"Companion: Part 1" by Ruth E. Steinback

Where is it!? Her feet pounded across the ground, eyes focused on something before her, and her red-gold braid flying out behind her.  She twisted as she ran, miraculously avoiding trees and bushes in her full out sprint.  I know it's here!  It has to be!

            She ducked her head and covered it with her arms as her next few steps took her through the middle of a bush.  She stumbled slightly as her foot caught on a root and she sank to her knees in the clearing before her.  Dammit, too late.  Tears of pain and frustration threatened to stream from her eyes.  I lost it - again.  Slowly she wrapped her arms around herself and tried to choke back her misery. 

            The clearing around her was near to silent.  The crystal clear waterfall trickled down the moss covered cliff and formed a pure stream filled with dazzlingly bright fish and a bottom of smooth crystalline stones.  The leaves above filtered the sunlight creating a patchwork mosaic of rainbows on the soft earth.  A gentle breeze brought the light scent of flowers and the sound of faint birdsongs.  Amid this small retreat a pale glow started.  It dwarfed every color, overwhelmed all the light, the entire grove became a multihued bright that shone like the stars.  A faint pulse seemed to acknowledge the girl before everything faded to natural hues. 

            The girl looked up from her tears.  "So you acknowledge me and still you let me search."  The wonder in her eyes betrayed the hurt she put in her voice.  "Well I'll find it yet!"  Though it would be easier if I knew what I was looking for.  With that she stood up to her full height, looked at her surroundings to memorize them, and gracefully turned back the way she had come.  She did not see the small falcon that had watched her come, and seen her go.  Blinking intelligently it tipped its head to the side before soaring to the clouds.  It knew what she was looking for, and was waiting for her to find it.

~1~

            "Small Wanderer where have you been this time?"  The voice of the female Elder welcomed her back to the village enclosure.

            "Searching.  Where else."  The disgust filled her voice again.

            "Little Wanderer your day will come.  Why can you not accept what you have around you?"  The Elder walked to her and faced into her eyes.  "Your seventeenth has come and gone.  You should find the name you seek."

            "Mother Elder how is it that with all your wisdom you cannot see?"  Wanderer looked back in defiance.  She was pushing her luck again she knew.  Nobody talked as she did to the Elders.  For that matter nobody did anything the way she did.  "I do not belong."

            "When a Fortuned does not belong, the existence will reverse itself.  Wanderer it is time for you to choose a path."  With that, the ancient woman turned and walked herself back the way she had come.

            Of course she had to bring being a Fortuned one into this.  Was that all they saw in her, a destined one?  "Well I'm still a girl and I'll never be their woman."  The girl muttered under her breath.

            "You can be my woman," the boy smirked as he wrapped his arm suggestively around her shoulder.  "Not everybody is man enough to have a woman like you".  Unfortunately Kite was not somebody she was willing to deal with right now. 

            "Stow it Kit.”  She used the short form of his name to rebuke him.  “Go hunt someone who can stand your delusions.  When you're a man, I'll follow a path and be half a world away from wherever you are."  Deftly she shrugged out of his grasp and sprinted away before he could react.  She paused as she passed beyond cover to listen as he turned to his pals.

            "She just can't handle my good looks.  I'm too much competition for her being Fortuned.  She doesn't want to share the attention."  Kite strutted as he walked she could hear it in his voice.  You're competition? Then what race am I in? She gave a sharp laugh in her mind.  Apparently his friends echoed her thoughts.

            "What competition are you in then boy, Stone collector?  You couldn't even beat her at that!  Get over yourself Kite!  She's the rabbit the kite can't even see let alone catch!"  That was Fox who had only recently come into his chosen name.  She could tolerate him better than Kite who had had his name for over a year now.  Kite was fairly tall, muscular with blue eyes and yellow blond hair.  Fox was average height with reddish hair and dark green eyes.  It was clear how he'd earned his name, with his trickster ways and fox looks, it was just a matter of passing seventeen springs and being old enough to choose a name.

