Clans

Chapter 1

Clan Wanderers



Partners in Crime



Danny awoke to a face full of dirt and muck, he rolled over to his side, which ached horribly. Where did the truck go that hit me? He thought looking over his throbbing shoulder toward a bulk. He was on his feet slowly as the bulk in front of him started moaning and walking up. Scott's tall lean body struggled to sit up as Danny's heavier set but tall body did the same.

Scott murmured something under his breath and looked around. His dusty blond hair, and hawk like features were the only thing Danny could make out in the wane light. Two pallets sat of to the right. They seem to be expected to share with the hundreds of mice using it as a home.

The huge door let in the only meager light to the cell. Danny's hopes dropped as he looked around. This could only be one place, Scott summed it up in one word. "Jail." he said with a defendant tone of disgust. "We, who were attacked in a park by a strange woman, are in jail. Why?" though he was distressed Scott's voice held none of his feeling.

There was a common bond between these to friends. Scott, was the leader and Danny the intelligence. It had always been that way though the 10 years they had known each other. Though the many war games they had played, to real life. But the other thread of calmness, both men knew how to hide their feelings under layers of skin and muscle.

"I have know idea, but we seem to be in a medieval sort of cell. Though not of the Earth medieval. It's strange, it's a lot like a book Joy gave to me to read once." said Danny stretching his muscles carefully. Scott nodded to himself and looked around for a secret way out.



Danny sat down. They had been looking around the cell for about three hours and no luck. The only things that had changed was that the other prisoners were starting to wake up and scream help and such. The other is the room and our heroes were covered head to toe with dust. Danny sneezed for the fifth time.

Scott looked over his shoulder then went back to his leaning on the doorway that stuck out into the cell. It was his watch for a guard. Danny didn't know what to think when a creak was heard and Scott jumped away from the door.

The guard shoved in a girl. She really wasn't a girl, more like a lady. Her clothes were of robin hoods day and age, but different more modernized. Danny hadn't seen anything like them. She had white hair. White not blond, but it looked natural not looked she had bleached it. Her ears were a bit pointed but not all the way.

"Half breed. Elf and Human. I'd say about 18." said Danny. Scott nodded and waited for the girl to talk. She looked at Danny with strange gold eyes. Much like a cats. But the rest was the same. "I take it back. She's a were' or 'shifter." Scott looked at Danny in puzzlement. "Shape shifter or were creature." Scott nodded.

" 'Shifter and elf. You were right on both accounts M'lord." said the girl smiling. As she moved forward, what Danny thought of as a dress turned out to be a long tunic. Scott looked at her and studied the way she moved. She looked like a panther on the hunt. Her moves deliberate and precise. "You are in danger the nameless one knows you are here and hates you. Though I have no idea why. But if she hates you, you must be on our side. I'm here to get you out."

Scott looked her over once more. Something about her seemed like Joy, when she was about to double cross him in one of their many war games. but then there were flashes of Robert's uncanny wit and twist on words. Scott couldn't figure it out. She seemed sort of familiar, yet in a warred way. Scott nodded in agreement and she smiled.

"You can call upon your soul weapons by your need. Focus your thoughts. Good, now think of armor and a weapon. Carefully M'lord a bit goes a long way." she said coaxing them though the casting.

To the normal on looker Danny's armor was a plate mixed with chain mail. His sword was as black as the gathering shadows. His armor midnight blue, and silver. Danny felt the on flow of power, and without a thought compared himself to Tuxedo Mask, from a t.v show Joy had watched. Curses! That stupid show still haunts my mind. He thought looking at himself with scrutiny.

Scott's armor was different, he felt a sort of wave wash over him. His armor vibrated with a strange electric shocks. The armor took on a indescribable color. The colors swirled in and out of each other, not unlike a wave. The blue was dark and the green a hunter green, easy to blend into things. His weapons took on the same sort of color for the handles but the blades where the polished silver.

The girl whistled and the boys blushed lightly. "What was that? Are you okay in there girl?" came the guards voice. "I'm coming in." He said as his voice got nearer to the door. The boys stepped back into the shadows of the doorway. The guard came into the room after a few clicks of the lock.

The guards broad shoulders, were cloaked by a blue tunic and chain mail. It was poorly kept up, so the boys had an easy way of dealing with him. Danny's stomach swam at the thought of killing him, but after a moment he was able to straighten his face. Scott too, had a bit of trouble, but like Danny he straightened his face and followed the girl though the maze of jail cells.

