Peace

Her form tossed and turned in her bed, blue and green hair hiding her face as she turned once more. Her face drawn into a tired frown, muttering under her breath.

"No, no more, stop.....why?"

In her dreams she saw the grave of her ancestor, the form of the person kneeling there sobbing.

"Release me...set me free...I need to cross, but I'm still bound...please..."

The woman's head turned, it was Raven, her eyes filled with tears that shined as they fell down her face. Her eyes glittered, sorrow filled as she begged for release. She had been going through this night after night, torn between the idea of losing her guide, and the sorrow she felt for Raven being bound here.

She gathered her strength and wits about her, and reached out to embrace Raven, "No more, I can't let you suffer. What do I need to do?"

As she accepted this, she knew she wouldn't lose her. She would always have her guiding spirit, but that spirit would be free from the earthly realm. She knew her powers, her tie to the unearthly would always lead them to each other.

"The death ceremony must be done. I was buried without it, you must perform it over my grave. I will show you."

She woke, for the first time in a long time feeling well rested and content.

(days later)

Arania looked at the clock on the dresser, setting her pencil down as she got up and picked up her phone. She dialed the number to reach Mus.

"Hey handsome" She smiled as his voice came over the phone. "Is it ready?"

"Yes my dear, the oven for the clay is ready. Are you sure you don’t want one of us to help you?"

"I have to do this alone MusiKai, you know that. It’s part of the ceremony." She twisted the cord around her finger. "I’ll be checking in with Silversteel, then going to the sauna to prepare. I warned everyone it would be unavailable for at least a day."

"As you wish Ari, I still don’t like this though." He sighed as he hung up.

She rang SilverSteel’s workshop next. "Hi Silver…mm-hmm….is it done?" She stretched as she walked to her closet and picked out the clothes she would need for the ceremony. "Good, the carvings are exactly as I wanted them? Very good, I’ll pick it up in an hour. Thanks Silver."

She picked out a simple white dress, and proceeded to dress, putting first it, then beaded anklets and bracelets on. Next she put on a beaded choker with the image of a Raven on it, black raven feathers hung from the center, nestling between her breasts. She would not wear this dress for the whole thing, only for her cleansing. She had a white deerskin dress ready for the ceremony itself.

She walked down the stairs, drawing the eye of a couple of the people who were cleaning.

"You look lovely Lady Arania," Eagle nodded to her as she passed.

"Thank you Eagle. I'm going to be unavailable for a couple days, do be sure Blue stays out of trouble for me." She smiled at him.

"Yes Ma'am, I will do my best."

She continued by him, stopping at SilverSteel's workshop, gathering her blade, thanking him. The blade, like all of his work, was exquisite work. The handle fitting Arania's hand perfectly. She went into her own private workshop that she had had constructed a few days previously. It was attached to the clinic, and was stocked with herbs that she had been instructed to gather by Raven, some for this ceremony, others for more common usage.

She settled in front of her table, working the clay there, allowing herself to be lulled into a calm meditative state. Once this was finished she went and set it into the oven, letting it harden while she was going through the sweat/cleansing.

She was to fast, eating and drinking nothing for 24 hours. She stripped herself, and went into the sauna wearing only the beads, and her talisman.

A day later she emerged, feeling calm, almost floating from the meditation, and fasting. She walked calmly to her ceremonial dress, slipping it onto her bare skin, and went to the kiln where her bowl awaited. Gathering it, since it was done and cool, she then went into her workshop, gathering the herbs she needed for the ceremony, and collecting her dagger once more. Smiling at the day that had been chosen to perform the ceremony of release, she rose into the air, clutching the items to her bosom, setting off for the grave, unaware she was being watched.

The grave of the woman she sought to free, lay in a clearing near the edge of Haven's woods. There, at the base of a weeping willow tree lay a cairn of stones, to mark the body of the woman. Settling on her knees before the grave, Arania looked around, taking in the setting around her. There was a small still pond, a path of stone and dirt that ran along the edge of the trees. Oddly she saw no sign of animals around her, but for one, the trace signature of a coyote, which seemed odd for some reason. She dismissed it though, thinking it merely due to her state of sleeplessness, and not having eaten in a day.

Setting the bowl on the top of the stones before her, she raised her hand over it, dagger clutched in the other. Slowly and purposely drew the sharp blade across her palm, reading the runes on the blade as she allowed the blood to drip into the bowl. She wound a piece of cloth around her hand after she had enough in the bowl, closing her eyes and focusing, to let the blood flow stop, and then proceeded to tear the herbs, mixing them into the bowl with the blood, chanting the words she was taught.

