"Me, I'm rusted and weathered,

Been holding together…

I'm covered with skin—that peels and it

Just won't heal."

The smoke in the distance was rising again, watched afar by Cedric's one tired eye. Every day he'd kept his eyes trained on them, tracking like the old dog he was, watching the smoke from their fires. The elf was certainly fast. Cedric was no more than an hour away from them, but keeping up like this, he would begin to fall behind. He knew that. Yet he relaxed, fireside, stretched out with his bags serving as a pillow. He was in no hurry. He'd just finished a dinner of scrawny fire-cooked rabbit—sadly, the largest meal he'd had in years. Why didn't he just do this all the time? Maybe he'd start. It was much easier getting a meal out of the untamed wilderness than in that gutter city he'd left behind.

Left for good, Cedric hoped.

He poked the fire lazily with the metal spit he'd cooked with, causing a few sparks to float up among the smoke. Cedric smiled. Finally, a decent fire. Not any trash fire, mind you—those pitiful embers that smelled of rot. No more of those for a while. For the next days, Cedric could burn wood again. It had the best smell, a wood fire. It really did.

The old man once again stared out over the valley, rubbing a hand over his pockmarked face and scraggly beard. A surprisingly bright pair of small, brown eyes gleamed from deep in their sockets, picking out the thin trail of smoke that rose from the other side of the valley. Here as the trail faded into the mountains, the road had taken on a wide turn, doubling back on itself like a large U. The outside was bordered by a sharp incline up the mountain, while the inside contained the drop-off into the valley. It wasn't too far across and clear the whole way. Cedric's camp and that of his targets' both dotted the trail, one on either side of the valley.

Even though Cedric was in no hurry, the elf and his girl seemed to be setting a fine pace for themselves. Where were they going so fast? He wondered. What home had they, that they were so eager to get there? All day they rode. They stopped for meals, but that was all, and they were always on the move again within the hour. Cedric had to wonder. What home had they?

Maybe it was nice. Maybe he'd want it for his own, after he'd killed the elf.

But what the heck was he supposed to do with that girl? Surely he felt sorry to have to kill her guardian. But as far as he could tell, she was human—so at least he knew he wouldn't be taking anyone out of her family or anything. Surely she had others to run to that would care for her. He could just let her loose, he guessed. After all, she hadn't stolen from him.

And…there was something in her that just…reminded him. Maybe it was her age, or her golden hair, or the endearing curiosity. She was too much like his Raylin. Cedric suddenly looked away, back into his fire. He had no desire to think of Ray—not now, when there were things to be done. Later tonight, though, he'd lay awake with the familiar, jaded memories.

The old streettier stood and stretched with a grunt, then started putting out the fire. It was early, but, oh well. He'd decided now that he'd start catching up with them, instead of wait a day.

The ashes smoldering behind him, Cedric hoisted his gear and carried it to his new horse, who was tied by the road. "Sorry, m'boy." He grunted as he loaded the bags onto the saddle. "Gonna hafta carry this sorry old man a little bit more."

But he didn't mount right away. He stood in front of the stallion, stroking its muzzle, looking into those dark, liquid eyes. "Dunno why…" he whispered—and the gravelly voice was surprisingly soft in a whisper. "For the life o' me, I can't see what they're runnin toward."

He was riding again soon—but from the start he felt something was amiss. Something felt wrong: oppressive, a threat. He narrowed his eyes, searching the surroundings. The immediate area showed nothing wrong, neither in front or behind him. Cedric looked up to the right, to the cliff that bordered the trail.

Sure enough, he caught glimpses of the hooves of running steeds, just above the ridge and just out of his sight. In the same breath, it seemed, they decided to send him a little message.

The arrow skipped off the ground a few feet to his left. Taken by surprise, as he was rusty at this game, Cedric was startled. "Black powder!" A shout escaped him and he reflexively pulled back on the reins of his horse, causing it to neigh and pull back surprise. Regaining control, he spurred the horse frantically forward.

