DISCLAIMER - Tamora Pierce owns most of the story. I own Kodi, Captus, the plot, and etc.

CHAPTER 5

A week after Tobe kissed her, Kodi was sitting on New Hope's outer wall. Captus had been her only companion after the kiss, because Tobe had been avoiding her. She suspected that he regretted kissing her. It was probably for the best anyway, because she didn't want to ruin their friendship.

Earlier that morning, Dom and Kel had announced their engagement. Kodi was happy for them of course, but disappointed at the same time. She really liked both of them, but she wasn't going to be able to make it. The wedding was in a couple weeks time and she wasn't going to stick around for that long. The excitement of the whole camp and the couple's joy made Kodi regret her decision, but she had been on vacation long enough. It was far past time for real work. Whatever that might be.

Stroking Captus' head absentmindedly, Kodi wished that he could speak. When she had let her wild magic out, she couldn't contact him, like Daine had said before. Still, Kodi felt as if she could trust him. She knew he was special, although she'd never tell Numair, who would probably run experiments on him. He was smart and perceived her moods perfectly. However, he never communicated beyond growls or barks.

"Hello," Daine said cheerfully. Kodi spun to her feet into a fighting stance, before recognizing who it was and visibly relaxing. "Nice reflexes," Daine commented. "How is Captus today?"

"He's fine, just like always." Kodi said carefully. She knew that Daine wanted to ask her something, just in the way that Daine was acting. She also knew that Daine was probably nervous about something.

"Oh. That's good." Daine said, twisting her hands behind her back nervously. "I had to ask you something. It's a favor." A slight smile twisted Kodi's face. So that's what this was all about.

"There is a cat that needs to be healed, and I can't do it." Daine said embarrassed. Kodi could tell that she didn't like to ask for help.

"Why can't you? Are you sick or something?" Kodi asked concerned. Secretly, Kodi thought of Daine as an older sister, but she had only told Captus. Anyone else would laugh at her.

"No, but I'm expecting." Daine said, a faint tinge to her cheeks. Kodi looked at her confused for a moment, not understanding. She had heard the term mentioned before, she couldn't place it.

"Expecting what?" she asked, feeling stupid for not understanding something she was obviously supposed to. Daine looked at her disbelievingly.

"Expecting a child. You didn't know that?" Daine wasn't being unkind, but her words stung Kodi.

"I didn't exactly have a ma to explain womanly terms to me!" Kodi snapped, furious at herself for acting so stupid. She felt guilty when she saw Daine look down quickly, face hurt and eyes filled.

"I'm sorry. I wasn't implying…"

"No," Kodi interrupted. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that. I was just mad. I'm sorry. About that favor?" she said hurriedly, trying to change the subject.

"Oh, well I can't heal while I'm carrying a child and there's a cat that needs a healing. I thought that maybe since you had wild magic, you could do it for me?"

Biting her lip, Kodi replied slowly. "Can't Tobe? It's not that I would mind doing it, only I haven't ever done a healing before." She hated lying even though she had perfected the art.

"Tobe can only heal horses. There isn't anyone else in New Hope. I'd like it if you gave it a try at least." Kodi nodded and followed Daine down the wall. Captus dutifully followed his master.

The cat was in the barn, mewling pitifully with a crushed forepaw. Daine led Kodi over to it and knelt down beside the cat, motioning for Kodi to do the same. Reluctantly, she obeyed.

"Alright, now you can let your wild magic out." Daine said. Kodi built up a wall around her and the cat, and then let it out. Looking towards Daine, Kodi could see her mouth moving. Sighing, she brought her wild magic back in and removed the shield. She could hear Daine now. "You can't put your shield up. You can't hear me when you do and I have to explain to you what to do."

Kodi didn't know what to do, so she lied. She had healed before, but never crushed bones, so she couldn't do it on her own. She really was tired of lying, or hurting the people she loved, but she couldn't help it. "Okay. I won't put the shield up." Kodi put on a struggling face as Daine directed her. She made it look as if she were trying her hardest. She even bit her lip until it bled.

"I'm sorry Daine. I can't. I tried." Kodi said, fighting back pretend tears.

"It's okay. I know you gave it your best." Daine slung an arm around Kodi's shoulders, hugging her. Guilt washed over Kodi.

"I have to go." Kodi mumbled and tore off.

"She lied." Numair said from the hayloft, scaring Daine and making her jump.

"Numair," she said reproachfully. "Wait, she was lying?"

"I'm afraid so," Numair said grimly. "She didn't even unlock her magic." Daine's lip trembled.

"I thought she trusted me." Daine said. "I thought that she wouldn't be afraid." Before Numair figured out what she was doing, Daine healed the cat's forepaw. Collapsing in his arms, Daine faintly whispered the words, "I loved her."

That evening, Numair had announced that his wife had taken ill and had lost the baby. Ashen faced, Kodi escaped the great hall and hid in the storeroom with Captus.

"It's my fault. I should have just healed the cat. I don't care if he finds me, but I hurt Daine. I killed her baby." Kodi started to silently cry and Captus comforted her as best as a dog could.

Minutes later, Kodi wiped her face with the back of her hand. "I can't stay around any longer. It wouldn't feel right to me, after what I did. I was going to leave soon anyway. You wanna come with me?" Captus dipped his head, a motion that Kodi took as a nod. "Good. Let's go."

The first thing to do was to steal the circlet that Kel had, the one that controlled her own. Kodi had long since figured out that Kel didn't keep it with her all the time and that it was probably in her room. A quick search provided the circlet, which Kodi put around her arm, below the other circlet. Kodi didn't want to take much in the way of provisions, because she didn't want to take more from her friends. She did need a dagger though, and she found two in a storeroom. They were sturdy, but plain, and would not be missed.

As for actually escaping, that was easy. Kodi found Fisher, the cat who she had talked to a couple weeks before. All she had to do was ask him where the secret exit was, and she and Captus were free.

'If they were free now, why did she feel sad?' Kodi pushed the thought from her mind and breathed in the fresh night air before running alongside Captus.

After her one month, three weeks and one day stay, Kodi left New Hope.