Chapter 3: The Road South

Setting: Autumn 1992: The Realm of Dungeons & Dragons

Summary: The first two months of journeying are almost too quiet

xxx

08 September 1992

By the time the stew finished cooking, everybody was dry and Uni had managed to find enough vegetation in Dara's stores to feed Eric and herself. Though she could now eat meat, as she had done occasionally for the last six years, she decided to keep Eric company by sharing his meal. As they ate, Uni leaned against Eric's side, though no one else took such liberties.

Sheila gestured to the hide map Dara had placed next to her while eating. "How far south have you been, Dara?"

The woman looked up and shrugged, smiling at the red-haired Thief. "Enough."

When the blonde wasn't more forthcoming, Sheila tried again. "Have you ever been to the Singing Forest?"

"No," Dara replied with a smile. "Wander Crystal Water. Not swim. Not more wander."

"Oh," Sheila nodded though she wondered how they'd cross the Crystal Water if Dara wasn't able to swim. 'And how deep is the water?' Questions suddenly filled her mind and Sheila sighed, reaching for the map. "Maybe you can answer a few questions?"

Dara's hand shot out and snatched the embroidered hide out of the other woman's reach. With a severe frown, blue eyes darkening to near black, she snapped, "mine!"

Surprised, Sheila's eyes widened in confusion and a little fear. She pulled her hand back to her lap. "I don't want to take it, Dara. I only want to look at it." Her voice sounded small, apologetic.

Expression unreadable, the hunter studied the petite redhead carefully. Finally, hesitantly, she unrolled the hide and spread it out, keeping a hand possessively on the embroidered map all the while. "See," her voice sounded wary.

Jumping in, acting as peacekeeper, Diana asked, "You've been to Crystal Water, right, Dara?"

"Yes." Dara turned a sunny smile on the Acrobat.

Diana smiled back, mentally noting that there were now only three members of their party who hadn't offended, or purposely snubbed, Dara: Eric, Terri, and Diana herself. With a guide this touchy, would they manage the seven months there and another seven months back? The odds were against fourteen months without a major conflict - - and just over a year was a long time for their healers to try to keep Dekkion and Ramoud alive. Things were looking next to impossible. Sighing, Diana asked, "Is Crystal Water a lake?"

Dara shook her head, laughing softly. "Not lake. River. Much river. Fast. Wide. Long. Deep." She waved both hands in example of each word, apparently forgetting her suspicions of Sheila's honesty as she let go of the map completely.

Sheila wisely kept her hands to herself, mentally vowing not to reveal her ability to turn invisible unless absolutely necessary; Dara would probably lose all trust in the Thief if she knew Sheila could slip around unseen. And Hank was right: they had no idea what Dara might demand in payment for Dekkion's medicine in a couple of months. Best not to reveal their weapons unless they had to. So far, the blonde woman seemed not to remember Hank using the Energy Bow in the swamp or Uni's alicorn use.

"Is there a way across?" Diana asked, leaning back a little to avoid being hit but smiling at Dara's enthusiasm. At least she seemed to get over her anger quickly.

"Not know. Not swim. Not more wander. Wander home." She smiled and turned to Uni, "Swim Eric?"

Eric lifted his head, dark eyes narrowing much as they used to when he was insulted as a human. Bobbing his head, Eric blew through his lips in a manner reminiscent of Uni from her foal days.

Translating for her longtime companion, Uni said, "myeah. Airk swims." She didn't add that the former Cavalier would have to relearn the activity since his transformation.

Dara nodded and continued to smile at Uni. "Swim Uni?"

The former unicorn blinked at the question then frowned softly. "Uh - - myeah. I swim." She had not gotten a chance to swim much when traveling with Eric the past few years, but she didn't want to tell Dara of her own transformation and subsequent weaknesses. She felt it was best to let Dara wonder just what curse Uni was under. As if to reassure her, Eric nuzzled his soft nose against the back of her neck and Uni smiled at his contact. "We all swim," the red-haired Elf added.

But something about Uni's speech caught the guide's attention and she leaned forward. "Myeah?" she imitated the horsey sound, avid interest in her face.

Uni flushed bright red over her pale face and neck. She narrowed her maroon eyes on Dara and pulled back her top lip in an old habit of annoyance as she stiffened, lifting her chin and throwing her shoulders back. Eric snapped his head around to stare at Dara, his dark eyes narrowed and lip curled in much the same way as Uni.

