After the War

Disclaimer: Master Salmalín is mine; I can kill you with my brain. Just a warning, but unfortunately, I have to borrow Numair from Tamora Pierce. So sad, well, must go play with him. I have special powers…like mind control…just read and learn…Mwahhahhahahaha!!!!!!!!!!

A/N: Daine w/ animal, Animal w/ Daine (conversations or just the animal talking)

Part Six

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Daine was dizzy, her sight darkening, and the world spun incessantly around her. Every time she thought that she was fine, a new wave of pain and nausea would bowl her over. Each breath was a challenge to take, as soon as the pain from one passed, a new fit of coughing would rack her body. She struggled to stay conscious, not really aware that she was blindly calling out for her lover; she was in too much pain to think.

Lying in her tent, she heard her blood rushing in her ears, and then the world dimmed perilously. She smelled blood, coppery and sharp; perhaps that was what caused the memories that surfaced in a flood. Maybe not, but Daine knew for sure, that two Badgers did not bode well, and for the life of her, for that was what it seemed to be at the moment, she couldn't figure out which was real and which wasn't. The dark welcomed her like a mother to a lost child…wrapping her in warm arms, squeezing the very breathe from her body.

Her last coherent thoughts were of the warm breathe on her face, "Nu-Numair ge-get h-h-him." Then her eyes drooped closed and her heart slowed to an inadvisable pace, the thudding in her ears receded and the blinding pain, though still there, fade to another part of her mind.

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Shadow watched from behind Daine's pack as a large badger stood atop his charge and yelled at her. Shadow was brighter than all of his brothers and sisters, and because of this, his courage was not the greatest. He gauged the outcomes of different scenarios, finding that whatever he did, he would be hurt, or Daine would get hurt more. He at last gave up and slid back into the shadows, much like his name, he became one. Invisible to the god, the kitten slipped out the tied flap and streaked into the night. His keen nose sniffing the air for the Stork-man, as Cloud so affectionately called the big mage, Shadow knew well enough that the man was his best chance to protect Daine.

He finally scrunched his nose up in distaste as the sharp smell of magic invaded his delicate senses, moving faster, he wasted no time in clawing the opening until I parted, the dark of the tent hiding the big man from view. Shadow leaped in, and began to bounce around, trying to rouse the man. The victim deep in sleep only batted at his assailant with one hand, groaned and turned over in hopes to escape the torment. Get up you lump! Daine needs your help! Of course his pleas came out only as angered hisses, and he was ignored.

The night air rushed into the tent and made the mage unconsciously move farther into his blankets. Shadow grinned evilly, that is if you believe a cat can grin, moving to the foot of the blankets, the mischievous kitten took them between his sharp teeth and reared back. He found the strength to pull the covers slowly off the gangly man, ignoring the difficulty that was ensuing as Numair clutched at the top of the blanket, reluctant to release it. Suddenly he tumbled backwards as the coverings slipped at last from the human. Shadow mewed, annoyed, as he was now tangled up in the sheet. He wriggled, trying to burrow down and dig upwards at the same time.

Then he was released from his confines and he stared upwards at the looming man, Numair. Said man reached down to pet the kitten, an irritated gleam in his dark eyes, Shadow ducked the hand and attached himself to the cuff of the nightshirt, his teeth stuck and jaw locked in determination. Numair growled in frustration at being woken and then having to deal with a seemingly curious kitten. He nearly stumbled and fell flat on his face when the gray fur-ball tugged at him, indulging the fuzz-ball, for Daine's sake or so he would claim later, Numair followed the creature towards Daine's almost too silent tent. Then he saw Kit huddled just outside, the dragon was shaking and mewing softly.

Shadow watched the Stork-man watch Skysong and, and he let the soft fabric slip from his teeth, the man knew now something was wrong. Numair's eyes widened and he tore open the tent, the light of the moon showing Daine's still figure. He went to shake her shoulder, afraid she was dreaming or talking to the animals and had forgotten to breathe again, but before he could shake her, his hand made contact with a warm wet spot. Lifting his fingers to his nose, Numair took inhaled, and as the smell settled, his color drained and he stumbled backwards out of the tent.

Now he could clearly see the dark color on his hand, making it a gruesome picture. His voice hoarse with fear he called out to the rest of the camp, "Help! Somebody help! Alanna?! Please, Daine's hurt!" His booming voice seemed to echo into the night, accompanied by a myriad of calls of the wild, sounding their own wake up call.

Lights came on and a ruffled woman emerged from her tent carrying a lantern and a dagger, "Numair…what's all this noise about? I want to get an early start tomorrow…or I should say today."

He gestured and tried to formulate the right words but couldn't quite manage it. Several others had emerged, and Gary stared at the speechless mage, thinking this new act was just one more count in the weird column…column, he remembered he still needed to finish a supply budget for Jon, and cursed under his breath. Meanwhile Alanna had approached her friend and then she spotted his hand as it reached out towards her, "Goddess, Numair, is it Daine?" Taking his jerking and frantic gesturing as a yes she started off for the wildmage's tent, "Numair, what happened!"

The fiery red head tore the flaps open and set her lantern on the ground before ordering someone to fetch her things and water. Gingerly, with a skill that most knights lacked, the warrior peeled the indistinguishable cloth from the wounds. Alanna winced as she saw the severity of the problem, three deep punctures on each side of her chest, just below her bone. Dipping a cloth in water she wiped the drying blood away and checked the young woman's stats, her body was already starting to clot the blood, and her heart was beating normally. Healing would be easy enough, but how Daine had received such injuries was at the front of her mind, as was her dear friend who was never lacking in words speechless and flustered… terrified in a way in which rage did not play a factor.

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I am sorry…it has been months since I was in the mood to write this, and tonight I just got into the mood and here it is. Sorry it is short, I just wanted to get this out there. Thank you to all my loyal reviewers, and I hope you enjoyed this. I should have something more out in at most, two weeks. Read and review, its like oxygen, and I can't write without it…Next chapter will hopefully be meeting the delegation. Sorry if this is a bit slow. Thanks tata

Daughter of the black