Fate Has A Plan Of It's Own

Notes:

This is a story I wrote for a subject at school.

Dar and BeastMaster are one and the same. Demon Curupira gave Dar the power to talk to animals, which is why he is called BeastMaster, as well as Dar by his friends.

A day late. cringes Though it is better than Saturday.

Chapter 5

Relaxation and Sickness

Dar, Arina, and Cath stood in front of the entrance to a cave that hid the path to the hot springs. Arina and Cath stepped into the gloom, not noticing that Dar wasn't following them. He was still outside, enjoying the sounds of the wild.

"Wait," Catherine said to Arina, who she could see dimly. "Dar isn't with us." She turned around and called up the passage. "Dar!"

Outside, Dar heard Cath and realized that she and Arina had disappeared, so he stepped into the cave. Reaching out in front of him to find where the girls had gone, he touched what felt like a rounded surface of the cave. Arina and Cath, who could hear him moving around, were quiet, listening to where he was. Moving, Dar found a passage and started down it.

Walking along, the way sloped downwards, and Dar stepped out into a cave. Connected to the passage by a small stretch of land, was an island with a tree growing on it. Walking across to the island, Dar sat under the tree on soft moss. Looking up, he glimpsed stars above.

She looked into the bed of crystals, watching in curiosity as the BeastMaster looked up. Smiling when she realised that Dar thought he was outside and seeing stars, which were actually stalactites growing on the roof of the cave, she looked on as Dar closed his eyes. Knowing what was going to happen to happen didn't stem the question she had of why it had to happen at all, but as it wasn't her time to help fate, and knowing what the Ancient One would do if she disobeyed, she continued watching and waiting.

"Where's he gone?" Cath asked in a whisper. They couldn't hear Dar moving about, and she was starting to get worried. Arina suddenly moved around her, and as there really was only enough room for them to move single file, Cath had to grab onto the wall to stop herself from falling. She ran after Arina who was at the entrance.

"Oh no," Arina said. "He took the wrong path." She dashed out of the cave, Cath following after her.

Breaking the surface of the water, Demon Iara started to pull herself up onto the island. When she saw the BeastMaster dozing under a tree, she almost fell back in. Quickly scrambling up the bank, she hurried over to Dar.

"Dar! Wake up!" she called, shaking his shoulders. When he didn't stir she started dragging him towards the water, as she was unable to use her powers, which were currently shielding her from the spell of the cave to shield Dar so he would wake up. If she had tried to shield Dar, the spell on the island could have an effect on her, and if she fell asleep their fates would be decided. Even though she was a sorceress, the spell on the island was stronger than her magic, meaning she couldn't stop the spell.

When she got Dar to the edge, she grabbed him in a hug and slipped into the water. As she felt stir she held him at arms length and didn't let go, even when he began to struggle, until he had opened his eyes. The relief must have shown on her face as Dar smiled at her. She let him go and watched as he kicked out, keeping himself afloat.

"What happened?" he asked, as she had started to swim away towards what looked like where the water came from. Now that he was in the water he could see that they were in a cave.

"I'll explain when we're out of here," she said, stopping until he drew beside her before continuing on. As they got closer the current got stronger, so strong that when they got to the cave wall they had no energy for talking. Iara gestured for Dar to go first and he nodded before diving under the water. She followed and kept behind Das as they swam towards the light at the end of the tunnel.

When they surfaced, Dar followed Demon Iara as she swam towards the shore that was visible. Dar smiled as he recognized where he was and caught up to Iara, who was treading water at the edge.

"So, what happened back there?" he asked. Demon Iara sat down on the bank and waited until Dar sat beside her before beginning.

"I have to swim through that cave to get to the other parts of my domain on the other side, and I always take a break going through from this die, despite the current being in my favour. As I pulled myself up onto the island, I saw you asleep under the tree. There is a spell on the cave that is dangerous to both you and I, as we cannot stop the spell, which sends anyone to sleep who doesn't have the magic to protect themselves and sit on that island. If I hadn't have seen you, you would have slept until you died."

"Why weren't there any fish or animals in the cave?" Demon Iara turned to Dar, who was looking at the cave he had escaped from.

"They know to keep out. Only people who do not know about the cave venture in." She wriggled her toes in the water. "Why were you in the cave?" I am sure Tao knows about the dangers of it and has already warned you." There was a pause as sounds from the village behind them reached their ears.

"Arina, Cath, and I were going to the hot springs, and we have to walk through a cave to get there. Arina and Cath went into the cave, but I didn't notice because I was enjoying being outside. It wasn't until Cath called that I realized they were inside. I couldn't see them in the dark, and even though I called and they answered, I couldn't find them. I found a passageway though, and that led to the cave, so I decided to sit down and wait for them. Next thing I know, you were holding me in the water." Demon Iara stood and Dar followed suit.

