The forests surrounding the castle were wonderful places to practice--Changing, fighting, anything. There Cat and I brought our swords against each other for the first time. In a clearing not far from the fateful waterfall, we drew the glittering pieces of metal, so perfectly matched but most definitely not the same. The flash of steel and the clang of collision were dulled by the waterfall and the dizzying, exhilarating feeling of power that we both experienced. Each time our blades met, the rush intensified. Later, we found that hours had passed when we finally called impasse; it seemed we never tired. But without fail, we found ourselves Changed. Not by our conscious will, but by the challenge of fighting another etoiline.

Cat was very good, having a lifetime of training, but I quickly became her equal. Neither of us could "win" against the other in these training fights; however, we did not come out unscathed. Scratched and bruised in the afternoon, the hurts would heal by evening. But in those hours we bore the all the agony we would have had they been on any other but an etoiline.

When Cat and I took a day off from beating each other up, Zach and I often went to the forest. He would practice the Change, and we played somewhat of hide and seek. Most often he would become a stag or a hilanti, a type of wood-dwelling wild horse, and occasionally the wolf form in which he had first learned of the Change. I would almost always hunt for him in human form, but now and again I would Change. That was rare, though, for whenever I transformed into a predator, it was hard to stay in control and not attack him too hard. I could become lost in the new form. It hadn't happened yet, and Zach had never suffered more than a few scratches, but some had been quite deep. And when he Changed back, the wounds would go with him. I would heal him, and he would look at me with such trust. Only once did I give him cause to doubt me.

Zephihl, now, he was another story. He was rarely around, and when he was, he was nothing but secretive and antisocial. He and Zachary sometimes went off in to the forest to work together, trips lasting all day. Zach wouldn't tell me what happened on these days, and they managed to stay hidden from both Cat and I. I assumed they would go to practice their Changing, stemming from the one time I felt Zach hated me.

Once, on a day that Zach and Zephihl were away, I went hunting with Cat. We had separated to hunt a fine stag with a magnificent golden-brown pelt. The stag kept skittering away as though it knew we were hunting it. I decided to Change into a wolf to better be able to hunt it.

As my shape reformed, I felt my mind being taken over by the spirit of the wolf. The stag leaped, bounding away from the terrible wolf-cry that escaped from my mouth.

The buck had a considerable lead, but I easily overtook it with my superior speed. I leapt as the stag did, and my claws scored the belly of the stag. It stumbled, then fell, its legs scrambling wildly to find purchase. I stood over it, ready to strike the killing blow… then I had to stop.

It looked up at me with startling blue eyes--Zach's eyes. A thought seemed to be running through my mind: Don't kill me! I'm not an animal! That was all I needed. "Zach?" I growled, "oh Zach, I'm so sorry." My wolf-voice cracked with the effort of forming human words. I Changed, and the eyes of the deer widened. I reached out and touched the soft golden-brown hide, and then Zachary was there, with five jagged tears in his shirt. He sat up slowly, biting his lip. He lifted his tunic carefully, painfully, wincing as the fabric scraped across his wounds. The bloody scratches formed an arc across his chest.

"You almost killed me, Laur…"

I pressed my hand to his chest. I chanted a word in the ancient language of the star warriors, and the blood stopped flowing, and as I took my hand away, the edges of the wounds pulled together. "That'll be sore, guy." I said tenderly. "Even I can't heal that quickly. I'm so sorry, love. But chicks dig scars, right?"

Zach stared at me, obviously not appreciating the joke, then started. "My God, Lauren, you could have killed me! How could you do that? Oh God…"

"Zach, I didn't know! How could have tell it was you before? And besides, I can't always control it! If I hadn't looked at you I would have slashed you to ribbons! I can bet that you wouldn't be angry then!"

"Yeah, I'd be dead!"

"This is not my fault! I told you--"

"Shut up. Just shut up. I can't believe you did that!" Zach stood up jerkily, stumbling and almost falling like the stag he had been moments before. He stared at me, angry and incredulous, and I could not help but stare back, challenging him with the fire of the wolf that still raced in my blood. He finally broke the stare, and began stalking back towards the castle.

