Five

Tatyana woke up slowly and groaned. Every muscle felt like it was screaming as she turned onto her back. Swallowing, she stared up at the ceiling and remembered everything she could about the night before. She had had a strange dream. In it, it was her that was from Liesheen and the man was from Devshier. And oddly enough, in the dream... she could see his face. It was like a blurry black and white picture... his eyes and hair where dark and the rest of his face was lighter.

"Yana?"

Tatyana turned her head to the door and smiled at Marlie. "Morning Mare..."

Marlie stopped in her tracks. "Do you have a sore throat?"

Tatyana blinked a few times and shook her head. "Just weird... come in here,"

Marlie frowned as she came to the bed and sat down. Before she had a chance to say anything Tatyana sat up and threw her arms around her. Marlie looked startled. "Yana? What's wrong with you?"

Tatyana shook her head and let go of her, sitting back against the board. "I just wanted to give you a hug... I love you Mare."

Marlie smiled well still frowning in confusion. "I love you too... are you sure your not sick?"

Tatyana shrugged. "I might be."

Marlie pursed her lips. "I'm going to get Nan Alita."

Tatyana started to protest but Marlie was out the door. A minute later Alita bustled into the room and began checking Tatyana. "Are you warm?"

"Not really..."

"Cold?"

"Yeah kinda,"

"Does your throat hurt?" Alita stuck the back of her hand on Tatyana's forehead.

"No, just dry and weird."

"Did you wake up like this?"

"Yes."

"Are you sore?"

"Yes."

"Where did you go last night?"

Tatyana stopped short, her eyebrows raised and eyes wide. "What?"

"I'm going to make you some herb tea. Don't get out of bed." Alita turned and passed Marlie at the door. Tatyana stared after her as Marlie came into the room and sat down beside her. "Is mom gone yet?" she broke the silence.

Marlie shook her head without looking away from the floor. "She can't go yet."

"Why?" Tatyana asked sitting forward.

Marlie shrugged. "I think Figaro hurt his foot."

Tatyana slowly sat back against her head board again. If her mother couldn't leave because her horse was hurt, what would happen? Even if she did leave what would happen? The Liesheen man certainly sounded ready to kill someone... but Tatyana could still not figure out why. "Can't she just use Ambrosia instead?"

Marlie shrugged again. "Seth says that Dorito is used to pulling the carriage with Figaro. He might not like being put with Ambrosia instead."

"So when is mom leaving?"

Marlie shrugged for the third time. "Depends how bad Figaro's foot is hurt and whether or not Ambrosia likes Dorito."

Tatyana frowned at her hands on the blanket and looked back up at Marlie. "Why are you staring at the floor?"

"I'm not."

Tatyana narrowed her eyes. "Then what are you staring at, the ceiling?"

"Ant."

"What! Where?!" Tatyana leaned over the side of her bed and scanned the floor. "I hate ants in my room!"

Marlie giggled. "It's heading for the door."

"Kill it!"

Marlie wrinkled her nose. "No! I'll get it all over my sock!"

Tatyana pocked her sisters leg without looking away from the ant. "It might go in your room..."

Marlie stuck her bottom lip out then grinned. "Maybe Gypsy will kill it."

Tatyana turned to her sister with tilted eyebrows. "She probably wont even notice it!"

Marlie shrugged and grinned. "Well it just went under the wall anyway so I guess we'll never know."

"Pest." Tatyana pocked her again as she sat back up.

A second later Alita came into the room with a small tray. Putting it on the bedside table, she ordered Tatyana to drink the tea and eat the noodle soup. Tatyana started to eat and Alita went back to the kitchen, followed by Marlie.

Tatyana put the spoon down as soon as they had left the room and pulled her knees up in front of herself, crossing her arms and leaning her head back to stare at the corner of her ceiling.

Who was that man she'd talked to the night before? It was to dark to see anything but shadows and shapes, but he looked like he was well built and at least five inches taller then her. His voice wasn't extremely deep, but it was not high either.

