Centri: I was going to wait until I had more reviews, but I couldn't. I can't post more after this anyway, for now. Cause I haven't written it yet. Of course, I can't type the next one yet either, because I need the fire goddess's name, so review with suggestions, please! And now...-forces BW(xxbluewingsxx) to say the disclaimer-

BW: Centri only owns Rahne, yet again. This isn't changing anytime soon.

The First Sign

Rahne chewed her mouthful silently, not meeting the questioning eyes of her training dogs. I've really done it now. She thought miserably as she swallowed. She risked a glance up and Goodwin's eyes caught hers and, as if by an invisible thread, held them there. For once in her life, Rahne was nerve-racked.

"So? I need an explanation Truesdale. Nobody else in your family has had magic, so technically you shouldn't have any either." Goodwin bored into her. She had to tell her. If she didn't, she could tell that her dog would find another way to get it.

"I…I don't know how it happened. It just did. I can do other stuff too, or, at least, I could. But as of late I can't. Only fire." It was the only explanation she could give. She broke eye contact and took a small bite of her supper again.

"Odd. But, mage dogs are sometimes for the better. I just wish you'd've told us earlier." It was Tunstall's turn to speak this time, but what he said made her glance sharply up. There was something hot stirring inside her and it scared her. It came about whenever she was angry, but so far, she'd been able to control it. This time, it didn't feel controllable.

"I'm not a mage. Mage's are trained for magic, mainly. Mine just develops. It's wild magic, and it's in me. Tat all there is to it." My voice pierced the night air like a needle sewing cloth. I winced as I heard it, but the fire inside wasn't quenched. Not this time.

"Mage, magic user, same thing to us." Goodwin commented. She wasn't angry. Rahne was surprised at that. Maybe she's trying to fool me? No, Goodwin wouldn't do that. That was the last thought Rahne had before she felt something take over. She didn't know what it was, but the small, growing anger inside her and consumed her whole body.

A fireball appeared in her hand. "Call me a mage again, and this gets shoved down your throat." The voice didn't sound like her own, and it terrified her. But she couldn't get control. Not even for a moment.

"Rahne!" Tunstall's shout brought her from her struggling reverie. She blinked once.

"What happened?" Rahne just got a slightly scared look from Goodwin, and a confused, unsure one from Tunstall. They knew what had happened. She could tell. But they weren't saying anything.

Then, suddenly, Clary retaliated. "You know very well what you just did!" Her tone scared Rahne, and, frightened, got off her chair and began to run. She could hear footsteps following her, and Goodwin calling after whoever it was to stop, but she ignored it.

Minutes later, she turned down an alley and collapsed in the corner. The footsteps that had followed her were almost silent as they came closer. Tunstall's reassuring hand found it's place on her shoulder and she looked up. They looked at each other silently before Mattes spoke.

"I have a feeling there's more to this than even you know. And I'm not one to ignore a gut feeling that's this strong."

Rahne heard his comment, and chose not to reply. He grabbed her hand and pulled her off the ground so she was standing. "Go home. We'll give you a break tomorrow, and I'll talk to Clary. We'll keep this between us three." She nodded ever so slightly in acknowledgement and watched him walk out of the alley before beginning her long trudge home.