Hands reached out to grab at their pants and shoes. Cries of help or congratulations for escaping followed them out as they slew the few guards in their way. The girl weaved in and out of hallways to find the right way. Scott and Danny hurried to keep up with her flying feet.

Sunlight blasted into their faces, as they ran out of the prison. The girl continued the butchering of guards as they ran to the stables. She pulled out three already saddled horses. The boys looked at each other and Danny grimaced. Scott sort of knew how to ride, but Danny had no clue.

The girl mounted and swung her horses's head around. "Come on boys, we haven't got all day." Danny swung his leg over the horses broad back. Arrows from the guards flew though the air. Scott mounted up and he and the girl screamed directions at Danny, as they took of at a mad gallop down a dirt road and forest.

Danny found himself watching the girl and Scott. There was something about her that reminded him about scott. But Scott only had an elder brother and a younger, not a sister. It's almost like she's his daughter... No that's crazy... All other thoughts of Danny's vanished as they came down the road, into a forest. Þ The trees closed in around them, as if they were alive, making a protective canopy from the sun's hot rays. The trees were huge, and old, but of a type unlike any Danny had seen before. Then, a flash of movement, up in the trees... Whoa, where's Robin Hood and his merry men when you need 'em? Danny shaded his eyes and looked up into the trees, trying to find the moving figures. "You live up there?" Danny gulped, looking up, feeling the age old fear of heights start to get the better of him.

"Yes, we do. And so will you. Though the village and clan are closer to the heart of the forest then we are now."The girl whistled up into the air as elves, shifters, birds and small animals fell from the sky and the tree branches. "Sorry but until we are sure we can trust you..." The girl motioned and danny sunk into unconscious, Scott only a moment behind him.



Tree Top High Jinx

Scott was in trouble. The sword splintered up against his spear. Sweat blinded his eyes and still more beaded on his forehead. Danny watched him from the side of the platform. And a old man leaned against a pillar next to Danny. Scott dodged again and struck back.

Elizabeth twisted her sword around his spear. She wasn't the quiet, shy girl that he first thought she was. She was the girl who had saved them from the jail cell. She turned out to be the Weapons Master of the Steralle Forest Clan. She with her hair up under a helmet and wearing armor, she looked like a warrior, not the innocent lady who saved them at the jail.

She was a viscous lioness, she had personality given the boys lessons. A honor not all could have. But at the moment Scott didn't think of it as a honor. Only a pain in the rear. Literary. She had just swept her sword out from his spear and knocked him to his butt.

The elder walked forward as Liz helped Scott to his feet. Her silver hair escaping from its braid. Smiling the Elder patted Scott on the back. "You are doing well my boy. Very well, maybe you would like to go with the other young warriors to the summer solace festivals." he said looking at Danny and Scott with sparking clear yellow eyes.

When he saw their looks of bewilderment he smiled. "I'm sorry I forget you aren't really in our clan." Danny winced , he really wasn't apart of this lace like Scott. One thing he was afraid of heights. "Every Clan invites a few young people, warriors and maidens, to their separate Clan festivals, celebrating the middle of summer. Then every clan meets in the Peril Mountain's for a Clan get together, we do our trading and life bonding."

"Life bonding is when a couple get hand fasted... You know get married." Said Liz at the boys puzzled faces. When they looked like the understood she went on. "Since I am the youngest Weapons Master, I am in charge of this set of Festivals. It's a great honor and I hope you will come with me. You both have progressed in your studies very fast."

Danny looked at Scott. He nodded his consent. At least now we can go search for Joy and the others. he thought as he banished his armor and weapons. He didn't really fit into this Clan. Not like Scott. And that upset him a bit. It wasn't Liz, she just seemed to work Scott a lot harder, more tricks. That sort of thing. Not that I should WANT tobe worked harder, I'd be nuts to do that.

A few months later Scott, Danny and Liz set out. Scott and Liz as representatives of the Steralle Forest Clan. Danny had declined the offer to become a member. He just didn't fit in there, but Scott had. Danny felt a pang of jealousy. But he quickly banished it, Scott was his best friend of eleven years a little non sense of belonging and jealous shouldn't become between them.

On the that night they ran into the Green Haven Clan.

They were mostly made up of Elves and humans. They were very non magical

and held on to their belief with a strong dedication. So when they arrived

the had a interesting time.



