowan stood, trying to brush off some of the mud on her pants, but only succeeding in making it worse. "It's... nothing. I was only worried about a friend of mine."

"The blaziken. He did survive the battle, but he's far out of my range."

She sighed. She really did miss his presence beside her. So warm and full of comfort. Somehow she always felt safe with him nearby. As long as he wasn't scooping her up like a sack of flour!

Rowan clenched a fist angrily then winced at the pain it caused. Her fingers were not fully healed yet. The bandages were torn and dirty, but she had refused any offers to change them. Kepa had bandaged her hands... He had been so gentle...

She jerked her mind away from that train of thought angrily. He is a Kaijuu! Flushing, she realised that Scucca had said something and was now looking at her expectantly.

"Uh... sorry, my mind drifted." She hoped he didn't know where! "Could you repeat that please?"

He flicked his wet bangs out of his eyes. "I said we should probably get out of the rain. No sense in us catching chills. We can practice healing when it stops."

"Oh... OK then. See you around."

Rowan found her way back to her tent. Peeling off her wet clothes, she dressed in dry ones. She pulled back the tent flap and watched the rain come down while her hair dripped unpleasantly down her neck.

Alone, her thoughts drifted back to the healing she had just preformed. A rush of joy bubbled out of her, making her want to jump up and shout with glee. To simply lay her hands on the kaijuu and wish all their hurts away... it was miraculous! She wished Kepa and Thavron were around, so they could share her happiness.

Thavron glanced back at Dace. The entei plodded on tirelessly, rain or no rain. Kepa had been tied to the Kaijuu's back and was sleeping soundly, even though thunder rumbled overhead and rain fell steadily on him.

Thavron shook his head. He still couldn't quite believe the story the blaziken had told him. What had Rowan gotten herself into! And she was usually so sensible.

The rain was as bleak as his thoughts. Mist was enjoying it though, prancing in front of the entei and behind Coal. The ponyta, which Thavron was riding, didn't like the rain either. His ears were flat against his head and each step was reluctant.

Kepa groaned. The trader looked back, concern etched over his face. The blaziken didn't seem to be getting any better; he hoped the wound wasn't infected. He would have stayed on the battleground until Kepa could walk, but the Kaijuu had insisted against it. They would be followed, he said.

The brush ahead rustled. Thavron drew a long knife from his belt and stared into the greenery. It rustled again and every muscle in his body tensed.

"Vul? Vuuuuul!"

Thavron slowly returned his knife to his belt as Rhynea immerged and shot him a baleful look. His nerves were shot, the trader realised dimly.

"Let's stop and rest for a bit, Dace, OK?"

Thavron went and checked on the blaziken. The latter didn't seem to be doing too well. Kepa's eyes opened and Thavron jumped a foot in the air in surprise.

"Why are we stopped? Is anything the matter?"

The trader would have glared if the blaziken hadn't been so badly injured. He still started every time the Kaijuu spoke, not quite understanding how or why it did so.

"I-I only needed a break."

"Mmm." Kepa closed his eyes.

"Look... would you mind if I asked..." Thavron shifted uncomfortably.

"Why I talk? Where did I learn it from:

"Well... yes."

Kepa sighed heavily, then winced at the pain that it brought. "I only learnt after I evolved into a blaziken. When I started to remember."

The Kaijuu's eyes were open now, but were unfocussed and starring at something Thavron couldn't see. "I have to... I have to tell Rowan. I wonder if she would think me weak. She will be mad at me for not trusting her enough to tell her. But now... she's made it her own fight. I hope she's alright..."

"I do too," sighed Thavron. He walked back to Coal, shaking his head. He couldn't believe that he was actually keeping that stupid promise to Rowan! If anything happens to me... Had she known? How could she have known! Take Kepa to the Temple... That cursed place was reputed to change place everyday. No one had ever been there twice. He seriously doubted that they would even let him near the damned thing again. The blaziken might be able to make it on his own, however. After all, he was a Kaijuu.

Thavron grinned and started humming to himself. Yes, that was what he was going to do! Ditch the blaziken in the mountains and then go rescue Rowan! In that way he'll have kept his promise! Hang in there... I'm coming for you.

Rowan must have drifted off while watching the rain, for she woke with the sun shining in her eyes and cramped muscles. I slept through what remained of the day and the night. I must have more tired from the healing than I thought.

She noticed with curiosity that her wet clothes were no longer in the tent. Stepping outside, she saw that Galatea was at her post once more.

"Good morning, Rowan. I took the liberty of laying your things out in the sun so they will dry."

"...Thank you..." Rowan could not help a small frown from forming on her brow. Weren't these people the bad guys? After all, they were hunting down Kepa... But if they were, why were they so nice? To her, and to each other. The kindness came so effortlessly she doubted it was a farce.

"We move out today. Scucca said you will have your lessons tonight, after we stop."

"Moving?"

Galatea nodded. "Uh-hun. We pack up all the tents and load them onto the tauros. Since our tribe is always on the move, we don't have any personal belongings, apart from what we wear."

"But what about me? I don't have a tauros and I don't feel like being carted along like last time."

The warrior explained, "You will have to ride behind me. I'm afraid Tyuru doesn't trust you enough to let you ride one of the tauros whose riders were slain."

