Saiyuri's Journey...

Rouri watched the woman cring in front of her as Ezio retold the story of the tradegy of Saiyuri's life. She felt a deep pain for this fair woman to have gone through her lose and in turn her own pain was eased. Once Ezio was finished and Saiyuri tolded her that she was not alone in her pain, Allamerouri wraped her arms around the Rathnaiti and hugged her tightly to express her remorse and compation better than she could express in words. "Yes, we together can help each other and I will certainly try to help you, Sauyuri." Tears still slowly streamed down her scaled face and her soul still felt empty, but a new drive to conteniue living compeld the Illuniasrishii woman. "Thank you, Sauyuri and Ezio, for every thing you have done for me. I will never forget the deeds you have done today," Rouri said, still holding Sauyuri tightly. She wished to never let go as if she was afread that she to would be lost to Rouri, but she gently released her embrace and sat back to wipe the tears away. "Together we can over come our losses," she then took up Sauyuri's hand in both of hers, hoping that her words would be of some confort.

Saiyuri couldn't help but smile at the girl, her words were indeed a comfort. Not really knowing what else to say the Rathnaiti woman looked around at the camp that Ezio had set up while they had been sleeping. It wasn't anything fancy really but it was a lot better than she had been making for herself. Everything in Ezio's camp had a place; the cooking tools by the fire, the beds upwind and out of the smoke and the firewood was just far enough away to keep sparks from landing on it but close enough to grab quickly when the fire started to die.

For some reason she couldn't pin down Siayuri was starting to feel a little uneasy around her newest friend. Allamerouri had done nothing wrong, of that Saiyuri was certain. More than anything else she was mad at herself but she didn't know why. When her wings twitched involuntarily the woman was reminded of her flight earlier that day and had a horrible thought, she hadn't wanted to reach this spot today that is why she hadn't wanted to fly. She knew somebody was in pain but she didn't want to come, only Ezio had convinced her.

Trying to hide her shame Saiyuri got up to refill her bowl with some more of the deer, she hadn't realized that she had eaten it so quickly. When she turned to ask Rouri if she wanted more Saiyuri's stomach lurched, *this girl would be dead if you had had your way* the angry thought came unbidden to her mind. *I didn't want her to die, i was just scared of more pain,* she tried to rationalize to herself. *Well,* the thoughts continued, *you've had the pain now enjoy the night, tomorrow you head out again.* Saiyuri gave a frustrated sigh and finally asked the girl, "Are you still hungry Rouri? I think the deer Ezio found might go to waste if you don't help me eat some of this. "

Ezio hadn't sensed Saiyuri's despair so he jovially answered her, "Nah, it won't go to waste. We'll just have some for breakfast and maybe a lunch as we travel tomorrow. We are heading out tomorrow right Saiyuri?" The woman just gave a small grunt of aknowlegement, she really had no idea.

At the mention of travel, Allamerouri perked up with interest. Being the only daughter of a pilot and a archeologist, Rouri was use to traveling every where in the known and once unknown universe. Rouri, herself has seen things that meny people have only dreamed of even though she is only coming on thirteen years old. She wanted to speak up about going with them, but some feeling emminated from Saiyuri set Rouri on edge. The Rathnaiti controled her thoughts well, but still the strong telepathic Illuniasrishii still picked up some uneasyness in her mannor. "Were are you going?" she said quitly and a little confused. The feeling lifted and Allamerouri put the uneasyness to the back of her head. She knew that what the Rathnaiti was thinking was private and would never easedrop. "I would like to travel with you, but I do not wish to be a burden. I will do my fair share of the choirs if you would allow me to join you. I do not know where else to go." She hung her head slightly unsure of her self and unsure if she would be allowed to come with her already close friends.

Ezio heard the uneasiness in Allamerouri's voice but since it was not his journey he wasn't sure if he should answer. Saiyuri quickly put his worries to rest though by saying, "Do you think that we'd just leave you here Rouri? That's silly, how would we celebrate your naming day together?" Suddenly Saiyuri got a case of the giggles, "Anyway another girl along would be fun, I haven't travelled with anyone in quite a while and while Ezio is a good friend there's nothing like having another girl around."

Ezio feeling slightly outnumbered gave a small laugh but then said, "Rouri asked where we are going, I'm sorta curious too. Do you even know yet?"

Saiyuri got her giggles under control and tried to focus on Ezio's question. "I haven't figured that out yet Ezio, give me a moment." With that Saiyuri closed her eyes and opened herself, Feeling for anyone in need. Only to the north of the Great Desert was there even the tiniest spark of pain. This confused Saiyuri very much, she had never traversed the Great Desert and so many had said it wasn't possible to cross. If her Feeling could sense someone though it had to be, her range was only two or three days travel, and that was by walking. With a destination firmly fixed in her mind Saiyuri opened her eyes and looked at her friends. "Well I hope you two like warm weather," she said nervously.

Ezio's eyes widened and he looked directly towards the sandy hills to their north. "You're serious aren't you Saiyuri, we have to cross the desert?" The griffon's voice showed a definate uneasiness.