This could be a problem. Vulnerability, outnumbered by many, and lack of ranged weapons whereas the enemy had them. He wasn't prepared for this. He'd planned for any surprises the elf could have brought, but…this, he didn't expect.

Cedric indeed was rusty to the ways of the road. He hadn't counted on bandits.

….

Lavender eyes once again watched he road behind, locked steadily on the rider who was now steadily making his way along the mountain path. Drizzt had not been an idle watchman; he'd kept an eye on that rider ever since he'd realized the stranger had been pacing them. For the three days they'd been on the road, the man had done no more than match their speed. But something had changed. The rider had cut short his usual lunch break to begin riding again.

Drizzt stood silent and still as a statue, causing Andra to glance his way from her spot beside the campfire. But she went right back to her half-finished lunch as the drow moved off to a pile of boulders on the edge of their camp. He'd been like that the entire trip. Like he expected a bunch of Foot ninja or something to jump out and ambush them at any minute. It was cool and exciting at first, but every alarm so far had turned out false. So now she was kinda doubting the benefits of paranoia.

She looked up to where he still stood on the rock pile, like a dog with his ears perked up. She rolled her eyes and forked another piece of meat from her bowl. "You look like a meerkat, you know. Like one of the sentry ones."

Drizzt didn't reply. Andy glared at his back for a second before piping up again. "Okay if you don't come and eat that you know I'm gonna." She pointed to his food bowl, which sat abandoned on the rock he'd been using as his bench.

"Sure. Have fun catching me another boar."

Andra glared at his back some more, huffing a short sigh. "I could catch a boar…" she pouted, reaching back to pull up the hood of her new cloak. No particular reason. She just liked it under her hood. And because, even though the dismal sky was light, it was covered with thin clouds that promised rain at any moment.

Drizzt didn't turn around, but from his quiet chuckle, Andra could easily picture the smug grin on his face. "What?" she protested. "I could totally catch a boar. I mean if you taught me, sure."

Drizzt's head shook and she heard his laugh again. "No—that's not what I was laughing at. Of course you'd catch a boar. You could catch a bear if you had a mind of it."

Andra blinked, a little surprised by the...compliment, was it? "Oh…what was funny then?"

The drow shrugged and answered matter-of-factly, "The idea that catching a boar is so high an accomplishment to you."

Andy opened her mouth, forming a protest, but then closed it and looked down. The little thinking crease formed between her eyes. "…You're so right. I hate that."

Drizzt laughed absently, but never took his eyes from the rider across the valley, who was nearly at the bend in the U-shaped road. He stared with growing apprehension as the horse suddenly picked up speed. The sound of its neighing, accompanied by a shout from its rider, floated across the open space to Drizzt's elven ears. His eyes narrowed. The rider was no longer running towards them…but away from something else.

He raised his eyes to the top of the cliff over the rider's position, and immediately saw the danger. A band of horses and riders raced along the higher path, firing down on the single rider below. Drizzt's eyes widened.

Abruptly, he turned and leapt down from the rock pile. Andra watched in surprise as he darted around the camp, gathering their gear back into bags. "What the heck're you doin?" Andy demanded through a mouthful of food.

Drizzt only answer was to snatch her empty bowl right out of her hands and stuff it into his knapsack. He picked up her bag and shoved it into her arms, nearly knocking her off her seat.

"Hey! Easy on the merch' you hormonal pixie."

"Come on!"

"Wul good grief…" She scrambled to her feet and dragged her duffle bag along to where he was saddling the horse. Right as she got there he decided he wanted the bag back, and promptly yanked it out of her hands. He packed it onto the horse and was up in the saddle before she even had a chance to glare.

He held out an impatient hand—which she only reached for reflexively—and suddenly she was in the saddle, snatching fistfuls of his cloak as the horse shot forward at full canter.

She glanced back once, and then she understood. Her eyes widened as she saw the group of horses thundering along the path overhead. "Drizzt!"

He didn't answer. As Andra watched, the band of riders came to a narrow path leading down to the main road. Amazingly, they took their horses down and hardly even slowed. "Uhh Drizzt!" …Would it kill him to answer her?

