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Must Run in the Family

Mara sighed and rolled her eyes. This was giving her a major headache. "Max, put Riff down. I won't let you drop him out the window." Mara said calmly. Maxine frowned and glared at Riff, who she was holding upside down by his ankle.
"Oh, fine." Max muttered, dumping Riff onto the floor. Riff had called Maxine a chick again, and Maxine had threatened to kill him again. Like always, the Lady Smuggler came to the rescue.
"Thanks Mara, I owe you." Riff said gratefully. Mara looked at him impatiently.
"Go back to your shop and leave us alone and I'll consider the debt paid."
"Forget it!" Riff replied stubbornly,"I don't owe you that much." Mara sighed again.
"For the last time, I'm a big girl, I can take care of myself, and I don't need you to protect me!" She exclaimed. Riff shook his head.
"Nope. My Uncle told me that no matter what I had to make sure that you didn't get yourself killed. Why, he even-"
"Knighted you with the coveted golden drumstick that he won at a music festival. Yeah, yeah, we all know the story!" Maxine finished for him impatiently.
"Not 'a' music festival, 'THE' Music Festival!" Riff exclaimed. Mara smiled as Riff began rambling on about the festival. About one month after Mara was officially made the Lady Smuggler, Riff had appeared at her door, smiling innocently. Mara had known Riff's uncle very well, he'd retired after Lanna had departed, and had sent his annoying nephew as his replacement to take care of his music shop and annoy Mara to death. Riff was doing an exellent job of both. Mara had tried to tell him as gently as she could that she didn't need a protector, but he refused to listen. She didn't have the heart to force him to leave. Riff accompanied Mara on all of her heists, whether Mara liked it or not. When Mara did manage to go on one without telling him, he always found out and refused to leave her side for the next 2 days. Mara looked up. Max was getting ready to punch Riff, who was still talking. The sexual tension between those two was absolutely astounding. Poor Maxine was crazy about him...and couldn't find it in her heart to show him in any other way besides beating the crap out of him. Riff was equally insane. He actually enjoyed her threats of violence.
"I guess the mentally disturbed are magnetically drawn to me or something." Mara muttered.
She raised her head, hearing someone enter, "Aathos. You're late. I suppose you were deatined by Mrs. Drakely four doors down who wanted to give you some tea?" She turned her head and it was indeed Aathos that had just come in the door. He smiled imperceptibly, pleased.
"Your skills of deduction are as impeccable as ever, my dear." Making his way over to Mara's seat, Aathos noted Riff and Maxine's brawl with disapproval.
"Are you going to let her maim him?" asked Aathos calmly.
"Would you mind if I did?"
"Not especially. But knowing you I'd have to clean up their mess. And bloodstains are so hard to get out of carpets." Giggling, Mara rested her beak on her hands. Aathos coughed and leaned in a little closer to Mara. "Mara...I need to speak to you in private for a moment...do you mind?" Mara stood, and regarded Aathos with an air of curiosity. As her advisor, the two of them often spoke alone about certain matters, but this time there was something different in his voice...something distinctly nervous, it seemed to her.
"Of course." she answered, following him into her room.

Once inside, Aathos closed the door. Behind it, they could both still just barely hear Maxine hitting Riff upside the head.
"Mara...How long has it been since you took charge of the Black Rose Society?" Mara blinked, slightly startled. Whatever she had conceived that this meeting might be about, it certainly seemed to be heading in an odd direction.
"I was officially named the Lady Smuggler on December 12th." She looked down at her hands, slightly pained by the memory, "Lanna's birthday. But you know that Aathos, so what's this all about?"
"I just want to be completely understood." he said firmly, motioning for her to sit on her hammock. "You've been the Lady Smuggler for a year now, and you've been doing a wonderful job...we've been more successful than we have for years now."
Mara smiled at this, "Aathos, if you're trying to tell me that you've found a replacement for me then hurry it up so I can break out the champagne and celebrate." she joked. Crossly, Aathos glared at her.
"You know it doesn't work like that so stop talking like it. Lanna wanted you to have the position, you're good in it, it suits you, and you're stuck in it, like it or not Mara, so I'll have no more of your subversive mutterings." Mara sighed, very used to having this conversation.
"Alright then, get to the point. Why are you being so complementary to me? You're never nice to me, you hate me." Aathos looked at her plaintive face for a moment and his expression softened.
"Stupid little creature," he said lovingly, stroking her hair, "you know I'm very fond of you. And I have to be tough on you, it's for your own good."
Smiling at him Mara nodded, "Yes Aathos, I know. But what's this all about? You are acting very strangely."
Gently, Aathos said, "I understand that this isn't the way you wanted things to be, but Lanna was right in her choice." He took a deep breath, "I just wanted to make sure you knew how well you were doing before I came right to the point...and the point is..." he cleared his throat, "Well, it's been a year and you've had a chance to settle, and I think you're ready to handle something now that you might not have been before." He handed Mara a small slip of paper with a name and address on it.
"What's this?" Mara murmured.
"You ought to know that Lanna did try to locate you family before...well, at any rate, this is what she found."
Mara shook her head, "I don't know this name."
