Tomas watches Teri, following the younger boy as he moves deeper into the woods. The air is cooler and the large trees block much of the late afternoon sun. Teri tracks a small green lizard as it scuttles over a fallen log. Tomas was about to tease but he chokes back his words after seeing the intent serious look on Teri's face.

Well past the tree line Tomas hears Taras voice. Tomi! I cant see you, come back or Maman will worry. I can feel those blue ones, they arent far away...

Its okay, Teri just wants to watch this lizard and look for ....
Tara freezes as she sees the image her twin sends her. The warrior was big, his blue skin easily blending with the shadows of the forest. He was armed to the teeth, swords at his sides and knives strapped to his thighs. Tara can feel the stillness then the heavy feeling as the change starts to take over her brother. She drops the flowers she had been picking and races to Laila and her mother.

Tara suddenly stops in her play, sensing someone watching from the woods at the edge of the clearing. She glances ahead, Tomas was teasing Gracie with his high leaps, his wings outstretched and lifting Gracie off the ground when she grabbed his foot. Ryan stops and looks at Tara, worried at her stillness. Tara glances back at their house, knowing they were safe in the wards, but the uneasy feeling wouldnt go away.

Ryan signs quickly. Whats wrong?

“I dont know. Maybe its the blue ones papan warned us to stay away from. Tante Star says they watch from the woods...” Tara glances towards the trees, unable to see anything in the dense shadows.

Then we need to stay together... Ryan signs hurriedly.

Tara nods and as the pair approach the others, Tara starts to go pale. The energy she feels starts to make her feel ill and light headed. She can feel the rot and decay of Underdark and visions of bones, skulls crawling with maggots, spiders swimming in blood come to her mind. And the smell, the smell of death.. Tara completely loses her color and Tomas lowers and races to her just as she faints.

“Stay with her Ryan, I will get Maman..” and Tomas rises in the air and speeds to the cottage.

The shifter nanny spies Tara slipping out of bed and trying to quietly open the door to sneak out into the hallway. Knowing what the family has been going through she doesnt try to stop the little girl. Instead she nods to one of the demifae guarding near the door to follow her.

Once out into the hallway Tara looks to the right, then the left and is off like a shot down the hall, the demifae right behind her, wings buzzing. They race up the stairs and in moments are in front of the door to Pandoras and Obs private apartment.

“Mon Dieu... we are about to have a visitor I think...” Alise stands as Tara taps on the door then slowly opens it. Alise smiles at her daughter, peeking in the half open door, a demifae hovering just above her doing the same.

Tara races to her mother who kneels on the floor to gather her in her arms.

Tori watches from her spot, curled in Tannrs lap. She looks up and sees the pensive look in his green eyes, feels the longing he has for children, family.

She sends to him, I cant wait to marry you.... and smiles at the grin and happiness she sees when he turns his face to hers.

Alise and Tara are speaking rapidly in French. When Tara stops talking, Alise looks to Stoney who nods his head.

Tara approaches Ob and Pan shyly, head down a little, feeling their sadness and pain at the loss of their little one. She looks up through her bangs and Ob gives a sad smile.... She looks like her mother, but so much of you too, bro.... 

 “Oncle Ob, Tante Pandora, *Je voulais vous dire tout de suite ...” Tara stops and shakes her head as she hears her father, in English little one... 

“I wanted to tell you right away...” Tara pauses and takes a breath. “Your baby...he is with Grandmere Grace. She was in the nursery holding him. And Cassie was there too... They were smiling at him and kissing him.... Cassie said he was precious and Grandmere said to tell you that she would take care of him for you.”

“Oh...” tears streaming Pandora wraps her arms around Tara. “Thank you... thank you so much for telling us...”

Stoney lifts his daughter in his arms and she asks, “**Que j'ai fait bon papa?"

 "Oh yes, ma petite...very good. Your mother and I are very proud of you."


*I wanted to tell you right away

**Did I do good papa?

Tara slips out of her chair in the large kitchen of the manse where she had been nibbling on some strawberries that one of the gnomes had brought in from the garden. She grabs her doll and heads upstairs, just missing Rowan and Tori. She slips quietly into Tannrs room and comes to a dead stop when she sees Marc.

No one sees her at first and she hears Marc telling Tannr in a hushed voice about the battle, who was injured, and something about someone being buried. She can feel Tannrs sadness when the men were talking about someone named Hugh. Her lavender eyes huge she clutches her doll closer. Tannr catches sight of the small movement and smiles.