"I don't know if we have to cross it or only go partway, what I'm Feeling is at very farthest edge of my range which is two or three days walking, I'm not exactly sure how far across the desert is. If we fly though it shouldn't be too bad, I hope." Saiyuri then remembered that Allamerouri's wings had been badly damaged and she asked, "Do you think you'll be able to fly in the morning Rouri? If not we can travel by foot but I really don't think we want to." Saiyuri asked this last as she took a nervous glance towards the Great Desert.

At the question, Rouri glanced back at her wings as if she had forgoten the state they were in. She examined them as she stretched them out to their fullness and replaced them back to her back. The joints seemed to work smothly, except for a slight stiffness in one of the wrist joint, but all was fine. She had quite a large wing spand for her 6' 5'' tall frame and she thought she could keep up with the more experenced Griffon and Rathnaiti. "I think every thing is in working order and I see no reason not to use these wings of mine, but of course we will just have to see if once we are in the air. I would rather not have to walk all that way." Then Rouri turned back to the pair with a large smile. "I would love to help you in any way I can. I am not a healer but perhaps I would come in use. I do like the things you do, you are vary honorable." She said to both beings. "And I do like a good flight across the desert." she added, tring to liven up the nervousness of the long and tiresome journey ahead of them.

Saiyuri and Ezio smiled at the girls excited words. Her attempt to cheer them had worked wonderfully. “So your people travel right Rouri?” Ezio asked curiously. “This should be a grand adventure then for all of us. I know I’ve never been across the Great Desert before and I doubt Saiyuri has, she’s too young.”

Saiyuri gave an undignified snort at that remark, “I am not too young Ezio, what if my parents had taken me? Hmm?” The griffon just looked at his companion, his eyes squinted as he tried to read her words. Finally giving in to his scrutiny and teasing Saiyuri admitted, “Okay so I haven’t but that doesn’t mean anything, I’ve known people who have. They’ve told me all about the other side.” Then turning to Allamerouri she said conspiratorially, “If you think Ezio and I are strange creatures just wait until we reach the other side. Apparently they have wolves with wings and lynx with scales instead of fur.”

The more that Saiyuri spoke about what they would find at the other end of their journey the less worried she became. If she had tried to attempt crossing the Great Desert on her own she probably would have had to turn back due to loneliness if not from hardship. She looked carefully at her newest friend. The girl said her wings were well enough to fly, at least for a while. Even if they weren’t able to make it too far at least they wouldn’t be alone, the three of them would make quite a team.

Suddenly Saiyuri burst out laughing. When the other two gave her strange looks she tried to explain between fits of laughter. “The people over there aren’t going to know what to make of us three. I’ve been told that there are only humans over there along with the creatures. We are sure going to be a strange sight for them!” Not able to continue speaking Saiyuri gave into her giggles, holding her side in pain.

Saiyuri'a laughing was certainly contagious and soon Rouri was gigling along even before Saiyuri revealed what set her off. Rouri could just picture in her mind the looks on the humans face when they saw the trio come in to veiw. "I can't wait to see the stange creatures. Being nomatic, we Illuniarishii have seen meny unusual things, but the le..lyns sounds vary interesting." Allemerouri spilled out stubbleing on the x sound in lynx. She had found that some combinations in the two language was expecaly had for a silghly forked tounge, but oh well she didn't care if her anatomy set her back a little. "Oh, I once saw a huge hairy beast that had two heads on one of the planets we scouted. It was enormous! And what was funny was is spoke in this realy high pitch voice, both heads at the same time. There are certainly some strange things out there." Rouri said with almost childish vigor, rambling in her excitment. The journey to her was a little scary, but more exciting and tempting than anything else. In her mind she wish they could go now enstead of wait untill tomarrow, but all things come to those how wait. So she prepared her self for a long day of dream about what she will find on the other side of the desert.

A big yawn suddenly seized Saiyuri. She had been about to agree with Rouri's last statment because she too was excited. Instead she looked at Ezio and asked, "Do you think you can take care of the fire for the night? I'm very tired all of a sudden." The large griffon just nodded his feathered head and went about removing the meat and banking the coals.

When Saiyuri saw him do this she sighed with relief and slowly lifted herself off the ground. "Well Rouri," she said while trying to stifle yet another yawn, "I don't know about you but I'm ready to fall asleep." She walked over to the girl and offered her hand to help the girl up. She gave a gentle yank when Allamerouri placed her hand in hers, bringing the girl to her feet as well. Once the girl was up, Saiyuri gave her a quick hug and said, "If you need anything tonight, feel free to wake me. It may take a second but I will wake up."

With that she slowly made her way to the pile of blankets she had emerged from earlier. Saiyuri was barely settled when dreams took her. For the first time in months her dreams weren't painful. In fact they were very pleasant dreams, dreams of travelling to many places with her new companions. A smile slowly crept across the sleeping woman's face and it stayed with her all through the night.

Ezio watched Saiyuri as she quickly fell asleep and when he was assured that the nightmares hadn't taken hold yet he went back to tidying up the camp for the night. Feeling someone looking at him Ezio remembered the young Illuniasrishii woman hadn't yet gone to bed. He turned to meet her turquoise gaze and smiled a griffon smile, his beak slightly open. "Is there anything you need Rouri?" he asked quietly, so as not to wake the sleeping Rathnaiti.