Briana was on the green heading for Lori and Michels place. She wanted to 
talk with Lori since she had heard the good news. She hoped her friend 
was doing the right thing.

Her mind drifted also to the question S'brogh had asked her just a few 
days ago. Would she be happy as his mate? Well, she had some time to 
think as he had volunteered to take his parents some things at Cleft and 
was staying a few days. She would give him an answer one way or another 
when he got back.

(Briana! Michel is in trouble! Paranth is frantic, trying to bust down 
the walls to get to his rider!)

Briana raced the short way to the house where she saw Paranth shaking the 
walls by slamming into them.

(Tell him to stop! He'll knock the walls down on Michel! Get help!)

Briana raced in and saw a number of attackers wearing masks. She 
immediately flew at one of them with a kick. It had been awhile since she 
had practiced, but her acrobats kept her limber and the kick connected.

"Another landbound friend come to help!" One of them sneered, as he 
backhanded her. She went flying, but immediatly jumped to her feet again 
and launched herself back at him, dropping him to the ground.

Michel knocked another down and then one lunged for his back, a knife in 
hand.

"Michel, look out!" Briana screamed, launching herself at the man 
herself, falling to the floor with him underneath her. She felt a sharp 
pain in her side.

As the blackness started to take over, she heard them scrambling. "People 
are coming, lets get out of here!"Another chimed in "Well, at least we 
paid him back for letting Roland go! We'll get him later!" She heard them 
racing for the back of the house and heard Michel groan and then there
 was no more.

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

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

Lori was just finishing oiling Wyndelie when suddenly she was agitated.

(Paranth! Star!)

(What whats wrong with paranth and Star?) Lori was still having trouble 
getting used to the voice in her head, but especially when it was 
screaming like it was now.

(There riders are in trouble! They are hurt!)

Lori gasped. Michel! Briana!

(Where, Wyndelie, where?)

(At your home)

Lori sprinted quickly across the green where she saw a crowd in front of 
her door. She pushed her way through.

"Michel?" Lori saw him lying there and raced towards him. He weakly 
smiled at her. 

"I am alright, just a little bruised and battered" Michel said. Then he 
looked worried. "Briana got it a little worse. She got a small knife 
wound, but Kyven says she'll be fine."

"Briana?" Lori went over to where she lay "Are you alright?"

Briana looked at her weakly "yeah, but tell your mate here that when he 
gets into fights to make the odds a little better! Six to two is 
ridiculous!"

Lori looked at the two of them. "What happened?"

"Ask him" Briana said "All I know is Paranth was trying to knock down the 
walls and when I came in there were six people in leather masks attacking 
him."

"Yes, I would like to know myself what happened" The crowd parted as 
Christalla came into the room.

Michel looked at her "I came home and something didn't feel right. 
Suddenly one pinned me from behind while four men and a woman, wearing 
leather masks came at me. they said something about warnings. And 
outsider friends. Then they attacked me."

"One of them said something when I came in also" Briana chimed in 
"Something about 'another landbound' and when they left something about 
paying him back for letting Roland go."

Lori froze at Briana's words. This had happened to Michel and to Briana 
because of what she had done?

(Whats wrong, Lori?)

(Nothing sweetie, its alright)

(But...)

(Not now)

Lori moved over to Michel's side. "I don't think its safe here anymore. I 
want to go back skyward."

"But Wyndelie can't fly yet" Michel protested.

"Then maybe we can have the Guild of Swords stand guard until she can" 
Lori looked at Christalla "Like they did when I first got here and the 
assasin was running loose."

Christalla nodded. "I will send someone."

"What about Briana? She shouldn't be by herself either." Lori said.

"I want her at the med center for tonight anyways" Kyven spoke up.

Briana started to protest, then felt the pain in her side and agreed.

"I will want to talk with both of you more about this later" Christalla 
said. "To see if you remeber anymore."

They both nodded and Briana was helped to her feet and the crowd dispersed.

Lori helped Michel to their bed then threw her arms around him. "Oh 
Michel! I couldn't bear it if anything happened to you! I love you so much!"
Especially if it was my fault, Lori added to herself silently.

(Why would it be your fault, Lori?)

(Never mind, Wyndelie. Can you either cuddle with Paranth or someone else 
tonight? I need to be with Michel)

(Yes, Lori. But I will miss you)

(Me too, sweetie, me too)

Michel drew Lori to him. "I love you, Lori"

"I love you, too, Michel"

They held each other and soon drifted off to sleep.
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                        Kat Harris: catwoman@indy.net


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