Hi! I apologize for the longness of this one-shot. But I promise, it's totally worth the length.

However, if you do end up getting bored, feel free to skip to the final three scenes. That's the most important part, and it'll play heavily into True Grit in the future.

I tried to keep confusion down with the dates. Please tell me if you still find them confusing. Let me explain a bit: The current year is 632- that's the year that True Grit started in. Una, Vori, etc are the names of the lunar months. Make sense? *Claps hands together* Excellent.

I hope you all enjoy this final one-shot to celebrate 1,000 reviews! Without further adieu...


Little Miracle


Eleven Months Ago
12, Una, year 632


Varasach sat in the grass sorting large baskets of fruit. Her charges, Selya and Kein, tumbled in the grass nearby, giggling and growling as they rolled head over foot. Eventually Kein came out on top, his four baby teeth shining with his grin. Selya cried out, struggling to get out from under him.

"Na, Kein," Varasach said. "Leave her alone."

Begrudgingly, Kein rolled off of her.

Selya stood, lower lip protruding, and toddled onto Varasach's lap. She cried softly into Varasach's shirt.

Varasach rubbed the little girl's back and gave Kein a stern glare. The little boy ignored her and began throwing dirt at the trees.

Boys, Varasach thought with an internal sigh, setting aside her work. Even before the Transformation, they are troublesome.

She sat still for several minutes rubbing Selya's back. The toddler slowly calmed down. "A'andu," she mumbled, yawning, rubbing her brown eyes.

"Sleep?" Varasach asked. "Selya, you just had dinner. How could you be tired already?"

"A'andu," Selya insisted. Another yawn.

Varasach found herself yawning too. "I still have work to do," she said at last. "After I'm done sorting this fruit, we can go to bed. Okay?"

"Chnit!" Selya objected. She began to cry again, fat tears rolling down her flushed cheeks.

Oh, Selya… Varasach hugged the girl, shaking her head. What was she to do? She couldn't leave her work unfinished- not if she wanted to keep her head- but she couldn't let Selya cry for hours on end until the fruit was sorted, either.

The answer to her dilemma came a moment later when a brightly colored piece of string waved in Varasach's face. At first she was terrified, wondering what kind of menace was about to hurt her or the children. A stone warrior?

" 'Ey, Vara," came a voice above her.

Varasach calmed her racing heart and looked up. How did he get up there without me hearing him?

Cole smiled down at her from the branches of the avocado tree. Legs wrapped around the trunk, one hand on a branch by his head. Between his fingers he dangled a long piece of orange string that almost touched the ground.

"You like it?" he asked in the Ninjagian tongue. "I found it on the floor of an inn in the North. Not sure who dropped it. But I figured the kids would have fun with it." He shook the string, and it danced, tickling Selya's ear.

"Rew!" Kein exclaimed. He took a running leap, landing hard on Varasach's lap. She gasped, and Selya cried out. Kein laughed as he jerked the string from Cole's fingers.

"Whoops…" Cole jumped from the branches and landed on his feet. He scooped Kein from Varasach's lap and tickled him until he released the string. "You okay, Vara? I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking."

Varasach stood, Selya sniffling in her arms. "Yes," she said in his language.

"Wonderful." Cole dropped Kein and picked up the string. He tickled Selya's ear with its tail. Kein clawed at Cole's trousers, vying for attention. He was ignored.

"Come on," Cole coaxed Selya in the Dark Tongue. His eyes sparkled as brightly as his smile. "Hey, why are you hiding in Vara's shirt? Hmm? Let me see your smile."

Selya uncovered one hazel eye and peeked at the string.

"Her left eye is a little red," Cole observed, reverting again to his native tongue. He moved his hand so the string touched Selya's nose. "Is she sick?"

Varasach frowned and examined Selya's tiny face. Yes, her one eye looked a little swollen and pink. "Mmm. Maybe she ees."

"Poor girl. That's probably why she's so tired." Cole pocketed the string and took Selya in his arms. Kein screamed, frustrated, and Varasach picked him up.

"Shouldn't you be worried more?" she asked.

Cole kissed Selya's forehead, then looked to Varasach. "About what?"

"Cole," Varasach hissed. "Hagar told me about yesturday. About that woman you were supposed to…" She let her words taper off, and she glanced over her shoulder nervously.

Cole's face darkened momentarily. Then he shrugged, grinning once again. "I'm not worried. Too much. I mean, he hasn't punished me yet. He probably didn't find out."

"But…you were supposed to-"

"I know what I was supposed to do," Cole snapped. "What's Overlord gonna do to me if he finds out? Something terrible. But at least that terrible thing will be done to me instead of someone innocent."

He took a deep breath. "Besides. I got the information Overlord wanted. Isn't that what matters?"

Varasach found her vision blurring, and she closed her eyes. According to Sage's information, Cole had captured a couple from Ninjago on his last raid. Overlord wanted them interrogated, but they weren't cooperating. In the middle of a session yesterday, Overlord had been called away to deal with some emergency. Frustrated, he told Cole to assault the woman, hoping that she or her husband would finally talk.

But after Overlord left, Cole reasoned with the couple, begging for them to talk so he wouldn't have to use the force Overlord wanted. Eventually they told him everything. Overlord was never informed about Cole's rebellion.

"Hey," Cole murmured softly, drawing Varasach into a comforting embrace. "Don't be that way. Everything's fine. I got what Overlord wanted."

But you did it wrong! Varasach wanted to scream. Overlord hates when people don't obey him.

"He will find out," she whispered into his shoulder, tears streaming form her eyes. "What eef he hurts us? Und Hagar?"

Cole stiffened slightly. "He won't," he said. "I won't let him hurt you, or Sage. If anyone gets hurt, it'll be me. And I'm okay with that."

"How?" Varasach pulled away, staring him in the eyes. "How are you not scared?"

"I am scared." Cole smoothed her hair. "But I'm choosing to ignore it. Nothing will happen. Okay?" When Varasach looked away, he took her chin between his thumb and forefinger and made her look at him again. "Okay?"

Varasach nodded. "Okay."

"Good." Cole planted a kiss on Varasach, Selya, and Kein's foreheads. Kein pushed him away indignantly, but the girls took the token with troubled smiles.

"Have you seen Sage?" Cole asked at last. "She's usually with you in the evening."

Varasach's heart skipped a beat in her chest. She had forgotten about that morning…

Cole frowned. "Why the hesitation?"

"No…heh-see-tay-shun," Varasach said, blundering through the big word. "I was just…hafting to remembur."

"Remember what?"

"She…she visited the e'hemonz," Varasach said. "That ees the last that I seen her."

Cole's eyebrows went up, and he nearly dropped Selya. "E'hemonz…the infirmary? What happened?"

"She ees fine," Varasach assured him. "She just had to see the midwife-"

"Midwife?" Cole paled. Shakily, he set Selya in the grass. "I've gotta go."

"Cole!" Varasach called after him as he disappeared into the trees, toward the compound. I thought he would help me finish sorting the fruit, she thought disappointedly.

"Cole!" Kein mimicked his caretaker with a deep frown.

