Title: A Walk in the Woods
Authors: Leiko and Perry

Shirania wandered through the woods, happy to finally be away from the pressures of school and her family, but also lonely. These woods were her special place, having never been shared with anyone. Between the trees ahead of her she spotted a wraith-like figure. Pausing, Shirania stared again, unsure if the person was really there or if it were just a trick of the forest and the fog. As the figure continued on with her sword practice Shirania decided that her eyes were not deceiving her. So often in the past she would have sworn that she had seen something odd out of the corner of her eye only to turn and have it dissappear -- yet this time the figure remained.

Not wanting to disturb this stranger, the long haired girl tried to move quietly to get a better view. Surely this person wouldn't mind if she just watched for a bit. As she stepped behind a tree her foot slipped and stepped on a treebranch, snapping loudly in the silence of the forest. Stopping guiltily, Shirania knew that the person knew she was there, even though she was hidden by the tree.

Kiron spun, silver eyes flashing as soemthing made a sound behind her.

Guiltily Shirania emerged from behind the tree, with only a slightly irritated glance at the offending twig.

"Who are you?" the elf snapped, hand tighening around her sword. She took a step toward the girl, trying to decide if she was dangerous or not.

"Um. . .my name is Shirania. . . Shirania Kelon. I didn't mean to distub you." the girl managed to stutter out.

The elf took a step toward the girl, eyes narrowing. In a neary inaudible voice, she whispered, "Laira..."

Unsure of what the strange figure had said, Shirania took an involuntary step backwards.

The elf shook her head, also taking a step back. Kiron had not meant to frighten the girl. With a quick, fluid movement, she sheathed the sword. "Why.. Do you customarily sneak through the forest?"

"I wasn't sneaking!" the girl retorted, affronted by the attitude of this stranger. "I happen to live here, and I've never seen you here before!."

"Huh?" her earlier anger fell away to be replaced by curiosity. "You live in the forest?" Kiron tilted her head, smiling slightly. "I have not been here long, however. Or have I?"

"If you don't mind my asking, what are you doing here. . with that . . sword." Shirania asked timidly.

"Practice. It's the only thing that I can do, other than stop trees from doing whatever evil things thay have planned," the elf grinned, triyng to releive the girls tension. She looked so much like Laira, it was odd.

"The. . .trees. . . " Shirania replied uncertainly, not wanting to offend this silvery stranger.

"I am Kiron, of the Yojiran." She bowed, one hand across her chest in what seemed a natural fashion for her.

"Pleased to meet you. . . .what's Yojiran?" Shirania asked, blushing uncertainly.

"An old family, old now at least." Kiron looked at Shirania curiously. She was dressed strangly, and seemed unsure of Kiron herself. Had she never seen the Yojiran guard?

"So are you in an acting troupe around here?" Shirania tried again, shifting the the subject slightly, her eyes resting on the sword and chainmail.

"Acting troupe?" Kiron blinked, surprised. "No, I'm of the guard. Or was, I don't know anymore."

"Are you ok? Do you have somewhere that you're staying?" Shirania asked, concernedly, beginning to wonder about the reality that the other girl thought she was living in.

"Here," she guestured to the trees around her. Kiron knelt on the ground, lettign herself relax. "The trees are safe from predators, the stream has water."

"Won't you be cold though? And there's supposed to be a storm coming in tonight." Shirania gestured off to the west where the faint crashing of waves could be heard through the quiet of the forest.

The elf shrugged, "I have no where else, child. Where would I go?"

Oddly hearing the term of endearment as comforting, Shirania walked over towards the silver figure, kneeling down next to her. "You could probably stay at my house." She began dubiously, considering her parents' position on things. "I don't have friends over often so my parents probably wouldn't mind."

Kiron flipped her hair back, considering. "I... I don't think it would be right if I did nothing in return."

"Um. . . " Shirania bit her lip, unsure of the situation.

Nodding, Kiron stood. "I offer you my sword, and my services," she told her, pulling the sword from it's sheath. The elf handed it to the girl, bowing deeply again.

Finding the sword being handed to her, Shirania took it uncertainly, growing more and more embarresed as the girl bowed to her.

"Will you accept?" Kiron showed slight uncertainty, she wasn't sure what she would do if Shirania refused.

"Umm. . I guess, is that what I'm supposed to do?" She blurted out, immediately shocked by her lack of discresion.

"Only if you want to, should you think you have no need of me," she shrugged again, hiding her uncertainty.