(Zoom In)



Liz walked in front while the boys hung back with

the few hunting non-bonded birds of prey. Danny was a bit shaky about having

on land on his hand. But Scott, as always had no problem. He had bonded with

a fire bird, hawk cross. It was a foul tempered little beast. Liz adored

it. That gave Danny all the more reason to hate it.



Danny looked around the clan's camp. These bunch were

nomads, and wandered all over Harpea. The elves, Danny noted, were not as

thin and slim as the Steralle, these were mostly half and half. They were

a bit stocker then the others. but the humans were the same, just not as

pointy eared.



Danny saw lines and lines of merchants form towns

near by. Most people didn't care about the clans magical origin. It was the

Religion fanatics that did. And since these people believed a lot like them

they were excepted a lot readied then the other clans.



"Boys," said Liz slowing down and letting their horses

catch up with hers. Don't call your weapons and Armor, unless you need them.

I mean NEED them. The Green Haven Clan is never really quite excepted the

magic of this world." Scott's horse, HellsFire, galloped in pace with Liz's

horse, the Blackwidow. Danny's horse was a shy little mare named Raindrop.

Scott never stopped teasing him about it.



Danny and Raindrop hung behind a few lengths and played

tourist. Scott and Liz went on and soon left Danny to his own devices. Danny

muttered a few things under his breath. Raindrop snorted and danced a pace

forward. Danny yanked her back and looked down to see a little girl a step

before Raindrop. He yanked on the reins to stop Raindrop before hitting the

child.



Raindrop had other ideas, she bent her neck forward

and nuzzled the girls arm. The girl giggled and patted the horses nose. She

must have been only five or six. She looked up at Danny though dark eye lashes.

Danny swung of Raindrop and looked down at her.



Even off his horse, Danny was about six feet. The

girl only came up about mid-thigh. The girl looked up at him and her hair

fell in her face. It was dirty and unkept with snarls and tangles galore.

Danny had a flash back of Joy screaming at their mother, while she combed

out Joys hair. He smiled at that thought and the girl smiled back.



"Where do you live?" Danny asked. The little girl

pointed to a tavern nearby. "What's your name?" said Danny looking into the

girls gray blue eyes. For some reason they reminded Danny of his mothers

eyes. The girl just smiled and held up her arms to be picked up. Without

really thinking about it, Danny picked her up.



She was as light as a feather. Danny remembered a

few little kids Joy had become a sort of older sister to, and in turn he

became a sort of big brother. She put her small thin arms around his neck

and cuddled into to his shoulder. She didn't say a word when he started his

horse toward the tavern.



As he neared it the little girl cling to his neck,

making it hard to breathe. Gently prying her hands looser around his neck

he put Raindrop in a paddock, that served as a stable, and the wagon near

by. Taking in the goods, he walked into the tavern.



Noise flung into his ears as he entered the large

tent, that served as a tavern. AS he entered into he light a hush fell though

the crowd. But it was suddenly up again as a large man squeezed though impossible

small spaces to reach Danny and the child by his side, clinging to his

hand.



"Hel'o m'lord, come for the Solace Festival? Bring

your child with you?" said the Barkeep. Danny looked at him as if he had

gotten three heads. "Oh, my pardon M'lord, that's the girl that helps in

the kitchens. Get in them kitchens girl!"



The little girl shook silently by Danny's side but

after a glare from the Barkeep, she was off in a flash. "That wasn't necessary.

She was fine where she was." said Danny looking at the Barkeep, wishing he

had thought of making his sword before he entered town.



"Oh, sorry M'lord... Need a room? Only four silvers

a night. Comes with Dinner, breakfast and supper are your affair." said the

Barkeep. Danny shook his head and mumbled Maybe later. The barkeep walked

off and Danny retreated back outside.







He saw the little girl walking to the well with a

very large bucket. Danny took a step to help her when he saw a old woman,

bent over and crooked. She had long white hair, and strange violet eyes.

Danny stood by Raindrop and watch the old woman help the girl with the bucket,

fill it and they both stumbled back to the Tavern.



Scott and Liz chose that moment to reappear and walk

their horses back toward Danny. HellsFire tosses his mane in impatience,

and BlackWidow nipped at Danny's shoulder. Danny tapped her on the nose and

she snickered. "Have a good time looking about?" said Liz as she brought

up 'Widow to Danny's side. Danny nodded a yes, and mounted 'Drop.







The Day Heaven Fell







Time, in the place were magic had run to after Earth.