            "Be happy she doesn't want to have anything to do with you Kite.  Can you imagine being partnered to a Fortuned!  Anything could happen!  She hasn't even chosen her name yet!  Who is she going to be when she does?"  That was Raven.  Trust him to say exactly what she didn't want to think about.  Normally the quiet boy, when he spoke, people often stopped to listen.  However, he didn't normally have anything nice to say.  He had long dark brown hair with almost black eyes and was one of the few taller than she was.  He too suited his chosen name.

            So what name suits me?  Everybody called her Wanderer but that was what she did, not who she was.  Eventually she would have to choose a new name to replace her childhood one.  'A given name comes from the mind, a chosen one from the soul.'  That was what the Elders said.  Quietly she continued past her hiding place in the shadows and crossed to the Ancient Tree.  This she swiftly climbed until she reached her perch.  

            "I knew you'd show up here eventually."  Her blue eyed friend sighed, pushing her dark hair back from her face.  "Where was it this time?"

            Panther, or Cat, was the only one she'd told about the call that she sought.  She'd only chosen her name the week before.  "To the West this time, I found a clearing but it was already gone."  She described the waterfall and trees but kept her mouth shut about the Bright.

            "I wonder what it is that's calling you.  Was it still that bright light?"  Cat looked thoughtfully down from the branch above as Wanderer settled against the tree branch she was on.

            "Yuh huh, the glowing orb of light that echoes in my mind's eye until I go look for it.  It's always in a different place and gets brighter as I get closer until it disappears."  Wanderer shook her head trying to clear it.

            "I still think you should tell the Elders." Cat said softly.

            Wanderer shook her head harder, her braid disintegrated as it whapped against the tree trunk.  "Can you imagine what they'd say?  On top of being the only Fortuned in the village I flipping well have to have a vision that compels me to find something.  No.  I need to find this on my own.  I don't want to stand out anymore than I do."

            "The Council has called a meeting.  They want us to attend."  The voice of Guardian Eagle echoed up from the ground below interrupting their thoughts.  She had gotten her chosen name just after Wanderer was supposed to have chosen hers.

            "Alright!"  She hollered back down. Wanderer didn't pause to think about why they wanted them at a meeting.  You didn’t question if you were called, you reacted.  She saw that Silver Wolf also stood with Eagle and that Bold Lion was with them too.  Lion had gotten his name this summer and while it didn't suit his looks it certainly suited him.  He had short black hair and deep blue eyes, and was tall and clearly muscular.  Everyone expected that it was only a matter of time before he and Eagle were partnered as they were an amazing team and completely loyal to each other.

            While couples partnered in the village, no family names were needed.  Everybody was everybody else's brother or sister and children were raised collectively.  However, as such things went Lion was as much an older brother to Wanderer as she had ever had, even if he was younger than her by several months.  He was one of the few boys in the enclosure that she truly got along with.

            "Stand still." Wolf commanded as Wanderer landed on the ground.  Her blond hair neatly pulled back and blue eyes palely glowing she swiftly untangled Wanderer's knotted hair and tightly rebraided it.  "Now try and keep that at least as long as the Council wishes to speak to us."

            "Done." She smiled and the five quickly headed towards the Meeting Hall.

~2~

            The council was seated around the walls of the Hall, Mother and Father Elder seated in the centre at the back.  Two other boys also stood inside the door when she and the other four entered.  The firelight cast shadows that made it impossible for a quick glance to show who they were and unfortunately it was not proper for her to do more. Why have they called us here?  She did a quick tally, seven of us in all.

             Every member in the community over thirty-five took part in the council.  The men and women looked at them judgingly as if they were weighing them in their minds.  As they were told to she and the other youths lined up across the front wall looking forward toward the council.  She could feel some of the others fidgeting under the gaze but she compelled herself to stand perfectly still, though she couldn’t stop herself from shaking slightly.