"Please. I accept." Shirania stated, trying to atone for herself. She smiled shyly at Kiron, not really sure of what she had agreed to.

Bowing again, Kiron was relieved. I had been a long time sinse she had heard of any being refused to serve, she couldn't remember the proper procedure, death? "I thank you, Jura." she used the elven term, one both for master and friend.

Jura. . . the word stirred something inside Shirania. Shaking the feeling off she looked at the sword in her hand and at the girl. "We should be getting back, it's a ways to my house, and mom will have dinner ready early this evening. They're going to the board meeting at 7." Shirania explained.

Kiron nodded, "If that is what you desire."

"Unless you had a better idea. . . "Shirania offered. It had been so long since she had a friend. . . .had she ever had a friend? How did she know Kiron was a friend?

"If your parents are expecting you back..." Kiron shrugged, not able to think of any ideas as it was. "Then perhaps we should return."

"Right." Shirania turned to leave, her hair spinning about her like a cloak before she realized that she still had Kiron's sword in her hand. Pausing, she looked down at the weapon and then at Kiron with a questioning look.

"You do not have to carry it, if you do not want to, Jura," Kiron looked at the sword.

"Well, it's just that my parents will think it's kinda weird. . . . Why do you have chainmail on anyway?" Shirania asked suddenly, the oddness of her companion finally sinking in.

"Protection, much like I carried the sword. I... was protecting something important," Kiron's eyes fell slightly, remembering something.

Sensing the awkwardness of the situation, Shirania knelt down, offering the sword to Kiron in much the same way as Kiron had offered it to her.

Kiron bit her lip, was Shirania giving her services back? Blinking, she realized that the girl didn't know what she was doing. She knelt as well, accepting the sword, then holding her hand out to help her up.

Smiling timidly, Shirania took the offered hand. "My house is this way." She said, gesturing off into the trees.

"Then we shall go this way," Kiron put the sword back in it's sheath, comforted by it's weight.

* * * * *

Emerging through the trees the two girls came upon a small house nestled between the wind-blown cliff overlooking the ocean and the forest. The elf's silver eyes widened as they approached, the house unlike what Kiron had been expecting, unlike anything she had seen. It was not made of stone, but.. of wood, different than humans usually built their houses. Refined.

"You live here?" Kiron asked, looking up at the building.

"Yeah. We just moved here last year. I used to live in Phoenix, but we had to move away from the desert." Shirania stopped, not wanting to dump her entire life-history onto this stranger.

"I think I may have been here longer," Kiron shrugged. "Did you like Phoenix?"

Shaking her head slowly, Shirania stops, almost loathe to leave the forest. "I was always sick. I never had any friends because I was sick. I was an. . outcast." her voice trailed off and she dropped her eyes to the ground.

"I suppose we share that then," Kiron smiled. "You have firends now, Jura?"

Jura. . . again, that word stirred something in her spirit. "Not really. There are the people on the swimming team, but they're not friends."

Understanding, Kiron nodded as they drew close to the house.

Shaking herself back to the present, Shirania opened the door to the house, preceeding her friend in. "Mom, Dad, I'm home!" she called out.

Kiron followed, hovering by the door.

"Hi Shira!" a male voice called out from the other room. A woman leaned into view in the hallway from the kitchen, a bowl in one hand. "Hi. . Oh do come in!!!" Shirania's mom caught sight of Kiron. "Shirania you should have told me that you wanted to invite a friend over, I would have made something more exciting for dinner." Setting the bowl down, the woman wiped her hands on a towel before cheerfully coming forward to sheppard the two girls out of the entryway. "I'm Diane, Shirania's mother." Diane introduced herself, holding out one slightly-floury hand.

A bit shyly, Kiron took her hand, skin stil paler than the flour covered one. "I'm Kiron," she replied, giving a small smile. The woman wore much the same clothing that Shirania did, if of a different style.

"Welcome to our home. Please just look for whatever you need. We don't have guests often, so just make yourself feel at home." Turning towards the direction the male voice had come from, Diane called out "Shawn! Come meet Shirania's friend."

Shirania felt herself turning red at her parents' fussyness. Sure she'd known they would have welcomed a friend. . .but did they really have to. . .

"Jura? Do you feel well?" Kiron asked, glancing at her.

"I'm fine." Shirania reassured her companion. "I just wish they didn't get this excited." she whispered.

"They seem happy for you," she smiled again, one hand abesntly flipping her hair back.

Shirania nodded as her father came out of the living room, wearing a polo shirt and slacks. "Hi I'm Shawn." He nodded his head curtly, holding a hand out.

Taking his hand, Kiron felt a bit more comfortable around him. He had a soldier's bearing, even if he was not one. "I'm Kiron."

"Pleased to meet you. Can I invite you for dinner? We've got to be going shortly, but you're more than welcome to stay." He invited, gesturing for the party to move towards the kitchen where the sound of water boiling over could be heard.

"The peas!!!" Diane rushed over to the stove, removing the small pan from the burner.

"I would be honored, sir," she smiled again, following the group into the kitchen.

* * * * *

Shirania's parents having rushed through dinner, they departed cheerily for the board meeting, inviting Kiron to spend the night if she wanted, or they'd give her a ride home after they got back if she wanted.

Kiron watched as they left, wondering what would happen when they found she had no where to go. Mentally shrugging, she didn't let the thought distract her.

"Would you like seconds?" Shirania offered politely.

"No thank you," she stood, wondering if there was anything she could do to help.

Smiling, Shirania rose from the table, taking both her plate and Kiron's into the kitchen with her. In the kitchen Shirania put the plates in the sink, scraping the leftovers into a tupperware for later.

"May I help?" Kiron asked watching curiously.

"My mom would kill me if she saw you doing dishes. I'll only be a minute." Shirania smiled reassuringly, turning to the sink. Humming softly, she ran water into the sink, soaping and scrubbing the pots, pans and plates.

"So where are you from?" she asked as she worked.

It felt odd to watch her Jura working while standing idle, but Kiron said nothing. "From? I am from Shortu," she replied. "In the westerm provinces."

"Is that in Canada?" Shirania asked, idly scrubbing at a pan.

"I don't think so..." Kiron blinked, wondering where Canada was.

"Oh. . . so where is it?" she swished her hands around in the water, playing with the bubbles. "I'm afraid I'm not that good at geography." Shirania admitted, rinsing out two glasses.

"North of Hiral, by the West Mountain range." Krion answered promptly. "I'm starting to suspect that it may no longer exist as it was," Kiron mumbled softly, looking at a painting on the wall.

"What? How can it no longer exist?" she exclaimed, sloshing water onto the floor.

"I don't know, but many of the things I remember, are no longer here. What I consider normal is strange, and what is strange is normal," she shrugged, not sure if she understood herself.

"I don't understand. . . " almost regretfully, Shirania let the plug out of the sink, rinsing her hands off and drying them.

"Nor do I, I don't... remember correctly."

"Were you in an accident?" Shirania tried to tactfully skirt the idea of this stranger being an amnesiac. . .odd enough she had a sword.

"You could call it that." Kiron laughed. "I failed, you could also say. I'm not even sure if I'm alive."

"Of course you're alive. How else would you be here?"

"I don't know, Jura, I could be spirit of flesh. The Lirani are the ones to ask of Philosophy," Kiron shrugged again.

The dark-haired girl blinked, feeling the situation move completely away from her. "The who?" she asked dumbly.

"Lirani. The Yojiran are a warrior family, bearing tall, strong males, and generally, females to obey and compliment them. The Lirani are magical, philosophers, weak of body, but strong of mind." Kiron explained. "I'm an exception, women are supposed to be docile. But I never understood that."

Taking a deep breath, Shirania tried to calm the knot in her guts. She hated confrontations. Maybe it was better not to have friends. . . but. . "Kiron. I hope you're not offended by my ignorance, but I have no idea what you are talking about. Newport High's not the greatest school in the state, but . . . . " she trails off.

The elf's head tilted, easily pikcing up the girl's distress. "I'm sorry, Jura. I've upset you."

Jura. . . .that word again. "And what does Jura mean?" Shirania asked, sinking to the floor.

"It is..." Kiron tried to think of a way to explain the word. Strange, the girl was of the same type as Kiron, even if her parents were human, but did not know the old tongue. "It is an expression of respect, and caring. You have my sword and services... It's more of a feeling than a word."

That feeling. . . but how would I know? "What is it though? It's not latin though it sounds like it." Shaking her head so that her long hair pooled about her on the floor she tried to understand.

"Elven," Kiron replied, confused why the girl didn't know.

"Elven? Are you joking?" Shirania asked almost scornfully but stopped herself, her eyes tracing up the chain mail, the sword, the silver hair. ..the circlet. . . the ears. . . "How. . .how can this be true? Elves are a myth, a fantasy." Shirania's emerald eyes pleaded for answers.

"No, Jura, I am of truth on this," suddenly Kiron understood. Shirania did not even know her heritage, she had been raised with the humans, believing herself to be one.

"Am I dreaming? Is this all some fevered vision? I've been sick so long it could be . . .a happy dream of health and magic, what could be more natural?" she asked herself.

"They, we are as much of this world as you are. Many were beginning to go to other realms when I remember, but we are truth," Kiron squatted before the girl, balancing her weight on the balls of her feet. Kiron caught the girl's hand with her own, pressing their palms together gently. "If it is a dream, why do I see it? Am I an illusion?"

"I don't KNOWWW!!!" the girl cried out, bursting into tears as the frustration tore at her.

"I-I'm sorry, Jura." Kiron drew back, unsure what to do. Awkwardly, she touched the girl's shoulder softly.

"I don't know what's going on. I don't know who you are. . .I'm not even sure I know who I am." she stuttered out between sobs, all of the loneliness she had known pouring out. "I've been so alone. . . why? . . " Shirania trailed off, a hiccup cutting off the question as she tried to control herself.

"I wish I could tell you, Jura," Kiron replied, eyes troubled. "I am Kiron, sworn to you. You are Shirania, one of great potnetial and gentle spirit."

"Why do you call me Jura?" she asked after a minute, not looking at Kiron, almost afraid that she would disappear.

"You.. remind me of someone important. And deserve the title. Jura, you don't understand now, but someday..." Kiron paused, silver eyes locked onto the girl as she talked. "I... I won't leave you, I'll not fail."

Sniffing loudly and swallowing a hiccup Shirania raised her chin, looking up into Kiron's silver eyes. "Kiron. . ."

"Yes?" Eyes, much to her annoyance, were easy to read, sympathy for the girl obvious.

"Are you an elf?"

"I am," was the answer. Kiron smiled slowly, "Yes."

"What am I?" she asked, desperate for the answer, but terrified of it.

"Stand, Jura," Kiron took the girl by her hands, drawing her up and eading her to a small mirror hanging from the wall. "What do you see?"

Shirania gazed into the mirror, seeing her tear-stained reflection and that of the silvery elf beside her. "What should I see?" Shirania asked doubtfully? "I see myself and I see you."

"Is that all?" Kiron's voice was still it;s normal melodic sound, but hid faint amusement and concern both. "Look deeper, ther is more to mirrors than most assume."

"I." closing her eyes she said softly. "I see myself with the sister I always wished I had -- the twin who would always be there for me."

Kiron's face tightened as Shirania spoke, something unspoken in her eyes. "Jura... You... We are... alike."

Shirania continued to gaze into the mirror, almost afraid that if she looked away the images would vanish -- leaving her alone again. "Alike. . " she repeated softly.

"Yes, Jura..." Kiron couldn't think of anything else to say to the girl. "Alike."

"Where will you go?" Shirania asked suddenly, spinning to face the elf. Her hands rose up as if to touch the elf, but held back.

"Where will I go?" Kiron asked back, confused. "Wherever it is my Jura asks me to go."

"But what will you do? I have to go to school tomorrow." An almost panicked edge came into Shirania's voice.

"I do not know, Jura," the elf shrugged. "I suppose I will..."

"But. . . " she bit her lip. "I'm not sure what to do now. . .I mean. . . "

Kiron looked at her, eyes concerned. "I'm sorry, I've upset you again."

"No it's not you." Shirania quickly amended. "I'm just not sure who I am anymore." The girl walked over to the couch and sat down, bringing her knees up to her chest and looking up at the elf.

"Do you know who this is?" Kiron gestured to a small picture of Shirania her parents had placed over the fireplace.

"It's my senior picture." Shirania replied slowly.

"Is she the same as you?" Kiron tilted her head at Shirania, then shrugged again. "What you are is decided by you, not by your blood, or ancestors. By the things that surround you, and affect you."

Hugging her knees it looked like Shirania was going to protest, but decided instead to sit thoughtfully, her chin balanced between her knees.

Kiron carefully sat on the couch beside Shirania, unbuckling the sword from her hip. She bit her lip, thinking of something to say, but was unable to come up with anything. "Jura?"

"What does it mean to be fae?" Shirania asked finally.