"And don't try to follow me. Or read my mind, or sense it, of whatever else you do, okay? Leave me alone, you… you killer," he hissed.

I gaped at his retreating back for a moment, not believing he could have said that. Then I scrambled after him, abandoning my usual grace and nearly tripping as I grabbed his shoulder and spun him to face me.

"Look. I didn't do it on purpose! It just happened! I couldn't hurt you." I paused at his level stare. "Any more than I did, unknowingly. I could never purposely hurt you. I love you," I ended quietly, barely holding back tears.

"Laur…" he sighed. He reached up to where my hand still gripped his shoulder, and gently removed it. "I know." He kissed my hand, bleeding from some mid-hunt hurt, which until now I had not noticed. "I believe you."

"Zach, I'm so sorry."

"I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have blown up at you that way." He drew me into his arms and hugged me as close as his newly-healed chest would allow. "Let's get back. It's gotten dark while you beat me up," he said. I chuckled softly into his chest. I turned and began walking in the direction of the castle, and he followed, his hand in mine.

"It's just so weird, Laur. I'm still getting used to it. And I know it must be even harder for you, what with actually being and etoiline and all…"

"Ah, sister, I've found you. How did you get so far away? I've been looking for you and the-- Zach! What are you doing here? What happened?" Cat had appeared in front of me, and was looking curiously from his eyes to mine.

"Well…" I hesitated.

"She was hunting me," Zach said bluntly. I bit my lip in embarrassment.

"Hunting you? But you were chasing the buck, like me." Cat said.

"You were too, Cat," I said, drawing her eyes back to me. "He was the stag."

She stared at me for a beat, then murmured, "I see." She turned back to Zach, saying "That was one of the most perfect Changes I have seen. You fooled two star warriors with that guise. You should be proud--" and then her eyes found the gaping scratches on his bare chest. "And is there something else I should know?"

"I wasn't myself, Cat. I was a little too involved in the hunt." I spoke slowly, fingering my necklace.

"Ah." She lifted an eyebrow, whether in disdain or amusement, I couldn't tell. Perhaps both, if her aura was to be believed.

"We should go back. We are still not sure what this forest harbors after nightfall," Cat said, all seriousness again.

She turned, and Zach and I followed, Zach leaning on me just a little. Not that he would admit it, of course. Then suddenly I felt a shiver run down my back. I turned my head and searched the bushes behind us. Seeing nothing, I turned away, but the feeling persisted the entire walk back to the castle.

*****

Soon after the hunting incident, as I was walking in the castle gardens, I noticed that the garden attendants were shying away from my gaze, the sneaking suspicious glances at me. I couldn't figure out why-- it was not as if I'd attacked one of their number. After a while I knelt down under a large shade tree and regarded the sullen workers. I felt a sudden chill and turned slowly, starting as Zephihl's shadow fell over me.

"Lauriel."

I looked up at him suspiciously. He had said that so grimly, as if he knew something I did not; his sense was so angry, I knew this was not to be a pleasant conversation. "What's wrong?"

"Walk with me, young one." I bristled at the appellation. He led me to an overgrown part of the garden, as yet unnoticed by Lucas' discriminating eye, and pushed me down roughly. "I want to warn you, Lauriel."

"About what? I've done nothing."

"You've seen the servants--"

"Yeah, what's the deal? I don't get it."

"Excuse me?"

"Sorry, I had to slip into slang for a while. Why are they acting like that?"

"You honestly don't know? Precisely why I had to warn you then. Somehow they've learned of the little… hunting accident you and Zachary were involved in. Some are scared. Some may try to do something for you-- though, I can guarantee it won't be pleasant." Zephihl almost gloated as he said this, his sense becoming excited.

"Zephihl, I don't understand. They've seen this sort of magic before. They possess it. Everyone makes mistakes."

"Well," he said smugly, "they are able to control themselves. And one person in the village is especially envious of you and your powers: the town mage. He doesn't yet know how far your powers go, but he knows he has far less than do you. Watch for him especially. But know that everyone in yonder village has heard, and are wary. Be careful, Lauriel. Your next step may be your last." He stood and walked away, and I noted how the warmth returned when his shadow lifted.