            "In my meditation today I met a Guide, a Spirit." The Father Elder's voice was low but strong.  "This Spirit told me to call you here and tell you what I am about to say.  They gave instructions for all of you before me.  They said that the Fortuned of our village was to be sent on a journey.  They said she has followed some of the path already seeking the guide that called her."  Wanderer drew in a sharp breath when she realized he meant the glow she had been tracking.  "With her we should send six others, to guide her and protect her whenever she needs it.  They were specific as to which were to go and why they were chosen to do so.  They then gave me a packet they said contained emblems for each of you.  This packet was by my side when I awoke.  Each of the chosen will receive the one their spirit path is kin to.  New destinies are being woven and your dream paths will cover new land not traveled before you.  Along the way more guides will be found.  Welcome them as you recognize them and they will be true to you."

            Father Elder bowed his head and the Mother Elder spoke.  "Young Wanderer you say you do not belong.  Perhaps this is why you are to be sent on this path.  You alone in this village have been born on the first day of the Celebration of Spring under the sign of the Rising Star.  Our dreams were vivid the night you were born showing that you were Fortuned and guided by a different light.  None of the council contested it.  As you grew you became as you are.  Taller than most, swift in your ways, wise in matters as those many times your age, and apart from all but a few.  On the mark of the beginning of your eighteenth year you should have chosen your name but you did not, and again we dreamed.  Your name is not to be found here child, and may the heart's blessing guide you on your search.  Follow the light that guides you alone and find what your spirit seeks."

            "Fortuned."  Slowly Wanderer stepped forward, suddenly very afraid and yet aware that this is what she had been waiting for.  The Elders spoke to her alone, "You are to bring these six with you.  Follow wherever your guide takes you, the spirits alone know where you will end up and what is to become of your group.  Stay with them.  Rely on them.  They have been chosen as your companions and none shall choose otherwise."       The Elders beckoned to all of them once again.  "You may bring no supplies of your own, clothing will be provided and what you need will be given to you at first light tomorrow.  You alone know where they will be found, Fortuned.  You have all been trained in defence and hunting as you have grown, and know the ways of the world as well as we could teach them.  We cannot prepare you anymore." They paused. "As you are named come forth and make your choices."

            The wanderer looked at the floor in front of them.  The weapons she had not noticed now gleamed brightly in the firelight.  There lay a set of throwing knives, a blade tipped staff, a long quarterstaff (her gaze paused on that), a longbow and arrows, a coiled whip with a metal end, and two swords.

            "Shadow Panther of the Echoing Dusk,"
            Wanderer jolted slightly as the sound of so many whispers fled through her mind disguising themselves as her own thoughts.  “…Kali…” they silently chorused.  Bewildered she looked around her but none of the others seem to have heard.  Panther stepped forward at the Elder’s bidding, unaware of Wanderer’s puzzlement, and picked up the blade tipped staff.  As she raised it the light caught it and faint carvings were visible along the entire length, symbols they did not recognize and scenes of the night.

            "Panther you will take the symbol Kurai, Dark; teach the shadows how to hide."  They put a loop around her neck; another strange symbol was indented on the circle it held, made of ebony black.

            “…Cregan…” Again the whispers rang through Wanderer’s head.
            "Laughing Fox of the Fire's Flame," Fox stepped forward quickly and scooped up the armful of throwing knives deftly tucking them into his belt.  Each blade had carvings of flame intertwined with more symbols.  "You have been given Ka, Fire; challenge the flames to be brighter than you." They handed him another loop with a different symbol, this one of blood red.

            "The two of you have been partnered.  Stay by each other and keep each other safe."  Fox and Panther looked at each other and stood silently side by side.

            “…Aren…”
            "Guardian Eagle of the Earth and Sky," Eagle bent over and drew up one of the long swords, the symbols on the hilt and blade glowed like bright leaves in the sun.  "You will take the symbol of growth, Mori, the Forest; dare the trees to grow as high as you fly."  Her symbol was of emerald green.

            "Bold Lion of the High Mountains"
            “…Leander…” he was named in her thoughts.
            Lion reached for the remaining sword holding it by his side, the symbols on this one were accompanied by mountains and cliffs.  "You have been given Yama, Mountain; show them how strong they must stand."  The symbol they gave him was of bright coppery brown.

