Clans

Chapter/Part 3

Clan Healer



Alone In A New World.



I awoke to a sharp stick sticking me in the back, and a face full of moss that made my nose itch. Jumping to my feet I stood face to face with a unicorn. "Whoa!" I said looking up at the huge animal. I jumped back a few more spaces, when I heard a voice in my head asking if I heard it. "I must be going nuts." I said to myself looking over the Amber Unicorn in front of me.



Can you hear me? A outloud yes or no is fine. Can you hear me? Or am I talking to myself? Said the voice in my head growing rather impatient. I looked at the Unicorn, and mumbled a yes. Good, I'm glad you can, only a few do and I had to make sure you weren't one of the villagers. You okay?



The unicorn said the last part because I had drawn a hand of dried blood away from my neck and the wounds, that I received from the woman. I paled at the thought of my friends. "My friends, they must be dead after the fight with that woman..." I started to cry, the Unicorn came up and I buried my head in his mane.



A while later coming up for breath, the Unicorn told me he had to get back to camp, and wondered if he could take me to the village or my home. Now I had some explaining to do. I, like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz wasn't in California anymore.



"Where am I? Second, who are you and where is this camp of yours?" I said getting a grip. Crying wasn't going to help me and find the boys. The unicorn looked startled at the change in me, but he recovered rather fast.



I am Randell, unicorn scout to the Clan of Cursed. You are in the Peril Mountains. near the plains of Marest. And the Clan is in the heart of the mountains. said the Unicorn in her head. He tossed his blue mane and shook his head. Come on, the flies here are horrible.



Chuckling at Randell, I looked around for a path and maybe a steam to wash of the blood. The Unicorn, Randell, pushed my hand aside toward a crystal blue stream. Nodding her thanks, I walked over and gave my neck a good scrubbing. Randell joined me and proceeded spray me with a blast of water.



I, of course had to fight back, and pushed Randell into the stream. After awhile we were both utterly soaked, and were lying on their stomachs, I heard a strange, low bird whistle. Randell heard it too and was on his feet before Joy.



The whistle came again, and I suddenly wished I had some type of weapon. My hands sparked to life with a strange green gold glow. Randell made a strange sound toward a moving bush. My hands continued to flicker with the glow of color, when a strange looking person came out.



The person's hand held a drawn bow at me and my hands suddenly had a mind of their one calling them into a ball sort of form the glow brightened to the point I wanted to throw it. But Randell got in my way. No! he said in my and the person's heads. Taysta! She's our friend!!! Don't shoot, and girl put out your magic ball. You do not have enough control yet! I quickly doused my fireball. And behind Randell I hoped the other person had put down their bow.



That's better you two... Friends shouldn't toast friends. said Randell as he stepped out of the way giving me my first good look at the other person. She, it was female, had strange pointy ears, like Spock in star trek. Short, curly hair, that was of all colors, sea green. Her face supported high cheek bones and sapphire blue eyes. But her mouth wasn't in a smile.



As I looked her over, she did the same to me. I tried to smile, but I knew one false move and I could find a arrow in my heart. So that didn't help boost my confidence. It must have been my strange twentieth century clothes that threw her off the most. But her medieval Robin Hood clothes threw me off too.



I stepped forward and said the only thing I could think of. "Greetings, I'm Joy Wood, daughter of Merlin. May the Stars and worlds smile upon your hearth and mine." Now I know it sounded corny and it had come from this game I had played once, but it did the trick. Taysta put down her bow and smiled.



I nervously smiled back, and straightened my short skirt. Night was falling and it was starting to be freezing outside. "Randell, I don't mean to be pushing or nothing but I'm freezing.. can we go to this camp of yours?"



The girl laughed, and her hair blew in the evening wind. "I'm Taysta, I see you already know Randell." she said patting the Unicorn's flank. "But if he wouldn't mind not showing off I will show you the way back to camp..."said Taysta, as Randell snorted and nodded his consent.



Randel's form started to get hazy. I watched in awe, as it shifted and changed into a man wearing a blue tunic and green leggings. His amber vest covered his chest. Long midnight black hair was tied back with a leather tie. Taysta hugged him lovingly and I felt a sudden pang for Robert, even though we weren't going out we were good friends.