Again, Terri intervened for Uni's speech problem. "She has trouble saying some words, Dara. She means 'yes'." Terri's voice was less than warm, showing the other woman that no one would appreciate teasing on this subject. After all, Dara's Basic was even more troubled than Uni's.

As if oblivious to any implied insults or threats, the guide smiled at Uni in her friendly fashion. Still referring to the swimming requirement, Dara nodded in apparent approval and said, "Good." She turned back to Sheila, looked at her map which remained untouched next to her, then smiled widely at the Thief. "Ask more?"

Unsure if Uni was going to continue being insulted by Dara's imitation, Sheila nodded and offered a small smile in return. She didn't think Dara had been intentionally insulting Uni. "Shift Sand? You said we could pass through it in a day or two?" She hoped she'd translated correctly.

"Yes. One, two possible." The hunter picked up the map and carefully rolled it up and tucked it once more in the fur toga she wore. "Here sleep. Wander day new." She stood and walked into her storage cave, leaving the others to settle down by the fire and get what rest they could while the storm howled outside.

Everyone wanted to talk, but no one had any energy after the long day they'd had. Eric lay his head down on his forelegs and watched with half closed eyes as the others made themselves as comfortable as possible. In the end, Uni lay curled next to Eric, Hank and Sheila lay side by side, and Bobby had an arm wrapped around Terri, while Diana and Presto lay back to back. Some time passed before each dropped off to sleep, one by one.

09 September 1992

Sunlight splashing over his face and into his eyes woke Presto and he stretched. He ached from the unfamiliar hardness of a solid rock bed; Ramoud's howdahs were so much more comfortable. Opening golden eyes, the Magician blinked at the blur of colors before him, though the aromatic scent hitting his nose denoted someone was up and cooking.

Presto reached for his glasses and frowned when they weren't where he thought they'd be. He stretched his hand further, patting carefully. Changing to a gentle sweeping motion, he finally sat up and called out "has anyone seen my glasses?" He no longer harbored a fear of temporarily losing them, but he certainly needed them on a long-term basis; and the golden-eyed man didn't know where he could get a replacement on the journey.

"Hunh?" a feminine voice came from just behind him, and Presto knew by the tone as well as the previous night's sleeping arrangements that it would be Diana.

"I can't find my glasses," he informed the sleepy Acrobat. He felt her sit up and heard her movements as she began to search. Others joined in the hunt.

The fur door of the side cave brushed aside and Dara walked in with several earthen jars in her arms. She stopped to watch the odd activity. Finally, the blonde woman set her jars near the cooking pot and asked "what?"

"We're looking for Presto's glasses," Diana answered. "He needs them to see."

The guide quietly watched as the group carefully shook out their furs and checked as close to the fire as they dared. Finally, she wordlessly walked over to the storage trunk and picked up the gold-rimmed spectacles, catching the firelight on the lenses in a brief flash. "This?" She stepped over and offered them to Diana.

The dark-haired woman smiled and gratefully took the glasses, passing them on to Presto. "Thanks, Dara. Did you put them there?"

Thinking a long moment, Dara nodded and turned back to the cooking food. "Yes. Break possible."

"Wow, thanks." Presto offered her a smile as he slipped the glasses on his nose. He lost that smile when the woman offered him a disdainful glare in return.

"Put other," she said and gestured to the trunk, which also sported Diana's collapsed javelin, Bobby's club, Hank's bow, Sheila's dagger and case of picks, and Eric's shield, as well as the unicorn barding.

Frowning softly, Terri shot her hand to her throat, fingers slipping under the fold of fur to rest on the comforting warm metal of her locket. She absently noted that Diana still wore her golden headband and jewelry while Presto's hat and Sheila's cloak were among the other dried clothing on the rack. The brunette felt instant disgust with herself for suspecting their new guide of trying to steal from them. Terri put it down to the nightmare she'd had during the night: she'd dreamed of the Maze of Insanity from her first visit to the Realm. The lack of a restful sleep and the knowledge that they'd be out here at least a year and a half unsettled the Dreamer's stomach, making the smell of the stew off-putting.

While everyone else sat up to accept the food, Terri shook her head and mumbled "not hungry. I'll eat at lunch."

Uni walked with Eric from the cave to find his breakfast and presumably her own, still dressed in her fur toga but shunning Dara's meal.