I stared after him, bewildered. What had prompted Zephihl to warn me? I had to admit to myself what I had done was a very good reason to fear me, but people, in my experience, did not threaten those that caused them fear. So did this mean Zephihl was threatening me? Would he? More and more questions. Yet another thing to keep Cat and I up nights.

I'd always wished to be a part of a fantasy. Be careful what you wish for.

*****

That was a week ago. Zephihl's warning still haunted me, but I could not ponder it. There was something else occupying my mind.

There had been rumors about the mage of the town-- Brennan, I think his name was-- somewhat about what he's planning for me, or us. Cat had told me earlier in the day that she had seen in the scrying mirror that he would grace us with a visit later in the day. I wasn't worried, but Cat was.

"He'll have a warding spell. We cannot penetrate those yet. He is very powerful, by all accounts." Cat paced the flagstones of the spell room.

"Cat, I don't think you should worry like this. He cannot hurt us. Together we have more power than he ever can alone. We'll be fine!" I said, wondering where my confidence came from.

"Yes, but--"

"No buts. We are strong, anarae, stronger than any mage, even if he's not… human." Like I was, I thought. It was disturbing to think that I was no longer mortal. Cat caught my hesitation, linked as we were, and said no more about her worries.

Later that day, Lucas calmly knocked at my door. Too calmly, it seemed, given the atmosphere of the place. He was always so self-assured.

"Milady Lauriel, the lord Brennan is at the gate. He asks for you. Or perhaps Caterina. I think not that he knows of the difference between you."

Lucas never confused the two of us. Even Zachary could not claim that.

"Let him come, of course. We will meet him in the courtyard," I said, once again feeling that odd confidence.

"Milady, are you sure of this? I would not… it would not be wise to put yourself in the path of undue harm, milady." Lucas looked truly concerned.

"Lucas, he cannot harm me or Cat. Why does everyone think this is a malicious plot to hurt us? We'll be fine. Let him in!" I said with just a hint of exasperation.

I walked towards the courtyard, hearing the massive drawbridge thunder to the ground. In sharp contrast, the great doors opened inward with hardly a creak. Behind the grille stood a man, wreathed in the shadow of the archway. He dismounted his charger as the grille lifted and led him towards me. His dwarf remained mounted on a donkey, but followed him towards the center of the yard.

The dwarf dismounted and gathered both donkey and horse's reins, and Brennan continued toward me. Five paces away, he stopped and bowed gracefully, his multi-hued cloak swirling about his feet. He straightened, and I blinked upon seeing his startling violet eyes. But he started very soon after that, as Cat shimmered into being at my side, sensing I might need support. I felt her surprise as she too took in his unusual eyes, but he noticed nothing, still recovering from seeing Cat, my twin, appear as if from nowhere. He blinked and looked in wonder from one face to another.

"Ah, Ladies. I had not thought to be graced by two of you. I am the lord mage Brennan. I would like to make something clear to you. I thought it best to come to you myself so you could have no doubt of my sincerity. Not many in this town count me in their trust. Most never ask my help, even though I am the only mage in this village. They would rather ride through the barbarian forest to the next town than visit me. I wished to ally myself with you to show you, at least, that I mean no harm. Maybe, if the people see that the etoilines accept me, maybe… but as it goes, if I shan't harm you, then you are not to harm me."

Cat looked at me warily. I had told her about Zephihl's veiled threat, and we both knew what Brennan was thinking. How had the villagers found out? Who was spreading the rumors? I looked closer at Brennan, taking in the carefully groomed blonde hair and almost gaudy clothes, and seeing the remarkably controlled fear in the violet eyes. He was brave to come here, or maybe just foolish, when he knew not what waited for him.

"My lord Brennan, what you have heard about us may or may not be true. So rest your fears. Know that if we find you truthful and come for good, we shall not harm you. But at present we have no need of you. If the time comes we shall call upon you. You cannot stay. The goings of this castle are private indeed," Cat said gently.

"We thank you for your offer of aid, Lord Brennan." I held his violet gaze for a moment, feeling his fear, but also his strong curiosity. Being a mage himself, he no doubt could sense our power. The castle was permeated with it. "But we cannot accept it at this moment. I'm sorry." I glanced at Cat, and thought at her, what did I tell you? She squinted at me, then looked back to Brennan, thinking You were right. But he should leave.