Now that the group was on their level of ground, she could see them more clearly. There were close to ten of them, some wielding crossbows—the cheapskates. They were chasing that rider Drizzt was so paranoid about. And quickly overtaking him. Andra's jaw dropped as she helplessly watched the riders form a circle around the man. His horse reared, he let out a shout; one of the bandits raised a crossbow.

Drizzt rounded a bend in the road, cutting off her view.

….

"Drizzt!"

The only reply was the continued sound of hooves pounding and wind rushing through her ears. "Drizzt," She yelled at him again, but all she got was slapped in the face by his cloak as the wind blew it back. Andra growled and tore the fabric aside.

"My dear goodness you pointy-eared emo kid. Listen to me now!"

"Andy, what? I'm a little busy if you realize. And what the heck's an emo?"

"I think they killed him or something…"

"…The emo?"

"No, not the emo! The stupid traveler you've been stalking!"

Drizzt didn't answer. Once again, her ears were filled with the whipping of the wind. He didn't turn the horse around; didn't even slow. Apprehension growing, Andra started at his back in blank shock, slowly shaking her head.

"Drizzt!" she pleaded incredulously, voice laced with much more accusation than she'd intended. She heard him sigh in aggravation.

Finally, Drizzt's cold voice replied, "He's on his own."

….

— "I'm screaming…for you."

—"So go on and scream at me, I'm so far away.

Deceiving, and bleeding for you."

— "But you still won't hear me; I'm going under.

Blurring and stirring the truth and the lies, so I don't know what's real and what's not.

Always confusing the thoughts in my head, so I can't trust myself anymore."

They'd been riding for hours—so long that Andra had stopped trying to keep count of time. It was twilight now, that's all she knew. Neither of them had even spoken since they'd lost sight of Cedric, and neither had seen any sign of the pursuers. Even so, Drizzt only slowed because he was forced, to keep the horse from dropping from exhaustion.

Drizzt couldn't remember ever feeling so anxious. It didn't even make sense; there were no enemies in sight. But maybe that was part of it. He never knew if they were in danger or not. It wasn't like when he was in battle, because there he was in control. What little memory he had of the Hunter didn't even compare to this. He'd never admit it, of course, but…man, he was scared out of his wits.

But not for himself.

Drizzt glanced over his shoulder. She was clinging onto his cloak with her head pressed into his back. Andra hadn't protested any more about leaving that rider, or asked any questions at all. She must have questions, but… Well. He was glad anyway. He had no desire to answer them.

The path wound around another turn, slope dropping further. They'd gradually been coming down from the mountains, back into wooded lands. As the trees grew thicker on every side, the only thing he could think of was the growing number of potential ambush spots. The tension seemed to form a tightening cord around his chest. He hated this. And since when had it been this hard to catch his breath?

Suddenly he froze, wide eyes snapping upward. There were hoofbeats coming from behind.

Drizzt's breath returned with a gasp. He kicked the horse's sides and drove it forward at full speed again. Andra was asking him something—'what's going on' or something like that—but her voice was drowned out in the wind. There were other noises too: angry shouting and voices calling to each other. The pounding hooves pressed in closer, and Drizzt realized with horror that they were coming from the trees. This time, his paranoia had been right on target. They were ambushed.

"Drizzit!" Andra screamed, clawing at his cloak. She could hear everything at once, but there was nothing for sight except fleeting glances of dark shadows. The orange light of torches pierced the black darkness, throwing shadows, flickering just long enough to let her see another threat. "Drizzit!"

He heard, but he was too busy trying to think. He couldn't be sure, but…the path ahead—he had to remember… Twilight was so confusing—he couldn't use infrared or the light spectrum to either one's full advantage. He couldn't tell really where they were… The caves were ahead, right?

Something smacked into the ground several feet beside them. Another flew past his ear. They had crossbows… "Andra— duck down! Hold on to me!"

