Disclaimer: Bardic Voices, the Free Bards, Alanda, etc. belong to Mercedes Lackey. I'm merely playing in her universe and hoping that she doesn't mind.

Rhiannon walked briskly among the throng of people headed towards the city. She carefully brushed her long, black hair over her ears, hoping to hide the fact that they were pointed. The elven woman could do nothing about her silted, bright green eyes, but hopefully no one would notice. She was one of the few - if not the only - one of the elvenkin to prefer the mortal world to the Underhill. Grunting a bit as somebody pushed her, she wondered for the millionth time why she liked it here.

Adjusting the harp case on her back, Rhiannon kept moving onward. There was a fair here at Redfalls, and that meant money. She was a rather good harpist - and fairly competent on her second choice of instrument, a set of pipes - enough so, in fact, that she had made it into the Free Bards. Rhiannon doubted that anyone outside of her mentor, Raven, knew that she was Sidhe. Raven knew because he was the one who had discovered her and given her the bird name she used as a Free Bard: Hawk.

Rhiannon supposed that she did have a tendency to watch people 'like a hawk', as Raven put it. Still… having a name spawn off of it…

Shrugging slightly, Rhiannon wrenched her mind off the past and onto the future. Remembering the had-beens was all well and good, but not when you stood a chance of getting trampled by packhorses.

She passed through the gates of the city with no problem from the guard; like many, they were more interested in anyone who could pose a danger to the city's inhabitants and one small, slight musician wasn't likely to be a hazard.

At least, that was what they would like to think. Surely, had they known she was Sidhe, they never would have let her in. Then again, they couldn't really stop her if she was bent on entering; elvenkin could get many places.

Rhiannon slipped off the busy main street, looking for a less crowded place to find an inn. She, unlike many of her kin, was able to tolerate cities, but that didn't mean she liked crowds. Immediately, she was drawn to the lively sound of a fiddle, being played by someone who was obviously quite good. Not once, outside of the time she was privileged to hear Lady Lark play, had Rhiannon ever heard someone that talented. Edging closer to the small crowd that had gathered around the player, Rhiannon looked. A slender cat-woman stood in the center, playing away with a grin.

Rhiannon had never seen a people like her before, but then again, there were many non-human species on Alanda, many of which came to find their way in the Twenty Kingdoms. As the girl played, she scanned the crowd. Her eyes fell upon Rhiannon - or more importantly, the pipes hanging from Rhiannon's belt.

Grinning, the cat-girl played a definite invitation to join her, but Rhiannon shook her head. She was mildly surprised. Usually, street-musicians didn't like company.

The cat-girl grinned wider and changed the tone of the music, taunting Rhiannon and daring her. Rhiannon bit back her own grin. Well, if that's the way she wanted it…

Unhooking the pipes from their spot, she put them to her lips, playing a teasing, taunting song right back, making certain to meld it properly with the fiddle.

The cat-girl actually laughed and fiddled harder, trying to get Rhiannon to slip up, but the elven woman kept up with her music and passed it. By now, the crowd had let Rhiannon through to the center, so she faced the cat-girl, both trying to outdo the other. Finally, they both gave up trying to out-play the other and brought the song together in a close.

The crowd broke into thunderous applause and coins showered the two. The cat-girl and Rhiannon bowed, then packed up their instruments, indicating that there would be no more to be seen. The crowd dispersed.

"You're pretty good," the cat-girl said, picking up her fiddle-case and walking over to Rhiannon.

"So are you," Rhiannon said simply, examining the other woman. She wasn't very tall, but her fur was mottled in black, gray, and red, with a bit of white. She wore a tight leather vest and loose cloth breeches, both of brilliant colour.

"My name is Electra," the cat-girl continued conversationally. "You want to go get something to eat?"

"You always this friendly with strangers?" Rhiannon asked bluntly.

"No," Electra said flippantly, starting to walk off so Rhiannon was forced to follow her. "You just intrigue me. You're a good musician and there's just something about you…" Her eyes looked into Rhiannon's for a moment and Rhiannon felt a surge of emotion, wondering if Electra knew what she was. But the cat-girl gave no indication that she did.

"Besides," Electra continued, "I have a preposition for you."

This caught Rhiannon's attention. "A preposition?"

"Yep. Sit down." Rhiannon realized they had reached a small outdoor eating establishment - and obviously one that Electra frequented, for the serving girls smiled and waved and one immediately brought two dinners: meat, vegetables, and two mugs of wine. "First of all," Electra said, after she had sipped the wine. "What's your name?"

Rhiannon examined the other woman carefully before responding. "Hawk."

Electra raised an eyebrow. "You're a Free Bard, aren't you?"

Rhiannon started. "How do you know about them?" she asked cautiously. "Is that going to be a problem here?"

Electra laughed. "Nah, we had one stay here awhile back… uhm, Nightingale?"

Rhiannon relaxed. If they had welcomed Nightingale, they should welcome her. The gypsy was a friend of the elvenkin, and a magnificent harpist. She had since settled down with a Haspur by the name of T'fyrr in the palace of the High King, but Rhiannon had met her a couple times before that. "Anyway… what's this proposition of yours?"

Electra dropped a bag on the table and it let out a thud. "That's all the money we made by one song. If you're willing, we could form a partnership and split any taking 50/50."

Rhiannon continued to be suspicious. "And why would you offer this?"

"Because she can't play that well on her own," a snotty voice said. Both Electra and Rhiannon looked up to see a sultry white cat-girl glaring at the two. Like Electra, the cat-girl's clothing was brightly coloured, but it was a dress - one that wasn't exactly designed to hide anything, but covered a great deal of skin - er, fur.

Electra sighed. "Victoria, don't you have better things to be doing?"

"Unlike you, you mean? Unlike you, I actually work for a living, so don't you be telling me what to do."

Electra shook her head. "Vicki, street-busking does count as work. I bring in enough…"

Victoria sneered. "But you aren't a Guild member."

"Duh," Electra muttered under her breath before raising it to address Victoria. "The Bardic Guild doesn't accept women or nonhumans - and since I'm both, I'm at a bit of a disadvantage, aren't I?"

Victoria rolled her eyes and flounced off.

Electra sighed and looked at Rhiannon. "She thinks she's so great just because she got into the Weaver's Guild. Come to think of it, she just thinks she's the greatest thing in the Twenty Kingdoms - and beyond."

Rhiannon nodded in mild understanding. "So why do you need my help?"

"I don't so much need your help as want it. I think we make a good team. And if we need a singer, my sister, Jemima can help."

Rhiannon raised a satirical eyebrow. "And then you can get more of the share, right?"

Electra shook her head. "No, that isn't necessary. Jemima isn't really old enough to busk by herself, but she adores it, so just letting her work with us is payment enough."

Rhiannon considered this for a moment. It certainly wouldn't hurt and it would give her a steady position, since it was almost inevitable that Electra had a steady position. "All right," she said finally.

"Great," Electra grinned, then shoved the bag over at her. "Here. I've got my take for the day."

Rhiannon took the bag hesitantly, constantly expecting a trick. Of course, if Electra were setting her up for a fool, she would definitely learn the hard way why people didn't try and fool the elvenkin. "Do you happen to know a nice - quiet - inn where I could stay?"

Electra grimaced. "Inn? Not likely. They are probably all full because of the Faire."

Hawk groaned. "I suppose I could camp out… it would be cheaper… any ideas where I could…?"

"With my clan, of course!" Electra said promptly, leaving a couple coins on the table and arising. "Come, I'll show you."

"You're awfully trusting," Hawk grumbled, not quite sure what to make of this girl.

Electra grinned. "Believe me, with the Toms around, I doubt you could do anything!"

You'd be surprised, kit. You'd be surprised.

L wrestled with her tent, attempting to put it up in the near darkness of twilight.

"There are easier ways to do that," said an amused voice from behind her.

Hawk spun around to see another of the elvenkin sitting on thin air behind her. His long black hair was flung proudly back, displaying his pointed ears for all to see - not that anyone besides her would see him. A pair of amber eyes gleamed at her, outshone only by his pearly white teeth, which were shown by his grin.

"That may be so, Searle, but I don't wish to use that," Hawk replied primly.

Searle shook his head and hopped down from his 'seat'. "Really, Rhiannon, just because you are a Free Bard doesn't mean you have to live like one. Honestly, that Bard Nightingale is more Sidhe than you."

"That's her choice," Hawk replied, ignoring his use of her elven name. "Now, do you have business here?"

"Of course not," Searle replied, looking down at the tent scornfully. "Just came to see how you were… doing."

Hawk rolled her eyes. "Just fine, thank you. Now, if you'll…"

"Who are you talking to?" Electra asked from behind her.

Hawk jumped and spun around. Curse them all for sneaking up on me constantly! "Uhm…" Glancing back over her shoulder, she saw Searle had gone. "Myself."

Electra followed her gaze, puzzled. "Yourself looks like thin air?"

Hawk grimaced. "Bad habit; I'm trying to break it."

Electra nodded, obviously still a little worried about her new partner. "Munkustrap would like to meet you."

"And who is Munkustrap?" Hawk asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Our clan leader, of course," Electra said promptly. "If you want, bring your instruments. We always welcome music around the fire."

Hawk nodded. These cat-people reminded her much of Gypsies. Her pipes were still clipped to her belt, so all she had to do was sling the harp case onto her back. "Ready."

Electra led her through the trees to the main fire circle. Hawk had seen it previously when she had been brought in, but there had only been a couple of cat-folk there then. Now, over twenty sat around the fire, talking, laughing, dancing, and playing music. The foremost musician was a black and white spotted cat seated cross-legged before a set of drums, beating away at them with paws. A brilliant red scarf kept his head-fur out of his eyes and he sported no shirt. From what she could tell, his pants were a patchwork of equally blinding colours, but it was hard to see by the flickering firelight.

Electra weeded her way through the gathering to a wagon that was parked off to the side, the back facing the circle. Definitely Gypsies, Hawk thought absentmindedly.

A gray and black tabby was seated in the doorway of the wagon, dressed much like the other cat-man: shirtless with patchwork trousers. She could see that in the shadows of the interior sat another cat-woman, apparently lying on her stomach. All that was visible was her head, shoulders, and arms. The two were talking quietly, ignoring the noise around them.

Once they were within earshot, Electra called, "Munkustrap! This is the human that I wanted you to meet."

Hawk's lips twisted in an amused smile. Human, was she?

Munkustrap looked up. "Hello, Electra; hello,…?"

"Hawk," Hawk replied simply.

"Hawk," he repeated, eyes flicking to the ribbons on her shirtsleeves - ribbons that marked her as a Free Bard. "So you're Electra's new partner."

Hawk nodded slowly. "That I am. I hope you don't mind…"

He waved a paw. "If what she's shown me is any indication of your daily income, I don't mind the slightest," Munkustrap assured her with a grin.