No one spoke as they ate and after the meal the Champions got dressed in their dry, stiff clothing. As Uni and Hank began the process of saddling and arming Eric, Sheila helped Dara get the cave ready for a long vacancy. The others repacked their bags, adding anything Dara indicated they should bring such as herbs, spices, and healing salves. The guide had once more dressed in her silver-shot grey outfit and wore the old grey cloak. No one looking at her could tell she was female, attractive, or well-dressed. She armed herself with a dagger and her staff.

Hank helped block the sight of Uni removing her alicorn from one of Eric's saddle bags where she'd apparently hidden it for the night. It was obvious to the Ranger that his friend heartily disliked, even distrusted their newest companion. While he couldn't agree with the hostility, he had to privately acknowledge that Uni had been right to so guard her Weapon of Power. They should be on more careful watch until they knew the woman better; their group did have a poor record for hiring guides. It would be wise to have a night guard schedule anyway. Dara didn't need to know they were guarding against her as well.

When the party finally set out it was with Dara in the lead and Eric with Uni right behind her. Diana and Presto followed them then Terri and Bobby and finally Hank and Sheila taking up the rear. No one really spoke to one another and that did not bode well for the coming fourteen month journey.

xxx

24 September 1992

As the first sun began to set on the fifteenth journey day, the tired group started setting up camp in the lightly wooded copse just off the cartway they'd been following. Further in lay a small freshwater spring that would provide drinking water as well as wash water for clothes and bodies. The autumn air still felt warm enough for bathing and the group looked forward to the luxury; no one knew when next they'd have the weather or water for it.

Diana, Sheila, and Uni made themselves busy washing the group's spare clothing, with the benefit of being allowed to bathe first, while the men gathered wood, set up the fire pit, and scouted for food to supplement the two hares Dara and Hank had caught earlier that day. Eric lay near the roadway on watch with Terri curled up next to him, hidden from view, trying to rest.

Skin paler than it should be after two weeks travel under four burning suns, denim blue eyes sunken with lack of sleep, Terri felt exhausted from the journey so far. Not only had the nightmares continued every night, forcing her into little sleep as she relived all the horrors she'd seen in the Realm but daytime had been little better. Every day, sometimes twice, Terri fell into her premonition trance. It often happened while they were walking, causing her to stumble and collapse. Everyone took to watching her carefully, slowing the travelers down; Bobby had caught her in a fall more than once.

While the premonitions limited themselves so far to the one of Eric the unicorn in the maze and the other one with human Eric confronting unicorn Eric, they still drained Terri's strength every time she had them. And though the double-Eric vision was the pleasanter of the two, Terri preferred the other vision: the double-Eric one confused and troubled her. With the unfamiliar conditions, constant travel, draining premonitions, and repeated horrifying nightmares, Terri remained in a continual state of exhaustion and strain, causing her to feel continually nauseous as well. She rarely kept down her food, no matter how good a cook Dara turned out to be or how varied the fare available in the lush grasslands and light woodlands so far.

And so they excused Terri from work and watch that day, encouraging her to get some rest if she could. She cried herself to sleep but softly enough so only Eric had noticed. Terri didn't want Bobby to see. She had just realized she'd have to go through possibly fourteen months of this misery before they might get another chance to go back to Earth.

Eric's warmth beside her soothed her raw emotions and Terri drifted into a light doze. The unicorn vigilantly watched the road to both sides as well as listened to anything happening among the trees. The former Cavalier turned his head and narrowed his dark eyes as he watched the supply party enter camp where Bobby lay down his armful of wood and Presto started dressing the rabbit he'd snared. As Hank sorted the roots and herbs he'd gathered, Dara put down her snared pheasant by Presto's side. She headed towards the spring shielded by the trees. Eric turned his head to check on Terri, touching his soft nose to her shoulder; she thankfully still dozed. Eric resumed his watch, idly listening to the conversations at the side of the nearby spring.

Diana's voice sounded tired but happy enough as Dara approached the trio of women, now beginning to undress for their bath. The woman stepped next to Sheila, a frown dragging her features down. "Hurt Uni?"

"What?" Sheila turned quickly to the former unicorn who frowned back and shook her head, long hair swishing around her hips. The Elf began to clean her under-things in the cool water and Sheila turned back to Dara with a light flush. "Uh . . . no. She's . . . uh . . . well . . ."

"It's that time of month," Diana interrupted nonchalantly. "You know, her cycle?" She began cleaning her own underclothes as Sheila joined in.