Varasach sighed and set Kein in the grass, then spoke in the Dark Tongue. "We will see Cole in a little while." She patted Selya's head, noting that the little girl had Cole's orange string in her hands. She seemed happy now, if not a little drowsy, as she sat against one of Varasach's large fruit baskets.

"Cole!" Kein demanded.

"Please," Varasach said, "just give me a couple hours, and I'll have this work finished. It would go faster if you helped me, though."

After a moment of glaring at the ground, Kein sat himself in the grass and helped Varasach work.


When Varasach entered the infirmary late that night, she was not surprised to find Hagar sitting in a chair, waiting. Still waiting.

"You are pregnant?" Varasach asked, though she knew the answer. If Hagar was still sitting here, twelve hours after entering the infirmary, she was probably pregnant.

To confirm this, Hagar nodded. She looked away, face pale, hands twitching on her lap.

"Is something wrong?" Varasach asked. This was not the response she'd expected. "Why hasn't your class been altered already?"

Hagar shrugged. "I… Overlord came. But he did not bring my papers."

Women of differing classes had different jobs: the fertile women took care of the gardens, farms, and fishing. Girls under twelve and infertile women, such as Varasach- and Hagar, until today- raised the weaned children and worked in the orchards.

Today, Hagar had become a part of the third of these classes. She was with child, and so she was to work in the storehouses, doing easier tasks that involved more bookkeeping and organizing than physical labor.

But before she could move on to her new job, she needed her papers changed by Overlord- or Nephilim, if he was too busy- which would indicate that she was ready for eventual work in the brothel, once her child was weaned.

By the looks of things, neither superior had arrived.

Hagar took a deep breath, closing her eyes. "Overlord took Cole," she whispered.

The breath was stolen from Varasach's lungs. "What?"

Hagar seemed as though she'd been holding these pent-up feelings for many hours. And once she started to release them, there was no stopping the flow. She choked on a sob. "Cole came hours ago. And…he was so happy. We have a child at last. B-But…" She lowered her head into her hands and cried softly. "…Overlord discovered what Cole did yesterday. And he took him."

Varasach went to her knees and touched Hagar's shoulder. "Hagar-" she began.

"He took Cole!" Hagar cut her off, overcome by her distress. "He is being punished. And…and now, there is no way Overlord would agree to change my papers like Cole wanted."

Like Cole wanted.

Hagar's words agitated Varasach's stomach like spoiled food.

Cole had requested a few weeks ago that Overlord have Varasach and Hagar's papers altered so they would become his property. That way, once his year of service was up, they could go home with him.

Now, Overlord is angry, and he will probably deny the request. Varasach found herself trembling. She had not realized until this moment how desperately she wanted to be freed with Cole. It might never happen now. And Cole is being punished.

"I put Kein and Selya to bed already," Varasach said, voice cracking. "I know it's almost curfew, but why don't we go and find Cole? You said he was taken hours ago. So Overlord has likely finished whatever punishment he gave him."

Hagar clenched her fists. "I must stay," she said brokenly. "You know the rules. I cannot leave until my papers have changed."

Varasach had guessed as much already. She stood shakily and let her hands fall loose at her sides. "I'll go, then. And I will come back as quickly as I can. Okay?"

Hagar nodded, then lowered her head again, hugging her belly. A belly which now holds a child, Varasach realized numbly. She found it difficult to grasp the concept: she and Hagar had both resigned themselves to childless lives many years ago. To ever think otherwise was foolish and without purpose.

Not anymore, though.

"Don't worry," Varasach said, turning for the door, "I'll take care of him."

A pause. Hagar sniffled and drew her legs under the chair. "Herengla'asi," she whispered the soft apology at last. "Thank you. Go."


It did not take long to find Cole. He was alone and on the floor, sitting with legs drawn close to his chin against the stone wall of the hallway. A flickering torch above his head bathed the hall in light that did nothing to dispel the gloom of the underground fortress.

"Cole!" Varasach exclaimed softly, voice echoing eerily in the long chamber. She dropped to the floor beside him and touched his face. "Are you all right?" she asked in the Dark Tongue, too stressed to think of switching for him.

Cole blinked once, eyes unfocused and dry. He breathed in- a fast, short gasp through slightly parted lips- and pulled his face away.

Varasach persisted. "What did Overlord do to you? Why are you just sitting in the hall? Hagar is worried about you…" She noticed a roll of paper in Cole's hand, and she examined his face again. Dark eyebrows creased. Grief written on every orifice. So different than how she'd seen him just a few hours ago.

"What is that?" she asked.

Cole finally pulled himself from his trance, blinking a few times rapidly. He looked down at his hand, confused, as though he didn't remember how the papers got to be there. Finally, he gave them to Varasach. "They're yours," he said. "And Sage's."

Our papers. Varasach held her breath as she unrolled the two sheets and read them carefully. They were simple things: name, date of birth, eye, hair, and skin description, and their class. Varasach was in the second class, which meant that she was infertile.

Wait… Varasach read the last part again. There was an extra line of text there, written in fresh ink.

No class.

Varasach's mouth opened and closed uselessly, unable to find the words to express her thoughts.

She read Hagar's paper and found the same thing. No class.

"You're mine," Cole said. "I can take you home with me. Next year."

Tears dripped down Varasach's cheeks. Tears of joy. Of gratitude. Wait until Hagar sees her paper. We can go home with him… Then she stopped. "Next year?" she asked. "I…thought you could go home in three months."

Cole shook his head, eyes still glazed. "That's my punishment," he said. "He added another year to my contract. And…" He gestured to the door behind him. "…they're…in there."

"They?" Varasach frowned. "Who?"

Cole murmured under his breath.

"What?"

"My parents," Cole repeated, a little louder. "He…" His voice wavered. He swallowed. "Overlord took my parents. They're in there. Sedated, for now."

Varasach had little recollection of her own parents: they had been killed when she was three, on the night that Overlord took the island. What she did remember was fragmented. Shiny silver buttons on her father's uniform. The way the house smelled when her mother baked bread.

Cole didn't speak of his parents much. But when he did, it was with a twinkle in his eye. He loved them dearly.

And now they were here, in Overlord's dark underground prison. And when they awoke, they would be punished for a crime they had not committed.

"How did they get here?" Varasach asked. "You are the one who sails to Ninjago and takes the prisoners. How did Overlord get them?"

"I…think he used Sunseeker," Cole answered. "The teleportation device I told you about."

A single tear rolled down Cole's cheek. "It's my fault. I shouldn't have disobeyed. Now he's going to kill them. Because I'm a coward, they're going to-"

Varasach stopped his words with a hand on his cheek. He leaned in to her touch, more tears following the first.

"You are not a coward," Varasach said. "What you did…it was brave. Stupid, but brave. And I admire you for it."

Cole spent a long moment trying to compose himself. Deep breaths, in and out. "I can't…" he began, then faltered. "I…can't." Then again, a weak whisper: "I can't."

Varasach wiped away his tears with her thumb, but they only returned with more force.

What was she to do? Comfort him? Tell him that everything would be okay? That there was nothing to worry about?

