Finding Me (Chapter 11)

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Chapter 11 2

“I know you’re out there, so don’t bother hiding any more.  It’s useless,” she called out to the darkness.  As she waited expectantly, there was a rustling behind her, she turned around cautiously, and saw something move.  3

She grabbed a fallen branch, and stuck the top half into her fire to make a torch.  Then, against everything she ever knew, slowly made her way toward where she had heard the sound. She used the torch to light up the bush that had made a rustle, but found nothing. The tension became thicker, but she stood there silently, staring at the bush.  To scare away anything that was in it, she held the flame so close to the bush that it almost caught fire.  Not pleased, she went back and ate her dinner.  Canace was still trying to figure out what she was doing there.  Where are we going?  She screamed at herself, silently, unheard by all.  Who am I? Who are you?  What are we doing?  Tell me!  But she didn’t hear herself, and Canace felt empty.  The moon was shining coldly through the night, and a chilly wind blew from the north.  Lost and tired, Canace was relieved when she decided to go to bed.4

Canace found herself getting ready for bed, yet not going to sleep.  Why am I not going to sleep?  She was waiting for something, someone; whatever had made the sound earlier! So she waited, and waited.  She waited for about an hour, depression sinking in further every moment.  There was a sound from the bushes!  She felt herself tense up as the sound got closer, and closer, until it was right outside the tent.  Wait, not just one, but two, three, four maybe?  She braced herself, and slowly crept to the front of the tent and peered out, hidden by the shadows.  It took all she had to keep from crying out.  There were two men outside her tent, and many others surrounding the camp.  Fear gripped her and her stomach turned.  There was no way she could make it pass these people!  She leaned back into her tent and sighed heavily.  This was not going to turn out good.  She put her hand to her sword.  No matter what happened, she would not go down without a fight. 5

“Canace?  Canace?  Wake up!”  Canace screamed, only to find Melissa shaking her.  It was pitch black, and she was sweating like crazy.  Melissa was but a moving shadow, “Are you okay?”6

Canace sat up and wiped sweat off her forehead.  Just a dream, she told herself, it was just a dream.  She felt hot, yet cold, and realized that her loneliness wasn’t just in her dream.  She glanced around the room and saw Melissa looking worriedly at her.  “I’m fine Melissa.  It’s okay.”7

“Fine?  Screaming, shaking, or shivering, you call that okay?  You looked like you were having a flashback or something.”  Melissa sat down next to her.  Canace shivered and the rubbed her arms.  It had been a flashback, had it not?  It had been what happened to her before, well, before she lost her memory.  She closed her eyes and tried to recall every moment of it.  It had scared her.  What did they end up doing to me?  Did I escape?  These questions weighed heavily on her mind. 8

“Canace?” 9

Canace turned to Melissa, “I…I’m fine now, I think.”  The walls were closing in, enveloping around her, and there was a sudden need to get out of that room. “I’m heading outside, I’ll be back in the morning.”  Canace swung her feet off her bed and stood up.  She went to take a step when she felt a wash of pain sweep over her knees buckled beneath her and she collapsed to the floor. 10

“Canace!  You can’t go out there like that!  You can barely walk!  Get back in bed, sleep the rest of the night.”  Melissa urged as Canace slowly lifted herself up, pulled on some warm clothes, and swung her sword around her.  She won’t make it ten steps!   11

I will make it; she thought to herself, I can’t stay in this dark room any more.  Canace headed for the door, carefully stepping over Melody who was quietly sleeping “I’ll be back later.”  Leaving a flabbergasted Melissa behind, she walked out, and to the outskirts of the town. 12

She sat alone under a tree watching the sun come up. It rose slowly, as if a bit hesitant to awake the people from their sleep.  Inch by inch it crawled, colors blazing throughout the sky, the slightest glimpse of heaven might get.  All at once, while this miracle was taking place, familiar questions flooded her mind again.  There was one that rose above the rest as the sun stretched slowly above the forest far beyond.  Did I make it through the sunrise?  13

Well, I had to have, she thought, I’m here now aren’t I? 14

But the bruises?  The cuts?  They weren’t there before you lost your memory.  Where did they come from?  She argued with herself.  15