"Myeah . . ." Uni stopped and looked at the guide. "Fertility cycle," she added at Dara's confused look. Using the same words Eric had used five years before to teach her about it, Uni added, "a woman's body has a cycle for making babies. The bleeding is the way for her body to clean itself so she can prepare to be fertile." With a small smile, the former unicorn recalled Eric's embarrassment when he'd explained what he'd dared to learn in a nearby village just to help her. He had done so much for her. Her maroon eyes grew thoughtful with her memories.

Only Sheila seemed embarrassed by the conversation, flushing deeper. "Uni . . . I'm sure Dara is quite aware of it. She's a full grown woman after all." The Thief turned to the guide with another blush, this time for Uni's apparent condescension.

Dara shook her head so her curls bounced. "Not know," she corrected. "Not bleed." She still looked worried.

"But," Sheila looked equally worried, "all girls have it. I mean, mine has always been very . . . uh . . . light and lasts only five days, but . . ."

"Oh, I'm jealous," Diana jumped in. "Seven days with three really heavy and the cramping! I had to learn to push past it for gymnastics."

All three old friends were stripped, clothing cleaned as well as the cloths they'd been using for their cycles.

Dara looked surprised from one woman to another. "All cycle?"

Diana nodded, chocolate eyes shining. "Well, often times ninety percent of the woman in the same household are on the same cycle, Dara. Something to do with hormones." She turned a smug smile to the others. "Woe betide our men-folk since there's five of us ladies now."

"All bleed?"

Flush fading in her sudden concern, Sheila asked softly, "Dara, how old are you?"

The other woman stiffened and bit her lip. "Old you?" her voice sounded wary, defensive.

Sheila felt that was a fair question. "I'm twenty-three years old."

The blonde guide's pupils seemed to dilate slightly at the answer.

In a friendly manner, Diana jumped in with, "I'll be twenty-four in a few months."

"Nineteen," Uni added quietly then said "Terri is eighteen."

"And?" Dara prompted, looking from one to another warily.

Uni straightened. "Airk is twenty-four, but the men don't have the same kind of fertility cycle. They don't bleed." She stepped closer to Dara who fell back a step from the Elf.

"Oh," Dara said.

In a gentle voice, concern in her eyes, Diana reached out and put a hand on Dara's arm. "How old are you, Dara?"

The guide shrugged, but didn't look as confident as she normally did. As if to fake the nonchalance of Diana's earlier mood, the blonde started undressing, revealing her heavily scarred body. "Twenty snow."

"Twenty?" Sheila bit her lip, her eyes roving the younger woman's mutilated form. "Oh, Dara . . ."

Dara straightened, shoulders going back, staring Sheila straight in the eyes. "What?" Her voice sounded wary but calm.

The petite redhead hugged herself. "I . . . I'm . . . sorry you were hurt so badly." She felt like crying for the other woman who would in all probability never know the joy of children . . . not that Dara trusted men as it was.

Diana threw an arm around Sheila and pulled her over-sensitive friend into a comforting hug. "Hey, I'm sure Dara's okay, Sheila." With a sob, tears pushing past the lashes of her teal eyes and running down her face over the bruising and gash, Sheila nodded. Diana gave her another one-armed hug. "Hey, c'mon, Sheila. You always were so sensitive." Her voice softened while she tried to comfort her grieving friend.

Uni turned to Dara and explained, "Sheila's upset because without the cycle you might never have children. She thinks the man who attacked you hurt you badly enough to stop your cycle." The former unicorn spoke softly, in a neutral tone, wondering why she didn't feel more sympathy for the other woman's trauma.

"Uni!" Sheila wailed, mortified by her friend's insensitive bluntness.

A laugh from Dara pulled all three up short and sent confusion through them. Dara shook her head and finished undressing. "Not want baby." Her tone sounded as determined as ever. "Not need bleed." The blonde nodded as if making a point and slid into the spring to bathe.

Diana hugged Sheila one more time then let her go with a sheepish chuckle. "And that puts us in our place, Sheila. Let's get clean before the guys come looking for us and accidentally show their half of the cycle." She stepped into the cold water.

The two redheads joined their companions, though Sheila felt little comfort from Dara's claim to not want kids.