She moved her hands in a set pattern over the bowl, faster each repetition. She allowed her words to grow gradually louder in volume, allowing herself to sink into the ceremony, becoming oblivious to the world around her, and the eyes on her when she collapsed.

Her eyes opened to nothingness, white light surrounded her, but the air was deathly still, and there was no noise at all. Sitting and waiting patiently, she found no fear in her, oddly she felt serene, at home in this white emptiness.

"Welcome child of the earth." A voice echoed around her, "This is the bridge, the distant entrance into the spirit realm."

Seemingly fading into existence before her, with each step closer it took, was a large Coyote. It's head was level with hers as she stood. She was startled but not frightened by this sight. She felt curious, safe, and amazed.

"Greetings brother coyote. Can you tell me why I am here?"

"Easy my child, it is time for your test."

At Haven, those who eat and those who don't all gather around the huge table for the meal. Sitting before them was a delicious meal of stew, fresh fruit, home made bread, and steamed vegetables. To drink there was a mild wine, sweet tea with lemon, and a delicious apple pie for dessert.

As everyone settled in their seats, the Lioness looked up to Angel at the head of the table.

"Umm, did someone invite a guest tonight?" She asked, as Blade started handing out the dishes.

"No Ketana, not tonight, why do you ask?" Angel smiled.

"Because there is a woman standing behind you, who I do not know." She pointed, causing Angel to turn her head quickly.

Standing there was a dark haired woman with one blue eye and one brown. She smiled gently. Angel quickly recognized it was not someone from the earthly realm.

"Hello friends, I am Raven, and I have come to seek your help."

The Kais were confused at watching Ketana and Angel staring into the wall, talking to someone none of them could see.

"Your friend needs your help. She has been taken for her vision quest, but her body remains unguarded in the field near my grave. You must guard her body until her spirit returns."

They walked, following Angel and the lioness, as they were the only ones who could see who was leading the way.

"I was not expecting her to go through this time of testing so soon. There must be something special, or stronger about her for her to be sent on the quest at this point in time. She is being taken by Coyote himself, I am not sure why she is being given this honor. Most shamans go through their entire life never even getting a glimpse of the trickster."

The reached the field after two hours of walking. Laying at the base of the cairn, under the dreamcatcher, was the still form of their friend. She was barely breathing as they approached.

"Take the dreamcatcher, keep it near her at all times until she awakens. I will watch as I can from behind the veil." With that, Raven disappeared, fading from the eyes of the two women.

MusiKai reached and gently took her into his arms, frowning as he saw the thin line of a cut across her palm. Sparrow , on the guidance of Angel, took the dreamcatcher, and walked behind his brother, as they all returned to the house.

"My test?" She was confused. Raven mentioned nothing about a test when she told her about the ceremony.

"Usually one who has only been one of us as short a time as you would not be tested. But now there are so few, and the need is greater for skilled men and women. The test has been adjusted accordingly. So my child, are you ready?"

"I guess so, though I am guessing I really have no choice." She gave a small chuckle.

"A few things you will need to know before you start. Your body will be fine until you are returned to it. It will not need food or water, it will get all it needs from the environment around it. You will have all the same skills and powers as you do on the earthly realm. You will probably even gain a few along the way, as you are rewarded for each trial, or as you learn to overcome others. I do not know what you will face, as my part in it is as guide from one trial to another, and anything else I will be needed for I will not know until we get there. You may not even recognize me at some points in time. Do you understand?"

She nodded, taking it all in.

"Lastly, if you fail any trial, you will move onto the next. You will be judged at the end. If you fail your test, there will be one more chance, but it will happen a long time from now. Should you fail that one, then you will be stripped of all you shamanistic magics."

She nodded again, oddly not nervous, but still anxious to get on with it. She had been through a lot in the real world already, she felt confident in her abilities.

"Are you ready child?" Coyote asked, as he turned away, his nose pointing down a path that appeared out of nowhere.

"Yes, I am ready."

They arrived in a beautiful field, quiet and empty of life.

"Here is where I leave you for now. Good luck child." Coyote vanished.

Coyote reappeared beside Raven, the animal spirit. They were watching from somewhere unseen.

"Are you sure she can pass this trial brother?" Raven looked at the woman. She was not strong physically, but that had rarely effected anything before.