Scared mindless, she was only glad to finally hear his voice—she immediately did what he said. She put her arms around his waist and squeezed tight, trying to hide in his cloak, to escape from the sounds. How long could it last? She squeezed her eyes shut and held onto Drizzt as if he were life itself, wishing it would all just go away…

And then she realized…there was no more noise.

Andra slowly raised her head off his back, not quite daring to release his waist. There were no more torches, either. What happened? "D…Drizzt?" He didn't answer. It was maddening. "Woman! You are going to answer me, right now! For life's sake, say something!"

"I…I lost them…"

Andra's anger vanished. He sounded completely astonished, but most of all…scared. "You…lost 'em?"

"I think they—" He cut himself off with a painful cry, lurching sideways so that Andra actually had to pull him back into the saddle.

"Drizzt? What happened?" He only groaned, sounding annoyed now—but she heard the pain, too. She repeated herself louder, knowing it was the only way she was going to get any speech out of the annoying jerk. His answer, though, was still disappointing.

"N-nothing…" Drizzt reached up to his shoulder, and his hand met the shaft of a crossbow bolt. And that wouldn't have been so horrible, except…he felt drowsy. Drizzt growled angrily, taking up the reigns in both hands. "How…how on land or sea, did ordinary mountain bandits get ahold of drow bolts?"

"Drow bolts…" Andra repeated to herself, trying to understand.

"Freaking drow bolts."

"…Sleeping darts!" she squealed, as the answer finally clicked.

Drizzt cursed under his breath and spurred the horse on faster. It was no dart, to be sure, but it was coated in the foul sleeping poison of the drow. But it seemed that would have at least one bit of luck, after all, tonight. He'd been right; he saw the caves up ahead. They'd come to a section of the path where the mountain broke one last time through the trees. On their right side, if you went off the trail a bit, there was a complex of two or three small caves.

Drizzt yanked the reins to the side, steering the horse right off the path. They went down a short incline and Drizzt stopped. He virtually leapt out of the saddle, reaching back up for Andra. She already had her arms stretched out for him.

Drizzt gasped through his teeth as he lifted her. His right arm refused to work properly and collapsed, nearly causing him to drop her. She asked again what was wrong, but he hushed her sharply, taking her by the arm to drag her towards the closest cave.

"Go!" he hissed, shoving her towards the dark hole.

Andra stumbled when he let go. She stared after him, gaping in terror. She held her arms close to herself, suddenly feeling very small and alone. He was turning away, heading back for the horse. "W-wait, wh…where are you going?"

"Get in the cave." He didn't even turn around or stop walking. He was nearly back to the horse.

Andra shook her head, horrified. "But…what?…Y-you can't—"

"I can."

Andra's fingers curled into fists. Through the fear, her eyes gazed intensely on his turned back. Her voice was breaking, but it didn't affect the determination as she screamed, "STOP!"

Drizzt stopped. He bowed his head, not speaking, not turning to face her.

Andra forced herself to take another breath past the knot in her throat, past her clenched teeth. "You can't…leave me."

And now, Drizzt did turn around. The moonlight splashed pallid shadows across his face, showing her a black mask so foreign and filled with rage that Andra was silenced immediately. "I told you GO!" he bellowed hoarsely—with the most terrifying voice she'd ever heard produced by man or beast.

She turned and fled, running full-speed for the cave.

Drizzt leaned against the horse, panting, staring at the dark entrance after she'd disappeared. She'd stay in there now, for sure… She'd be safe. Drizzt pulled himself onto the horse, wincing with the effort. His muscles were slowing down; his body was slowly becoming unresponsive. Stupid poison. He had to move fast, draw them away… How far could he run before he had to give in to that glorified stick in his shoulder?

…Far enough. He could make it far enough.

Drizzt took up the reigns, looking back once more at the cave. "...I'll come back," he whispered. "I'll…try."

Drizzt turned the horse back towards the road and drove it forward.

….

Andra discovered that it wasn't very difficult to do what he'd told her. Heh, yeah, there was the understatement of the year; she couldn't move if she wanted to. She wanted to be able to, but…she didn't want to. They were very different things.