I most likely met some wild animal, and got in a fight, she answered herself, and then somehow lost my memory. 16

You believe that?  She doubted herself. 17

No, but what else could have happened?18

They got you.  That’s what happened.  You let yourself get caught and they hurt you. 19

How would I know that?  There’s no proof. 20

Do you still have the sword from your flashback?  Was it still with you when you woke up near Hollow Hills?21

“She did what?”  Jay exclaimed as Melissa stood outside the door.  “What was she thinking?” 22

“She was screaming and tossing and shaking in her sleep!  Do you think she’s okay?”  Melissa rushed, shifting her weight from foot to foot nervously.  23

“Did she say when she’d be back?”  Danny yawned, not as concerned as the others. 24

Melissa nodded, “In the morning.” 25

“Then let’s bed!  She said she’d be back, I trust her, so there’s nothing to worry about.”  He flopped himself back onto the bed.  26

“Did you ever stop to think that maybe those men that tried to kill her would come back?”  Jay pointed out.  “I’m going to search for her.” 27

“Pointless.”  Danny inserted.  “She wants to be alone, let her.”28

“But she could be in danger and that’s a good enough reason for me to go find her.”  Jay shot back as he brushed past Melissa and out the door. 29

She watched him disappear down the hall, then turned to Danny.  “Not  going to follow, are you?” 30

“Not a chance,” Danny grinned lazily, “Go back to bed Melissa.  They’ll both be back, probably sooner now, so why lose sleep over it?” 31

She nodded quietly and went back to her room. 32

Jay stormed through the deserted streets.  How could she just run off like that?  She knew firsthand what dangers might be lying outside, waiting for the perfect moment to strike her.  If she truly frightened as Melissa had said, she could have always come to him or Danny about it.  He preferred her to come to him instead of Danny about it, hoping she would automatically realized he was more trustworthy then Danny any day! 33

He turned a corner and headed down another street, looking in every direction.  The girl had lost her memory for crying aloud!  What could she dream about that would make her suddenly leave?  What could she have to think about?  His stomach growled.  He patted it, pausing for a moment to think about when he last ate.  He pushed the thought out of his head.  He needed to find Canace.  Jay turned another corner.34

Dead end.  Oops.35

At least he could count on her not being here.  As he retraced his steps, he noticed the sun slowly approaching from the east. 36

* * * * * * * * *37

Canace longed for peace in her mind.  Nonstop questions were thrust on top of her until she chose one to attempt sorting out.  What was her real name?  Canace was a replacement name, a steward to the real one.  My real name must be grand!  She smiled, a bit amused with herself.  A name that no one else she knew had!  But, if only she knew what it was.  The wind blew through Canace’s hair, softly whispering its riddled secrets into her ear.  Canace means with the wind, she thought, so with the wind I shall go.  She shut her eyes, and willed her mind to forget she was lost.  To forget she was alone.  To forget it all once more, and be free with the wind.  She imagined all the places the wind might go.  Past the mountains.  Through a desert.  Over cities and through waterfalls.  All the places the wind went, she found herself tagging along.  She felt more carefree then she had been for as long as she could remember.  Which wasn’t long really, but at this moment, she didn’t care.  She was free and with the wind, nothing else mattered. 38

* * * * * * * * *39

After  searching almost the entire city seeing only thieves and drunks, Jay finally thought to look outside the gates.  That’s where she had been before, hadn’t it?  He quickened his pace, and made his way out of the town.  The suns’ rays suddenly burst across his face, blinding him for a moment.  It happened to be a bit brighter outside the city then inside it, due to the numerous buildings that blocked out the early wake up call.  He shaded his eyes and looked around.  Which way had she gone?  He looked both ways, and sighed.  Going off to the east, he studied the ground and found a fresh set of footprints.  Not liking the idea of going straight toward the sun, he took off in the directions the footprints led.  In time, he came upon Canace, peacefully sleeping against a tree, looking more relaxed then she had in ages.  A weight lifted from his shoulders.  She wasn’t hurt at all.  Jay approached her and softly tapped her on the shoulder.  A look came over her face as if she didn’t necessarily wished to get up at the moment.  She stiffened slowly, stretched, and relaxed again.  He tapped her once more as he sat himself next to her.  “Canace?” 40