Hawk was saved from comment by one of the other cat-people's call. "Electra!" cried the drummer. "Get over here and help! The dancers are restless."

Electra grinned and walked over to him, producing her fiddle from seemingly nowhere. Glancing back at Hawk, she cocked an eyebrow in an open invitation. Hawk walked over and unhooked her pipes in one fluid movement, unable to resist a grin. If the drummer played like Electra, this would be a fine music session indeed.

It was a unique feeling. The music started off rapidly and so did the dancers. At first the open area clearly reserved for the dancing was crowded, but as the music grew faster and more complicated, many dropped off until there were only two left. One was the white cat, Victoria, who had harassed them before, and the other was a black and white male, whose fur was in a pattern unique to anything Hawk had ever seen before. Victoria was plainly trying to get this male's attention, but he only grinned daringly at her and danced faster. They matched each other step for step for quite sometime until Electra shot the drummer and Hawk an evil grin.

The drummer knew immediately what the look meant and Hawk soon figured it out. The music increased in intensity and speed until even Victoria had to drop out. This left the male alone and Hawk could see he was nearly exhausted, his chest heaving as he tried to keep up. Electra and the drummer kept getting faster, and Hawk with them, until finally the cat-man dropped to the ground, clearly worn. He held up a paw and they stopped.

"You got me again, 'Lectra," he panted, grinning.

"One of these days, Mistoffelees, one of these days," Electra laughed, putting her fiddle away.

"One of these days I'm going to zap that blasted fiddle out of your paws!" he shot back with a chuckle.

Hawk watched the scene carefully; obviously this was a joke between them. She tried to decide if the two of them were mates, but it was hard to tell. The cat-people were extremely close with everyone and sometimes she wasn't sure if a couple was friends, mates, or siblings.

The drummer looked up at her. "Good job. Most of the time people can't keep up with me and 'Lectra." He held out his paw. "Alonzo."

She shook it tentatively. "Hawk."

"Hello, Hawk," said another voice. She half turned and saw the dancer standing there, grinning as he tied his black head-fur back with a bright orange scarf so it was done to the same style as Alonzo's. "I'm Mistoffelees."

Hawk nodded curtly and shook his paw when he offered it to her.

"Flirting with the new girl already, you two?" Electra jabbed with a roguish grin, sliding up between Mistoffelees and Hawk. Both Alonzo and Mistoffelees flushed and Electra laughed. "Well, then, I hate to drag her away, but unlike you two slackers, we actually have something to do in the morning."

"We do?" Hawk said, the cat-girl catching her by surprise.

"Yep. Faire starts tomorrow."

"Oh, and you aren't going to let me join you?" Alonzo said, giving Electra pleading eyes.

"You'd drown the both of us out, fluffhead," Electra said, batting his ears playfully.

"I guess I would, wouldn't I?" Alonzo said with a rueful grin.

"Yep," Electra said with a mock-regretful sigh. "But now, we really must be getting off to bed." She raised an eyebrow in Hawk's direction. "Or, at least I should be."

"Me too," Hawk said, not particularly wanting to stay around the others if Electra wasn't with her. "I shall see you all in the morning," she said quietly before walking off to her tent.

The next morning, Hawk arose with the sun and immediately dressed in a set of her 'Faire clothes'. These were merely the fancier garments she owned, including bits of elven silk - guaranteed to make anyone who saw her jealous of her apparel. Hawk didn't wear all elven silks, although she could, should she choose to. It would just be too obvious that she was Sidhe.

Walking out to the camp circle, Hawk observed that not many were up. Electra was tuning her fiddle and another cat was cooking something, but other than that, it was quiet.

"Hello, dear," the cook smiled. "Did you sleep well?"

"Just fine," Hawk said warily, nervous around this open motherly attitude.

Electra laughed. "Jenny, I think this is the first time you've scared one of the newcomers."

The orange female chuckled. "Probably. Here, eat your breakfasts and get going. You'll need to get to the Faire early to get a good spot."

The two of them ate quickly and were just about to leave when a calico blur ran up to them.

"Electra, may I please go with you? I promise I won't be any trouble! I'll only sing if you want me to!" the young cat pleaded.

"All right," Electra laughed. "And I don't mind you singing if Hawk doesn't. Just stay close, okay? Jenny and Munkustrap will never forgive me if I lose you in the Faire."

"I promise!"

Electra laughed. "Hawk, this is Jemima. She's the second youngest Jellicle we have here."

"Yeah, cause Cety's a couple minutes younger than me," Jemima giggled.

Hawk adjusted the ribbons on her sleeve while taking this as an opportunity to ask questions. "Is that what you are called? Jellicles?"

"Yep!" Jemima grinned. "Just like the Haspurs and the Delambrians… I met a Delambrian once, he was really nice. He gave me this!" She proudly held up the slender silver chain around her neck. From it dangled a clear crystal.

"Very nice," Hawk smiled, amused by the kitten's constant cheerfulness. By then, they had reached the Faire and Electra led them to a spot. A couple of the merchants smiled and waved at her, obviously accustomed to seeing the feline fiddler hanging around. Apparently, the patrons were used to her as well, because they had barely gotten out their instruments before a crowd had gathered, asking her to play songs.

It was quite some time before they got the nerve - or chance - to take a break. There were complaints all around, but they were good-natured ones.

"We do need to rest," Electra teased a couple of the patrons who were still pleading with her to play more. "Come back in a hour or so and you'll get more."

"They certainly do love us," Hawk said, carefully placing her harp back in its case.

"Told you they would," Electra grinned. "C'mon, let's go find something to eat. I'm starving."

"And I'm thirsty!" Jemima said rather hoarsely. "I didn't know singing could be so tiring!"

Electra and Hawk both laughed at that. Electra deftly found a place that wasn't too busy and they all ate ravenously. Breakfast seemed like it had been ages ago and performing took a lot out of all of them. Afterwards, they wandered the Faire, taking a well-deserved break before they would have to go perform again. Electra had assured Hawk that their place would be held for them.

A large crowd drew their attention and Electra looked puzzled. "I wonder what's going on…"

Jemima laughed. "I know! C'mon, let's go watch!" Her two companions didn't even have time to say anything before they had to run after the young kitten. All three of the slender females slipped easily through the crowd to the front. Once there, Hawk's eyes widened and Electra gave a gasp of surprise. Mistoffelees stood there, performing magical tricks with great ease. They all watched in amazement until the obvious finale: he made himself disappear in a shower of sparks.

"So, did you ladies enjoy?" asked a voice from behind them as the crowd dispersed. All three jumped and whirled around.

"Mistoffelees, how many times have I told you not to sneak up on me like that!?" Electra shrieked.

"I don't know; lost count after fifty," he winked. "Seriously, what did you think?"

"Very good," Electra said. "But I didn't know you performed."

He shrugged. "I thought, with it being Faire season, I might try. You always look so happy to be performing and since I can't play an instrument to save my tail…"

"You can do magic?" Hawk finally stuttered out. "How?"

Something changed in Mistoffelees' eyes, but Jemima broke in, chattering away with her typical kitten enthusiasm. "His mama didn't like any of the Toms in our clan so…"

Electra clamped a paw over Jemima's mouth. "Jemima, I think… we'd better go." She walked off with Jemima, leaving Hawk and Mistoffelees standing in uncomfortable silence. Hawk realized belatedly that she should have followed Electra, but it was too late now.

"I hope I didn't bring up a taboo subject…" she said, trying to break the silence.

"No… Not really. It's just not general knowledge. I told Electra and Jemima happened to overhear…"

"She's not the only one that overheard," a smug voice said. Both Mistoffelees and Hawk turned, a stiff wind catching Hawk's hair and flinging it back, exposing her ears. Victoria and Mistoffelees were the only ones that noticed, fortunately. Nobody else was paying attention to the three.

"How appropriate," Victoria sneered. "A Sidhe who can't admit she's elven and a freakish crossbreed."

Hawk gazed back at Victoria, unmoved by her hurtful words, but Mistoffelees paled at her speech. "What did you say?"

"A freakish crossbreed," she repeated, cruel smile curling at her lips. "You aren't completely Jellicle, are you, Mistoffelees? Part Jellicle, part Sidhe. How… disgusting."

"Take that back," he snarled.

"Make me!" she taunted, shoving him hard enough for him to fall. "You do anything to me and I'll tell the entire tribe what you really are."

Electra stepped between the two, appearing out of nowhere. "Victoria, stop this now."

"Oooh, the little fiddle player is standing up now? You are all contemptible."

"Not as bad as you," Electra shot back.

Victoria glared at her, voice dropping to a deadly whisper. "I meant what I said. You will all do as I say, or I tell everyone."

"Tell them," Hawk said, eyes dead. "What do I care?"

"No!" Mistoffelees snapped, shooting to his feet. "Hawk, shut up, you don't know…"

"Oh, don't I?"

"No! You don't!" he yelled. "I've been trying to hide this for years and I'm not about to let someone who can't even admit what they are destroy it."

"Oh, I can't admit what I am?" Hawk snapped. "You can't. Maybe because you know that whatever side the Sidhe was from must've been drunk or drugged to have conceived you."

Mistoffelees' eyes blazed. "How dare you say that?" he whispered.

"Because it's true," Hawk snarled, angered at his actions.

"Take it back!"

"No! It's true! No Sidhe in their right mind would ever sleep with a mere cat-person!"

A burst of power knocked Hawk off her feet and Mistoffelees ran off. Victoria had disappeared, but Electra glared at Hawk.

"How dare you say those things?"

Hawk ignored her, so Electra seized her by the shirt collar. "We took you in. You go apologize now."

"For what? And I didn't need your help. If I remember correctly, you offered to take me in. I didn't need you then and I don't need you now." Hawk jumped to her feet and stormed off

Running her hands through her hair, Hawk strolled along the riverbank, trying to calm her fury. It wasn't like the Sidhe to lose their temper like that. She shook her head slowly. Maybe she was less Sidhe than she thought.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of sobs. Curious, she looked for the source. Creeping soundlessly as only one of the elvenkin could, Hawk slipped between the trees lining the riverbank until she came to a rocky outcropping overlooking a widening in the river. Sitting hunched by the edge was Mistoffelees, face buried in his arms. His shoulders were shaking from the force of his sobs and Hawk immediately felt guilty - another new emotion for her.

What is happening to me? she thought, dismayed. It wasn't like the elvenkin to feel emotion at all… Still, the guilt was there. Crossing the space separating them, she lay a hand on the cat's shoulder.

"Mistoffelees?"

His head jerked up and she saw that his eyes were rimmed with red. "What do you want?" he snapped. "To tease me more? Just go away."

Hawk bit her tongue to hold a sharp retort. "No. Actually…" She took a deep breath. "Actually, I wanted to apologize."

Mistoffelees looked at her warily. "Why should I believe you?"

She shrugged. "I don't know. But… you were right. I can't admit what I am, mostly because I don't know. I don't think I'm as Sidhe as I thought I was. But that doesn't matter… I shouldn't have said those things to you."