If there was anything she'd learned from her nine months of friendship with Cole, it was that he wanted to be the supporter. It made him feel stronger, having someone lean on him- metaphorically or literally. So she scooted closer and set her head on his chest. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her close to himself. A shred of healing comfort for his wounded heart.


Ten Months Later
28, Ia, year 632


Varasach and Cole made their way down the hall in Cyrus' keep, toward Jay's room in the hospital.

"I'm glad you're back," Varasach said, her hand tightly clasped in Cole's.

Cole squeezed her hand. "Yeah," he agreed, mind disengaged. His eyes- dim and distant- took in the numbers beside each door. Jay's number, Varasach remembered, was 1-4-2. Directly across from Cole's room, which read 1-4-1. Even numbers on one side, odds on another.

"Why do I need to see Jay right now?" Cole asked tiredly. "Can't it wait until tomorrow? My chest hurts. I need to take these bandages off."

"Yes," Varasach said. "We must see Jay first."

"Why?" Cole demanded, frowning at her.

Varasach paused, taken off guard by his tone. Cole has changed, she thought. When his mother died, his eyes lost their sparkle. When he lost his father, he became quieter. Now Hagar has died, and… She looked at Cole, who was oblivious to her train of thought. …and he has lost his kindness.

"Because Jay has a gift for you," Varasach answered him. Her heart accelerated as she thought of Chedva, whom Jay had brought back from the Dark Island a few days earlier. I can't wait to see Cole's face. He will be so happy. Maybe… Her skin warmed at the thought. …maybe he will smile again. I miss his smile.

"This is it," Cole sighed, stopping before door 1-4-2. He released her hand. "Why don't you wait out here for a minute, Vara?"

"What?" Varasach panicked. "Why?"

Cole narrowed his eyes at her, no doubt wondering why she had become so flustered. "I don't know what Jay wants," he said. "He may want some privacy. Having you in there could make it awkward for him, if he wanted to discuss something serious."

That's not fair! Varasach thought. I want to be with you when you see Chedva. I want to see your smile!

"I…I'm sure it will be all right," she said. "Please, let me be with you."

Cole laid a hand on her arm. "I'll only be a minute, okay? Just wait out here."

Reluctantly, Varasach nodded. She had been defeated. There was no way she could say more without giving the surprise away- and Jay had insisted that it be a surprise.

Cole pounded his knuckles on the door, startling Varasach. He released her arm and entered the room, shutting the door behind him.

Varasach stared after him for a moment, lips parted. Then she turned, finding herself alone in the hall, lit dimly by yellow electric lights. Aside from a light murmur from inside Jay's room, there was silence. Everywhere, stifling silence.

It's all right, she thought, shivering. She pressed her back to the wall between doors 1-4-2 and 1-4-4, hugging herself. Cole will return in a minute, like he promised. And I will see his smile. The thought made her warm again, and she found herself smiling.

Cole's smile, which crinkled the skin around his eyes and revealed a set of white teeth between dimpled cheeks. A bright, beautiful, genuine smile. Like the one he'd worn as he presented Selya with the orange string.

She allowed herself to dwell on those thoughts. With each passing minute, her impatience and desire grew. What was Cole doing in there? Why hadn't he come out with Chedva yet?

The door flew open suddenly, and Cole rushed out, tears streaming down his cheeks, Chedva in his arms. Without pausing- or even looking Varasach's way- he crossed the hall, entered room 1-4-3, and shut the door.

Varasach exclaimed softly and ran to the door. The latch would not lift. Cole had locked it? Why, Cole? You promised… She raised her hand to knock on the door, but lowered it again, clenched tightly. Cole knew she was out here. And if he'd locked the door, that meant that he did not want her.

He…just needs a minute, she told herself. He hates others seeing him cry. So he will open the door when he's ready. The thought gave her little comfort. Why, after all Varasach and Cole had been through, would he still not trust her to see his tears? It's not like this was the first time she'd seen him cry…

Varasach waited by the door, listening despairingly to Cole's stifled cries inside. Just let me in, Cole, she thought. Please. I thought we were family. Can't you let me in?

The minutes dragged on. Eventually, weighed down by despondency and loneliness, Varasach sank to the floor. She sat on her knees and overlapped her hands on her thighs. A habit gained through years of slavery: sitting quietly and respectfully on her knees indicated that she was waiting for instructions.

The floor was warm- it seemed that the entire compound was heated somehow from underneath. Varasach had never thought to ask how that worked, but now she was curious. Is there a large fire underneath the floor? Or is it electric somehow, like these lights? Perhaps this place is alive, and we are all inside its belly… But that was ridiculous.

She heard a noise and looked up.

Speaking of Cyrus…

Cyrus wheeled his chair down the hall toward her, followed by a familiar young man. Where have I seen him before? Varasach wondered. The man was tall, with honey-blond hair and eyes. He walked slightly bent, as though he were fighting stomach cramps. If he was in pain, though, his eyes did not show it. His face seemed radiant as he spoke in low tones with Cyrus. Neither seemed to have noticed Varasach yet; they had not come for her, apparently.

The tall man chuckled, punching Cyrus' shoulder playfully. "I'm fine," he said. They were close enough now for Varasach to hear their conversation. "Honest, Sir. A little tired. I think I'll catch a rest before I visit the plant."

"Absolutely not," Cyrus said, not finding this as funny as his companion. He stopped before Jay's door and grasped the man's wrist. "Listen to me. You have to get some help. Now."

"But Sir-"

"No, Kyle." Cyrus pulled a device from his pocket. "I'm getting your sister. She'll talk some sense into you."

Kyle, Varasach thought. That's right. We met him on the road.

"Don't, please," Kyle groaned. "If she finds out, I'll never live it down. I want to do this quietly. In the morning."

There was a beep, and Cyrus slipped the device back into his pocket. "Too late. She's coming."

"Sir…" Kyle sighed and crossed his arms over his chest. He winced and lowered them again.

"Don't even." Cyrus set a hand on the latch to door 1-4-2. "I'm going to check on Jay, and then catch a quick nap. You're going to get repairs. Good night."

"Yeah…" Kyle set his back to the wall, rolling his eyes. "Night."

Cyrus entered the room and shut the door.

Kyle sank to the floor with a grimace, one hand over his stomach. When he recovered, he noticed Varasach. His smile returned. "I didn't see you there," he said. "The halls are pretty dark after curfew, eh?"

Not sure what else to do, Varasach nodded. "You are hurt," she observed quietly.

"Heh. It's that obvious?" Kyle unwrapped a length of striped cloth from his neck- a scarf, Varasach thought they were called- and set it on his lap. "Don't worry yourself, Miss. I'll survive. It's not fatal. Just…painful. Like a stubbed toe." He rested his head against the wall. "What's your name, Miss?"

"Varasach."

"Varasach…" Kyle repeated. To her surprise, he pronounced the name perfectly. Very few people got the guttural ch sound right, replacing it instead with a hard k.

"Y…yes." Varasach nodded. "And you are Kyle?"

"Yep," Kyle replied, popping the p. "Mind if I call you Vara? Your name is beautiful, but I prefer to keep things simple."

"Most people call me Vara anyways…"

"Is that a yes?"

"Um…yes."

"Excellent." Kyle clapped his hands together, an explosive sound that caused Varasach to flinch. "So. What are you doing out here, Vara?"

Varasach opened her mouth to answer, then paused. What was she doing out here? "Waiting," she answered at last. "Waiting for Cole to open the door."

The smile fled Kyle's face. "Did he lock you out?"

"Well…um, yes."

"That room has two beds, I think," Kyle noted, nodding at Cole's door. "Do you share a room with him?"

"Yes."

"Hmm." Kyle scratched his chin. "Do you think Cole will open the door any time soon?"

"Yes." Varasach caught herself. "I…don't know." She wanted to believe Cole would remember her and open his door. But she was beginning to doubt.

Kyle's stare was uncomfortable. Varasach flushed, looking away. Why is he looking at me?

She was saved from further discomfort by pounding footsteps down the hall to her left. Kyle turned toward the sound, sighing. "Here she comes. Brace yourself."

Before Varasach could ask what he meant, a woman skidded to a stop before Kyle and dropped to her knees.

"Kyle!" she gasped, a hand on his shoulder, pinning him to the wall. "Please tell me that was a mistype. Cyrus wasn't serious."

"Josi," Kyle said, smiling through a grimace. "Good evening. What were you up to before Cyrus so rudely interrupted you with that call?"

"A sword?" Josi asked, ignoring him. She tried to open Kyle's shirt. "You got stabbed with a sword?"

"I did, as a matter of fact. During my fight with Kozu." Kyle gently smacked her hand away. "Relax. It didn't hit anything critical. I've lived with it for two days now. It isn't gonna kill me."

"Men," Josi huffed. "You're all the same, you know that?"

"Incredibly strong and handsome?"

"And stupid!" Josi retorted.

They glared at each other soundlessly for several tense seconds.

Varasach felt her heartbeat, thumping loudly in her chest. Of all the things she'd expected of Kyle's sister, this buzzing ball of energy named Josi was not one of them.

Kyle's lip twitched, and he hardened his jaw. Josi began to giggle. Then Kyle gave in and let a smile creep onto his face. He opened his arms, and he and Josi embraced warmly.

"I missed you," he said.

"Me too," said Josi, still giggling. "Why is Cyrus sending you away so often all of a sudden?"

"The world may never know." Kyle was the first to pull away. He winked at Varasach. "Hey. We've got a roommate tonight. Her name's Varasach."

When Josi turned to face Varasach, the girl was struck by how similar they were. The only difference was in her jawbone, which was a little more rounded and feminine. And her hair was shorter, framing her face.

Josi smiled broadly. "Varasach," she said, also pronouncing the name with remarkable accuracy. She stood and offered a hand to the girl. "I'm Josi."

Varasach took the hand and stood. "Hello," she said meekly. The events of the past few minutes were overwhelming.

"She got locked out of her room," Kyle said. "So she's gonna stay with us tonight."

"Well," Josi said. "Thanks for the heads up. Because I totally did not have plans for Kelyr to take that spare bed tonight."

"Oooh." With some effort Kyle stood, a hand on his belly. "Sorry. I didn't think about that."

"Don't be," Josi said. "I was kidding. The bed's free." She turned back to Varasach and explained. "Kelyr is one of the little boys I care for on occasion while his mother takes the night shift in the kitchen. He's with his mother tonight, though, so the bed isn't being used." She poked Varasach's forehead. "Fortunately for you. I'd hate for you to have to sit out here all night."

"Well…" Varasach glanced at the door behind her. "I don't think Cole will leave me out here all night. He will open the door soon."

"Whatever you say." Josi flipped a notebook and pencil from her pocket. "What language does Cole speak?"

"Um…both? But he does yours better."

"Perfect." Josi scrawled a quick note in the Ninjagian tongue and ripped it from her pad. She slid it under the door. "Now he'll know where you've gone. Come on." Before Varasach could object, Josi grabbed her hand and led her down the hall. "Kyle, come on. You're going to the plant for repairs."

"But-"

Josi grabbed his shirt and pulled him along, too. "No, Kyle. Why would you even want to wait until tomorrow?"

"Because it's Lorya's shift right now," Kyle whined. "You know how rough she is with our wires."

Josi paused. "How is the pain from your stab wound less significant than your fear of Lorya?"

"I don't know…"

Josi sighed. "Tomorrow, then," she said, pulling them along with renewed fervor. "You'll go to the plant tomorrow. For now, you're going straight to bed. And you're not getting up until the shift change."

"Thank you," Kyle said. Then to Varasach: "What did I tell you? Brace yourself." Another wink. "My sister's a handful."

"That's right," Josi said, eyes bright with a frightening light. Her teeth seemed dangerously sharp as she smiled. "I'm a handful."


Two Days Later
2, Vori, year 632


"This can't be right…" Josi frowned as she flipped the page of her book, then squinted at the cup on the countertop. "The sugar got all clumpy."

"I think you were supposed to melt the sugar first," Kyle said, reading over her shoulder. "Yeah. It says so right there, fourth paragraph."

"…Oh." Josi shut the book, shrugging. "We'll survive. It's not that big a deal. Right, Vara?"

Kyle and Josi had decided to make a special tea for Cyrus since he hadn't slept in over a day. He's so busy, Kyle had said. We should bring him a gift. Y'know, to encourage him. He's been a little down lately.

And so here they were- the Nindroid twins and Varasach- in the monstrous kitchens, trying to figure out how to make a special tea.

Varasach was lost. She couldn't read in the Ninjagian tongue yet- the letters looked like a daunting tangle of string and sticks- and so she had sat on the sidelines the past twenty minutes, watching as Kyle and Josi argued about how to interpret the book's instructions.

"Now we add the cream, I guess," Josi said, approaching the large keg that Kyle had retrieved from the ice box.

"Nope," Kyle declared, tapping a small pan with his finger. "We're supposed to warm it up first."

"What? Warm milk? That's gross."

"Well, if you don't heat the cream, the tea will get cold."

Josi pondered this. "Fine," she grumbled. "Cat-face."

"Love you too, Sister." Kyle twisted a spile on the keg. Cream drizzled onto the floor, and he quickly twisted it the other direction. "Umm…I guess I should have the pan under the spile when I open it."

"Yeah. Maybe." Josi tossed him the pan. He caught it without looking and filled it with cream. Setting it on the stovetop, he twisted a knob, lighting a flame underneath. Varasach watched curiously as the flames danced, blue. She'd never seen blue fire before. How does it work? she wondered, coming closer to examine it. Is it like a lantern, with oil underneath?

"Careful," Kyle said, holding out a hand to stop her. "Blue fire is a lot hotter than orange. You could burn your skin if you get too close."

Hotter. Varasach found herself even more excited. Hotter means more energy. More energy would need more fuel. That can't come from oil like on the Dark Island, surely.

"Should the flames be that big?" Josi asked. "What if the milk scorches?"

"It's a liquid," Kyle said. "Liquids don't burn."

"The fuel we use for the stove is liquid, and it burns quite nicely," Josi argued.

Kyle could not argue with that. "Fine," he said. "I'll turn it down. But it'll take longer to warm up."

"I think we can live with that," Josi said. "It's not like we're in any rush. Neither of us need to work until after dinner. Hey, what are you doing today, anyways?"

Kyle's face brightened. "I'm going aboveground," he said. "Cyrus says he has enough of the antidote ready now, and I can work on healing the nearby villages."

Josi uncrossed her arms, mouth open wide. "Shut up," she said.

"No, I'm serious," Kyle said proudly. "It'll be so exciting. Going out in the dead of night, dodging Guards, secretly healing people…"

Josi sighed heavily. "I always knew you were his favorite. Lucky. I'm gonna be stuck in the pediatric ward all night."

"I thought you loved working with kids," Kyle said.

"I do," Josi admitted. "Children are so sweet. But I wish I could have some adventure. Like you." She gestured to him with a sweep of her hand. "I mean, you got picked as a bodyguard-slash-spy to protect Cole and Kai as they returned from the South. You got to kill Kozu. Now you get to be the public hero and heal a bunch of people. And I'm…stuck underground changing diapers."

"Everyone has their jobs," Kyle said. "And everyone is important. Like Cyrus says, we're all small pieces in a bigger machine." He turned off the burner and stirred the milk with a spoon. "If it will make you feel any better, though, I will talk to Cyrus about making a second squad so you can work outside too. In the meantime…" He turned to Varasach and winked. "I forgot to mention. Cyrus said you're coming with me, Vara."

Varasach's heart leaped. With panic or excitement she could not tell. "Where?" she asked.

"Aboveground," Kyle answered. "Cyrus noticed that you've been a little lonely these past couple days since Cole returned. So he made you my partner. You'll be helping me heal people of this plague."

The plague. Varasach's stomach felt queasy just remembering the sickness. It's over now, she told herself. You're healed. You can't get it again.

"Isn't that great?" Kyle asked, drawing Varasach from her thoughts. "Cyrus is so nice. I mean, he's super busy and never takes care of himself, but he's always paying attention to others and noticing their needs. You've been lonely, and he fixed it- Ow!"

Josi elbowed his side. "Cyrus didn't fix anything, Vara. He's offering a temporary solution until Cole snaps out of this phase and starts paying attention to you again."

Thinking of Cole made Varasach want to cry. She looked away, uncertain of how she should feel about Kyle's invitation. She only saw Cole during meals now- she'd taken to sleeping in the Nindroid wing with Josi and Kyle because being around Cole was…awkward. He hardly payed her any mind even during meals, stuck in his own little world with Chedva. Josi and Kyle were much easier to get along with. She felt comfortable with them, though she knew they could never replace Cole. He was family. These two…they could only be friends.

Kyle, sensing something was off, let his smile fade. "Is something wrong?" he asked. "I'm sorry. I thought you would be happy about working with me."

"No," Varasach said quickly. "No, no. Thank you. Yes, I am happy. I just…" She pursed her lips. How could she express her feelings without sounding like she was complaining?

"Cole," Josi guessed, hitting the nail on the head. "Don't worry, Vara. We get it. And we aren't trying to replace him." She touched Varasach's chin, lifting it. "Keep your head up. Cole will come back, I'm sure. He'd be stupid not to. In the meantime…" She moved her hand to Varasach's shoulder and pushed her toward Kyle. "Have fun. Don't run into any Guards. And you…" She poked Kyle's chest. "Don't get carried away."

"Wh-what?" Kyle asked, eyebrows shooting up. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Josi placed a second finger on his chest and walked them up to his collarbone. "Exciting secret runs in the middle of the night, running from the law? That's about as romantic as it gets."

Kyle flushed. "What are you saying?"

Josi flashed her scary, seemingly sharp-toothed smile. "Nothing," she said. "Nothing at all."


Nine Days Later
11, Vori, year 632


"All right," Kyle said, kneeling beside the bed of a sick little boy. "What's your name?"

The boy looked at Kyle with weary eyes. He hadn't been sick with the ECS long, it seemed, because he was able to sit up in the bed, propped up by a single well-loved pillow, without much apparent discomfort.

"Eiden," the boy said. "Who are you?"

"Kyle," the Nindroid said, slipping on a pair of disposable gloves. "And this is my pretty assistant, Vara. Here. I'm gonna put my hands up here and feel behind your ears. Is that all right?"

Eiden nodded, then winced. He was probably fighting a migraine. Varasach remembered that pain well.

After a moment Kyle finished touching the boy's head and placed his finger at the base of Eiden's neck, feeling his heartbeat. "Vara, please get the needle ready."

Varasach dug into her knapsack and prepared the antidote and the needle as Kyle continued his examination.

"Will he be okay?" asked a man behind them, by the door. Eiden's father.

"Probably," Kyle reassured him. "It looks like the symptoms just started, what, a day ago?"

"Yes," the father answered.

"Good. Then there's a high chance that he'll survive." He tweaked Eiden's nose. "You're pretty strong, I can tell. How old are you? Ten?"

"Seven," the boy said with a smile.

"Seven?" Kyle whistled. "That's it? Wow, you look so much bigger than that."

He actually looked small for his age, Varasach thought, but she didn't say so. She could see what Kyle was doing.

"Okay…" Kyle rubbed his hands together. "Fill it to the five, Vara. He doesn't need much."

Varasach nodded, filled the needle, and set it in Kyle's gloved palm. His hands were stout and strong. For some reason this appealed to Varasach, and she looked away, embarrassed.

"All righty-ho. Eidan, I'm gonna put this medicine in your arm. It'll hurt a little, but you'll feel much better when I'm done. Are we good?"

"Yeah," Eidan replied, deciding it was better not to try nodding again.

He's so happy with kids, Varasach noted, watching as the Nindroid lifted the boy's arm, cleaned it with some disinfectant, and inserted the needle. He and Josi both. Their eyes light up, and their smiles get brighter. They're-

"Here, Vara." Kyle handed back the empty needle. "There we go, Eidan. That wasn't so bad, was it?"

Eidan stared at the bleeding pockmark in his skin, face ashen. "N…no," he said eventually. "I don't like needles." With that, his eyes rolled back in his skull, and he fell asleep.

"Don't be alarmed," Kyle said as the boy's father leaped forward. "There's some sedatives mixed with the antidote. He'll be asleep for a few hours, and then he'll wake up feeling much better. Not yet healed, but better." He smoothed the boy's hair and set him between the sheets, then stepped back, allowing the father to come forward. "Have a good night."

"Thank you," the man said, tears shining in his eyes. He withdrew a small bag of coins from his pocket. "Here. Take this."

Kyle accepted a handful of silver coins with a nod and a smile. "Thank you very much," he said. "This money will help save more lives."

"I hope so," the man said, guiding them from the bedroom, across the kitchen, and to the door. He opened it, and Kyle and Varasach stepped outside. "Good night. And…I'm sorry about this."

"About what?" Kyle asked, but he was speaking to a closed door. "Hmm. Odd." He shrugged. "How're you doing, Vara?"

Varasach shivered as she slung her knapsack over her shoulder. She slipped on her gloves, watching as her breath floated in a dark cloud up toward the moonlit sky. "Cold," she said. "It is very cold."

Kyle examined her top to bottom with a concerned frown. "You want to go back for the night? It's getting really late-"

"No," Varasach said, making her way toward their horses, tied to a tree near the road. "No, no. I'm fine. Let's do a few more tonight."

"If that's what you want," Kyle said. "But seriously, Vara. You're not a Nindroid. You can't push yourself. If you're cold, we should-"

He was interrupted a second time. Not by Varasach, but by the low hiss of a sword sliding from its sheath. This hiss was followed by several more in quick succession, and Kyle whirled, hand flying to his side. "On your horse," he whispered. "Now."

Varasach fled, but her path was cut off by a half dozen men garbed in black and gold. Guards, she realized, hand flying to the straps of her knapsack. That's why the man apologized as he pushed us out the door. He must have alerted them. But how? Why?

She turned, finding Kyle in a predicament much like hers. There had to be twenty Guards total. They slinked out of the shadowy woods surrounding Vara and Kyle, boxing them in. Swords glinted in the starlight.

"You're surrounded," said one Guard, a short man with broad shoulders. "Surrender, or we'll use violence."

Kyle spat to the side, eyes on fire. "We saved your son!" he shouted at the small farmhouse behind him. "And this is how you repay us? Hypocrite!"

"What will it be?" the Guard asked, approaching slowly, like a cat preparing to pounce on its prey.

"What will it be?" Kyle repeated. His dark expression made Varasach glad she wasn't his enemy. "In the past three days, we've saved almost seventy people from the plague. What makes us criminals?"

"You work with Borg," said another Guard, scoffing. "He's a dangerous criminal, which makes you accomplices."

Dangerous? Varasach thought of Cyrus. His smile. The gentle way that he spoke and cared for everyone. What makes him dangerous?

There was a snap, followed by a sharp whipping noise that sliced the air. A dark object hit Kyle's side, and he fell in the snow, grunting. He struggled, but could not move his arms from his sides. Before Varasach could identify the device that had so effectively trapped Kyle, a handful of Guards charged, pinning the Nindroid down. Then, hands ripped the knapsack from Varasach's back, and her hands were tied in thick ropes. She struggled far less than Kyle.

"Hurry it up, men," the first Guard said. "And be quiet. We don't want to cause a ruckus. Not all men in this town are as eager to have these two executed as our informant."

Executed? Varasach exchanged a glance with Kyle. As she watched, all the anger drained from Kyle's face, replaced with panic. He pushed against the device- a net of ropes, Varasach realized- with a desperate burst of strength. It did no good.

"Leave the girl out of this," Kyle gasped as he was dragged to his feet. "She knows nothing. Please."

"Absolutely not," the Guard said. "Borg is a dangerous man, and all associated with him must die.

"The King's orders."


Three Days Later
14, Vori, year 632


The consequences of that night were devastating. The stress, the snow, the wind…they all contributed to the problem that left Varasach near-death in the small, dimly-lit hospital room. Her flooded lungs struggled with each inhale; each labored exhale fogged the oxygen mask strapped about her nose and mouth.

Cole sat by Varasach's bed, humming a lullaby. He was worried, Varasach could tell. His fingers shook as he stroked her withered, blackened hand. She couldn't feel his touch- her whole body felt heavy and numb. But she could see him. Could see the way he tenderly touched her, the way he wilted each time he met her eyes.

He moved his hand to her face and stroked her hair: she couldn't feel that either. She wondered if Cole could sense her fear. Surely it showed in the way she looked at him, the way her eyes moistened and her eyebrows bunched.

Where is he? Varasach wondered, glancing at the door. Where is Kyle? He's been missing for a day now. I can't leave without telling him goodbye…

Cole noticed the direction of her gaze. An expression torn between sympathy and frustration crossed his face. "He's still missing," he murmured, voice cracked and broken. He swallowed. "Kai's still out there, too. I guess…it's too much to ask that they're safe together somewhere, waiting out the storm."

Varasach's eyes blurred with tears she could not feel, and she closed them. Cyrus had assured them that Kyle could not be killed by the storm. But there was always the possibility that he had been captured by Guards again…

Varasach put the thought out of her mind. He's fine, she told herself firmly. He'll be back. I'll see him again before I…I…

"Hey, hey…" Cole removed her mask and wiped away the bile that had bubbled up from her lungs, choking her. "Don't cry. You're okay. Vara, please…" And then he was crying too, softly, as he replaced her mask over her now clean face. "I'm sorry, Vara. I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have ignored you. I made you lonely, and then you started spending time with those twins, and then this happened. I-"

There was a knock at the door, cutting Cole off. He wiped his eyes as Ryndl entered, a ledger under her arm. The Nindroid's eyes were soft as she sat opposite Cole and took Varasach's other hand.

"What are you doing here?" Cole bit off each word. Varasach understood his desire for them to be alone, but she did want Ryndl near. The Nindroid's presence comforted her; offered her support in a way that Cole could not.

"I said I'd come back and sing for you," Ryndl answered. She looked down. "Are you comfortable, Vara?"

No, Varasach wanted to say, but her lips weren't working. It was all she could do to draw in a slow, watery breath through her nose.

Ryndl's olive-green eyes softened, and she spared a glance at the monitor next to the bed, checking the numbers. Whatever she saw must not have been good, because she looked away with a heavy sigh, not meeting Varasach's eyes. Then she began to sing.

On this ever-upward path I climb…

Her voice was amazing. Varasach brought to mind Cole's description of his mother's singing: deep, sweet, clear. A voice that reverberated pleasantly in her ears.

…Lead me by Your perfect design.

The Way, Varasach thought, closing her heavy eyes. This is a song about the Way. Ryndl and Josi both talked about it. The realization lifted a heavy weight from her shoulders.

Lend me light by which to see…

"I love you, Vara," Cole whispered close to her ear.

Varasach felt too tired to open her eyes. But she tried to smile as she thought, I love you too.

…In this dark passage comfort me.

"I'll be there soon," Cole continued. "Okay? Tell them to wait for me."

Soon? Varasach's weak heart fluttered desperately. Like a wounded bird. No, Cole! Stay. Please. Let me go. You- you don't know the Way yet. You can't… Even as the words came to her, they slipped away, as though she were trapped in a vacuum. Every bit of strength, which she desperately wanted to use to reach out and squeeze Cole's hand- or at least open her eyes to look at him, was that too much to ask?- was stolen from her. Gone…gone…gone.

The more she struggled against her desire to sleep, the sleepier she became. Voices around her slowly faded. Ryndl had stopped singing, she realized with some disappointment. People were shouting. A new female voice had entered the room, and was conversing urgently with Ryndl. Cole joined in, and there was quiet for a moment.

What's going on? The fear was almost enough to stun her into opening her eyes again. Why was everyone shouting? Is it me? Are-

"I'm sorry, Vara." The voice was Cole's. "I…I have to go. Goodbye."

What? Varasach's eyes opened at last. Through dark, fuzzy vision she saw Cole follow Ryndl out of the room.

The door shut, and Varasach was alone.

No… Varasach shifted her eyes to her hand- discolored, lying on top of the sheets beside her- and noticed that it was trembling. Her mask fogged as she let out a pull of air. She attempted to draw in a new one, but her chest seized- fluids bubbled up from her lungs, filling her mouth. She tried to breathe through her nose, but her entire passage was clogged. She choked, tears flooding her eyes. I'm…sure Cole had a good reason. But…

Colors swirled together as Varasach's vision faded to gray. Please… She tried again to breath, but only splattered blood and bile onto her mask. Please, please… She had no idea what she was pleading for.

A door slammed shut, and Varasach momentarily stilled, still unable to breathe. Even unable to feel her heartbeat, she knew that it had to be faltering.

"Oh, Vara…"

Josi. Varasach found herself crying again as the blonde Nindroid entered her sight.

"Vara, Vara…" Josi murmured, removing the girl's mask. She leaned over the bed and went mouth-to-mouth with her, drawing out a mouthful of fluid. She turned and spat the bile straight onto the floor, then hurried in again to draw out the remaining blockage. It took a little longer to get the stuff deep in her throat, but when Josi pulled away and spat onto the floor, Varasach managed a tiny gasp. The Nindroid pinched Varasach's nose and breathed into her mouth, filling her lungs with air. Again and again she breathed into Varasach, forcing her flooded lungs to expand until at last she stepped back, and Varasach found that she could breathe on her own. Barely.

"I was just on my way back from the revising and I saw Cole and the others leave your room." Josi slid her thumb along the girl's cheek, drying her tears, then replaced the oxygen mask. "Why did he leave you like that, Vara?"

Varasach felt stronger- but only a little. She could already feel herself slipping again. Her eyelids drooped, and her breathing came ragged and wet. Like she was trying to gargle mud.

Josi stood and moved to the sink, rinsing her mouth with water. She patted herself dry with a napkin, then returned and sat by the bed, picking up a ledger- Ryndle must have dropped it in her rush.

Josi read the report quickly, then growled. "I'm sorry, Vara," she said. "Apparently Ryndle got left in charge of you because all of the real doctors are either helping other patients or have caught the plague. You got left in the care of Ryndl, a really inexperienced nurse who only got activated, like, two days ago. Wow. I'm so sorry. I should have visited sooner. Then I could have sorted this out, and…"

Her soft, honey-colored eyes filled with tears, and she sank into a chair. She took Varasach's hand. "I'm so sorry," she whispered. "I can't believe I didn't visit you sooner. It's just…I had assumed you were okay. And I've been really busy…"

Varasach's only response was a raspy cough.

"No, no…" Mindful of the tubes and wires all around the bed, Josi sat on the mattress and cradled Varasach's head on her lap. "Hey. You can't leave me here alone. Stick around 'till Kyle comes back. Don't you want to see him again? Vara?"

Varasach, unaware that she had closed her eyes, reopened them and looked up. Josi's tears fell and shattered on her face.

…Why did he leave me…?

Josi stroked Varasach's hair, laying out the long red curls on the pillow. "Hey…hey…shh. You'll be okay. Don't be scared."

Varasach brought to mind her words to Cole many months ago. An orange string, an unruly little toddler.

How are you not scared? Varasach had asked.

I am scared. Cole had played with Varasach's hair, much as Josi did now. I'm just choosing to ignore it.

Varasach met Josi's eyes, watched as her vision began to fade again to gray. She blinked, struggling to keep awake, hoping against hope that Cole would emerge through that door and be with her again.

"Do you remember the Way?" Josi asked, sounding frantic. She pressed a palm to Varasach's forehead, as though that would anchor her to this world; keep her alive, just for a little longer. "Please, Vara. It's important. Do you remember?"

The Way, Varasach thought. Like in the song Ryndl sang. Yes, I remember.

"Holy One, ever the same…" Josi tried to sing, but her voice was unsteady. "…A-all we do is…for Your gain. In w…wisdom all our ways you…know…" She declined into low, muted sobs, only every other word intelligible.

Don't cry, Varasach wanted to say. You said it yourself- if I follow the Way, I will be in a better place. Once she thought these words, her fear fell away. She realized how silly it was to fret over what was happening. I'll finally be happy- really happy. No more numbness, no more loneliness. It will be… Unable to find the right word, she tapered off.

"Haven't you had enough?" Josi whispered, her face now in Varasach's hair. "I-I know that you can hear me. There are so many dead. Please…please come back. Save us."

…freeing, Varasach thought, proud of herself for finding the word. It will be…freeing.

Those were her last thoughts before she surrendered to the darkness, and she knew no more.


Five Years Prior
26, Loun, year 627


Pain.

Cole's entire world was pain as he was dragged down a muggy, torchlit hall. Only half awake, he panted, sweat slick on his face, dripping down his back and chest.

The skin above his left breast was raw and blistered in an angry red ring, like a fiery eye. The Ouroboros.

Overlord spoke a few words in the Dark Tongue, and the two stone warriors dragging Cole's body stopped. A servant girl stopped beside them, a tray of food and water in her hands. Cole hoped that was for him; he hadn't had anything to drink for almost a day. His throat was raw and parched.

"This cell should be empty," Overlord said, glancing at Cole momentarily before drawing out a key ring and unlocking the door. He grabbed a lantern from the wall and fixed it in a sconce inside the cell. The woman and stone warriors deposited the tray and Cole inside. Overlord dismissed them with a wave.

Overlord was a tall man, with silver hair- cut and styled military fashion, shaved on the side and combed forward on top. Silver eyes. And tall. Overlord was very tall. He towered like a mountain over Cole, powerful arms crossed, lips pulled tight above a strong, square jaw. His fingers absently tapped the hilt of a sword at his side. A sword with a white gem in the hilt, which seemed to somehow glow with its own light.

Colvyr, some coherent part of Cole's mind said as he pulled himself to his knees. Lord Keith's military general, once upon a time.

"You're mine now," Overlord said. "And you will be mine until one year from today, else I harm your family. Do you understand?"

"Yes," Cole said through gritted teeth. Trying to appear strong and defiant, though all he wanted was to curl into a ball and cry until the pain of his brand subsided.

"Good." Overlord's eyes swept the room, and he focused on a dark spot in the corner. His eyebrows went up momentarily. "Oh," he said quietly, as though talking to himself. "I'd forgotten about that." He looked back to Cole, smiling. "I'll send someone for you and the corpse tomorrow. Until then…" Turning from his prisoner, he exited the cell and shut the door, locking it behind him. Click.

Alone at last, Cole released a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding and closed his eyes. The room smelled rank, and he grimaced.

Corpse, he thought, pulling his hair from his eyes and turning to the corner Overlord had been so transfixed by. What, I'm boarding with a dead person? What kind of sick prison does Overlord run down here?

His eyes locked on the corner, and he saw the corpse in question. Curiosity overcame his disgust, and he crawled closer, favoring his left arm because of the brand.

The body belonged to a girl- Cole guessed her age to be fourteen, though it was hard to tell in the West, what with how tiny all the women were. She had died on her side, legs and arms tucked close to herself. Her hair seemed brown, though Cole thought it looked a little red; the brown was likely just filth from the floor.

A pang of compassion struck Cole's chest. She hasn't been dead long, he thought, easing the girl onto her back. Poor thing. She must have starved to death. Rigor mortis hasn't even set in yet… I wonder if I could have saved her, if I'd been a few minutes sooner… He touched the girl's face. Cold, but soft. Hollow cheeks, covered in grime; human waste. That was probably the smell that Cole had mistaken for bodily decay.

A puff of warm air tickled Cole's finger. He jerked back, gasping. She's breathing! His initial horror turned to relief, and he pressed a finger to the girl's wrist. A light tap indicated that her heart was beating. Barely.

"Oh, Hosts…" Cole ran for the tray and grabbed the cup of water. Returning to the girl's side, he shook her carefully: she seemed as delicate as wet paper. "Hey. Wake up. Come on."

There was no response, so he propped her against himself- trying futilely to ignore the pain of his brand- and lifted the cup to her cracked lips. He poured a small stream into her mouth. At first nothing happened.

Then, she swallowed. Encouraged, Cole continued. Patiently, just a little at a time, Cole administered about half of the liquid into her body over the next fifteen or so minutes. Then she began to stir, twitch her nose, breathe a little deeper.

"Hey," Cole murmured, setting down the pewter cup. "Are you gonna wake up, lazybones?"

The girl's eyelids fluttered for a moment, hesitantly. Perhaps the light was too bright? She'd been living in darkness for only the First King knew how long. He blocked as much of the lantern light as he could with his body, speaking again. "Come on. I know you have it in you. Wake up…"

This time, the girl's eyes flew open, full of fear, and she gasped.

"H-hey! It's all right!" Cole gently set her head on the floor and held up his hands, a gesture of peace. Does she even speak my language? Probably not. My gibberish might be what's spooking her.

So he silenced himself, slowly moving his hand to pick up the water cup. The girl watched his every motion, her green eyes wide. When Cole tried to give the cup to her, she squealed and tried to scoot backwards, though her arms were too weak to do much more than twitch other sides. She couldn't even get her head off the floor.

Cole got one hand under her head and helped her up, then touched the cup to her lips.

The girl somehow flailed her arm and batted the cup from Cole's hand. It clattered to the floor, its contents draining into a dark crack.

Cole took a deep breath. Let it out slowly. "Good job," he said. "There went both our water rations for the rest of the night."

The girl, realizing what she had done, somehow managed to look more afraid.

Cole smiled and pushed her filthy hair from her eyes. "It's all right," he said, though he knew she understood even less of his language than he did of hers. "We can get more tomorrow. You can last 'till then. Here. You hungry?"

He reached out and pulled the tray close. "Mmm. Looks like…an appetizing green mush with bits of something…orange drowning in it. Yeah. I just lost my appetite." He picked up the bowl and dipped the spoon inside its murky depths. "Because I'm just that generous, you can have it all."

The girl stared at the bowl with disbelief and longing. Cole was sure that she would be drooling if she'd had enough water in her to do so. He offered her a bite. She didn't take it, though it was obvious that she wanted it.

"It's all right." Cole did his best to sound friendly and positive. "You can have it." He nodded, hoping she would understand the gesture.

Apparently she did, because she popped the spoon into her mouth and swallowed so fast Cole swore that if he'd blinked he would have missed it.

"How long has it been since your last meal, anyways?" He spooned another bite into her mouth, then another. "Hey, now. Take it easy! It you eat too fast you could throw it back up again."

Cole hated having to do it, but he eventually set the bowl aside. "Sorry, uh, whatever your name is. You'll hurt yourself if you keep eating like that. Let's just wait a few minutes."

The girl was now able to sit against the wall without his help. She eyed the bowl sadly, but was eventually distracted when she noticed Cole's fresh Ouroboros brand. Her eyebrows crinkled. "E'he," she said. Her voice made Cole pause. It sounded more like the pitch you'd expect from ten-winters child, not a teenager like herself. It's cute, though, Cole thought. I like it.

"Yeah…" he said, wincing as he moved to a more comfortable position. "This hurts a lot. He didn't even give me bandages or anything. I hope it doesn't get infected…" Sleep, he thought. Once I'm done taking care of this girl, I'm going to sleep, and I'm not waking up for a very long time.

"What's your name, anyways?" he asked.

The girl gave him a confused stare.

How do I get her to understand? Cole looked away and pursed his lips. The initial pain from his brand was dulling, though it still hurt. It throbbed in time with his heartbeat, making it impossible to ignore.

When Cole looked at the girl again, he saw that she was also pursing her lips. Is she…mimicking me? The notion amused him.

Finally, he pointed at himself. "Cole," he said, enunciating the word as clearly as he could. "I am Cole."

The girl hesitated, then pointed at herself. "Ch…Chol," she said.

"No, no. Cole." He pointed at himself. Then at her.

Understanding flickered across the girl's gaunt features, and she pointed to him. "Kuh…Cole."

Cole nodded his approval.

Heartened by her success, she pointed at herself. "Varasach," she said. "Micha to…Varasach."


Present Day
15, Vori, year 632


Varasach opened her eyes tentatively, and the darkness fled. Lifting her head, she saw that she was in her hospital room. Josi sat in a chair beside the bed, reading in a book, one leg crossed over the other. A glass of water sat by the bedside, half empty.

Varasach coughed, felt a twinge of pain. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, and saw that it was bandaged. Mostly numb until up past the elbow. Three of her fingers were missing. She couldn't find a part of her right now to be sad about that. She was too confused about everything else going on. I'm supposed to be dead. Cole had left, and she was dying, choking…

Josi looked up. Her eyes immediately welled with tears, and she smiled. "Welcome back," she said. "Our little miracle."


...Aaand Astrid does it again. Sigh...I just can't keep my characters dead. :) Surprise? I hope it's a good one for you!

Phew! This one-shot was a handful, let me tell you. I worked on it for over a week, putting several hours pretty much every day into it. That adds up fast. I'm so happy with it, though. It was fun to dig into Vara and Josi's characters some. They'll be fun to play with in the future. (And you WILL be seeing them in the future of TG. They've got an important part to play yet!)

I started a board on Pinterest for all of the models/actors I think look like TG characters. You should totally give it a look! My username is caitlynn0529. Enter it into the search bar of Pinterest, then, once it's loaded, click Pinners. I should come up right away. My True Grit board is easy to find. I've got a picture of Colin O'Donoghue from Once Upon a Time as the cover image. Lol. Please, tell me what you think!

One more thing! This one-shot was inspired by the song Broken Lullabies, by Joel and Luke. Give it a listen. You won't regret it.

All right, I'm outa here. Thanks for sticking with me, and I really hope you enjoyed! Reviews are greatly appreciated. But thank you just for reading, ya freeloaders. ;) I love you all. *hugs* (::) Have some cookies. Bye!