In any effect, here she kept herself: stuck to the wall like an NFL FatHead. After Drizzt had ridden away, not even telling her where or why, nothing had happened at all. She was blind and deaf and paralyzed. It was hard to tell how long she'd been here—long enough for the sun to finish setting and the moos to rise. She didn't even know if he was in trouble, or when he'd be back… He was coming back, right?

Crouched in the farthest crevice in the cave, her main concerns became quieting her breath and taking up as little space as physically possible. It was so hard to keep her breath under control, but…she thought she was doing an okay job. I mean you know. Sorta.

Suddenly she froze. That sound…from the mouth of the cave. Andra's eyes, useless in the dark, widened in terror as a jolt of fear seemed to pierce through her lungs. It took every ounce of her willpower not to make a sound. There was another noise—something like a footstep, but it was so light she couldn't be sure. She could barely hear anything over her stupid heart.

Then, unmistakably, there was the sliding sound of metal scraping metal. A sword being unsheathed.

Andra clutched the dagger Drizzt had given her, back when they were in Iasair. She would have to strike first; she stood no chance against an opponent who could see her. Another footstep—so close she imagined she could reach out and touch the person from where she hid. She wanted to cry. Her heart raced, sending waterfalls of adrenaline rushing over her ears. It was deafening. 'Move, Andy…you worthless little stupid…Move now!'

And she actually did. Silently, Andra exploded from her hiding spot, dagger slicing blindly ahead through the dark and empty air.

A hand grabbed her wrist. There was a rustle of cloth and the scuff of boots on stone. A hand was planted on her back, shoving even as the fingers clamped around her wrist gave a sharp flick. She squealed in pain as her hand was forced to drop the dagger. Andra gasped, helpless as she was spun completely around with her arm twisted behind her back.

Andra screamed. She couldn't help it—she yowled like a tomcat. She thrashed and growled and squealed, kicking against the impossible restraint. Her attacker's grip was like iron—she couldn't get free. She had to get away—she was running out of time!

"A-Andra…"

"Get off get off! Let me go!"

"Andy, stop!" She screamed again, a high-pitched angry yowl that hurt her throat. She tried to twist away, jerking her arms away, but with the grip he had her locked in, it hurt her arm to move. Her left wrist was held high above her head and her right was between her shoulder blades. She sobbed helplessly, "Please! Let me go!"

"Cosain!" Whoa. Hold up. She knew that voice.

Andra calmed down and stopped struggling. Her hands were released, allowing her to finally untwist her poor arm. She hissed through her teeth and rubbed her aching shoulder, finally turning around. There stood her guardian drow, panting and wide-eyed, shaking his head in disbelief. Andra gaped, unable to believe her eyes. She'd just…she nearly killed him!

Andra stuttered over about a million apologies, but wasn't able to get a single word out. But Drizzt gave a breathless laugh, shaking his head. "Alright…alright, I see how it is…"

Andra shook her head, confused. "What do you—"

Drizzt shook his head in mock disappointment, tossing up a hand as if helplessly. "Try to kill me, will you? After all I've done! Smart job, that. Who would teach you how to catch a boar?" And then he cracked a wry, weasely little grin. Andra finally caught on.

She groaned in relief, all fear washed away. "Good grief, Drizzt…you could have warned me or something."

He was busy collecting her dagger from where it had been thrown. "You needed warning?" He handed the blade to her, a wide smirk on his gray lips. "Who got jumped from behind?"

"Well you adapted pretty well. And what the heck took you so long? I was scared out of my mind waiting for you!"

Drizzt gaped incredulously. "Well I'm so sorry, Andy, but it takes quite a while for poison to wear off!"

Andra stopped mid-rant. "Wait I forgot…Are you ok? You got hit, didn't you?"

"I-It wasn't bad, don't…Don't worry. I'm alright."

