Disclaimer: Kamaria and the rest of the gang are mine. The concepts of Heralds and Companions are not. I think that about covers it!

As for the thing in the lake with the /slashes, those were image-flashes. What happened is: Kamaria got dunked, had those images flash across her mind, and came up. As for why, I'm not telling, you need to guess!

And pine needles falling onto tarps do sound like rain. I've been on camp overnights. I know these things.

Thoughts :Mindspeech:

About a candlemark and a half after dawn, the group of Heralds and Trainees were on the road again. Their campsite had been left pristine, the rocks around the fire-circle had been scattered-admittedly, mostly into the lake when Abi and Vera got into a rock throwing contest-and the only remaining sign of Companion's Clearing was shortened grass.

Kamaria sat sleepily on Sitara's back, her eyes half-closed as she slouched in her seat. The water-fight had taken it out of her, and to top it off, she'd had odd dreams the entire night.

Most of them had involved water, with her in it. Some of them had ended with blackness, but one-the last one-had ended up with Kamaria getting rescued by a purple rabbit wearing socks, then having her wander around soaking wet as she tried to find a particular kind of apple for said purple rabbit. Finally, Kamaria had woken up in subconscious self-defense and counted the number of pine needles that fell onto the tarp. It made a sound rather like rain.

She had counted up to four hundred and thirty-seven before it actually turned to rain, and the result was that the Heralds and Trainees were riding through a drizzle.

"You look tired," said Kenan, nudging Kalena up alongside Sitara. "Up late?" He winked at Kamaria.

It took several seconds for Kamaria's brain to process this, but once she did, the Trainee jerked. "Hey!" she said, reaching over to poke Kenan in the shoulder, and nearly falling out of the saddle when 'Lena stepped neatly out of reach, "You were sleeping all of four feet away from us!"

Kenan grinned. "Just checking to see if you were conscious," he said, with a chuckle.

Kamaria grumbled for a moment and sighed. "Actually, I had weird dreams all night, then I woke up and counted falling pine needles until it started raining."

Kenan raised an eyebrow. "And you didn't fall back asleep?"

"Nah."

"Hmm," said the redhead, "Do you remember what your dreams were about?"

Kamaria thought. Now that it was morning-albeit a drizzly, gray morning-she was having a hard time remembering. "Water," she said, finally, "I was in water, and then it went black. Except the last time it happened, a purple rabbit wearing socks pulled me out."

Kenan, who had been listening seriously to the first part of the explanation, raised his eyebrows again and started snickering. "A rabbit?" he said, grinning.

Kamaria didn't return the sally, being too tired for much of anything. "Yup."

"Just out of curiosity, have you ever almost drowned?" said Kenan, "It might explain the dreams."

Kamaria thought, and shook her head. "Sivan-my older brother-taught me to swim when I was five," she said, "My mother disapproved, so of course I practiced whenever possible," She grinned. "Of course, our lake is only a few feet deep, so I've never really had a chance of drowning."

"Huh," said Kenan, "Odd, then. Do-"

Just then hoofbeats, contrasting sharply with the chime of the Companions' paces, came galloping up the road towards them. Kenan cut himself off and went to the front, placing a hand on the hilt of his sword as his Companion slowed beside Kyra.

Kamaria, her brain beginning to work again, looked curiously ahead. A young man-a farmer, by the look of him-mounted on what seemed to be a plowhorse was coming closer, but Kamaria couldn't see him very well through the rain.

He stopped in front of the Heralds and sketched a rough bow from the back of his horse. "'Scuse me, Heralds," he said, "But we've got a bit of a problem on our hands-"

Kamaria wondered what kind of problem this could be. This village was barely a day's ride Companion-back from Haven, so it probably wasn't bandits, but-

:The best way to learn is to listen to him, said Sitara, patiently, :Speculating's fun and all, but just now you need to hear what the farmer has to say.:

Kamaria hastily tuned into the conversation. "See, we have a noble what bought a young stallion at a horse-fair near Haven, and he's a-heading back home," said the young man, with a trace of country dialect, "But it escaped, see, an' we can't catch it! It won't come anywhere near us, but the lord only has what, two, three horses, for him 'n his guards, and we've got just plowhorses. We tried trapping it, but the colt's a canny 'un."

Kiril, who by now had ridden to the head of the group, leaned over and muttered something Kamaria didn't catch into Kyra's ear. Kyra nodded and exchanged a few words with Kenan, then looked back at the farmer. "We'll take care of it," she said, "Abi, you take over."