In her dream, his face and any other skin showing had been to white and blurry to see anything clearly, but his eyes, hair, and clothes had been dark. Yet she didn't think his eyes where black. Deep and dark, but not black. Their had been no sound. Tatyana had stood in the crumbled buildings staring at the man standing by her horse. And he had stared back. Neither of them had moved or said a word as wind blurred everything.

"Yana Nana Alita said you where supposed to eat that,"

Tatyana jumped, uncrossing her arms and putting her legs down. "Mare! You scared me half to death!"

"What where you thinking about?" Marlie asked hopping onto the bed and crossing her legs in front of herself, facing toward Tatyana.

Tatyana half grinned and shrugged. "Just trying to remember my dream last night."

"What was it about?" Marlie asked curiously.

Tatyana paused and pucker her mouth as she thought for a minute. "Me and someone standing outside in the wind."

"You and who?"

Tatyana shrugged. "Don't know. Some guy."

Marlie raised her eyebrows then giggled. "You dream about guys?"

Tatyana sent her a withering look and pocked her with her foot. "Shut up."

Marlie covered her grin with her hand. "You better eat or Nan Alita will come in and feed it to you."

Tatyana widened her eyes for a second and quickly picked the bowl up. "I'm eating!"

Alita let Tatyana out of bed an hour later and both girls went outside. Seth and Luke had both gone to the city house with Asmara to find out what they could do with the horses, and Peter had taken Rita to town to do some shopping.

"And where's David?" Tatyana asked as they sat down on the steps.

"Cleaning the barn out I think." Marlie answered.

"Well then-"

Tatyana was cut off as the door flew open and Gypsy raced out. The girls moved over as the dog shot passed them.

"Was there something in her mouth?" Tatyana asked slightly curious.

"I think so," Marlie answered, equally only slightly curious.

Gypsy paused at the tree and turned back to look at them. Dropping what was in her mouth, she barked and then grabbed it and started running in circles around the tree.

"Mare... tell me that's not what I think it is."

"You want me to lie?"

"Stupid dog!!!" Tatyana jumped off the stairs and raced after Gypsy, who was tightly holding one of her shirts in her mouth. "David!!!"

Marlie stood up and watched Tatyana trying to catch Gypsy around the tree.

David came to the door of the barn. "Someone called?"

"Help me catch this idiot dog! She stole my shirt!"

David tried not to laugh as he put the broom down and came over to help. As soon as he got a few feet from the tree, Gypsy stopped short. Tatyana grinned and lunged for her, but Gypsy was to fast and swerved out of the way, racing toward the lake. Tatyana and David ran after her, well Marlie watched from the porch, trying not to laugh to hard.

At the lake, Gypsy raced around to the other side. "You go around that way," Tatyana ordered David. Going around the lake on opposite sides, Gypsy looked back and forth at them as they came toward her. When they where almost to her, the dog backed up a step, then just as they both jumped for her she backed up farther and the two almost ran into each other.

"I knew I was going to regret giving this dog to Mare!" Tatyana growled as Gypsy wagged her tail innocently.

"So now what? If we move she'll run." David was still trying not to laugh and Tatyana shot him a glare.

"When I catch you I'm going to do something really mean to you dog..." she threatened. Gypsy lay forward, her tail still high in the air, and dropped the shirt with a bark. Tatyana jumped forward, but Gypsy was expecting that and grabbed the shirt before disappearing into the long grass.

Tatyana, propping herself up on her elbows, stared at the grass with an open mouth. "Nooo!!! Come back you stupid dog!" Pushing herself of the ground she went to the edge and paused. "Where'd she go?"

David came up beside her and frowned at the grass. Both of them where silent for a moment, and then they heard the grass rustling and saw it move a short distance from them. Both of them ran after her. It took them a few minutes, but finally David disappeared in the grass and came up a second later with a squirming puppy.

"Finally!" Tatyana came trudging over and glared at Gypsy, yanking the shirt from her mouth. "You little twerp. Do that again and I'll do away with you in the middle of the night and tell Mare that you ran away!"

David grinned. "Don't worry puppy, she always sounds like that when she's grumpy."

"Are you siding with that thing?" Tatyana planted her fists on her hips.

