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ok, so this is all random. Some of which may be included. but don't get your hopes up. These are all from the MANY different story lines that Hazels story was going to follow. have fun. these are here to help you kinda get to know the characters a bit better.


The sea breaze came to a near stop as Hazel stood near the edge with the other divers. today would determine whether or not she'd be alowed to stay on the ship, or if she'd be kicked off and left to drown. taking a deep breath a sensation was buzzing in her stomach. its just the tea Tane gave me, youll feel better once your in the water, she told herself. she believed none of it and looked around to see the others standing around near her. they were just as nervous. she didnt see why. it wasnt like they where going to get thrown overboard. just dropped at the next harbor. her thoughts continued to wonder untill she heard the Captains voice shouting for all others to be quiet. looking up above the cabins she saw him for the first time since boarding. he was tall, slim, almost lanky seeming, but his long coat and broad hat made things even out. his face was feline, sleek, beutifull, powerfull, yet unmarked. she wondered how feared he himself really was if he showed no sign of ever having to fight. every man, except mabey Tane and Jerlome had battle scars and bore them proudly. "Sailors, today we begin a contest to see who while find their place as one of our divers!" a loud roar echoed him. "the rest will be left to fend for themselves at harbor, but one amoung them, will find herself in a watery grave instead" she swallowed hard as the groups cry intensified. "our contest here today will be for these young men, and the stowaway, to go unto our neighbors downstairs and steal a treasure from them. they will have as long as they like, and by all means, if you find nothing, stay down there!" an approving laughter mocked the divers. the captains gleeming eye caught hers. he broke it off and finished his speech. "and now, the contest...begins!" each diver was shoved off, ready or not, into the cold water below. shocked Hazel breathed deep when she hit, but her nose began to burn. panicking she surfaced, but dove quickly back down as those who saw her roared with laughter. breahting again she found that the tea really had worked. so im not going to die, she thought, but if thats so, i better beat these sorry bastards asses! and with that, she began outswimming them. the thought came to her that it was a little odd that she could out swim the aprentences, and she wondered why it was so different here, but then she realized something. the water was lighter than earths. no wonder swimming was so easier, but it was more than that. but before she could think it through the water around her ceased and she fell. she screamed out, almost losing her divers mouthpiece. her breath was squeezed out of her, light intensified, blinding her and silence pressed against her ears. it felt like eternity passed before a faint noice began pulling her out of the emptiness. it almost sounded like music.things began to click, and she woke up panting, her alarm blaring a song that theyed already played to much. "dangit!" she spat. getting up out of bed she threw some clothes on and ran out the door, almost late for school already.

the day passed slowly, and Hazel found it hard to consentrate. finally she gave up paying attention and began drawing a picture in her friend denvers notebook. "oh jeezus Hazel thats good!" denver said looking over hazels sholder. "what is?" hazel hadnt even relized what she had been doing. "well that picture of a man on a ship, duh hazel" she blushed relizing that she had been sketching the something she remembered above water, which was right as the captain was giving his speech and had made eye contact with her. silently she smiled. "so who is he?"
"what do you mean?"
"man did you hit your head or something today? the guy in the middle of the picture, the one standing above everyone!"
"oh sorry..." hazel appologized. "dont be, just tell me about the picture. it has to be one of your best so far."
"thanks...ok well this guy, his name is Tristion, hes the captain of the ship, and well, the picture is from the point of view from a stowaway that has to prove their worth to the crew otherwise she gets thrown over board."
"and whats the stowaways name?" Hazel panicked for a moment trying to think of something to tell her.
"err...well she doesnt have one yet, shes just called stowaway at this point."
"ok cool. whats she thinking? i cant really tell from the picture. might be fear 'cause of all the nasty looking....uh are those pirates?"
"their close enough. what shes thinking is why do all these pirates respect their captain so much?"
"why wouldnt they, he's good looking and all."
"no, mabey its not drawn in yet, but they all are marked up from previous battles. your looked down apon if you dont have any. but the captain is well..."
"flawless, no scars at all."
"exactly and if he does have some, well he hides them with all the clothing he wears."
"i see your point. can you send me it?"
"send you what?"
"god figure it out hazel" she said smiling "the story behind the picture of course. i bet you have it written down somewhere."
"but, i...i dont have anything written down. there isnt a story for this."
looking a little sad denver shrugged it off. "well there should be..."

