Disclaimer: I do not own the Avalon: Web of Magic/Quest for Magic series or the song "Solitary Ground" they belong to Rachel Roberts and Epica respectively.

I thought I'd update a day early, because I won't be here tomorrow. You can find this song on YouTube or Project Playlist.

Living at different places

Evading into various spaces

My compass has broken

I'm losing the way

An ongoing madness has led me astray

"You punched Rae?" Kara asked incredulously, barely containing her laughter.

"Uh-huh." The three girls were sitting around Emily's kitchen table, while Carolyn stood over the sink a few feet away, washing dishes.

"Mrs. Windor isn't going to like this," The redhaired healer fretted.

"I know," Adriane replied, "but I couldn't stop. She just made me so mad."

"What did she say?" Carolyn asked.

Adriane bit her lip. "Something about Ravenswood," She lied.

Kara shot her a look. Tiffany had already told her what Rae had said. Adriane returned her glare.

Suddenly, someone knocked on the door. Carolyn went to answer it.

"Oh, hi Mrs. Stalling. Why don't you take Pumpkin to the clinic, I'll be right there." Carolyn told the woman. "Emily, could you come help me for a few minutes? Mrs. Stalling's dog got into something and now she's sick."

Emily nodded and pushed back her chair.

In me there's still a place that fulfills me

A sanctity here that I call home

I run to when winter descends

If I try, can I find solid ground?

When the Fletchers had left, Kara turned on Adriane.

"What was that?" Kara demanded, getting up from her chair.

"What?" Adriane asked irritably, also rising.

"Lying!"

"I don't want Emily's mom knowing that I got upset when someone said that I probably cut myself," Adriane rolled her eyes. "She might suspect something."

"Her suspicions would be right!" Kara fumed. "I'm going straight to the guidance counselor tomorrow."

"I don't know why you care so much."

Kara was taken aback. "What?" She spat. "Do you still think I'm a shallow little twelve year old? I'm not. I'm not the same person I was two years ago. You should know that."

"Sorry, I just--"

"You just what? Thought I would let you keep on cutting yourself--" Kara stopped short, and her eyes looked behind Adriane. Her expression changed from anger to the look one might have when being caught doing something terrible. Adriane whipped around. Emily and Carolyn stood at the door, wide-eyed.

I follow elusive paths

Oh, it seems they've been written in stone

And the door to a new life is closing so fast

Burning the bridges will not bring me back

"Adriane," Carolyn said quietly, "Can I talk to you?"

The warrior's dark eyes hinted at her distress, but she nodded and followed the vet into the next room.

"Will you pull up your sleeves for me?" She asked, still in the quiet but firm tone she had spoken in earlier. Adriane hesitated for a moment, and then exposed her arms.

"You know I'm going to have to tell Lily and Pierre, right?"

Adriane swallowed hard, her eyes sparkling with unshed tears, and nodded. "There's more," She whispered.

"What?"

Adriane didn't reply, but sat on the floor and pulled up her left pant leg. The bloody word, 'worthless', carved into her leg glared back at her.

"Do you really believe this?" Carolyn asked, her voice edged with concern.

In me there's still a place that fulfills me

A sanctity here that I call home

I run to when winter descends

If I try, can I find solid ground?

"I don't know. I feel like it."

"Why?"

Adriane covered her leg again and squeezed her eyes shut. "I just do." She opened here eyes and moved to pull down her sleeves again.

"Does it have anything to do with Gran being sick?"

"I guess..." Adriane wouldn't meet Carolyn's eyes.

"I don't know why you're doing this. But I'm not a psychologist, and it's not my place to try and break of this habit. When I tell your aunt and uncle, they's notify your parents, I'm sure, and then I'll make sure your parents get you a therapist."

"They won't." The warrior stated simply.

"How do you know?"

"They've got another daughter. They adopted her eight months ago. They don't have the money."

"I'll talk to them anyway. Besides, I'm sure the school counselor would give you after-school sessions if they can't."

"Thank you," Adriane said, "But I have to get home." In one fluid movement, she got up from the floor and bolted through the kitchen, past Emily and Kara, and out the door.

In me there's still a place that fulfills me

A sanctity here that I call home

I run to when winter descends

If I try, can I find solid ground?

"So what's going on?" Emily asked her mother once Kara's parents had picked her up.

"I'm calling Lily and Pierre and making sure Adriane's parents try to get her a psychologist." Carolyn sighed. "Did you know about this?"

Emily's red curls bounced as she shook her head. "Kara did, though."

"Yeah, I figured as much." The redheaded vet picked up the off-white phone and dialed the number on the refrigerator.

I know that in me there's still a place that fulfills me

A sanctity here that I call home

I run to when winter descends

If I try, can I find solid ground?

"You stupid girl!" Lily screeched when she hang up the phone. "Your mother and father trusted us to take care of you while your grandmother was sick. Can you imagine what they'll think of us when they find out what you've been doing?!"

Typical Lily. Always thinking about what other though of her. Adriane lifted her eyes from the linoleum tile on the kitchen floor to look behind Lily. Pierre stood behind his wife (sober, shockingly), seething.

"Willow and Luc will not know of this. Do I make myself clear?" Pierre demanded through clenched teeth.

Adriane stared back at them with hard, emotionless eyes. She would not cry in front of them. Instead of answering, she turned around and walked up the steps. When she had locked the door to her room, she fell onto her bed, exhausted, and slipped into a fitful sleep.

Or am I just wasting time?

...Wasting time?...