Welcome to Gaia! ::

Kaden looked in wonderment at his hands. When Chrono took a sharp breath Kaden jumped and watched as he then fell unconscious. Kaden could have said that he would expect that after all the boy had been through but at the moment he really couldn’t say he expected anything. His entire world had been roughly flipped upside down three times then left to rest on its side. Nothing seemed as it had used to. Lifting Chrono he put him over his shoulder and walked back to Eitan and the now unconscious Rosette.

Eitan smiled to him and all Kaden could do was give him a confused look. Had the elf known . . .?

“We must get them back.” Eitan said, “We will return to the Forester Post then spread the news of a move. I’m sorry but you all can no longer remain in this forest that has become your home. It is now a known target. We must move you elsewhere. I plan on allowing you to stay no place other then the Eaveshire – my home. The journey is not far; we should be able to get there and get these three the proper care they need before they wake next.”

Kaden looked out to the battlefield. It was nearly empty now; the Foresters had returned and the Dragon Slayers had moved elsewhere.

“But how are we supposed to move along? There are two of us and three of them.” Kaden pointed out.

Eitan smiled and gave a soft bird call. The elves that had been in his group before stepped from their hiding places. They were all there, all appearing to have gone through hell and back, but they were alive.

“A Crew never leaves their Captain.” He smiled. Kaden nodded tiredly and let go as one of the elves approached and carefully took Chrono in his arms. One of them tried to lift Blaise but Kaden stopped him.

“I would rather . . .” he let his voice trail. The elf understood and let Kaden take her.

Together they walked back to the Forester post where everyone was anxiously waiting. At first Kaden didn’t know what to do, their leader was unconscious and not many seemed too thrilled to see Rosette or Chrono. Kaden fought past that, arguing with several others that they were to stay with them no matter what; it was beyond what they thought or could comprehend.

“You must give the announcement of the move.” Eitan approached him, “From what I understand you should be second in command.”

Kaden nodded and took a stand, facing the tattered Foresters before him. He realized he must have looked just as bad if not worse, but this was not the time to worry about that. He cleared his throat and called attention.

“Fellow Foresters. I stand before you today because our leader is not well. I must temporarily stand in her place and give information that is crucial. We can no longer remain here in our home, the forest. It is now a target and we are not safe. We have been invited to move elsewhere and stay with our close allies the Eaveshire. We must move as quickly as possible. The journey to there is not long. But, keep in mind this as we travel. The longest journey that must ever be taken is the one to truth and peace. We are those who must take that journey. Now go forth and begin. We bring a new era. The Foresters are the new begining . . .”

Blaise was slowly coming to, her thoughts starting back up again and pushing away her dreamy subconscious. She couldn’t remember what had happened . . . it all seemed to be a blur of events. It was a battle blown to warlike proportions. It was chaos . . . and what she had to do . . . she could never forget it. But what had happened after that? She had blacked out – the next time she woke up she saw . . .

Blaise bolted upright as the memories flashed in her mind. She was completely awake now; wide eyed and reeling. Where was she? It seemed to be some sort of hospital wing, but was not the one they had back at the Forester Post; it was different. She looked to the beds at her left and right. Her vision was still blurry with sleep. She could see two beds occupied to her left . . . Chrono? Rosette? She couldn’t tell.

Someone approached her and put a hand on her shoulder. Blaise tried to rub the blurriness from her eyes but it didn’t seem to want to go away. At first she thought her eyes had gone back to the state they had been when the spy attacked her but the fuzziness soon cleared. It was just the sleep that made them that way.

A rather clean and gentle lady elf smiled down at her.

“I’m glad to see you’re awake.” She said softly, “We were beginning to worry.”

Blaise didn’t answer; she couldn’t find her voice at the moment. She was still so very tired. Looking to her left she could now see who was occupying the beds; it was as she had expected. They looked okay -- worn and bruised but okay.

“Your friends are fine as well.” the elf said, understanding her glance, “Neither of them has awakened yet but we must give it time. You yourself must recuperate. Lie back and try to sleep. You need much rest.”

Blaise was too tired to question so she just obeyed and lay back down. She couldn’t remember what had woken her up in the first place anymore and things got blurry again. With a sigh, Blaise closed her eyes and fell back to sleep.

Blaise nearly fell out of bed she was so surprised. She sat upright and rubbed her eyes – she had just gotten back to sleep and now this?

“Alright, alright.” She mumbled tiredly, “I’m up. Jeez, you can’t give a girl a rest can you?”

She looked up to the Forester shouting at her and glared. They demanded council did they? A nurse came rushing up to them all in a mad panic.