"I didn't expect you to. Your mother had a second child with a different man. And, ever true to her form, she promptly abandonded this child." He pointed to the name on the paper, "That's your younger half sister." Mara shook her head, unable to speak for a moment.
Finally, when she regained control of her voice she whispered, "Aathos, are you sure?" He nodded.
"Quite sure, Mara. Lanna couldn't find out where your mother is, or where the girl's father is...but she is most definitely alive, and most definitely your sister."
"How old?" Mara asked, having a hard time taking this all in.
"Hard to say. She was abandonded very young. I doubt she knows exactly herself. Around twelve." Aathos knelt down to look into Mara's face, trying to discern whether or not she was alright. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner Mara, you just had so much to cope with. I thought it best to wait. You're pale...can I get you something?"
"No, thank you, Aathos..." she said distantly. "I'd like to be alone for a moment, please." Aathos nodded and got up to leave the room. As he opened the door he cast one last worried glance back at Mara who sat motionless, staring at the scrap of paper he had given her. When he was gone, Mara read the address to herself. It was a stable. That was where Aathos said Mara could find her sister. Mara looked at the name scribbled above it.
Amber.

Amber Lorraine Van Drake sneezed loudly. The horse in the stall that she was leaning against whinnied.
"Thanks Carmen. I think I'm getting a cold." Amber was small, thin, and very under fed. She had fairly straight, shoulder blade length, light brown hair that she usually wore in a ponytail. Amber had light tan feathers, and wide, innocent-looking silver eyes above her small beak. She looked much younger than she really was, which was around 11. Amber wasn't sure how old she was, her mother abandoned her when she was one...or at least Amber thought she did. Amber couldn't really remember anymore, and she certainly didn't want to. She rubbed one of her silver colored eyes and yawned, dragging herself to her feet.
"Okay guys, feeding time." Amber walked around to each stall and gave each of the horses a carrot. Amber had lived most of her life with a nice old lady that had taken her in named Ruthie. The cottage may not have been much, but at least it was a roof . Ruthie was very kind to her, the closest thing to a mother that Amber ever had. The two of them managed to get by...until Ruthie passed away. Amber wandered the streets until she had found a steady job as a groom at this stable. The owners were kind enough to let her sleep there as well.
Actually, the owners never found out that she was living there, but Amber liked to think that they would've allowed it if they had known. She was happy there. Amber loved horses. Amber tripped and fell into the bucket of carrots. The horses all whinnied.
"Yeah, yeah," Amber muttered,"laugh it up." The horse closest to Amber took hold of the back of her shirt with it's teeth and lifted Amber off the ground. "Hey!" Amber yelped,"Lemme go!"

Mara covered her beak so Amber couldn't hear her snicker. Mara had been watching her younger sister with curiosity for about an hour now. She had made sure to keep hidden, sitting on a bale of hay in a walled off section of the stable. The little girl was a sad, almost waif like creature, that had a hollow look about her. Mara had almost instantly come to love the poor, mistreated girl. It was difficult for her not to: Amber looked so sweet and friendly. After careful observation Mara had also sadly decided that they had practically nothing in common. She could see no particular glance or gesture that reminded her of either her mother or herself, and they bore no resemblance to one another in the slightest. Amber heard the owners calling her and ran out of the stable. Quickly, Mara jumped the small wall and walked over to the horses. One started to nicker, but stopped as Mara gently put her hand on it's muzzle.
"Shhhh. Don't worry, I'm not gonna hurt you. I just came to see Amber." Soon, Mara heard her coming back in. Amber walked into the now empty stable...but something was a little different. There was an apple lying on the floor by the pile of hay that she always slept on.
"Where did this come from?" she asked the horses. One of the horses jerked it's head towards the walled off section where Mara was hiding. Amber slowly crept over and popped her head over the wall yelling "Aha!" Amber stopped and frowned, puzzled. She looked at the indent that was made in the hay. Someone had been watching her.

Mara walked down the street, determined to do everything in her power to better Amber's situation. She looked so thin, so helpless. How could anyone not be moved to help such an innocent little child? In all of the plans Mara had begun to formulate in her mind, never once did she think seriously of showing herself to Amber...that was a little too much for Mara to cope with just yet, and probably too much for Amber to ever cope with. How would she feel about an older sister simply appearing out of nowhere? Especially an older sister with a criminal record. With every step Mara took away from the stable she became more firmly convinced that she and Amber should never meet. But that wouldn't stop her from improving Amber's quality of life.

For the next three weeks Amber began to find blankets, pillows, and food left mysteriously by her bed. Maxine paced back and forth in Mara's apartment. She had begun to worry about Mara. Every time she went into Mara's room it seemed that another pillow or blanket had disappeared from her hammock. She'd been eating even less than usual and going off nearly every day claiming to take a walk, and then not reappearing again for hours at a time. Max decided it was time to talk to her. Mara walked out of her bedroom.
"Hey Max, I'm going for a walk."Mara called to her. Max blocked the door.
"Oh, no you're not. We need to talk." She replied menacingly. Mara looked at her, puzzled.
"Is something wrong?" She asked Maxine.
"Yes," Max replied,"and your not leaving until you tell me what it is."
"I dunno what you're talking about." Mara said calmly.
"Why haven't you been eating?" demanded Maxine.
"Cash flow crisis, that's all. Now let me out!"
