Hallie only slowed when she was a good distance away and then she stopped and dismounted in a clump of trees andj ust sat there resting letting heaven graze.Her saddle remaind on but the bridle sat b y her feet.

Now that Freckles had been settled in at the Farm and she'd checked in at the hospital to see that Conan was doing better, Freya was wandering around the Canyon, her ever-present steel-capped staff in her left hand, breeches and shirt of a dark crimson making her an easily-spotted figure. She had spotted the movement cause by Hallie's dismounting, and heard the movement of the horse, but she said nothing, only standing at the edge of the canyon, leaning on her staff and looking down into its depths. She'd seen Hallie around a few times, traveling about as she tended to do, but she'd always seemed to be a little skittish. So it was that the dark-haired girl leaned upon her staff, silently, the crimson beads that tipped her thousand waist-length braids clicking together a little in the wind, waiting for Hallie to become curious. People always did, seeing a bronze-skinned girl dressed all in red, and obviously a foreigner. Eventually, Hallie would get curious.

She watched as this girl presented herself. Yes she was curious but not one to get up and ask anything so she just sat there keeping an eye on the girl.

Heaven snported and her tail hit her hide.

With a patience developed by keeping night watch at sea, Freya waited for Hallie to say something, anything. The horse was getting tired of standing there doing nothing, and Freya felt Hallie's eyes boring into the back of her head. Finally, she spoke in a soft tone, her highly accented voice just barely carrying to Hallie. I don't bite, you know, khenemset she said, using the T'sashw word for friend. I've seen you 'round a few places, with your horse and your dog. Wanderers, you and I. She didn't dare go to far, ask the girl why she always ran away, why she seemed to be hiding. Having known Aralyn and Conan for some time, she'd formed her suspicions about Hallie's problems, but she didn't speak them. No... no point in scaring the girl off. Freya might be able to help her.

The Seventeen year old turned her gaze as the other spoke to he. She bit her lip.She listeend but still refused to speak. her mind playing games on her and everything.

heaven now dozed off.

Still, silence. The girl was afraid, obviously. Freya still didn't turn around, didn't make any move toward Hallie that might scare the girl away. Finally, she spoke again, still soft, though there was a touch of sadness in her voice that spoke of a shared grief. Where's... your dog?

Her own dog, Shantii... the albino with the torn tongue... she had gone missing while Freya had stayed at the hospital. Where she'd gone... Freya didn't know.

When the girl asked about her dog that made hallie remeber she had sent him away.gonewas all she said and then turned her face.

The single word finally made Freya turn, slowly, to look at Hallie, though she did not so much as lean toward her. Yours too? Platoh mal. I'm sorry. My Shantii... I came back from the hospital, and she was gone. Dogs, a common ground that they could speak on. A safe ground. I... don't know where she went. She has never left before.

I let him freewas all she said about hers. She did not turn to look at her.

Let him free, let him free...

The words echoed in Freya's mind, and her astute brain sorted the words, listening. Freedom is relative, khenemset. It is not the presence or absence of bars to hold one in. You and I... we have no bars to hold us back, but we are not free. Again, the tone of sadness, of trying to repress it, and not quite succeeding. I can help you, you know. I've a place you can stay, a dry stable with food for your horse. Together, maybe we can find our dogs... if... if you want.

She listeend to her and kept her face turned till she said she oculd stay with her.I don't want to bring the trouble that follows me to your placeshe soon said.

She smield a little at that, so soft and sad. Trouble already visits my home, khenemset. You are not the only one the darkness stalks. Your troubles will not make so much difference. Besides, two of us together stand a better chance to fight it than one. What say you?

She bit her lip.Then she nodded standing. Though she wondered if this girl even knew what type of trouble she ment. She was just glad her fathers gang hadn't come with him to ATroe city.

Freya's chocolate eyes watched the girl, seeming to weigh her as Hallie fought with herself. At her nod, Freya turned again, waving a hand in the general direction she meant to head. Come along, then. And she slowly began to head that way, toward the Woodland Farm.