She looked at him blankly, registering who he was, or, did it seem as if she were coming back from somewhere?  “What are you doing here Jay?”  Canace slowly asked, spelling out the words one by one.  41

Jay couldn’t help but give an honest answer.  “What am I doing?  What are you doing?  You stumbled out of the room and left without saying why after screaming in your sleep!  Then you go off by yourself to the outside of town and ask me what I’m doing?  Canace, what happened?”  42

She smiled sadly, “Canace…”43

“Yes.  Canace.  Your name until we find out-.  Oh.”  Jay paused.  “Is that why you came down here?”  She barely nodded, questions still droning through her mind.  44

My name, what is my name?  Where did I come from?  What happened?  Who are the people in the flashbacks?  Who is Luke?  What did he mean?  Special talent?  Where had we been?  45

Wait!  Special talents?  What did he mean by that? 46

“I…I’m sorry.  I didn’t realize you came down here to think about that.”  Jay stammered.  “What is there to think about Canace?  The only memories you have to remember are the memories you’ve recently made.” 47

“Tons of things Jay.  But right now, I’m wondering why you came.”  She had a slightly puzzled look on her face. 48

“Oh, I was thinking that you, uh, may have, uh, needed, like, help?” he managed to get.  “You know, in case anyone decides to attack.” 49

“So where’s your sword?” 50

Startled, Jay looked at his side.  No sword.  Oops.  “Yeah, well, it just so happens that I have no equal in hand to hand combats.”  Jay remarked with a false pride.  51

Canace rolled her eyes, “So you decided to come and find out what was wrong, planning on having me defend you.”  Jay noticed for the first time the sword by her side.  “At least I thought ahead of time.” 52

“Did you bring any food?”  Jay grinned mischievously. 53

Ignoring the question, Canace yawned and stretched.  Her eyes caught the sunlight, and Jay jumped.  For a moment, Canace’s eyes turned red, and Jay could see a flame encircled in the iris of her eye.  As soon as it appeared, it was gone.  54

Canace squinted, her eyes tearing up a bit out of lack of sleep.  A thought returned to her head.  Special powers?55

She glanced cautiously at Jay, wondering if there was any ‘special power’ she could use. He was staring at her, blinking in confusion.  They held each others gaze, then jerked their heads in the other direction, both blushing. 56

“We should-“ 57

“It’s about time to-“ 58

Blushing even more, they peeked a glance at each other.  Catching Canace’s eye, relieved it was back to normal, Jay suggested, “We should head back.”  The sun was a bit higher in the sky, and they could hear the sounds of the early city working away. 59

Canace nodded, shyly fidgeting with her necklace.  “Good idea.” 60

They got up and were walking away when Jay asked, “Why aren’t you wearing the full necklace, but only the middle piece?”  61

Instinctively, she put her hand to the jewel.  “I seem to have attached myself to this piece.  I can’t bear to part with it.”  She gazed at the piece fondly.  She heard Jay murmur, “Girls,” under his breath, and there was silence the rest of the way back. 62

The two snuck back into their rooms, careful not to disturb their friends.  Jay slept heavily, peacefully drooling on his blanket.  He dreamt of pastries, bacon, and pie. 63

On the other hand, Canace was haunted by dreams she could not recall when Melissa once again shook her awake.  Melissa complained of constant shouts, and of words with unknown meanings.  Canace replied with a depressed, tired look that made Melissa keep quiet as she got ready for the day.  Canace eventually re-packed her items too, taking special care to place the rest of the necklace in a secret compartment she had found while searching for her brush. 64

After the two girls and pup were ready,  they knocked softly on Danny’s door.  He opened it, and reluctantly said, “Might as well come in, its going to be awhile.”  Not sure what he meant, they set their bags down inside the room and took a seat against the wall.  Danny sat down next to them and explained how he had tried all morning to wake the sleeping boy, but nothing worked.  So they waited. 65