"And another thing Mara, why are you going on all of these long walks all of a sudden?" Maxine continued, ignoring Mara's command.
"I just like taking walks. Will you let me through already?!" Mara replied hastily, becoming impatient.
"Fine." said Max, "just one more question."
"All right," Mara answered,"shoot."
"What've you got hidden under your cloak?" Mara glared at her. It was customary for the Lady Smuggler to wear a long, black cloak. The same one that was passed along to each Lady Smuggler. Mara had just realized that from where Maxine was standing she could see that Mara was hiding a bag behind her back.
"Nothing."Mara replied. Max snatched the bag from her and looked inside. It was food.
"So that's it...you've developed an irrational fear of eating in front of other people, haven't you?" Maxine decided sarcastically.
Mara retorted, equally sarcastic, "Ya got me, Max. I'm so ashamed...So why don't you go arrange the group therapy while I step out for some air."
"Come on Mara, talk to me!" Max begged.
With a sigh, Mara put a hand on her shoulder, "I promise I'm fine Max, really. This is just something I have to do...I'll tell you about it later, alright?"
After a moment of deliberation, Maxine gave way, "Alright Jade, but this had best be some helluva explanation." Mara smiled.
"Believe me Max...it sure is." And with that, Mara left.

By the time Mara had arrived at the stable, Amber was busy feeding the horses. Just before Amber walked out to another section of the stable, she winked quickly at the horse closest to her. As soon as Amber was out of sight, Mara jumped the small wall and placed her bag of food by Amber's bed. This same horse, that Mara had learned was called Diego, whinnied at her as she was about to leave. Trying to silence Diego, Mara stopped and pet him soothingly. The horse quickly grabbed her sleeve in his teeth refusing to let go as all the other horses began to whinny. Amber, who had been hiding just a stall or two away, ran in.
"Gotcha!" She said triumphantly. Mara glared at the horse.
"Et tu, Diego?" she muttered.
"So," Amber began, folding her arms across her chest, "you're the one whose been leaving me stuff?" Mara nodded.
"Yes, I confess, I am. You can call your horse off me now, he's ripping my shirt." Amber nodded to the horse, and he loosened his grip on Mara. Mara gingerly rubbed her wrist, glaring again at Diego, who seemed very aware that he had fallen out of the lady's favor.
"So..." Amber began again, trying to think of something clever to say. Finally, she blurted out, "Why are you giving me food?"
Mara shrugged, smiling slightly, "Guess I'm just a sucker for hard luck cases."
Amber stood up straight and said bravely, "Well, thank you very much, but I can't accept it."
Laughing, Mara responded readily, "You already have accepted it, and I'm certainly not going to take it back." Amber carefully looked the stranger up and down. She had a mysterious air about her, but she definitely wasn't frightening...quite pretty, in an exotic way. It was a lady, very young, probably early twenties, with straight, black hair, a few inches below her beak. She was tall and quite thin, but definitely strong. The stranger had smokey gray, almost silver feathers, but her most striking feature by far was her eyes. They were pure green, maybe jade, and they seemed to glow. Amber unconciously relaxed her guard, filled with curiosity. The lady had a kind face, and a very familiar voice...
"Who are you?" Amber blurted out. The girl laughed kindly,
"No one of consequence." she replied quietly. Amber wondered what consequence was. "Consequence means importance." she explained, practically reading Amber's mind.
"I knew that!" Amber exclaimed.
She just laughed again, "It's been a pleasure to meet you, Amber, but I'm afraid I have to go."
"Wait!" Amber exclaimed, "How did you know my-" she stopped, looking around,"-name..." The lady had dissappeared. Amber sighed, making up her mind to follow her.

She ran out of the stable and scanned the street, looking for the lady. Amber cut down an alley and stopped at the end, hiding as she looked up the street.
"Mara!" Amber turned as she heard a voice yell, "Mara, where the hell have you been?" Amber could have sworn she heard that same girl's gentle voice answering this new one, but her attention was drawn away from the conversation as a group of five or so boys gathered around her.
"Well," said the biggest one tauntingly,"looky what we got here, looks like some more street trash floated into the gutter. Let's put it back in the dumpster where it belongs." Amber glared at them.
"Fuck you!" she replied, angrily. She kicked the closest boy in the stomach and began to run. The boy caught up and threw her onto the ground. They dragged Amber to her feet and the biggest one punched her in the stomach hard while two others held her. Amber moaned in pain. The boy aimed his fist directly at her beak, getting ready to deliver another punch, when the two boys that were holding her got thrown into the far wall. Amber doubled over on the floor in pain. The first boy kicked her squarely in the chin. Someone grabbed him, lifted him off the ground and threw him. The boys were gone. Amber looked up in pain, and saw a pair of bright jade eyes looking back down at her. Amber passed out.

When Amber woke up, she slowly opened one eye and looked around. Amber was lying curled up on a couch with a blanket over her. She carefully looked around the room. It looked like an apartment, a nice one. She seemed to be in the living room, which consisted of a couch, a rug, a few paintings, and a coffee table. It seemed pretty bare, but still neat. Amber liked it. She quickly squeezed her eye shut as someone walked over to her.
"Hey," she heard a guy's voice say, "The little tike's still sleepin'. Isn't that cute? Can we keep her??"