"Aw, she's just a playful little puppy..." David held her up and Gypsy wagged her tail as she licking Tatyana's face. Tatyana closed her eyes and wrinkled her nose. "Gross."

David chuckled and pulled Gypsy away. "We better get her back before she escapes again."

"Yeeeeah," Tatyana nodded, giving Gypsy a narrow eyed glare. As they turned back toward the house, Tatyana noticed how close they where to the forest. Stopping, she stared through the trees, her dream flashing through her mind again.

"Yana? You coming?"

Tatyana nodded slowly and turned to follow him, glancing back over her shoulder more then once as they went.

"You ever been in the trees?"

Tatyana turned her head so quickly hot pain shot through it and she winced. "What do you mean?"

David shrugged. "You've said more then once that someday you'll explore the woods,"

Tatyana turned away again and shrugged. "Maybe someday."

They where both silent for another minute then David stopped and Tatyana turned to look back at him. "What?"

David looked at her for a moment. "Did you go somewhere last night?"

Tatyana backed up a step. "Alita asked the same thing... why would I go out in the rain?"

David was quite for a moment and then started walking again. "You didn't go out before the rain started?"

Tatyana hugged herself. "So what if I did? There's nothing wrong with going outside at night... I've done it before."

David nodded. "I go outside almost every night."

"You do?" Tatyana asked, curious at the same time as fear that he had seen where she went washed over her.

"Yeah, when I can't sleep."

Tatyana half smiled, trying to act casual. "Were you outside last night?"

David nodded.

Tatyana stopped walking. "David, did you see where I went?"

He nodded again and Tatyana slowly sank to the ground. David sat down beside her and held Gypsy in his lap. They where on the side of the lake closer to the house, but where still hidden by the trees.

"I didn't mean to go into the trees..." Tatyana hung her head. "Stardust got spooked..." David was quite and Tatyana glanced at him and frowned. "If you saw me... why didn't you do anything?"

David sighed slowly. "It was my fault Stardust spooked."

Tatyana's eyes widened. "You made her go into the woods?"

David looked down at Gypsy. "I was by the trees when you got there. Stardust must have heard me step on a branch."

Tatyana shook her head slowly. "But... you weren't worried that I'd get lost? It was getting dark!"

David shrugged. "You got lost to fast for me to worry that'd you'd get lost."

"And you didn't go tell anyone that I was lost and maybe they should come find me?" Tatyana was almost angry at him. She had been cold and frightened last night, she definitely wouldn't have minded someone rescuing her!

David turned his head and looked at her for a moment. "Had you ever seen the Liesheen ruins before last night?"

Tatyana looked startled, but quickly decided she wanted to hit him. "No! No one has ever been to the ruins since they became ruins. My mom and dad would kill me if they knew I went there!"

"But you wanted to see it."

Tatyana glared at the grass. "Yes."

"Then you're glad no one came to your rescue."

Tatyana sighed and hung her head. "I never knew you could be so sneaky. What if I was hurt? What if..." Tatyana turned her eyes back to his. "The guy... what if he hurt me?"

"That man wouldn't have hurt you."

"David!" Tatyana almost stood up but kept herself from strangling him by tightening her hands into fists. "How do you know that?!"

David grinned, making Tatyana even more angry. "Yana, what would you have done to me if I had stepped out of the shadows in the middle of Liesheen?"

Tatyana frowned. "I'd probably do the same thing I did with that guy."

"And then when you found out it was me?"

Tatyana tightened her mouth in annoyance. "I would have killed you for following me and scaring me half to death."

David nodded once and smiled gently. "I was watching you Yana... I wouldn't have let anything happen to you."

Tatyana watched him for a moment and then leaned over to hug him tightly. "Thank you David..."

Marlie laughed when Tatyana told her how long it took them to catch Gypsy.

"It's not funny," Tatyana pouted. "That dog is a menace and no one will believe me. She'll probably tare the house down before anyone will listen and then it will be to late!"

Marlie straightened her face. "Uh yeah, probably."

Tatyana paused and narrowed her eyes. "Mare... why do you look like your know something I don't?"

Marlie shrugged innocently. "May I have my dog?" Tatyana handed her over. "Okay, now you can go to your room."

