:dances: another chapter for your enjoyment people!

O! And a note on the last chapter, the tongue twisters with symbols above the letters, I didn't use them 'cause I don't know how to get the symbols there… :cries: and also because I couldn't fit some in.

We grabbed the buckets we could find and we raced toward the fire. It was already huge, and it would take most of the night to get it out. We formed an assembly line, passing the water from each other, and it didn't seem to be doing any good.

I kept watching Patrick's face. His face was set hard and stern, and I could tell his dream had been ruined, at least, for awhile. It was rather depressing. All the kids stuff was in the building, including my stuff.

Shadow kept close to me and finally got the butt to help out instead of just standing around watching out for me.

Patrick ran toward me, covered in sweat and soot. "Aay, go check with Calina if all the kids are there and hurry back."

I nodded my head and wiped the sweat from my brow. I sprinted toward Calina and saw her searching around. "Calina?"

"Oh, Miss Aay," Calina came over with tears in her eyes. "I can't find Pez! I can't find Pez!" She started freaking out and repeating it over and over.

I put her at arms lengths and held her by her shoulders. "What?"

"He's gone!"

One of the youngest kids walked up to us. "I think he went back in to get something for the competition."

"What?" I repeated again. Pez? In the burning building?

Calina started sobbing hard. "I don't know what to do," she said.

I put an arm around her and screamed at Sara, who was coming over to probably check to see if the children were alright also. "Sara!" I called.

She ran over and she gathered Calina in her arms. "Stay here with the kids," I said and ran back to the fire.

I didn't hesitate. I started running to the nearest door that wasn't on fire.

Jackbmck and Tigerlilly seemed to notice me going in. Jackbmck ran after me and Tigerlilly shouted, "Aay! Get back! It's too dangerous!"

I escaped Jackbmck grasp to pull me out of the door and I was in. "Pez!"

"Pez!" I walked through burning archways and walls that were collapsing.

I stopped and heard Patrick's name. I know I heard Patrick's name. It had to be Pez.

"Pez! It's Aay!" I screamed, my voice raw from the smoke. I tried covering my mouth but my vision was already getting blurry.

I then heard sobbing from behind a door to a closet. I tried touching the door, but it was hot. "Pez? Can you hear me? I need to stand away from the door!"

I heard some scrambling, and I stepped a few paces back and jumped at the door, it easily giving away, for it was almost all black and turning into ash.

Pez rushed into my arms and I ripped off a piece of my shirt to cover his mouth, what I should have done to myself in the first place. I didn't have time to do it, so I just picked him up with all my strength and looked for a place to get out.

I saw a small opening and took the chance and jumped through.

But I didn't make it.

Something burning hit my leg and I fell to the ground, trying to land on my back so Pez wouldn't land on the ground.

Pez got up and shouted, "A piece of wood landed on your leg!"

And the wood was on fire. "Pez, get out of here," I mumbled through the pain.

Pez tried to lift the wood, but to no avail. He must have gotten burned on his hands from trying.

I then realized something shiny beside my face. I turned and noticed it was a star of Saradomin. I grabbed it and prayed, reaching up and pulling Pez down beside me. "Pez, we might not make it, but pray, with all your might."

I thought of the one priest in my life. Chadrizard. Chadrizard, if you can hear me, help, please…

I felt my eyes roll up and I saw darkness, but I was still conscious. Pez was sobbing into my neck and clenching hard to my shirt.

At last I passed out.

I slowly became conscious. I couldn't open my eyes because they felt so heavy, and I felt someone holding my hand. I tried to breathe in but that only resulted in coughing. And that hurt. My eyes hurt so much, from being affected from the smoke, so I felt my eyes tear a little bit more, and I had another coughing fit.

I then tried to open my eyes. I saw Patrick, I think… but… I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer. I closed them and fell back unconscious.

I awoke again to the sound of sobbing and someone still holding my hand, saying something like, "Aay, you're so stubborn, you can fight this…" or it was, "Aay, why did you do such a stupid thing?"

I opened my eyes slowly and everything still fuzzy. I breathed in deeply without coughing, and I heard Patrick say my name and I regretted that I made him worry. He already had enough on his mind.

"How are you?" I thought he asked.

"Tired… water…" I croaked and fell back asleep.

I woke again. This time I heard Patrick talking with someone.

"How'd she survive?" Someone said.

"We don't know, but we found her clenching the star of Saradomin," Patrick said. I could tell he was weary. You could hear it just in his voice.

"Do you think it protected her and Pez?"

Pez! Where was he?

"That is one idea about how they survived. In fact, it's the only idea," Patrick said.

I coughed and tried to sit up. "Where's Pez?" I asked.

Patrick looked over and a look of relief appeared on his face. He rushed over and gathered me into a hug. "He's fine," he said.

I tried speaking again but it came out as a croak. Patrick handed me some water and I drank a whole glass.

After I finished drinking I leaned back and closed my eyes. "Thank goodness."

"Aay… how did you survive? It took us hours to get to you."

I opened my eyes again and shook my head. "Chadrizard," was all I said.

"Chadrizard?" Patrick looked deep in thought. "He protected you."

I nodded and said slowly, "After I found the star I prayed that he would protect us, for he was a priest. And it worked."

"Thankfully," Patrick said and leaned back, holding my hand.

"How is Calina?" I asked him. "She was pretty freaked out."

"Her… history with her family has left her feeling alone and scared, and when she came over to my clan, she slowly began to regain friendship and bravery, and Pez helped bring that out of her," Patrick said, then sighed. "When she found that Pez was gone, she went ballistic, as you could see. Poor girl."

I agreed. And then I added silently, "And of the clan house?"

Patrick looked away and said painfully, "All lost."

"I'm sorry," I said.

He shook his head. "Nothing for you to be sorry for."

I nodded slightly and then heard a thump at the door. Shadow then barged in and walked over to my bedside. "Miss Aay, that was the stupidest thing you've ever done, and if you'd had died I would've gotten blamed for you're death."

Patrick stood up defensively. "Now see hear, Shadow, she is alive and will get better, and she did save a life. Is your life all that you care for? About you getting blamed?"

Shadow didn't answer but glared daggers at Patrick. He turned back to me. "Miss Aay, I'm not going to let you out of my sight now. How am I supposed to protect you when you throw yourself into burning buildings? For now on you are to stay in your room until we get this whole thing solved."

I started to speak back angrily but Patrick beat me too it. "You're. Not. In. Charge. Of. Her."

Shadow sneered. "Neither. Are. You."

Patrick didn't say anything but kept his shoulders square.

I had had enough. "Shadow, would you step outside please?"

Shadow scowled and complied slowly.

I sighed and leaned back on the pillows. "How is everyone else?" I asked Patrick as he sat down beside me again.

"They're fine, they're just worried about you," Patrick said.

"Can you tell them I'm alright?" I asked him and he nodded and gave me a quick kiss on the forehead and left.

I sighed and leaned back into the bed. I closed my eyes and tried to fall asleep. Thanks, Chadrizard, I added silently, and sleep finally claimed me again.

… I had to rewrite the ending 'cause I lost it, and I hope that it went smoothly. But anyways, I would love it if you could review even more! And if you do… free cookies and coffee:yum:

Chadrizard: yay! I added you the way I was originally gonna add you! I couldn't bring you back in a physical body, and you didn't get a speaking part, but you got the main idea, right?

And as for the evil people, they're gonna be added soon, don't worry :grins: