(Okay. This was meant to go out 2 weeks ago befor I left for vacation .. but since the list was being weird, pretend it was sent then ^^)
Kyla had been dividing her time between, working on her garden in the mornings; the yard to her home in Brookshire that she rented from Rue Denali was looking nearly like a home now, to weaving and taking care of Rose, her daughter in the afternoon and evenings. She still had to make money, and considering how little -real- evidence of the Wyverns she'd come across, there wouldn't be any other real income coming in. She'd expected to come across some type of spore already. Despite having run into a secret camp full of gang members and nearly getting her ass killed, along with Denali's, she'd been pretty worthless as a tracker. That and a few other things were shooting her self esteem right down into the bottom of the well. She'd been working of late with Denali, getting to know him better to her utter embarrassment. So perhaps it was time she worked on her own. She'd already sat Rose down and told her what she was going to be about for about the next week. Her daughter understood, but was scared, and she'd spent all last night and today reassuring her that she would be back. Until then, Kit was to take care of her, which meant he'd spend a majority of his time as a human looking young man. She wanted no mistakes made with her daughter. As much as she liked the people of Brookshire, who were good people even if a bit dull-witted, she had no desire for her daughter to be raised by them. Kit would do well enough. She'd trusted him with her life too many times to count, and he also knew about the dragon eggs that lay buried in the vegetable cellar. Those were as precious to her as her daughter was. stuffing the last of her provisions in her backpack, she looked over toward the emerald haired man standing across the room from her and not looking at all happy. Whip thin, almost all muscle, he'd grown so much from what she remembered of him as a kitten that had almost never survived. He was still headstrong, but he'd learned early on to realize what was important to him. "Ten days Kit." Kyla told him firmly as she went over the pouches she'd attached to her belt. Her quiver of arrows and short bow both lay on her right hip where a sword should be, and her staff lay atop her backpack for easy access. She was as ready as she'd ever be. "Less if you can manage it." Kit said, arms crossed of his chest, body leaned back against the wall. He was not happy about this, and had already argued fiercely to go -with- her, but she didn't trust anyone but him to ensure that Rose would make it to adulthood. And she'd told him as much. It had been a bit of a low blow, as it took the wind right out of his sails. She couldn't afford the emotional strength in order to talk him into staying behind. She -needed- him with Rose. Because, the fury of the Wyvern gang and it's winged friends, the Wyverns themselves, had nearly killed her, and she still had nightmares about the Defiler that had nearly withered the life from her. Luckily, she'd seen it totally desiccate and kill a tree in front of her in a matter of moments. Though if she were going to die because of this, she'd much rather it be as quick as that. She'd come close to dying far too slowly a couple times before. Her back twinged at the thought and she resolutely strode toward the door, opening to look out on the moon lit back yard. Already it was precious too her. A safe place for her daughter and her heart. Blinking she moved toward the barn where a pretty gelding stood, head up and looking at her inquisitively. She smiled and reached for the bridal and pulled herself up onto the thin saddle. Kit had followed her and stood just inside the repaired barn, looking at her. "I'll be back Kit. But if i'm not .. you'll do good." Kyla smiled at him, and let show the excitement and determination, seeming to take years of weight from her shoulders. She was doing this as much for herself as she was for Rose. She wanted the Isles to be a magical place for her daughter to grow up. It's beauty as spring unfolded over the land with splendor made her breath catch in her throat. The Wyvern Gang cast an ugly shadow on that. Giving the gelding a nudge with her legs they headed out of the barn and out the open gate. She had no more to say about this. She kept the horse going, down the street carefully, the animals unshod feet making hardly any noise. She didn't look back as Kit closed the gate, because she knew she'd never leave if she did. He understood enough not to say nothing further. Once out of Brookshire, the new growth swallowed Kyla and her horse Ivy, and she kept at a smooth walk, the animal taking them to the edge of the territory that she'd looked over. She was convinced that the wyverns would be farther north, toward the Key Peaks. They tended to like caves. Cool and dark, somewhere they could look down into valleys where their food would be. They tended to be solitary creatures, which made it strange to hear the stories of numbers attacking with the gang members. And they were nocturnal. She'd only been out during the day, looking for spoor of their passing, evidence of their feeding. But why feed in Brookshire when the spring lambing would make more than enough food to pull them out of hibernation torpor. They'd be ready for mating by now, if they hadn't already. And the closest town to the Key Peaks was Rak. Sliding of Ivy's back she set her direction correctly by the stars and headed for the Key Peaks city. *** Back at the house, Kit went to the table where Kyla had left the folded note for Rue Denali. He was tempted to tear it up, simply because he didn't like the man. He stank of opium, regrets and rage, and he knew Kyla was wasting her time on him. Guys like that didn't tend to live very long. Mainly because they couldn't abide their own stink eventually. Not literally, though there'd been a few times both happened. If they were lucky, they got killed, ending their torment. If not, they could linger on, poisoning people around them until they were well and truly alone. Picking it up he read through it quickly. She hadn't folded it up into an envelope, so he felt he had the right to read it. Rue When you get this, i'll be at least a day north. Off to do my job. I'll send back regular reports via animals to Kit on my progress, but I plan on being out a week or more. Keep soaking in the hot springs, they'll help the pain, and get rid of the opium before it kills you. At least have the honor of going out like a man. Blaze of glory and all that. That's what you want to hear, and nothing i've said seems to steer you away from it. I gave you my word I would attempt to find the Wyverns, and that's exactly what i'm doing. Forgive me if I don't come back, forgive me if I do. Either way we'll be even. Kyla Kit wrinkled his nose and folded the note back up. He would deliver it to the man tomorrow night this time, and then he could do what he wished. He wasn't his trouble. Rose was. He walked back to her bedroom door, kept ajar so that she could hear mommy as she moved around quietly, and not be so afraid of the dark. She lay sprawled on her bed, her covers nearly to her feet. He stepped in and pulled them back up to her shoulders. The little girl twisted quickly in her sleep then lay still again, laying curled on her side. He brushed a hand over he bright red hair, hair the color of the roses that would bloom in the garden. He knew where his duties lay, even if all he wanted to do was go tearing out of here after Kyla, join her on her adventure. Some day it would be all three of them. He straightened and left the room, and the house, changing shape as he went until the large emerald mountain lion padded to the stone wall surrounding the garden, past vegetables that were only now sending up shoots, and lay atop the wall to watch the moon set. *~*~*~*~* P.S. I'm heading to daytona Beach till the 13th. This explains well enough why Kyla wouldn't be around in case any new stuff about the Wyverns or the Gang comes to light. I can catch up after I get back, and think of something then. ;) *hugs all* Jax -- #Dragonmyst*inn and X-Zenith channel operator. Typo demon extrodinaire We all think we're ordinary, it's others that think we're extraordinary. - Me (On going to war over religion) "You're basically killing each other to see who's got the better imaginary friend." -Yasir Arrafat (PLO leader) (On cost overuns) "One way to ensure that it is not a major achievement for mankind" was to pass the budget limit. Rep. (Dana Rohrabacher, a California Republican) <Kylus> What was that really bad vamp movie you saw over the summer? <Kaejo> Dracula: Lord of the Dance The only disability in life is a bad attitude. - Scott Hamilton -- To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Archives & Other DMI Lists: http://islesofmyst.com/lists.php3