"I am certain of it. She is the chosen one, the future of our ways rides on her and what she does now."

"I am well aware of that. She has had little in the way of our teachings though. I hope she is up to it, I will be carrying the results to the Great Spirit when she is ready. He will be judging her himself, he will decide if she is the chosen one or not. He has taken an interest in her ,, I think he sees a lot of her ancestors in her, though she does not know it herself."

Coyote said nothing, watching the vision pool before him.

Standing in the field, she still saw nothing, so she chose to walk the trail that still lay in front of her. It wound its way through the pasture and into a dark wood. Walking through the wood, she heard and saw nothing but the trees. A few steps in she turned, but the field had vanished, and the trees closed around her. She had no choice now but to go forward.

Finally the trees parted again, leading into the suburbs of a city. She frowned. Why would a trail created by creatures of nature lead to a man made city. As she looked around, she realized where she was. Sitting in front of her was the destroyed ruins of the Master's warehouse laboratory.

She stepped closer. Suddenly she was startled, as she heard a voice coming from the pit in the rubble.

"Help, help me please." The voice was weak and male, and very familiar. "It's going to fall in on me! HELP!"

She peered into the darkness. There, under the threatening overhang of rubble from above, was the Master himself.

They had arrived back at the house, taking less time then when they left. They had felt more rushed for some reason. Disco helped MusiKai and Sparrow get their mistress settled into a hospital bed, hanging the dreamcatcher over her with the help of an IV pole.

Dr Ben arrived shortly after they did, taking her temperature, checking her pulse and breathing, and pupil's response.

"She's hardly breathin' son. She's alive, but barely."

He turned taking the wires and electrodes from Disco, attaching two to her temples, and one to her chest above her heart, after cutting her dress open. Mus frowned as he cut it, but understood. Sparrow stood between Disco and Arania, blocking his brother's view. He watched her, nervous and worried.

"She will be all right won't she?" Sparrow looked to the others.

"She'll be fine son." Dr Ben busied himself with looking at the readouts from the equipment. Her brain was going crazy, the readouts were all over the place. Her heart, on the other hand, was beating very slowly, and barely was able to be read by the machine.

"Angel said that she would be fine, her guide told my lady that at least." Disco patted his brother's shoulder. "I guess now it's up to her."

They all turned, watching her in her unconsciousness.

She looked into the dark pit. She was shocked at who she saw there.

"HELP!!!" the voice pleaded with her, the debris was slowly but surely slipping, if she delayed much longer, he would die. She started to shift forms into something strong enough to pull the rubble away from the edge.

A voice whispered into her ear. "Why save him, he dies and never hurts anyone again. Remember what he did to you?"

Her mind was flooded with images and feelings that this man had put her and her friends through. Her body was again racked by the pain of her transformation, she saw the lioness's pain after her return to haven, her body poisoned by that man. She saw the faces of the children, and the living Kai, knowing what he put the man through, and what happened to create those children. She mourned again Kai's innocence lost at the hands of this man and those who worked for him. As she saw and felt all of this, her anger grew, and she stepped back from the pit.

"What will you do? Leave him here to die, no longer tormenting you or anyone else, or save him?"

Mus and Sparrow grew worried as their beloved's sheet covered body convulsed and twitched. Dr Ben moved, and with Disco's help, strapped her down, strapping her head to the bed, and putting something in her mouth to keep her from biting off her tongue. The good doctor also covered her in a light rubber sheet, so if any of her electricity was discharged, it would not hurt the equipment.

Sparrow was growing increasingly worried, when he looked up and noticed something odd about the dreamcatcher. Inside the threads and bits of turquoise was the tooth of some animal. Sparrow looked closer, racking his mind for the type it was, anything to distract him from what was going on with his beloved. As he thought and looked, he realized it was the tooth of a coyote, old and dull in color. The dreamcatcher spun lazily in the air currents in the room. The watch continued.

"No!" She grew firm in her resolve. "I will not allow him to die."

"But why?" The disembodied voice whispered into her ear again. "It would solve so many problems, and nobody would ever have to worry about him again."

She shifted into the form of a huge brown grizzly bear, throwing the rocks and rubble aside. "Because, if I were to stand here and watch, as much as it would solve problems, my conscious would not allow it. I would be no better than him, it is what he would do should our positions be reversed."

As she spoke those words, she finished removing the danger. The pit melted and vanished, and standing in front of her once more was Coyote.