Eric turned his head again, looking down the road the other way, trying to tune out the rest of their conversation.

xxx

24 September 1992

After the group finished washing then eating, they sat around the campfire, Uni leaning against Eric and Terri against Bobby. The Dreamer had eaten a little more that night than the past so it appeared her afternoon nap had done her some good. She felt better than she had for a long while. Sheila had gotten past the embarrassing conversation from earlier, though no one had enlightened the guys or Terri as to what had been discussed.

Now, with the first sun set and the second well on its way, talk turned to the nightly watch duties. So far, they'd stood watch in pairs of two hour shifts, with a female on every watch to ease Dara's mind. Dara had been excused from watch in exchange for the extra cooking and hunting duties she'd assumed.

Bobby, however, insisted that a change was needed. "Just until Terri's feeling better."

Terri flushed at yet another indication of how detrimental she was proving. "Bobby! I can stand my watch."

Her boyfriend frowned. "This is the first night you've had any energy or appetite at all, Terr. Your nap did great." He turned blue eyes to Hank. "That proves she needs more rest. With her nightmares, six hours isn't enough for her."

Hank frowned but Terri pointed out, embarrassed, "then I'd get eight hours of nightmares instead of six. Hardly an improvement, Bobby."

"We don't know that," Diana interrupted. "We could try switching when you watch instead of replacing you with Dara. There are lots of solutions, Terri, Bobby."

A loud snort sounded from Eric but no one paid him much attention.

"Watch," Dara jumped in.

She closed her mouth as Bobby said, "And we can switch Terri back on in a couple of days." He turned to the brunette and took her hand. "Terri, you haven't seen yourself. You're . . ."

"Oh, thanks, Bobby!" Terri pulled her hand away, sudden anger flaring in her denim blue eyes. "I know I'm holding everyone back. Just say it already!"

"No, I . . ." Bobby sounded desperate, his eyes stunned.

"Terri, Bobby, enough," Sheila said quietly. She turned to Dara. "Dara, do you mind standing watch for a couple of days?"

"Not mind," the guide affirmed. "Watch who?"

That was a problem. They couldn't put her through two hours of trying to sleep with two men on watch, so they couldn't pair her with a woman. But how could she stand watch partnered with a man when she didn't trust them?

After a few minutes of serious thought, studying his companions, Hank finally offered, "what about Eric?"

While the former Cavalier was the only male in the group Dara truly liked, a sharp neigh from Eric and a resounding "No!" from Uni immediately protested the suggestion.

"It makes sense," Diana tried to reason with the pair.

"No," Uni shook her head, long hair flying, stamping her foot in emphasis. Eric pawed the ground in echo of Uni's movement.

Terri crossed her arms, glaring at Bobby, as she ground out, "Dara can stand first watch with Bobby."

The guide frowned but nodded slowly in agreement. "Watch Bobby. Yes."

"Hey!" Bobby sounded as indignant as Terri had about his lack of say in the arrangements. "I think she should stand with Eric. I can stand with Uni. It'd be good for them to have some time with others."

At Uni's intense frown, Bobby stiffened his back, crossed his arms, and glared back at his former pet. "Well, you two have to get used to other people again someday, Uni. It's not healthy to stay so withdrawn."

Eric aimed a well-placed, if gentle, kick at Bobby's butt, only hard enough to jolt the Barbarian not hurt him, but the meaning was clear: 'Shut up!'

"Eric!" Bobby protested in shock.

Diana stood, effectively drawing all eyes. "I think we should let Dara stand with Bobby since she doesn't mind. He can talk to her, so he can show her the ropes. Since Eric can't talk, it'd be hard for him to teach her." She stretched but continued her suggestion. "If in a few days Terri's okay, she can go back to watch and we can all start to rotate one out." She turned to their so far quiet leader. "Right, Hank?"

The Ranger nodded. "I think that's good." At Bobby's mutinous look, Hank raised a hand. "If you protest too much, Bobby, you might hurt Dara's feelings. She might think you don't trust her."

Bobby shut his mouth and stood up with a grunt. Hefting his club over his shoulder, the blond teen glared at the others then walked to Dara, careful not to touch her. "Fine. C'mon, Dara. I'll show you how to stand watch."

The bemused guide slowly stood and followed the sullen Barbarian from the fire circle, her staff gripped firmly in one hand.

Presto finally spoke up once Dara wasn't there to be offended. "Maybe he doesn't trust her."