Abi went white. "What?" he spluttered, in utter surprise, "Me?"

Kyra turned to look at the Trainee. "Confer with your fellow Trainees to find the stallion," she said, patiently, "You may all work together, but Abi, you've got the casting vote. I look forward to seeing your solution."

The three Heralds moved to the side of the road, leaving the farmer-looking awkward-and Abi staring at one another. "Uh," said Abi, finally, "Where did it run?"

The farmer thought for a moment. "Our village is off the road a bit, and there's a wood northwest of the farms," he said, slowly, "The stallion bolted in there, but he's been seen near the westernmost farms."

"Uh," said Abi, "Lead the way, then."

This was, apparently, the right answer for the moment, because the farmer turned and led the Trainees-with the Heralds behind them-to his village.

Once there, Abi turned to confer with the rest of the Trainees. "Right, we need to catch this horse without hurting it and bring it back," he said, "But how do we find it?"

Kamaria raised her hand. "I've got Farsight," she offered, and Abi nodded.

Closing her eyes, Kamaria 'aimed' herself in the direction she wanted to See, and Looked.

Her Farsight skimmed over several farms, stretching out farther than Kamaria had thought she could go when she first Saw the forest. Kamaria pressed on, tweaking her Sight so she could see life-energy, just as she had when tracking the rabbits-

The horse had a warm golden-brown 'feel', and Kamaria soon spotted his tracks. She Felt Sitara giving the information to the other Companions as she moved through the forest, and Kamaria paused. :Can I try to talk to them? she asked, wondering if she even could use her body at this range.

:By all means try, said Sitara graciously, and stopped speaking to the other Companions.

Kamaria cleared her throat-it was a strange sensation to be furlongs away and yet hear herself speaking-and tried to speak. "He…on its trail," she said, slowly, trying to keep her words distinct as she spoke, and continued to Search.

"Coupla…crisscrossing bits," she continued, "Freshest…due north, past…" Kamaria tried to see the physical features rather than the web of light that took precedence, "Split tree, prob'ly oak. Turns…northwest and stops…near water."

Kamaria was feeling distinctly odd. She could hear the water where she was Seeing, but she could also hear her voice. The sensation wasn't unpleasant, but it did make her mind try to split itself painlessly in half. "Took…drink, went upstream…little fork in water, took left fork…found him!"

:You're doing fine, encouraged Sitara, as Kamaria's triumph threatened to completely upset the delicate balance, :Now bring us to him.:

"Colt…little clearing, looks like…trail alongside, probably deer…two boulders on northern end, and…tall tree with ivy. Lots."

Kamaria returned to her body with a snap, and clutched the pommel of her saddle for a moment. Shaking her head to clear it, she looked at Abi. "Did you get all of that?"

"Yes," said Abi, "Can you lead us to it?"

"'Scuse me," said the farmer, nudging his horse forward, "The colt-er, it panics whenever a human comes close. Very skittish, though 'sa lovely thing. We tried horseback, with trackers, but-" he waved his hands helplessly.

Abi rubbed his temples. "Uh. Does anyone have any ideas, then?"

"Alain, could you Animal Mindspeak it?" said Kamaria, looking at her lifebonded. Alain frowned. "Uh, not from here. I don't have that kind of range yet."

Abi's face cleared. "But if you got close, could you?"

"We're downwind of it, though," interrupted Kamaria, "I mean, the rain helps some, but the…way I took was downwind."

"Is there a way to get around the side of it?" said Alain, looking back at his lifebonded.

Kamaria sighed and dropped into trance again. It was easier to See this time, since she'd already taken the path, but this time she swung wide of the colt, trying to see if there was a place where Alain could sneak up.

But she ran into a problem. Returning, Kamaria shook her head. "Swamp," she said, succinctly, "The other fork of the stream runs out of quite a large one."

Abi looked discouraged. "Well…Alain, could you Speak dogs to herd it?"

Alain looked doubtful. "Still range," he reminded Abi, "And that would get complicated-we don't want to hurt it, after all."

Sitara shifted beneath Kamaria, and somehow, the piece of her mind that put bits of a situation into a strategy together clicked. "Abi," said Kamaria, slowly, "Look down."

Abi followed her instructions, glancing down at the pommel of his saddle. Seeing nothing, apparently, he transferred the gaze to the ground. "What?" he said, looking back up.

