*Belarade*

The bumpy ride in the carriage jostled her slight frame around as she
cradled her book protectively to her chest.   The sun had long since set,
but Bella had kept the leather bound novel out as a security blanket on her
journey home.

She shut her eyes and leaned her head against the wall of the carriage,
sighing.  They were still far outside of the city gates and she knew the
closer that they got, the fewer peeks she would take outside of the
vehicle's windows.

She wondered when the other group would start in the morning...and what
Ce'Lot was doing at that moment.  A small smile crept on her lips as she
thought of the golden-haired wingleader.  She could see his blue eyes now
and feel the strength of his arms around her.

But then there was Coneta...  Bella shifted uncomfortably in her seat as she
glanced across to Glynweith.  The Duchess reminded her of that noble air
that the Lady of Lotherra had carried herself with.  He had told her it was
over...  But if that was his type...

Belarade shook her head and closed her eyes.  There was no point in thinking
on it now or ever...  If Ce'Lot was interested then...  he would get back in
contact with her once they were both back in the warren.  They had only
shared a kiss or two and nothing would really be lost if he decided that
indeed she wasn't his type.  Well...she wouldn't lose anything except for
all this time she had spent daydreaming about him.

Bella closed her eyes again and listened to the clip-clop of the horses's
hooves in front of the carriage as she slowly drifted off to sleep...

*B'Lin*

He stuck his heels into the gut of the horse, urging it to go faster and
catch up with Carlynee...  He had been trying to get the little artist's
attention all morning!

"So...Carlynee...you know...I'd model for you...." B'Lin grinned lecherously
as he managed to leer over at her.

"That's all right..." she answered and smiled over at him.

B'Lin frowned a little and sat back in his saddle....was she making fun of
him?

"You know I painted your sister?" she added casually.

He snorted at that.  "Why?"

"Why not?" Carlynee shrugged.  "I wanted to paint her."

"It was a lovely painting.." Ce'Lot offered.

B'Lin rolled his eyes.  The wingleader had ridden ahead of them all morning
long...  and it just irritated him how the golden boy took on that 'take
charge' attitude - as if he and the rest were there to just follow along.

"Well I'll be the judge of whether or not it was any good....she's my
sister," he said sulkily.  What did Ce'Lot know about art anyway?  Besides,
he knew Bella better than anyone...  he would be able to tell if the
painting looked anything like her.

"I wonder how Belarade's trip has been so far?" Carlynee asked.

"They're probably still riding..." Ce'Lot answered her.

"But they're probably almost there..." B'Lin added - just for
contradiction's sake.

"I hope they're being careful...." the wingleader said to himself.

"Bella can take care of herself..." B'Lin said a little tensely, although he
knew it wasn't true.


*Belarade*

Bella's stomach twisted as she looked out across the ravaged countryside of
her home... bits and pieces from farms and homes scattered about -

"Bella, I suggest that you detach yourself with Lady Wylla.  Wylla will be
surveying the damage and questioning those who remain...  Wylla, take care
of Bella here.  Good luck and be careful."

Bella blinked at Glynweith trying to gather her bearings from the shock of
the once rustic looking landscape...now appearing as a wasteland.  She
merely nodded in response and followed after Wylla as the other woman
descended from the carriage after they had entered the city gates.

Inside of the walls, the scene wasn't much better...  a few stray dogs ran
in a pack sniffing at the litter in the streets while a mysterious eyes
peered out of various windows.

"Let's walk over this way.." Wylla reached for her arm gently and guided her
towards the center of the city.

Bella nodded again dazedly.  "I ran all through these streets...with my
brother and sister..."

Wylla kept a firm grasp on her arm and glanced over at her, not saying
anything.  Their
feet were quickly taking them to her parents' house and the scenery did not
seem to get any better.

A shutter barely hung from it's hinges on one of the windows and a flock of
ravens took to the air in a black swirl from off the ground just outside of
her childhood home.

Shaking loose from the other woman's hold, Bella pushed the door open
quickly and stood motionless silhouetted in the doorway as her eyes took in
the inside of the house.  Pictures and books....clothes that had been
slashed...all were lying scattered here and there.

"Mom....Dad...." she yelled out as she tripped over some broken pieces of
furniture on the floor while trying to make her way into the other parts of
the house.

Silence answered her and she slumped against a bare table as she closed her
eyes trying to block out the negative thoughts that entered her mind  and
threatened to take over.  But everything pointed to the obvious...her
parents weren't here....and if they weren't here then they were probably -

Slowly she sunk to the ground as the tears that had been threatening ever
since she had laid eyes on the first signs of destruction began to flow down
her cheeks.  She needed her brother...  and even though she had tried to
mentally prepare herself for the worse possible - nothing could have
compared to this.

<NRPG:  I hope I have this time line right...  I thought that Glynweith's
carriage had left sometime the evening before and that they had arrived in
Lotherra sometime the next day?  I hope I'm right...that's how I read it.
TAG to everyone involved!>

Respectfully Submitted,
Bella and Menia
B'Lin and Glay
Xylian Warren


~Tracee Taylor-Schneider~
http://www.geocities.com/~_sierra_

When shall they meet?  I cannot tell,
Indeed, when they shall meet again,
Except some day in Paradise;
For this they wait, one waits in pain.
Beyond the sea of death love lies
For ever, yesterday, today
            ~Christina Rossetti "One Day"