Hazel was almost scared to go to bed that night, but too tired not to. crawling into bed she felt something hard underneath the covers. grabbing it she dropped it gasping. it was her divers piece. so it wasnt just a dream after all. looking at it again she tried to convince herself that it was some common everyday thing, but failed as she fell asleep, and back underwater.

it was a jolt, and Hazel had to work fast to get her divers peice in her mouth but when she looked around her heart sunk. the other swimmers where laughing at her, and for a second she couldnt understand why. then it dawned on her. these anderran seas where different from ours, what she had fallen into was an air current flowing through the ocean. she saw tons of white ribbons in the water now and suddenly understood what they were. the other divers continued on their way, and Hazel picked up her pace, adrenaline from comming back in coursing through her. looking at her watch, she saw it only had been 15 minutes since she'd dove off the ship. but then another thought distracted her for a moment. why had the divers peice been with her when she woke up and not her watch? she figured it might have been that she was focusing on breathing through it when she'd fallen. up ahead through the clear water a mountain like formation appeared, and the other divers became excited. so thats where the neighbors down under live she thought excitedly. merpeople. if only she had someone to talk to about this. but she did, mabey not now, but Denver would be willing to listen. Hazel increased her speed, eager to win the prize. one of the other divers looked at her suspiciously and began swimming a little faster. Hazel swam faster than him with ease. glaring at her he tried his best to catch up to her, but was unable. the other divers laughed at him, that is until they tried keeping up and couldnt. reaching for her heels with their hands they dragged hazel back, only to be dragged forward by the force of her swimming. now panicked she kicked at the jolouse group, knocking two of them unconcious. getting away she saw a series of caves had now arose out of nowhere and she swam into the nearest one. a family of mer where startled as she burst through their home, but even more upset as three boys came recklessly through behind her. hazel dove in and out of caves, swiftly making her way towards the main building, but only managing to lose two of her three pursuers, the one named Oxel who had initially turned her in as a stowaway on the ship. with one desperate attempt to get away she swam straight up into an air pocket. hazel hung in suspension. Oxel was below her and looked around for her, but the white of the pocket concealed her well enough that he dove into a nearby cave and was gone. slowly she drifted toward the building and crept inside. the building was beutifully decorated with all sort of stones and corels, even bones of animals Hazel could only imagine. she swam cautiosly around in the room she had entered through the pocket and realized her good luck. she had come to a treasury, or at least the room right outside one. the door hung open and the shimmer of gold came to her from the door. making a few stroaks towards the door she heard a crashing noise behind her. there Oxel was fuming that she had got there before him. the one thing that did put a smile on his face was that he had found his was into the armory not long before the treasury and he held in his hand the most awful looking knife she'd ever scene. panciking she shoved herself backwards pulling the treasurys door closed behind her. he threw his knife, but aimed poorly and hit the lock on the door, shutting himself out. panting hazel took a look at what lay before her for the next few seconds she had alone. digging in the piles she found nothing too extraordnary to her, that is untill she came across the most beutifull, well thing, she'd ever seen. she had no clue what it was, but she knew that these people measured beuty like she did and she grabbed it. suddenly and icy numbness spread up her arm and she realized that she had most deffinantly grabbed the wrong thing. dropping it she settled for a near by sword and hilt, inset with hundreds of emerald, saphires and diamonds. the blade looked as if it where made of diamonds too. strapping it on across her back she swam towards the ceiling panals of the room. and crack on the door told her that Oxel was almost throught the door. taking her sword to the window pane, she made her excape route and began swimming for the surface. she had almost made it when a hand wrapped itself around her ankle. looking down she expected to see Oxel, but instead saw a green face. Mer, she gasped. so they really where going to try and take back what was theirs. it yanked her down and clasped her throat, almost knocking the divers peice from her mouth. its hands where so strong that she knew that it was going kill her and so she, without knowing why, looking directly into her soon-to-be murderers eyes. heat grew in her eyes and she began to see a reflection in his. slowly his grip lessened and instead it gripped her wrist. "no, please, i have to get to the ship before the others do!" she pleaded with him. he nodded and began swimming in a different direction than where she had thought the ship to be. but familiar sights began cropping up and she decided that it knew what it was doing. up ahead she saw another diver, not Oxel, and not even one of those who had chased after her. the only other girl in the diving group was taking her time leisurly geting back to the ship. Hazel knew that the girl thought she had it in the bag and was almost afriad that even with her merman escort she wouldnt make it in time. he sensed this and swam closer to the surface untill he was directly above the other girl. getting behind a pocked his speed increased by double and soon she was very close to the ship, close enough to swim up and claim the prize. letting go of her wrist he touched two of his long fingers to the center of Hazels back, directly on the mark there, and wispered "Nayan Baina" into her ear. and with that, he was gone, and she swam up towards the surface, with more than just her life, but a name. surfacing before the other girl could she saw the excitement pirates faces when they saw there was a champion. no loud roar rushed upon her, mostly because it would have made a good story to tell little children who tried to stow away. she began making a breaststroke towards the boat when a sharp crack to her skull stopped her. the pain exploaded and for a time the world seemed to end completly. tiny sounds came now and then, but nothing too loud. eventually she excepted the state of peace she was in and fell asleep being carried off somewhere by somebody.
    when Hazel awoke she wondered what had happened. she wasnt back home yet, but she was somewhere she'd never seen before. mabey thats what happened when she died there, she just got moved to a different location. but then she saw his face. the unmarred face that could lead these men. high bred if there was such a thing here. his look was of distaste and she was tempted to check herself, she looked to see who was touching her. it was Jerlome, taking her pulse, and the end of the bed she was laying on was Tane wrapped up in a towel shivering. he looked towards her and made a weak attempt at smiling but started coughing instead. "Tane, you swallowed to much water, we are going to have to put you to bed. Tri, can you watch Hazel for a little while?" The captain nodded and Jerlome helped Tane up and walked him out of the room. the door slammed shut and The Captain walked over and stood above her. he saw right away that she was awake and lowered himself down into a crouch. "stowaway, your damn lucky you know that?" he said cracking her a smile. she smiled back and tried sitting up but almost fell right back down for the pain in her head, if he hadnt caught her. a moment passed as she stared him in the eyes, it ended though when Jerlome walked back in. "so captain, this one stays?" he asked, obviously hadnt noticed the captain holding her. quickly standing up he said "yes, this one stays. she will need a few days rest though." Jerlome gave the captain a measured look. "i already recomended that, but very good observation your majesty." he walked out again as did the captain, and hazel just stared out the window, wondering why jerlome called the captain his majesty. wouldnt that be intresting if he really was royalty she thought.

