Lost Relatives

"Let us out of here! Do you hear me!? You bastards!!" Drake shouted.
He was banging at the bars of the cage imprisoning him, Angie, Aqva and Amarel.
"Shut up! You'll get out of there at some point. Now be quiet!"
Came an irritated tauren's voice.
"Why are you doing this!? We haven't done anything wrong! And there's a wounded woman here too!"
Amarel protested. Angie was indeed sitting on the ground of the tent, holding her hand. She had a broken wrist and Aqva was sitting next to her hand over her shoulders.
"You are to be held captive until we decide what to do with you. We don't like outsiders, and we were not after you. We wanted the 'red-haired demon'."
There was a sound of mock in the taurens voice, the 'red-haired demon' seemed to amuse him for some reason.
"Well was that still any reason to drop us huh!?" Drake spazzed.
"Well it didn't go quite according to our plan." The tauren snorted. "You weren't supposed to fall. Only your ship. You were meant to be catched."
He looked grumpy.
"But I don't have time to listen and answer your questions. I have better things to do."
With that he stepped outside the tent the cage was in and left Drake boiling in it. Angie broke to tears eventually and Drake tried to close it out of his mind. Usually he wouldn't have let a pretty lady cry but this one had two cheer uppers already and Drake wanted to go over the passed few hours in his mind. First the ship had shoken, then it had started losing height and eventually after tilting 45 degrees it had crashed to the shallow water of the island. Then the tauren troops had come and taken them captive, after the little resistance they had given them. They had been carried across the island and rudely put in this cage, totally ignoring they possible injuries and contradicting opinions.
"You'll pay for this.. " Drake mumbled, but was more worried of Iisai and others.
To his best knowledge, they had been on the deck at the time the ship had tilted, making it mostlikely that they had fallen over. Drake knew that each Teo, Baron and Kathy had their little tricks and Iisai would be perfectly fine if either of them had a chance to help him. That was, if either had the chance.
Oh man.. I sure hope everyone's okay.. And will soon come and rescue us.
Then he heard the restless noises and somewhat even cheery shouts from the outside.
"Or then not rescue..I guess they found them as well.."
He continued, predicting the reason causing the chatter.

Iisai was sitting in a vast, empty tent, just staring somewhere, being scared for Teo. The old tauren tending her wounds had told Iisai that she would regain full health in no time, but Iisai just couldn't help himself. Teo had looked so fragile and empty, Iisai couldn't believe she would be alright too soon. His lonely pondering was interrupted by Betsy, who appeared out of nowhere with a huge wooden bucket with her.
"Aww, why do you look so down? Still being all down for that lady.. what was her name, Teo?"
Iisai nodded silently and Betsy came to pick him up by his shoulders.
"Don't look that way, old Quesmar is not only smart, he's also very skillfull healer. He is sure to take good care of her."
Betsy pat Iisai's head gently and hugged him.
"It's ok, little guy. I understand you're shocked."
Iisai shivered and hid himself in the tauren's arms.
"I'm just really scared she won't be ok.. She has sacrificed alot because of me.."
"Shh shh, calm down now, Iisai. We will treat Teo as well as we can, you have my word for it."
For a moment, Iisai and Betsy just stared each others until a smile rose on Betsy's face.
"I'm sure I know something that will relax you, even a bit. Would you say no for a bath?"
At first it sounded like a wonderful idea, but after Iisai actually found himself sitting in that giant bucket, he started feeling very small and naked. The water was warm, yes, but Betsy's presense made him insecure. He wasn't quite sure what Betsy was tinkering with, but atleast it kept her attention away. Iisai dipped his head underwater and tried to get the scent of blood off him. He sighed deeply and layed his head on the side of the bucket. He felt lonely without Teo, bossing him around. He had gotten fond of her commandment. Suddenly a bright sunray snapped him off his dreams. Drake sneaked next to Iisai and sat down, looking rather apathic.
"They finaly let you go?"
Iisai asked, leaning against the his knees. Drake nodded.
"It took a long time before they believed your word. Too bad their boss isn't here, I'm sure he would have ordered the guards away much faster."
Iisai laughed and wiped some hair from his eyes.
"I'm sure, no one ever listens to me."
"Heh, yeah. Anyway, have you heard anything about Teo? I mean, is she alright?"
After a moment of hesitation Iisai opened his mouth.
"Some elderly shaman is looking after her, and Betsy told me she's in good hands. I have no reason to doubt her."
Drake didn't seem convinced.
�They better not screw her up or I�ve got some serious ass-kicking to do� Hey� I�ve been thinking� Angie, Akva, Amarel, Teo, Kathy you and me are here but� Isn�t someone mising?�
Iisai looked at him quickly and then he realized.
�You mean Baron isn�t with you guys!?�
Drake shook his head. �He was on the deck with you at the time you fell, and we sure haven�t seen him.�
Iisai felt nervous and even slight worry but he also remembered what Teo had said about him.
�He�s� fine I hope�I�m sure he�ll pop out of somewhere.�
They remained silent until Betsy rose her gaze off her current project and shooed Drake out, leaving Iisai alone for his great relief.