Andra was not convinced. She saw that blood on his shoulder. She opened her mouth, already forming a protest, but before she could say anything, Drizzt cut her off with an upraised hand. Alarmed for soem reason, he spun toward the cave entrance. Before Andra could ask what was wrong, she heard it too. There were voices from outside, yelling at each other. Drizzt suddenly smacked a hand over her mouth. She glared incredulously with a muffled snarl, suppressing the urge to bite his finger off.

From outside came snatches of shouted sentences: "…that skinny-headed elf brat!…" "…if he's in the way—I want that girl!" "…see 'em! I see 'em goin down the hill!…" "No ye ain't, stupid; they're in 'at cave!"

Drizzt cursed under his breath and spun around. Andra squealed in surprise as she was yanked by the arm, Drizzt dragging her further into the cave's shadows. He spun her against the wall, ignoring her whispered protests, and randomly started digging around in his pockets.

"What the heck are you—"

"Ah—here!" He cut her off with a sharp whisper. Something small and metal was pressed into her hand. She realized it was a necklace when she felt the chain tangled around her fingers. "Put it on. Quick, okay."

"What the heck…" she squeaked, bewildered, even as she jerked the chain over her head. "Why?"

"We have no choice. I was supposed to wait for Bruenor, but…"

"Wait for what! Quit talkin all mysterious and guardian-like and gimme a straight answer for on—"

"Andy."

"What."

"Shut up and wait!"

She did, even though she had no clue what she was waiting for. But it wasn't long before she found out. The necklace suddenly felt hot against her skin. She looked at it in surprise, picking up the pendant. It started to glow with bright amber light, stinging her eyes—which were, quite notably, the same color. With the new light she could see its shape: a fan of three metal feathers, inset with an amber-colored jewel. That's where the light came from.

As Andra was captivated, gaping at the pendant in awe, Drizzt gave a low sigh. He was staring with a mix of gravity and knowing. "I thought so…" the drow whispered, eyes locked on the glowing jewel.

Andra looked up, bewildered. "What…? What's it mean?"

"Tell ya later."

Andy squeaked in surprise as she was dragged forward once again. Drizzt shoved her back into the crevice she'd been hiding in, pointing a finger in her face. "Stay."

"Hey! Hold up! Where are you going now?"

"Stay, I said! Good dog." And he was gone.

Andra only stared after him, gaping indignantly. "Good dog…?"

….

"Don't want your hand, this time; I'll save myself.

Maybe I'll wake up for once.

I'm going under, drowning in you.

I'm falling forever.

I've got to breathe, I can't keep

Going under."

She didn't like the sound of things out there. There was plenty of fighting. Swords against swords, against wood…against flesh… Andra had read about death. Intentional death. She'd read it in Salvatore and Poe and Stephen King. It never bugged her. She knew it would now. But she thought of Drizzt, and how things were suddenly getting quieter out there… Had he killed them all? Been killed? She waited, trying vainly to see through the pitch-blackness. Her only sight was her ears, and they did not tell her good things.

Drizzt's painful cry. Grumbly shouts of triumph. "What for it now, elfling?" She heard defiant growls and the muffled sound of fists landing blows. "Fancy swords're no help if ye cain't use yer arms right!"

Suddenly there was clearer, more intelligent voice: "Shuddup and hold him! Gloatin' always precedes defeat. N' hand over that rope."

Andra couldn't stop a terrified squeal. They'd caught him. Another bolt of fear spiked up her spine when she heard: "You—go'n check the cave."

Unexpectedly...she wasn't frozen this time. She could think and all. Maybe because this time, she actually knew what was going on. What the situation was. There was nothing for it. She was going to be found. So if her cover was going to be blown anyway…may as well make an advantage out of it.

Outside the cave, the old streettier stood over his beaten captive, leering down at him. Three of his 'friends' had the dark elf on his knees, in the process of tying his hands behind his back. Finally, his quarry: caught. This was to be fun. "Now," he rumbled, putting his scarred face level with the drow's seething, silent eyes. "You'd be havin something o' mine, wouldn't you?" He was interrupted by shouts of alarm from the cave. Careful not to let Drizzt get out from under his boot, he stood up to glare at the entrance. He could hear his man's deep timbre shouting angry curses, and over that, something utterly unearthly, yowling like a demon banshee-cat.