"To be fae... We are closer to harmony with nature, dependant upon your class. The world was made bright when we arrived and grows dull as we disappear. The fae are many human's source of magic, we can call upon the Mother to aid us if in dire need. To be fae... is not something you are raised with."

"I'm not sure I understand." the dark-haired girl said doubtfully.

"What don't you understand, Jura?" her silver eyes changed their gaze to Shirania.

"Everything's coming so fast, and it's so different. . . . .and I'm sitting here spilling out all of my problems . . . I'm so confused and I've never had anyone to talk to before. Before there was only the forest, or I'd get so sick it wouldn't matter. You must see me as so self centered."

"How did you feel when you were in the forest?" Kiron asked suddenly. "What did you feel," she tapped her chest, "here?"

Taking several moments to consider her words, she looked up into Kiron's silvery gaze. "I think I felt at peace." she said simply.

"That is fae," the elf replied, a faint smile playing at her features.

Shirania felt the edges of her mouth turn up in spite of herself. "Maybe I need to go for a walk."

"If that is what Jura desires, that is what we shall do," a smiling Kiron answered.

But what about you? Shirania wanted to ask, but felt the call of the forest pulling at her. Standing up, she offered her hand to the elf.

Kiron took her hand, driving from her mind the similarity to Laira. They were not the same, but... She couldn't help but see Laira's laughing features play across the younger girl's, the quirk her mouth would have when Kiron said something amusing. The elf forced a smile, following Shirania.

* * * * *

Outside the rain pattered softly, the sound mixing with the soft roar of the ocean. Trees stood as ghostly outlines in the fading sunlight. Kiron blinked into the rain, quickly removing her chainmail to avoid rust. She left it under the cover of the house's eaves, smiling as Shirania had already started toward the trees.

Clad only in her jeans and light blouse, Shirania paused in the clearing before the forest, closing her eyes and letting the rain fall down on her -- trying to wash the confusion away.

"Do you feel it?" Kiron asked softly, approaching behind her.

"Feel?" the dark-haired girl asked, turning towards the elf.

"Don't try to understand it here," she tapped her forehead. "It will escape you still. Understand here." Kiron tapped the girl's chest lightly before stepping into the darker shadows of the trees.

The elf moved in complete silence without her armor, enjoying the wet smells of the rain in the forest. Laira had often wandered in the woods, Kiron happily following along. Shaking her head, Kiron pulled herself to the now, keeping her mind open for anything or anyone the might be close by. She had put the sword back on her hip, fighting the urge to place her hand on the hilt.

Softly Shirania followed the elf into the forest, the green overhanging boughs filling her spirit with a sense of peace.

"There is... a place in these woods, it draws the ley lines." Kiron said voice still soft. "Would you like to see it?"

"Please." Shirania answered, not sure of what ley lines were, but willing to learn.

She nodded, letting her insincts guide her. The lines were strong here, the stones had to be close. The elf closed her eyes, kepping the major sense from distracting her. "Come they are this way," she murmured, walking west.

As the pair proceeded, the trees began to hold a lusher green than before. Moving lights could be seen faintly, every color imaginable creating odd shadows that moved with them.

Silently the girl nodded, looking about her in wonder.

"It is alive tonight, we must be quiet, Jura," the elf told Shirania, eyes changing colors with the reflected light.

The trees nearly seemed to part, revealing a circle of stones, much akin to Stonehenge. Flitting through the massive stones, small balls of light, faeries moved. Their colors reflected their moods, changing requently and dramatically. Toward the center of the circle, the colors seemed to be constant, at the very center a tranquil blue. The elder faeries were in the center of the dancing, able to hold a single mood. Near the outer edges, larger shaped were strangely highlighted, the light playing across the fine features of elves, elementals, and other fae, drawn to the power of the ley lines, as the ley lines were drawn to the stones. An ethereal music drifted from seemingly nowhere, from the throats of the faeries, and the single elven bard in attendance.

A gasp escaped Shirania as they entered the clearing, and she looked guiltily at Kiron for having made the noise, but continued to stare in wonder.

"This is fae," Kiron said softly, stepping into the light. A few heads turned at her, but nothing more.

Awestruck, Shirania followed closely behind Kiron, her hand seeking the elf's as a tie to reality.

The singing faded, the faerie slowing their dance. A single light drifted from the group, swirling around Shirania. Kiron fought back the urge to swat the faerie away, worried about the unpredictable mood of the faerie.

