Crowe+-+the+unexpected+interrupted+training+session+and+consequences!

Wren found Crowe talking with Harmony on their bed, and she went and sat down next to her. Crowe shifted her eyes over to her little sister, and raised an eyebrow.

"I know that you're here because Mother sent you here... and I'm sure you have other things that you'd rather be working on... but... thank you for coming," Wren smiled at her, "I know I'm going to need your help going into Thay." Wren shuddered just thinking about that place, full of dark red wizards who kept elves for slaves... no... as much as she was worried about Crowe treating her companions like dirt... she still loved her... and it was almost comforting to have her here beside her.

"I'm glad that you're here," Wren nodded to her, "I've missed home. Has anything happened while I've been gone?"

"Nothing of tremendous note, everything's been pretty...quiet. Several messages have been passed back and forth between mother and Lady Lionspaw. With you gone I've had to carry them myself." Crowe stretched her lovely elven body, exposing her smooth skin covered in many strange tattoos. "Word is that Lady Aspen's been looking for you...and Kale, demanding to know where both of you have gone. I think if she knew...she'd follow you here."

Wren gagged, "LADY Aspen? ...only because her father's money would buy it for her... She wouldn't know how to be a lady any more than a walking corpse... She's a petty, jealous, conniving bitch who lives a spiteful life of hate."

Crowe laughed, "So... she's a friend of yours, is she?" Wren glared at her, and Crowe just laughed more.

"You didn't tell her did you?" Wren looked at Crowe.

"Oh yes, because I wanted my very own witch-hating travel buddy... and then we exchanged diaries and magic books together just yesterday," Crowe rolled her eyes.

"Well... I had to at least ask!" Wren frowned at her.

"Did you really?" Crowe gave her a condescending look, "You make enough mistakes on your own... I don't need to help you out with more."

"H-Hey!" Wren narrowed her eyes at her.

"Are you really prepared to go into Thay?" Crowe looked at her a little more darkly, "I know you've heard the stories."

Wren nodded, "We HAVE to... we need that book... and Szass Tam shouldn't be there."

Crowe looked at her little sister, almost surprised, "Do you think that lich is the only thing you have to worry about there?" Crowe frowned. "Look at me, Wren. This is not going to be a happy day trip... even I don't want to be going there... Powerful dark magic... many undead... and enslavers that would just love to have a young little elf like you," Crowe looked at her so serious that a chill ran down Wren's spine.

"Come here, little sister," Crowe opened her arms for a hug and Wren moved over closer. Crowe laid her hands on Wren's back, and a searing pain shot through her, taking about a third of her life. Wren screamed as the pain hit her completely unprepared.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Stop screaming... that was just a light wound. What do you think they'll do to you there?" Crowe spoke calmly and laid a soft healing touch over Wren.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"What in the hell is wrong with you?!" Wren pushed her older sister off the bed away from her.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Now just imagine... being shackled to a wall, naked... exhausted... and that pain, worse and worse, hitting you over and over as they keep you alive... until they break you... and you're willing to do whatever they want just to make it stop... and there are worse things than physical pain," Crowe spoke a little darker, painting a vivid image in Wren's head.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren shuddered, "I've heard the stories... why are you telling me this now?"

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Crowe looked at her with softer eyes, "Because you're my sister... and I want you to be prepared. You need to be strong and smart... you don't want to be captured by these people. Do you understand?" <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren nodded.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Now... I know you're smart... and Mother seems to see a lot of potential in you... so I'm willing to believe we can do this. Let's work on some of your training. It's been a long time since you've done any lessons," Crowe took her hand and pulled her off the bed.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Let's work on survival and defense... you don't want them to touch you, with their icy cold grips... so start moving," Crowe stepped forward towards her with magic on her hands.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"What?!" Wren stepped back quickly, and leapt on to the bed away from her, "You're completely crazy!"

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Poor choice because now you're in a corner..." Crowe reached out and touched her sister's leg. Pain shot through Wren, causing her to fall to her knees and scream. This time the scream echoed from the room out into the hall...