Mistoffelees stared at her a moment, face impassive.

Hawk sighed in exasperation. "I'm very bad at this, okay? This is the first apology I've ever made; usually, Sidhe don't feel guilty."

Mistoffelees looked away for a moment. "I'm sorry as well… and I forgive you."

Hawk sat down carefully beside him. "So, you're part Sidhe?"

He nodded, slowly. "My father… he was elvenkin. My mother was Jellicle." His eyes closed briefly for a moment before opening. "They're both dead."

Hawk was silent a long time, not knowing what to say. "You… you don't look Sidhe," she said softly. "Nobody would ever guess…"

Slowly, he turned around to look into her eyes and it was then she realized that they were a brilliant green with slitted pupils - slitted pupils were fairly common on the Jellicles, but the brilliant green colour could only come from a Sidhe.

"I guess I was wrong," she said, looking away.

His paws clenched. "Even though you apologized, it still doesn't help. Victoria still knows… I never thought she would take rejection that bad!"

"What?" Hawk said, thoroughly confused.

Mistoffelees clenched his jaw. "She wanted to court me and I declined. She's… she's a very vengeful Jellicle." He looked away from Hawk. "And she thinks that I've chosen you."

Hawk's eyes widened in realization. "So that's why she said…"

"Yes," Mistoffelees interrupted, cutting her off before she could repeat what was said. "I… need to go now." Abruptly, he stood up and walked away, leaving Hawk alone.

Hawk took her time walking back to the fire circle. She had a feeling that there would be no more performing today - and unless Electra was still speaking to her, no more performing ever.

She had come to the conclusion that Electra and Mistoffelees were best friends rather than lovers. And she'd shot off her big mouth without thinking and insulted her partner's best friend. Gritting her teeth, Hawk sighed. This entire deal at Redfalls was really getting to be more trouble than it was worth. Maybe she should just pack up and leave; head for Kingsford…

Her thoughts stopped when she reached the fire circle. Mistoffelees and Victoria were dancing, but it was a much different one than before and slower. If Hawk hadn't been Sidhe, she never would have guessed that Mistoffelees didn't want to be there; his face was perfectly calm, even happy. But his sense…

Hawk shook her head as the dance came to a close and Victoria leaned up to kiss him. His sense went from embarrassed to horrified, but his face never changed.

"She'd make a good elf," Searle's voice said from behind her. "She uses everything to her advantage; no cares for the others."

Hawk turned around and glared at him. "What are you doing here?" she snapped softly.

"Just checking up on you," he said with a grin.

Hawk turned and walked away so that Searle was forced to follow. Storming back to her camp, Hawk whirled around to face the other elf. "I don't need you checking up on me. More to the point, I don't trust you; I don't trust the elvenkin. Why do you think I left in the first place? That comment you made about Victoria is exactly it; you walk all over everyone without a care in the world."

"You didn't mind it once, Rhi…" he said plaintively, reached out to touch her.

"Well, things have changed, Searle, as much as you and the other Sidhe hate the word."

Searle looked like he was about to comment on that, but was interrupted by another voice.

"Hawk? Who is that?"

Both Hawk and Searle turned to see Mistoffelees standing in the path leading to Hawk's campsite, watching Searle worriedly.

Searle looked at Hawk, then at Mistoffelees, fiercely. "How can you see me?" he snapped, fist clenching in anger. "How!?"

Mistoffelees drew back a little, hesitation etched on his face. "I…" Clearly, he wasn't certain how to answer.

"Searle," Hawk said, stepping between the Sidhe and the Jellicle. "This is Mistoffelees; he's part Sidhe."

Searle's anger faded, but only to be replaced with contempt. "Oh, yes. The crossbreed."

Mistoffelees' eyes widened with shock and hurt. Hawk glared at Searle, sarcasm dripping off her voice. "That was tactful."

Searle shrugged. "Tact? Who needs it? Really, I don't see why we're wasting our time with…"

"Will you shut up!?" Hawk snapped, gaze turning as fierce and raptorial as her namesake.

Searle looked at her, eyes and demeanor still as calm as a still pond. "I've heard the stories, stories that were passed around while you were topside playing human. Kell wasn't thinking or he was using poor judgment when he struck up a relationship with that Jellicle tramp. Neither one of them was interested in sticking with tradition. I know some Sidhe who won't even acknowledge that Kell existed."

Hawk noticed that Mistoffelees' face had paled beyond its usual whiteness. "Searle, be quiet. It's not as if that had never happened before. Nightingale and the Elf Lord…"

Searle cut her off with a contemptuous look at Mistoffelees. "That liaison didn't produce… offspring. He is a disgrace to us - and to the Jellicles, I would suppose."

Hawk heard a choked sob and turned just in time to see Mistoffelees run off. Whirling back to face Searle, she snarled, "How could you do that?"

Searle shrugged. "He's not worth our respect. He's just some worthless crossbreed."

"How can you tell, you've only just met him!"

"And you haven't? Rhiannon, please, I'm going to ask you again… please come back to the Underhill."

"No," she said icily. "I don't want anything more to do with the elvenkin. Nothing."

Searle's eyes turned to iron. "If that's how you want it, fine."

"Fine!" she snapped, spinning on her heel and running after Mistoffelees.



Mistoffelees stumbled up to the rocky outcropping by the river. This had been his personal place ever since they had settled here. The sun was just setting and he gazed at it, sorrow and tears threatening to overtake him. It figured, of course, that nobody could accept him as he was. The Jellicles liked him, but only because they didn't know… that ruse would never work with the elvenkin. They all knew and they hated him for it.

"Maybe he was right, maybe I am a disgrace. A mistake of nature. I shouldn't have been born."

"Don't say that…" a soft voice said.

"Why shouldn't I, Hawk?" Mistoffelees asked bitterly without turning around.

She didn't answer right away. "I thought you'd be up here." Sitting down next to him, Hawk looked out at the sunset. "Pretty, isn't it?"

"You didn't answer my question. Why shouldn't I say that? It's true. Why else would everyone hate me once they found out what I am?"

"Did Electra hate you when you told her?" Hawk shot back. "Did I?"

"Electra didn't… but you certainly did! Why are you helping me now?"

Hawk looked at her folded hands. "I… was wrong. It was something that I've been taught since I was born, that crossbreeds are wrong. It was exactly the kind of thing that I was trying to escape when I left the Underhill. I spoke without thinking, but I hurt you in the process. I'm really trying to learn to be… human…"

Mistoffelees was silent for a long time. "Do you know what it's like to be taught to hate yourself?"

"What?" Hawk said in confusion. "I don't follow…"

"The Jellicles don't view crossbreeds as… Goddess, that is a horrible term for it. They view people like me as evil as well. So all these years I've… been taught to hate myself." Shaking his head as fresh tears glistened in his eyes, he said, "I just want to shout it to the world what I am; I don't want to hide anymore. But if I do that… I'll… end up like my parents…" His voice grew soft and breathy at the last.

"How… how did they die?"

This time his silence stretched on for longer and Hawk was afraid that she had approached another forbidden topic.

"They were burned."

Her eyes widened. "Oh…" she said softly.

"So you see why I'm afraid," he said quietly, looking into her eyes. "Please, Hawk, I'm begging you; you may not care if other people find out that you are Sidhe, but… please don't tell anyone about me. And… please don't tell them about you. I don't… want they same thing that happened to them to happen to you."

Hawk was startled by the concern and worry in his eyes; not just for himself, but for her as well. For some reason, he cared about her. She hadn't a clue what she had done to deserve that and didn't know how to react. "I promise." There was no way he could know it, but for one of the elvenkin to say those words sincerely was almost unheard of; and once given, the promise could not be retracted.

They sat, watching, until the sun had completely set. Once the first stars appeared, Mistoffelees stood up. "We'd better be getting back." Reaching a paw down, he helped Hawk to her feet. Making their way slowly through the woods, neither one said anything. Hawk didn't need to ask why he was walking so slowly; she knew very well that he didn't want to get back to the fire circle and Victoria. For that matter, neither did she. The white Jellicle hadn't requested anything of her yet, but she certainly would eventually, and because of her promise to Mistoffelees, Hawk was bound to listen.

A stiff wind whipped through the trees and Hawk shivered. She had taken off the shirt that had been under her vest earlier that day, hot from the strenuous playing. But now it was a great deal cooler and her soft leather vest wasn't helping much.

Mistoffelees shrugged off the shirt that he was wearing - he must have put it on after he had finished dancing and now was the first time she'd noticed. "Here," he said, holding it out to her.

"No, I couldn't," she said, trying to muffle the chattering of her teeth.

"You're freezing and I have fur. I'll be fine."

Taking it, she smiled at him. "Thank you," Hawk said, slipping it on. Immediately she felt much warmer. "What is this made out of?" she asked with curiosity.

"I'd tell you… but then I'd have to kill you," he said with a wink. Hawk couldn't hold back her grin at that.

"You feeling better then?"

Mistoffelees sobered. "More like making sure when we get back, they won't be able to tell anything is wrong."

Hawk nodded, understanding. If he let on that something was wrong, they'd want to know what was troubling him. If he did tell them, who knew what would happen and if he didn't, they'd get suspicious. She felt a new respect and pity for him, knowing now that he had to constantly hide his feelings from the people closest to him.

"If you ever need to talk…" Hawk started, then paused a moment as he turned to look at her. "If you ever need to talk, I'll be there. Don't know how much help I'll be, but… I've heard that sometimes it helps to just get it out."

"Thank you."

She grinned, self-conscious at the gratitude in his voice. "Hey, I have to pay you back for lending me the shirt somehow…"

Mistoffelees chuckled and draped his arm around her shoulders in a friendly manner. By now, they were getting closer to the fire circle. It was pure chance that Victoria saw them. Her eyes locked on the shirt that Hawk wore and how close the two were, then the smiles on their faces. Her eyes iced over and she looked at Mistoffelees, cruel smile lighting her lips. Spinning on her heel, she ran towards the fire circle.

"No!" Mistoffelees cried, smile fading as if it had never been and tearing away from Hawk. One paw reached out to call Victoria back. "Victoria, no, please!"

She didn't listen. "Munkustrap!" she shouted, injecting fear into her voice.

Mistoffelees crumpled to the ground, tears starting to run down his face. "It's all over… they'll kill me…"

Hawk looked after Victoria. With enough luck… maybe they had the time to get away. "Get up," she snapped, grabbing Mistoffelees' paw. She hated leaving her things behind - her harp, especially - but their lives were worth more. She could get another harp; she couldn't get another life.

"What?" Mistoffelees said as she yanked him to his feet. "What are we…?"

"We're getting out here, that's what."

"Come on!" Hawk cried, yanking on his arm. The two of them ran off at a dead run towards Redfalls. The nightlife of the Faire was in full swing; Hawk headed straight for the crowd.