Canace sparred with Melissa, having Danny give them occasional tips.  More to Melissa then Canace, he realized, flabbergasted at how quickly she ha learned.  Afterward, he sent Melissa to get some pastries from a local shop and they ate their breakfast.  Danny them let Canace participate as he taught Melissa more words to a language called Forice.  Canace couldn’t help but yawn, still being tired form lack of sleep.  To Danny’s annoyance, she couldn’t stop yawning.  He ignored it, and continued teaching. 66

A bit after midday meal, Canace finally asked if she could try something to wake up Jay.  67

“What ever works,” Danny yawned, He wretched his face.  “Great, now I’ve got them.”   68

Canace took the rest of her water and poured it on Jay’s head, hearing approving giggles from behind.  Jay’s eyes flickered open, then he pounced on Canace, pinning her to the ground.  “Who- Canace!” 69

“Don’t hurt me!”  she whispered fidgeting, and fear in her eyes. “It’s past midday and Danny couldn’t wake you up…” 70

“I’m not going to hurt.  Get up.”  He let her go, watching her scramble up.  71

“Reflexes are getting better Jay, had some practice recently?”  Danny asked.  Jay glared, then looked at Canace, “Did you say it was past midday?”  She nodded, still a bit cautious. 72

“Darn!  I missed everything but supper!”  Jay complained, wiping water off his head.  They groaned, then rushed him to get ready, not giving a thought to his complaints of hunger.  Leaving the inn, they bartered for some horses, and made their way to the Starfield. 73

They rode along a trodden road slowly.  Jay and Danny looked at a map. 74

“Looks like the farthest we can go is the Starfield.  We won’t make it to Orion unless we go all night,” Danny grimly announced.  “Well, at least there’s flat ground to sleep on.  And a good view of the stars.75

“Really?  I never would’ve guessed.”  Jay sarcastically remarked. 76

They rode the rest of the way in silence, except for Melissa’s occasional gossip, Jay rantings about hunger pains, and the sound of nature among the dry route. Canace was rather quiet, tired from lack of sleep, and drifted back a bit from the group. 77

After about an hour, Jay announced their arrival at the rim of the field.  It looked rather odd, Canace thought.  All she could see was an endless sea of rather long grass.  Dry grass that made her skin shiver.  She didn’t like something about this place.  It seemed, wrong.78

Danny sensed her doubt, and trotted alongside her.  “It seems like it doesn’t end, doesn’t it?” 79

Canace nodded, and tiredly answered, “Is there any spot that isn’t covered in grass?” 80

“In the very center, there’s a spot that was cleared away years ago, so that any traveler who passes by could have a place to rest.” 81

Canace nodded, and turned away.  She felt something, familiar.  Someone, someone was close.  Who though?  There was no one else around.  In contradiction, an uneasy feeling came over her.  Shaking it off as she glanced around, Canace felt more lost then ever.  Onward they proceeded into the heart of the Starfield.  It wasn’t until the sun was setting did Danny motioned for them to slow down did Canace notice an oasis of a clearing in the field.  82

Jay was the first one to jump off his horse and get to work.  He had finished setting up area before anyone else.  Canace had found a smooth spot on the ground and laid the blanket down.  She placed her pillow at the top of it, then looked around absentmindedly.  She yawned, and out of the corner of her eye, spotted a bandanna.  She thought nothing of it, except that it was a nice shade of gray. 83

“Am I hungry!”  Jay declared, getting the food ready. 84

Melissa looked up as she gathered twigs and dry grass to ask, “What’s to eat?” 85

“Bacon!” Jay happily replied.  86

“Oh boy, my favorite!”  Melissa rolled her eyes.87

Jay looked up.  “Really? Mine too!”88

Melissa dropped what little she had gathered near the fire and started arranging it neatly into some weird formation.  Danny was rummaging through his pack when he glanced at Canace.  He smiled.  She had fallen asleep while setting up.  She was lying on her makeshift bed.  He walked over and picked up her cloak from beside her, then covered her with it.  She flinched, but was sound asleep.  89

Danny walked over to where Jay and Melissa waited, “Canace won’t be joining us tonight to watch the stars.  She’s fallen asleep, so keep quiet.” 90

“I get her share!”  Jay called out joyfully. 91

“Only if you promise not to mention food tomorrow,” Melissa made him swear before she agreed. 92