Few hours later Iisai was hanging about the tent where they had taken Teo to. He had to wait for long before a tauren came out and with small gesture nodded to him.
"You may go in.. But don't stress her, she needs a lot of silence and calm to recover."
Greatefully Iisai slipped in and took a look around. The tent wasn't as big as the previous one but the woman laying in the middle of it seemed very small. Quietly he walked to her and sat down. She looked just as pale as before and had her blind fold on her eyes. There was a proper bandage on her arm now and she looked like the tauren had also cleaned her a little. Her clothes were different and skin clean from dust and dirt.
"Iisai.." She whispered hoarsely.
"I'm right here." The boy replied and took her hand.
"How did you know it was me? And how are you feeling, any better?"
"Your presence is very familiar to me by now. And it seems I really will survive."
She smiled weakly. Her fingers replied to the squeeze of his hand.
"Thank god!" Iisai felt a wave of relief pass by him.
"I was so worried! You have no idea.."
His hand gently wiped some hair off her face.
"I..I.. Iisai.. I.. don't want to thank you cause you again disobeyed me.. but you also saved my life by not leaving me behind.."
A smile broke on Iisai's face.
�Of course I didn't leave you, silly. After all you've done for me.."
Then Iisai remembered what Baron had said and added
"Even if you've done it only cause it's your job.."
There was a hue of sadness in the boy's voice and Teo tried to get up but he stopped her.
"What do you mean?"
Iisai supported her to his lap, not wanting her to waste any of her little energy.
"I.. I don't mean anything.."
Teo raised her healthy hand and pushed the blind fold over her eyes a little. It was so dim in the tent that she was able to cope with it and took a slightly pained look at the boy.
"Iisai.. It's true I'm looking after you on general cause it's my job.. but I'm not here today cause it would be my job. I came with you of my free will, I was hired again of my own agreement..."
She let the blind fold fall back on it's place and laid her head on the boy's lap.
"..That's right.." He realised.
"I..I really appriciate it you know.. I.. find it hard to be without you around anymore.."
He swallowed hard. Teo didn't say anything, and Iisai could feel the exhaustion coming from her. It made him tired as well. He carefully placed her back on the mattress and whispered,
"You need rest. You should sleep... I'll go get some sleep too, and come back once you are bit better."
He began to rise to leave, but she didn't let go of his hand. For a moment Iisai only stared at her, since she didn't say anything but then she began quietly,
"It's so cold in here..Iisai..."
He blinked and looked around.
"I'll go get you another blanket, hang on!"
But she still didn't let go of his hand.
"You shouldn't leave my side while in my supervision. Why don't you stay here.. It's okay if we are both sleeping, it wouldn't be weary to me.."
Iisai eyes widened.
"You mean like sleep nicely next to each other like back in that inn?"
She smiled slightly.
"Something like that."
Then she let go of his hand and made room for him on the mattress. Hesitantly Iisai laid down next to her, not sure if this was really okay for him to do. Tryingly he put his hand around her, so she wouldn't be cold no more. She showed no resistance or disagreement. Slowly he fell asleep, long after Teo, quite flustered by the fact of laying next to her like this. After few hours he woke up to Drake shaking him quietly.
"Hey, mate, wake up. I've been looking for you all over! Here, come. No, be careful not to wake her. Just come."