Smiling my two new friends lead me though a maze of bushes, trees and streams to a strange looking camp. Old men looked to be teaching younger people. Old women looked up form patients and smiled over at us. I wanted to run away.



A man stepped forward, he had long black and silver hair, though he looked like a young man my age, I sensed he was older. Randell and Taysta gave him short bows and didn't say a thing. He walked forward, toward me, and ignored Taysta and Randell. Only saying "Randell you have first watch at the tower tonight."



He neared me and I froze like a dear in head lights. His long fingers reached up and touched my face, shivers racked up and down my spine as he did. I felt Taysta and Randell tense up. He neared his face to mine and I kicked him where the sun don't shine. Mother always said I never knew when to stop, but that creep deserved every bit of it.



My feet unglued themselves."That should teach you not to go after young girls, creep." I said as I started walking away. Women, men and children gasped at me as I past. I didn't care, that creep deserved it. I saw him double up and hit the ground. Randell and Taysta followed me, not offering to help the man up.



No one else did, so I took it that if they had guts the would be cheering me. Two big guys stepped in front of me and blocked the way. I looked behind me to see the man looking at me with strange blood red eyes.



I instantly knew why no one had stuck up to him. He was a berserker, one who gave his soul and become a weapon, someone ticked him off or such he went berserk, killing who ever stood in his way with blood lust. My heart, strangely enough didn't pound in my ears in fear. Nor did I plead for forgiveness.



I stood there, waiting for his move. He lunged toward me and I gave him a sudden blast of magic. A wind spell blasted him in the chest, throwing him into a wall of a nearby tent. I gasped for breath. The spell had been uncontrolled and dangerous, but it had worked. And for the second time that 'day' I feel into a dead faint, and oblivion closed in.







Who Is Simon? Friend? Or Foe...





"Oh, my poor head. Those damned Elephants are playing their drums again." I said as I sat up in a scratchy pillow bed. Taysta and Randell were talking in the corner near-by. I thought about going back to sleep, but even that thought brought m stomach into full consciousness. It was hungry and so were the elephants, who had started on the fifth round of the Cha-cha.



Suddenly, I, the elephants and my stomach all wished we had stayed asleep. ÒYou should have known better! If you werenÕt so fortune be damned lucky, youÕd be kissing the Lord of UndeadÕs feet!Ó Randell screamed at me. I thought about curing up and going right back to sleep, as Randell screamed on and on.



Taysta put a hand on his shoulder, hushing him for a moment. "My love, she just woke up from a hard day. Do you remember the first casting you did? And it wasnÕt as major as her two castings. Give the girl a break."



I smiled in my thanks up to Taysta and sat up. The elephants stopped the Cha-cha and went on to a waltz. "What are we doing today?" I said. Looking about the tent I saw this was Taysta's. And I knew that only because of a wall hanging of elven design.



"What do you think we are doing, Lady Lets hurry and blow up the clans. We are going to practice your magic and Combat. Not to mention very thing you should have learned at home." said Randell still fuming at me.



Taysta smiled and tossed him out. "We'll meet you later Love." she said. Turning to me she lost the smile. I prepared myself for a more detailed tongue lashing.





Dressed and waiting for Randell, Taysta and I waited in the hot sun. I wanted to scream, but I kept my peace, promising myself I could wring his neck when he got here. Taysta changed feet for the fifth time when he finally showed.



"'Bout time." said Taysta looking at Randell. "Where were you?"



"Getting the elders permission to train the girl. You know we need that more then anyone." Randell said in a haggard tone. Taysta looked at him closer.



"Let me guess, you had to take the test of Master? Randell, I thought you and I had agreed it was to soon!" Taysta said looking at his tired blue eyes.



"It was the only way we would have had permission to train her. Though she has more power then I ever will, she can be taught the basics by me. The elders themselves will teach her the rest." said Randell.



And that was the beginning of my training. Which included, weapons training, healers training, mage training, Scout training, and many other things. The Clan put on me to do, for reasons, I didn't know.



Months past and soon I had been here for about five months. Summer had past and it was about mid fall when the message came. The message that set into motion my becoming a Adept level mage. (Apprentice, Journeyman, Master, Adept, Elder.) I was also good at fighting and a excellent healer.





