Quiet words
Date: Sat, 18 Mar 2000 22:20:05 EST
author: stana, teri

Stana picked herself off the floor, hearing the door slam as Teri exited.
What the hell had that been about? She'd been out very late last night,
talking with Avery, or rather, not talking to him, but admiring the gardens.
Teri had been very asleep when she had returned.
The dirt under her hands was packed very tight and oiled to a polished
surface. Her nails dug into it as she clenched her hands into fists.
Then , just as abruptly, the mood of anger passed. Who cared? It was a
tumble to the ground. If Teri found satisfaction in such childishnes, then
so what?
Stana got to her feet and packed silently. There was not much she had taken
out, so it didnt ake too long.  A muted snort outside the window indicated
Clip was awake and aware of her activities inside.
"I guess we're leaving soon?" she asked.
"The Ambassadoe has said such." The Unicorn returned "I'll be at the front
entrance."

Stana lifted the pack to her shoulders, setting the straps tight. She
listened quietly to the various sounds that were filtering into the room. It
was disconcerting to hear an owl during the morning. It upset her sense of
order.

"For God's sake!" she shouted "What the hell kind of world is it that has
owls in the daylight?!?" of course she didnt expect anyone to answer. She
was pretty sure the question was rhetorical in nature. She was also pretty
sure that orders had been left to give her and Teri wide berth.  "Even the
damned creatures are messed up and backwards here."

She stamped her foot, jarring the bones harshly, and growled at the pain. It
was her own childish tantrum, but it made her feel better, just the same.
Because once she stepped outside, she'd go face to face with Teri, and god
knew what would happen then.

***
Teri heard the door click open and turned to see Stana, bags shouldered,
paused in the doorway. Only a few steps seperated the two. Teri felt those
steps in many different, clambering ways.

They were just a short distance she felt she couldn't reach if she tried.
She
was tired of chasing. She didn't know what to do.

"I'm leaving," she said quietly, meeting the older girl's eyes with her own,
tired ones.

It didn't sound right. And it sounded perfect. Teri was afraid to stay, and
more afraid to go. Maybe that was why she had decided to leave... she was
tired of being afraid.

"We're all leaving now. We're meeting at the front gate," Stana replied, but
didn't move. Teri didn't say anything but wrapped her own uncomfortableness
around her.

"I think... I'm leaving now. I'll head back to Reiki. There are.. somethings
I have to figure out."

Stana shrugged. "That's your decision. Make sure that you talk to S'Chatham
and arrange an escort.  Reiki is probably no safer for you than anywhere
else."

"How do you know that?"

"Because we've been dogged at every single turn Teri!" Stana snapped,
patience about out."Every move, every leg of the journey we've been waylaid
and bushwhacked. Someone knows where we're heading, or someone is just
geting really lucky. I've got enough dead people in my closet clamoring for
peace. I'd rather not have to hear your voice with them. So...get an escort
ok?"

"I planned on it."

"Fine. I've gotta go. We're leaving to go after Finn."

"Why are you doing this Stana?" Teri asked "Why are you even going after
him? It's not like you really know him."

The other girl paused for a moment, then shrugged. "Dunno. Except...he knows
Spiffy. And Spiffy is back in our world. Maybe Finn is our only chance to
get word back that we're alive. Maybe our only chance to get home. If so,
then, I have to make sure that he's ok. I'm not like you Teri, I don't like
being here, don't like being part of a prophecy, and sure as hell don't like
getting shot at and nearly killed..." she seemed to hesitate, but then just
shook her head, muttered something under her breath and walked off.

Teri shook her head, hearing those final words buzzing in her ears.

"in the final conflict with chaos, Earth was the first, and only, one to
fall."