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Shhh! Show some restraint for goodness sake... people are going to think I'm hurting you," Crowe shook her head at Wren.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"WHAT?! You ARE hurting me!!" Wren shouted back at her, "And you're crazy!"

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Crowe rolled her eyes, "Get up... or I'm going to come at you while you're still down there and I wont hold back." Wren jumped up quickly and headed for the door... surely the hall would be safe.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren scrambled on her hands and knees towards the doorway, while her sister stalked closer to her. She was almost to the door when it crashed open, almost hitting her in the face. In strode Kale, who looked both angry, and worried, his eyes flashing when he saw Wren sprawled out on the floor with purple bruises on her back and leg.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"What...the HELL is going on here..." He yelled at Crowe, who continued to move towards her sister. Wren's heart went cold...the situation had just gone from bad...to worse.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Teaching her a lesson...man. Something you wouldn't understand." She reached out towards her sister's other leg. "Your presence is NOT required."

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Like hell..." Kale stepped over Wren and swiftly grabbed her sister’s hand, barely wincing as the spell discharged into his own and held on to it with an iron grip.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"You...dare...touch me..." Crowe brought her other hand up but was abruptly stopped as Kale punched her hard right in the face, sending the much smaller, slighter elf back crashing into the wall of the small cabin, and slumping down. Blood streamed out of her nose and she looked dazed.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"I dare...touch ANYONE that hurts her..." Kale glared at the older witch "And unless you'd like a lesson on what happens to mages in close quarters, I think teaching time is over." Kale reached down to help Wren up beside him, his eyes now filling with concern. "Are you...ok..Wren?"

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren was shocked! Wide eyes, disbelief, shocked!

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Kale!" She looked at him both surprised and grateful and threw her arms around his neck and held him tight... "You... you just..." She smiled adoringly at him and then paused as the realization of everything that just happened sank in... she got paler and started to tremble.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Ohhh no... no, no... that didn't just happen... I... we... were really just.... kind of training... but Crowe isn't normally so hard on me... I'm the one she's nice to! ... I didn't... expect it... I... I ... you saved me! ... I'm so grateful! ... but... but my sister!... Ohhh this is so bad! She's going to be FURIOUS! Oh, Kale... that shot was meant for me... not you! You need to go. Right now... before she wakes up from that... Let her unleash that fury on me... it will be so much easier that way!" She started to push him toward the door.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"WHAT?" he blinked at her, "No, I'm not leaving you with her... you don't have to worry. I'm not going to let her hurt you... if she needs to work out some fury, let her deal with me." He moved to put himself back between Crowe and Wren.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Ohhh my goodness... no, no, no..." Wren laughed nervously, "So sweet! So appreciated!" She moved back around in front of him and pulled his face to her and kissed his lips long and soft.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Thank you! Really! Really! Thank you! but for now... you have to go.. I'll be okay. Let me deal with her... I don't want her to go after you. You don't understand... she's my sister... I would have to protect you and her and I'd ... I'd get hurt... yes, yes... I would be hurt much more... so for me, PLEASE!" she nudged toward the door again... and Crowe started to stir.

//<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Oh, Mother... //

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">While Crowe was still down and defenseless, Wren turned and cast a simple daze spell on her. "One more minute... just one more minute. Stay!" She turned back to Kale.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"She's my sister... she's either going to wake up with hell bent fury or dumbfounded... in either case it's going to be better if you're... amazing green eyes... if you're.... not here to remind her of what happened... Please for me?! I don't want her after you... so I'm going to piss her off to take her fury and calm her down...to let her forget about you... Please! I promise I'll come to you soon! I know I'll be okay... you might hear screaming... but I'll be okay... Go... go now." She nudged him half way out the door.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Crowe started to stir again.

//<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Ohhh I'm going to pay for this... //

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren started to talk to her as she pushed Kale out the door, "You wanted to see my survival defense... I would say it worked just fine!"