I ever so slightly nodded my head, which Brennan mistook to be a gesture of dismissal. He bowed low again, sweeping his cloak about him. He mounted his horse in a swirl of color, and galloped out of the gate, his dwarf following, leaving a large cloud of dust in their wake. The drawbridge closed with a creaking thunder, and we were alone in the courtyard. Lucas had disappeared in his way, and the guards had withdrawn to their towers.

Cat shook her head and sighed. "He may not have been one of them, but there are enemies everywhere. And we do not yet know who they are."

*****

That night, I went into the forest with Zachary. As we reached the clearing about the waterfall, he commented wryly, "Just don't try to slice me open this time, okay?"

"I promise I won't, 'cause you're going to hunt me," I said, grinning.

"Lauren, no! I couldn't! Not with what happened last time, what if--"

"Zach. Nothing will happen. But -- there's always a but -- if something does happen, for some obscure, strange reason, you can go back and get Cat. She would know what to do." I touched his hand, then stood tiptoe to kiss his cheek, smiling in anticipation.

"Alright, Laur, but it's still not my cup of tea."

"It doesn't have to be. You need the practice. Give me about a minute, time to Change and take off. What will you be?"

"A cat." He grinned at my mock outrage. "No, seriously. I know that's your thing. Besides, I couldn't do it as well as you. I'll stick with what I know, thanks… a wolf, of course."

"I'm going to be a fox--"

"You already are, beautiful."

"No pun intended. So, a fox… try and catch me. Start counting, and no cheating! I always give you a fair start," I said with a wink. And then I ran.

*****

As I ran, I felt my body Change, reforming, and I was suddenly much lower to the ground. I sped over leaf and bracken, the instincts of terror coming alive at the scent of wolf. They clamored at me to stop, to hide in the nearest burrow, but the human mind overrode them. It seemed only seconds later that I could hear heavy breathing and twigs cracking under a large weight. I immediately darted into a clump of bushes, hating how my panting seemed so loud. I peered out from beneath the leaves, seeing a wolf trot into view. He raised his head, scenting, searching in the dimming light for some clue or misstep to lead him to me.

Against my instincts, I raced out of the bushes. It took Zach a moment, but he saw me, and leapt in the direction I had gone. I slowed a bit to give him time to catch up, and suddenly--

Something slammed into my side. The human part of me remembered a car accident, but the fox felt the sharp pain on my left flank. I flew through the air, borne by that awful blow, and landed flat on my back, winded. I scrambled to turn, only to look up into the menacing green eyes of a real wolf. Or so the fox thought. I could barely form a conscious thought in the face of such fear.

There was no time to sense if this was a Changed one. My forelegs clawed the air uselessly, a paw of the wolf keeping me pinned. A fleeting thought--I know how Zach felt then--and all rational thought was obliterated as the wolf growled and bared his teeth, leaning close to tear out my throat…

In the instant before death, I heard an answering growl behind me. The wolf looked up and snarled, but did not release me. As my heart began to beat again, I could discern the intense aura of evil resonating from my captor. Almost the same as that night--

The new wolf leapt, and landed on my oppressor. I was freed from the paw, and rolled out of the fray. I tried to stand, the pain in my hind leg nearly making me collapse. I willed away thhe pain, not wanting to be easy prey for the victor. But I could not move, rooted by the battle, horrified and fascinated at the same time.

The more I watched, the more I became convinced that I knew the other wolf. But how? His aura was familiar, but I had not spend all that much time with the wolves of the forest to know if he was one of them. He radiated such evil, such hatred, that I realized that he must be a Changed one. No natural animal could have such hate. The new wolf's sense one I was well acquainted with, and thankfully so. Now that I could let myself feel it, I was surprised that I hadn't recognized Zach right away. Please let him be okay, I thought anxiously.