            "The two of you have been partnered.  Fight together as you have always done and you shall remain undefeated."

            “…Tala…” Wanderer silently echoed the name as it trailed through her thoughts.
            "Silver Wolf of the Ocean's Moon" Wolf stepped forward and retrieved the whip, pulling the coil over her shoulder, the patterns woven into it were of waves and water, surrounded by yet more of the strange inscriptions.  They handed her a symbol of sapphire blue.  "You take with you the symbol of Mizu, all Water; force the oceans to endure as long as you will."

            "Silent Raven of the Storm's Winds" 
            “…Corbin…”
            Raven took the bow and arrows stepping forward and clutching them at his sides.  Carved into the wood both the wind and the sky seem to have been imprinted there.  "You earned the symbol of Kaze, Wind; make the breezes work to travel as swiftly as you."  The symbol he received was of bright silver.

            "You two will also be partnered.  Confide in each other and your trust will never be stronger."

            Finally Wanderer was the only one left uncalled.  She stood waiting for the strange whispers to fill her mind once more. They didn’t come as the Elders’ beckoned her not naming her at all.  Slowly she picked up the staff, feeling the finely carved pictures and symbols, vaguely recognizing by touch some she had seen before.  She spun it once in front of her before resting it at her side.  "As you are guided by it and born to it, you will be given Hikari, the symbol of Light.  Be the leader that rivals the stars that will guide you through both day and night."  They reached up and hung the symbol around her neck.  The charm was of swirled with iridescent hues of yellow but the colors it betrayed made her remember the Bright of the clearing.  She swallowed roughly as emotions threatened to drown her.

            "We have no partner for you here but perhaps you will find them on your way."  The Elder grinned dropping the formality for an instant, "Unless perhaps you'd like us to send young Kite with you?" Wanderer shuddered at the thought as the Elder winked at her and continued, "Maybe it is meant that you will find them, maybe you should not.  Believe in those that go with you and you will never be alone.  You seven have begun a new journey.  Now travel with our strength in your hearts.  You will begin before dawn so you must get some sleep.  You will be woken when it is time to go."

            They filed back out of the meeting hall each with a million things to say but no way of saying them, so they walked in silence.  After a short distance Raven bowed to Wanderer and left to his room and bed.  The others followed suit and headed in their separate directions.  Panther gave her a hug as well before she too was turning and walking away, leaving Wanderer to stand alone in the centre of the village enclosure.  Slowly Wanderer turned and walked, not seeing where she went, until she found herself once more at the base of the Ancient Tree, her sanctuary.  There she slumped against the trunk the tears she had felt earlier silently trickling down her face.

            Now what am I doing?  This morning all I had to worry about was taking part in the village, avoiding Kite and choosing my name.  Now I have to lead myself and six others to Spirit's only know where by following a light that does it's best to get me lost.  Her fingers dug into the ground beneath her.  I am not a leader!

            A gentle hand closed on her shoulder, and she shied away from it.  The Mother Elder sat down beside her cross legged and spoke gently.  "Being a leader does not mean telling people to follow you young one.  It means relying on those by your side and guiding them to use their skills to benefit everyone just as they will guide you.  We have watched you grow up, you do have this skill.  The others respect you…" the young girl laughed painfully at the aged voice and the Mother Elder pulled her into a hug, "…Even if they grew up teasing you.  Being human is hard, and being Fortuned more so.  You have none but yourself to guide you.  You do however have those that will help you find your way.  Now sleep.  Your day will be a long one tomorrow." Drawing the teary eyed girl to her feet the old woman guided her to her bed.  The Mother of the village fondly looked down after the girl had fallen into an exhausted sleep. "Your light guide you girl, it seems your path has been chosen for you."