Following Tannrs gaze, Marc watches as Tara comes closer to the bed and he asks, *“Petit bonjour. Comment vas-tu?”

 **“Je vais bien. Je suis venu pour voir mon oncle.” Tara sits on the bed, between the two men who exchange a grin at her possessiveness with her uncle.

She looks from one to the other, “I'm sorry about your friend. So's Tomi and the other kids.”

“Thank you Sweetness.” Tannr pulls the little girl close for a hug. “Do you know where your Tante Tori is?” “Rowans making her eat and take a bath.” Tara wrinkles her nose and the men arent sure if she disapproves of taking baths or thinks her aunt was in dire need of one.

“I have to go. Papan is taking me home soon.” Another hug for her Uncle and she turns to Marc. “Adieu..”

As Tara stands there is a soft knock at the door and Alise enters. “There you are. Papan is almost ready. Your brother is about to burst, he has missed you.” Alsie looks to Tannr and Marc. “I hope she isnt bothering you. Can I get you anything?”

“Shes no bother at all and I am fine. Just tired of this bed.... Tara, will you bring the other kids next time you come to visit?”

Tara nods and giggles. “They all want to see you too, 'specially Tomi...” She looks to her mother as they head towards the door, “Maman, can Uncle Tannrs friend turn into a cat? Uncle Keon can turn into a hound..”

Alise had to stifle the giggle she feels especially after hearing the choking sound coming from Marc as he chokes down laughter. “I dont know ma petite. Lets go ask papan...”


*Hello little one. How are you?

**I am fine. I have come to see my Uncle

In the darkest hours of the night, Tori sits with Tannr. The love seat is pulled as close to the bed as it can get, her head next to his on the pillow. She would have crawled right in the bed if she wasnt so afraid of hurting him further. Rowan was hesitant in her prognosis, still hopeful but she had said she had never seen anyone lose that much blood and still be alive. It was a miracle that he had survived the surgery.

Tori sighs and sits up. She runs her hand over Tannrs forehead and through the long copper strands. Suddenly she hears the bedroom door open. Tara enters, her bare feet silent on the wood floor, carrying her doll in a matching long nightgown. She pauses at the edge of the bed then looks up at Tori through her dark hair, a gesture so much like her fathers that Tori smiles for the first time in days.

Alise had told her how Tara seemed to know that Tannr was hurt and how extreme her reaction was until Raina came to help.

“Come here you...” and Tori lifts the little girl into her lap. “Cant sleep?”

Tara shakes her head and Tori smooths the dark hair away from her face. She notices the dark circles under the little ones eyes and the haunted look on her face, knowing she must look much the same.

“We'll just wait right here until he wakes up, okay?”

Later Stoney wanders in, in search of his daughter. He smiles to see her curled up with his sister, the pair seeming to find some comfort in each other while keeping their vigil.

Tara is busy in the courtyard, playing with the cats. The adults were busy with Uncle Tannr and Uncle Ob and Tara managed to slip outside with only Alise and the sylphs aware of where the little one had gone. Alise was not worried, knowing that no harm could come to her daughter at the Manse. As she is carrying an adventurous kitten back to his mother Tara feels the mental tapping of her twin...  

Is Uncle Tannr okay now? Chloe and Teri are here ... 

Rowan did a operation on him. Tante Silk says he is sleeping.

Tomas lets Tara know all that is going on at the cottage, Laila and Chiara keeping the kids busy, Monty bringing treats when he brought Chloe and Teri to stay.

Unaware of the little one kneeling near a fountain, Mortuis steps outside and walks the path through the courtyard, intending to clear his thoughts and perhaps relax. He nearly steps on the little girl, hidden by the wall of the fountain and her long dark hair.

“Oh. Please excuse me. I didnt see you there..” Mortuis speaks to the child as if she were grown and Tara frowns slightly. Mortuis sits on the stone edge.

Tara stands, holding a young calico cat. “I like your kitties.” and takes a seat next to Mortuis.

“Indeed. I am glad that you do.”

After a few moments of silence Tara asks. “Why do you hide?”

“Hide?”

Tara taps her cheeks and then points to the hooded mask that Mortuis is never without.

“Ahh. Well, that would require a lengthy explanation and I do believe your mother is looking for you. Shall we return to the Manse?” Mortuis holds a hand out to the little girl who looks up, her expression serious at first, then she smiles and stands, letting go of the cat she had been holding.

Mortuis looks into the large lavender eyes so much like Alises and murmurs, “Ever your mothers daughter.. a rare combination of beauty and kindness...”