The others turned surprised looks on the quiet Magician, but he just shrugged. He had stopped offering his own opinion once Dara had joined the group out of deference for her intense dislike of him. It was a shame, actually, as Presto had lacked self-confidence the first three years they'd been in the Realm and so had hesitated to give opinions back then. Now that he had the confidence to stand up for himself, he was held back by their wary guide. Softly, Presto added, "We should get sleep. Two hours can pass pretty quickly, Diana, and we've got second watch."

She nodded and the group began to settle for the night. Presto was right. The second watch would come all too quickly. Hank and Sheila would stand the hardest watch, third watch, but they still didn't want to squander the first four hours of their soon to be broken rest. Uni and Eric would stand the fourth watch, greeting the dawn with their private vegetarian breakfast, as had become their habit; Eric didn't prefer to eat in front of the others. As exhausting as watches were, they could only hope the change in schedule would keep Terri's nightmares at bay. Everyone needed their rest.

xxx

October 27, 1992

The harsh glare of sunlight across her face woke Terri from a rare pleasant dream. She brought her hand up to shade her eyes and blinked in the early morning brightness. Something felt different but it took a moment or two for her to realize what it was: she felt completely rested.

Terri stretched, smiling as she worked the kinks from her arms and back. Rolling over, the Dreamer smiled wider. Bobby lay next to her, on his back, one arm flung wide and mouth open in a light snore. Ever since Dara had begun standing watch with Bobby, he seemed less restless after his watches ended. Slowly Terri stood and moved among her other sleeping friends, careful not to tread on hand or foot.

Her smile softened as she nodded to Uni who leaned against Eric's gold-sparkled flank while they ate their vegetarian breakfast, remaining alert and on watch.

"Hey," Terri slipped to the ground next to Uni, leaning against Eric and reaching for a bowl of grains and berries; Eric must have eaten his main meal earlier. For the last few days Terri had been getting up early to join the other two in breakfast. It was far easier to simply eat with the pair than to explain to Dara why she didn't like any of the food the guide provided everyone. Most of their meals now consisted of wild game, roots, berries, and other wilderness edibles. Dara had even delighted in presenting special tidbits to Eric, probably because she adored the unicorn, and Terri, who remained on the verge of nausea and exhaustion. Terri privately suspected Dara of trying to poison her but couldn't figure out why. Thus, she had taken to eating with the equally distrustful Uni and Eric.

As Terri sat, Uni smiled in return. "Hey back, Terri."

Eric softly whickered a greeting.

Terri slipped a wild onion into her mouth and savored the gentle bite of the vegetable, smiling wider. She'd always loved onions, but somehow Dara's use of them had turned Terri's stomach against them recently. Surprisingly, this was the first onion the teen had been able to even get near since the guide had joined the party. She enjoyed every last drop of juice.

Shifting a bit, Terri leaned against Eric's flank, next to Uni. Of the entire group, no one else had dared use Eric as a backrest. At first, Terri had only done so due to her continuing exhaustion, but now she leaned on the former Cavalier regularly. Somehow, she thought he enjoyed the contact. Since he'd become a unicorn, the others rarely touched Eric anymore . . . except Uni. She always retained as much contact as possible, even keeping a hand on his shoulder while they walked.

After clearing her mouth, Terri turned a curious look on the red-haired Elf beside her. "Do you think Dara's been poisoning me?" She hadn't meant to ask the question, but now that she couldn't take it back, Terri really did want an answer.

Maroon eyes met denim blue and Uni took a slow bite of a large apple. After chewing thoughtfully she swallowed and nodded. "Not sure."

Eric's head bobbed and he whickered softly, though Terri wasn't sure if he agreed with her or with Uni.

"But you don't think I'm crazy for believing it, do you?" Terri pushed.

Eric shook his head, mane rippling. Uni patted him absently and said, "You're safer not trusting her." She paused, sharing an unreadable look with Eric, then turned back to Terri. "She gives me a creepy, nauseous feeling. Airk, too."

The unicorn bobbed his head once more.

With a sigh, Terri nodded and began to nibble on the watercress Uni provided. "I thought I might just be paranoid." She glanced at Eric then hesitantly lifted a hand to stroke his soft flank. As he watched, expression confused but not annoyed, Terri petted him again. "I've gotten less and less sick this last week. I'm even putting weight back on. I was using the tightest hole on my belt but now I'm at the second hole."