Rowan flushed. She had been hoping for exactly that! With her own mount, it would have made escaping much easier.

"I don't expect Tyuru to trust me in the least! I'm quite surprised with the amount of liberty he gave me to start with!"

Galatea winked. "I do believe Tyuru is trying to gain your trust. If you can indeed become a powerful healer, I'm sure he would love you to become a Free Rider!"

The news shocked Rowan, who could only gape at Galatea. Become... a Free Rider? But... as much as she thought they were friendly people, she doubted that she wanted to become one of them. Their principles of right and wrong were different from hers.

Galatea seemed unaware at how she had shocked Rowan. "Come on, let's go get some breakfast. The sooner we eat, the sooner we can break camp and get underway."

The Free Riders dismantled their tents with amazing speed, faster, if possible, than they had put them up. Rowan could only watch, feeling helpless, as Galatea dismantled and packed her tent away.

She caught Rowan's look. "I can teach you how to do this, if you want."

"Really?" Her eager eyes gave her answer.

"Oh sure. You can help me put it up and take it down next time, and then you can do it by yourself. It's not that hard, I think you'll catch on pretty quick."

Rowan grinned at her guard. "I'll be looking forward to it."

Galatea mounted her tauros and Rowan scrambled up behind her. She wrapped her arms around Galatea's waist and hung on as the beast started to walk forward. The tauros's gait was nothing like the smooth, fiery action of her ponyta and Rowan's muscles complained at every jolt. Even being carried by Kepa was preferable to this!

Soon, all the Riders were ready. Tyuru took the head of the company, a haunter at his shoulder, and gave the signal to move out.

Rowan soon grew bored of watching the forest pass slowly by. They saw no Kaijuu, although she could hear them in the distance and she once saw a spurt of fire out of the corner of her eye. The black scyther, Makina, crossed in and out of her sight as she wove among the tauros.

Around midday, Scucca rode up to them. "Galatea, you're to scout ahead with Thraa and Amarei. I'll take the healer."

The Rider nodded briefly and paused long enough so Rowan could hop on behind Scucca, then dashed off.

"Those three are our best trackers," Scucca explained.

"I see... so how come you get stuck with me? I mean, does the second-in-command usually get stuck with the prisoner?"

He laughed. "No, but I thought I could give you some exercises to help you practice control. Also... there are plenty of young men who were quite willing to let the 'prisoner' ride with them. I thought to keep you out of their clutches."

Rowan flushed bright red. "OK... Before we start, there is something I've been wanting to ask you all morning."

Scucca glanced back over his shoulder at her. "Go on."

"Well..." she paused, then it suddenly all came out in a rush, the words tumbling over themselves. "You want Kepa because he can make adamantine, right? But why do the Riders want adamantine?"

Loth peered into the blue depths of the scrying pool and at the cloaked figure within. It was impossible to tell what kind of creature, man or beast, the figure was. Its form was completely concealed behind crimson red robes. A hood cast its eyes in shadow and not a glimmer escaped from beneath its lip.

"You called, my mistress? I hear and obey. What is your will?" The voice was completely devoid of emotion, yet one could tell by its tone that it was female.

Loth smiled. It was cold, cruel and cunning. Across the room, Lorelei suppressed a shudder. As much as she was devoted to her mistress, the Lady still scared her.

"Viridian. How do things go?"

The crimson robes shifted in what might have been a shrug. "As well as they can go under the circumstances. We will need the metal soon though. Have you secured the blaziken?"

Loth's eyes flashed dangerously. "You forget your place!"

The head lowered meekly. "I beg your forgiveness, exalted one. I am but a humble servant. I have grown impatient with these workers of mine."

Loth seemed appeased, but Lorelei wasn't fooled. She knew when her mistress was scorching mad. "Be gentle with them Viridian, for I am not sending you more. Whether you have one hundred workers or one, I will expect you to be done on the selected date."

"All will be ready." Hidden by the hood, unseen lips mouthed the words, "as long as you hold up your part of the task."

"Send me some of your most excellent tracking beasts before noon tomorrow." Loth instructed.

"B-but your Ladyship must know that takes much energy!" the figure protested.

Something in Loth's eyes warned Viridian that she had crossed the line. She bowed submissively. "Weakened I will be, but the trackers will be there tomorrow. Nothing is too good for my mistress. I shall call forth the strongest and the fastest!"

"I would expect no less," Loth said coldly, and dropped a pebble into the round stone basin. The image of Viridian vanished immediately.

"Lorelei! Oversee the transportation of the trackers and get someone to lead them. I will find that blaziken!"

Yes my lady. If I might bring something to your attention? You remember Kepa's final destination?

"... The Temple, yes. My eyes are always watching it, he will not be able to approach it without being seen. Now go!"

The alakazam teleported out of the bed-chamber, leaving Loth to her thoughts; Kepa Nur. He had escaped, twenty years ago. Not only escaped, but Loth had lost control and done something unspeakable.

She had thought that she had lost her chance at obtaining the secret to adamantine forever. But then, three years ago, Kepa had reappeared. Loth would well remember the triumph she had felt when Damian had brought her the news. Now she could finally finish a project that had been more than twenty-five years in the making. She would harness the incredible power of the Ancients!