Chapter Seven

He watched her as he had watched her these many days, laying tracks ahead of time for her to follow. Kernow had had the right of it; she did not track to kill this time -- this time she tracked for her life. And Sular knew. Not too far behind pursued Tyan's warriors, in whose company trekked a battlemage. Every so often, Sular would drop down and obscure any sign of his presence and that of Ziara's, waylaying the hunters. He was quite surprised, though, by their efficiency and adeptness. He had yet to totally lose them.

Each day he would rise and be renewed in his respect for the little Glacial gryphoness, a respect that was slowly turning to something more. This day, she was close -- but so was the pack. Perched in the strong boughs of a massive tree, hidden through natural camouflage, the Phoenix watched in horror as the battlemage caught wind of her and threw a snaring spell. Ziara went down in a flurry of snarling silver threads, keening to the open tundra sky.

Enough was enough. Flinging himself from the tree, Sular winged high and fast, a feathered comet pulsing with ivory blood. The Glacial gryphons advanced upon their quarry, readying their pikes to throw. Out of a seeming-cloudless sky, he struck -- using the large leading edge of his nearest wing to sweep every single one of them off their feet.

Sular thrust out his black legs, setting silver claws into the frozen turf, spinning around in a whirl of feathers. He whipped about in a spray of snow, crest flat, eyes glowing with a pulsing white light. The Phoenix stamped one foot, wings cupping about his body, making him seem larger and more fierce than ever before. All passive thoughts blanked from his mind; the protector in his blood overrode even that part of his personality.

The battlemage leapt up from the body pile, paw raised, streaming silver. With a shout, he threw the spell --

-- directly at his own people.

"Take her and leave, Vahazayi!" he shouted. "I can only hold them for so long!"

Blinking back his shock, Sular bounded to Ziara's side as the battlemage dissolved her bonds. Gently, he scooped the midnight blue gryphoness up in his huge black feet. Glancing back just once, he thrust them into the free sky.

"This is getting annoying," Ziara muttered as she opened her eyes to see Sular hovering -- protectively? -- over her

The Vahazayan chuckled. "Oh, it cannot be that bad, can it?"

Ziara sighed and shrugged. "I suppose not." She turned her head to the side, pushing a pebble on the stone floor with a claw. "Where am I?"

Sular gestured around him. "My home, if you will. I have been living here but only a month, so you must pardon the sparsity." He smiled that sad, familiar smile; Ziara hid her face in shame. She had no reason to be upset with him, truly.

Pushing herself to her feet, Ziara stood up, looking about at the hand(claw)-made furniture and other homely implements. As she did so, a sudden well of pride filled the brown-grey and white Phoenix; without knowing it, he'd arranged his surroundings to please her. The loneliness that had pervaded the small lair was banished by her very presence; the fire seemed warmer, even his mood was lifted for the first time in many suns.

A small thought stole into his mind, called up unbid: Could I be falling in love? It wasn't totally impossible -- other Vahazayi had paired off in the past with those of different species whom they found attractive. Those Vahazayi who possessed the shapeshifting ability, that is. Or sometimes, they did not shift to the interest's species and coupled as they were. But never was one such pairing of force -- it was not their way, nor would it ever be. But those partners withered and died, millennia gone to dust, and even dust fades. It tugged at his soul as Ziara walked about, inspecting his bachelor's quarters. Consign myself to but a few years and never to hold her again? Could he do it? As he listened to her murmured comments about the state of affairs, suddenly, nothing else mattered. The Universe would go on spinning as It always would. Very quickly, his world dwindled down to this one lone icy planet and this female, who risked family and her own life so badly, just for his sake.

"Will they find us?" she asked in a small voice, turning to face him, amber eyes wide.

Jolted out of his inner thoughts, Sular tipped his head down to address her. "No, but undoubtably they will," he told her truthfully. "But for now, we are safe."

Ziara started involuntarily, blue-tufted ears flicking back with surprise. "We?"

Sular caught the slip and fumbled to fix it. "Well, of course. You are staying with me, are you not?" Tevensar, Sular, he thought. Oh so tevensar.

Where else could she go? Ziara wondered. No doubt, Tyan had issued her exile and death to every clan. Whether a clan took his offer was of their own vocation. In short, she had no where else to go. "Of course I am. So, where'm I going to sleep?"

"I shall show you in a moment," he replied, utterly relieved. Her admission made up his own mind. "Just let me write this letter to my Lord."

Fascinated, Ziara followed him to a crude table and "chair" upon which he perched. Taking a pen and paper from a bag set to the side, he began to write, holding the pen in his left wingclaw. Too small to see, Ziara struggled to peer upon the tabletop, stretching her legs to the fullest.

Pausing, Sular bent his white-crested head down, admiring her efforts. "Here." Looping his right wingclaw about her middle, he pulled Ziara up and set her against his chest, at eyelevel with the top of the table. She smiled shyly at him and settled herself in his lap, propping her head on her forearms, crossed upon the table. Sular swore softly in his mind as she did so, his groin once again tightening in response to her closeness; instead, he focused on his impending resignation. It would not please his parents, but it was something that he had to do -- if not for his own sake, then for the sake of the Phoenix Army. Surely Lord Grawn'fay would understand; it was said he was a compassionate sort, a fair and just male. A "warrior" of Sular's calibre wouldn't be missed; he was useless that way. What good was a pacifist in a sea of fiery bloods, anyway?

He signed his name with a flourish and rolled the scroll up. Pulling a special tube of wax out of his pouch, he sealed the letter and spoke the short incantation. The seal flared red and the entire scroll vanished in a puff of scented smoke. Ziara banged against his torso; he put out a wingclaw to steady her. "Jumpy, are you not?" he teased softly in her ear, his breath warm upon her hide. She turned to face him, finding Sular already peering at her with his large, luminous grey diamond-shaped eyes.

Blushing, Ziara coughed into her paw. "I suppose so." Quickly, she changed subjects. "Where'd it go?"

"To Phoenixia. It was my resignation from the Army."

"WHY!?"

Sular's crest flicked over his cere in surprise. It was the last thing he'd expect from her. "Why?" He shrugged. "I have found -- contentment -- here. They have no need for a pacifist such as I, that Tyan has more balls than I do."

The blood drained from Ziara's face. "What are you talking about? I thought you had a mission -- a report to do!" She shook her head in disbelief at his words. "You are too a warrior," she spluttered. "I don't know what constitutes bravery with your people, but saving my life -- twice -- sure does among Glacials!"

Heavily, Sular patted her on the head. "Perhaps so, little one." Gently, he set her upon the floor, hormones breathing a sign of relief. "Come, I will show you your chamber."