I stood at the edge of the woods, watching, waiting. I knew someone was probably watching me as well, for who would leave a fortress such as this unguarded? The huge castle dominated the landscape. The late hour helped the appearance of decay and neglect, but I had no doubt that the tiny lights flickering within were not just will o' the wisps. Finally deciding that nothing would happen tonight, I backed further into the undergrowth. As I did so, I caught the barest hint of movement from the dark entrance of the castle, a shadow moving against the darkness. The black shape fairly flowed across the ground, marking an unerringly straight path to me. And something told me I didn't want it to wait for it.

I turned tail and ran, hoping that I could run farther, faster, than that thing. I ran faster than I'd ever run before, putting this other body to the test. Oh, it was wonderful to run, but not to be hunted! I ran for what seemed too long, but I finally came into the clearing by the waterfall. I dared to look behind me; nothing. But my sensitive ears caught the slightest crackle of leaves behind me. I dashed behind the rushing water, which obliterated all other sound—I wondered if the stone-melt would work with me as a panther—I pressed my paw to the rock. It slowly melted, so slowly, too slow. I could just barely see a black wolf-shape beyond the thick curtain of water as I scrambled through a hole almost too small for my body.

Once inside I burrowed among the blankets we had brought. Once again I was reminded of my hunger, but there was no way I could hunt now. And we were not in the habit of hiding foodstuffs under blankets. Just as I began to entertain the idea of Changing back so I could get to some of the provisions stored along the wall of the cave, a strange darkness crept over the floor. I sensed danger in the dark fog, wondering what ill force could have penetrated the cave to find me. I hurriedly pulled some blankets over my head with my teeth, and prayed that my cat's body was hidden; but I left a small slit to peer through.

The light in the cave was slowly enveloped in the encroaching darkness. Apparently even a star warrior's illumine was not enough to contradict it. A shadowy, amorphous form coalesced from the void, just barely appearing from the blackness around it. A voice came from the roiling smoke:

As if it was being sucked away, the void was drawn towards the entrance, a faint but enraged scream issuing from it, drawn away against its will. My illumine lit the cave once again, leaving me shaking.

I crawled from my nest of blankets cautiously, sniffing about and listening with my heightened senses, finding only a faint tang of acridity where the dark fog had been.

Quickly, I tried to shrug myself into my own shape. But instead of the smooth transition from animal to etoiline, I felt every shift of my bones, every twist of muscle. The Change left me panting in agony, almost frightening in its intensity. I tried to rise up from hands and knees, but I immediately crouched back into the blankets as a wave of nausea swept over me. Unable to even cry out, I remained in that position, bent double and afraid to move, until the sound of a footstep roused me.

"Lauriel, anarae, what is wrong?" Cat moved to my side. "I heard you cry out. I did not even Change. I tried the apport spell upon myself. At least we know the spells in the book fare true, for I am sound, but yourself…" She trailed off, concerned.

"You heard me? I didn't--I mean, I couldn't--"

"I could feel your pain. We are linked, sister, by more than just magic. I could hear your mind-cry. What happened, that could cause an etoiline so much pain?"

"I found them, Cat."

*****

The black wolf shook itself and growled as the man's presence left him. No matter that he had found the etoiline's lair, that he had become close enough to them to gather information. The man had to assert his powers. The wolf had been held immobile as the black mist drifted from his mouth, and the man's voice reverberated from the hidden cave. One day, the wolf vowed, he would break the man's control and be free to destroy the unknowing star warriors.

*****

Natali was tired. The man lifted his hand from the boy's shoulder, taking away the pain at last. Natali shuddered as his energy began returning. This had not been the worst; the man had used him for much more exhausting labors. But Natali could see the effort his master expended to reach across the distance and break into the secret cave. Natali's gaze wandered over to the scrying pool, recalling the furor when his master had discovered the girls watching him. Whoever the girls were, Natali hoped they would not die. They were too beautiful. Their reflection still floated in the pool, for the master had forgotten to close it.