--

Hazel sat by the river, enjoying the smell, and the view of the hills rising where most people said there where only flat lands. her copper hair blowing in the breeze, her grey-green eyes sparkling in the half-light. She came here when she had dreams that wouldn't let her sleep. Dreams full of Gateways and Doors. Laughing, the echo of a train wistle, and the Chocolate brown eyes, that always seemed to be staring right past her. Why these dreams disturbed her so badly, Hazel didn't know, neither did she care to find out. For once in her life, Hazel wasn't actually very interested in something odd that was happening to her. Content to run from it and sit by the river. This morning had started earlier than most, her rest desturbed near two a.m. She'd snuck out half an hour later, fully dressed, her messenger bag slung over her shoulders but with an empty stomuch. Slipping out the side door had been easy, it was on the opposite side of the house from her parents bedroom. The sun began to peak over the hills, causing her to blink in sensitivity to light. To her, the sunrise ment it was time to go, and so she did, rising stiffly, slipping dark shades over her eyes. A short walk sepperated her from her home, tucked away in a sleepy neighborhood. She knew that by this time her father would have already gone to work ten minutes ago, her mother just now slipping into the shower. As her tennis shoes tapped the stairs, Hazel noticed something different. The shower wasn't on. Backing up she checked the garage's outside door. Unlocked. That was unusual, her parents here safety freaks, they always checked every door in the house in the evenings with out fail. peeking in Hazel's mind froze in panic. Her fathers car was still there. they must have found out i was gone she thought to herself, closing the door quietly behind her. She was about to shout to her parents when she noticed the car door hanging half open, a dinging sound indicating the key in the ignition. She crouched down, thinking it could have been a break in. A burgler? she wondered. slipping around the car she noticed her fathers wallet on the ground. Picking it up, she didn't have to do much to figure out no money had been stolen. Now her heart was beating hard. She breathed deep to keep calm, trying to figure out what someone might be here for, but her mind couldn't think of anything likely. Her parents weren't rich. They didn't have anything worth taking here, other than mabey a t.v. or something, but then why did her fathers wallet still have the money? Unsettled, Hazel climbed into her fathers old car and opened the passenger drawer. A small gun was kept in there in case of emergency, although her parents didn't think she knew about it. flipping the safety off, Hazel crept into the house. Hazel could hear voices upstairs, they were calm so Hazel wasn't too worried anymore, she sighed in relief about to put down the gun, but then there was an unpleasant rise in her fathers voice. Quickly checking the gun again, Hazel tucked herself up against the wall. She had just begun moving closer to where her parents were when a hand clamped over her mouth, and an arm went around her waist, the attackers arms pinning her own against her body. Hastily kicking at her attacker, Hazel managed to determine it was a boy but was pinned to the floor before she could get a better look. "Chris..." a stranger moaned in annoyance. Hazel thought for a second that she might be let up, but was instead pinned to the floor further, her arms getting jacked up behind her. Hissing in discomfort, Hazel lashed out again, this time getting her attacker in the stomach, throwing him off. Leaping to her gun, Hazel rolled on her shoulder and pointed it in the direction she'd heard the first stranger. He was a bit older than herself, with a dark complection, black hair, and startling green eyes. He put a hand up, as if to signify peace, but her fathers response caused her to lower the gun. "Hazel.." he said rubbing his forehead, almost as if he'd had to repeat this to her a million times. "Put the gun down and stop acting like an idiot." Taken aback Hazel stepped away. "But...I thought that..."
"What? we were in trouble? no, but would you like to explain where youve been? It's been hell trying to find you" Stung, by her fathers indefference Hazel refused to answer him, instead asking a question of her own. A straightforward, open question, that she knew she'd get answered. "Who the hell is this dad?" Her mom spoke up this time, timidly ringing her hands. Obviously Hazels mom didn't like this situation anymore than Hazel did. "These are Maurice and Chris their...Well..." She looked at the ground, as if the next part of introducing them would make no sense to Hazel. Maurice, the first stranger began talking in a different language that Hazel didn't know, but seemed to vaguely understand. Her eye's searched for a minute finding her suitcase on the floor next to Chris, the guy who had attacked her, a lightweight shirt of hers sticking out. A backpack sat next to her, full of camping supplys. Hazel was confused, but was able to put two and two together. She wouldn't be going to school today. Neither would she be home for a while. Wherever it was that she was going, Hazel was sure that it was with these two guys, She ran her hand through the length of her hair, her heart beginning to beat harder. Without another moments thought, Hazel was out the door, and down the street, her fathers calls echoing behind her.