Harpea. Merlin and his newly wed bride Caroline had journeyed there many

times before. Merlin was taking his bride there for their honeymoon. Strangely

though she took right to ordering the few servants around the castle.



Merlin didn't notice the strange behavior in his wife.

For in truth, to him she was a angel. To Harpean's she was the Archangel.

Her favorite sport was to give the barbarians the mage gift, because when

they were born with it, the other people of the villages and towns would

burn them at a stake. Many with the gift ran away, And Caroline had become

bored with them.



Her reign of terror ended when she became pregnant

with her children. That kept her out of trouble of a few hundred years. The

Eldest was a girl named Starlight. The next were boys, Endymion, Orcus, Matthew.

Then twins a girl and a boy. Named Katherine and Habib. Then his last daughter

Spirit. He then had his last three sons, Balcazar, MiMi and Legon.



When the last boy, Legon was born Caroline went up

to her old tricks, leaving Starlight to tend the baby boys. For Balcazar,

Michael and Legon were very close in age wise. About one year apart. The

harpean's believed them as semi gods, and no one played with them. Starlight

was fourteen, and Legon was only 4, when Merlin came back from one of his

frequent trips to Earth.



Zoom in.



Merlin walked into a large hall to see his ten children

sitting at the table eating quietly, their mother no where in sight. His

little girl, Spirit got up and ran into her father's arms. He picked her

up and hugged her. But no one else got up or looked like they even knew he

was there. Not even little Legon, the baby of the family by eight months

didn't run to him.



Only Spirit, her small body clung to his, her heart

pounded though her tunic. He picked her up and strode to the long table.

Starlight looked up and stood, taking Spirit from his arms. "Good day Father,

you weren't expected until later this week..." she trailed off as Legon clobbered

his eight year old brother Matthew with a spoonful of bread and milk. "Legon!"

she said whipping Matthew's face off with her napkin. Merlin laughed and

patted his daughter's head. She looked up and glared at him.



Ah youth, she's old enough to hate her father and

love him at the same time. thought Merlin kissing her forehead. "Where's

your mother?" the children all hush the giggles and whispers to stare at

him. Their little round faces turned up in shock and horror. Like they just

got their hands in the cookie jar, pulling out a cookie.



"What was that father?" said Starlight slowly moving

Spirit to her other hip. "We thought she was with you." Merlin, looked at

his eldest daughter, with a look of distrust, replaced by wonder. He couldn't

belie his loving wife left his children alone with a lie. But then Starlight

had never lied, and all the children reacted the same way. "When did she

leave?" he said in a hard, cold voice.



"Father," started Starlight. Spirit's lower lip started

to tremble at her father's cold voice. Starlight, was calmer, but she too

looked a bit worse for wear. Merlin wondered why he hadn't seen it before.

"She's been doing to after Legon was two. We always thought she went with

you, so I took care of the baby and the Castle..."



Endymion stood up. "Father, we're love Mother and

all but we don't like how she's been mean to our nurses." Legon tugged at

his teddy bears ear and looked up at Merlin. MiMi had dark rings under his

eyes, Balcazar had a bandage around his head. Spirit's hair held a mass of

tangles. Habib had a arm wrapped in a sling, his twin Katherine sported a

black eye.



Endymion, Orcus and Matthew looked like they had had

no sleep in weeks. And Starlight looked about to collapse under little Spirit's

weight. Merlin reached up and took Spirit from Starlights arms, murmuring

"How could I be so blind?"



Merlin knew he couldn't raise the children on Earth.

Nor could he leave them in Caroline's hands. He knew of only one way they

would grow up with a chance of happiness. "We are going for a trip, children."

He said looking at each of them. Merlin knew if Caroline was to find out

she would be furious. So he sent the children for their bags. Legon and Spirit

left with a hug. The rest left with silence, and a burden. Spirit and Legon,

being the "babies" of the family didn't know their mother like the rest.



Spirit, didn't know her because when she was born

she was over looked. She was quiet and shy. But oh boy did she have a temper.

And poor little Legon didn't know her because she started leaving when he

was two. But the others knew Caroline, her rages, her peace. Her cruelty

to others yet her gentleness with them. They really knew Merlin the least,

but he was Father. SO they left too, with the burden of leaving the only

person they knew besides each other. All the nurses dead by Caroline's hands.

Or servants to scared to stay.



With in a few hours the children and Merlin left the

castle. Merlin closed all the Portals in the castle. (Portals; the tunnel

to Harpea, or Earth.) And taking the children on a magic flight he closed

all the portals between worlds on the main continent.