"It's a changeling," it giggled, turning an amused orange.

"A changeling?" several more faeries all danced around the girl, colors shifting rapidly.

Shirania's eyes widened as the glowing faerie swirled around her.

"It is!"

"It's so cute!"

"Can I keep it?"

"No, it smells funny."

"So do you."

"Do not!"

"Kiron?" she asked, a worried tone creeping into her voice as the faeries chattered away.

"Halt," the new voice was commanding, and amazingly deep in comparison to the higher voices of the faerie.

"The elder..." one whispered softly as the faeries all drifted back to the circle. As the glow faded, Kiron's hand coud be seen, tightly gripping the hilt on her sword.

"Are you alright, Miss Kelon?" the voice asked, coming from a person. His features could not be seen, due to a backlighting effect.

Shirania looked at the faerie, and then at Kiron, unsure of how to respond.

"Why do you bring one this young to a center this strong?" the person shifted to look at Kiron.

"I-I apologize Elder, I did not know it was alive tonight," Kiron bowed, hand moving away from her sword quickly.

"I do not recognize you," he said, voice a bit confused. "There are few fae I don't know that would be here tonight."

"I'm Kiron Astrainia, of Yojiran Guard," she answered, taking on a soldier's bearing.

A whisper broke out in the assembled fae, "Yojiran?"

"They have been gone for ages."

"A female guard, amusing."

"She's lying."

"She's lying."

"She has the correct bearing though."

"You just think she's cute."

"Do not!"

"How did she survive the destruction of the Yojiran?"

"Silence!" the elder commanded again, his head tilting at the elf.

"But they do speak truth, Kiron Astrainia, of Yojiran Guard. Can you explain you current existence?"

"I cannot, all I can remember is the fall of the Astrainia house, and waking here several days ago."

"Interesting. You are... ah, Kiron. I remember now. You were put into stasis, until your body had healed. Something apparently went wrong." he said, turning to look at Shirania.

Kiron bit back a reply, also fighting to keep her hand from her sword.

"And you. How did you find the lost elf?" he queried, voice gentle as he addressed the frightened girl.

"I. . I didn't find her. I was walking through the forest and saw her practicing her sword." Shirania stammered out.

"The last dance?"

Kiron lowered her head, eyes falling to her booted feet rather than face the man.

"Kiron?" Shirania asked, concern in her voice.

"It was nothing," she mumbled, avoiding Shirania's eyes.

"Or there was nothing... Miss Kelon? May I offer to walk you home?" he changed his stance, the light now on his face. Crius' aged features now obvious in the shifting light.

"Umm. . I" the girl stuttered, shifting her gaze from the aged faerie to Kiron, unsure of what to do.

"I was about to go that way myself," he smiled reassuringly. "And your parents might be home soon, yes?"

"What about Kiron?" Shirania asked.

"What about her?" Crius asked back, looking at the elf.

"Well. . . " the girl trailed off uncertainly. What did this fae want?

"Jura.. I..." Kiron closed her eyes for a moment, blocking Laira's face. "I shall do what you request."

"Kiron. . . you're my friend. . . " my only friend. Shirania smiled at the elf.

"I am, but I gave you my service. I wont fail..."

"Well Miss Kelon?" Crius asked. "Would you like company home? Or will you and Kiron go alone?"

Fail in what? "We would enjoy your company." Shirania said finally, putting emphasis on the first word, and stepping nearer to her friend.

"Then shall we?" Crius stepped away from the circle of stones, smiling to himself.

With a final glance at the stones, Kiron followed, feeling both her tension grow and fade as the elder joined them. He knew more about her than perhaps she did. What happened to Laira? Questions burned into her mind, but she found no to way to ask them.

Shirania walked alongside her friend, leery of offending the elder fae. After a while, Crius paused, turning to look at the younger pair. "Here our paths will part for now."

"May they cross again," Kiron replied, following an old tradition from the Yojiran clan.

Shirania inclined her head politely, sensing the formality of their words.

Crius smiled again, "Until then, take care." He waved, starting alone to the boundary between his home and that of the Kelons.

He's my neighbor, and he never said anything before? Shirania waved shyly back, wondering.

"Jura?" Kiron asked softly, glancing at the girl.

"Yes?" Shirania replied calmly, feeling at peace for the first time that night.

"I'm... I'm sorry about the faerie. They are... child-like for a much longer time than any other race," she looked at her boots still, eyes avoiding Shirania's.