They sat around the fire, watching the bacon cook, talking about random things.  None of them noticed as a slight tension softly filled the air, seeming to draw closer and closer.  Soon the bacon was ready, and not long after that, the stars came out. Thousands of stars, with constellations for over half.  They covered the whole sky, and blessed all who watched.  Several shooting stars passed by, with complementary oohs and ahhs.  93

The three grew tired, and as they headed to bed, thought he heard a rustle in the grasses near them.  Glancing in that general direction, he saw nothing.  I’m so tired, I’m hearing things! He thought as he headed to bed. 94

Jay had stayed behind, still munching on his crispy bacon, enjoying every last bit of it.  He was about to put out the fire when someone put their hand over his eyes. 95

“That you Danny?” 96

“No,” Danny called from a distance.97

“Melissa, don’t you think this is a bit childish?” he asked, testily. 98

“Mmhm,” she whispered from her bed.99

“Ca-Canace?” he shivered.  “This payback for at the river?” 100

“Nowhere near it runt.”  A grim voice whispered maliciously from behind. 101

Instincts took over, and Jay grabbed the attackers wrists and flung him into the fire.  Seeing a full growm, large man he didn’t recognized in the least, he turned and called, “Danny!  Melissa!  Get up!  We’re under attack!”102

The light behind Jay went out, and Jay looked back at the man.  By throwing him in the fire, he had put the fire out.  Silently commenting on his own stupidity, he drew his sword, and embraced the man in combat.  Ducking a swipe at the head, Jay noticed that he still had bacon in his hand.  He threw it at the man, who jumped back giving Jay a chance to deal a finishing blow.  “Waste of perfectly good bacon.” Jay spat at the man, then turned around to survey what was going on. 103

Danny and Melissa were locked in combat with about four attackers each. Canace was- Canace was still asleep.  Good, hopefully they wouldn’t see her in the darkness.  Looking back at the attackers, Jay noticed that they were all wearing black outfits, with black paint on their faces.  104

Another man approached Jay, forcing the boy to defend himself.  After a few minutes of exchanging blows, Jay began to tire.  He couldn’t put up with much more of this.  Immediately, he regretted not paying attention to his classes.  Reflecting back won’t help me now.  “Who are you, and why are you attacking us?”  Jay yelled, sweat beginning to pour down his brow. Jay lost his balance, and fell to the ground.  Darn, his sword was just out of reach.  He peeked at Danny and Melissa.  They were back to back now, defending and holding off a mob of men.  They could manage on their own.  For now, Jay had other problems to deal with.  His attacker had managed to pin him to the ground.105

“We want the girl!  Where is she?”  His breath smelt of onions, making Jay choke. 106

“We’ve only got one girl here,” the lie slipped out, “she’s in plain view!” Jay’s face showed innocence and fear.  A sudden moment from the man slapped Jay in the face.  “You lie!  We’ve been tracking you for days! Where’s the other girl?  Speak boy!”  Jay clenched his teeth.107

They wanted Canace! 108

“What has she done?”  Jay inquired, reluctant to smell the onion breath again. 109

“She is a traitor and dangerous to all of Calder!” he growled, unknowingly torturing Jay with his breath, “She was sent to be punished, but escaped, killing three guards.”  He gave Jay the second scariest look Jay had ever seen. 110

“That can’t be!  She never would’ve done anything of the sort!” he yelled, kicking the man off him.  Jay then lunged at him, fists flying, hitting every spot he could find.  Eventually, the man ceased to fight back and sank to the ground, never to move again.  Jay looked at Canace, who was soundly sleeping during the battle.  111

A third attacker raced out from the grasses and tripped over her.  Scrambling up, her stared at her for a moment before it registered whom he had just tripped over.  Instinctively, he drew his sword.  Jay ran forward, picking up his own as he ran closer.  “Canace!  Wake up!” he yelled, despair squeezing his entire being.  He heard a slight moan.  As the man stabbed at her, she rolled over and opened her eyes sleepily.112