Danny, Scott, Liz, Whisper back again.





Ever since the Peril Mountain Clan had gotten the letter from the Steralle Forest Clan Joy had been shoved into training, endless meetings and healers lessons. She was going to scream if something didn't happen soon.



Simon had disappeared a few days before the Messages and had reappeared a few days later. Joy was specious, but had no time to think about it. Randell and Taysta often asked advice about the wedding, the elders more about her seemingly very strong mage gift. For since Joy being on Harpea it got more potent and stronger.



The elders though it was perhaps she was using it more. But No one knew before. Simon often found some way to bug her, and she got no comfort from Taysta and Randell. Though they were good friends, they were to busy to notice her. And it seemed that when they did, it was because they needed something.



Joy felt homesickness when she wasn't busy, she also felt this growing loneliness, like something was growing weaker. Though she didn't know what. She began to get dark circles under her eyes, and thinner. No one really noticed. because day by day, more reports flooded in of Clan's being attacked or waylaid by priest of the Nameless one.



More and more sorcerers and village healers came to the Peril Mountains. Though the secret ways that only a mage of a Clan could find. Soothsayers, charmers and common midwifes all were the last to come. But come they did to the safety of the mountains.



One day the great bell rang, waking all from their hard earned rest. Joy was one of the first to wake up and rush out of Taysta's tent. "Taysta!" she said screaming into the tent. "It's ringing! The God's bell is ringing! Hurry up!"



"Come on girl," she said laughing as she grabbed her dew soaked cloak. "Crap, I left it out again. Fortunes slapped me up side the head when she didn't send me a nice tent mate."



"What's that supposed to mean?" Joy said, in a playfully shocked voice. "I thought I was a good tent mate." By now Taysta had her wet cloak on and they were both running toward the tall looming tower.



"Oh shut up Mommy. Gods, the way you act, you'd think you where my mother, and younger sister in one!" said Taysta starting to morph into her Shadow form. As she finished the spell, Joy could no longer see her.



"Taysta?" Joy said in a low voice, knowing she did it for a reason. "Why go into scout mode?"



"You shall hear more if a lowly scout isn't with you. 'Sides, I"m a head scout, only a head scout can find another. And since I was born a elf, it comes almost naturally. You'd have to be damned good to find me." said Taysta, her voice smiling though Joy couldn't see it.



Joy nodded and she reached the tower steps in moments. A old man with a long, white beard. stood by the door to the tower, apart from the rest of the elders. He looked like he was looking for someone. Joy smiled kindly over at him, and his face lightened for a moment, but feel back when he saw Joy wasn't the person he was looking for.



**Char in section as I is JOY. :)§§



I heard the old man mutter "Where are they?" I went up as I felt Taysta's movement toward the other elders.



"Pardon me Elder. Can I help you with something?" I asked, looking into his deep gold eyes. He smiled and nodded.



"Yes, maybe you can." he said kindly. "In fact you look like someone I'm looking for. Same nose, same eyes." I looked at him in shock. "Yes, but he was a he not a she. Lighter hair too. I'm sorry, I am from the Steralle Forest Clan. As you guessed I'm the elder. My Weapons Master took two young men, one of which looked like you and one with light brown hair and Hawk features. Have you seen them?"



My heart stopped it's frantic beating. "Danny? Scott? You know them? Their alright?" I started to cry in happiness. The elder was a bit shocked, his eyes widened. Taysta ran to my side. As did many of the other elders who knew me from my healers tent, and their minor wounds. "My brother and Scott are alive! And they with the help of a weapons Master are the ones who saved the Clans!" I shouted in happiness.



The word spread like wild fire and many of my friends, mostly those who knew Taysta and Randell, and still others knew me from my healing skills, who saved close family members. Wanted to help. They sent out many search parties. And every mage with Farsight looking low and high for them.





Then the news came. Men, five thousand men, wearing the Nameless One's Colors and Armed to the teeth were headed toward the Clans. Danny, Scott and Liz were also spotted and were on the way home. I was in conference with the elders and weapons masters when for the second time that day the bell rang. I flew from my tent to see Danny and Scott in full armor riding with two girls I didn't recognize.