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Kale let himself be ushered out the door reluctantly hearing Wren shut in behind him. How the hell was he supposed to wait while her sister did gods know what to her while he stood idly by. He absently rubbed his knuckles, it had felt good to punch that arrogant piece of work. He couldn't fathom how Wren had turned out...so kind compared to her sister. He felt little guilt about hitting her...in his time in Parthia he'd learned that women were as dangerous as men in battle so he'd treat them both the same.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">But he had to admit...he just had seen red when he'd seen Wren hurt like that. Dammit...Wren was his. He shook his head again, how easy was it to forget his mission...just with one look into her eyes. Had he fallen so deeply already? He wandered over to Yuki's room, knocking on her door.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Miss Ashdown...are you there, do you have a moment?"

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki opened the door wide with a big smile on her lovely face, "Mr. Kale! Hi!" The shorter priestess rocked up onto her tiptoes and peaked over his shoulder, "Ah...er...Wren's not...with...you?" Only then did she take a much closer look at him... He looked...angry...REALLY angry...and there was a nasty bruise forming on his hand...

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Oh... Something’s...happened? Ah... Well! Come in! It's a bit...cramped but...I...just made some tea. Are you hungry? I think I may have a slice of cake left. You do like cake, don't you?"

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Of course...who doesn't like cake?"

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki smiled her lovely priestess smile and nodded, "EX...Actly!" But she could think of ONE person who didn't... Well...most of the time...anyway...

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">He came into the cramped room, which pretty much consisted of a slung hammock, a small table, and a chair. Kale sat in the chair and took a few deep breaths. Yuki couldn't help but notice...with his armor off on the boat just how muscular his arms and chest were. Those same arms that had cut her free from the black tentacles. The same arms that she fell into afterwards, rescued by the brave warrior who smelled of leather and steel.

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Ba-DUMP! Wow... What...a beautiful piece of elven man... Well...barring all the ugly scars and...such. But he DID have the MOST beautiful eyes... His secret weapon, no doubt, in his war to win Wren's heart! YEAH!

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki's inner matchmaker rejoiced! WREN.....WAS SOOOOO LUCKEEEEEE!!!!!

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"I'm sorry to intrude...but I might have need of your healing...skills, if that's ok with you." Kale glanced back at the doorway, wondering how it was going with Wren and her sister...

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Of course!" Yuki glanced at this large, warrior's bruised and battered knuckles, her eyes flickering with curiosity. How exactly did that...happen... Did he get into a brawl with one of the pirates? Punch a wall? Maybe he skinned it climbing the rigging? Or in the throes of PASSION! Hee Hee... Ahem. Regardless, it hardly seemed the kind of wound for which Kale would seek healing.

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">But...! ...This was her precious friend's lover! And he would touch Wren with those hands... She could....just...imagine it... SO! It was Yuki's duty as a Priestess of Love to ensure that everything was in tip top perfect working order! And a bruised hand could only get in the way....of their time together! Right?!

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"You don't even need to ask...!" Reaching out, she brushed her lovely fingertips briefly against his swelling hand and the healing warmth of Sune spread through him... Starting from the back of his hand...it moved into his palm and through his fingertips...up through his wrist and arm...suffusing through his body, as warm as a lover's caress.

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"There. All better!" Yuki looked up into his surprised eyes then...smiled a little...uncertainly, "Er... Unless there...was...ah someone else...I was to heal?"

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren quickly locked the door behind her, leaving her alone with Crowe. <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She stood her ground, bracing for the impact she was sure was coming...

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Crowe shook her head, clearing it. She calmly wiped the blood from her face, and stood up. Her violet eyes were red in color and she looked over to Wren calmly and darkly. <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Is that so? That's how you plan to defend yourself?" Crowe's words coiled out of her like a poisonous snake, "well then... let's see your precious warrior defend you from this..."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Crowe wove her hands with whispered words of magic and blew into the air softly toward Wren...

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">A vicious, savage beast of insurmountable horror, made from every fear of Wren's own mind... drooling, growling, and leaping toward her. <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren stood, pale and frozen with fear. A blood curdling scream came from Crowe's room.

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Kale seemed about to say something when a blood-curdling scream echoed down the hallway outside. Yuki's eyes flew wide as she recognized the voice. "...Wren? WREN!" Suddenly frantic, she stared at Kale, who had moved to block the door, "Kale...? What are you...? THAT'S WREN OUT THERE! WREN! A...AND she's...TERRIFIED!!"