"Wonderfully down child." He smiled, the expression looking odd on the canine, compounded by the fact he was missing his left front tooth. "You have shown compassion and mercy, both very good traits to have."

"Thank you, am I to take it I chose correctly?" She looked at the creature. She was confused, and yet not surprised.

"No, that is not my decision, and I can not tell you the answer to that as I do not know it myself. I know that were I the judge, I would have approved of your actions. I do not know the purpose of this particular test, so I can not answer that for you."

She nodded, and turned to follow him as he led the way to the next of her trials.

It was late night in the clinic inside the house. Angel and the lioness had both been by to check on their friend, but had long since fallen asleep in their rooms, both in the arms of their lovers. Mus and Sparrow remained in the room with her, each holding one of her hands, unafraid of the danger from her powers.

"Please wake up my love...please." They both whispered and thought those words, or others with the same meaning over and over during the night, until they collapsed from their protoblood running out. That is where they were found, their grips on her hands tight as ever.

She found herself in a deep dark cave this time, again left alone by the creature that was her guide. She had nothing to light the way for her but the soft glow that came from within her own body. She didn't like this place, the steps she took echoed, in spite of her bare feet. She could hear soft skittering noises, she was not sure if it was mice or something else doing it though. She could not see anything with her powers, this frightened her. F something lay in wait before her to ambush her, she would not be able to see it.

Slowly she walked forward, conscious of the slightest movements of the air around her, the water dripping off the stalactites, and the sound of creatures moving in the dark. She was listening so intently, she didn't notice the pit in the ground until she fell into it.

She looked around, her arms outspread, a futile attempt to stop her fall. She had been to stunned by it to take flight, and she landed on some sort of net. She looked above her and started shrieking.

The sound echoed through the entire house, waking all but the children and their caretakers. That room being furthest from the screams. The reactions varied from room to room. Angel and Disco sprang out of bed, taking off to the clinic, once they were both sure that it was not the children. Genesis sat straight up in the bed where he had been laying beside his lioness, ensuring her safety, and nodding to the door opening to reveal Cupid, reassuring him at the same time. The lioness, taking advantage of their hesitation, jumped out of bed and grabbed her sword, her keen hearing finding the source of the scream to be the clinic. Genesis, once she told him where it was, made her put the sword back and put on a dressing gown. Together the three of them took off running to the clinic, meeting up with Disco and Angel on the way.

Down the hall, the thetas heard the scream and quickly darted past the hands of Decor, running to the kitchen to get their "armor" and "weapons". Decor quickly followed them, to ensure there was not too much damage caused. There he met up with Blade, who had calmed them down, and fed them donuts to keep them busy while their brothers tended to the source of such horrifying screams.

Eagle was the first to arrive in the clinic. He was shocked at the state of his brothers, and moved quickly to gather enough containers of protoblood. Disco was second in the room, his shock the same as Eagle's. Angel and Ketana followed, seeing the still unconscious form of their friend. Her body was stiff as a board, arched up off the table, eyes wide and unseeing, her mouth open in shrieks of terror. They moved quickly, tightening the straps around her to keep her from falling off the table.

"We have to find some way to quiet her, or at least block the sound from the rest of the house." Angel shouted over the din. Genesis was helping Eagle to fill MusiKai and Sparrow, while Disco and Cupid held the straining woman on the table, the straps were not working, as her straining against them were causing them to rub against the metal frame and fray.

"I agree." Disco looked thoughtful, his mouth turned down in a slight frown. "I will soundproof the room." He left Cupid, and the now awake Mus and Sparrow, to holding her onto the bed while he took Genesis with him to find the things necessary for the temporary soundproofing.

Ketana looked down at the bed at Arania. "I don't know about these..tests..but whatever she is seeing inside there is scaring her to death."

Ari was still screaming. She had her eyes screwed shut tightly from the sight before her. Hanging on a thin thread was a giant spider. It was at least 8 feet across it's body, and it's legs were twice as long as it's body. It's huge eyes glittered in the faint glow coming from her, and smaller spiders swarmed over it's body.

Faint whimpers came from off to her left, and she forced herself to turn her head and open her eyes and look. There, huddling in an indentation on the side of the cliff sat a small child. From where she lay, it was hard to tell much more than the fact the child was even there. She closed her eyes, trying to focus, and figure out something, anything that could walk on a spider web besides the spiders themselves.