“You must leave! These patients need rest!” she pressed.

Blaise held her hand up to stop her, much more awake now then she was, “We’re fine. I have issues to address with my troops.”

The nurse reluctantly left. Blaise was glad she did so, because she was about to let this rather loud group have it.

“You have no right to demand anything of me!” Blaise barked angrily, “I am your Lieutenant and demand to be approached as such. I am in command here! If you question my authority you face the consequences!”

Several of the Foresters back down but one of the more cocky ones stepped up. She frowned in disgust at who it was. Vader . . . the little weasel who enjoyed picking fights then whimping out on them.

“Hello, Blaise.” Vader smiled snidely.

Blaise slowly pushed herself to her feet. No matter how tired and weak she was she would never stand down to this despicable lowlife.

“That’s Lieutenant to you, Expert. You have no business here.” Blaise sneered.

“My business is him.” Vader replied, pointing to Chrono.

“If you touch him—”

“What? You’ll limp over and hit me? Terrifying . . .”

“I will not fail to kill you.” Blaise threatened.

Vader got even more cocky, “Won’t that be the day?”

Blaise lunged at Vader angrily directing a punch to his face hitting him square in the jaw. It was a weak punch but hurt nonetheless. He took her by the neck as other Foresters restrained her.

“MUTINY!” Blaise shouted with such a deep hatred even the Foresters that had her by the arms loosened their grip for a second. She kicked angrily and they held her tighter again, but didn’t really have to – she was too weak to do much of anything.

“You must not understand how much of a monster Chrono really is.” Vader said coolly. Everyone else had gone by now, it was just him, her, and the two Foresters holding her roughly.

“You’re the only monster here!” Blaise spat.

Vader frowned and delivered a swift punch to her stomach. It knocked the air out of her and drove her to her hands and knees. The two Foresters holding her were so surprised at Vader’s actions they just let her fall. This really was beginning to become mutiny. Blaise gasped for air on her hands and knees, one arm around her stomach.

“Go now,” Vader said to the two, “Your business is done here. I can handle her.”

“But Vader,” one of them stammered, “She’s right . . . you’re turning this into mu—”

“I said leave!” Vader shouted.

The two Foresters left; they didn’t want to be caught up in this treachery. Vader bent down to Blaise’s level and smiled cruelly.

“Just wanted that one shot,” he whispered, “I never was able to get you. Now I can.”

“You will pay with your life,” Blaise gasped, wincing in pain, “The last thing you will ever feel is my cool blade at your throat. I guarantee you this.”

Vader frowned and stood again. He kicked her in the side and sent her flying onto her back. She hit her head on the ground and cringed in pain. If something were to have been broken, it would have been then. Vader might not have been very smart, but one thing’s for sure, he could break stone with a single kick – bone would not have been enough to withstand.

“Plan on feeling like this more often.” Vader snarled.

Blaise fought away the darkness clouding her vision as he stalked off. She could hardly breathe, the kick in the ribs making sure of it. If she were to call out she was afraid Vader would come back and finish her off. But she needed to tell someone before she passed out. But who?

Rosette! She was still in the room. But would she wake up? Blaise could only pray.

“Rosette!” Blaise gasped, “Rosette, please! Please wake up. Wake up, damnit!”

Blaise opened her eyes as she was splashed with water. She looked just in time to see Vader fall to the ground like a sack of rotten potatoes. She would have rathered him a sack of potatoes.

“Rosette! They took—” a shooting pain went through her ribs and she groaned. Her voice was quiet, she couldn’t breathe well enough to make herself any louder, “Scream, shout for someone! Hurry, please!”

Another pain shot through her body and she flinched. Noises could now be heard in the room again, voices. Rosette didn’t have to call after all, someone had heard the ruckus and came in to see. She felt hands on her arms and she screamed in pain as she was lifted and placed back on the bed. When she opened her eyes she saw Kaden. Blaise immediately closed them again. What was this?

“Blaise?! What happened?” someone asked. The voice was familiar. It was Eitan. She had absolutely no idea what was going on right now. How could they have been there? It was time for some answers . . . but she had to wait, there were more important things to be taken care of.

“Vader . . . and s-several other Foresters. They t-took Chrono. They want to lock h-him up . . . s-said he was d-dangerous. Don’t l-let them, d-don’t let them! I couldn’t s-stop them. I t-tried . . . Vader a-attacked me . . .”

There. She had said what she needed to. There was nothing more she could do. Blaise tried to take as deep a breath as possible. She couldn’t hold on any longer and slipped away into darkness.