"What are you doing?" Mistoffelees cried.

"Hoping to lose them; don't worry, this isn't the first time I've fled from a mob."

"What!?"

She ignored him as they raced through the streets, nimbly ducking pedestrians and carts. Spying a man leading a horse, she dashed past him, grabbing the reins. "Get on!" she snapped to Mistoffelees.

"Great," he grumbled. "We're being hunted because of what we are and she wants to a 'horse thief' to the list." Nevertheless, he leaped nimbly onto the horse before reaching down and yanking her up.

With a clatter of hooves, they exited the city, leaving angered and confused citizens in their wake.



Once Mistoffelees decided they were a good enough distance away from the town, he slowed the horse to a walk. "I'm not sure whether to thank you or slap you."

Hawk was silent as she adjusted herself on the saddle, loosening the death grip she had imposed on his waist.

He shook his head. "I'm sorry… thank you for saving me. I just don't know what we're going to do now."

"Head for Kingsford, that's what. I have friends there… maybe from there we can go to Birnam, Master Bard Wren is there, he would surely help us out…"

Mistoffelees sighed. "Hawk, I'm not a Bard and will never be one. I won't fit in there."

"Not any less than I will," Electra stated from behind them.

Mistoffelees stopped the horse and he and Hawk turned. Electra was behind them, seated on a horse of her own.

"I left in all the madness. I want to come with you." She patted the saddlebags and it was then Hawk noticed the harp strap that was draped over her shoulders. "And I took the liberty of bringing your things."



Hawk wasn't used to traveling on horseback; usually she used her own two feet, as did many of the Free Bards. Therefore, she was surprised at the speed with which they reached Kingsford. Early onto their way out of Redfalls, they'd had to stop for the night, but by twilight of the next day, they were entering the city of Kingsford.

"Do we look for an inn?" Electra asked mildly, looking about the city.

Hawk shook her head. She and Mistoffelees had switched places so that she was in front and he was behind her. "We're going across the bridge, over by the Abbey."

Mistoffelees and Electra stared at her as if she had lost her mind.

"Don't worry," she said, trying to placate them. "We're not going to the Abbey. It's just that's where my… friend… is going to be."

Mistoffelees was dying to ask her who this 'friend' was, but he didn't feel that she would answer. They trotted across the bridge after paying the toll and Hawk led them to a grove of trees.

A man stood there, watching them approach, hand shading his eyes as if he was trying to tell who they were. Once they were closer, he grinned.

"Hawk!"

Hawk grinned and slid off the horse before clasping hands with the man in greeting. "Raven, I knew you would be here."

"And what brings you to my humble neck of the woods?"

Hawk licked her lips nervously. "I need help."

Raven cocked an eyebrow. "I should have known. What did you do this time? Not get chased out of another city by a mob, I should hope."

"Actually…"

Raven raised his eyes heavenward. "You didn't." Heaving a sigh, he looked at her. "Which one was it this time?"

"Redfalls. But it wasn't my fault this time. It was to protect somebody."

This time, both of Raven's eyebrows shot up. "Protect? You protect somebody by getting chased by a mob?"

Hawk looked over her shoulder. "Mistoffelees? Electra? You can come down here, it's okay. Raven's a friend."

The two Jellicles slid off their horses and walked over to stand a bit behind Hawk. If Raven was surprised by their appearance, he at least didn't show it.

"Mistoffelees here is… half Jellicle, half Sidhe."

Mistoffelees gaped at her. "Hawk!" he yelped. "I thought…"

Raven waved a hand at him. "Calm down, I'm not going to hurt you. It doesn't bother me."

Mistoffelees looked at him suspiciously. "It doesn't?"

Raven shook his head. "I don't mind that Hawk is Sidhe; one of my friends, Nightingale, is paired with a Haspur. In fact, I doubt that it will phase most of the Free Bards, if you choose to tell them."

Mistoffelees relaxed marginally, uncertain how to react to this. Nobody else outside of Electra, Hawk… and Jemima had taken the news so calmly.

"I can see why you were chased out. I take it they found out?"

Hawk nodded grimly. "One of his clan members blackmailed him and when she saw us together…"

Raven looked at her. "Are you together?"

"No!" she and Mistoffelees said in unison.

Raven chuckled. "I see…"

Hawk glared at him. "We're not. We're just friends - people who can have a mutual understanding of what the other is going through. It's not what you think."

"Whatever you say…" Raven drawled, eyes sparkling. He looked at Electra. "And why are you here?"

She gazed at him defiantly. "Mistoffelees is my best friend; I didn't want to stay with those that betrayed him. So I came along."

"You should test her, Raven. I haven't heard anyone play the fiddle better outside of Lady Lark."

Raven looked at Electra with newfound respect. "And I trust Hawk's ear. Would you do me the honor, milady?"

Electra glared at the two. "Don't we have better things to do? I don't really think we have time to listen to me play…"

"Nothing will happen here," Raven assured her. "We're safe for the time being."

Electra was perfectly ready to withstand Raven and Hawk's gazes, but then Mistoffelees turned his plaintive look on her. "All right," she growled, walking back to the horse and picking up her fiddle. Her irritation didn't last long; soon she was throwing herself into the music as usual, enjoying every minute of it. Once finished, she opened eyes that she hadn't even realized she had closed.

Raven gaped at her for a minute before clapping his hands, grin splitting his face. "If you want it, Miss Electra, you most certainly have a place with the Free Bards!"



That night, they sat around the fire discussing the various things Electra - or as she was now called, Eagle - would need to know as a Free Bard. More to the point, Raven, Hawk, and Eagle were discussing it. Mistoffelees was seated off to the side, looking up at the stars, knowing he wouldn't be able to add anything helpful to the conversation. All three of them were careful to stay out of Raven's blind spot - he couldn't see out of his left eye. None of them knew why, even Hawk, but he wore a patch over his left eye.

"So, what are your plans?" Raven asked and Mistoffelees dragged himself back to the present. "Kingsford Faire will be starting soon, you could always stay here and…"

Hawk shook her head. "I don't think it will be safe. Too many Church officials and too close to Redfalls. Eagle and Mistoffelees are kinda obvious."

Raven stroked his chin, deep in thought. "You're right. Although, the Free Bards could protect you…"

Hawk shook her head. "I don't doubt you could, my friend, but I don't think it's safe."

He spread his hands. "What are you going to do then?"

Hawk glanced at Eagle and Mistoffelees before answering. "I was thinking that we could go to Birnam. They most certainly welcome Free Bards there and with Wren in the area…"

Raven nodded absentmindedly. "And now that Eagle is a Free Bard… he'd feel rather obliged to help you."

Eagle looked at him. "Are you coming with us?"

Raven shook his head. "Nah, I have my own agenda to follow. But I'll send word along that you are all to be assisted should you need it."

"Thank you," Hawk said with genuine gratitude. "If it's all right with you, Raven, we'll stay here tonight and then head out in the morning."

"Fine with me," Raven said, sweeping his arms out to encompass the area. "My camp is your camp."



Hawk lay in her bedroll, staring up at the stars. The still burning coals of the fire dimly lit the area and she could see the sleeping forms of Mistoffelees, Eagle, and Raven spread around the fire. She didn't mind being in cities, but it felt so much better to be out in the open. Granted, her campsite back at Redfalls had been relatively out of the way, but it was still within the city limits. And one couldn't see the stars for all the bright lamps. Even the illumination of Kingsford didn't come across the water to drown out the starlight.

A soft whimper drew her attention and Hawk sat up to see everyone better. Eagle and Raven were sleeping peacefully, but Mistoffelees was thrashing about. As she watched, he stopped his frantic movements, but curled up in a tight ball, still whimpering. He was mumbling in his sleep, something she couldn't make out.

Concerned, Hawk slid out from underneath her covers and walked over to him. Just as she neared, Mistoffelees cried out again and clawed at the air.

He's going to hurt himself if he keeps that up, Hawk thought in dismay. She tried to shake him awake, but he just jerked out of her grasp as if it scalded him. Finally exasperated with the whole deal, Hawk grabbed him firmly by the shoulders and slammed him into the ground. His eyes snapped open and he didn't seem to recognize her.

"Stop them…" he mumbled, hugging his arms to himself tightly. "Couldn't… stop them… mama…"

Hawk had felt a sickening lurch as she realized that Mistoffelees was most likely remembering when his parents died. Driven by an almost maternal instinct that she didn't know she possessed, Hawk hugged him tightly as he started crying, slowly coming back to the present. Carefully, rocking back and forth, Hawk murmured assurances to him, unsure how she knew to do this. Slowly, Mistoffelees calmed and fell back asleep, Hawk's own weariness alighting on her soon after.



Raven awoke the next morning with a yawn as the sun's bright rays hit his face. He raised his arms over his head, stretching as he attempted to wake himself up. It wasn't until he stood and looked straight across the clearing that he saw Hawk and Mistoffelees - they had been on his blind side before. The Gypsy couldn't suppress a grin when he saw the two; Hawk was holding Mistoffelees protectively and he was curled up in her arms. Both of their faces were peaceful.

Raven gave a soft chuckle. Sure they didn't like each other. He turned to start breakfast and saw Eagle grinning.

Well, that's a relief anyway, Raven thought. I was somewhat afraid that she was going to be mad at Hawk; apparently there's nothing but friendship between her and Mistoffelees. Now, if only Hawk and Mistoffelees can admit that there is something at least starting between the two of them… Hawk really needs someone in her life; maybe it will help her recover from Searle…

His thoughts were interrupted as Mistoffelees stirred, starting to awaken. His movements awoke Hawk and the two of them were jolted instantly aware as they realized who was sleeping with them. Their mortification grew as they realized that Raven and Eagle were watching them.

Hawk mumbled something about getting water before snagging a pail and walking swiftly away from the campsite. Mistoffelees just sat there, twisting the blanket in his paws, face aflame. Raven didn't think he had ever seen anyone's face turn that red before - Then again, it might be just because he has a white face…

Raven and Eagle both decided it would be best to leave him alone, not wishing to embarrass him further. Hawk came back a while later with some water for them and nothing more was said of the incident, although Mistoffelees and Hawk wouldn't look at each other.



The next morning, Hawk, Eagle, and Mistoffelees left Raven's company and started out for Birnam. Hawk had packed the bags onto the saddle of her horse, so Mistoffelees was left riding with Eagle - something he was perfectly fine with. Eagle, however, nearly gritted her teeth in annoyance. They might have only known Hawk about three days - and that seemed so short, it almost didn't seem possible - but in Eagle's opinion, anyone who would risk her life for a near-stranger's had to be all right. And they would make a good couple…

Eagle mentally shook her head with a pang of sadness. For another thing, there wasn't too much of a chance that anyone else would want to get involved with Mistoffelees once they found out what he was - and even if they wouldn't mind, he wouldn't be likely to want to tell them. But… he was also too honest to get into a relationship without revealing something like that, so it would most likely end up not getting involved with anyone at all. Eagle felt nothing but the love of a friend for him; otherwise, she would be most willing to form a more romantic connection.