--
Hazel snuck around on the rooftop, a bow in hand. it was smaller than most, but then again, she didn’t need much of a bow to hit a direct target. Dai and Vlio where on the other side of the alley. They clutched slightly bigger bows, but theirs were less than half the size of earth bows. Athie was really talented in making weapons so small and light, some of them could even substitute for a gun in her world. The holder at her side even dispensed arrows. She smiled at the thought of how easily she’d been able to use the thing.
Her powers had been taking huge leaps as she stretched them as creatively as she could, she’d laughed the first time she ever stole something. She’d had to hide and there was no where to go so she simply willed her body to change, and had blended in almost perfectly into her background. Afterwards every time she passed through that district shed practiced changing her appearance. shed even taken the chance of buying something from the vendor shed stolen from, with no trouble at all. It was a game that had successfully taken her mind off her guilt.
So now here she was, focusing on her back, drawing on it, willing it to slowly change Dai, Vlio, and herself into flitting shadows to those below. Oro walked uncaringly down below on his way to meet a client, a said Crime master in the upper city. The man, a fat pudgy upperclassmen, had guards waiting down below, but they were no match to the speed of Oros guards above. Oro began to speak, and Hazel could see the obvious impressed look the Master was giving Oro. It was a given that they’d get the job.
After about 10 minutes the man nodded and turned away from Oro. Oro then looked up and jumped up, catching the near invisible rope Dai was holding for him. The master looked back to see this, and to any bystander, it would have been impressive, because it seemed that Oro was flying onto a rooftop. It was a pretty cool effect that the boys had been able to come up with even without Hazels magic. Athie, had made them the rope, and sometimes Hazel wondered if the woman really did have powers, although she claimed otherwise.
Nodding she made him a shadow too and they began making their way home. Oro began to deviate from the way home and the others followed. He slipped into an alleyway and the others followed, Hazel slipped off the disguise and looked at Oro for an answer. "So what’s the target?" Dai asked "We cant do it." Oro said flatly deflating the buzzing excitement within the group. He looked over at Hazel and gave her a look like shed never gotten from him before. "Why cant we? There’s nothing we cant do!" Dai said, angry but proud. " We cant do it because he’s asking for someone, not something." Oro said taking off into the marketplace.
Obviously conversation was now over. Dai grumbled something about it not mattering what the subject was and he and Vlio went off into a different direction. All that was left for her to do was get dinner and head home. She casually strolled down the street until she came to a fruit stand where the owner was arguing heatedly with a customer. Hazel casually plucked a few Melliofruits off the stand and was gone in an instant. Once she was out of sight from the vendor she began gnawing on the food hungrily. No matter how much time she spent here about half the time passed at home, unless she stayed for a certain amount of time, about 9 days if she remembered right. She hadn’t gone home for quite a while and her stomach had begun to feel it.
She was not alone as she passed through the streets. beside her, not exactly parallel, but close was a man with long blonde hair braided back but not a way from his face. Finishing up her Miliofruit she slipped out of the main street and began walking down a shaded alley way and she changed her appearance to mimic that of some of the children playing with a ball. For about a minute she thought that her disguise was a success until the man that had been tailing her grabbed her by the scruff of her neck and dragged her down the alley a little ways from the children that she had been hiding among. Disloyal brats, she thought.
Changing back she saw a triumphant smile upon the lips of the boy shed just met. Her eyes narrowed as she assumed his intentions, she prepared to attack him. Backing away by her assumption he put a palm up to her, which universally, quite literally, meant peace. "I’m not here to confront you, just to speak with your companions, there names are Oro, Vlio and Dai, am I right?" not willing to give out information she asked "and what if I don’t know who the hell your talking about?"
"Oh but you do." He gripped her arm and took a step towards her. "Don’t you touch her!" The mans grip on Hazel released as Oro, Vlio and Dai landed from the rooftops near her. not letting the chance slip away she kicked her attacker in the stomach and ran to the her Brothers sides. The man slowly stood up and cracked the group a smile. They lowered their defenses and Oro called out "Logan you idiot!" to Hazels surprise. Even more shocking was when the man answered "Yeah I know, Never attack the pretty girl, cause no matter what the stories say, if she’s traveling with you, she packin!" Vlio and Dai congratulated Hazel as Oro clasped hands with the man named Logan. turning to her he said "Hazel id like you to meet an old comrade of mine, Logan Sio of Roatia!"