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki tried to get passed him...trying to push him out of the way. But she was no match for the former warrior from Parthia. "KALE!" She pleaded, looking up into his anguished face, "Let me BY!"

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Kale blocked the young priestess resolutely "I'm sorry Yuki....Wren asked me to leave her alone with her sister...and although she might scream, she would be all right. I walked in on...her sister hurting her and lost my temper. She injured my arm with a spell...and I punched her in the face." The warrior said it wrying, watching the look of horror that appeared on the young woman's face.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"She....was hurting Wren...how was I supposed to know..." He wouldn't apologize to her either...he hated to say it, but Wren's sister was a bitch.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Crowe walked casually over, unlocked the door, swung it open, and sat down on her hammock and watched her little sister fight for her life against a beast only Wren could see.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren screamed in pain and terror. She wasn't in the room of the ship anymore... she didn't know where she was or what this was... but it was out to take her life! <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She struggled and fought as real tears flowed down her cheeks, panicked and scared. She was alone! She screamed and fell to her knees, sobbing.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki and Kale could hear her screams and tears come from down the hall. Kale's fists tightened, how could he ignore that?

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Inali stood up, she had had enough. She walked over and sat down next to Wren, sobbing on the floor. She could watch the life essence draining from her. She was dying from fear. <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Inali glared at Crowe.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Crowe was calming down, she looked at Inali and laughed, "I'm not going to let it kill her... don't look at me like that."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She glanced back over at Wren... <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She was pale, exhausted, and crying on the floor of the room. She wasn't screaming anymore... just sobbing.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Well... I had hoped you could fight it off... but it seems you rely on your warrior too much..." Crowe dispelled it and released Wren from her tormented horror... <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren laid on the floor, still shaking.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Once the screaming stopped...Kale couldn't take it any longer, and marched with Yuki down the hall towards Wren's room..

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Crowe knelt down next to her little sister and caressed her cheek, "Had enough?"

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren opened her eyes and looked at her... her eyes were ragged, exhausted, and angry... <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren sneered at her sister, "You... will... pay for that."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Crowe laughed softly, "Well... well... still feisty I see. We're done for today. You did well, my sweet little sister."

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Hurrying inside, the young priestess took in the scene playing out before her... Wren...Precious, bewitching Wren...lay curled up, quivering on the floor... Her painful sobs breaking the silence of the room. Inali sat against her trembling back, glaring, anxious with worry. Beside her kneeled her sister, her long pale fingers caressing Wren's beautiful cheek.

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"...you did well...my sweet...little sister..."

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki gasped as she caught sight of Wren's sobbing face. Pained...angry...exhausted. Without thinking she ran into the room and pushed Crowe as hard as she could...away from her precious friend, "NO!" Interposing herself between the two sisters, she threw her arms around the elven woman protectively. "WREN! Wren....! Sweet Goddess...what..." She threw her pale arms around the elven woman, hugging her tightly... The remnants of the fear...that plagued her were instantly gone...chased away as warmth...and love filled her mind..."That's a...powerful..." Her eyes widened and she half turned to stare at Crowe, "...Fear spell... Sweet Goddess! W...WHY...!!! Something so...AWFUL?! YOU’RE...SISTERS!!!!"

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki was angry...appalled and angry. Wren could feel it through her trembling body... Through the healing heat coursing through her... Yuki...was furious!

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Crowe turned angrily at Yuki, "How dare you think to shove me from my own sister!"

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Kale helped Wren stand back up, Yuki's healing being enough to bring her back to her feet. She gently squeezed Kale's hand and nodded to him gratefully. She moved to stand on her own, shaky, but standing... she glared at Crowe, "Don't even **think** about touching her."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Crowe shifted her gaze back to Wren, "You had better leash your human and put her back in her place before I do."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Before her heated anger could take her any further toward the dangerous elder sister, Wren stepped directly in front of Yuki and embraced her warmly, "Thank you, Yuki."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren stepped forward dominantly, pointing her finger at Crowe, "The only one who needs to remember her place here is you... These are **my** friends... and you will treat the people who have been helping to keep your little sister alive with a little patience and civility. You can't go around throwing spells and attacking anyone and everyone who "touches" you... or you'll be dead or thrown overboard before we even get to Thay. Patience... and Civility.... They're only trying to protect me. And they wouldn't have touched you if you hadn't been acting like a **crazy** person!"