~3~

            Wanderer woke up and blinked at the knock on her door immediately remembering the previous day.  If I'm not supposed to bring anything of my own, where are these clothes I am to wear?  Are we expected to make the first leg of this journey naked or something?  As she sat up and stretched she noticed a small bundle of clothing on the table beside her.  She picked up the yellow shirt and gasped at the beauty and softness of the weave as well as the strength.  As hard as she tried to stretch it, it would not pull, however when she put it on it fit to her body loosely and perfectly.  The sleeves gracefully fell to just above her elbows and the shirt fell to just past her waist.  The gathered fabric forming a flowing skirt that began just below her chest.  The paler pants were of the same material, echoing the intricate patterns around the borders her top.  The same as the patterns scribed into her staff.  When she slipped her feet into the soft ankle high boots she couldn't help wiggling her toes at the comfort.  They were the nicest footwear she had ever worn and made her feet feel as if she could run forever.  Picking up her new quarterstaff and feeling the charm around her neck to make sure she still wore it, Wanderer stepped out of her room and into the common ground.  There she saw the others waited.  She smiled when she saw they all wore similar clothing but in styles and colors tailored to the individual's tastes and necklace charms.

            Eagle had multihued green fabric that looked as if it would serve as armour, her sword in a sheath on her back.  Lion's clothes were of shades of brown in a style very similar to that of Eagle's.  His sword hung at his side.  The two of them stood next to each other eager to face whatever challenges the day would bring.

            Raven wore clothing of shifting grey the color of storm clouds.  His arrows were in a quiver strung across his back and his bow hung over his shoulder.  Beside him Wolf twitched impatiently, playing with the belts that adorned her outfit of many hues of blue.  Her whip was coiled about her waist with the hooked blade at the end gleaming menacingly.

            Off to the side stood Fox in a red dyed outfit, some shades so dark they looked black. The shirt was long-sleeved and covered by a blood red vest. The deep red cloth band wrapped around his waist hid all but the handle tips of his many blades.  Panther stood talking with him quietly hers a midnight black and purple shadow hued outfit.  It had a half skirt at her waist that flowed down behind her pants to end just below her knees.  She held her glaive, as Wanderer now recognized the weapon, at her side.

            The only people there to see them off in the predawn light were the two Elders.  They said not a word as Wanderer bowed and turned out of the village.  The others quickly filled in behind her, bowing in turn.  "We will see this place again." Wanderer said aloud to nobody in particular.  I hope.  Then she set off at a quick jogging pace until the reached the clearing she had been at yesterday.  She somehow knew that this was where they would start.

~4~

            The sunrise hit the clearing, sending rainbows off of the waterfall, just as they reached it.  The glow in her head had not left this time.  Instead it had flashed when she reached its position and then drifted to a new location showing her obstacles between her and the next point.  This left her dazed until she shook it off, though the memory of the path remained as well as the glow this time.  The others had reached the packs and were looking through them careful not to undo the packing.  Each bag was again color coded to the symbols they each wore and filled to the brim with all the supplies they needed.  Food, blankets, rope and many other necessities were all things she glimpsed.  Fox carried her yellow pack over to her, separately handing her the large water bag it had contained.  Seeing it was empty she slung the pack to the ground with her staff and went to fill it at the stream, knowing the water there was clean.  Using her hand she scooped up a handful and drank before filling her water bag.  By the time it was full the others were doing the same so she left her sack after repacking the water container and picked up her staff.  Leaning against the rock cliff she watched the rainbows, letting her mind wander down the trail she and the others were about to embark on.

            "Are you ready to go." It wasn't a question.  The foreign thoughts were inside her head like the whispers had been.  She found that this was getting really annoying.  Wanderer jerked around trying to find who was speaking at her.  "Ask them about dreams."  Another statement.  Alright then I will.  She thought to herself.

            She turned to the others.  "Did any of you dream last night?"  Slightly stunned faces turned toward her, looking as if it would have been a strange question at any other time.

            "Yeah.  I had a dream.  My thoughts in it told me that when you asked about dreams I was to tell you my journey name."  Silver Wolf said half under her breath.  "My journey name is …”
            “…Tala…”  Wanderer interrupted suddenly.
            “Yes,” Wolf – or Tala – looked at her strangely.  “How did you know that?”