Amber recognized the second lady's voice from the alley reply, "Riff, do you remember what happened the last time you had a pet?"
"That wasn't my fault!" the first voice argued, "the turtle just wouldn't eat!" Amber heard another man's voice in the background.
"I don't believe I'm doing this again. A curly blonde wig, Mara, and there would be nothing distinguishing you from Lanna. Are you insane to bring her here?!"
"Oh Aathos, come on, have a heart!" the other man pleaded.
"I will not!" He said firmly, "Now we can still fix this. All we have to do is carry her back to that stable of hers before she wakes up."
"You're a little late, Aathos, she's already awake. It's all right Amber, you can open your eyes, we won't hurt you." Amber did open her eyes, and saw the girl with green eyes sitting on the coffee table in front of her. "That's better." she said with a smile. Another girl walked over to examine Amber more closely.
"You're lucky Mara saw you runnin'. Those brats were beatin' the shit outta you!" the woman said with a laugh. Amber realized that her head was throbbing. She rubbed her neck and muttered.
"They started it."
The one that they called Riff laughed, " Heh, heh! Cute AND funny, this one's multi-talented!" Amber turned back to look at the green-eyed one sitting right in front of her.
"Is that your name?" Amber asked her quietly, "Mara?" She nodded.
The second one loudly intervened, "Damn, you must live under a rock. Haven't you ever heard of Mara Jade, the Lady Smuggler?"
Mara turned to her, "Max!" she snapped, "please!"
Max shrugged, "All right, fine. I'm sorry. Just figured she oughta know." Amber looked at Mara again.
"You're the Lady Smuggler?" she asked, amazed. Accidentally, she let slip out, "But I thought you were supposed to be a witch." To Amber's relief Mara smiled and everybody else in the room burst out laughing.
Riff looked at Mara, "She's right y'know, maybe we should get you a mask or somethin'..." They all started laughing again. Mara glared at them.
"Oh very clever." She muttered sarcastically. Mara turned back to Amber. "How's your head?"
"Still hurts." Amber murmured. Mara looked down at her sympathetically.
"Poor thing...maybe you should eat something." She said. Amber's stomach growled at the prospect of food, but she knew better than to accept anything from strangers.
"I'm not hungry." she said in a weak voice. Mara smiled, thoroughly unconvinced.
"Not even for cookies?" She asked, producing a plate of cookies from behind her back. Amber crammed one in her mouth without thinking. The others all chuckled.
"Good thing she wasn't hungry." Aathos said with a smile.
"Hey Aathos," Riff asked him, "was Mara that cute when she was that little?" Aathos shook his head.
"No, cuter." Mara glared at him.
"You're ruining my image." she said with mock indignation.
"No, Mara, I think Amber got there first." Even Mara laughed at that one.
"Where am I?" Amber asked Mara.
Gasping, Mara stood up, "Where are my manners?! This is my apartment." Mara said gently, "You passed out and I couldn't very well leave you lying in the middle of the street, could I?" Amber beamed up at her happily. Awkwardly, she pulled herself up to a sitting position, trying to think of an appropriate way to thank Mara for her attention.
"You're...you're awfully nice." Was all Amber could think of. Favoring her with another warm smile, Mara fluffed Amber's pillow.
"And you're obviously still not well enough to be moved." Mara told Amber firmly.
"But my job-" Amber began, alarmed. Mara cut her off.
"I've spoken to the owners of the barn. You've got some sick days coming to you, and I'm certainly not going to let you try and stumble back to your pile of hay in the state that you're in. You'll stay here until you fully recover, and from then on, you're free to go. I just want you to know that you're welcome to stay as long as you want here." Aathos began to object, but stopped as Mara glanced menacingly in his direction. Amber looked around and thought. She had a job to do at the stable, and it was obvious that not all of them wanted her around. Amber looked at Mara, who was smiling kindly at her, and couldn't help wishing that she could stay with her. The couch was so comfy, and they all seemed so friendly. Amber's head began to ache more insistently now. After seeing her wince in pain, Mara gently pushed Amber back down, put her pillow back under her head and lovingly pulled a blanket over her.
"Now get some sleep." Mara said quietly. The ducks all walked out of the room, leaving Amber to sleep. Amber fell asleep almost immediately, feeling more comfortable than she could remember being for ages.

She awoke to the sound of arguing from the kitchen...or at least what Amber thought was the kitchen. She slipped off the couch quietly, thankful that both her head and stomach were feeling much better. Amber tip-toed over and poked her head in the doorway, trying to hear what they were all saying. There were a few more ducks there now, about seven all together. The three new ones that Amber didn't know were all girls. Amber went pale as she realized that they were talking about her. Aathos was the one talking. "Mara, you don't have enough money to support her. You barely have enough money to support yourself, thanks to the Guild and their damn percentage fee! It's dangerous to keep her around, dangerous to you AND her! It's for her own good that she stays as far away from you as possible." He said stubbornly. Mara shook her head and replied calmly,
"I refuse to dump her back on the street like that, at least not until she's had medical attention. She's safer in here than she is out there."
"Not for long." Aathos warned her. Mara sighed and smiled at him kindly,
"You always were difficult to argue with weren't you, Aathos? Well, I suppose you're right." That caught Aathos off guard.