Zach gained the upper paw, so to speak. After a few fierce minutes of grappling and ferocious growls, scratching and biting, the wolves stopped. The other wolf had blood on his forelegs and dripping from his stomach. Zach had scrapes on his neck and ears, and his ruff was in disarray. A beat, and Zach leaped at the other's throat, dragging him to the ground. The other wolf snarled, but could not get up from under Zach's greater weight. Zach placed his paws on the other wolf's chest and growled, low and menacing. A series of sharp barks and growls came from his mouth, sounding remarkably like Zach's voice. I could make out, "Never again," but the fox's ears were not as sensitive to wolf-speak as my own were, so I couldn't tell what else was being said.

I wondered if Zach knew he had conquered a Changed one. He certainly was angry enough to be. His ears were flat to his skull and his teeth were fully bared. He was dangerously close to losing himself in the wolf form if he let his anger get the better of him.

Zach gave the other wolf a sharp slap across the snout, leaving a few bloody trails, then slowly backed away. The other wolf rolled over and stood, growling low in his throat. He held Zach's gaze for a moment, then turned and slunk away, tail between his legs. Zach snarled after him, but the moment the other wolf disappeared behind the bushes, Zach collapsed, panting. How did he know? He had never known me for myself before, how did he know now?

I limped out of the bushes to see if he was alright. He opened his eyes, blazing blue, and made an effort to get up. I could feel the wolf's instincts rising in him, but he fought them down. I stopped a few paces away from him, seeing the recognition in his eyes, then Changed and crept up to him on hands and knees. He hardly moved as I touched his pelt, and then Zach was there, curled up about himself.

"Zach, where--ow." The combined agony of my injuries as well as his hit me all at once. I doubled over into Zach's arms. That had never happened before, the sharing of pain.

"You okay, Laur? What's the matter?" Zach barely whispered. "Are you alright?" He sat up, looking stronger by the second.

"I don't know. It's like everything hit me at once. Your pain, my pain. It's never happened before." I touched him again, tracing the line of a scrape down his arm, feeling the fire along my own arm as I healed him.

"I don't know when I learned that, but it's a handy tool," I commented ruefully, wondering how I acquired it.

"Laur, I couldn't find you! And then the other wolf--I could tell he'd found food, and I had to follow--and when I saw he had you down, I did know it was you, but it was easy food--oh, ugh." He leaned to the side and retched.

"Zach. It's okay. But how did you know it was me, if you didn't know at first?" I touched his forehead, then gently ran my hands over the rest of his body, feeling for other injuries. I marveled at how quickly I could heal, how the small bruises, once transferred to my body, faded slowly. I felt the pain of his more serious scratches for a while longer, but they disappeared instantly from his skin when I touched them.

He looked at me, just as surprised as I was. "I don't know. I mean, up until the end, I didn't. Something just told me to get that other one away from the prey--you. Did… you do that?"

I shook my head. "No, I was too busy watching you and trying not to bleed to death." I looked down at my thigh, placing my hand over the parallel scratches, doing little but clotting the blood. It would heal by the morning, but until then I would have to care for it in the more traditional manner. The flaw in the system, I thought. Star warriors were never able to heal themselves; but the healing process was so accelerated that all but the most mortal wounds would not be fatal. No one knew why.

Zach relaxed visibly as I healed the last of his wounds. "Thanks, Laur. I just wish I could do the same for you." He gave a self-deprecating chuckle. "You know, no matter what I do with you, I end up getting hurt." The twinkle in his eyes belied his words.

"Hey. This time it wasn't my fault."

"Yeah. That was a crazy wolf! Was it just me, or was he out to get you?"

"It wasn't just you. Thank God you came along, even if it was to get a free meal…" Zach raised his eyebrows and bit the air mockingly.

"Seriously, though, Laur. I don't think we should do this for a while. It's gotten too weird." He stood, cautiously stretching, then leaned down to help me up. I glanced back at the forest, then in the direction of the castle, and cursed whatever powers that be that had made star warriors unable to heal themselves. We started walking, Zach solititously slowing his steps to accommodate mine, when I suddenly chuckled.

"What?" Zach asked.

"We're complaining that a simple hunting incident was 'too weird.' You, who has the power of the Change, and I, a star warrior. Ironic, no?"

"Only you would call that 'simple,' love." He pulled me close, kissing the tip of my nose. Soon I forgot my pain; Zach might not have been a healer, but his ministrations certainly helped. Needless to say, we were late for dinner.