"Tohlin!" Cedric snapped toward the cave. "Black powder, what's goin on in there?"

Tohlin answered by appearing at the mouth of the cave, staggering with the weight of the savage monstrosity that was now clinging to his back. The feral girl had her legs wrapped around his waist and one arm choking his neck, securing herself so that her one other arm was free to wield a flashing dagger.

"Tohiln!" Several of the men around ran that way, dancing around the man, trying to pry the girl off without getting in range of that whipping knife of hers.

Cedric, though, he was standing back, observing the scene…and laughing his bloody head off. He felt the drow moving under his boot, trying with renewed vigor to get away. Ced, still laughing, stomped harder on his wounded shoulder, causing him to grimace in pain and writhe away from the pressure.

It wasn't long before they had her pinned to the ground. It took at least four people to get her there, but only one to hold her.

Andra struggled under the pressure of a very large man's knee, which was currently making a nice home of her aching back. Between that and her face in the dirt, it was very hard to breathe. She went on screaming, though—anger, fear, pain, sobbing helplessness, anything to make noise. Thrashing about like a possessed person, she left quite a few little scratches and bruises and even managed to bite one of them when they tried to put a rag across her mouth. A lot of good that crap was going to do her. She couldn't even cause enough damage to spite them. This was exactly what Drizzt had tried to prevent...

Drizzt looked on with mounting horror and fury, trying to call out through the gag they'd tied onto his mouth. Arrow-wound be forgot—he was going to struggle until his arms fell off. He bucked against the impossible weight of three men, twisting around to one knee so that the other leg was free to kick someone in the face. All it got him was unwanted attention from stupid old Cedric. The grizzly bear of a man took the pommel of a very hard sword and gleefully slammed it down on his head. Drizzt slumped forward with a muffled groan, suddenly unable to comprehend anything past the black spots dancing in front of his eyes.

Andra saw. Helpless though she was, Andra could still see. The giant old man lifted his hand against Drizzt—she heard the sickening crack when the sword hilt connected with his head. Bright red blood splashed across his snow-white hair.

'…Change.'

Andra's screams began to fade. Something primal was rising in her…she couldn't acknowledge it, but she could feel it. She could…revel in it. Embrace it. A feeling of fire. Instinct, leading her to power. Andra's screaming had stopped. It was replaced by her hoarse, growling breaths. Power, growing until it would explode, tear her apart from inside...

"Oi, Ced! What's goin on wit this'n?"

Her pupils became little more than pinpoints, shrinking until they vanished altogether, consumed by an eerie reddish glow. Suddenly her vision was tinted with a bright amber fuzz, blurring shapes, doubling lines.

'Move.'

She barely registered telling her arm to move, but suddenly it was free. She sliced her hand through the air and connected with skin. Voices called out a panicked chorus around her.

"Augh!—Gah, she's got another knife!" "Ain't no knife—that's 'er hand!" "Is them claws?" "Lookit, her eyes is glowin!"

Andra couldn't hear them anymore. Her ears and eyes and mind were filled with only that irresistible golden-red light. Beautiful, warm, powerful fire. She tore another arm free, and suddenly it seemed infinitely easier to move than it had before. She planted both hands on the ground and shoved. The man toppled right off her back.

'Fight.'

"Stop her! Stop her now!" Cedric screamed at his men. But the bandits were beyond point of taking orders—especially from someone like Cedric, who they'd just picked up off the road hours ago.

Andra was busy wreaking havoc among the men. They tried to restrain her. Restraint…was her bane. She was free—she had to stay that way. They wanted to take it from her. Shove her face into the dust again. Andra's eyes narrowed and she growled viciously. She launched into attack, moving mainly on all fours to trip the men, before jumping up to latch onto ones still standing. She never stayed in the same palce for more than two seconds.