"You do?" he said cautiously. Mara nodded.
"As soon as we get her medical attention she can go." She said quietly. One of the new girls waved her hand to stop the conversation.
"Wait Mara, hold up. You know perfectly well there aren't any hospitals in the Guild, and the moment you set foot in a normal hospital with her the police would have a nuclear weapon targeted on your head!"
"Gee," said Mara slyly, "You're absolutely right, Colleen, if only I knew someone who could help me pull strings in the Guild..." She trailed off and they all looked at Aathos. He glared at Mara,
"I knew there was a trick involved." he muttered.
"Oh, no. Forget it Mara, I'm not gonna risk my neck to help some poor, sweet, adorable, little child! You know I hate poor, sweet, adorable children! I refuse to do it! Absolutely not!!!" Aathos said firmly. Mara batted her eyes at him,
"You said the exact same thing about me, you know." she said pleadingly.
Aathos sighed, "Yeah, and look where it got me. I'm about to try and sabotage the Smuggler's Guild to help save a little kid because a headstrong 18 year old asked me to!!!!"
Mara smiled,"You'll do it?" Aathos rolled his eyes and nodded. Mara laughed, "I knew you'd do it!" She hugged him.
Aathos shook his head, "I dunno what the hell's wrong with me." he muttered. Riff laughed,
" Yeah, I've been wondering the same thing ever since I met you." Aathos turned to smile at him evilly,
" I know where you live." he said wickedly. Riff shrank back behind Maxine, nervously looking out at Mara for support. Mara smiled and turned to Aathos.
"Aathos, I hope you realize that if I find Riff dead then I'm going to have to yell at you." Aathos nodded
"I can cope with that."
"So can I." mumbled Maxine, glaring at Riff.
"I feel so unloved." he muttered sarcastically. Everyone laughed, including Amber. Mara glanced towards the doorway where Amber was hiding.
"Come on out Amber," she said gently, "We won't hurt you." Amber walked out, amazed.
" How do you do that?" she asked, slightly annoyed. One of the other new girls smiled,
" Funny, we've all been trying to figure that out for years." she said, good naturedly. They all laughed again.
"You haven't met the others yet," Mara said, pointing at the three new girls,
"This is Colleen." she said pointing to the tallest girl present. Colleen smiled at her and waved.
" H'lo little girl." she said brightly. Amber smiled back.
"This is Sarah." Mara continued, motioning towards the girl who was looking into a mirror. As she heard her name she looked up. Sarah glanced at Amber, then turned back to her mirror.
"Hi." she said flatly. Amber looked at her.
"Wow, " she murmured, "You're pretty." Sarah looked back up at her, smiling broadly,
"Oh, what a sweet little girl you are! I'm so happy to meet you!" Mara sighed, smiling,
"Moving on, this is Heather." A girl, probably around 16, looked up at her and blew a bubble, adjusting her backwards baseball cap.
"Yo." she said, pulling the gum off her beak and tossing it back into her mouth. Amber smiled.
"And you already know Maxine." Mara said turning towards the girl with dark, reddish-purple hair, sitting crosslegged in her chair, glaring at Riff, who was still crouching behind her. "and Riff, he's the one cowering behind Max." Mara explained to Amber. Riff stood up quickly, a little embarassed. He was tall and quite lanky, with his fairly long hair tied back in a messy ponytail. Amber blushed, thinking that for an older guy, he was pretty cute. Mara caught the blush and snickered. She turned to face Aathos, "and of course, my old friend Aathos." she said. Aathos nodded at Amber approvingly. She looked at him carefully. Aathos was also fairly tall, but slightly bent with age. The roots of his hair were beginning to turn white, but his thin moustache remained a sandy, almost blond color. He turned to Mara,
"Well, it seems that I've got work to do. I'll be back in an hour or so." He began to walk out.
Mara nodded, "Thank you Aathos." she said gratefully. He turned back to face her and smiled kindly,
"If I pull this off then you can thank me, Child, not before." Mara nodded and Aathos walked out. Amber looked up at Mara uneasily,
"Look, if I'm causing any trouble then maybe I should leave..." she said. Mara got down on one knee, at eye level with Amber, and nodded reassuringly.
"No, it's no trouble at all, don't worry, it's just that there are other issues that we have to deal with right now, and things are a little hectic." Amber nodded, wishing Mara wouldn't be quite so vague.
"Hey Mara," said Heather, "the job still on for tonight?" Mara nodded, standing up,
"Yeah, and this one outta take care of our expenses for the rest of the quarter. Our fee's paid up."
"Yeah," Colleen muttered angrily, "Until the Guild dumps another government run on you."
"Colleen, that only happened twice, and besides, the Guild doesn't need any more supplies, that's why they cut the percentage last quarter." Mara said patiently. Heather shook her head,
"The whole thing's too damn confusing if you ask me." Sarah nodded,
"It's all crazy." Mara shrugged,
"Well, you're all crazy and I put up with it, so I don't see what you're all complaining about." They all laughed.