As he went to the Island of Moon's tears, he saw that

even now Caroline hunted him. He had no where else to turn. His worst fears

came to life as a Crimson Red Dragon with a blue clad rider, appeared in

the horizon, against the mornings light.







Merlin gathered his magic. Spirit looked u at him

with calm green brown eyes. Without a word, nor a question she sent her own

magic into his. Starlight looked up at him, her own hazel eyes sparkling

with the sense of a upcoming adventure. Her magic flowed into him with the

sense of light and cleansing heat.



One by one his children handed him power. Even Legon,

with his hand clutched around his white and black teddy bear, sent his power

into his father. Their faces up turned and grim. Spirit patted her fathers

hand, her light brown hair sparkling in the light.



Auras of color and shadow gathered about the ten children.

Starlight's short hair stirred within the magic. Balcazar's face full of

concentration and seriousness. For a moment Merlin saw his children grown

up. His babies, who grew up without a father, because he was busy. A tear

slipped down Merlin's face as he view the future. Starlight as a grown woman,

calm, collected, like a young Caroline. Thought merlin as he channeled the

mage energies though his body.







Spirit, her eyes the only pair open saw her Father's

tear. She straightened herself and set grimly to the task. She didn't know

how she knew, but she knew her father wouldn't live. She was determined to

make it as painless as possible. So she took the pain of the Mage Energies

into her body. She wanted to scream, but Merlin would have known. So as the

magic flowed though her father, the pain flowed though her, she wept her

own tears.







Merlin felt the pain edge off. He knew one of his

children was taking the weight of the casting. He also knew that was their

decision. He looked at his children one last time. Spirit meet his eyes and

mouthed I Love you father.



Then in front of his eyes, Merlin saw what would happen

to his grandchildren, their children's children and suddenly he wished he

had faced her himself.



With a final shove, Merlin sealed the remaining gates

between worlds, until all the ten children had came of age, and had a better

chance of defeating Caroline. The Mare of Flight that had brought them this

far took them to the final gate. Merlin put all the children inside with

the last of the power. The children had all collapsed at the end of the spell.





Spirit stood shakily to her feet. Yet she wasn't Spirit,

but a older woman. They looked alike, Spirit and this woman. Merlin's body

started to turn phantom like as the girl stood there looking at him. "My

daughter, you must protect them now. Though you aren't the oldest, you are

the most stubborn, unexplainable person. You love them, and you will protect

them as best you can. I love you my daughter. Never forget that. And never

forget this... I am proud of you. All of you."



As Merlin finished he faded away. And the girl stood

there looking where he had left. A tear slid down her cheek and she herself,

sent her family, the other nine children of Merlin and Caroline to earth.

Though time and place, then closing the portal she too went into the place

her father had wished her.







"Now mind you youngin'. It's only a tale. Though a

sad tale of a family, it holds truth. AS for the family, who knows, maybe

you're one of them." said the old man looking at Scott and Danny.



Liz smiled and gave the man four coppers. As the three

walked out of the tavern. "Now you know why no one crosses Caroline. Or the

Nameless One, some believe that if you say her name you will be cursed. And

Merlin is called the Evil One because before he left they think it was better.

How I don't know, but they think it was. Some others say that Caroline was

only border line crazy, but after Merlin died and Spirit herself sent her

brothers and sisters to Earth, she went totally bonkers."



"Because her own daughter turned on her?" asked Danny

looking at Liz.



"Yes, and the fact Merlin died. I think she blames

it on her." said Liz.



"That is a pretty freaky story." said Scott in a doubtful

tone.







"It is as true as the day it happened." Liz said in

a tone of disbelief. "It is in all our tales. Most call it The Day Heaven

Fell."



Hellsfire, Raindrop and Blackwidow all shouldered

their was though the crowd as their riders talked. "The Inn was four silvers.

And I don't mind sleeping out under the moon..." started Danny in the

uncomfortable silence that flowed between the three.



"That's fine with me." said Liz looking at Scott.

Scott nodded his head. They turned their horses heads toward the north gate.

And the smell of meat pies wafted over the crowded streets.



After the Green Haven Clan



After the festival, which was very boring, Scott and

Liz went to practice. Leaving Danny alone to take care of the camp. Danny

brushed down 'Drop, 'Fire and 'Widow, and started a fire. He left 'Liz and

Scott to make their own bedrolls and dinner. And he left to go catch his

own.