            Wanderer just shook her head unsure how to respond.  She looked over at Raven who spoke up.

            "I had the same dream, my journey name is-”
            “-Corbin."  Wanderer said at the same time Raven did.  He looked at her strangely and then over at Wolf/Tala as if she might explain.

            "Same here, " That was Lion speaking now.
            “Leander. It’s Leander isn’t it.”  Wanderer turned to face him.
            “Yes.”  Lion/Leander nodded to her.

            Wanderer spun around to face Eagle.    "Aren," they both said at the same time.

            "Mine's Kali," Panther smiled as Wanderer said it with her.

            They all turned to Fox.  "Whad'a'ya know, I got one too! ‘s …”
            “Cregan."  Wanderer finished for him.  Then laughed as she realized he’d waited for her to do so.
            “I knew you were going to say that!”  Fox/Cregan grinned infectiously.

            "Did you dream too?  What’s your journey name?" Panther/Kali asked her mercifully looking more bemused than suspicious of Wanderer’s strange knowledge.

            "No…I don’t know what it…" Suddenly the voices were part of her thoughts again.  "Your journey name is Elani.  Wear it well." Her eyes got a far off look and her voice trembled slightly as she stammered, "…it – it’s Elani."

            Quickly she snapped herself back to the present taking control of herself again. "We'll use those names from now until we return, unless it’s absolutely necessary not to.  Agreed?"  The others nodded in assent.  "Then please follow me and I will lead the way.  The first while is fine but an obstacle will arise after three hours walking.  Let's get moving."

            She quickly turned away, picking up her own pack as the others shouldered their packs and weapons.  She didn't see their questioning looks but she knew they wore them.  She didn't want to think about it.  I know I am to trust them, but I've spent so much time alone.  They will learn in the end, I’m sure of that much, but - for now I'd like to keep my thoughts my own I think.  Soon they were making good time and everyone had settled into the pace she set. 

            Cregan is Fox, bright as flame.  Kali is Panther, shadowy dark.  Aren is Eagle, green like the leaves.  Leander is Lion, with the brown of the earth.  Tala is Wolf, and blue like the seas.  Corbin is Raven and storm cloud grey.  I’m now Elani it seems, once a wanderer, now just wandering, born to light, guided by light and the light knows who I really am.  Spirits, what have we begun?  Elani remained silent with her thoughts listening to the others quiet conversations and leading them ever closer to the next glowing point.

~5~

            "You call this an 'obstacle'?!"  That was Raven - Corbin, face wide with disbelief.  The 'obstacle' had turned out to be a ravine about twenty meters wide with no crossing in sight.  "How the bloody Spirits are we supposed to cross this?  I'm not exactly keen on jumping."

            "I'd suggest using a tree trunk to cross but there haven't been any for the last hour or so.  We've been walking through shrubs and grassland for at least that long."

            "ANYBODY GOT A BRIDGE!?"  Fox-now Cregan had cupped his hands to his mouth and hollered across the expanse.

            "Could you shut your mouth or at least lower the volume?"  Kali shushed him.   "They can probably hear us beyond the horizon with a screech like that!  I bet-" She broke off when Elani made quieting motions at her.  She turned to where Elani was looking and saw Wolf - or Tala deep in thought.

            "What are you thinking of?"  Elani asked her.

            "Huh?  I was just listening to the echoes.  I figure if we sent scouts out in each direction and leave the others here then if one of the groups finds a way to cross they can holler back…"

            "… and the people waiting here can pass the message along and we can all meet there.   That's a great idea, thank you Tala.  North and south, I need two volunteers for each direction.  Kali, Cregan could you take north?"  They nodded in agreement.  "Corbin, Tala would you two go south?"  They too agreed.  "If you don't find anything in an hour come back here."

            The two groups headed in opposite directions and Elani sank down cross-legged to the ground.  Aren and Leander did a quick scout of their surroundings and then sat down across from her.

            "Same as I said before, nothing but shrubs and grass."  Aren stretched out.