Tatyana's shoulders dropped and she stared at Marlie with a pained look. "She didn't..."

Marlie nodded apologetically. "She did..."

Tatyana turned on her heal, ignoring David's snorting in an effort not to laugh, and stomped down the hall to her room. Marlie glanced at David and then they both winced and tried not to laugh as Tatyana's growl reached them.

"Gypsy... I think I shall have to hide you for a few days if I want to keep you around." Marlie giggled.

A few hours before supper, Asmara called and told them she would be leaving the next day. Figaro couldn't pull the cart, but Dorito hadn't minded going with Ambrosia.

Tatyana leaned her back against the tree in the front yard, facing toward the lake. She was glad David hadn't come out in Liesheen. She was glad he hadn't scared the man away. She wanted to go back. She wanted to understand why he was angry, why he said Devshier wasn't welcome there. If she went back, would she see him again? Part of her was scared that she would be hurt if she went back, but another part of her wanted so badly to find out who he was. The front door opened and Tatyana stood still, hidden from view by the tree.

After a moment, the door closed again and Tatyana peeked around to see if anyone had come out. When she didn't see anyone, she turned back to the lake and made up her mind. Running to the barn, she got Stardust's bridle and lead the horse to the back of the barn. Looking down, she realized she was not wearing shoes again, but knew if she went to get some she would be caught. This time as she road toward the forest the sun was still high enough to peek over the top of the mountains.

Tatyana's heart pounded as Stardust stepped into the trees. She felt like someone else was controlling her. Why had she come back? Tatyana swallowed hard as the trees grew thicker around her. David wasn't hear this time. What if the man did try to hurt her? She would have no protection...

Stardust's steps where quieted by the leaves carpeting the ground. As they got closer to Liesheen, Tatyana slowed Stardust down and slid off her back, deciding to walk into the ashes. Carefully picking her way so as not to step on glass and cut her foot, Tatyana looked around herself, stretching to see over piles of broken wood.

When she didn't see anyone, she felt disappointment at the same time as relief. If David hadn't seen the man... she would have decided he must have only been in her dream.

"I thought I made it clear you are not welcome here."

Tatyana froze. She had her back to the voice, but she knew it was the same man from the night before. Gulping, she tried not to shake. "I-I had to come back."

"Your life means nothing to you?"

Tatyana's eyes widened for a minute and then she blinked and turned her head slightly, trying to see him. "It means a lot to me. That's why I had to come back."

When he didn't say anything, Tatyana slowly turned around, and gasped. The man couldn't be any older then her! He was definitely strong and in shape, and the way he stood made Tatyana decide he was not used to people arguing with him. He was wearing dark jeans and a dark T shirt, with an open vest over top. There was a knife in his belt and Tatyana realized he was probably very good with it. But what made her gasp was his face. His hair was black and long in both the back and front, brushing passed his collar, covering most of his ears, and flipping into his eyes, which where dark and angry, yet Tatyana could tell they could be very caring and gentle if he wanted them to be. His face was set in a frozen look that didn't hide his anger but only intensified it. Something told Tatyana he had seen far more then he should have at his age.

Tatyana was so stunned she couldn't say anything. The young man stared back at her and if they had switched places it would have been exactly like her dream. "Why... why do you hate Devshier?" Tatyana finally stammered.

The mans eyes hardened but he didn't move. "Give me a reason why I shouldn't."

Tatyana blinked in confusion. "I don't understand..."

"You've shown what you think of us, we're not fools."

Tatyana shook her head, unable to look away from his eyes. "But what have we done? I admit we weren't very nice sometimes but-"

"You burned our city."

Tatyana's eyes went huge with shock. "No! We tried to stop the fire!"

The young mans lip curled back and he looked away from her eyes long enough to tare her apart from head to toe and back. "You think I'm that blind? I know what I saw, I know what I heard. Your people never liked us and when it came to it you couldn't stand the fact we didn't care."

Tatyana couldn't do anything more then shake her head, her eyes still huge. "But that's not what happened!"

"Oh yeah?" The man tilted his head slightly and narrowed his eyes part way. "Then why don't you tell me what did happen."