*****

The boy cringed as the man strode toward him. "How could you let them escape? They were both there! And worse, you were utterly defeated. Not only did you not kill them--either of them!--but you--! Ah! Get out of my sight. Thanks to you we must be more careful. You heard me! Get out! Out! GO!"

*****

I didn't entirely agree with Zach about the Changing. Whereas he found reasons not to do it, for me the Change had become so natural, not finding the release of Changing felt odd. If anything, our experience in the woods had almost made me more curious to do it again, as if repeating it might shed light on the attacker. Who was the wolf? It could have been anyone from the village, for they had the same heritage as those in Cat's village, with the gift of one Change.

I could almost have shaken it off if I hadn't felt as if I was being watched every time I went into the forest. I wondered why I felt as if I knew the wolf. I hadn't met all the people in the village, and evil often seems the same; it could have been anyone. I began to wonder if even the waterfall cave wasn't safe. I hoped the stone-melt was a unique gift to etoilines, fo r the cave had become a sort of refuge for us after our practice fights. The silent cave was our second home--we had brought food, and blankets and pillows inside for those nights when we were too tired to make it back to the castle.

"Cat, do you ever feel like you're being watched? I mean, you can't feel anyone, but you get that prickle on your neck?"

"Doesn't everyone? I suppose we feel that more than most. But why?"

"Whenever I go into the woods I feel someone--something--watching. And the other day, when Zach and I were practicing, I was the prey… and another wolf found us. But not just any wolf--a Changed one. I know I had sensed his aura before, but I don't know where. It was so charged with anger than any underlying humanity was masked. But it reminded me of that night when Zach and Zephihl received their rings. We never did find out who that was."

"So that means the wolf is watching you, don't you think? And think on this--he must have a way into the castle." Cat's voice had dropped to a whisper.

"How can we check that? How do we know who it is?" I asked, curiously.

"Check…?" Cat said uncertainly.

"Check it out. See if it's true, that the wolf can get into the castle." I gave Cat an apologetic smile. "Sometimes I forget I'm not back on Earth. I revert to the slang. We need a scrying mirror or something like that."

"Ah. Well, the Chief--I mean, the King--has a looking pool in the spells room."

"Then what are we waiting for?"

*****

The spells room was near the room where Zachary had learned to Change. I looked over the edge of the pool, seeing my reflection in the cool blackness of the water. I looked at Cat, mildly puzzled. "Do you have to say please? I haven't studied my scrying textbooks lately," I said jokingly.

"Just ask what you wish. But be specific. It will take you literally. There is tale of a king who asked for his future, but not a specific time--and it showed him but moments in the future, staring into the well. He couldn't understand why he was simply seeing himself standing there."

"Literally, hmm? Alright. O pool, be there someone not an etoiline keeping watch over us? Show him, or them, to us." Please, I added mentally. It would never do to have a scrying pool angry.

The water clouded, losing my reflection, and an image began to form. A dim light glowed in the center, and gradually we could see the silhouettes of two people seated around a table with a large dish on it. As the light flared brighter, the two jumped from the table. The older of the two turned to the other and made something very clear to him. The younger turned and left the room as the elder ran a hand over the dish, and--

The water went black.

"So it's true," I whispered.

"They knew they were being watched. They might have even seen us. If we want to see them again, we shall have to shield ourselves, and most likely break a veiling spell." Cat rubbed at her temples, thinking.

"You know how to do this? I certainly don't." Still more to learn, I thought.

"I'm sure Chief's spell book would tell us. I heard he transcribed some of it from Mathalessar's mentor," Cat said nonchalantly, reminding me that we were the first star warriors in nearly a millennium. Just how old was the King anyway?

Cat walked over to the podium holding the massive book. "I've never really looked at this before. It was in the temple in Alle--in my village, but it never seemed imperative that I use spells." She ran a finger over the intricately tooled leather cover. "How cumbersome it must be to be a mage, to have to use a spell for everything." She placed her fingers on the lock of the book, concentrated a moment, and the lock sprung open.

"But how convenient this book is. Astounding! Whatever spell you wish to know, turn but a page and 'tis revealed! You see, I've oft wondered about an apportment spell, a spell of moving, and here it is." She grinned, a child with a new toy.