Kaden had been talking with Eitan before they had heard the noises. They were walking along a path in the lovely Eaveshire forest, home to their allies.

“Why did you do that?” Kaden asked, “You and I both know Rosette would have been fine if you left. Why did you send me to save Chrono? Did you . . . did you know? You knew I was a healer?”

Eitan smiled, “Yes . . . you have the mark. I saw it on your hand when you handed me bandages to care for Rosette. When I saw it, I knew . . .” he paused for a moment, “Someone must have been a healer in your family and passed the gift to you. But your talent is special. That blue butterfly you left is your signature. Only the strongest of healers have a signature. I’m surprised that you hadn’t discovered this talent sooner.”

Kaden looked down at the mark on his hand Eitan had been referring to. It was on his palm just below his first finger. The dark mark had been there ever since he could remember; he thought it was a birth mark. Up until then he thought it just looked like a misshapen blob . . . now he could see that it was the shape of a butterfly.

The loud noises caught their attention and they rushed into the hospital wing nearby. That is when the afore mentioned events had occurred. Kaden glared at the unconscious Vader on the ground as Blaise passed out. Kaden pulled up her shirt a little and gasped as he saw a very large black bruise forming around her side up at her ribs.

“Where’s Rosette?” Eitan asked.

Kaden whipped his head up to see that she had gone.

“Nyah crap,” Kaden sighed, “This day just never ends! Eitan, send out a search team of your law enforcers, whoever they may be. Find Rosette and Chrono and return them here. Lock up any Foresters responsible for taking Chrono until further notice.”

Eitan gave him a curt nod and hurried out. Kaden was unsure of what to do about Blaise’s side – there was nothing he really could do. He was afraid that if he healed her, her rib would heal in a bad position and tax her for the rest of her life. That would be much worse than not good.

Eitan returned quickly, “Done. Now I’ll take this one to lock up as well.”

Eitan took Vader’s arm ready to just drag him out that way but Kaden stopped him. At first Eitan thought Kaden was going to tell him to treat Vader respectfully, but Kaden had something else in mind. Kaden sauntered over to Vader’s side nonchalantly then . . . gave him a couple of good kicks for the road. Kaden smiled and nodded to Eitan and Eitan did the same. Whistling a tune Eitan dragged Vader out of the hospital wing by his hand, making sure to hit the boy’s head on every step on the way down.

Kaden was shooed away from Blaise’s side by two elvin nurses. He was the one who had called for them in the first place, Blaise needed help, but he hadn’t expected them to push him away. He wasn’t even supposed to have let her see him until after someone had explained to her everything that had happened. She was still missing many parts to the story because she had fallen unconscious. If she were to see those who had been dead, which she had, it would have negative effects on her mentality, which it did, especially after all she had been through. So much for that.

After they were done taking care of her, however, he could not be driven away. The nurses just scowled at his persistency and told him to call on them if Blaise should wake up again. He told them he would and they left. Kaden pulled a low resting stool next to Blaise’s bed and watched her rest peacefully. The nurses had told him that two of her ribs had been injured, possibly broken. They righted them and wrapped her upper abdomen tightly to minimize pain and keep everything in order. Kaden didn’t really care, he was just relieved that she’d be okay and that she’d heal.

He began getting drowsy and leaned over at the foot of her bed. Kaden hadn’t slept since they got there – he was just too worried about Blaise, Rosette and Chrono. The Forester was still worried, even more so then he had initially been, but couldn’t hold his eyes open anymore. He was still sitting at the stool but his upper body was hunched over on the foot of the bed. His eyes drooped closed and he fell asleep.

~ * ~

Eitan continued to whistle his tune as he dragged the unconscious wretch of a boy behind him. Several elves gave him very questioning looks as he passed, but everyone knew of his unorthodox ways . . . and how well they worked – so no one questioned. Everyone just smiled and waved as he passed and he did the same.

Eitan was happy to see the officials doing their job and asking around if anyone had seen Rosette or Chrono. Several people had said they had seen Rosette, but not Chrono. They asked everyone and anyone, even the Foresters that wandered the paths. No one could directly place either of the two.

As he dragged Vader along, Eitan noticed a Forester seemingly searching for something . . . or someone. He had caught a glimpse of the Forester’s hand and the red stain on it.

Leaning over to one of the officials who knew him well he whispered, “Keep an eye on that one. Don’t be too forward with him; just do as you have been with everyone else, but keep tabs on him at all time. Follow him discretely – I have this itch, it’s telling me he might have something to do with Chrono’s disappearance.”

The elf he spoke to nodded curtly and returned to his business while relaying the message.