Tellka started me off with those odd little moves again. Cartwheels, back flips, skips and jumps. Accourding to her I was getting better. According t me, i was going numb.

"My leg..." Tellka came running over to me.

"How the heck did that happen?"

"I Don't know.. " I whimpered. One moment I was doing a quick flip and the next moment there was a huge pain tearing thru my right leg.

As it turns out, my backflip had sent me back too far, and I managed to run straight into a rack of spears. On the plus side, the spear points were all facing the ground for safety reasons, whick left the butt end of the staffs to hit my back, and shoulders, and whatever else ran into them. That didn't do much damage, just a few bruses.

On the minus side, there was a certian spear whose head had an extra point sticking from it. This point jutted out sideways from the base of the spear head, and lucky for me, this very spear managed to be the one that I brushed up against as I fell to the ground. Or, atleast my right thigh brushed it, harder then I had wanted it to. All I know is that the next moment I was aware of an inch long cut that really hurt... a lot.

"AUGH!" I grabbed a hold of the wound, turning my head to look at it. I let go of it and brought my hand up to my face. It was red. "Oh.... " A cold shiver ran down my back and I suddenly felt very sick.

"Here, roll over." I hadn't even realized she had gone, but suddenly Tellka was standing beside me again, a large bandage roll in her hand. In a few minutes she had managed to wrap up my thigh in a tight bandage.

"Crud.. Kate, we've got to get you out of here." I watched as the newly laid bandages slowly began to turn red.

"Tellka..." My voice was quiet and I began to feel faint.

"Shush." A few moments later I felt her lift me off the ground and carry me out the door of the practice room.

Pain shot up my leg with almost every movement I felt. I cringed, squiting my eyes closed, and chewed my lip, fighting back the tears and pain that burned in me. I picture, in my mind, the bandages changing color as the blood soaked thru them and stained my fur as well.

Tellka...

'Shh...'

Sooner or later I blacked out, weither from loosing blood or from fear I wasn't sure, but when I awoke I found myself in a strange, new room.

Where...

'Don't move.'

Tellka? Where am I? I don't see you..

'It's okay, Kate. You're at the hospital. I'm getting Carrie there now.'

I closed my eyes and shivered. After a second or so, I lifted up the sheets to look at my leg. It was cleanly wrapped and tended, and it felt better. Looks like one big bandage.. that's all..

'That could be a good thing.'

Where are you two?

'Talking to a nurse, she won't let us in.' I felt Tellka sigh in frustration.

I put the sheets back and looked around the room. It was lightly colored, with white and creams. There was a large, open window drapped with white draps that were almost transparent. They gave the room a gentle glow. The window was propped open slighty, amd small breezes poked at the curtains, rippling them gently. Next to my bed sat a small table with a book and lamp on it. I picked up the book and glanced at it.

I can't read this..

'Eh?'

This book here, I've never seen these words before. I don't know what they say.

'Sound them out.'

Too tired... I sighed and put the book back down. Closing my eyes, I began to drift off into sleep. My mind wandered and swirled with images and I never registered Carrie and Tellka's entrance until I felt Carrie's hand on my forehead. I opened my sleepy eyes.

"Carrie?"

"Shh... You need sleep." The voice was Tellka's, but I couldn't see her. Carrie stod over me, a worried look was set on her face. "What happened?"

"A spear rack tried to catch her."

Carrie turned and gave Tellka an odd look. Tellka shrugged. "It didn't do a very good job though..."

Carrie sighed and turned back to me. "How do you feel?"

I gave a small shrug. "Tired..."

"She should rest, Ms. Harlow." A young nurse came into the room and motioned to Tellka and Carrie. The nurse had long, brown hair, kept up in a neat pony tail, and bright blue eyes. She wore a clean, white dress, and a little hat with a red cross on it. She was Windian, although wingless, but her aura was the same. Tellka nodded to her and took Carrie by the arm, gently pulling her away.

"Ms. Harlow."

Carrie shook Tellka's hand off and turned back to me.

She looks so worried, she doesn't want to leave...

'She has to leave.' Tellka took a firmer grip on Carrie's arm. "Come on, she'll be okay. Let her rest."

Carrie sighed and reluctantly allowed herself to be pulled away. I smiled weakly, but it still felt odd to see them go. Kind of lonely. I closed my eyes and began drifting off into sleep once more as the nurse led Tellka and Carrie out.

'You'll be okay, Kate.'

I know.. The changing images in my mind rocked me off into a gentle sleep. I hardly noticed the sound of the hospital room door closing. The last image in my mind was one of my mother, holding me when I was young. As I watched it, I suddenly realized that my link to her, through Frank's ring had become weaker.

I guess it's just time to let go..

The last thing I ever heard my mother say again, was 'sleep well', and then I fell into a deep and dreamless sleep.

e-mail author, talonr@hotmail.com