She trembled as she shifted, trying to control her terror at the huge spider she knew loomed over her. She had to get to the child, and had to protect him or her. She focused on that alone, not letting the feelings overwhelm her. Slowly she crawled over the thin strands of webbing, eyes set on the huddled form.

She muttered to herself over and over, "Left, right, left, right." A mantra to keep her moving. Then she felt the web move from something besides herself. Knowing what it was set off a whole new round of screams.

Disco stapled the last of the lining in place over the doorframe, and turned back towards the others in the room. Ari had quieted down, but her body was still laying there trembling. His brothers had awakened, again holding the hands of their lady when her form shifted to something that nobody recognized. Disco shrugged slightly.

Angel and Ketana had gone back to bed, they would do nobody any good with no sleep. It had taken all three, Cupid Genesis and Eagle to convince them that they should go, and they were promised to be awakened if anything else happened. Disco decided he would remain in the clinic for the remainder of the night, then the other brothers would take a turn. Should it become necessary, any one of them could refill the others, or restrain the woman.

Disco winced as he heard the first shriek. "Looks like the soundproofing will get it's testing." He muttered to himself as he settled into a chair to watch.

She froze, mere inches away from the edge of the cliff, her fingers gripping the spider silk as tight as she could possibly manage. She was trying her hardest not to let her mind freeze up from the fear she felt. Even when facing the Master she had not been so terrified, but this fear went a lot further back, into her childhood.

When she was in grade school, she woke one morning, and had an argument with her mother over the fact she hadn't wanted to go to school that day. She was crying in the bathroom, and had looked into the mirror to brush her hair. She had been bitten by a spider of some sort, and her face had swollen up. Her eye was swelling shut, and it looked really nasty. She was allergic and now she was afraid to find out what would happen if that huge monster spider got a hold of her.

She felt the dripping of some fluid on the back of her legs, and she shuddered. She shrieked and launched herself forward onto the ledge. The child grabbed her and helped her to sit on the edge before she could lose her grip.

"We have to get out of here," She muttered, both to herself and the child, the small alcove not big enough to allow the spider access, but also just deep enough it's legs could not reach. She forced herself to look at the creature, shuddering fiercely. She looked at the child and saw the small girl was injured, and looked thin and weak. She also thought the child looked familiar, the harder she thought on it, the more the child looked like a blend of little Daisy and Kaila. That strengthened her resolve to get them both out safely even more.

Morning dawned on Haven bright and clear. It would be a beautiful day, but one could not tell that from the mood inside the mansion itself. The clones who were not helping in the clinic went about their business as normal, though somewhat distractedly. The thetas were even unusually subdued, playing with the children, and helping keep them busy, and distracting themselves. Apollo sat with Lily in the nursery with the children, one eye on her, the other on the kids. Blade prepared a simple breakfast for the living, eggs, toast and bacon, which was barely touched. The stillness in the house was almost as disturbing as the shrieking from the night before.

Angel and the lioness went to join the others in the clinic as soon as they finished eating. Ben reported no changes to them or anyone else, and continued his watchfulness over the still form on the bed. Her breathing was shallow once more, and her heart barely reported a presence, beating softly, and only once every few minutes. Ben, concerned about the lessened pulse, had put an oxygen mask securely over her face to ensure that she got enough air to breathe.

Mus and Sparrow had still not moved from the chairs at the sides of the bed, their eyes not wavering from their view.

She was looking around the cliff, trying to find handholds she could use, but there were none. She could not fly out because of the webbing covering the place, any form she took, with or without wings, would become entangled in the strands, and finish the spider's intentions for it. She cursed softly, her mind trying harder to work this out. She knew the web would burn, but how could she burn it away without it falling on them, or hurting them in any way. She knew plenty of forms that could burn it, so that in itself was no problem. That was when she figured it out.

She whispered soft words to the child, letting her know she was going to change, but it would still be her, not to be frightened. Muttering the words of a spell, her body shifted, nose lengthening, her body turning to a large serpentine form. Her eyes stayed white, but her skin changed, going from her normal soft flesh to the scaled flesh of a lizard, becoming burnished red gold in the process. Her neck stretched, and huge bat like wings sprouted painfully from her back. She roared out her pain as they grew, the bones changing too quickly for her body to adapt.

The small alcove barely held her curled form, her long thing neck and head sticking out into the web. The spider lay at the center of it's net, watching what was going on. A sly grin turned up the corner of the dragon's mouth as it looked at the creature before her. Her mind had shifted with her body, and while her real self was still encased there, the front of the mind was now primal, and very very hungry.