"I have to go now. I trust you know where you are?" Iara asked, her eyes looking sad.

"I do, and thank you," Dar said, smiling. Iara smiled back and stepped into the water until it reached her waist, before diving into the water and disappearing towards the cave. Dar watched her until she vanished before turning and making his way towards the village.

"Dar! What are you doing back so early? I wasn't expecting you back for another four and a half hours." Tao stepped out from the guest hut and walked towards his best friend, a grin lighting his face, which disappeared when he saw that Dar was alone. "But where are Arina and Catherine?"

"I got separated from them at the cave." They started walking towards the hut Tao had emerged from. "They walked into the cave, except I was still looking around. Cath called out to me and I went in, but I must have gone down the wrong passage, because I cam across an island with a tree growing on it." At this Tao stopped.

"That cave is dangerous! You didn't go onto that island did you?"

"That's what Demon Iara told me," Dar answered, walking past Tao, who hurried to catch up.

"When did you see her?"

"She swam into the cave and saw me asleep on the island, so she dragged me into the water and we swam back here."

"We'll have to give her something then," Tao answered as they stooped to enter the hut. "Though what can you give a demon who probably has everything she wants?"

"Give her a handmade gift, after all, it's the thought that counts," Dar replied, sitting on his bedding, which was laid on soft moss that was spread on the floor, while Tao hurried to make a fire. Within minutes it was blazing and they were both sitting by its warmth, sipping cups of tea Tao had made to combat colds. They were discussing what they could give Iara when Arina and Cath burst into the hut, both out of breath.

"Dar! We are so glad to find you here," Arina said between gasps. "Where did you go?" Cath straightened up, her breathing uneven.

"Can you warn us before you run off please? Arina didn't warn me either and I was almost knocked over!" They knew by her tone that Catherine was joking, and all laughed before gathering closer around the fire. As Tao handed cups of tea to the girls, Dar told them of how he had taken the wrong path.

"What's wrong with Iara rescuing Dar?" Cath asked upon seeing the looks of puzzlement on the other's faces.

"Iara has always been really unfriendly towards Dar, and us," Tao explained, banking up the fire so its warmth reached further. Though it was a warm day, the inside of the hut was cool. "As Dar is BeastMaster, if he dies when someone could of saved him, they have to face Curupira. Though since we rescued you Iara's attitude had changed. I reckon something's in the air."

"And I agree with Tao," Arina said, the firelight flickering on her face, casting it into shadow. "Something is going to happen which Iara has sense, an that sense has been strong enough for her to change the way she acts towards us." She handed her now-empty cup to Tao then stood and stretched. "Anyone still want to go to the hot springs?"

"I'm going to go back to the library," Tao said, collecting the other cups.

"I would still like to go," Cath said, standing up and extending a hand to Dar to help pull him to his feet.

"Seems like we're all ready then," Dar said, leading the way out of the hut.

The hot springs lay in front of them, steam rising invitingly off the water. Arina showed Cath a small cave nearby where they stripped to their underclothes and put their other clothes in bags they had brought.

Hearing a loud splash, they ran out to see Dar surface, pushing his hair away from his face. Looking at each other, Arina and Cath smiled before jumping in close to Dar on either side, causing water to splash over him. That started a water fight, and when they were too tired for that they simply relaxed, enjoying the naturally heated pool.

When it was time to start heading back they were glad to get out, for the water was getting too warm for comfort. They dried off with towels they had brought before dressing again and beginning the journey back.

The next morning Dar had a fever. Tao awoke at dawn to the feeling that something was wrong. He made Dar comfortable then set about making a tea to help reduce the fever. He woke Arina to go to the river to get some water, and woke Catherine so she could go to the healer of the village and ask if she had any of the plants Tao needed. As Tao laid a cloth cool with water on Dar's forehead Dar opened his eyes.

"Glad to see you're awake," Tao said, lifting the cup of tea that had been sitting near the fire and helping Dar to drink it.

"Where are the others?" Dar asked, his throat parched.

"I sent them on some errands," Tao replied as he helped Dar drink some water. As Tao rearranged Dar's bedding, Arina entered the hut, the bucket in her right hand.

"Here's the water you asked for."

"Thank you Arina. Could you put it there please?" Tao said, pointing to a spot that was close enough so he could reach it, yet far enough from the low burning fire that it wouldn't warm up. As Arina put it down and rearranged her own bedding, Cath stepped into the hut, her shoulder bag by her side. Kneeling beside Tao, she took it off and opened it, revealing the herbs from the healer.

Wonder if any of you will guess what's going to happen next chapter? smiles evilly

Please read and review.