"Mara Jade, I'll have you know that the only reason we're all insane is because you drove us to it!" Sarah yelled. Amber looked up,
"Jade...is that your last name?" Mara went a little pale,
"uh, no." she said quietly. Max looked up, curiously,
"Hey Mara, what IS your last name? You've never told us." They all heard a loud crash in the other room, and ran in. A small glass vase had fallen on to the floor and shattered.
"Funny," Heather murmured, "how did that happen?" Mara unconciously clutched her right arm, returning to her normal color.
"Anyway," she said, "I'm going to need you all there on the heist. Except for you two, Riff, and Max." They both looked up,
"WHAT?!" they yelled.
"I need you here to keep an eye on Amber." She explained. They glared first at Amber, then at each other, and finally at Mara. "Stay here and I promise I'll let you both come on every run for the next five months." They both smiled,
"Deal." they said simultaneously.
"But why can't I come?" demanded Amber. Mara knelt down at eye level with her and said solemnly,
"I'm sorry, Amber, but it's much too dangerous for you. Besides, you're hurt, and I wouldn't want to get you killed. Cops shoot at anyone and everyone who's a suspect, even small children." Max nodded,
"You learned that pretty well, didn't you Mara?" Mara stuck her tounge out at Max, who blew a raspberry back at her. Amber giggled, then looked at Mara,
"Okay," she said sweetly, "I'll stay here." Mara sighed, standing up.
"Why don't I believe you?" she murmured quietly.
Later that night Amber sat with Riff (Max had gone out grocery shopping), trying to find a way to follow Mara to her heist. First of all, she had to find out where it was. Realizing that the more likey one to let it slip was Riff, Amber decided that she would have to be very subtle and crafty to find the location...
" Hey Riff, where's Mara's heist?"
"I not supposed to tell you." Riff replied. Amber cursed to herself, wishing she knew how to be subtle and crafty. " Forget it Kid, there's no way that you're gonna get me to tell you that they went to the Novartis Jeweler's Company Storehouse on Linard Street." Amber smiled, knowing where that was.
"Okay." Amber said sweetly, "Let's play hide and go seek! You count to 300, I'll go hide."
"Okay!" said Riff gleefully. He began to count. Amber ran out the door and soon she was down on Linard Street. She ran into the silent warehouse. Novartis was a government faction, which meant alarms... lots of them. Amber hid as she saw Mara sneak silently into view. Mara did a series of backflips, avoiding all the laser alarms, and landed directly in front of a large safe. Amber noticed that her right sleeve was pulled up, revealing a long scar.
Where had Amber seen that before... Mara deftly cracked the safe and produced a bag. She silently took jewels from the safe and placed them in the bag until the safe was empty. Amber noticed a flashing light from outside. She gasped in fear as ten Police cars screeched to a hault in front of the building and armed men stepped out. Amber realized that she had tripped a silent alarm when she came in. Amber had to help Mara...
"Mara!" she yelled, "The cops are here!" Mara looked up at Amber.
"Amber! Run for cover now!" Amber froze in place, petrified. She watched as Mara ran from the vault for cover. The police burst in through the door and immeadiately began shooting. Amber vaguely noticed the Black Rose members running out of the building. Who could blame them for leaving her? After all, it was all Amber's fault. Amber felt a bullet pierce her arm. She crumpled onto the ground, pain shooting up her arm. Tears trickled from her eyes as she realized that she was going to die.
Just then, Mara scooped Amber up and ran to the door. Amber saw a shot ricochet off the very spot she had been standing in. Amber felt strangely numb, too frightened to believe what had just passed. Mara carried her all the way back to her apartment. Amber sat on the couch, staring out blankly as Mara bandaged her arm. Mara hadn't said a word yet, no one had. Riff was the only one talking, frantically apologizing for having let Amber slip out like that. Mara sighed, but didn't reply. Amber knew what was coming, Mara was going to scream at her, then throw her out, and Amber was very frightened. The last thing she had wanted to do was cause trouble for Mara, and now she had fucked everything up AND gotten herself shot. Shaking, Amber turned to look at Mara. Without warning, Amber began to sob uncontrollably. Mara held her while she sobbed, stroking her soothingly.
" It's all my fault," Amber said between sobs,"I screwed everything up. I'm so sorry Mara..." Amber dissolved into tears once again.
"No you didn't Honey, you saved our lives. If you hadn't yelled to us, we'd be dead." Mara replied comfortingly.
"B-but I tripped the alarm..." stuttered Amber.
"The cops were on their way before you tripped it, we knew that they were going to come eventually, we just didn't know when." explained Aathos.
"And you were our little lookout." said Colleen happily.
"But if I ever catch you sneaking out to pull a stunt like that again I'll lock you up here in chains! You nearly got yourself killed!" Mara scolded her gently, hand her a handkerchief. Amber dried her eyes, almost wishing that Mara would yell at her. Her voice was almost maddeningly calm. Sarah walked out of the room,
"well, we got the stuff! I'll see you guys later, I promised I'd call my mother." At the word 'mother' Amber felt the hand that Mara had on her arm tense up. Amber looked up, suprised, to see flecks of sadness cross Mara's face. Amber noticed for the first time with some astonishment, that Mara's eyes looked very sad, almost tainted...Amber's thoughts were interrupted by Maxine.