"Beautiful, aren't they, Natali?" The boy flinched as his master laid a hand on his shoulder, but relaxed as not energy drain occurred. "Ah, Natali, nothing more from you tonight. You need your rest, as do I. For 'tis a shame, but they must die. I must thank you for your help, dear boy. I rue the time it will take for you to recover, but being able to plant the scrying stone was worth that. We cannot scry into the cave, but now we can send from within. They think it secret, that cave, think they have all the power. This time we shall prevail," the man said heatedly. Natali looked surreptitiously at his master, watching as his eyes were eclipsed by a brief glow of red, as they always were when he spoke of star warriors. Then the man shook his head and walked away.

Natali looked one last time at the girls in the scrying pool before he collapsed to the floor.

*****

The man woke in the darkness. As always, there was no one in the room, though he searched with his night vision. The voice seemed to come from everywhere at once but only sounded in his mind.

"Can we keep them out? Will the warding spells hold?" Kriad asked silently.

"I will do as you command, master." Inwardly, Kriad seethed as he spoke the words. He almost hated the voice, forcing him to do its bidding. But he could not disobey, for he wanted the etoilines dead as much as the voice, whoever it belonged to, did.

Kriad felt an icy hand grip his throat, closing his windpipe for an alarming moment. Then it disappeared, leaving Kriad sputtering in anger.

A candle flickering in the wake of the spirit voice's departure guttered out, but Kriad waved it back to life with an impatient wave of his hand. He was tempted to wake Natali immediately to recast the ward, but the boy had to recover from his role in placing the scrying stone.

He walked to the window, staring out over the gravelly courtyard. An etoiline could come at any time, but the safeguard had just been placed. Tonight, he was safe. Natali would be ready to attend him the next evening. Tomorrow Kriad would cast another gate-spell, and possibly learn the etoilines' plan.

*****

"The storm knights' stronghold? Are you mad? And how are you so sure that the na'ri'in are even there? We are not ready for this. We cannot meet them yet."

"Cat, don't you want to explore it? At least case the joint, find out its strengths and weaknesses. We have to know what's coming at us!" I said impatiently.

"'Case the joint?' Lauriel, we know not who sent that wraith after you, yet you are sure 'tis something we can conquer? I say we should wait. After all, I have more experience in the magic arts, and I cannot command such a wraith as that. Wait but a night. A fortnight, even. I am afraid for you, anarae, even as for myself. Be more cautious."

"There you go again, lecturing me on being impetuous. I don't think I was this headstrong on Earth--maybe it's just that I didn't have the confidence--or the means--to be like this there. I just--it seems important that we go. Something will happen there that must involve us, and I think it's up to us to make sure we're there on our own terms, not as pawns."

Cat started. "You've seen this, anarae? Did you have a vision?" Cat paled as she spoke, anticipating the danger. "What is--"

"I didn't 'see' it, Cat. I just have a feeling. Sort of a hunch, telling me what could happen. I know we have to be at that castle, and soon, or something will happen that we both will regret," I stated softly, hardly believing the certainty I felt. Where had this prescience come from? Maybe I've read too many fantasy novels, I thought ruefully.

"Well, anarae, put like that, it seems a better idea. But still we must plan. And what do we tell Zachary? Does he come?" I shook my head at her glance. "No then. But that means we must determine a way to distract him."

I sighed, the delay chafing at my spirit. "Soon. It must be soon, or it will be too late."

*****

I had to tell Zach something. I'd been gone all day, and more than a little scared, and he could tell. I chose my words carefully, only telling him of the visitation and nothing of the forthcoming quest to the castle. His signature revealed that he knew I was not telling him everything, but he felt I had my reasons. Such trust, and I wanted to leave him behind.

"You've got to be joking. Are you okay? How did something like that happen? I thought nothing could get into that cave. I can't believe this is actually happening," Zach sputtered, uncurling from his bed to wrap his arms around me.

"You're here, in this place, with that ring," I nodded toward his hand, "and you don't believe this is happening?" I shook my head ruefully. "But I understand how you feel. It's real now. We have an enemy. Or several. And somehow I--we, all of us--we have to save the world. This world, at least. I mean, what do I know about saving a world? The most I ever saved was Mrs. Parves' cat in seventh grade. Oh, God. I don't know what to do," I said quietly, sinking slowly to his bed, my head in my hands.