            "There aren't even any signs of animals, not for over a month at least."  Leander tickled Aren's side until she smacked him.  Neither noticed Elani's morose look.

            "Why did you come with me?  This isn't your journey.  You could have had everything you needed back at the village."  Elani looked at their faces glumly as if trying to find the reasons there.

            "What makes you think this isn't our journey."  Aren sat up and looked at her.  "It's not like we were given much of a choice really…"

            "…that's not true."  Leander paused a moment as if contemplating how much to tell her.  "It was these thoughts, it was hard to understand but in my dream they were mine but not my own.  It made sense at the time anyway.  They asked me who I thought I was and called me a coward.  When I challenged them, they asked me how I knew if I'd never done anything brave.  Every reason I gave was shot down until I asked how I was expected to prove myself.  I was told to follow the Fortuned, you, to protect and guide you on your journey.  I accepted and truth be told I will keep my word and find just how brave I am."  He drew himself up as he finished true to his words.

            Elani looked into his eyes, and believed him.  He has always been there for me before.  He stood up for me, or at least never joined the others when they teased me.  He was brave to do that because then they'd sometimes turn on him, but he'd just look at them in contempt until they went off to find a new game and leave me alone.

            "I guess, well, the same thing happened in my dream I think.  The way you explained it is about right anyway.  They told me I couldn't protect myself from a leaf.  I argued like Li - Leander did…alright I lost my temper and swore a bunch!  They said anything I had ever protected had been for me and the only way to be a true guardian was to protect something else.  I figured they were right after awhile, and asked exactly what it was I should be guarding.  The response was you, on this journey, and the others as well.  I agreed that I would and show how strong I am."  Aren blushed slightly.  "Those strange thoughts said I probably could but we wouldn't know until I actually do.  That's why I came."

            Elani saw the same conviction in her eyes and knew that she too was truthful.  That’s not entirely fair to say of Eagle, no Aren now I guess.  Whenever somebody stole my toys and books she always made them give them back.  So she may have done it to prove she was stronger than they were, or known that if they got away with picking on me that might pick harder targets and end up taking her stuff.  She still fought for me and made sure I never got injured.  She smiled.  "Thanks.  I guess it’s easier when I understand I'm not in this alone and I know what was - is expected of you.  Maybe I can help."  She sighed and watched them relax again.  "I wonder if the others have had any luck…"   

            As she said this an echo came up the canyon.  "BRIDGE SOUTH - OUTH - OUTH - OUth - Th - th…"  It proclaimed right on cue.

            "Looks like they did" Leander laughed standing and turning to the North.  Cupping his hands to his mouth as Cregan had done he hollered as loud as he could "BRIDGE SOUTH!!  COME BACK!!" and grinned contentedly as it echoed away.  "Why don't I catch up with Corbin and uh - " he fumbled searching for the other name, "-Tala so they know we’ve heard and you two can meet us once Kali and Cregan get back here?"

            "Sounds good to me," Aren agreed.  They turned to Elani.

            "Sure, go for it!  We'll just bask in the sun a while longer.  See you shortly!"  Leander picked up his pack and ambled away to the South.  It had only been twenty minutes or so since the original scouts had left so it wasn’t too long before the north scouts came jogging into view. 

            "Just gets more barren the further you go."  Kali reported, taking a quick drink from her canteen before passing it over to Cregan who did the same.  "I guess the others just had more luck."  Aren picked up her pack while Elani grabbed her own and the four took a minute to scuff the site a bit to make it look less like they’d been there.

            "Not that anything else has been here in over a month but we may as well."  Picking up a branch from beneath a nearby bush Cregan swished it around to stir up the loose dirt where they had been sitting.  "To hide our trail," he said and followed along behind the girls his makeshift broom kicking the dust up and obscuring their footprints behind them.