"That was some hit you took kid, I wish I could've been there." she said respectfully,
"Y'know, Mara took a hit like that once too when she was around your age." Max began to walk away, but Amber could hear her say under her breath, "must run in the family." Amber wondered what she meant by that.
The next day, the Guild doctor came by to visit Amber. "Slight head injuries(explains why she's so crazy), a bruised rib, and various other scrapes and cuts, oh yeah and she's also been shot (no shit). Th' doc says she outta be fine in a few days." Riff reported happily to Mara.
"Good. And you really are feeling better?" Mara asked Amber. She nodded enthusiactically,
"Yeah, good as OW!!" Amber rubbed her arm gingerly as Mara touched it.
"Good as ow," Mara said sarcastically, "well, that's comforting to know." Max laughed as Amber playfully stuck her tongue out. Aathos tilted his head to the side studing Amber, which made her very uncomfortable.
"Do you remember your mother?" he asked abruptly. Amber stopped, suprised.
"Uh, no...not really, why?" Aathos continued to stare at her.
"Are you sure?" he asked searchingly.
"Well," said Amber quietly, "I don't think I liked her very much, I haven't seen her since I was around one...she wasn't very kind to me." Amber turned to see Mara looking sadly down at her hands.
"What's wrong, Mara?" she asked anxiously. Mara looked up suddenly as Amber addressed her.
"Nothing, nothing at all. I just...nothing." Mara mumbled, getting up and walking to the door. "I've got some stuff to do." She called back, walking out. Aathos shook his head sadly,
"Poor girl." For some reason, Amber suddenly remembered something about the night of the hiest.
"Aathos?" Amber asked, turning to face him, "What's that scar on Mara's arm?" "It's not a scar," Aathos said, getting up,
"it a birthmark." Amber looked back at the door. "Did your mother ever mention any other family that you might have?" Aathos asked her.
"No...yes!" Amber jumped up, "She used to tell me this awful story...about a ghost. She told me that she had another daughter like me, but the first one died because she was a horrible little girl, and that if I didn't watch out her ghost would kidnap me. Mama used to trace that mark down her arm and say 'and that's how you'll know it's her that's coming to get you...' She told me that same story every night. I was terrified of going to sleep after that. I hated my mother." Amber was shocked to realize that she meant what she said. Aathos patted her on the shoulder.
"Yes," he said quietly,"so did Mara." Aathos walked out, leaving Amber alone to think. A little over two hours later, Mara walked back in looking very tired. Amber stared at her as she entered.
"Hi Amber." Mara said cautiously, sensing Amber's eyes on her.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Amber asked angrily.
"Tell you what?" Mara asked, spinning to face her. Amber gaped at her a moment.
"I always thought that anyone that was related to my mother would be just like her." Amber paused, then looked right into Mara's eyes, "Funny, you don't look a thing like her."
"Aathos talks to much." Mara murmured, sitting down.
"So," Amber yelled, sobbing, "Were you ever planning on telling me that you were my sister?!" Amber picked up a glass and threw it at Mara, sinking back onto the couch. Mara easily caught it and put it back on the table, walking over to Amber. As she approached Amber hit her, never with enough force to do any damage. Mara stood motionless, allowing herself to be punched until Amber buried her face in a pillow and continued to cry. "Why didn't you tell me?" she cried again, refusing to look up.
"I was scared." Mara said sadly, sitting beside her, "And what reason do you have to believe anything I tell you? All I can remember about Rachel is the way she used to scream at me..." Mara trailed off. Amber looked up at her as she continued. "It's hard for me to believe that she's actually my mother...I guess I was trying to deny it. I should've told you, Amber, I'm sorry." She said quietly. Amber watched her for a moment and silently wondered what their mother had done to Mara to make her hate her so much.
"Sorry about the glass." Amber murmured. "So you're really my sister?" Amber asked.
Mara nodded, "Half sister, really, we had two different fathers." Amber nodded slowly,
"And that's why you brought me food?"
Mara smiled, "That was one of the reasons, yes." Amber looked at her questioningly. "I wasn't lying when I said I was a sucker for hard luck cases, you know." Amber giggled and wiped her eyes.
"Well, I s'pose I might consider forgiving you." She said arrogantly. Mara laughed,
"Oh, how kind of you, you don't know what that means to me!" Mara replied mockingly. They both laughed again as Aathos walked out.
"Ah, and if it isn't the snitch himself." Mara hissed at him.
"I resent that accusation." Aathos said with fake formality.
"As penitence for your criminal act, I want you to do me a favor."
"And that is?" Aathos asked warily.
"Go to the Guild and find Amber a baby sitter for tonight. The last run wasn't worth as much as I'd anticipated."
"I don't believe this," Aathos said, poking fun at Mara, "I used to be one of the best top notch masters in the Guild, and look at me now, running errands for a slip of a girl in a long cape."
Mara smiled, "No more of your backtalk, now off with you!" She ordered him with fake arrogance. Amber began to laugh, but paused, pulling on Mara's sleeve.
"Mara? What's anticipated? And peni-peni- uh, penitents? And WHY DO I NEED A BABYSITTER?!" Mara sighed,
"It's gonna be one of those days." Aathos walked along the hallway of the Guild. He looked up as he heard someone call his name. Aathos smiled as Arimus walked up to him.
"Arimus!" Aathos exclaimed happily, "What are you doing here?"