Alain picked up on Kamaria's thinking instantly. "Who are you riding?" he said, a broad grin slowly forming, "Range isn't an issue with them."

Abi's eyes widened as the concept dawned on him, and he smacked his forehead. "Why didn't I think of that?"

"Stress of command," said Vera, her face deadpan.

There was a snort of laughter from Kenan, who up until that moment had been listening unobtrusively. "Sorry," he said, still grinning, "But Vera, that was perfect. Anyway, how do you plan to send out the Companions, then?"

Abi thought this over. "We'll need to get off, obviously, and probably remove their tack," he said, "Then empty a paddock and keep everyone clear of it until we've got the horse inside. Kamaria, can you guide the Companions to him without getting a reaction-headache?"

Kamaria sighed. "Maybe," she said, doubtfully, "I haven't really used it this much without help before-I think I'll need a boost."

Kenan looked at his student approvingly. "Quite sensible," he said, "Better to err on the safe side than to delay our ride home with a reaction-headache. Does anyone know how to boost?"

"I can," offered Alain, "I've done it with her before, and that'll probably be enough."

"Right," said Abi, dismounting, "Kamaria, if possible, I'd like to link in with you to see where you're going."

Kamaria frowned. "I don't know if I can do that," she said, doubtfully, "Alain's fine, but I've only really linked with him and Kenan before, and never two at once."

"Not true," inserted Alain, "You've linked with Ramya and Sitara and me-"

"But they're Companions," said Kamaria, "I don't know-I'm already linked to them, but I don't know if my Mindspeech is strong enough to bring Abi along as well."

Rain moved her Companion closer. "If you're unsure, I think Abi should link with his Companion instead," she said, "That way he'll still be able to see."

Abi sighed. "Well, I suppose we should get to it, then. Of the Companions, who's quickest? I think we should have three out there."

Kamaria dismounted Sitara immediately, and began unsaddling the mare. After a few moments of debate, Jakob dismounted Autumn, and Abi followed. A few minutes passed where the Trainees unsaddled, and then two mares and a stallion began their trot to the woods. Abi looked at Kamaria. "If you'd direct them, then…" he began, and trailed off.

Kamaria looked around for somewhere to sit, but the rain had made most of the street rather inhospitable. The tack was under an awning by the inn, but there wasn't a bench to sit on, and it wasn't good for the saddles to be sat on without support beneath it. "Uh…" she began.

Just then, Ramya turned and Alain offered a hand. Kamaria took it without thinking, and it was only when the other Trainees began snickering that she saw anything unusual.

Ramya turned again, with Kamaria sidesaddle in front of Alain, and the other Trainees cracked up. And not only were they laughing, but even the Heralds were having a hard time keeping straight faces. "Perverts," muttered Kamaria under her breath, and shut her eyes to guide the Companions.

As she returned along the Sight-path the third time, Kamaria felt Alain's presence in her mind, helping her maintain her energy level. Sitara followed Kamaria's presence, the three Companions moving quietly over the fields and into the woods.

Since they needed to spread and get into position, it took about ten minutes before Sitara darted in to startle the colt, but once the horse bolted, the other Companions moved in smoothly to guide him in the right direction. Although the horse was cunning, it was no match for the agile white beings as he curvetted, trying to find a way past them and failing.

With the Companions' speed and agility, it only took about a quarter-candlemark for the colt to be herded into an empty paddock. Once there, the horse calmed, while the Trainees congratulated the Companions.

Kenan tapped Kamaria on the arm as she sagged back against Alain, tired from her uneasy night and all the extension of her Gift. "Kamaria, can I chat with you for a minute?" said the redhead, casually.

"Whatever it is, Alain can hear it too," said Kamaria, not really wanting to move from their closeness. Kenan nodded. "Very well."

Kalena turned, bearing Kenan a little away from the rest of the gathering, followed by Ramya, Alain, and Kamaria. "Kamaria, this concerns your Gift," said Kenan, as Ramya drew alongside and Kalena turned so the Herald could face the Trainees.

Kamaria frowned. "Did I do something wrong?"

Kenan shook his head. "I haven't noticed this before, because you've been linked in with me," he began, "Today was your first real try on your own, correct?"

Kamaria nodded. "Even when I've led in our classes, you've been linked and following," she said.