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She turned around and put one arm around Kale and the other around Yuki, pulling them to the door with her. Inali leapt onto Wren's shoulders and snorted at Crowe.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Crowe smiled to herself as Wren moved to the door with her friends, "It's nice to see you still have some fire in you yet, little sister. Tomorrow then. Sleep well."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Kale glanced back over his shoulder at her, clearly still furious, but walked with Wren's guidance out the door. Wren closed the door behind them.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She hugged them both together, "I'm so, so very sorry." She frowned, her eyes still bloodshot from sobbing and her body still a little trembling now that she wasn't forcing herself to be dominant. "Are you all okay?" She looked over Yuki, Kale, and Inali... concerned for any mark or lingering spell they may have.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Inali licked her cheek and leapt down.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"I'm fine...I'm more worried about you Wren... Pain is one thing I got used to in that other realm." Kale said, taking her into his arms and inspecting her for even more signs of damage that her sister had inflicted upon her. "No offence...mi' lady...but your sister's a bitch." Satisfied that the damage this time was more mental than physical, he kissed Wren on the forehead, then turned to Yuki "Can you heal her leg and back...she's got some bruises there..."

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">But Yuki was already bending down, her graceful hands gently caressing Wren's mottled, swollen leg... The warm, soothing touch of Sune flowed into her and through her, stilling her swelling and healing away her bruises... "...I just...don't understand..." The priestess murmured, shaking her head. She glanced up at the both of them, "...you’re SISTERS! ...why would she do such a...horrible, HORRIBLE thing..."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren leaned against Kale, exhausted from the whole ordeal.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She laughed softly, "No offense taken... Crowe is ... Crowe. She’s not much of an overly social, friendly woman in general."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren hugged Yuki, "Thank you again! Part of it was my own fault... normally she's pretty protective of me and I'm really the only one she's nice to on any kind of a regular basis... though we don't agree on many topics... I'm not sure what got into her today... normally she's the easiest person that I train with... I think she's maybe just worried that I'm not ready for Thay... and, of course... then I pissed her off after she got slammed into a wall and dazed... and she threw her rage at me... I... don't want to ever... go back there...wherever she sent me in my head..." <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren leaned back and shuddered against Kale, "Not ever... it was a **really** bad place... I've never been so scared in all my life!"

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki's eyes widened when Wren called Crowe the easiest person she normally trained with. JUST HOW CRAZY WERE THESE WITCHES ANYWAY! She shuddered...just a little and stood up.

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Turning her full attention to the muscle-bound warrior in front of her, she cleared her throat, "She needs to rest. And REST A LOT! That spell..." Yuki shook her head, "...Terrible business. Will you make sure she does, Kale? I 'can'...come by in a little while...and check on her. But she should be fine now... And Mr. Kale?" Yuki's eyes sparkled...just a little with some of her usual matchmaker's mischief, "It is my expert healer's opinion that she should not walk another step.... Could you...carry her to your rooms please? Princess style would be best."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Oh, Yuki... really! I can walk," Wren blushed and laughed softly, though still leaning her weight against Kale.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Kale grinned at Yuki and swept Wren up into his arms, "Sorry, M'lady, but you heard the healer... " <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren shook her head and laughed, too tired to fight them both.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Kale nodded to Yuki, "I'll be sure she stays in bed for the rest of the day." He winked at Yuki and Wren blushed pink. <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"What?! You can't just say stuff like that!!" Wren chastised him from up in his arms. <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"To rest of course..." He flashed Wren a wide grin and turned back to Yuki, shaking his head, "I don't know what SHE was thinking..."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren's ears were pink and her cheeks were red and Kale carried her off.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">**later that night**