----------------------------------------

Vlio and Dai had cooked up dinner and then left, leaving a mess behind. Hazel was now washing the dishes while Oro and the boy they had called Logan that shed met earlier chatted away about old times. "Oh! And do you remember the Greylore woman?" they both pulled a face and laughed hard. when it was done Oro motioned towards Hazel and asked Logan "So why did you chose to follow her of all people? You don’t even know her" Logan looked her in the eyes "Well I did have to see the girl that made the great and holy Tristion commit his one and only sin." He laughed and Oro looked at her in a sort of confused awe. "You never said anything about knowing the Prince."
"He didn’t exactly come out with that information until a good while after I met him, and what do you mean about me being his only sin?" She laughed, thinking it was some sort of joke, for who other than her and Tri knew of their time spent together? "I suppose he never told you then?" Logan’s voice changed from its jovial tone to a very serious one. "Never knew what?" Hazel was beginning to get angry that he knew what no one should. "that he had a wife and child?" She looked at him confused, then at Oro, then back, her emotions turning back and forth from Anger to Dread and mingling. Finally she knew that I that he was being perfectly serious
"Are you sure?" She asked sitting down on the recliner, weighted down with this information. She hoped to god that it was not true. How many times had she asked his forgiveness for being unchaste? Now it was upon her that it had been a married man that she had slept with.
"I’m sure that none of it was made known to you. I am relieved though, to know that he did not give himself to any woman, for Isoliene and Vasheni's sake."
"how...how old is Vasheni?" She asked staring at the floor. it was breaking her heart to think of the child.
"She is 7, although she hasn’t seen her father in several years, since she was, let me see, 4 I believe."
"You sound like an old man" Oro burst in, his smile faded with the look on Hazel's face. he touched her arm gently and she nodded her head in thanks. his smile returned and Logan continued. "Isoliene was promised to another King, but in a contest of strength and wit, Tristion beat him flat out, winning him the one woman he wished to love. this was when Tristion was 14, extremely young to you I suppose, but in Moren that is just about normal."
"and how old was the other king?" Oro asked.
"13, but mature for his age"
"well that’s not fair, 'specially when you have a sister like Tristion's"
"I suppose not, but Tristion's just a special kind of guy. he did manage himself well on several situations of combat, and he did woo multiple girls" Logan winked at Hazel who put her head into her hand. Seeing his place was not there Logan stood up and nodded to Oro. Then turning to Hazel. "Tristion went to sea because of his love for it, also because he truly believed he would be able to resist the temptations of the flesh, and for some reason he could in every situation other than you. He must have truly loved you to have forgotten Isoliene." He walked to the door way, but stopped again. "Oh yes, and there was someone who I was sent by to find you, his name was, Maurice. He said you might remember his brother Chryssine as the one who tackled you in the woods a few months ago?" He left the house and Hazel leaned back into the chair and closed her eyes and suppressed the ache that filled her chest. Oro leaned towards her and touched her hand, much like Jordan did whenever he saw she was upset from an argument. She opened her eyes and smiled weakly at him. "You are not a bad person for what you have done." He said, attempting to make her feel better.
"Do you think, though, that Isoliene and Vasheni would believe that if they hear what I’ve done?"
"You have begged your god for forgiveness for how long now?"
"Ever since my escape from Do'loktu."
"And haven’t you done what you could to atone for it?"
"Some good I’ve done, a thief asking for gods goodness."
"It is still something! It's far better than any of us could hope for." she bowed her head and they touched their heads together. "you are a better person than you allow yourself to believe you are. Your god will forgive you. I know it."
"You don’t believe in any gods, how can you know?" She laughed
"Because you do. Because you are the sister of my heart. I believe that if you believe in something, it must be worth believing." He kissed her cheek and helped her onto the couch. He sat there a while and stroked her hair until her breathing evened out. He stood up and went to lock the door and was surprised to see someone standing there. Two people actually. the shorter of the two spoke first. "Your speech back there was touching." The tone was not serious, it was sarcastic. The taller put a hand on the speakers shoulder and stepped forward. "Excuse my brother, he is extremely rude at times, especially lately." He gave Chris a meaningful look. "I’m sorry about calling in this late hour, but we really must speak to Hazel." Oro turned and kneeled by her. Waking her gently he showed her the men standing in the doorway. Chris smiled at her but she returned it with a scowl and looked to Maurice.