Zach sat down slowly, putting an arm about my shoulders. "It's overwhelming, Laur. I feel it too. I'm scared, and I'm not even an atoiline. You and Cat have a huge job ahead of you, but I know you can step up. See, in the last three weeks, you've found out you're a star warrior, have a twin, learned to Change, learned to fight, found a sword, and know you know you really have to save the world. But you're not running away, you're not screaming in terror, and you’re no crazier than the rest of us. You're strong, Laur, and I know, somehow, you'll know what to do. I love you, and I have faith in you and your powers, however strange saying that makes me feel."

He kissed the top of my head when I leaned against his chest. "In your language, etol, what is the word for 'lover'?"

I chuckled softly. "You randy thing. What are you trying to do? I don't even think I want to tell you." Smiling, I kissed him, letting him pull me into his lap.

"Well, it worked, didn't it? You're not so worried anymore, are you? I'm trying to be the sensitive boyfriend here. Trying to make you feel better. But I still want to know. Que veut dire 'lover' in the language of the etoilines?"

One unexpected side effect of coming into my powers was knowledge of the language of star warriors, known innately only to the etoilines, and not teachable unless by an etoiline. For instance, Zachary would not be able to tell others what he had learned from me. Kind of amusing, really, to know a language without being born into it or after years of study.

I smiled at Zach. "'Eh'car'etol, tuo atha behrain, e arro ath behra.' That's 'in the language of etoilines, you are my…boyfriend, and I am your girlfriend. 'Lover' is, well, only used between those who are behrenal--promised for life. If that was the case, then you would call me behrae, and I would call you behrarin. It literally means 'my heart.' And now that we're done with the linguistics lesson--kiss me already, behrain."

If he felt slighted at being called behrain and not behrarin, his signature did not show it. He knew that I wished to be behrenal, and respected that. He was in awe of my new position, and sure that I would be victorious in whatever I did. For his respect, I was grateful--and the guilt at leaving him behind receded, at least for a while.

As his kiss deepened, I almost felt human again. I tensed briefly at the thought of my transformation, but Zach's hands running over my skin quickly brushed that aside. Alanti beya tuo athae behrarin, e arro aeth behrae, I whispered softly into his hair; then gave myself up to the moment.

*****

"Cat, we have to go tonight. We need to just leave and go to the castle. Something is going to happen tonight that we must be present for. Something we must see, something we must do. I'm not sure. But we must go. We leave without Zachary and Change during the journey, but we must Change back when we reach the boundary of the forest. I think there was a detection spell at the perimeter to make sure no 'familiars' came to the castle as scouts. It could sense only that I was an unnatural animal. If we are as human as possible it should not trigger any alarm. But we must hurry. We must get there before nightfall. Something will happen as twilight falls. I don't know where this feeling is coming from--maybe I unconsciously read the signature of the person sending the wraith. But it must be tonight."

In the darkness of her bedchamber, I could just see Cat's glare in her nest of blankets, seemingly only grumpy at being awakened, but I knew she had grasped a knife hidden under her pillow when I shook her awake. Suddenly unsure of myself, I retreated a step as she sat up in bed.

"Lauriel, 'tis hours till cock-crow, far too early for this. You do not wake me from sound sleep and expect me to understand your argument."

"I was hoping you would be more amenable to the idea if I caught you first thing in the morning," I said lamely.

"Lauriel, not only is it not the morning, but I am not amenable to anything at this hour…" she sighed. But then, concerned, she asked, "Did this keep you up all night?"

"It did. I kept seeing the wraith again. And feeling that horrible inability to Change. And…something else, I can't recall now." I stared out the window, wondering what else had plagued my dreams.

"My sister, if you say we must go, then we shall. But perhaps you could find a more polite way to ask the next time you experience one of these premonitions?" Cat said wryly. "Try to sleep. You will need it if we must go tonight."

*****

Try as I might, I did not get much more sleep that night. Every time I closed my eyes, determined not to think of the wraith or the tortuous Change, I would drift into a light sleep, then wake, sweating, frightened of a fate I could not remember. I passed the last hours of night fully awake, feeling that no sleep was better than the nightmares. I practiced lighting the candle in the wall sconce near the door with a whispered command--ryal--and extinguishing it with a small breath that, under mortal control, would never have reached across the room. I wondered at the new capabilities of my body even as I feared them. I didn't feel physically different, but innately I knew--I knew I was no longer human.