Nudging Uni gently with his nose, Eric made a wuffling noise Terri didn't understand . . . until Uni held up an apple on her flattened palm for him to eat. Eric crunched it slowly, dark brown eyes narrowing in pleasure. The apple tree they'd found last night really had been a boon; apparently most of the Champions hadn't seen apples in years on their travels.

"And you are not sick today, Terri," Uni observed with a small smile. She patted Eric's soft nose and looked at the other teen. "Or you wouldn't have eaten the onion or the cress. Both have made you sick recently."

Terri laughed, taking a bite from her own breakfast apple. Tilting her head, swallowing, Terri asked "so you think Dara might be keeping me sick? Why would she?"

Uni shrugged. "I don't know. I just don't trust her, Terri." At Eric's whicker of agreement, Uni added, "she keeps trying to feed Airk, too. She's offered many times to brush him down and change his bandages." Uni looked up at the bandaged claw injury that wouldn't seem to heal. She sighed and turned back to Terri. Slowly, she said, "I think . . . she wants to . . . steal Airk."

Shock stiffened Terri's spine, but Eric reacted as if this thought was old news. The eighteen year old Dreamer turned to the older Elf and repeated "steal? But how? She couldn't get away with it, Uni. We'd know instantly that he's gone."

Frustration seemed to vibrate through the former unicorn. She rose gracefully to her feet and grabbed a currying brush Ayesha had provided in Eric's pack. Turning, she quickly began to run the brush over Eric's side, in preparation for getting him into the barding and hated saddle. "I think she studies me too closely. As if she is memorizing me."

"Memorizing you?"

The sleepy voice made the pair of women jump, but Eric merely turned his head, having heard Presto's soft-footed approach. The Magician held up a hand, sleeve sliding to his elbow and revealing a wristwatch that had long stopped working: its battery had died years ago. "Hey. I heard voices so came over, but I couldn't catch what you guys were talking about. All I heard is 'memorizing me.' Should I go away again?"

Eric shook his head emphatically, his vocal response almost a neigh. Uni and Terri spoke as one. "No!"

"Don't go, Presto," Uni added with a genuine smile for the auburn-haired man. "Is anyone else awake?"

Presto nodded. "Diana and Sheila are up. They're going to take advantage of the stream running by the apple tree over the hill. But the others are still sleeping." He took the brush from Uni's hand and stepped to Eric's other side, starting to curry his long ago best friend. "I peeked under Hank's bandages and his wounds are totally healed . . . only a minor scar left. I can't say the same for Sheila, but her face looks ninety percent better than when we started. I told her to leave off the bandages so she can get some sun." He spoke nonchalantly, but his tone sounded hungry. Presto stayed almost exclusively silent around Dara due to her obvious and intense dislike of him. Apparently, the Magician was in desperate need of conversation.

Terri sighed and stood. "That Rosemary Tincture Dara used on Hank seems to have done the trick." She shook her head. "Sorry Presto for ditching, but I'm gonna join the ladies. I . . . gotta go." With a small smile, Terri took her half-finished breakfast with her as she headed towards the tree over the hill.

Uni ducked around Eric's side to stand next to Presto. She studied him as he worked on Eric. Minutes passed in relative silence. Finally, Presto shook his head and turned to Uni, dropping his hand from Eric's shoulder.

"What, Uni?" He kept his voice light.

She smiled. "I think it's wonderful for us to be together again, Presto. We missed you all."

A grin spread over Presto's face. With a chuckle, he suddenly reached out and pulled Uni into a hug. "You two aren't anti-social at all, are you?"

"Anti-social . . . no, we aren't," Uni answered, returning the hug with a smile. "How anyone could think Airk is anti-social is a mystery. It's Airk after all."

In answer, Eric rolled his eyes and stamped his right front hoof.

Presto snorted, pushing his glasses up on his nose with his index finger. "Yeah, we tend to forget that fact, don't we? I mean, you guys were without steady company for what . . . six years? But, I'll bet that only made the pair of you more eager for company than less eager."

Eric and Uni exchanged a look but neither answered. Rather, the sound of Bobby's voice broke through the early morning air.

"Hey, Dara, is Uni with Eric?"

Uni stiffened, maroon eyes narrowing, as Eric threw back his head with a loud neigh. Presto jumped at his friend's reaction; Eric always seemed to want to fight or hide his equine reactions, not flaunt them. In fact, the sound was so odd coming from the unicorn it brought everyone running, including the three women who'd been about to undress for a bath.