"I don’t suppose you remember us very well, as we did only meet for a short time."
"I remember you both perfectly well, and it makes me even more curious as to why the hell you are here now." she obviously was a little angry because of the messenger they’d sent to her.
"Well then ill cut to the chase, we need you to help us find the gate." It was to the point. And it annoyed Hazel more than a little.
"What the frik is the ‘Gate', didn’t you try to get some help finding it a while back?"
"How cant you know?" Chris asked, looking as perplexed as ever. "As simple as I don’t. and why should I?" She retorted
"Because, supposedly your its guardian! Did Tristion never explain this to you?"
"The subject never came up."
"yeah, I guess you were too busy with other things to really discuss anything."
"Chris!" Maurice angrily looked over to his brother. "Have you forgotten the discussion we had earlier?"
"I owe nothing to this little girl Maurice, I don’t see why we need her, Its not like we cant find the place on our own." Chris got up and left, Maurice made no attempt to stop him. "You really must excuse my brother, life has not been the kindest lately."
"I don’t excuse your brother, but you, I will excuse you for bringing the jerk here. Now I want to know what the hell the Gate is."
"It is a portal, the one and only supposedly existing portal between your world- Gia and ours. Its the only place in existence that a person can pass between them. Now its my belief that every time you come and go, you pass through with out knowing it. That and the fact that you are supposed to be its guardian suggest that you instinctively know where it is."
"But I."
"I know, you don’t know where it is, but something must hit you that you are either becoming closer or farther from it. there must be!"
"I don’t care, I don’t take your brother to be so prideful that he wouldn’t except absolutely necessary help. You can find it on your own cant you?"
"Yes most possibly."
"Then I will remain here." She leaned back and gave him an impossible look. She loved her life here, and would not leave her brothers without good reason. Hazel laid back down, and Oro walked with Maurice out the door and down the street a ways. "Why is she so unwilling to leave?"
"I think it is because this place gives her the rest she wants"
"What rest? She’s employed herself as a thief, shouldn’t she at least want to leave for sense of adventure?"
"You don’t seriously think that any of us buy that this is only for the adventure of it do you?"
"Its not, but what keeps her in this hell hole if she knows there’s more than adventure waiting."
"She fears what’s waiting. She fears the sins she will commit."
"Sin? Why that? She’s a thief, as I keep saying"
"Sins that she feels she cannot atone for. Give her your true reason. If it outweighs the pain then she will follow you."
"Will she now? And tell me, how do you come to know her so well?"
"She is my sister, Maurice, and I know the turmoil of her soul better than Tristion ever did, and that is what keeps her from becoming my lover, as you seem to think she should, because anything I could do for us would destroy us both."
"And what is this sin that you say she fears so much?"
"If I am correct, and I think I most likely am, it is the pain that must be inflicted upon others to succeed in any adventure, and worst of all, I think your brother."
"My brother?" he laughed "Why him?"
"Same as Tristion, she will fall into her weakness again."
"Weakness, eh?"
"To those who profess their love to her. She feels deprived of it in her homeland, and there are many who would give her what she seeks here."
"But why my brother?"
"She feels for him, she senses the pain he is in, even if she herself doesn’t know it. and he
i's appealing to her other senses. and then, Why not him? You’ve seen the idiot, he is one of the worst temptations someone in her position could face."
"I guess so, also he looks her same age, acts it too the fool. you know what Oro? You sound like an even older man than when we last spoke."
"oh and how old did I sound back then?"
"83."
"I was 13, and how old do I sound now?"
"97, with hints of the jelous 16 year old you pretend your not." They both laughed and stopped. They had reached the end of the street and now it was time to nod their heads in goodbye. "you will speak to her?"
"why not? Until next time."
"And I hope that’s not another 3 years."
"Me too old friend. Me too." The two separated and Oro walked back to his house to find a sleeping Hazel on his couch. Slipping a blanket over her he saw her smile and it warmed his heart. He knew his words would not sway her. But Athies would.