As the dawn laced the sky, I could no longer sit and think. It was too overwhelming. I went to my window and leapt to the sill with all the grace of the cat I could become. And then I vaulted over the rail; and while I did not exactly fly, I kept myself from plummeting to the ground. I was running even as I reached the turf, letting my shape reform as I raced the sunrise, needing to forget.

*****

Cat's voice broke through my animal stupor as I sprawled lazily across the carcass of what had been my lunch. Forgetting I was in cougar form, I tried to stand, but only managed to lurch clumsily to all fours. I shook my head and growled at my stupidity. I had truly lost myself. I backed away, then concentrated, relieved when my body accepted the Change. Slightly disgusted at what I had done, I nonetheless tried to remember what would have followed had I still been a cat. With a twist of my wrist, I floated the carrion to a branch of a nearby tree, hoping another cat would come along and find a free lunch.

Abruptly, I remembered Cat's plea. Arro revir, anarae. We had important plans to make for tonight. I ran back to the castle, disturbing not a leaf as I blurred through the forest.

*****

"Zachary? Are you within?"

"Cat? Come on in," Zach said as he opened his door. "What is it?"

We needed to distract Zachary somehow. He could not come with us, not with his non-existent powers. A bit of misdirection was then unfortunately necessary. I thought it best if Cat talked to Zach, as he did not know her as well. He would see through the subterfuge if I dissembled. As Cat walked in, I moved from my hiding place behind one of the many tapestries and settled myself for some eavesdropping.

"Zach, Lauriel and I thought it might be nice if the three of us could dine together tonight. But we must practice… would you be willing to go into town and get a few things? Things we have not had in a while?"

"Doesn't the food just show up though? What do you need me to go into town for?"

"That is just for the breaking of the fast. Can you imagine the power needed to hold a spell like that all day? Besides, the food must come from somewhere. We cannot simply conjure it out of the air! The cooking spell makes breakfast much easier, aye, but it must have something to work on," Cat said with a smile.

"Ah. Never thought about it that way. Well, I guess I'll go into town and leave you two girls at each other's throats. When will you be back?"

"It will depend on what happens. You know what can occur at these practices. We shall attempt to be timely, however," Cat said evasively.

"I'll be waiting for you, then. Try not to get caught by any black mists this time, okay? Keep my behra out of trouble for me," Zach said, winking.

"We shall be careful, Zachary. Until tonight then, I bid you ce'arra."

*****

I couldn't stay still that day. Even after my run through the forest, I could not shake the oppressive feeling that we had to leave. Something would happen tonight. I spent some of the energy learning from the King's cavaret. It spoke of widening the senses so the environment could be catalogued-some adepts could discern the twitch of the the tail of the black-coated shadoun in the twilight from a mile away. I tried to let go of my senses as such, but only succeeded in finding the weave of Cat's clothing. Apparently it was easiest to find information about those who you had a connection to. I was sure the ability would improve with practice.

Cat and I left shortly before Zach, using the apport spell to move to the cave. I forced myself to eat some of the foodstuffs cached there. I'd need it later.

By unspoken signal, we left the cave, blurring our shapes and slipping into the sinuous pelts of our respective cats. We took our time, even as I wanted to just run. I knew it would do no good to burst in without the cover of darkness, for if there were any sentries they could not fail to see us.

But finally the day darkened into sufficient twilight that human eyes would have trouble distinguishing shadow from flesh. We shed cat-shape, stopping just short of the boundary of the forest.

"This is where I first saw the wraith, Cat." An involuntary shiver rippled my shoulder muscles. I flared my senses to the extent I could, noting nothing strange, such as it was, not even an early evening fog to obscure enemies--or us.

Neither of us could see a sentry at the gates, but windows next to the drawbridge hinted at watchers inside. They had to be watching for us. It would stupid not to be, right? "Do you see anyone, Cat? I can't feel anything either."

"I don't see--wait, feel? Something new, anarae?" Cat looked at me searchingly. Have you been sneaking in Chief's cavaret? You have been anxious. You are not the type to study needlessly, she spoke in my mind, reminding me of the need for silence. Sounds could travel far in the still air.

It's a way of getting a feel for the environment, I thought at her. I'm sure you can do I too. Just…let your senses go. It's hard to explain. The cavaret didn't say much. I winked at her.