            Soon the group was together again, staring in awe at the bridge that had been found.  Elani had been expecting to find a small rope bridge or at best a suspended plank boardwalk.  What lay in front of them was a bridge that looked to be made of polished granite that spanned the entire width of the gorge.  Its gentle arch over the crevasse was so out of place that they all just stared.  It seemed that nothing was holding it up but the bases on either side.  There were no visible divisions in it at all, it appeared to have been carved whole and transported there but this too seemed near to impossible.  The bridge was wide enough that all seven of them could walk side by side without squishing and the foot thick railings on either side were chest high.

            "I suppose we should cross now before it gets any later.  We can stop on the other side and eat a bit if you're hungry."  Elani took another look at the bridge and stepped onto it, only pausing in the middle to look off the side.  They really were quite high up.  She turned back to the others.  Leander, Kali, Cregan, and Aren were all on the bridge walking across or pausing to look over the edge.  She heard Kali telling Cregan that "This is not a good time to spit over the edge…" and saw her threaten to hit him when he began to do so anyway.  Tala and Corbin were still on the embankment, Corbin talking at Tala and Tala just shaking her head.

            "The bridge is fine, it's completely safe."  Elani turned back to them.

            "That's nice."  Tala had her feet braced firmly and a panicked look on her face.

"You cross.  I'll wait here."

            "We won't leave you behind, why won't you cross?"  When Tala didn't answer Corbin spoke up.

            "It's the height.  She doesn't like heights and the bridge doesn't look very well supported.  She won't listen to me when I tell her its fine."  Corbin scuffed his foot looking a bit annoyed and a bit dejected.

            Elani paused. That’s right, Tala never did do much climbing when we were growing up, but how can we get her to cross… she won’t go willingly. "Hey, Tala, why did you come anyway?  You must have known we might come across something like this."

            "Hm? Oh, um well I-” It took Tala an instant to react to being called anything but Silver Wolf.  Slowly her body relaxed as her mind focused on the question. Swiftly Elani and Corbin each took her hand and slowly began to guide her across the middle of the bridge as she remembered the reason.  "It was this dream I had before we left.  These weird distant thoughts, like they weren’t my own or something, told me - they told me I was a disgrace to my name.  Said that I hadn't an inch of will that a wolf had, that I could never finish anything I started.  No matter what I argued the thoughts wouldn’t stop.  Finally they told me if I really wanted my name that I should prove my endurance.  When the Fortuned left I should go with her, you, and keep you on track.  I chose my name and now it seems I must earn it.  I'll do as much and more before this journey ends it seems."  She blinked as if waking up from the dream again as her feet stepped off onto the other side of the bridge.  She looked at those around her and gave a stunned smile, "I guess you guys are going to be keeping me on track as much as I will be you.  Thanks in advance I suppose."

            The group ate a small amount, not entirely hungry but needing the food to keep going.  Once they were done and had packed up again they headed off in the direction Elani pointed.  Slightly south of west now I think, judging by the sun’s position. Where are we headed anyway?   At least that cursed glow is staying where I can find it now.  After awhile she found that Corbin was walking beside her.  She smiled at him still half lost in thought.

            "The thoughts in my dream said I was shy and afraid of my own tail."  Corbin said under his breath.  "That I was silent from fear.  I demanded they explain to me why I should speak if nobody heard or cared what I said.  It told me to talk with people, not at them.  They told me to talk with Tala and the others, and especially to you.  Even dared me to be your advisor on this journey, to use my silence to listen and use my voice to speak.  That maybe then I could be silent for a reason.  That is my excuse for coming, to prove or disprove everything."

            Corbin looked at her as he finished and she blinked back at him.  "I know how that is, to speak and not be heard.  I've spent much of my life alone as well.  With the others’ help maybe we can learn better don’t you think?  Thank you for speaking with me, I enjoy your company."  Corbin paused as a true smile crept onto his face.

            "Yeah, sure anytime," He drifted back behind to walk with Tala again.

            Corbin may not speak much but he is not afraid. Those times when Kite drove me to the point of tears Corbin always spoke up, mocking Kite but making him quit following me.  I remember Kite sometimes turned on him for that but he never backed down.  No. Corbin knows what to say, he just needs practice knowing when to say it. Perhaps this journey will have some benefits after all.