--
A sack over my head, hands tied behind my back with coarse rope, I was made to march to god knows where. I could hear Alynia quietly pleading with whomever would listen, trying to convince them that we were innocent of the theivery. I didn't have the heart to tell her that I had stolen from these men earlier, the proof was a full stumoch and a dazzling sword hanging from my side. I chose to remain as silent as Eliv and Chris, left to hope that they wouldn't catch Maurice or Pheoliz who had also been seen with me that day. If they were caught there would be no one to bust us out of the situation, thats if these men delt civily with theives. A shuddered to think of losing a hand, an arm, or hanging for this. Personally It seemed to me that they were overeacting, considering the large amount of treasure in their storehouse. To me, the sword had been beutifull, yeah, but i'd had to dig to find it. Anything buried under cups and jewelry couldn't be worth the trouble of finding the theif and all her possible "help"

--

I stand by the river, breathing in deeply. I smell the water, the river weeds, and just a slight hint of the fish. Light is just creeping over the hills across the water, its the crack of dawn, and yet I've been ready for the day for almost an hour. My world is silent and blind, save the lapping of waves against the shore, my eyelids closed, blocking out all the light that was casting cold grey mist on the world. Just the way I like it. A strange tingle on my back, my eyes snapping open, theres something in the bushes behind me. Standing quickly, but silently I crouch down, slipping my messenger bag onto my shoulders. Slipping into the brush, ears straining for any sounds, eyes searching uslessly, still bleary. I'm behind a tree and about to stand to better search for what was behind me, when a cold thin hand slips onto my shoulder. "Hazel it's me!" comes the hurried whisper of my friend Alynia. A smile plays on my lips as we say hello silently.We havn't seen eachother in several weeks. I feel half angry, half over joyed to see her. It was my choice to have been gone so long, but still, it wasn't her i was mad at. Alynia is about to say something when my back gives me a nasty twinge. Were not alone.


Chris was watching me intently as I finished sketching what I'd seen in my dream. The gate in detail was drawn out on the paper, but He didn't care. I handed it to him, and his eyes fell down onto the drawing. "It's good, pretty close to how it was described."
"mmm." I agreed quietly. I was staring at him as he had been seconds before. "do you...." I paused, not very sure of what I was about to say."do I what?" He asked.


--Hazel was running, she was late for work and starving. she began crossing the street when she relized too late that a car was coming, speeding up she knew she wasnt going to make it. Still moving she sqose her eyes shut. she thought the car hit her, but she slid sideways on the ground, somebody on top of her. looking up she saw the boy shed met at the teen center, he was also a regular at the diner, but was always with friends. he held her tight, and for a split secound, she looked directly into his eyes and was startled by the feeling of wanting him not to let go. but he pushed himself up and reached out for her hand. she hesitated but accepted his help. "Chris" he said still holding her hand "...Sera" she said, not wanting to be overly friendly. "Close call back there" he said casuly, but she remembered what she had to do. "and im late for work" she said hurredly running to work. when she got there her co-workers nodded and went to go take their smoke breaks. she was still shaken from almost getting killed, but did her best. the day was going pretty well, shed even managed about $30 in tips by 6 when the rush was over and Chris and his friends came in. Laughing at a joke he immediatly locked eyes with her and flashed a smile that probably made most girls melt. Shaking her head she started walking to the back to tell her co-workers to get back in. that is she would have if chris hadnt suddenly been behind her. "you doing allright?" he said into her ear. jumping she spun around, relieved that his face wasnt where it used to be. sweeping a lose strand of hair back "yeah i was doin' just fine till you and your posse showed up." she glared up into his green eyes. there was something vagley familiar about them. he looked as if he was reminicing. suddenly a fantasy about kissing him came to her and she pushed it away, but she couldnt, the events werent what she imagined, but almost like....rememberances. suddenly the whatever it was dissapated into shards as pain wracked her back, a searing heat painfully spread across it. She fainted and Chris leaned over her, calling out for help. Mrs. Oreska rushed in and fussed over Hazel trying to find out what was wrong. "M'am!" chris said trying to calm her "M'am im her neighbor, i think she should get home, this has happened before, and im pretty sure that her mom knows what to do."
The distraught woman didnt even protest, just nodded wanting to do the best for Haze. Hefting her up, Eliv paid the ticket and they layed her out in the back seat of Elivs car.