She shook her head, smiling. I will leave that to you, anarae. I am content with my eyes, which are sharper than yours. She smirked at me, showing cat-slit pupils, catching the last of the evening dusklight.

We cannot cross that field without them seeing us. And I do not think they will open the gate for their enemies. Could you hold a Change as fog long enough to get through the gates? Cat blinked her namesake's eyes, questioning.

I opened my own cat eyes wider. If you can do it, so can I, I said, giving her a tiny smile. We held each other's eyes for a moment, then slipped into mist.

*****

"Evenin' fog comin' in, cap'n." The voice drifted down from the highest tower, relayed by other rough voices until it reached the men on either side of the gate.

I laughed silently as I let my essence trickle through the cracks in the wooden door. Too easy to fool these humans. That though made me lose control of the mist for a moment, dissapating myself over a larger area than was healthy. Quickly I gathered my power, frightened I had let thoughts of my humanity or lack thereof distract me like that.

Cat ran a caressing tendril of her fog across mine. Are you well, my sister? We are almost past the guardhouse. We needn't hold this shape much longer.

I took a metaphorical breath, as fog doesn't breathe, and kept a tighter rein on my molecules. We passed through the guardhouse, causing bewildered looks on some of the more attentive guards. "Ne'er sen sech a thick 'en, Riley," a heavyset guard commented.

"Tis getting' on fall, Auser. I seen it blanket the ground. An' we're a' th'foot o' th'mountains. Tis ta be expect'd." The second voice faded as we passed into the courtyard, both of us coalescing on the gravel. The only sound was the whisper of wind through the trees--and my footsteps.

Why aren't you making any noise walking over this gravel? A leaf falling would make more noise than you, I remarked to Cat.

You must think of lightness. Soon it will be natural. Use the grace of your other who can hunt without a sound. I concentrated a moment, trying to capture the feeling of being a cat without bringing on the change. I took a few tentative steps, pleased when my footfalls made no sound. Cat's laughter trilled in my head. You look like a cat, yes, but one that has just encountered a puddle of mud.

I looked at her and lifted my chin defiantly. I learn quickly. Someday I'll show you up, anarae. Soundlessly, I turned to observe our surroundings. A dry fountain choked with leaves filled the center of the courtyard. Spindly trees scratched almost bare branches against lead-barred windows. If I hadn't known better, I'd say we were in a haunted house. I looked up at the sky, disconcerted to see that there were no stars. Clouds covered the new-risen moon, making everything grey. We could draw no power from the stars this night.

A single door led out of the courtyard, but a large one. It was easily twice my size or more, and made me wonder what would need such a large entrance. But as it was the only way out that didn't involve beating up guards, in we would go.

We walked towards the towering wall of wood, the wind of our passage the only sound. The doors were askew, looking like they had not been moved in years. But those soldiers at the gate were not guarding an empty castle. The faint tinge of magic around the door suggested illusion, but I wasn't about to move that heavy-looking oaken panel to test the theory. It's going to be foggy tonight, eh? I said wryly.

Just as we started to Change, a scraping noise came from the direction of the fountain, stone on stone. Gathering our essences before they could scatter, Cat and I both looked toward the dingy white edifice, then at each other. I flared my senses, and thought I found something, but the rock seemed to deflect my search. I shook my head.

Cat nodded towards the door. We both Changed quickly and slipped through, Changing back once we were hidden in the darkness beyond. I knelt on the dusty flagstones, while Cat peered above my head. A scratch of gravel carried loudly on the still air, at least to us.

From behind the fountain, a small figure appeared. A child, from the looks of it, with light hair and skin, though everything was touched with grey from the cloudy light of the moon. He made his way towards the door, and we made ready to grab him as he passed. We watched him slowly make his way along the gravely earth. The look on his face was almost anticipatory. Had he seen us, and was eager to turn us in?

He reached the door, and we withdrew so we were completely hidden in the darkness. He easily slipped through the crack, then simply stood there, almost like he was waiting to be caught. He didn't utter a sound as I stepped into the sliver of wan light seeping though the crack, but looked up at me and smiled. When Cat came into the light as well, the smile widened considerably.

"I knew you would come. I lifted the wards for you tonight. He doesn't know. I am Natali, and I knew you would come to save me."

FIN DE CHAPITRE QUATRE

03 NOVEMBER 2002