Stormson pt. 6

Rose the elder, formerly Thorn, looked out over the horizon. She didn't like seeing the sunset this low to the ground, but she'd given up her wings and had to live with that. It had occured to a couple of the folk of the Winged City to mock her, but that was quickly cleared up. She was no longer plagued by the poison that lived in her heart was gone, she still had her memory locked into her muscles. 1

She sighed as the wind blew against her face, and Druin came up behind her and kissed her neck. She closed her eyes and smiled. Yes, the poison was gone, and she preyed to every god that it would never return. Well, almost every god. There were a couple she would rather not think of, but they were gone. Dead and buried. And as she slunk off to sleep the image of a smooth, black stone teased at the edge of her mind along with a long-forgotten myth, and she wondered just who she was trying to convince2


The Lady sank down into her chair and sighed. There was only one person she wanted at times like this, but she'd left that behind long ago. Well, two people. Around her neck was a charm of the Karenna flower. Around her wrist was one of the Nillili flower.3

She let out a heavier sigh and tried to make her world stop spinning. She could never banish Starthorn. It would rip apart not only her community but her heart. A little time away could do her some good, but sending her west could have potentially disastrous consequences. Sending her east would be worst, and there were too many people at the Center Crossroads. She put her head in her hands. Why her? 4

She knew full well that the eastern kingdom was alive, and quickly gathering back it's life. The Wolfhearts had breathed life back into the empty city and made it REAL again. She also knew who and what sat on the throne. She would trust the who with her life, but the what was never to be trusted. Never.5


Star and Talon entered the stables the next morning, gazing in shock at the exotic animals. The Lady had come across, in her travels, animals that could change size at the command of their masters. They had cost more than anyone of the settlement could ever dream, and doubtless some had been acquired illegally. The catch was, of course, that the animals only had one master, and would follow other's orders only at their master's instructions.6

The stable master pulled out harnesses the Lady had made, and strapped them around two cats. They instantly sprang to the size of small horses. "You will take these until you are closer to the main road." He said, saddling the steeds. "Time is relative to this place, but speed is always better, and horses aren't too good in these woods. You'll trade when you're closer to the road. Good luck to you both."