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren was thrashing about in her sleep, mumbling and ranting loud enough to wake Yuki in the opposing hammock of the room. <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Before she had a chance to shake her own sleep enough to go wake Wren... the door to their room opened quietly. <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">A small black kitty padded into the room, followed by the female silhouette of an elf. <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The first help to cry... Erevin's name was rapidly approaching Yuki's lips, while Crowe moved silently and quickly closer to Wren.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Shhh Shhh... You made me push you so hard today... don't ever make me do that again..." Crowe's quieted voice was concerned and soothing as she stroked Wren's cheek, "You know better than to sleep alone after a day like this." Inali stood over Wren and simply stared at the elder sister. Crowe sighed. Harmony leapt onto Wren's chest where she was met with a swift bonk on the head from Inali's paw. Harmony purred and tried to love up to Inali who simply wasn't having it. Crowe picked up the little kitten-like cat and placed her on her shoulder. She lingered close to Wren, though she didn't push Inali to let her touch her sister, and she started to sing...

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Her voice was beautiful... not at all what one might expect from a sadistic witch like that! <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The lullaby was soft and soothing and old... it was elven, though the dialect was older... if Yuki listened close enough... she could roughly translate it...

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"When the wind plays the song of a sinister night, <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Let the stars shine through, to be her guiding light. <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Be still little one, let me dry up your tears. <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The dream Maiden's coming to take your fears. <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She gathers the haunting that won't let you sleep. <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She captures the demons that cause you to weep. <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She transcends them away <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">on the wings of the fey, <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">granting you serenity 'til morning."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren settled down and seemed to sleep on peacefully. Crowe nodded to Wren, seemingly satisfied... and walked to the door, pausing to glance at Yuki's hammock before walking out of the room.

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The young priestess was sitting up, frowning...in the dark... Clearly, she did not agree with the crazy witch's methods nor did she like the idea of her suddenly being...in this tiny room alone with them...in the middle...of the night. But it wasn't in Yuki's character to flinch as Crowe's eyes swept over her... And when they did, she spoke, her voice sounding a little sad and a little stern, as if kindly chastising a misguided...child.

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Do...'you' have any...ANY idea...what that spell did to her..." Her voice was no more than a...whisper in the dark but Crowe could hear...the echoes of her earlier anger. "Counter to what 'most' people believe...our experience has shown that...being 'tortured' does 'nothing' to prepare one...for...'torture'..." Her voice was lovely and lilting and fierce in the dark, "...it only makes one...'break'...faster...

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki exhaled softly, "Even if you acted...out of Love. You...did her no favors...Miss Crowe."

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Now..."Yuki, realizing she had perhaps gone too far, gripped the blanket covering her, twisting the fabric in her beautiful hands... "...please leave my patient alone...before any more of your 'good ideas' kill her..."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Crowe smirked. She stepped back into the room, and it seemed like the very room got colder and darker... Her looming figure suddenly very intimidating. <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"You presume much little priestess of Sune. As if I would take any education from the teachings of a smug faith that centers around glorifying vanity above all else... one that leaves its own followers so blind to the real world that their enemies have but to send a pretty face to lead them all to their doom. Love is a weakness. A malicious open door to pain, suffering, and betrayal. I was battling in a war before either of you were born. You know little of this world."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She stepped closer toward Yuki's hammock, "I would never "torture" my little sister... I was teaching her to defend herself... she chose to allow another to defend her and rather than let him take on the fury that he invited... she put herself in the way and boldly invited my punishment. The Phantasmal Killer was a lesson about overstepping bounds and facing consequences... not about resisting those in Thay. That was nothing compared to what they would do to her... of course if you'd like an education on what it felt like..."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">A sneeze and *POP* came from Wren's side of the room, and Inali was between them in an instant as a naked little fox-girl, "Crowe Dreamspinner! Get out! You go back to your room at once before I contact your mother to put you back in the box she let you slither out of." Crowe looked at Inali, first wondering who would dare approach her like that, and then recognition as she realized who it was. Shock washed over her face. She had barely even heard what Inali had said... //Inali? That's... unheard of! How could I have not known this before?// Crowe studied her for a moment.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Inali pointed at the door, "Get Out!" <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren stirred and opened her eyes, "What's going on?"