But, that was not going to happen. And Eagle really didn't want to see Mistoffelees spend the rest of his life alone. He had spent too much of it that way already.



They stopped for the night outside of the small city of Blackstone. Given a choice, Hawk preferred sleeping outside city walls - a leftover Sidhe trait, she supposed.

As Hawk started to set out the camp, Eagle got an idea. Maybe if she got them to spend some time alone, they could work out this problem they were having. Standing up from where she had been kneeling next to a saddlebag, she said, "I'm going to go find some firewood."

Unfortunately, both of them seemed to catch onto what she was trying to do. "No!" they yelped in unison, then turned away, embarrassed.

"No," Mistoffelees said, quieter. "I'll go."

Eagle couldn't restrain a tiny sigh of frustration as Mistoffelees walked away from the campsite.

Mistoffelees walked along the silent paths among the sparse trees, searching the ground for fallen branches. It was easy enough for him to see in the near dark; he had excellent night vision. More so than most of the Jellicles… he wondered if that was a Sidhe trait.

Thinking of the Sidhe brought to mind Hawk, and with that, Eagle. He shook his head, jaw clenched tightly. Mistoffelees had a feeling that his friend was trying to help, but he didn't know how. She couldn't be expecting him and Hawk to get into a romantic relationship… that was just absurd. There was no way that he could do that; for one, Hawk probably didn't even like him. She certainly showed no signs that she did. Not that that was surprising; not too many females seemed very interested in him except for Victoria, and he had a feeling that was only because Victoria though he would be easily walked on. Thank you, but no, he was not a doormat.

But she had consoled him last night…

Mistoffelees shook his head violently. That was nothing, Eagle would have done the same and she certainly wasn't interested in him. He had probably been disturbing Hawk's sleep and she had just wanted him to be quiet. That they had fallen asleep together was just an accident.

But it had felt so right to wake up in her arms…

Mistoffelees shoved that thought away as well. He couldn't even consider it. That would do nothing but put her - and him - in the same position his parents had been in. It wouldn't do him any good to think about something that would never be.

Spying a piece of wood, Mistoffelees bent over to pick it up. A sound from behind him was the only warning he got before something his him across the shoulder blades, knocking him to the ground. He was winded for a moment, but spun around to face his adversary. Mistoffelees was by no means a big Tom - by Jellicle standards, he was rather short, in fact. But dancing involved a lot of work out and, as a result, Mistoffelees was rather strong and nimble. Still, neither one did him much good when he was faced with a man holding a club.

Which he was.

Fear threatened to choke him for a minute before training took over. The man moved to hit him again, but Mistoffelees rolled to the side, hooking his legs around the man's ankles and causing him to tumble to the ground. With the mysterious stranger off his feet, Mistoffelees leaped to his. The man arose as well, still blocking Mistoffelees' way back. He was angry now, that much Mistoffelees could see in his face, and he wielded the club with frightening ease. He struck again, but Mistoffelees danced backwards, once again causing the man to stumble. The large human cursed him; obviously, he hadn't expected his victim to be this graceful.

Still, Mistoffelees couldn't keep this up forever. Sooner or later, he was going to slip up. Therefore, he began to look for a way out.

Tragically, he never thought of the possibility that his attacker could have help. A sharp pain in his head was the last thing he felt before everything went black.



Mistoffelees awoke slowly, his head pounding. He slowly opened his eyes but shut them tightly a split second later. He wasn't ready to deal with spinning rooms. The black and white Jellicle had no way of knowing how long he had been out, but he had a feeling it had been awhile.

Long enough for Eagle and Hawk to realize that I'm missing? Mistoffelees dared hope. His arms and legs hurt as if they had been in one place too long and he tried to stretch. They wouldn't budge. Belatedly, it sunk through his aching head that his arms were bound together to something over his head and he ankles were bound to something else opposite that. As near he could tell, he was lying on his back.

And whoever had hit him had done a darn good job. The place where he lay was hard, offering no comfort for his aching head and body. Dimly, he heard voices and tried to make them out, hoping it would give him a clue as to where he was.

"…work as well… High Bishop Padric…"

Mistoffelees' blood turned to ice at the name. He knew very well who High Bishop Padric was - most everyone in the Twenty Kingdoms did. He had captured a Haspur by the name of T'fyrr with the intent of killing him in a church service as a 'demon'. Padric had spread rumors and belief through his town of Gradford that nonhumans were evil and had no souls, along with many other things. He had abused his power as a Church official to an incredible extent.

But he was dead now, that was common knowledge, surely…

"… will work better this time… not so obvious…"

A third voice joined in, coming over to Mistoffelees' ears clearly. "What have you found me?"

The other two still flickered in and out to Mistoffelees. "…wandering in the woods…"

"…kind of cat person… fights like a demon…"

The third voice let out a cruel laugh. "Sounds like exactly what I was looking for."

A door opened, letting a rush of light into Mistoffelees' cell - for he was certain that's what it was. He tried to shield his eyes and block the hurtful rays but it was in vain. A young, handsome - if Mistoffelees any judge - human man in full Church Priest regalia stepped over to him.

"Never seen anything like this before," he murmured, examining Mistoffelees carefully. "Shouldn't be too hard to pass him off as a demon."

Mistoffelees growled low in his throat, not liking the way this conversation was going. Inside, he felt the deep chill of fear, but he wasn't about to let this Priest know.

The man glanced up into his eyes, then did a double take. Grasping Mistoffelees' chin in a firm hand, the Priest examined his eyes closely. "Well, I'll be…" A slow smile spread across his face. "Wasn't there stories of a half-catman, half-Sidhe child?" he asked the two men with him.

They looked at each other, confusion plain. "Yes, Priest Ackerly," one said. "But those are just myths, stories created to scare the children…"

"They are no myth, Luigi."

"Why do you…"

Priest Ackerly didn't even let the man finish. In triumph, he said, "Because we have that very 'child' right here! How excellent. I ask you to bring me something to portray as a demon and you bring me one in actuality."

Mistoffelees felt the chill deepen. He was no demon, he knew that.

But apparently these humans thought otherwise.



Hawk paced back and forth in front of the fire. "He should have been back by now," she muttered. "It's past midnight… he shouldn't have been gone this long…"

Eagle watched her carefully, just as worried as she was, but not as willing to show it. But Hawk was right, Mistoffelees should have been back long ago. He knew that they would worry…

Speaking of worry, Hawk was a little bit more on edge than she should have been if Mistoffelees was just a friend or close acquaintance.

Now if only they could make sure he was safe so Eagle could put that knowledge to use.



Hawk bit her lip as she stared into the flames. After Eagle had snapped at her for her frantic pacing, she had sat down. Unable to sit still, her hands twitched nervously. She had a sinking feeling in her gut that something was wrong, but it was more than that. She shouldn't have been this worked up over his disappearance. What had happened to her dispassionate attitude?

It seemed that it had faded about the time she woke up to realize that he was sleeping next to her. She swore mentally and nearly slammed her fist down. This wouldn't do any good at all. She couldn't be falling in… love with him! That was unheard of. No Sidhe fell in love with a mortal!

But hadn't she been trying to escape her Sidhe heritage?

And what about Kell? Why else would he leave the Underhill and the elvenkin except for love?

Hawk gulped and ran her hands through her hair. How could things be falling apart this easily? Was it not even four days ago that she had walked into Redfalls, the only thing on her mind being getting enough money to last her to her next job? It seemed like a lifetime. Look at her now, here she was going cross-country to make sure that a feline Free Bard and her friend would be safe.

Where had the simplicity gone?

Clenching her jaw, Hawk tried to put her mind back onto the path of clarity. First they would have to find Mistoffelees; then she could worry about this strange feeling she was having towards him.

But it couldn't be love… surely not that.



Hawk blinked sleepily as the sun shone directly into her face. She sat up and stretched, muscles cramped. She had fallen asleep leaning against a log, which was not the best place to sleep.

Then again, she didn't even remember closing her eyes.

Standing up, Hawk stretched mightily and looked around for Eagle.

At least I'm not the only one who fell asleep in a strange position. The female Jellicle was curled up near the campfire, tail touching her nose. Then again, that could be perfectly comfortable for her.

Wrinkling her nose in distaste, Hawk went to go find a new set of clothing. Her clothes had already been sweaty from riding all day and sleeping in them didn't do anything to help. She snagged some trousers and a vest and went to go put them on. Hawk had noticed, with a sinking feeling, that Mistoffelees wasn't back yet. When she returned, fully clothed in her clean garments, it was apparent that Eagle had noticed the same thing.

"We'd better go look for him. Maybe he ran into trouble… and he could have gone to the city for the night if it was closer…" Eagle said, trying to force certainty into her voice. "I'm sure he's fine…"

Hawk nodded. "What do we do about the camp? We can't exactly leave our things here."

Eagle looked around at their belongings in dismay. Obviously, she hadn't thought of that. "Well… I guess we pack it up and take it with us. I mean, if we find him, we're probably going to be leaving right away anyway, so…"

Hawk nodded again and set to work packing things up. Neither of them addressed the unspoken question hanging in the air between them: what if they didn't find him?



The door slammed open, jerking Mistoffelees out of… well, it couldn't exactly be called sleep. The man that had originally attacked him strode over, pulling out a knife. At first, Mistoffelees thought that the man was going to stab him, but instead he freed Mistoffelees' arms and legs from whatever they had been bound to. He then cut the ropes around Mistoffelees' ankles, but left the ones around his wrists intact. Hauling the Jellicle to his feet, the man snapped, "Walk."

Mistoffelees saw no other alternative, seeing as the man was practically shoving him along and had a knife, so he did, stumbling quite a bit. His gracefulness was badly injured by being restrained as he had been and it was showing.

Not only that, he hadn't eaten since midday the previous day and it didn't look like these Church officials were going to feed him any time soon. He was led to a small room not unlike the one they'd held him in before. This time, however, he was not tied up; very much the opposite, the man cut the ropes on his wrists. Mistoffelees rubbed them, trying to restore circulation, as he watched the man cautiously. He hadn't a clue what to expect from these people; the Church had never been very tolerable of nonhumans, and especially not the Jellicles. They openly worshipped a different deity than the Church's Sacrificed God, and weren't ashamed about it.

It was then that Priest Ackerly walked in, followed by a man holding something that Mistoffelees couldn't see. "Ah, so has it given you any trouble?"

Mistoffelees' fur bristled at that. "If you mind, good sir," he said, voice dripping with sarcasm, "I am not an it. And I am capable of intelligent speech, so I would appreciate to know why you are holding me here. I have done nothing to you."

Ackerly stared at him, cool and menacing. Mistoffelees gazed back with the same calm defiance. Then, without bothering to acknowledge further that Mistoffelees had spoken, Ackerly turned to the man behind him. "You may continue."