"Eric?" Hank strode quickly to his friend, bow ready but unstrung. "Where's Uni?"

Eric swung his head around to pierce Dara with a look of pure dislike, ignoring Hank completely.

The guide seemed surprised at the look. She stood within five feet of the gold-flecked unicorn, a pair of apples held in one strong, tanned hand. The appearance of Uni and Presto from around Eric's other side seemed to startle her, and Dara took a step back.

Hank took in the exchange without a word, watching as Dara recognized Presto and withdrew as quickly as if demons were on her tail. The Ranger turned to look once more at the Magician and the other two. He kept his voice neutral as he asked, "everything alright, Uni? I heard Eric call out." He deliberately did not use a horse-related term in deference to Eric's feelings.

"Yes." Uni replied, watching after Dara's retreating figure. Slowly she added "too many people were too close to him."

Presto turned surprised gold eyes on his companion. Whispering so only she and Eric could hear, he asked, "you've been deliberately letting us think you hate company?"

She turned her gaze up to meet his and replied just as softly, "everyone seems to approve of Dara. We do not but don't know why. Best to let everyone blame us until we can figure out what Dara really wants."

With that, the former unicorn walked over to Eric's belongings and pulled out the crimson saddle blanket to throw over Eric's back.

Frowning, wordlessly, Presto began to help her prepare Eric for the day's journey. He didn't point out that so far Dara had saved the lives of both Eric and Hank, as well as the fact that she kept them fed better than they'd ever been fed before splitting up six years before. Uni had been a baby when she'd been pretty much cut off from any contact except Eric; and Eric had always been a self-centered, cynical snob. Maybe the blame really did lie with Uni and Eric and not Dara.

Hank lowered his bow and walked quickly after Dara. He didn't want the guide out of their sight. It wasn't that he didn't trust her, exactly, but he certainly didn't trust her fully either. "Dara? Are you okay?" Maybe a man following her wasn't the greatest idea since she feared and hated anyone male, but the women were run ragged enough playing peacekeeper on a daily basis. Maybe it was time for Dara to see that the men she worked with weren't going to hurt her. "Dara, you shouldn't go wandering away from the group."

He got to the edge of the tree-lined meadow and stopped, sighing. Looking for a hint of grey or silver, Hank studied the trees and the field beyond. Where did she go so quickly?

"Bow?"

Jumping at the woman's voice behind him rather than in front where he'd expected her, Hank whirled around, clutching his hand around his bow tighter. "What?" He stared down into the curious blue gaze of the guide.

"Not string bow." Dara pointed to his weapon but kept her eyes on his face, a wary, yet curious, look in her eyes.

"Oh." Hank nodded and shrugged. "Habit. Even unstrung I tend to instinctively raise it for use." He waited to see if the half-truth would suffice. It did.

Dara nodded and turned back towards their camp without another word.

Following at a small distance so as not to spook her again, Hank frowned and fingered his bow. So far the group had managed to keep the magic in their weapons a secret. Dara preferred not to hunt with the males so often went solo while the others split off to help. She hadn't seen Hank's energy arrows and ropes yet. As far as he knew, Dara didn't remember his energy rope the night Eric nearly drowned in the swamp, either. But it wasn't easy to keep the magic a secret. Sooner or later, they were bound to be attacked by an enemy. Hank sighed; Dara would know everything if they were attacked. He wondered if they should break down and tell her sooner. She had, after all, proved a valuable team member.

He shook his head. The decision wasn't his to make alone. He'd have to find a time when they were all together without Dara . . . that would be nearly impossible.

Switching from the camp trail towards the apple tree, Hank sighed. Another near impossible task was getting Sheila alone. He wanted to talk to her about that last night in the battle camp . . . about the kiss they'd shared and more . . . about . . . their future. But when they weren't traveling in the group, everyone was eating, bathing, or resting. There was little time to go wandering off alone to have a heart-to-heart with the woman he loved.

Hank ran a well-tanned hand over his face and through his thick blond hair. He had to find a way. Maybe after this quest? He needed to talk to Sheila, find out what she felt, what she wanted.

The sounds of women's voices cut into his private musings and Hank stopped. Looking around, he caught a glimpse of flesh tones and water. Embarrassed to have nearly interrupted the ladies in the nude, the Ranger back-tracked and found his way into camp. Apples were a small sacrifice for trust. He'd have the group pick some before they left this place. They'd have to get moving soon, after all.