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Crowe glanced at Wren, "Nothing... we were just having a delightful conversation about the intense similarities between love and torture... go back to sleep."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"What?" Wren shook her head, still groggy, "Crowe? Why are you here? ...I'm still mad. Go away."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"I said go back to sleep... You need your rest... and you... you weren't invited into this conversation," Crowe made a few motions with her hands and Wren was asleep in her hammock and Inali was asleep on the floor. Crowe stepped over Inali to be beside Yuki's hammock.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Now... where were we?" She smiled a darkly sweet smile. Harmony leapt onto Yuki's chest with a gentle little "mew!" and purred.

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Alarmed, Yuki reached out, checking the status of her friend. Relieved to find she was merely calm...and sleeping, she turned her attention to the SCARY person in front of her... WAY TOO CLOSE in front of her!

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Crowe.

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She made no sense... This person. Lashing out at people with so MUCH...venom...it made Yuki's head spin! Threatening allies...friends...HER SISTER! Intimidating CUTE, ADORABLE priestesses...!?! SHEESH! Yuki couldn't understand it at all! AND to say so MANY painful, hurtful things...to someone she barely knew... Not to mention punishing...Wren like that...

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">...what had her teachers said... Beauty inside...flowed outside...

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Then...inside Crowe...must be...

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Yuki gathered her scattering thoughts... She looked down at the adorable little kitten mewing up at her and murmured..., "...that way of thinking...must be...lonely..."

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Ah! Not that...you’re in...pain but... Isn't her way...best?" Yuki looked over at her sleeping friend and she smiled, "...she forms...friendships... Allies who will fight beside her...and for her... A man who loves her... Friends who...love...her." Her smile deepened, "...I can't...see...how a thing as strong as that could 'ever' be a weakness...for Wren."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Crowe looked suddenly very sad and glanced toward Wren, "I had friends... some who betrayed me... and others who I got to watch die... a man who "loved" me... and then chose another. There's only so much pain one can endure... Where there is trust, there is a door to betrayal... and where there is love, there is a door to loss." <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She turned sadly back to Yuki, "Best for who? For her... I don't know... I've never been one to put much faith into visions of the future... it is ever changing after all. ...I worry for her."

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"...then..." Yuki reached out and tentatively touched Crowe's arm, "...put your 'faith' in 'her'..."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Crowe glanced at Yuki's hand on her arm... her sadness fading into a cold mask, leaving her guarded.

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Fearing she'd gone too far, Yuki looked down at her hand then smiled apologetically, withdrawing her fingers slowly, "...I'd like to hear it...!" She spoke soothingly, kindly, "...One day." Her clear blue eyes met the witch's, "Miss...Crowe's 'precious' story...of love...and loss... ...definitely...definitely..."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Crowe raised an eyebrow at Yuki. //What is it with this little human girl?//

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Precious story?" Crowe laughed, "If you wanted the nightmare, you could have just asked... that would be far easier on you than some of the stories of love and loss that I could tell you... stories that even Wren does not know."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Crowe shook her head. Harmony tilted her little face from Yuki to Crowe. "Mew?" Crowe nodded to her. She turned and walked to the door, stepping over Inali. She paused for a brief moment to glance back over her shoulder, "Sleep well, young healer." And like that... she just left... walked off down the hall.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Harmony looked at Yuki, "Mew?" She purred and leapt down and scurried out of the door like a kitten chasing a ball.

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">As soon as the door closed behind them, Yuki collapsed back into her hammock, her heart beating wildly!!!!!!!! WAAAAAAAH!!!! That was...SCARY! SO SCARY!

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">...she glanced worriedly over at Wren...grateful to see she was still sleeping... Grateful...Crowe hadn't seen fit to...punish her more... Grateful...she, Yuki, had escaped with her skin still attached to her bones!

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">...as her heart slowly calmed...her mind turned over and under and around all the things the witch had said...and how...she had said them... So...painful. Something...something... so...painful.

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki threw her blanket over her head...and cuddled up into her hammock...wondering wasn't there...anything...she could do... Even...just a little... Even if...it was her... Wondering how she was ever going to fall to sleep...that night...

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">And not long after, her head full of thoughts and true to her heart, she drifted off to sleep...