The man walked toward Mistoffelees who backed up.

"What are you doing?" he growled, gaze flicking from the mysterious man to Priest Ackerly.

Priest Ackerly said nothing and the mysterious man tried to corner Mistoffelees. He leaped out of the way, but was off balance and stumbled, falling to the ground. The first man, Luigi, pinned Mistoffelees in place, despite the Jellicle's frantic attempts to get lose. The mysterious man produced a piece of metal and clamped it around Mistoffelees wrist. Immediately, he cried out at the touch. It burned and hurt horribly. They didn't stop there: one more went around his other wrist and one on each ankle. There were no chains connecting them as was usual with these things, but they weren't needed. The pain was nearly overwhelming.

Priest Ackerly watched in bemused interest. "It must be him. That's cold iron; deadly to the elvenkin, but I think that it won't kill this one. At least, not immediately."

With that, the three men left, leaving Mistoffelees on the ground nearly in tears. He wanted to curl in on himself as was reflex for him, but every place the metal touched his skin, it immediately hurt. Gasping for air, he wondered how a Church that was supposedly looking out for the well being of creatures could do this to an innocent.

Dear Goddess, he prayed, let Hawk and Eagle find me. Please let them find me…



After finding nothing along the path that Mistoffelees had taken to give them any clue about his disappearance, Hawk and Eagle headed for the city. Blackstone was by no means as large a city as Kingsford or even Redfalls, but it was rather substantial. It had the usual ornate Church in the center of the city, near the City Hall. The richer folk lived closer to the chapel and the homes got poorer the more one moved out from the center. It's name was obviously gotten from the black stones they used to pave most of the roads and the horse's hooves clicked smartly on the rock as Hawk and Eagle led them through the streets.

They received some sideways glances as they moved through the streets, eyes searching for a sign of their friend.

"I get the feeling we aren't exactly welcome here," Hawk muttered to Eagle. She nodded.

"We'd better find Mistoffelees and get out of here as soon as possible." Looking around, she spied a woman who wasn't giving them the dirty glances that the others were. Walking up to her and trying to appear as friendly as possible, Eagle said, "Excuse me, I was looking for a friend of mine. He's about this tall, black and white fur…?"

The woman shook her head nervously. "N-no, I haven't. Excuse me…" She walked briskly off.

Eagle watched her go, contemplative look on her face. All the people here were acting so strange towards them; in such a city, they should be used to strangers. Was this aftershocks of the thing at Gradford, or was there more here than met the eye?

"Es'cuse me, missus, but I might be able to be of help to ye."

Eagle looked down to see a thing, wiry boy whose age was impossible to tell. His clothing had obviously gone through very rigorous use and his face was smudged with dirt, but a keen intelligence shone in his pale green eyes. "Really," she said, displaying honest interest. Finally, somebody was going to help them!

"Yea. You's talkin' 'bout cat-man, like yerself?" At Eagle's nod, he nodded. "Yea, coupla Church men brought 'im in last night. Watched it meself."

Eagle digested this information uncomfortably. Church men - that wasn't at all good. There was a very slim chance that there was another Jellicle in the town, but to make sure, she asked, "What did he look like?"

The kid scratched his dirty blond hair. "Wus hard ta see, Missus, but looked like he be black. Mebe a little white? Twus dark and he wus unconscious, the way they be carrying 'im, hard ta see 'im."

Eagle clenched her jaw and she could see that Hawk was furious as well.

"I ken show ye where he be, if y'like, Missus."

"Thank you… what's your name?"

"M'name's Ace, Missus."

"Thank you, Ace. I would appreciate that very much."



Ace led them straight to the Church, which wasn't surprising. "They took 'im in the back door, Missus," Ace said quietly to Eagle. "I figgered it was somethin' I wuddn't supposeta see, so I's left quick like, y'know?"

Eagle nodded. "If…" She paused, not wanting to say anything that might offend Ace, if he believed in the Church.

"Say what ye will, Missus, I don' have much love for th' Church. Done me nothin' but harm."

Eagle sighed, relieved. "If they plan to make him off as a demon, when would they most likely do that?"

"Ye thinkin' it be like Gradford?" At Eagle and Hawk's surprised stares, he chuckled. "Even I be hearin' 'bout that. Ever'one's been hearin' 'bout that one." He thought for a minute. "They'd most likely be doin' it when there be more folk here, right?"

Hawk nodded. "That makes sense."

Ace brushed his hair out of his face. "Then it'd prolly be th' service t'morrow morn. A'most all the town comes then."

Eagle looked over at Hawk. "Guess what we're doing tomorrow?"



Mistoffelees lay in his cell, tears rolling down his cheeks. He'd had the false hope that after awhile, it wouldn't hurt so much, but that was in vain. If anything, it had gotten worse. The heat had spread from his wrists and ankles to encompass his whole body and sweat dripped down his face, slicking his head fur down. His vision kept unfocusing and his head swam, just this side of delusional. Mistoffelees was certain that if this kept up any longer, he was going to go mad.

With a chill, Mistoffelees realized that was Ackerly's intent. He'd heard stories that Padric had driven T'fyrr mad by starving him - among other things. But if Ackerly didn't have them time to waste with that… and if he knew this would work, why bother with starving Mistoffelees when iron was all he needed?

Mistoffelees' parents had always warned him never to touch iron; they'd never had it in the house unless it was absolutely necessary, and if so, his father never touched it, only his mother.

Now he knew why.



The next morning, Hawk, Eagle, and Ace entered the Church with all the other citizens. They received quite a few sidelong looks, but all three of them merely acted perfectly pious. Hawk had carefully done her hair so that no amount of wind would show her ears and wouldn't look into anyone's eyes. That might have made the rest of the folk suspicious, but Eagle and Ace were leading her around as if she were dumb in the head, so the others accepted it.

They found seats at the back, not wanting to draw attention to themselves, and sat down. Just in time too, for just as they had settled, the Priest came out.

Hawk observed him carefully under hooded eyelids. Hmm… not to tall, blond, rather handsome… and slimy as a muddy snake. She tried carefully not to wrinkle her nose in distaste. The love of power is practically radiating off of him. If he isn't the one behind this, I don't know who is.

"Good citizens of Blackstone," he began smoothly. "I welcome you on this morning."

Good copycat of Padric, Hawk added to her mental notes. She knew a bit about what had happened after having the chance to talk to Robin awhile back.

Ackerly droned on about how all present were such good children of the Church, then smoothly maneuvered into talking about the evils of nonhumans and musicians.

Very much so a copycat. Can't these priests think of anything original? Hawk effectively zoned out for most of the rest, unable to help herself. Still, one statement drew her attention and captured it.

"And I have proof that nonhumans are demons!"

Both Eagle and Hawk jerked upright, causing the people around them to look at them in curiosity. Two men came out with a familiar form pinned between them. Mistoffelees' fur hung limp and ragged with sweat and his eyes were desperate and wild. The men let him fall to the stage where he tried to catch himself but couldn't. Hawk let out a strangled sound at the sight of the cuffs on his wrists and ankles.

"Iron…" she whispered. "They put iron on him… those monsters…"

Eagle glanced at her, uncertain what was happening, but she had no chance to ask the Sidhe any questions.

"We found this beast lurking around the city, surely to do harm to our people."

This time it was Hawk who had to restrain Eagle. "He wouldn't ever do anything unprovoked…" Eagle muttered harshly. By now, others were starting to move away from them.

"Calm down," Hawk whispered. "We won't be any help to him if you call attention to us."

Eagle calmed down only to be outshone by what was occurring onstage.

"I wasn't," Mistoffelees said hoarsely. "I was minding my own business; you attacked me. You want to use me…"

"Do not listen to his lies!" the Priest said loudly, cutting off Mistoffelees' soft speech. "He seeks to ensnare you in his lies!"

Hawk could see the desperate abandon that Mistoffelees held in his eyes and he cried out. "My lies! You're the liar!" He leapt at the Priest, but was kicked roughly aside by one of the men. Mistoffelees lay on the 'stage' gasping for air as sweat dripped down his face.

The iron… It's poisoning him, slowly but surely. No Sidhe would be able to live as long as he has, but he's only half… we have to get it off of him…

"You see how he is a demon! No nonhuman is to be trusted!"

The city folk were drinking the Priest's lies up like fine wine, believing every word they heard. Well, why not, Hawk thought bitterly. After all, they have 'proof'.

"Burn him!" one man cried.

"Yes!" cried a woman. The call was picked up by more and more people until the Priest silenced them.

"Yes," he placated them. "We shall. Tonight. And let it be a lesson to those who would seek to destroy us!"

The word went through the crowd like wildfire. Yes. Tonight there would be a burning.



Eagle had pulled the hood of her robe up to disguise her feline features. Once they were out of the chapel, she leaned over to softly confer with Ace.

"If we get into the Church, can you help us unlock any doors we might need to get through?"

"And can you get those cuffs off of him?" Hawk broke in.

Ace grinned at them. "Sure I's can. Kid stuff."

"Good," Eagle muttered. "Come. We must work quickly."Mistoffelees lay limp in the guards' arms as they hauled him back to the cell. He felt so weak, so tired… his whole body hurt, aflame with pain.

Flames.

Burning.

He tried to stifle the whimper of fear that escaped him, but couldn't. One guard - was it Luigi? - looked down at him, something almost akin to pity in his eyes.

"He really don't seem like he could hurt somebody," the man said to his companion.

"Eh, looks can be deceiving. He's Sidhe, innit he? They're a tricky lot…"

Mistoffelees squeezed his eyes shut, trying to block out the thoughts that invaded his head, the memories. He had been playing outside the cottage his parents had owned when he'd smelled smoke…

No, he couldn't think of this now, couldn't think of coming back to see the flames, hearing the cries…

Tears escaped his eyes and rolled down his cheeks as he was flung into the room. He was too tired to care that the metal touched his chest and sent a new flurry of pain through him. There was no way that Eagle and Hawk could save him in time, no way he would be saved…

Mistoffelees' thoughts whirled in his head, too many and too dizzying for him to keep up with.

Ace had led them to a back door and unlocked it with the ease only a street rat could possess. Now they slipped through the hallways carefully, not wishing to attract attention to themselves. Eagle had chosen to take the lead.

She sniffed carefully, using her extraordinary sense of smell to locate Mistoffelees. Each Jellicle, much like the animal they looked like, had their own unique scent, often only distinguishable to another Jellicle.

"This way," she muttered, ducking down a dark corridor. Coming upon a door, she stopped at the sight of the lock. "Ace?"

"Right away, Missus," the boy muttered, jimmying the lock open within moments. Eagle's sense had been right; Mistoffelees lay on the dirt floor nearly unconscious. Eagle ran to his side, touching his shoulder.

"Mistoffelees?"

He moaned and tried to look at her, but his eyes wouldn't focus.

