Finnally here! Working title: Mourning Doves

Chapter 1

About the fifth time we wandered in the same circle, I started to get annoyed. I understood that it was easy to get lost here and I understood Cae had enormous pride issues. But my ass was sore, I was hungry, I was tired, I was dying of thirst, I was stiff, and if Cae insisted even one more time that we were not lost, I was going to jump off my horse and- wait. No
. I didn't have the energy. I'd probably just fall on my already sore ass.

"Cae." I mewled, softly, cautiously. "I think we're-"

"We are not lost."
I snarled. Under me, my little gelding let out a puff of breath, as exasperated as I was. "Then we don't know where we are, is that any better, wise one?"

My guardian half-turned, his black eyes narrow. "Muse, shut up please."

I lifted a brow. "Why, Cae! Did you just talk to your Lordship that way?"

He let out a hard, tired breath, and I felt bad for a moment.

I wasn't really anyone's king or 'lordship'. I was, however, the last remaining member of my bloodline- of a very powerful race of people known to most as nothing more then legends. But we were- or had been- very real, and there were people out there who knew it.

Knew it and would do anything for that power.

And so we had been killed, or taken, or forced into slavery, or tricked into being used as servants, until a small group of the King's men had been set out to start the tedious job of rounding us up. They'd meant to protect us, and because of that I can't fault them for anything that had happened.

Mostly. I mean, when one's entire race is wiped out, he tends to get a bit bitter.

Anyway, as the last of them, I was solid gold. And everyone knew it. After the seventh or eighth attempt on my life, it was decided that I would be taken into hiding. And so Cae, who'd been appointed my guardian and protector when I was just ten, had been chosen to take me to a village deep in the forest.

Unfortunately, Cae, as I had discovered many years ago, was the most stubborn jackass in the world, and never, ever would admit to being wrong.

Or lost.

I pulled up alongside Cae's gelding, glancing over. "Sorry."

"Don't be." Cae looked up again, smiling slightly. "You're not used to this-I keep forgetting that." I blushed and ducked my head, feeling my cheeks blaze with shame.

"Just because I wasn't born on horseback-"

"Muse, it wasn't an insult." He was quick to sooth. "You're the easiest person I've had to travel with in a long time. But you need a rest." He reined in his powerful gelding, making the animal throw his head and paw at the ground. I brought my own mount to a halt beside him, resting a hand on his neck. I'd had the delicate paint for years- counted Outlaw as more then just A Horse. He was the only constant in my life, and the closest thing I'd ever had to a friend. Besides, now, perhaps, Cae. I swung off the paint's back and sighed, sagging to the ground. Cae laughed at me good-naturedly.

"We'll stop here for tonight; go ahead and get his tack off." He said, motioning at Outlaw. "Then you can rest. I'll make us dinner and set up camp."

I looked away again. "I can help with dinner." I said softly, pulling myself to my feet with the pommel of the paint's saddle. I removed the tack and my packs, then did the same for Cae's black mount, ground-tieing them both and offering water and feed once they'd cooled down a bit. Cae started setting up camp while I rummaged through our sacks for dinner, ignoring Cae's stern look.

I don't like to use my abilities unless I have to. And, with dried rations, as nasty as they tasted, I didn't have to.

"So." I began, as he joined me at our small fire at last. "Assuming we're not lost-"

"Damn it, Muse, for the last time, we are not-"

"Yeah, yeah."

"What did you want, you hideously spoiled brat?"

I pretended to sulk a moment, then laughed. "Assuming we're not lost- don't even say it again, Cae, I know we're not- how far are we from where we want to be?"

"About a day, I would assume." He said, picking listlessly at his food and watching the horses. "We are taking the long way, in an attempt to avoid pursuit."

"Oh." I said, softly, looking down. "That's why it feels like we're lost."

"That's why. Muse, look at me. Look at me, damn it. None of this is your fault." He set his food down and tilted up my chin. "You can't help being born what you are. And no one had the right to condem you for it."

He meant to make me feel better- somehow my gut only ached worse. I shrugged and lowered my plate, moving to my horse's side.

Yes, they did have a right to hate me, to fear me. Simply by being what I was, their lives were in danger. Just by being around me, they were putting themselves in the line of fire. There were people who wanted to kill me, use me, manipulate me, destroy me, and anyone who got in there was was nothing more then another obsitical to be removed. However they had to do it.