Iisai was still rather sleepy when Drake led him to the biggest and the most decorated tent, surrounded by very paranoid looking tauren guards. The first thing they heard was loud shouting, same kind of hoarse, low voice Betsy had, but somehow far more aggressive. A very confused looking tauren with feathers in her cloak had kneeled down in the middle of the tent, listening to a larger female yell at her. The shouter was black as pitch, red eyed and dressed in a very detailed robe. Everything about her radiated unquestioned leadership, and by no mistake she was very unhappy about the behaviour of her underlings. After the leader had had the final word, the poor tauren still looking confused stood up, bowed and with little effort turned into a small black and white bird and flew out the tent. The black tauren rubbed her head with her fist, snarling between her teeth. All of a sudden Iisai's attention was focused on an old tauren sitting in the farmost corner of the tent, calmly smoking his pipe.
"Hey, hey Drake" Iisai hissed
"That tauren in the corner. He's the one who healed Teo. I think his name is Quesmar."
Drake looked at the withered tauren and suspected his mane had long ago been black. But now his fur along with his beard had started turning grey, making him look tranquil. All of a sudden Drake rose his voice.
"I found him."
The pitch black tauren suddenly gave Iisai a very sharp, all seeing gaze.
"Where are your manners, child? Kneel!"
Iisai couldn't believe his ears. As a matter of fact, it was not his ears he heard the tauren's voice, but with his mind. It echoed somewhere deep inside his soul and forced him to kneel down, halfly against his own will. From the corner of his eye, Iisai saw Drake kneeling as well, and wondered if he had heard the voice too.
"So... Are you this Iisai?" The voice echoed again.
"Y-y-yes, I am.."
Oh how he had wished Teo was there beside him.
"Well it was about time!"
The tauren sighed and with two huge steppes stood in front of Iisai, who with great trouble got up on his feet.
"I am glad you remained without a harm, red one. I would greatly like to appologize the incompetence of my men. If it was not for this wretched war we are facing, it all would have far less painful for you all."
She rose her head, making her eyes gleam, like the ones of a cat.
"I am Ouragan, Stormcrow if you wish, the leader and founder of this tribe, daughter of the great Tebryn Thunderwing."
Iisai felt very weak and bit his lip.
"Glad to make your acquaintance, your lordship."
Ouragan burst out laughing.
"No you're not! If it was up to you you would not be anywhere near me. I can smell fear, little Iisai, and right now, you reek."
Drake layed his hand on Iisai's shoulder, shaking him a little.
"Now you saw him, he's fine. Now can we leave?" He asked, and quickly added,
"Your Highness."
Ouragan turned to face old Quesmar and asked him something, in a clear voice, not any of that telepathy. Quesmar took a deep breath from his pipe and looked at her, slowly shaking his head, making all the beads in his mane clink. Ouragan turned back and Iisai felt that cold, nasty feeling when her words rang deep in his mind.
"Yes, I think that was all for now. But trust me, where ever you go and what ever you do, I shall have my eye on you, red one."
Just as Drake and Iisai stepped out of the tent, a small thought dropped from the sky, making Iisai turn back.
"Excuse me, Stormcrow�"
"Yes?"
"Who... who of you broke our ship?"
Ouragan closed her eyes.
"It was me. Was not supposed to be, but not all things go as planned."
Iisai felt like someone would have kicked him to the gutts. It was because of this stupid creature Teo had had to lose her sight and almost her life. If Drake wouldn't have been pulling him by his shoulder, gods know what would have happened.

Meanwhile Teo was blinking her eyes in the dim darkness of the tent. She could see, but too much light burned her eyes so she dared not go outside. As a matter of fact, she dared not really even stand up, her legs didn't obey her well today. She had woken to the absence of the boy, and found herself hoping he would return soon.
"Oh, god.."
She moaned as she tried to stretch her arms. It sent a sharp pain down her injured hand, causing water rise in her eye corners. Then suddenly for a second the tent bathed in bright day light. Someone had rushed in, without any warning. The light had blinded her once again so she did not see who it was but she could feel it wasn't Iisai nor any other one of her party members.
"Who are you? State your business!"
She said with way more authorithy and power that she had even known she had in her at the moment. Apparently a male, the intruder spoke. His tone was surprised, the kind of a person who does not believe their eyes.
"�Slai? Is that you?"
Teo froze. It was a long time ago she had heard anyone use that name. She tried to see, and her vision gave in her a little. Now she was able to see it was a tall elven man, walking right towards her with fast steps. She felt alarm, but the man's tone had not been fiend but soft. He had been pleased to see her. He knelt next to her and took her by her shoulders, hands bony and cheeks sunken.
"What are you doing here? What have these nasty tauren's done to you!?"
Any sort of words were caught in Teo's throat. There was something frightengly familiar with this man. His rich deep brown eyes glew with worry and and his extremely bright red hair came down to his shoulders. Finally she was able to speak.
"You mistake me for my mother.. Slai Myooji.. I am her daughter.. Who are you and how did you know her?"
He explored her with more care in his gaze.
"No.. you are right.. your eyes do not match.. they are not hers.. therefore you are not her... What is your birth name my child?"
His gaze was intense.
"Aside from your eyes you are a perfect copy of her.. your skin.. your hair.. your face.. Incredible resemblance.."
"My name is Teo Ageha Myooji� You did not answer my question. Who are you and how did you know my mother?"
She felt slightly uneasy at the hold of this man. His fingers were approaching her bandage, she begged in her mind he would not touch it.
"Ah.. Forgive my rudeness.. My name is Esaias Albin.. And your mother was a dear friend of mine.. How is she? Does she have more children? How old are you? Who is your lucky father?"
Teo suspected her eyes were playing tricks on her as she could have sworn Esaias blushed slightly. Suddenly she felt bad.. She had long ago gotten over her mother's abscence but this man had no idea.
"..My mother is dead. Has been last 8 years. Thankfully, she had no other children. And my father..."
But her voice faded away. Firstly, she felt extremely uncomfortable talking about it, and second of all she simply couldn't continue when Esaias looked like that.
"Tell me it's not true!"
His hands suddenly grapsped her tight, eyes begging for her to say it was a cruel joke.
"Please!"
She couldn't help it, a short moan of pain escaped her lips. Only then Esaias noticed her injury. There were drops of tears in his eye corners and his hands slowly loosened their grip on her. Blood begun to stain the bandage once again.
"I'm sorry.. I didn't.. "
He begun, but then the cloth on the tent's door was pulled aside for a moment and Iisai stepped in. He stared for a second, registering the sight of a man holding Teo in a manner which obviously hurt her. Then he was on him, tearing him away from her.
"Get off her you scum! What the hell do you think you are doing!?"
He shouted, eyes seeing white rage cause by the information of this man laying a finger on her. Bony and withered Easias was easily pushed around, out into the daylight. Teo sat there, mouth open, not believing what had just happened.
"Iisai..."