“What was that Jay?” she mumbled tiredly.  Her eyes grew wide as she saw a cutlass next to her and a stranger above her.  Before he attacker could strike again, she was up and braced for any attack.  She was about to block a blow when Jay knocked the attacker down.  Canace let out a cry of surprise.  “What’s going on?” 113

“Melissa!  Danny!”  Jay called, ignoring Canace’s question and finishing off the stranger.  “Over here!  Quick!” 114

But the two were unable to break free of the circle.  There was no way they could help.  Some fighters broke away from the group and headed towards Canace.  She stood up and held her sword firmly, sensing Jay tense beside her. The men drew closer and closer, about five in number.  Looking carefully, Jay noticed an odd insignia around their necks. 115

“Who are they and what’s going on?”  Canace muttered through her teeth to Jay.  He didn’t answer, which irritated her a bit. 116

One of the men stepped out in front of the others.  “Get over here girl, and no one gets hurt.”  Canace shook her head and shrunk back.  “No thank you.”117

“Look, save us the hassle and walk over here. Maybe we’ll be nice and let your friends go.”  Fat chance of that, the man snickered to himself.  Sally needs a few helping hands around the house…118

“Did you hear her?  She said no!” Jay replied protectively.  No one would get near her if he had anything to say about it. 119

Two men stormed upon him, each receiving a devastating wound.  They stumbled behind them, and two more approached, overwhelming him before he had the slightest chance. 120

Canace had felt warm inside when Jay had stood up for her, a happy feeling.  Then, when the two had rushed at him and were wounded, she felt proud.  Proud until she realized that those two thugs had intentionally gotten past Jay and grabbed her.  She let out a yelp as one painfully twisted her hands behind her single-handedly, using the other hand to grab her head, pinning it in one spot.  The other grabbed her sword, threw it to the ground.  Canace could only watch as Jay was pinned, hopelessly struggling.  Hopelessly struggling, that is, until a knife was put to his neck.  He stared at it, and silently thought words that should not be spoken. He glanced at Canace. Guess he didn’t have anything to say about it. 121

“Well, it seems we have two choices girl. You could come with us willingly, and your friends survive.  Or, you can watch them die, and still come with us.”  The man holding the knife broght it closer to Jays neck. 122

“What will it be?” 123

Canace’s gaze darted around recklessly.  Danny and Melissa were trapped. Knife at Jay’s neck.  Herself pinned. Strangers swarming the area. Danny. Her stomach churned. Jay. Hands sweaty. Melissa. Head achy. Jay. No way out. Who are they? What are they doing here? What did I do?  She felt sick. Jay. Danny. Jay. Melissa. Whoever Luke is. I can’t do that to them.  It was a rather warm night, yet she felt frozen. No shelter from the horror of the rain. Pain.  No stop to the confusion surrounding her. Dark! Shadows! Silhouettes! Figments! Light! Suddenly she had desire to see light. She needed it! Canace thrust her head upward and interrogated the moon. 124

Jay was nervous.  Of course he knew what she would choose, but he couldn’t let her do it!  The knife edged closer to him.  Maybe he could. 125

“Make your choice girl, we haven’t got all night.” The man glared at her, receiving his own glare from Jay.  Jay saw her glance towards Danny and Melissa, who were nervously eyeing her, surrounded by many deaths that could strike instantly.  She looked him in the eye.  He could tell she was desperate.  She was confused.  She-Wait! Jay gasped. 126

I can’t let this happen!  I can’t do this to them!  Canace screamed frantically in her mind.  I won’t let this happen!  It will not happen!  No!  No!  No!  No!  NO! 127

NO! 128

A blinding white light flashed, momentarily turning night into day.  Screams rose up from all around, piercing the tensioned silence that had filled the air.  Canace was dropped, and fainted as she floated to the ground. 129

As their eyes cleared, Jay, Melissa, and Danny watched attackers run off.  And run off fast.  They moaned as if they had been struck in the very soul itself.  As if someone had a match and was burning them away, from the inside out. 130

“What-What was that?”  Danny exclaimed, watching the last of the scoundrels run off into the bushes.  Melissa was shaking beside him, nodded her head in disbelief. 131