"I was keeping an eye on you just now, and I noticed when you opened for Farsight, you also opened your shields, leaving you mostly defenseless," said Kenan, seriously, "I don't think it's something you're doing consciously, but I don't even know if it's something fixable."

Kamaria stared at Kenan. "What?" she said, finally, "I don't understand-"

"He means when you use your Gift, you leave yourself wide open," supplied Alain, "Your thoughts could have been sensed by anyone who cared to, but I think the Mindspeakers in our group keep themselves shielded and the others don't have enough to sense it, and Vera's Gifts haven't awoken yet. I didn't really put this together until he just said it." Alain nodded towards Kenan. "I always know where you are, on some level, and we never really block each other out."

Kenan picked up Alain's thread. "As I said, this could just be you are opening to see and opening your mind at the same time, or it could be that you have to open your shields to Farsee."

Kamaria at last comprehended what was going on, and considered the implications for a moment. "Well, if the latter is true, it's going to be a pain in the ass," she said, finally. "Does this apply to everything?"

Kenan looked down at Kalena, obviously exchanging a few mental words with his Companion. "'Lena thinks not," he said at last, "She says you're shielded when you use Othersight, and…wait, what?" He looked back down at the mare.

Kalena looked from her Chosen to Kamaria, considering something. Kenan nodded after a few moments. "Kamaria, I'd like you to close your eyes and use your Farsight again," he said, slowly, "Just use it to look behind you. Start by looking at Alain, then look farther."

Kamaria followed her teacher's order, closing her silver eyes and 'spreading' her Gift, as she thought of it, to see behind her.

As she expanded her Sight to look in all directions around her, as if she had eyes all around her head, she saw Kenan closing his own eyes, a slight frown on his face. "Are you only looking where you would see if you turned your head?" he said, after a moment.

Kamaria nodded, then, realizing Kenan had his eyes shut, said, "Yes."

"Your shields are fine now, but now I'd like you to look at something outside the range of your eyesight. Try…behind the inn, or something."

Kamaria's Sight soared over the roof and 'fell' behind the inn, as she looked around without much interest at the pump and stack of firewood.

The brush of her teacher's mind on hers brought Kamaria back to her own body, and she opened her eyes. Kenan was nodding. "As soon as you look outside of what you would see within physical limits, like through or over walls, your shields open," said the redheaded Herald, "We'll need to work on this, but we-"

"They've offered us lunch at the inn," called Kyra, from the cluster of Trainees, "I know it's a bit early, but-"

:They're giving us treats. I'm not going to move: said Sitara, eagerly, :Go eat.:

Kamaria snickered. "Well, Sitara votes to stick around, because she's being fed," she said, and Kyra nodded to the innkeeper.

"You'll need to dismount, my dear," said Alain, as the other Trainees eagerly hopped off their Companions. Kamaria blinked.

"Oops," she said, slightly sheepishly, and slid from Ramya's back to land slightly unsteadily on the cobbles. Alain followed. "Go on in," he said, "Sitara's already unsaddled, and you could use the food."

Kamaria smiled at Alain, and began carefully making her wobble-legged way over the cobbles to the inn.

Well, that was a bit shorter than the last few chapters, but I hope you enjoyed nonetheless! I warn you, the next delay will probably rather long-it's end of the year, and the teachers are dumping homework and finals on us, not to mention I'm in dance rehearsals for LOOONG periods of time for our spring show! Anyway, just warning you, hope you liked the chapter!

Lurks in Shadows: …um, there is no error. You're just weird.

Anasazi Darkmoon: First off, I LOVE your name. Second, yes, I started writing this in seventh grade before I ever had a concept of the 'Mary Sue.' Now, however, I am well-educated in fanfiction, and if you'll look back, you'll see I'm rewriting it to make it better! Thanks for sticking with it!

Dark Hermit Kaelin: It's…not exactly foreshadowing. Try backshadowing, but you won't find it in earlier chapters.

Blade of Fire: I truly would love to talk to you, though I am quite female, thanks! But your email didn't show up all the way. Just put it in your review!

Lady Ealisaid of the Stars: It's north of Haven a ways. About two and a half days by horse. I'm taking liberties with Companion speed here.

Artemis133: I don't stop writing. It's just that I'm a high-school student, and life really seems to be conspiring to keep me from updating at times. –sigh- Glad you liked!

Love to all my reviewers, and toodles! Till next time, anyway!

Fireblade K'Chona