"DANNY! SCOTT!" I cried out. "Over here!" I screamedjumping up and down. Danny waved and said something I couldn't hear to me. But I was to happy to care. The little girl behind him seemed glued to his back as he rode closer.



Scott waved toward me too, but he dismounted next to the elders, who instead of me had stayed closer to the meeting place. Danny dismounted and I threw my arms around his neck. "Danny, gods how I missed you. Where's Robert? And Mike? have you seen them? Who's the little girl?" I said in a rush looking him over.



He was taller, must of grown a few inches at least. And his face had lost most of his cute baby fat. He was really cute. He carried himself in air of ease and serenity. I smiled. "You've grown up little brother."



Danny looked down his nose at me. "Little?" I laughed and put my arm about his waist. "I missed you to sis. As for your questions... I don't know where Mike and Robert are. I woke up in jail with Scott. The girl next to him saved our butts and took us to her clan. Scott became a member. then we visited the GreenHaven Clan, you know the non magic ones? Well a old woman called me chosen and put Whisper, the little girl, into my arms. She is sort of my responsibly. Scott and Liz said, and I quote, She chose you, not us."



I laughed, and bent over to look a whisper. "Hello, whisper. My name is Joy. I'm Danny's older, yet smaller sister." Whisper smiled and I gave her a fond pat on the head. "Well pick her up boy." I said using Danny's hated nick name. Which when said on the telephone sounds like 'HI Joy,' he'd say. and I'd say 'Hi, boy. Rather cute, but he hated it.



Danny gave me a punch in the arm, but he picked Whisper up and we went toward Scott, Liz and the elders. Randell took 'drop, 'fire and 'widow, into the pastures. Then Randell joined us and we spent the night talking over our adventures. Danny and Scott told me of the Merlin/Caroline thing.





Enter the Dark Knights.





Can't you see that I'm a Mage?

Unlocking the greatest Myths,

My key is my pure heart.

Locked in Fire and Ice.



You can't be my friend,

Hiding from the worlds

Got to live the life

You wished for in your head.



So I opened a portal

Caught the flash of light

Now I sail with the Dragons

in their flight.





Can't you see we are the same?

Not one of the endless dreamers?

Who dream away the night

Nor the endless talkers

That tell you the same rules over time



Come here,

forever more,

be with me

and the worlds of Sol.





My voice trailed off, as I looked up into the stars, and the breaking dawn. "Robert, Mike. Where are you?" I said. I looked around at the sound of clapping. A figure stood there. I tried to see it in more detail, but none came. Soon the clapping sounded as loud as thunder in my ears.



"Who are you?" I asked the figure. It stopped clapping, but made no other sound. My voice sounded shaky to me so I steadied it. "Taysta? Randell? Scott? Danny? this isn't funny..." My throat was closing in silent panic.



I made out a full suit of armor. And a sword. **great, that's about narrows it down to about a hundred people it could be.** I thought as I stood. Even though I was supposed to be sleeping inside the tower with the rest of the Healers and Woman who usually didn't fight. I had come out to the balcony believing in my heart of hearts that I could have one more night of freedom.



My light dress did nothing to stop the shivers I got. Though most them weren't from the morning breeze. It swirled about my waist and around my ankles as I whipped around to face yet another dark figure. A few curses now escaping my lips. My heart pounding in my chest.



"Nice song. To bad you will not sing another." said a stone cold voice from the shadows. The newest figure said. Not moving any closer. I had just about enough of this. Though my heart still pounded, the fear was quickly being replaced by anger.



"Who are you?" I repeated. "And what do you want." I stalled for time, as I gathered my magic. In these clothes I look like a healer, or a plain mid wife. Anger rose into my throat. I tried not to narrow my eyes, but instead show as much terror as possible.



"We are your destroyers." he said. I could now tell both figures were male. and young, but not too young. Enough to know their stuff. I thanked god that Danny and Scott had had to sleep with the woman and children, because of Whisper.



"I have no destroyer" I said keeping my voice firm and smooth. I sent the spell I had prepared speeding toward the two figures. Lighting up the morning sky with fire works and fireballs. "MY CLAN! WE ARE UNDER ATTACK!" I cried sending my armor into existence, along with a sword, and a few raven's feet.



The figures lady, had turned into a tiger.

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