"Get the cuffs off of him, Ace!" Hawk snapped.

Eagle glared at her. "We have to make sure that he's okay, they can…"

"No, they can't! It's poisoning him! That's cold iron; it's deadly to the Sidhe and nearly so to those who are partially Sidhe. Ace, get it off!"

Ace didn't ask any questions, just complied. Mistoffelees' face relaxed marginally once they were away from him, but he still shook.

Hawk mumbled some curses in a language Eagle didn't know. "We'd better get him out of here."

Eagle, being the strongest of the lot, draped Mistoffelees' arm over her shoulders. "You can rest in a bit, Misto," she murmured, "but we need to get you out of here first, okay?"

He nodded, barely aware. Hawk produced a dagger from somewhere and they walked carefully along the halls back to the door leading to the outside. They had hid the horses close by, so they reached them with a minimum of trouble.

"It can't be this easy," Hawk muttered as she helped Eagle get Mistoffelees on a horse.

"Don't curse the good luck," Eagle muttered back, getting on the horse behind Mistoffelees.

"Missus," Ace said, looking up at Eagle. "Might I come wit' ye? They be afta me if they find out that I helped ye's… I can help ye out campin' an' all…"

"Get on the horse with Hawk," Eagle said shortly. "We don't have time to waste. It's only a matter of moments before…"

"The demon has escaped!" yelled a loud voice.

Eagle swore and spurred her horse, taking off at a dead gallop for the gates. Hawk swung herself and Ace onto the back of the other one, grateful that Ace was so scrawny. With a swift movement, Hawk and Ace were close on Eagle's heels.

"Catch them!" screamed the Priest, infuriated. "Don't let them leave!"

His shouts were in vain; the escapees were already well out of range.



Hawk brought a water skin over to Mistoffelees and held it to his lips. He drank a bit, but then turned away. "You need to drink," she said softly.

He shook his head. "No… 'm not thirsty."

Hawk sighed and glanced down. Her gaze fell on his right wrist and she shuddered. It had marks on it where the iron had lay.

"I… never got to thank you for coming after me."

"It was Eagle," Hawk muttered, busying herself with something in one of the packs.

"But you were the one who knew what the iron was doing to me," Mistoffelees said. "And… I also never got to thank you for dragging me out of that nightmare."

"It was nothing," Hawk said, once again trying to brush off his gratitude.

"For you, maybe. For me… nobody ever…" He shook his head. "Never mind."

Hawk glanced at him, but he had turned away and was staring off into the sky. "Nobody ever cared before? I doubt that."

He shrugged. "Nobody ever understood. How could they?"

"I understand," she said softly. "Not feeling like you belong, feeling different… not always knowing why. Being unable to do things others can; being able to do things others can't."

"Yeah," Mistoffelees said softly, shoving himself into a sitting position. "I dunno… I look at all the couples I see… and I know that I can never have that. I can't… wish what I am on anyone."

Hawk gave him a sidelong glance. "I would think it would be an honor to be with you." Then she blushed and turned away. What possessed me to say that?

"Thank you…" he murmured. "Why… why aren't you with anyone?"

"I was, once," she said, bitterly. "Remember Searle?"

His eyes widened, but that was the only sign of surprise that he showed. "Yes. You were…"

"Yes." Hawk looked away and shook her head, pursing her lips. "It was the stupidest thing I've ever done. That… was one reason why I left. And… I didn't belong. I'm not Sidhe; Searle was right, Nightingale is more elvenkin than I am."

"You can't be the only one like this," Mistoffelees said quietly. "I mean, my father…"

Hawk looked at him once more and felt a pang in her heart. He was sitting there, watching her earnestly from those startling green eyes of his, the only light illuminating the scene being the firelight and moonlight.

You found him, a voice whispered in her mind. You can address those other questions…

Oh, shut it, she snapped at herself. You heard what he said, he doesn't want a relationship. Even if I did.

Liar, the voice said slyly before fading.

"I'd… better go…" she said, starting to rise.

"Hawk," Mistoffelees said, stopping her by putting a paw around her wrist. "Wait, please. I… I had a lot of time to think over the past couple days, and…" He coloured a bit. "I… I really like you Hawk. I know it sounds silly and… I don't want to put you in the same position my father and mother were in, but…" He dropped her arm and turned away. "Oh, I don't know what I'm saying. Just… go…"

Something inside her made Hawk reach out and touch his shoulder. "Mistoffelees… I… like you too…"

He turned to look at her, suspicion raging in his eyes. "Really? Or are you just saying that."

Hawk gulped, wondering why she had said that, but here mouth - or her heart - seemed to have taken on a mind of its own. "Really."

Mistoffelees gave her a wry look. "I thought you said no Sidhe in their right mind would ever love a 'mere cat-person'."

"I must not be in my right mind then," she said softly.



The next morning, Mistoffelees was the first one to awaken. He carefully disentangled himself from the blankets - and from Hawk - and walked over to sit by the dwindling fire coals. Resting his arms on his knees, he looked back at Hawk who was sleeping peacefully, blankets pulled up to her chin and black hair lose, trailing over the pillow and twitching in the soft breeze.

"What's on your mind?" asked a soft voice. Mistoffelees turned and saw Eagle sitting down next to him.

He shook his head. "I don't know what I was thinking last night…"

"You were finally admitting how you two felt."

Mistoffelees looked away from her. "It was wrong. I didn't want to make the same mistake my parents did, and what did I do? Exactly the same thing they did."

Eagle shook her head. "They didn't make a mistake. And don't try to deny that you love her."

Mistoffelees stood up and looked back at her with sad eyes. "I do love her. And that's why I can't allow this to continue." With that, he walked off.

Eagle dropped her head into her paws. Every time she thought they were making progress, one of them took three steps back.



A breeze rushed through the clearing, awakening Hawk with a shiver. Somewhat alarmed, she looked around for Mistoffelees, only to find that he had gone. Sliding out of the covers, she began to look for him. When Hawk found Mistoffelees, he was standing near the small stream by the campsite, looking down into the water.

"Hey," she said with a smile, going over and rubbing his shoulders. "Where'd you go? I got cold."

Mistoffelees shrugged out of her grasp. "I just… wasn't tired."

Hawk looked at him, concerned. "Mistoffelees, is something wrong?"

"No. I just… don't think this is going to work out after all."

Her eyes clouded over. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"How much clearer do I have to make it? I don't want us to have this relationship anymore," Mistoffelees snapped.

Hawk jerked back. "After one night?" Her eyes darkened. "Is that what it is? Just a one night stand? Did you ever care for me at all!?"

"Call it whatever you like," Mistoffelees replied coolly, turning his back on her.

Hawk felt her fury nearly choke her, but she wrestled it down. There had to be something behind this. "Mistoffelees…" she said plaintively. "Please, talk to me. If there is something wrong, I want to fix it…"

"There is nothing wrong," he snapped. "I just want to break this off."

"That is NOT just it!" Hawk yelled. "I can't believe that you would just give up on this so soon. Will you tell me what it wrong?"

He whirled on her, eyes furious, and she took an unconscious step back. "I said I wanted to call this off," he growled, claws flexing. "That's all there is to it. I don't want to talk about it; I just want you to leave me alone. It's over, all right?"

"I can't believe you," Hawk hissed, trying to hide her fear. She was suddenly hyperaware of the fact that Mistoffelees was not only taller than she was, he was stronger as well. Not only that, he had teeth, claws, and the Sidhe magic. "I thought you would be different; you certainly seemed nicer than someone who would pull this. But you're not, are you? You're just like every other male in this world. Just like Searle. And after I helped you… we should have left you with that Priest. I swear, next town we get to, I am leaving this expedition. Find your way to Birnam on your own." She turned and stormed off.

Mistoffelees waited until he was certain she was gone before he let the tears escape. Her words hurt him more than he had showed.

"But it's better this way," he whispered. "She'll get hurt worse if she stays with me."



Eagle and Ace both looked up as Hawk came storming up. Pointing at Ace, she said tightly, "You're riding with me again. I'll leave Eagle to ride with… with him." With that, she stomped off, presumably to pack.

Ace looked at Eagle. "Do y'know wha' 'appened there, Missus?"

Eagle shook her head sadly. "I wish I did." She finished packing up what she was holding, then turned to Ace. "Go find Mistoffelees, will you? We need to get going."

Ace nodded. "'Course, Missus." He ran off.



Mistoffelees heard the tread of footsteps behind him. "Missus Eagle says she needs ye to come," Ace's voices said. Mistoffelees nodded absentmindedly and he heard Ace scurry off.

"Time to face the music," Mistoffelees muttered, composing himself and walking back to the campsite. The moment he came within seeing range of them, Eagle opened her mouth.

Mistoffelees held up a paw. "Don't ask. Just… don't ask."

She shut her mouth again without saying anything but fixed him with a glare that very plainly said that he was going to tell her eventually. Mistoffelees shook his head just barely. More would have been said, but Hawk stormed in.

"Are we going to get going or not?" she snapped, ignoring Mistoffelees entirely.

"As soon as we get mounted," Eagle said calmly, placing a final bag on her horse's saddle.

"Good," Hawk said roughly, climbing into her own saddle then helping Ace up behind her.



That night, Mistoffelees tossed and turned in his sleep, unable to escape the nightmares that had given him a reprieve the night before.

His wrists hurt so much… couldn't get the iron off… magic was useless, it burned so much…

Burned… he was going to be burned. That night…

Fire, choking him, suffocating him, the heat was too much, he couldn't breathe, nobody would help him…

Hawk, just standing there, watching him… she didn't care…

"We should have just left you with that Priest."

Should have…

Just left him…

Fire reaching for him, clawing at his fur, his legs, his tail… couldn't escape, the heat was tremendous…

With a cry, Mistoffelees awoke. The blankets were tangled around his legs and his pillow was soaked with sweat. Taking a couple of deep breaths, he tried to calm his racing heart. Glancing around the camp, he saw with relief that he hadn't awakened anyone else. Straightening out the bedclothes, he tried to get back to sleep. But it refused to come. Laying there, Mistoffelees realized with a start how absolutely lonely he was.

This is ridiculous, he thought irritably. One night cannot effect me this much. It's better this way.

But as a couple tears escaped his eyes, it occurred to Mistoffelees that he wasn't so sure about that.



If it wasn't for Eagle's urging, they might not have even stopped at Calmwaters that night, but she pointed out that they could get provisions there. She personally wanted to get Ace some things of his own and they were running a bit short on other things. There hadn't been a chance to buy supplies in Blackstone.

"Are you sure this is such a good idea?" Hawk muttered to Eagle, her temper having cooled a bit. She still wasn't speaking to Mistoffelees, but at least she could talk without sounding like she was about to bite somebody's head off. "Quite a few of these small villages don't take kindly to nonhumans…"

Eagle looked up, watching the villagers come out to greet them. "Maybe not…" she murmured, eyes flicking to the male Haspur walking towards them with a lovely blond woman on his arm.