Having seen quite enough of the feral creature, the bandits started to run—including the ones holding onto Drizzt. But the drow didn't move to get away. His face hidden by his long hair, it was impossible to tell if he was even still awake. The only thing left holding him was Cedric's boot, still grinding down on his wounded shoulder.

"You idiots! They'll both get away!"

Left alone, Andra's eyes flickered with light as they searched for new foes, pulsing in time with the necklace that danced on its chain around her neck. That burning gaze snapped towards the source of Cedric's bellowing voice. A vicious scowl revealed canine fangs as she snarled again. It was no human sound. She crouched, prepared to spring, arms held out at the ready, fingers curled into talons that brandished her blood-dripping claws. Cedric suddenly appeared alarmed, as he held up his sword for a meager defense. It gave her pleasure. To be feared. To be able.

Andra moved. The ground beneath her feet was torn away with the incredible, inhuman speed. She leapt and tackled her target through the air, landing in a crouch on top of his giant chest. Drizzt, who'd been held up only by the man's boot on his shoulder, toppled forward and lay unmoving. Andra's eyes turned his way.

'Protect.'

She stayed one second longer, putting her burning eyes right into the man's scarred face. Her deep growl was as clear a threat as ever had been issued by human or beast. And then she was moving again, kicking him in the stomach to launch herself away. In the same movement she scooped up her fallen drow and, throwing him easily over her shoulder, dashed away with a trail of dust at her heels.

….

His head was killing him.

That was the only thing he could think about as consciousness slowly returned. Throbbing, stinging, extremely annoying. With a groan, he raised one hand to his head, but jerked it back with a hiss of pain. Managing to open his eyes, he looked at his fingers and saw blood. Well. There was his wound. Where'd that come from?

Then he remembered. Something about bandits. A guy named…Ced. A fight, obviously, and being captured…being helpless to save her…

"Andra!"

He sat bolt upright with a gasp. He immediately regretted it. His head blossomed with renewed agony, more of those little black sparks erupting across his eyes. His own cry of pain allowed him a focus to latch on to, to keep from blacking out again. He rested his forehead on his knee and waited until the dizziness cleared. When it had, he lifted his head and looked around. He was surrounded by trees. And he could tell that because he could see now; it was daylight. Some time around…Ugh. He didn't know. It hurt to think.

When he looked to the side, his eyes widened in alarm. Andra lay with her back to him several feet away, covered with dirt and…and good grief, there was blood on her… He crawled to the girl's limp form, trying to ignore what pain it caused him to move. "Andra…" He reached out to shake her shoulder, but she didn't respond. "Augh...Andy, you jerk…"

He tugged on her arm and rolled her over. To his immense relief, a quiet groan escaped her. She was alive. Maybe not alright, or safe, but… Drizzt sighed, dropping his head onto his arm. Man, he was tired.

…What had she done? Drizzt didn't remember bringing them here. It had to be her. Actually, he couldn't remember much of anything, except how crazy hilarious she'd looked hanging onto that guy's back. Man did he love this kid. She was a wildfire, that one.

Finally, something clicked. He'd given her the necklace.

Drizzt groaned in realization, rolling over onto his back. "That's what you did…" So it was probably bandit blood. Not hers. He hoped.

As he peered into the one clear piece of sky above him, the brightening morning sun stung his eyes. Did wonders for his headache. He turned his head to look at Andra instead. He could still see little fangs in her open mouth.

Drizzt closed his eyes, a tired grin breaking his grey lips. "Yeh…Good dog…"

….

A/N: HAH! I did it^^ Sorry for the wait... If I have any readers left, let me just say: I freaking love you people. I'm sorry!

Lyric headings: "Weathered" by Creed and "Going Under" by Evanescence. I had to mix up the Going Under lyrics a little bit, because the first time I used them, they fit both Drizzt's and Andra's point of view. But in Andra's 'inner-beastie scene' they only fit her POV.

Disclaimer: Forgotten Realms isn't mine. I only own Andra and Cedric and the anonymous bandits. And Tohlin, who is a not-so-anonymous bandit.