I put my hand on the paint's neck, ignoring Cae's big black until he jealously snorted and nudged me. I chuckled and stroked him, too.

Cae watched us like a protective alpha wolf, teasing me about spoiling the horses and looking for an excuse not to have to clean up until I was out of my mood and laughing. That was something only Cae knew how to make me do. Most anyone else who tried got sulked at.

I came back over to the fire and lay down in front of it, and Cae situated himself against a tree a few feet away.

"Don't worry." He said quietly, eyes closing. "It's going to be okay, Muse." And he relaxed further against the tree, sighing softly.

I lay down and started to drift into sleep, but the horses suddenly stiffened and started to blow. Cae's attention was caught, too, focused on someone in the nearby bushes. I sat bolt upright like a startled rabbit, and Cae drew a small dagger, holding it at the ready. He rose, motioning me into silence, and approached our little camp raider's hiding spot.

With one, smooth jerk he pulled back the brush, and revealed-

a small, scruffy child.

"What the sweet f*uck?" I muttered, staring at the girl rummaging through our packs. She instantly screamed and turned to run- our items clutched to her chest and her jaw set tight- but I was faster.

My power works in a style faintly reminiscent of bonding ceremonies. In those, the couple being joined each slits their wrist- or, in some cases, palm- and allows themselves to be tied together, mingling the blood.

You can't very well tie your arm to the earth- though you can do it to a tree, but there's no point, it works the same- but I did slice my hand open, from base of my pointer finger to where wrist and palm meet. I did this swiftly, without even flinching, with the small dagger I kept for just such a need.

It's symbolic of being one and the same, forever bonded, one being in two forms, closer then lovers, closer then brothers. The moment my hand touched the earth it sang out in joy, recognizing my species, recognizing me.

Earth-Brother! It cooed, and the weeds on the ground wrapped around my hand and arm in an embrace. You have been dormant too long!

Hear me. I whispered back, so only the earth could understand. Beautiful Earth-Sister, hear me and do as I say.



And, just ahead of the child, bramble and bush rose up where none had been before. That had all taken the span of only a few seconds. She screamed again and fell back, and Cae was there to grab her. I yanked my hand free of the earth- the bleeding had stopped and the wound was gone. It worked that way, my power; I was always fully healed after.


Perverse.


Cae was clutching the whining, struggling girl, and I went to the horses to calm them, running a hand over my paint's forehead and giving the black and pat on the neck as I passed them, headed to the girl's side. Calmly, I removed our things from her arms.

"Monster!" She spat at me- then she literally spat at me. "Foul, corrupted, vile, sickening beast!"

"I've heard worse, trust me." I said calmly, as Cae tightened his hold. "Now, shall it be my turn? Thief. Sneak. Wretched little orphan pick-pocket. Selfish child."

She jerked, trying to get loose. "You shut up right now!"

"Truth stings a bit, does it?" I asked, checking her for any hidden away belongings of ours. "There now, little thief." I motioned Cae to let her go, and he did. She slumped to the earth as I flipped over what she'd taken. Mostly rations, about half our money, one or two of my shirts, and a small jewlery box I carried everywhere with me. I was glad to have that back.

"Do you have a name?" Cae asked her, more gently then I ever would.

"Not one I'm giving to you!" She barked.

"Well that's just a shame." I smiled, tucking our things back in our packs. "I guess we'll have to name you like one of the horses. What shall we call our little orphan, Cae?"

Cae had hauled the girl up by the arm. He now chuckled lightly at her outraged expression.

"Perhaps Kitten? She's like one- a very small, scrappy kitten."

I laughed and rose again, laying a hand on my horse's neck and stroking lightly. "Good enough for me."

"I have a name!"

"As do we, but I doubt you'll use them." I smirked. "Why were you stealing from us?"

"Because you're in my forest!"

"Kitten's forest." Cae mused. "That does have a ring to it."

"I'm not a kitten!"


"And this isn't your forest." I leaned on the geigeldingsurdy neck. "You can't own a place like this- well, not at your age."

"Well, it is Shadow's forest!" Slightly more sullen, that.

"Shadow?" I echoed, raising a brow. She clamped a hand over her mouth and glared.
"Who is that, then?"

"Someone who'll come for me if you don't let me go." She growled. "He'll come and kill you both."

