Date: Thu, 08 Oct 1998 21:49:29 PDT
Title Reunion
              authors: ian, Teri, Stana

              * * *
              The wind had picked up by the time Shinji walked back to
the small cottage,
 making his long white bandana flap chaotically behind and beside him.
His
arm hurt, his leg hurt, he hurt in places he didn't even think he COULD
hurt!  He hoped he didn't look as bad as he felt, but he probably did.
Oh
 well, no pain no gain, right? He tried to move his left shoulder, but
all
he got was a numb ache. "It might be broken," he thought, "or sprained,"
              Then, in a flash of
 negativity, "with my luck probably both. Maybe that Ka Ta wasn't such a
good idea after all."
              Finally, he reached the door to the cottage, pushed it
open and staggered inside.
              * * *

              Teri and Stana exited teh building just as Sullam rounded
the corner. He stopped for a moment and appraised them both with
inscrutable blue eyes before he summoned a smile. Stana would have sworn
that he was worried about something but hanged if she knew what.
              "Up and about?" he inquired "How are you moving?"
              "Carefully." stana answered.
                He nodded with some amusement. "Don't go too hard ok? Rashka will be
around to look in on you later. Meet me here after lunch and I will take
a look."
              "I will. Thanks."
              He nodded and walked on.

 *********************

              "Where do you think we should look?" Teri asked, glancing
at the  doors that stood around the small kitchen. Absentmindedly, she
picked up a slice of bread and began chewing on it.
              "I really don't know," Stana sighed as she leaned against
a rough chair for support. "I was unconcious when they brought me in, so
I know about as muchas you do."
              Just then, the front door opened, and a rather beaten up
looking Shinji lurched inside. Stana shot a puzzled expression at Teri,
and the girl just rolled her eyes. She had heard the fighting outside,
but Stana hadn't. Still, the older girl would figure it out quickly.
              "What happened to you?"
              Shinji lolled his head over to look at them, as if he
hadn't really  understood. Then reality crashed in and he apparently
came back to his senses.
              "Hey! You guys are alive again!" he exclaimed happily.
              Teri rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "What do you
mean, alive?!"
              Shinji blinked, then scratched his head in a farced
display of
              thoughtfulness. "Hmmm..now let me see. First, I get back
to camp and  everyone is unconcious. I find a little troll leaning over
the bodies,  then I get my butt kicked by some nasty ninja!"
              "A troll?" came another voice from behind Shinji. A dry
voice, sharp and not amused. Shinji whirled to find Rashka standing
behind him. She was glaring at him with only slight annoyance.
              "Gah! Jeez don't sneak up on people like that! I almost
had a heart attack!"
              Teri munched on her bread and grinned as Rashka grabbed
Shinji by the end of his trailing bandana.
              "You should learn some manners young man--" she began as
she hauled him off into the sleeping room.  Stana and Teri exchanged
amused glances and headed
              out the front door before the screaming would begin..
              ***
              "AAAAAH!" shinji screamed, grabbing his shoulder.

              "Stay still!!" Rashka grabbed his arm and snapped it
backwards, then forwards, quickly. "How am I supposed to fix this with
you screaming like a child?"

              "I'm screaming because it HURTS!" shinji screamed.

              Rashka poked him in the flesh of the arm, and the boy
winced. "There-- all better. You should watch your mouth. I could have
done that much more easily, you know--"

              "then why didn't you?" he demanded, rubbing his
now-working arm with a scowl.

              "Trolls don't have any healing power that I know of," the
old woman responded with a sharp, creased smile before she vanished from
the room.

              "Um, Stana?"
              "Huh?"
              "I don't think we're in Kansas anymore."
              "No kidding."
              "Hey! Don't just stand there" came a plaintive cry from
inside "-Ow!-help me!"
                "Think we should?" Teri asked.
                "Nope." replied Stana. "I think he earned this one."
                "I guess that's what Sullam thought when he kicked the crud out of him
earlier."
                "Huh?" Stana pulled out of her own thoughts "did Sullam go after him
again??"
                "I think if anything Shinji went after Sullam. Looking at the both of
them I would guess Shinji got the
raw end of the stick."
                "Ohboy"
                Rashka came out and crooked a finger at Stana.
                "I would speak with you." she indicated with a glance that Teri was
not to be included. Stana hesitated a moment and then nodded.