The roar that erupted from the woman on the bed startled all who were present, the half shifted features causing even Disco to step back. Angel, after a moment's hesitation, stepped froward, looking her over briefly.

"A dragon...of some sort..I think." She wasn't sure what else she could say, but then it hit her. "Oh shit...get her outside..fast......"

Disco and DragonKai picked Arania's still form up, and hurriedly carried her outside, while Mus and Sparrow followed. They were barely outside the door when the rest of the change happened. There, while still unconscious, lay the form of a huge dragon. It was at least 15 feet long, with equally huge wings. Mus and Sparrow just stared silently, while the others kept everyone back, unsure what would happen next.

A deep dark rumbling came from deep within the chest of the dragon, it's primal hunger pushing away the fear that it's true form held. It laughed, a growling barking noise that echoed in the deep ravine.

"Yum yum yum...The itsy bitsy spider....will be my dinner!" It snarled out mockingly to the monstrous arachnid.

The creature did not understand the words, but knew the tone from when it was smaller and younger, birds or other beings wanted to eat it then. It looked around, trying to find somewhere to flee too. It wanted to live to fight another day, and was not above getting the hell out of there. Finding a crack it could squeeze into without being followed, it did so.

This made the dragon laugh harder, shaking the ledge with the rumbling. The child cowered there, watching everything, but staying silent. The long neck turned back, looking in the crevasse at the little person.

"Climb onto my back little one. I will get us out of here before that thing returns." The child did so, but shakily. The dragon launched a huge spout of flame into the webbing, severing the threads holding it to the walls, and watched it float down and down. With a single flap of it's huge wings it was out and into the air.

As they landed in a field, she shifted back, her body returning to it's own familiar form, and was startled as the child changed as well. Once more she stood with Coyote.

"My child, you have done well. It is time for you to speak with the one who has sent you on these trials."

The light was blinding as she approached the teepee. She could not see inside, and could only vaguely make out the presence of a mouth and a pair of eyes.

"Sit my child" The form before her spoke. It's voice was neither feminine nor masculine, not young or old. It felt eternal and calming, a rest from the fighting and strains she had gone through before.

She took a seat on the large cushion. Coyote sat at her side, resting his paw on her arm.

"Who speaks for this child?"

"I do Father." Coyote spoke reverently to the form.

"She has been found worthy of her strengths Coyote?"

He nodded his large doggie head. "I believe she has Father, but the decision rests in your hands, as it should be."

There was silence from the light, the eyes disappearing for a long moment. "Of course my son. Tell me child," The being's attentions once more on the woman before it. "What do you value most in the people around you?"

She sat silently, carefully choosing her words before speaking. "Honesty is important, caring, kindness...I think the thing I hold most important is love...All other things spring from love. Be it love of yourself, love of those around you, you can not have the others without love, nor love without the others."

If the being nodded, she could only sense it. "Very good choice child."

She smiled a bit, glad she had spoken with what her heart felt. Coyote grinned, pride showing in his face.

"My child, you have done well. You have passed your tests. You are my chosen on Earth. Coyote is to be your protector, and guide you with Raven, whom you know well. GO now my child, and wait, for there will be a time when you will be needed."

The form in the grass had melted back into the still form of the blue skinned woman. As they started to approach, they heard a low moan coming from the form. MusiKai frowned, she was laying there naked, her hair splayed out like a halo beneath her head. Slowly her eyes opened, glowing a light blue light from within.

"Mmmm....." She stretched, half yawning, half moaning. "Gads, my back hurts. How long have I been out here." She sat up slowly.

Arania, and everyone else, turned their heads, startled by a thump from behind them. SparrowKai was laying on the ground. She giggled, then realized her clothes were missing. She cracked up in laughter, muttering a word under her breath, and a robe appeared around her.

"I'm hungry, anything good to eat?"

An hour later she sat at the table with both of her clones, as well as her other friends, telling them of what happened.

"I don't understand what one as powerful as that being could need me for, but I guess I will find out." She smiled, almost shoveling the food into her mouth as Blade set another plate of fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, and a bowl of beans in front of her.

MusiKai looked thoughtful. "Well, whatever it is, you won't be alone."

"No, I don't think I was ever meant to be," She smiled, and shrugged, unsure why she said it.

For now all was back to normal, well, as normal as Haven ever got.