When he got back with two plump rabbits, he saw the

strange woman with violet eyes looking at him from across the fire. She looked

him over and said in a low, old lady voice, "You are the one the child chose.

Though I don't blame her. I just wish you were a bit older."



"Chosen?" Danny's deep voice squeaked. "Chosen? What

do you mean about that?" He said looking at the old woman. She drew back

her dark cloak and the little girl from the Green haven clan came out of

it's depths. "What are you doing here?" Danny asked, to the little girl's

wide blue gray eyes.



"Yes, chosen. And as for the girl, she doesn't talk.

She hasn't spoken since her grandmother and mother died in a fire a few years

back. She's six, just turned a moon ago." said the old woman looking at him

with her cool violet eyes.



Danny looked at the old woman like she had lost her

mind. "Well then why me? And you didn't answer my first question, Chosen?"

Danny said looking about the camp for Liz and Scott to show up... Soon But

no Scott showed, and for Liz, she never showed a hair. Danny whipped his

forehead, where sweat had started to bead down.



"You, are the man she chose to take care of you. It

is often done by orphans. Have you not heard of it? It matters not, but she

chose you. And you must take her in as a daughter... Or at least a younger

sister. She has no name, and I leave her in your care, son of Legon." Without

answering the rest of the many questions from Danny. The old woman slipped

into the shadows and disappeared. Leaving the girl child at Danny's

feet.



The girl's sunken cheeks and sad blue gray eyes, were

the only thing that stopped him from following the old woman and handing

the child back over. "Well," said Danny looking at the girl. She tossed her

light brown hair and smiled. "I suppose your hungry."



The little girl held up her hands to be picked up.

Danny compiled and took her closer to the fire. Moving away Danny dug into

his pack, with his dried rations and clothes. He pulled out a tunic and some

beef jerky. he moved back to the fire and handed her the jerky.



As Danny helped the girl out of her tattered dress

and into his Tunic. Scott and Liz decided to appear. The girl buried her

head in Danny's waist and Danny blushed. "Ummm, it's NOT what you think."

he said at Liz and Scott's astonished faces.



"Oh yes?" said Liz stepping forward toward the child.

"I certainly hope it's not what it seems." Danny moved the child away from

him. She stayed there for five seconds and then ran right back into his arms.

She trembled as the night air wafted under the huge tunic.



"She Chose me." said Danny. Scott looked at him, like

Danny had looked at the old woman, a look of total disbelief.



"What the heck is that supposed to mean???" said

Scott.



"I have NO idea!" said Danny getting angry. He had

a famous bad temper. "This old woman brought her and said here. What was

I supposed to do? leave her in that dress? It had more holes then Swiss

cheese!"



The girl pressed into his side, her shivers reminded

Danny about her. He lifted her up into his arms. Scott looked a bit astonished.

Scott didn't really like little kids. In fact Danny was about how young he

got. The girl looked over at Scott with her stunning blue gray eyes. the

she looked over at Liz. Where Liz smiled and looked toward the fire. Where

the two rabbits were starting to burn.







Clan of Shadows.



Danny rode 'drop, whisper sitting in front of him.

He had been watching her for a few months now, and both had become very close.

Whisper leaned back in between his arms and Drop's wide shoulders. "Daddy,

when are we going to get to the next village?"she whispered, just loud enough

for Danny to hear.



"Soon." Danny answered in a soft, but gruff, tone

of voice. Whisper rubbed her cheek his, he had not shaved for a while, and

stubble grew in sharp little points.



"I'm tired Daddy... can't we stop?" Whisper looked

up at Danny with big blue eyes, her russet locks falling into her eyes and

giving her a lost puppy look.



"Soon hun, soon..." Danny looked past 'Drops ears and

realised he couldn't see the others through the thick shadows of the mountain

side. "What in seven blazes?" Danny reinned in 'Drop and dismounted. "Scott!

Liz! Where are you?!" He shouted, into the gathering mists.



Only echos greated his ears. Danny conjured his sword

and lead 'Drop farther down the quickly disapearing path. "Whisper, you stay

awake and watch Daddy's back." Danny peared harder into the darkness.



"Daddy! Watch out!" Whisper shouted a moment tolate

as a large man jumpped on Danny's shoulders and held his arms tight around

his body.