   Stana followed the old crone with only the slightest hint of
trepidation. She was grateful that the crone was hobbling almost as
slowly as she was. They entered a side room that Stana swore hadn't had
been there before and walked inside.
                         "Sullam!" Rashka snapped. "stop lurking and
come out here."
                    "Really Mitra." he reproved "lurking? I think not
since you were theone who told me to meet you here." He smiled and
helped her to a seat then watched as Stana lowered herself carefully.
                     "You girl." Rashka whipped out, and Stana jerked up
to full attention.
              "How old are you?"
                     "21 ma'am." she stuttered.
                     "The oldest?"
                     "Ye-yes ma'am. Teri is nineteen and Shinji is
younger I think." She deliberately avoided mention of Clip.
                    "Where were you heading child?"
                 "To-to go with Clip to help rescue a child..."she
stopped "at least I was going..."
                     "Alone?!" Sullam rapped out in stacatto. She
hesitated as Rashka interrupted.
                    "You have no idea what you are attempting? Of course
not-that foal was stubborn even before this." she snorted and clucked
her tongue against her teeth. "THAT one only learned his lessons at the
end of our teeth."
                   Stana held herself very still. She hadn't just heard
what she thoughtshe did...did she? Stana shot a glance to Sullam who was
watching the crone with an intent but otherwise composed expression.
                    "He has a good heart." she finally relented"if he
didn't try so hard to be impossible. The fact that he pursues the child
despite his disavowal is proof of that." she caught herself. "But I lose
you both. Sullam sit you make the room look untidy. Girl-you know what
Clip is-he has indicated that. But you don't know what it is you are
pursuing with him. He feels, foolishly that his concerns are above
yours. That is a mistake I fix now."
                     "Every five hundred years a child is born to the
Unicorns. This child grows to become the new matron of the herd.
              She is born human." Rashka raised a profile that suddenly
silhouetted starangely. Stana blinked twice and the visual echo
disappeared. "and she dies human."
                  Sullam looked ready to ask a question but caught
himself quickly.
                     "I-" Stana began "I thought Unicorns were
immortal."
       "They are-the matrons are not quite...Unicorn. Nor are they
human. They are neither and both. This child that he pursues is the next
in line for the position as Unicorn mother. She has been kidnapped."
                  "Kidnapped?" Stana inquired "how? I mean-" she
stammered "certainly there must have been protection-"
                  "All dead." Sullam's reply was flat. Stana looked up
shocked into blue eyes flashing angrily.
                    "All dead." Rashka agreed.
                    "And Clip is-"
                    "Clip was chosen at birth to be the matrons'
protectorate. He refused,his condenscation for anything not immortal
creating an internal conflict not resolvable by Unicron means. He was
cast out of the herd for his disobedience. That he has chosen to rescue
the child now-mortal
              when as a Unicorn he refused to gaurd her is ironic-and
understandable.
              "
                     "He's losing his memory." she said.
                   "yes. And will continue to do so. There may be a time
when he will not recall even the reason for this mission. That is why
you are being told.The child must be rescued. Besides her innocence
there is the matter of her kidnapper. She possesses a great potential of
magical means. That can be exploited in her human form. Now that the
kidnapper also has Clip's Alicorn-the news can only become worse."
                    "What can we do? I mean Rashka I am NOT anything
special-"
                  "You care girl. That matters much in this world. And
you've a fair talent for healing-but little knowledge. Plus there is
about you and theother girl a sense of something deeper. " She sat back.
                   `"I am sending Sullam with you. He knows alot about
the healing talentsand can teach you. As such he also contains a
warrior's spirit and impressive fighting skills. When not beating on
boys beneath his mastery."
                    Did he flush? Stana didn't think so, but couldn't
tell.
                   "I don't think you should be left alone..." he
objected.
                   "Phshaw!" she sneered "I was alone long before you
came. Besides, it istime."
                   Abruptly he stood up. "so soon?"
                  "There is only change Sullam." she answered. And then
he nodded shortly and kissed her forehead. He gathered Stana with his
eyes and indicated   they leave.
                    "What-" she began as they moved out "did she mean?"
                    "She told you. The matron's lives begin as
human...and end that way."
                    "Rashka-?!" Stana gasped.
                    "We have preperations to make." he answered. "And
little time."