"I-I don't know..." Tatyana blinked as tears suddenly touched her eyes. "I was in my room and-and I saw the light and then people came and-and told dad and-"

Suddenly the young man straightened his head and stood rigged. Tatyana stared at him, suddenly afraid he would use the knife. "Who is your father?"

Tatyana opened and closed her mouth but nothing would come out. The young man stepped out from behind the pile and stopped a few feet from her, his hands tight. "Who are you?"

"I-I-I told you I-my name is-it's-" Tatyana backed up as the mans eyes filled with more hate then she had ever seen in her life. Tears slipped down her cheeks as the tightened her hold on the rains.

The man stood still and Tatyana stared into his eyes, wondering what he would do. Now that he was in the light, she realized his eyes where not black or brown, but a deep dark green... just like hers.

"You should have listened when I told you not to come back."

Tatyana swallowed hard. "I don't understand..." her voice broke on the whispered words. "We never wanted Liesheen to burn... I would give anything to know how it did..."

The man shook his head and tightened his jaw in barley controlled anger. "Why don't you ask your father."

Tatyana blinked hard as she shook her head. "He doesn't know either! Why wont you believe me? He came to put the fire out, it was already started when he got here!"

The young mans eyes froze her. "If you were not here, then who was it that caused the fire to catch the trees? Who was it that fed the flames and stopped us from stopping it? Who was it that forced us back into the hands of death? Who was it that-" he stopped short and snapped his mouth shut.

Tatyana stared at him, her head spinning. Some one really had been there... someone had to have been... he wouldn't make this up... would he? She couldn't think straight as she stared into the eyes that where so much like her own, yet filled with pain and anger beyond anything she had ever imagined existing.

Time felt like it had frozen for the two when a female voice came across the light wind. "Joris?" The young man spun around and Tatyana caught a glimpse of a young lady, probably not much younger then the man, standing close to where he had been before he moved. "Who are you talking to?"

The young man went back to her and caught her arm, gently pulling her away. Tatyana heard him say something, but couldn't catch the words. The girls eyes widened and snapped back to Tatyana. The young man looked back at her too and Tatyana felt like she was in a display case. Who was the young woman? Tatyana could tell she was going to have a baby.. was she the man, Joris's wife?

They talked for a minute and then the man let go of her arm and she glanced at Tatyana once more before she disappeared from sight. Joris stood still and watched Tatyana, his face almost daring her to say something. Tatyana swallowed a few times and then forced herself to turn to Stardust. Closing her eyes she leaned her head against the horse. "I'm sorry Liesheen burned... I'm sorry so many people died... but please, tell me... why do you hate us so much? Why do you want to attack us?"

No sound came from behind her and Tatyana slowly raised her head and turned part way around. Joris hadn't moved a muscle, but something in his eyes registered complete shock and his jaw had tightened ever so slightly. Tatyana looked back and forth at his eyes and frowned slight in confusion.

"What makes you think we're attacking Devshier?"

Tatyana's frowned deepened. "I-don't know... my mother said there where rumors... that... some of you are hiding in the mountains and-"

Joris turned around and hit the boards hard enough to make them shake. Tatyana nearly jumped out of her skin, causing Stardust to turned her head around to see what was going on. Everything was silent for a moment and then Joris's tight angry voice came across the wind to Tatyana. "Go home."

"But-"

"Go home."

Tatyana gulped at the steal in the strangely quite command. Turning to Stardust, her hands shook as she tried to pull herself onto her house. Swallowing again, she looked around for something to stand on to help herself up, since she didn't have a saddle. Using a small pile of wood, she managed to push herself up and hang on without falling over the other side.

Sitting up, she turned Stardust around and looked at Joris. He still hadn't moved and Tatyana blinked a few times. "Joris-"

"Don't."

Tatyana opened and closed her mouth. It was amazing how frozen his voice could sound when a moment ago, while talking to the girl, even in anger his voice had been as gentle as the breeze.

Nudging Stardust forward, Tatyana watched Joris's back till he disappeared from sight behind the pile, then twisted to look back over her shoulder as for a moment he reappeared on the other side, his head down and his fist tight against the wood.