 "My name is Morgan. Please, will you shut that

screeching monkey up?" Morgan growled in a low tone to Whisper, still mounted

on 'Drop. "I'm one of the Shadow Warriors. Your friends are visters of our

Camp. Now Please. Put down your weapon."



 Danny let his grip on his sword loosen, his eyes

getting used to the shadows. "That's better little man. Now." Danny's face

flushed in anger at the bigger man's words. Whisper hissed under her

breath to no avail, as Danny swung his fist right unto Morgan's gut.



"Stop it Father!" Whisper scrambled off drop and put

her small body unbetween Morgan and Danny. "That is enough!" Whisper was

not at all nicely, shoved out of the way as the men clashed with their

fists.



 Danny's training from Liz and from Earth gave

him a slight avantage over the bigger man. But Morgan had the years and patience

of an older man. And calmly took his blows and dodges with well practiced

ease. Whisper watched on from her postion in the bushes where she had been

shoved. Her face white as a sheet as Danny was slowly taken to his

knees.



 "You fight well for a non-Harpean." Morgans voice

seemed strangely in awe, for all the punches and knife wounds he had put

in danny.  "You fight in the Steralle style. But I will teach you the

Sewaere way of fighting..." Morgan let his hand lower so Danny could grasp

it. Danny reached up and took the hand, pulling the other man onto the ground

beside him.



 "Daddy.." Whisper crawled over to his side.

"Daddy..." Her voice was softly and loving, her head craddled into his chest.

Dannys hands reached up under her arms and lowered her gently onto his chest,

so he could in fold her in a loving embrace.



"If you teach me, you must teach her as well..." Danny

raises his hand to the other man,wsper slung over one hip. Morgan nodded

once and sent a large shadow at Danny and whisper.



 "Then your training starts..."



Clan Bindings...



Sewaere, the Clan of the Shadow, adopted Danny and

Whisper into it's mists, and Whisper was the youngest member adopted thus

far. There, within the shadow clan's caves,  anyone with the cursed

ability of Shadow Magic, came to train. It didn't matter if you where a Vampire,

unicorn or dragon. Or uncursed, such as Whisper and Danny. Scott and Liz

contunied training in the warrior aspects, Scott was slowly learning how

to contorl his powers of thunder, under the guidence of Liz, who, though

less powerful then Scott, being only a journeyman. When the Shadow Solice

came around, Danny was well on his way to becoming the master swordsman,

assaisan and Whisper a step or two behind her adopted father.



At the solice, many people, normally away from the

other's sight. One of these was a young woman, with black hair and blue gray

eyes. She was thin, and looked like a breath of wind would blow her over

and sweep her into it's embrace. Danny was quite smittin on the lass, and

she him. Whisper was often jealous of her father spending so much time with

the young lady. And often she spoke up toward such ends of putting things

in her bed. For the lass was a very low class shadow warrior and low class

mage. Her streghs were in healing, which was very uncommon amung the Sewaere

Clan.



The whole solice moved by slowly and Danny longed for

action, he was all to glad to leave morgan, but sad to leave the young lady.

He left her with a soft kiss, and a ring he made with his own hands.

He promised to come back. The young lady nodded, holding back tears, Whisper

hugged her and apolgized to her for being so young minded, then along with

danny, went off down the path to the next clan. Green Haven.



Whispers in the Night



Hellsfire tossed his mane over his shoulder and flickered

his ears to the sound of Scott's voice. Scott, Liz and Danny had entered

a burned out space where a Clan, Dashera, was supposed to reside. Scott had

told Danny to stay with Whisper and Liz. Though Liz could take care of herself,

Scott didn't want her to get hurt.



But of course, Liz followed. Scott felt a pang of

homesickness and a longing for the past. He stopped her just as she was about

to walk in on some thieves, dividing the plunder of the massacred Clan. Liz

started to gag at the bodies stacked up against the wall.



They even had gotten the children. The smell was horrible

and made even Scott want to throw up. Only one person seemed to be alive.

And she had the brains to be quiet. The girl in question, was lying on her

side, back facing the thieves.



Scott and Liz looked at each other. And after the several

months of hard core training and a month on the road traveling, knew what

they wanted to do. As if a ghost arose from the grave, they attacked the

thieves. Danny was by their sides in a moment and his shadow, Whisper behind

him.



Whisper threw magic missiles at the thieves. Danny

had named her Whisper because when it was important, she would whisper into

his ear. And only into his ear. She had grown a bit over the e three weeks

she had been with them. Danny had helped her get the tangles out of her hair

and keep them out. Her cheeks had filled out, and those little dark circles

under her eyes had all but disappeared.