"Kiron. It's ok." she smiled up at the elf. "It meant a lot to me that I got to see it."

Looking up into the rain again, Kiron said "We should go inside."

With a glance at her soaking blouse the girl smiled to herself. "You're right. And I have school in the morning. . ." Shirania turned towards her house, waiting for Kiron.

Kiron followed, ears open for anything that might be out in the night. As they approached the house a racoon raced across their path, scurrying up a tree. The sword was out in seconds Kiron's entire body a tense line. Here eys followed the racoon, looking in the direction it had come. Was if scared of something larger?

Her eyes having been bemusedly followng the raccoon, Shirania jumped as the elf drew her sword. Taking a deep breath to calm her racing heart, she looked about, trying to see what it was that had startled the elf so. "What was it Kiron? It was only a raccoon . . I thought."

"So did I..." Kiron slowly relaxed, sliding her sword back into it's sheathe. "But I didn't know it was."

"This is Newport, nothing happens here." Shirania said, trying to make light of the situation.

"This is a... place of power," Kiron shrugged, still fighting to calm her body down. It was keyed, ready for something, but unsure what.

"Come on. Too much has happened today," Shirania gestured towards the house.

Kiron nodded, starting again toward the yellow glow she knew was Shirania's house.

The two fae managed to make it back to the house without further incident. As she stepped across the threshold, all of the emotions which had carried her through the evening fell away to leave her drained.

"Are you alright, Jura?" Kiron asked, concerned as she lifted her chainmail from the grass it was resting on.

"I'm fine." Shirania rubbed her face with her hands. "Just tired." she smiled weakly, the effort lost in a sudden yawn.

"Perhaps you should go to bed..." the elf replied, laying the chainmail across her arm. "Where shall I sleep?"

Shirania nodded sleepily, pulling her damp hair over one shoulder and running her fingers through it. "There's a second bed in my room. . . my mom used to sleep in it when I was sick."

"I. . . Thank you," Kiron was surprised. She had been looking for a dry place near the door to the house to rest in. "Where is your room?"

"It's upstairs, on the west side." Shirania started up the stairs, opening the second door on the left. Inside the room was a bunk bed set and a desk. Arranged on the window seat was a varied collection of african violets, all blooming sleeply. On the corner of the desk sat an oriental-style fountain -- water burbling out over an arrangement of stones. Digging around in one drawer, Shirania pulled out two sets of pajamas. "Here. You can wear these." she held the pajamas out for the elf. "My bed is the top one." Shirania yawned again. Taking her pajamas with her, Shirania headed to the bathroom down the hall.

Kiron took the pajamas in one hand, setting the armor beside the bed. Nodding silently, she changed quickly, strangely embarrassed by the collection of scars covering her. The elf set her sword near the head of the bed, resting against the frame. She looked down at the clothing she wore, blinking. It.. was soft, but not made of silk. Sitting on the edge of the bed, Kiron waited nervously for Shirania to return.

After a few minutes of water running and teeth brushing, Shirania came sleepily back into the room, absently brushing through her damp hair. "My alarm's set for six tomorrow morning. I've got school." she explained, brushing carefully through the chestnut cascade of hair before deftly braiding it over one shoulder.

"Understood," Kiron replied, setting her clothes where they would dry overnight.

"Umm. . I'm not sure what you want to do tomorrow. . . " Shirania trailed off, fingering the end of her braid.

"What I want is not relevant, Jura. I will go with you," she stated matter-of-factly.

"Huh? You don't have to go with me. It's not like you're required to go to school or anything."

"But I am required to go with you," Kiron replied.

"Why?"

"How else can I be there if I'm needed?" the elf looked at her.

Shirania swayed slightly, sleep calling to her. "Kiron," she said softly, ". . . just be yourself. That's what you taught me."

Be herself? Kiron's head tilted. She had not been herself in so long, Kiron wasn't sure who she was anymore. Kiron of the Yojiran Guard. That was her identity. But the Yojiran Guard no longer existed. Her world no longer existed. She had been herself before running away, but that was unappealing now. "Dream Sweetly, Jura," Kiron said, looking at the sleepy girl.

"G'night." She smiled through another yawn before pulling herself into the top bunk and falling immediately asleep.

Kiron lay atop the comforter on the bed for a long time, hearing Shirania's parent's car pull up the driveway. She listened to the girl's steady breathing, letting it's rythm lull her to sleep as well.