Mage Storms

Chapter 2- A Few Minuets

Disclaimer: The only thing here that is mine is the plot. Everything else belongs to Tamora Pierce.

In the Wilderness- Night

The snow fell heavily and steadily as a figure blindly stumbled through the wilderness.

Kel had no idea where she was going. Part of her was saying that this was crazy, that she should never have come out in such horrible weather. Another part, a more dominant and stronger part of her mind overpowered the thought. This part was not Kel, it was another who was controlling her mind, and thus controlling her. The two parts of the mind battled each other for control over the body and the night crept on.

Back at the Cave- Morning

Neal awoke but did not open his eyes. He estimated that it was about five in the morning. The frigid air mad him shiver. He pulled his blankets up around his chin. One eye opened slightly to see that the fire had been blown out by the harsh wind. He saw Kel's empty bed- she must be up already probably practicing with her glaive or packing up.

"Kel could you do something about that fire…" Neal asked wearily. There was no reply. He realized that he could not hear her footsteps or her breathing. He was alone.

Where could Kel have gone off to this time? It better not be to fight some Scanrans.

Where Kel went off to

The battle in Kel's mind had ended. She now lay in the snow with a massive headache and she was so tired she could not even move. Even if she could where would she go? She was in the middle of nowhere, alone and to top it off it was snowing.

The voice in her head was gone. She didn't know if it would be back. She did know that it was impossible that anyone could find her and she would likely die here.

If you had only lissstened to me. Then you might not be in thisss messs…the voice said as Kel closed her eyes, possibly for the last time.

The snow had let up long enough for a rescue crew to be sent out to find Kel and Neal. Dom and his squad thought this would be easy. They figured that Kel and Neal would be in a shelter somewhere and safe. Dom estimated where they would likely be when they decided to stop to find shelter. The party set off early that morning. He was anxious to find them- after all his cousin and his gir- no, and his friend were out there somewhere.

The men were unnerved by the storm. One of the men came up next to Dom. It was Lofren. "Sir, how could this be? It's still fall."

"Don't worry yourself private. Get back in formation," Dom replied. As he turned his mount and left Dom mumbled something incoherent. It sounded something like "I have no idea, but it can't be natural." He was there at the meeting last night with Raoul, George Cooper, Sir Myles, Lady Alanna and the King and Queen when Numair had announce to everyone that this storm was a mages creation. It would only stop when the mage told it to. Dom was ordered to gather his men and find Kel and his cousin as soon as possible. He and all the others were also ordered not to breathe a word of this to anyone. Numair had enforce that order with magic.

Dom's estimation of where they would be was only a little off. His squad had found the cave. Neal had everything packed up and saddling the horses. Kel was nowhere to be found.

"Meathead" Dom greeted his cousin as he and the squad dismounted. Clearly there was something on Neal's mind if he didn't hear the horses walk up. Probably just wants to get going, Dom thought but he knew there was something wrong when he saw Neal's face- he was worried.

"Where's Kel?" Dom's voice was a harsh whisper. It made Neal flinch.

"I don't know," Neal told him. He could see anger flare on his cousins face. Dom looked like he was about to explode.

"What do you mean you don't know?" Dom was really trying not to kill his cousin now. This gave a whole new meaning to Neal's nickname.

"I woke up and she was gone. I waited a few minuets but she never came back. I-"

"A FEW MINUETS! A few minuets can kill somebody out there!" Dom pointed to the snow covered forest outside. He had almost lost Kel once, when she went off to fight Blayce the Gallan, he didn't want that to happen again. There was no holding back Dom now. He was angry. "I cannot believe you let her go out like that!"

"Well arguing about it won't help Kel! So if you're done blaming me for something I couldn't control the I suggest we go find her." Neal turned his back to his cousin and got on his horse he left the cave with Hoshi tied to his horse. Dom let out a breath. He knew it was not Neal's fault and he should not be mad at him but he… Hey! Think later find Kel now, Dom told himself. That's the most important thing now- finding Kel. That's what matters. Hethen mounted his horse and gave the men, who had retreated to the cave's entrance. They would rather freeze to death than be in Dom's path when he was angry. He- no It- became lethal, deathly, ferocious and he got a look that could peel the skin right off your face. He was like a bear- an angry, rabid bear.

"Mount up. Split into groups of tows and threes. Find her." Dom's squad did as they were told. Dom asked the sparrows, who were still in the cave, to try to find her as well. He followed them, praying to the gods that she was still alive.

Some time later, it was Kel was still not found. She was presumed dead. Everyone, including Dom, had practically given up all hope of ever finding her, when one of the sparrows who had gone ahead came back. He was chirping and triumphantly flying around Dom's head. The sparrow caught the attention of the other sparrows.

"They've found her, " Dom exclaimed as he turned his horse. The sparrows led him through the forest. The trees became too thick for his horse and he dismounted running where the birds led him.

That was when he saw her. Well he saw a lump under the snow. He sped towards her and began to brush off the snow that covered her body. Dread filled in his heart. How could she be alive after all this? He dusted off her face first. She was frozen. He felt her pulse. For what seemed to be forever there was nothing. Then he detected a faint pulse. He hadn't realized that he had been holding his breath until he let it out.

She was alive but just barely. He blew on his whistle to alert the others.

A/N:

I hope you liked it. A special thanks to my reviewers! I really appreciate it and thank you sooooo much for your time ! Keep reading and Reviewing (please)!

-Bloodhound840