Danny slashed and parried at the human thieves. He

too had changed. His face had lost some of the boyishness of his child hood.

He was quieter now, his deep sounding voice was heard across rooms when he

needed it too. His temper had a longer fuse. Though it still went off, Whisper

could cool it faster then Scott could spit.



Liz spilt a thief in two and started on one that had

tried to go after Whisper. Scott smiled, she was so much like Joy had been

a few years ago. But then she wasn't, sometimes he wasn't quite sure who

she was like. He watched he lose her weapon and flip a dead thieves long

knife into her hand. She was amazing, but so hard to get to know. Like she

was buried under fifty layers of ice.



Scott swung his bow, cracking a few mens heads. He

supposed he had changed a lot to, He had noticed his reactions were faster.

His hair a bit longer, and he had a bit more muscle. But no one had said

anything so he left it at that. Scott chopped off the last ones head just

as Whisper fired him with a fireball.



Danny gave Whisper a hug, giving her some of the blood

from the people that fell by his sword. They had all gaged their share though

out the months, but Danny and Whisper always said a prayer up to the Christian

god. Then bowed a deep bow of respect. Scott sent his prayer up to the Christian

god as well, but he did so silently. Liz lifted her own prayers up to the

heavens.



They looked about the echoing cabin. Dead bodies strewn

about the room, a chest with the dead clan's gold, silver, copper coins and

Jewelry lay buried under a cover of blood red. The golden lion stitched directly

in the middle. Whisper moved toward the injured woman lying on her side.



Danny followed after he saw Whisper moving toward her.

He reached over her shoulder to check the woman's pulse. She seemed to be

fine so Danny draped his cloak over the prone woman. She stirred a bit under

the cloak and Whisper leaned in to hear her words.



Only to have the woman reach over in a sudden moment

to drink her blood. Whisper screamed, and Danny lopped off her head. Whisper

continued to scream as the woman's fangs stayed in her neck, as the rest

of the woman fell back to the floor to a pool of blood. Liz rushed over as

she heard Whisper scream her first high pitched note.



She took a hold with sharp fingernails to the fangs

and pulled them out. Whisper cried and cried while it happened. Danny held

her in gentle arms. Scott was surprised because Danny had gotten so attached

to the girl. Liz just grimily picked up the fangs from the woman and laid

them near her body.



Whisper softened her wails and whispered something

into Danny's ear. "She says she is sorry for screaming. She was just very

scared." said Danny when she was done. He gathered her into his arms and

walked over to the chest of jewelry. He pulled out a rose pendant. It was

on a long gold chain. The rose it's self was gold.



Scott heard Danny gasp as he picked it up. "That's

Joy's! She never went anywhere without it." said Scott looking over Danny's

shoulder. Whisper looked up from her curled up spot in Danny's arms to stare

at the pendant and reach her cute little hands at it. Danny handed it to

her silently.



"Is she dead?" asked Liz to the boys. She moved to

join them, with her hand on her bow and arrows, her other weapon beside the

sword buckled to her waist.



"No. I don't think so. She would have been in the pile

of dead on that wall." said Scott motioning toward the pile of dead

bodies.



"Yea." said Danny looking over Whisper's head to the

bodies. "'sides she can fight like a tigress."



Liz laughed as Whisper scrambled over Danny's shoulder

and slid down his back. She reached the ground and pointed to the chest,

then the door. As if saying, okay you guys had your fun lets get the gold

and leave. We did all we could.



Liz nodded in silent agreement to Whisper and picked

up the chest. Danny and Scott both tried to take it from her. She dumped

it into their hands. And walked after Whisper. The boys picked up the spilled

gold, silver and stuff, and ran to catch up.



As they exited, Whisper waved her hands over her head,

calling her magic. Putting her arms straight out in front of her, she blew

into the fizzling air. A thunder-lighting ball engulfed the last standing

cabin. Flames licked the sky as Danny and Whisper mounted 'Drop and rode

to meet Scott on Hellsfire and Blackwidow. Liz ran to catch up with them

and hopped on 'widows back. After the massacre of a Clan they decided to

send magic messages to all the shamans and sorcerers.



Telling them this message...



Meet at Peril Mountains. Clan whipped out or taken

controlled. Repeat Meet before time at Peril mountain Clan.



Clan Wanderers of The Steralle Forest Clan and Sewaere

Clan.

or