Iisai was keeping a close eye, sitting at the doorway of the tent, while old Quesmar was patching Teo up again. Even thought no words were exchanged, Teo could feel tension in the air, the source of which had to be Iisai. After a while, once Teo's wound had been cured again, Quesmar broke the silence.
"I apologize for Esaias, he is not quite himself these days. He might and will, do things that seem wrong, but he means no harm."
He got up, walked outside and lowered his head at the frowning Iisai.
"I am sure it would benefit us all if you had a word with him, little demon"
Quesmar smiled and turned away. Slowly Iisai looked over his shoulder, at Teo, but didn't say a thing. In a little while Teo moved next to him and smiled gently.
"Thanks for defending me, Iisai. I appreciate it��
Iisai just waved his hand and shrugged.
"You wouldn't have needed me. You can look after yourself.."
"Doesn't matter, I still like the thought"
Teo whispered and put her hand on Iisai's shoulder, sending a cold shiver down his spine. It didn't take long before a familiar grin rose on the boy's face.
"I can't let anyone mistreat you when you're broken, now can I?"
The sun had started to go down for its rest and the sky was turning orange. They both just sat there, watching, listening, smelling the air. The tauren were moving about the camp, carrying food and other useful items around. Betseba, as well. And for Teo's surprise, even Ouragan was working along with her underlings. Shortly, they were invited for the last meal of the day, which was mostly fish, berries and nuts. Kathy and Drake were there too, as well as Angie with her brothers. Apparently her hand had been cured too since she seemed to be using it with no pain at all. A few words and smiles were exchanged between them all, now reunited. None of them however seemed to know what was really going on here. They were mainly just pleased to be a group again, everyone alive and well. Baron making an exception of course, since he was still missing. Teo and Iisai noticed many times how Esaias would follow Ouragan everywhere, sitting next to her.
Like a little pet, Iisai snickered by himself.
After the sun had set and everyone had gone to rest, Teo was laying on her back. Iisai cleared his throat and whispered:
"Teo.. are you still cold? Even a little..?"
She looked at him, pondered for a second and nodded. She saw a faint smile on the boy's face as he wrapped his arms around her, hiding her from the world.

Teo bounced up. A sharp gasp escaped her lips. She felt herself shaking and shivering, like she had just ran a million miles. Slowly her breath steadied, she could no longer remember the dream that had frightened her so. Her eyes looked around the tent, from the sleeping boy next to her to the entrance and the dim light path of the rising sun. Iisai's body warmth still lingered on her skin and she felt a sudden urge to get away.
No good....what the hell are you doing?!
He�s your client! You can�t get this close with him!
She staggered to her feet and out of the tent, trying to shrug off last night. Cool morning air greeted her and she welcomed it with open arms. After a quick look around she noticed no one else was up yet. She started walking to any direction, without really paying attention. The fresh air felt good and cleared her head soon. Her limbs were stiff but she dared not stretch out of fear of tearing the wound again. The pain had calmed down to a mere ache, promising of fast recovery.
What am I doing?
She asked herself again.
He's your client you fool, there's no room for such closeness. You don't want to end up in an awkward situation now do you?
...But... I like it when someone is gentle- and touches not only to hurt or attack.
...I know that you do, but do it with someone else. Not with your client!
She suspected she was starting to go nuts for having a conversation with herself, but on the other hand it was nothing new. It had to end tho. She realized she had done exactly what she shouldn't have. She had come fond of the boy and his precense, way too fond. She stopped. Something had moved between the tents and the nervousness didn't lift even when she realized it was just one of the guards on patrol. Slowly she closed her eyes, lift her hand to cover her face and let her knees give in. A sob broke the silence of sleeping nature, and was followed by many more to come. She couldn�t remember the last time she had cried, or why. A wave of black despiration swept over her, leaving her with nothing but hopelessness.
I need to withdraw� Again� He will hate me for it but� We can�t remain like this�

Chapter 10 - Chapter 12