when Hazel woke up, she didnt know where she was and scrambled out of the bed she was in. her head hurt so bad she could cry. trying to find all her stuff she almost ran into one of Chris's friends. he caught her arms and steadied her looking worried. "Do leshn Baina?" he asked. another strange memory came to her and she understood. "i woke up, and i really cant stay here, i dont know you people." The guy just smiled looking amused by this. "Mordan." he laughed the moment lasted for a while, as she tried to figure out why she seemed to know him. "where did you guys sive before you came here?" she said startling herself. "well Haze i really dont think youd believe me unless you could remember it." Chris said from behind his friend. HAze began to shake, the memory of sitting next to them laughing came to her. that led to a memory of Chris laying out on a bed chatting with her. a wedding. a gateway. and then.. "ahh!" she cried out her back was on fire. Chris grabbed her and lifted the back of her shirt up half way. his friend put his hand in the middle, and the pain eased away, becoming cool, and it almost felt damp. Chris put her shirt back down but still held on to her. "what was?" she asked but Chris interupted and asked Eliv "is anything still there?" Eliv nodded. "not all of it, its still imprinted on her back, but its only a scar now." "could it be replaced though couldnt it?"
"i dont know. if Tri was still around....i mean, theres still the fact that his sister was to blame, but well...you know. its difficult to know." Eliv shook his head, unsure of it all. Hazel was begining to gain clairity again. being held startled her and she jerked back. she went back fast as she could "who the hell are you?" she said panting. chris and Eliv didnt look suprised. "well, who do you think we are?" Chris asked. "i think i....i know you guys dont you. this all has something to do with my back right?" her stumoch was trembling. "yes and no." he ansered her. "your back, its...its what has brought us here, and also what led you to us originally. isnt there anything you remember?" he had a pleading look in his eyes when he looked at her.she stood up and crossed her arms. "somethings, i remember you, and E-Eliv right? and a girl, and others sometimes, the language too. but where did i get these memorys from? and why have i forgotten them, and not the ones from home?" she was confused, and she really hoped these two would anser her. getting up Chris walked up to her and said "do you trust us"
"yeah i do, i remember you, at least, i know we were friends."
"Alynia is the other girl, and obviously youve been remembering how come you got your amnesia, but i cant tell you the rest, that for you to remember." he said taking her hand, looking sadly into her eyes. "id think youd remember at least how close you where to us." he said quietly. Eliv had slipped out of the room without her noticing. Chris leaned in to give her what she thought might have been a passionate kiss on the lips, but he brushed his lips over her cheek for a split second and left the room. shocked as she was, she was gratefull, he at least had the dignity to not intrude on ground she only had his word was there between them. laying back on the couch she heard an echo in her ears from a distant memory.. "is it that hard to believe that i love you as much as i say i do? you told me you loved me once, so why cant i love you back?" it was Chris's voice. his anguish was so painfull that she tried to make it go away, it tore at her heart." her memorys were coming back, along with a paralyzing pain in her back, it was so intense that she had lost the will to cry out. no one would be coming to hold her now. she was left to writh, tears streaming down her face, alone like the many times before.




When Hazel woke up she stumbled into a bathroom. the light hurt so bad she squoze her eyes shut and collapsed in the saftey of the shower, hot water pouring over naked body, she'd somehow manged to get out of her clothes before getting in and was greatfull for it. she fell asleep once more. memorys, much less painfully this time. streamed in untill someone turned off the water. she open her eyes a little to see Chris getting a towel for her. he came back and she noted that his eyes did not stray from her face while he carfully lifted her up and wrapped her, avoiding her back with the ends of the towel. "i can walk" she told him, but the first attempt was so feeble that he lifted her swiftly up into his arms. "ok, mabey i cant" she joked, making him smile too. Chris Farren, she thought. i think that i trust him. so with that she rested her head on his sholder as he walked her back into the room they let her stay in. he layed her onto the bed and turned away. she was eager to rest, but more eager to discuss some of the memorys shed suddenly gotten. "wait!" she called out. he looked as if shed said i love you, wich made him laugh at himself. "sorry, i geuss i was hopefull that all the fits youve been having might give you some insight into who i am to you, actually more of who you are to me."