"Greetings, travelers," the Haspur said, beak gaping in a grin. "Welcome to our village. I am… not exactly the mayor, we aren't large enough for that, but I am in charge here. My name is Tomas and this is my wife, Ketura."

Hawk glanced at Eagle and raised an eyebrow. Obviously, this village was not going to pose the same problems Redfalls and Blackstone had.

Eagle took no notice of her companion's glance. Smiling graciously at Tomas, she said, "Thank you for your welcome. Is there a chance of us getting provisions here - we do have money - and perhaps staying the night?"

"Stay as long as you like," Ketura said with a pleasant smile. "Provided you mean us no harm, you're welcome here."

The four dismounted, grateful for the safe reprieve.



Later that night, after darkness had fell, the four slowly entered the main square of the village. Hawk, Eagle, Mistoffelees, and Ace had all been invited to the feast that was being thrown and had accepted thankfully. However, due to unpacking and the desire to change into clothes that weren't grimy with road dust, the four were a bit late. The feast was already in full swing, but an elderly woman with sparkling blue eyes leapt up to greet them.

"I just had to meet the travelers," she said, voice infused with the good humor normally reserved for youth. "I knew there was something special here." She shook Eagle's paws and Ace's hands before turning to Hawk. When the old lady took Hawk's hands in hers, she started and looked into Hawk's eyes. Grin splitting her face, she said softly, "Ah, a Sidhe… I haven't seen one of those in… many years."

Hawk was startled. In all her travels, this was the first human to ever immediately know what she was.

"You were friends of the Sidhe?" Mistoffelees said softly.

She glanced at him and smiled. "Yes, son of the elvenkin. I was." Mistoffelees didn't even have time to be surprised before she continued along, taking his paws in hers. "Long, long ago…" Her eyes grew sad. "More than friends, once. I was a beauty in my time, and the Elven Lord found me fetching, he did. But so long ago… long lost…"

"Maybe not so," Mistoffelees murmured, feeling pity for the woman. She was so nice and her beauty still shone through all the years. Looking deeply into her eyes, Mistoffelees read the shadows of the past. She watched him with curiosity, but didn't pull away. Finally, he drew back, cupping his paws and blowing air across them. Dust created with magic flew up into the air, twisting and turning to a shape that he commanded until it finally showed, hovering in the air, a young woman, and her beauty was astounding even though the image wasn't real.

The lady put her hand to her mouth, tears of happiness alighting her eyes as a second figure joined the woman; a man most definitely elvenkin, his high cheekbones and long, silver hair setting off pointed ears. Together, they were a fantastic couple.

The elder woman reached out a hand, just barely stopping from touching the image. Then she turned back to look at Mistoffelees. "That is an elvenkin trick," she said softly. "You are part Sidhe, aren't you?"

Mistoffelees nodded, slowly, somewhat embarrassed by having all the eyes on him.

"I don't know how to thank you…" she whispered before glancing back at the apparition. "It's a pity that one cannot keep it…"

Hawk seemed to get an idea. "Hold it up," she said shortly to Mistoffelees before running off. When she returned, she was holding some parchment and a curious stick. Hawk dropped down into a comfortable position on the ground and her eyes flicked from the image to the parchment as she whisked the stick across it expertly. Once she was apparently finished, Hawk arose and handed the paper to the woman. On it was a copy of the image.

"Now you can keep it," Hawk said kindly. Mistoffelees let the illusion fall and the dust sprinkled to the ground.

After the excitement of that passed, Mistoffelees, Hawk, Eagle, and Ace were shown to seat and given food. They'd only been eating for a little bit before Ketura came over.

"I wish to thank you two for doing that," she said softly, blond hair sparkling in the firelight. "You gave Vivian a great gift - something to remember her past by."

Mistoffelees looked down at his meal, embarrassed, and Hawk smiled. "It was the least we could do to repay your hospitality."

Ketura nodded. "Yes, but… most would not have done something so selfless. You are truly welcome here as long as you wish to remain." She turned then to leave, but a man came running up, eyes wild.

"Ketura! The barn… lantern set it on fire…" he gasped. "We've got to stop it, it's spreading…"

Ketura's eyes widened. Others near them heard the news and passed it on. Within moments, everyone knew and was running for gear or running towards the fire, Hawk, Mistoffelees, Eagle, and Ace included.

They were all met by a nearly hysterical woman. "The children are in there!" was all she managed out. Mistoffelees looked up, eyes wide as he took in the blaze. The barn was nearly consumed - and it looked painfully familiar.

The cries…

Laughs of the villagers as they ran away…

Smoke, choking, cloying…

Clenching his jaw, Mistoffelees knew that he couldn't let these mysterious children burn. Ducking away from the group, heart pounding with his fear, he ducked into the building.



Hawk glanced up as she felt a tail hit her leg, eyes widening as she saw Mistoffelees enter the barn. "Eagle!" she snapped, tugging on the other woman's sleeve as ice clenched her heart. What in the Seven Hells does he think he is doing!? "Mistoffelees just…" Unable to finish, Hawk just waved her hand at the building.

Eagle's eyes widened. "I hope he knows what he's doing."



Mistoffelees struggled to breathe without inhaling any of the smoke, feeling nearly dizzy from fear. What had possessed him to come in here? There were people out there better suited to this than he was…

Who weren't afraid of fire…

He nearly turned back when he heard the crying. Sensing a feeling of need take hold again, he plunged onward, heading toward the sound, guiding himself more by hearing than by sight. Finally, he reached them: two children, a boy and a girl, faces stained with soot and tears.

Never saying a word lest he lose precious air, Mistoffelees hoisted the girl onto his back and scooped the boy up in his arms. They didn't question him, only knowing that they were being saved. He turned to go, but a beam fell down from the roof, increasing the inferno. The girl was sobbing horribly and Mistoffelees felt tears run down his own face from the heat. Fear threatened to overwhelm him despite his best efforts to quiet it.

Think! Think damn you… you're half Sidhe, you're a mage. Get out! Rallying his meager energies about him, Mistoffelees concentrated on him and the children going OUT…

A blast of cool air…

And then blackness.



Mistoffelees awoke with a cough, grateful to feel the blessedly cool grass underneath him. Pushing himself up with his arms, he glanced over at the barn. He couldn't have been out that long; they were just finishing up killing the fire. Looking around a bit more, he saw the children hanging onto their mother tightly. As he watched, the man who had come running up walked over and enfolded all three in a grateful hug.

Feeling a stabbing pain of loneliness pierce his heart, Mistoffelees stumbled to his feet and walked off. Finding shelter amongst the trees, he ended up seated by the bank of a small pool. Staring at his reflection in the water, Mistoffelees realized that his face had been either singed or covered in soot so much that he was nearly entirely black. Too tired to even bother to wash it off, Mistoffelees let his head sag into his paws.

A twig snapped behind him and he started.

"Sorry…" a soft voice murmured as someone sat down next to him. "That was very brave thing you did," Hawk said quietly.

"I thought you weren't talking to me," he croaked, voice roughened by the smoke.

"You were talking in your sleep the other night," she said, continuing on as if he hadn't spoken. "You didn't really want to break off the relationship, did you?"

Mistoffelees turned his back on her, not wanting to discuss it. Carefully, she brought her hands up and began massaging his shoulders, easing the tension out.

"You can tell me, you know," Hawk said quietly. "I know you're lonely. I'm lonely too. I honestly think that this could work out…"

Mistoffelees felt himself relax for the first time in… too long, and he nearly agreed with her. Suddenly, he jerked out of her grasp.

"No," he said fiercely. "No, you're in danger then. I won't make the same mistake my parents did."

Hawk's eyes widened. "Is THAT what this is about? You think that by loving me the same thing will happen?"

He couldn't meet her eyes, knowing that if she looked into his she would see the truth.

"Mistoffelees…" she said softly, almost pityingly. "That was… a long time ago and because of shortsighted, biased people. If… if we were to be in a place like…" She stopped. "Like Calmwaters, it wouldn't happen."

"How do you know?" he demanded. "I bet Mother and Father never thought it would happen. And what if we had children? I don't want to… expose them to what I…" He shook his head. "It'll never work, Hawk. It's better if I'm alone. I can't hurt anyone that way."

"Mistoffelees," Hawk snapped, grabbing him by the shoulders and spinning him around to face her. "That is a lie. You won't be better off alone, not by a long shot. And neither will I. Can't you see? You're hurting me more by doing this to me." She looked into his eyes, catching his gaze in hers so he couldn't look away. "I'm admitting it. I'm in love with you, Mistoffelees."

"Don't say that…" he said, voice coming out strained.

"I am saying it and I won't retract it."

"You can't…" he started, but didn't finish. To forestall any more argument, Hawk kissed him. When she drew back, he was crying.

"Don't do this…" he whispered. "I can't…"

"You can't fight it when faced with the truth," she said quietly before holding him close. "Oh, Mistoffelees…"

Mistoffelees held her tightly, venting all of his loneliness, frustration, and fear away in tears. "I'm sorry, Hawk…" he said softly. "I just wanted to do what was best."

"I know you did, Mistoffelees. And you are. You have a good heart, my love."



The next morning, Eagle and Ace packed up the horses, carefully watching out of the corner of their eyes as Hawk and Mistoffelees conferred quietly with Tomas. When the two walked over, Eagle said, "You two ready to go?"

Hawk and Mistoffelees exchanged a look. Mistoffelees looked at the ground before looking at his best friend. "Eagle… we're staying here."

"What?" Eagle said, not comprehending.

"We… we're going to stay here," Hawk said. "They'll… accept our relationship and Tomas and Ketura are willing to let us stay."

"I'm sorry to be leaving you like this…" Mistoffelees said, eyes searching Eagle's face hesitantly.

She gave him a sad grin. "Eh, I knew it would happen eventually. I guess… Ace and I will just continue on, see what our travels bring us, eh, Ace?"

Ace grinned at her. "If ye'll have me, Missus."

Eagle laughed. "We'll… be sure to visit."

"You'll always be welcome," Mistoffelees assured her. They only paused a bit before hugging each other tightly.

"I'll miss you, Mistoffelees," Eagle whispered into his ear. "But I wish you the best of luck. Hopefully better than your past."

"And the same to you, Free Bard Eagle," he returned. "I wouldn't be surprised if the next time I hear of you, it's because you've become the High King's personal musician."

"That place is taken," she said lightly, but tears stung her eyes. Looking to Hawk, she said, "Take good care of him, y'hear?"

Hawk nodded. "I promise. Somebody has to."

Eagle took a shaky breath before mounting her horse. Hawk and Mistoffelees had already removed their belongings from the packs. Not one for long good-byes, Eagle rode out of the village, Ace trailing behind her, only turning once to wave at her two friends.

Then her gazed turned to the road ahead of her and the future that the pounded dirt represented.