"And I bet you'll turn the page and find the counter for a veiling spell, hmm." I said dryly.

She did so, but no words greeted us, just a brilliantly illuminated image of a moonstone. The decorated boundary swirled, the painted stone seeming to glow from the inside.

"That stone is the same color as your necklace, Lauriel. But no instructions," Cat said, puzzled.

"It is the same color…ooohh. I think that means no spell is needed. As, hmm, our other selves, we should be veiled when we look through the pool," I said in a moment of inspiration.

As I spoke, the picture flared brighter, then disappeared from the page.

"I hope that means I guessed right," I said, only half-jokingly.

"I think you did, sister. Should we watch again? They would be wary now--" She looked down at my stomach as it growled loudly.

"I don't think now is a good time, Cat. I think it's time for dinner. Besides, you're right. They will be extra cautious for a while. Let's give them time to forget." I glanced once more at the scrying pool, wondering who the watchers were, wondering if even now we were being spied upon. Cat was at the door, and I moved quickly to follow her, trying not to think about it.

As we entered the dining hall, Zach stopped pacing about the great table, and exclaimed, "Where were you? I looked for you forever, even tried to make my way down to the spells room, but I couldn't get in. Zephihl left early today, and there was nothing to do." He looked down as he realized how whiny he sounds. But I could feel his fear underneath; he had been worried something had happened to us.

"Do you know where he went?" I asked quietly.

"I didn't even know where you went. How am I supposed to know where Zephihl is? He slipped out so Lucas didn't even see him, and you know how Lucas knows everything. I take it he was trying to be secretive."

"Cat… he's gone again." I said worriedly.

"Lauriel, we know not where he is. He could be anywhere by now."

"Hold the phone. Somebody clue me in?" Zach said almost petulantly.

"Zach, I just want to know where he is, and slipping out like that doesn't exactly endear us to trust him. It's not the first time," I said wearily.

"That's not it, Laur, I can tell. I haven't been your boyfriend for this long not to know your moods. What are you gon--where'd she go?" Zach looked at Cat, puzzled, but she only laughed.

Cat knew that I'd Changed to air. Giving true meaning to the word "airhead," air was a difficult form to maintain, for holding the molecules together was a hard task. It was easy to lose your grip on the form and lose yourself, to drift along on the wind… and who knows where you would end up? But for disappearing acts, it was perfect.

I floated out the window and to the edge of the forest. As I rolled over the land, I Changed, letting paws tear the earth. I began running even as the transformation continued, desperate to leave human thoughts behind. I loved the feeling of running, of going faster than I could on two legs, the exhilarating adrenaline-fed dash through and over everything. The darkness of the forest beckoned, posing no hazard to my night vision. As I ran from the sunset, I recalled that I hadn't eaten. I was tempted to hunt, but my human self asserted itself, reminding me of Zephihl, somewhere out there, dangerous.

I ran until I reached the waterfall. I stared, panting, at my reflection in the pool, the green panther's eyes staring back at me. I wondered if the pool could act as the one in the King's spells room, and as I was other, I would be screened from their eyes. I stared into the depths, willing Zephihl to appear.

And something did appear--a wolf. My suspicions returned. Could Zephihl have been the one who tried to kill Zach and I? I growled, deep in my throat, scaring the birds from the trees around the pool. I began to run again, finding a trail in the darkness, my paws not making a sound even on the crunching leaves. Oh, I could lose myself in this. But I had to find him. I knew Zephihl had been in the forest recently. I ran farther than I had ever before, drawn to the east, and I came out of the forest, stopping at the edge of the trees. Clinging to the side of the low mountains, the castle was as dark and forbidding as any villian's fortress should be. I knew I'd found the lair of the Storm Knights.

*****

"Do you see that? Do you? She is here! And you thought you were so clever, sneaking out like that--"

"But she didn't see me! No one did! I--"

"Someone found out. She is here. She does not know we see her, but the spell shouts her presence. Lucky that I set the ward anew last night after your…incident. When she goes back into the woods, follow her. And this time…do not fail."

FIN DU CHAPITRE TROIS

11 JUNE 2002