"Big words for a tiny girl and a name." I growled. It takes a lot to scare me, now. "He'll find neither my companion nor myself will sit still and just let ourselves be victimized."

"You won't stand a chance." She snarled right back. "No one can kill him!"

I raised a brow again. Cae laughed.

"Everyone is mortal, girl, some are just more resilient then others." He snapped, letting her go again. "Maybe we should keep you here to lure this 'Shadow' person in, and then attack him together when he comes."

"Shadow is smarter then that. He won't let you touch him!"

"He'd be hard pressed to avoid me." I pointed out, drawling lazily. "When the very ground you stand on is my weapon and my lover." Half true.

She stared, wide eyed, at me, then shuffled back a step. She was very young, perhaps only twelve, and very naïve in the ways of the world. Firey and fiefeistyut easy to scare and easy to trick.

I found myself liking her. She meet my gaze steadily, defiantly, and didn't flinch at Cae's prepresence her back. Proud and stubborn little **** reminded me of me in a few ways.

I softened. "What's your name, girl?" I asked, and she blinked in surprise at my milder tone.

"Alex." She said at last. "Well, Alexia."

"Muse." I told her quietly, touching my own chest lightly. "And that one is Cae." Cae lifted a hand in quiet greeting.

"Now, you want to tell us who 'Shadow' is, and why you're stealing, apperantly for him?"

A long, long pause. Then she flicked her gaze sullenly to the earth and crossed her arms, pouting, hiding behind tangled blonde hair. "He doesn't know I'm stealing." She said at long last. "He'd be pretty mad at me if he found out."

"Then why are you doing it?"

"Because, we need it, and Shadow's been gone longer then ever!" She snapped, and she stomped her little foot.

We exchanged concerned glances. She, unfortunately caught the Looks. "Adults." She sniffed. "You don't trust anything you don't understand. Shadow is a real person and he is coming back! He just- he'd probably gotten caught by bad people. He'll get loose and come back for us, you watch."

"Why would people be after your Shadow?" Cae asked, and she blushed.
"Because. He's-we're-not like the rest of you." She said, slowly, picking at the strands of her skirt.

"I'm not like the rest of them." I pointed out, softly. "And you were very quick to condem me."

"I was angry, that's all." Her blue eyes tilted upwards once more. "You're Nature Kin, right?"

I nodded.

"I thought they were all dead."

"All but the one." Cae said for me. "Why is Shadow different?"

"He just is, but he's not Nature Kin." She smoothed her dress down. "So you won't want him."

My brow furrowed, and Cae made a low, surprised sound. "Won't want?-"

"Well, he's your little sservant isn't he? All of them are, now, if they're alive." She blinked in perfect innocence.

I nearly lunged at her- Cae stopped me, but his own ccountnancewas angry. "No-Muse isn't anything to me but a very dear friend." He said. "And I am his protector, to make sure no one does use him."

She eyed us both, wary, ssucpiciouse "Well. Shadow doesn't need friends or protectors, either."

"Everyone needs at least one friend." I said softly, kneeling "I was very lonely, without friends."

"Wouldn't you be, too?" Cae asked her, half-smiling. "I'm sure you have friends." She shrugged.

"That's who you're stealing for, right?"

Another shrug.

"Come on." Cae motioned. "Here, you looked starved; we've got enough to share."

"Shadow will be upset if I'm not there when he gets back." She shuffled, torn between food and fear. "He really will be looking for me. And the others need me. I have to get back."

"Well then." Cae looped an arm over her. "You can worry about all that in the morning; we'll even escort you home."

"No!" She yanked free sharply. "No, you can't see it!"

"Alright, easy." I lifted my hands in surrender. "No one will go if you don't want."

"But at least rest here, tonight." Cae said, his paternal instincts kicking in. "You must be hungry, and tired."

She ffinally rrelunctantlyagreed to eat with us, and, when she got sleepy, I gave her my bedroll. She snuggled down, then asked, from the darkness;

"You have a blood-bond with nature, then?"

"I'd really rather not discuse it, thank you."

"But- but is nature alive?"

"Everything is alive in one way or another."

"But you actually bond yourself with-"

"I'd rather not talk about it, Alex."

"Why?"

"Because! It's- not- a good thing." I faltered. "It's- please, go to bed."

She went silent for a bit, and I sighed in relief.

We would get her home tomorrow morning, and then we could continue our journey. This would all be over soon.

Well, that's what I thought.