For this one, I sort of played around with the DC version of Azarath. Have fun!

Read and review,

Raven's secret-keeper

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Memory 4

Dove clutched Sieara closer as she looked cautiously around the building. Seeing no one, she silently crossed the street and headed down the path until she came to the temple. She glanced back, a bit uneasy about all this… She had never been sneaking around Azarath, even before… All the streets looked so new to her, completely innovative… She had never seen any more of the outside world than what she saw through her mother's mind. It was completely unnerving. She knew she wasn't supposed to do this, and what if someone caught her…?

She pushed that thought from her mind and pressed on, keeping her thoughts focused on the idea of seeing Srentha again – the only person she ever had contact with besides her mother. He had kept her a secret so far, and an opportunity like this might never show again, especially in Azarath where secret-keeping was against their nature...

She couldn't help noticing how pretty it was… The golden buildings were glistening even in the night world she was wandering. It was so different from the way she had seen from Alerina's memories. The sky was a deep and infinite green-blue, so dark it was almost black, and the stars twinkled in and out of different colors. The air was filled with the scent of gossamer, and she couldn't help being amazed at the beauty around her.

She saw the tower Srentha had described in his letter – which, amazingly, both children had been able to keep the secret of – and counted the buildings after it – one, two three four -

She stopped and pulled the paper from the folds of her cloak. She scanned it for what she needed, then looked left and saw the alley he had described before following its lengths.

She walked for quite a while before the alley forked – again, another left – and she followed another span of street. She looked at the buildings, fascinated by their sheer brilliance and beauty.

After awhile, she began wondering if it ever came to an end, like he told her it did. It was so long, so very long…

Sieara struggled in her hands.

"Sh," she whispered, being extremely careful to not let her voice be heard. The dove looked up at her and blinked.

"It's going to be fine," she whispered.

The dove nestled farther into her hands. Inexperienced as she was, she could faintly sense the dove's fear and confusion, something like it… She couldn't help feeling sorry for her. She knew the dove may try to fly away, but she convinced herself that it was a bit late for the bird to want to escape. So she unfolded her hands and shifted her fingers so that Sieara sleepily stepped onto her first finger, and she held it out. "There…" She looked affectionately at her white, feathered… She couldn't help wondering what Sieara was to her. Pet or friend…? She decided on a word her mother used once when she was reading her a bedtime story a year or two ago: Companion.

Then at last the alley came to an end. She sat down and caught her breath, finally able to relax and know that nobody was following. She strained her ears, and felt Sieara shift into a more comfortable position to sleep in. Dove couldn't help feeling sorry for her once more – she hadn't been able to sleep all night since Dove had stayed awake, shifting on the floor of the room as she waited for the time to pass on and for the right time to leave. After that she had been pulled from her perch on the lantern and taken around these unfamiliar streets with Dove and was trapped between her hands.

Dove heard a noise and jumped with a small gasp.

Then she let herself relax. A smile crossed her face as she heard the soft footsteps and saw shadow, smooth and flowing except for the top – the messy hair of Srentha.

He slipped around the building and looked her way. He smiled.

"It worked!"

Sieara's eyes flew open and she looked up at him. He looked back gently.

"She wants to sleep."

Dove nodded. "I had to wake her up."

"Shhh… We should be a bit quieter… You never know when someone will be around looking for Coman or Arella…" His voice softened to a whisper.

"Oh, okay." Sieara fluttered onto Dove's knee.

Srentha watched her. Then said, "Hey, I can show you something."

"Really? What?"

"I can make her smarter. Only a bit, but still…"

Dove nodded.

"Is it okay if I do?"

Dove shrugged. "Will it hurt her?"

Srentha shook his head. "I promise."

Dove picked up Sieara. "She's been this way since I found her… Will she change?"

"She won't be as confused about people… All I'll do is let her be more intelligent. Look, see?" He mumbled a few Azarathean words, then his hands began to glow bright blue and he put them, relaxed, over the dove. He closed his eyes lightly with a look of thoughtless concentration and chanted a few more words before the glow began to outline Sieara. Dove watched with fascination as he performed the magic. She could feel the dove in her hands seeming to radiate the warmth of magic onto her palms and fingers.

After a few whispered words and a couple of silent moments, Srentha opened his eyes and let his hands down. Sieara looked up at him – and both could have sworn to see a look of confusion in her eyes. "She probably thinks more like a person, but she still definitely has the mind of a dove," Srentha mused.

Dove got up. "I should go… I know that few people come this way, but... My mother is so protective… She'll be very afraid if she finds me gone… And what if one of the few…"

Srentha nodded. "Then I'll go too. See you... When?"

Dove shrugged. "Um... Three passings…?"

Srentha nodded. "I will see you then. Come back here. It's the safest place in this entire dimension for secrets... Unless you're in the temple… With all the secrets in there…"

Dove nodded and yawned softly. "Okay... Hey… Thanks for… you know… not telling anyone and being…"

"It's fine… Why would I want to tell anyone?"

"I'm just… not supposed to exist…"

"What are you…?"

"I'd rather not – Sorry, I shouldn't…"

"If you don't want to, then don't."

Dove glanced at his face and smiled. "Thanks. Again."

"You're welcome."

"Bye…"

"Bye."

Dove nodded at him gratefully, then looked around the building before heading home.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Review please - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

-Raven's secret-keeper