“Canace!”  Jay rushed to her side, and found her lying facedown on the ground, with a slight pool of blood near her arm.  “Canace!”  He shook her violently.  “Wake up!”  132

“Jay!  Of all the things to do!  You don’t shake an injured person!” Danny said harshly.  He and Melissa rushed over, both kneeling at Canace’s side.133

He turned her over carefully.  Her face was pale, but luckily, nothing besides her arm was hurt.  Danny wiped off her arm, and inspected the wound.  “Nothing serious, just a cut.”  He frowned at it.  “Though she shouldn’t have passed out from it.  Melissa, get a bandage.” 134

Melissa ran to her bag, carefully avoiding the bodies that lay around her.  She returned quickly and watched Danny wrap Canace’s arm.  135

“She was tired; maybe that’s why she fainted.  And she didn’t eat supper, so she didn’t have energy either when she woke up.”  Melissa suggested, noticing Danny was perplexed. 136

“Or maybe, the light took it out of her.”  Jay suggested. 137

“Impossible,” Danny replied.  “There was no way what so ever that she could have done that.  No one can do anything like that.”138

“You didn’t see her though!”  Jay protested, gaining confidence as he thought through the situation.  “She…Her eyes…they…”139

“Jay, what happened?” Melissa asked, concerned. 140

“Those men, they wanted Canace.  They grabbed her, and threatened to kill us.  They gave her an obvious choice, and her eyes…They turned a different color, like fire when the light of the moon caught them.  Then the light came out of nowhere.” 141

“Why didn’t it affect us?”  Danny mused, kicking a man to make sure he was dead. “They all seemed to be in pain, yet we were only momentarily blinded.” 142

“She did it to protect us,” Jay muttered, glancing at the sleeping girl, “She wanted them gone, but us safe.” 143

Melissa laughed, “Are you inferring that Canace, our Canace, who has lost her memory, no clue who she is, somehow brought a light out of nowhere to save us?” 144

“You have a better explanation?”  Jay asked.145

Danny adjusted Canace’s pillow, then said, “Those people could be back anytime. We almost didn’t make it out alive the first time, so we should leave before we have to try a second.  Canace will probably sleep the rest of the way to Orion, so we don’t have to worry much about her right now.”  Danny’s face showed he thought otherwise, but he continued, “So start packing and load the horses.  Be gentle, they were probably frightened during, whatever that was.”  Jay looked at Canace.  She did look tired, very tired.  In addition, those men would probably be back.  Danny was right about leaving.  He had started to pack his things when a thought hit him.  Where was Melody?146

* * * * * * * * *147

He watched them walk away from her, then sharpened his vision.  He was able to sharpen his vision up to fifty times his own sight, which was useful from time to time.  He used this now to check on her. 148

She looked okay; that boy had done a good job doctoring her arm.  He wasn’t sure if he should’ve left her there without trying to revive her or not, but if this kid who had befriended her thought it was okay, he did too.  He moved his focus away from her.  Although it was a relief to know she was okay, he had to check out with she was with.  He had already decided that one boy was okay, the one who had put a blanket over her and bandaged her arm.  The other boy had tried to protect her, which showed he was a good companion.  He remembered something suddenly about those two boys, and smiled.  She would be fine.  There was no one else he’d trust her with, (anyone he didn’t know personally) then these two.  But that girl…who was she?  She seemed okay, yet something about her didn’t seem right. 149

He blew the thought out as he sunk back into the tall grasses where he had been hiding.  Sweat dripped down his brow.  It had taken a lot out of him to deflect that outburst of energy T-.  Wait.  Had that redhead, (Melissa, was it?) called her Canace?  Not only that, he realized, but she mentioned that ‘Canace has lost her memory’!  He smacked his head.  No wonder that outburst occurred!  She has no clue what she can do! That could be dangerous.  It’s a miracle she didn’t make the entire field spontaneously combust.  He sighed and looked beside him at the sleeping puppy/ Luckily, he had had enough energy to keep this girl safe.  She can help me track them, he pondered, with a bit of training of course. He turned back and watched the boys lift ‘Canace’ up onto a horse while Melissa called for the pup.  Melody, huh?  Only something she would some up with.  He smiled at the pup.  They were about to become new best friends.150