"Hhmph," Arimus replied indignantly, "I've got a deal to close. We just got a gov't run dumped on us."
Aathos laughed, "And how goes the Brotherhood?"
"I'd tell you, but I'd have to kill you. Remember, we're enemies." Arimus cautioned him.
"Ah, yes, of course, the everlasting non-violent war between the gangs. How irritating."
"Come now," said Arimus smoothly, "I find it rather charming. So what are you doing here?"
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you." Aathos murmured with an ironic smile. They were interrupted by another man walking up, around the same age as the first two, but with darker hair and a heavier build.
"Well," said Arimus,leaping on the opportunity, "If it isn't Pot Roast!" Porthos folded his arms indignantly across his chest, as Arimus and Aathos laughed. Porthos smiled good naturedly and shook hands with both of them.
"It's good to see you two again. So, is there something you two want? That is, besides sucking up to me, the greatest of the three Musketeers?" Aathos rolled his eyes at Porthos.
"Shove it, you overgrown side of bacon. We're here on business." Porthos smiled,
"Not on the same business, I assume, unless I've entered a parallel universe where the BRS and BOTB work together."
"Unfortunately, you haven't," Arimus said, "I've got a deal to close, but Aathos over there won't tell me why he's here." Aathos smiled and shook his head,
"I'll be happy to tell you, if you want the biggest shock you've had all month." Porthos and Arimus looked at him questioningly. "I'm looking for a babysitter." Porthos and Arimus looked at each other.
"All right," Porthos said threateningly, " Who'd you bang up?" Arimus burst out laughing as soon as Porthos had finished his sentence. Even Aathos could'nt help laughing.
"Very funny, and I haven't even gotten to the shocking part yet." This suprised Porthos.
"What could be more shocking than walking into the Guild looking for a babysitter?" Aathos smiled, "the fact that the babysitter's for the Lady Smuggler's little sister." Arimus and Porthos looked up, stunned. Aathos smiled, pleased at the scare he'd given them.
"Mara Jade has a sister?!" Arimus exclaimed.
Aathos nodded, "eleven years old." Porthos looked confused,
"Why does she need a babysitter at that age?" Aathos shook his head,
"When Mara goes on a run, Amber sneaks out and follows. She's a sweet kid and all, but she doesn't know anything about stealing, and Mara would sooner give herself up to the police than let Amber get hurt. So, we need someone to watch over her while we're gone and make sure she doesn't get out."
"What about Riff?" asked Arimus. Aathos shook his head once more,
"She can get away from him easily."
"Ah," said Porhos, "So we're dealing with another little escape artist here?" Aathos laughed,
"Suprisingly no. She's nothing like her sister...she's just a little more clever than Riff."
"Which is expected at that age." Arimus said with a smile.
"So?" asked Aathos to Porthos "Can you help me?" Porthos nodded enthusiastically,
"Of course I can. This is for tomorrow night?" Aathos nodded. "I'll have someone there at eight o'clock."
"Thanks, Porthos, I appreciate it. It was good seeing you two again." Aathos said, shaking hands with both of them.
"Same to you." Arimus said good-naturedly. The three parted separate way, none of them noticing the dark figure that had been watching them.
"But why can't I come?" Amber insisted, tugging on Mara's cloak.
"I already told you, it's much too dangerous. I thought you would've objected a little less, considering you got SHOT the last time you followed me!"
"Absolutely not!" Mara said sharply, "Amber, if I have anything to say about it, you will NEVER be a thief!" Amber looked up at her sadly,
"Why not?" Mara smiled faintly, walking to the door,
"Easy," she said quietly, "I don't want you ending up like me." Mara looked back towards Aathos. "And the babysitter?"
"Ought to be coming any minute." Aathos said easily. Amber frowned.
"I hate baby stickers. Fuckin' stupid pricks..."
"Watch your mouth." Mara said with a laugh. Just then, a man knocked on the front door. Mara opened it.
"Hello, I was sent by the Guild. I understand you need someone to watch her?" The man pointed at Amber. Mara nodded, looking at the man warily,
"Yes, just for an hour, to make sure she doesn't run off." The man nodded,
"Well, that's why I'm here."
"How do I know you're from the Guild?" Mara asked, not completely at ease. The man gave her one of the signals from the Guild indicating 'friends'. Mara nodded, somewhat relieved. "Well, we'll be back in an hour, I'll see you then," Mara said looking at Amber, "so try to keep out of trouble." she said quietly. Amber smiled brightly,
"You wish." Mara and Aathos walked out. Mara frowned as they walked down the street.
"What's wrong?" asked Aathos. Mara shook her head.
"I'm not sure," she said softly, "for some reason I think we should've taken Amber with us." The two ducks turned the corner and walked out of sight.
The man looked out the window and watched as the two left. As soon as they were out of sight, he turned to face Amber. "Well, looks like it's just you and me, Kid." Amber backed away from him slowly and inched towards the door, silently wondering why he was pulling a gun out of his pocket.
Around an hour later, Mara and the others walked down the street towards her apartment. The run had gone over perfectly. Not so much as one cop was there. Mara walked in the lead, anxious to get back home. "Don't worry, Mara, I'm sure she's fine." Aathos said calmly.
"Yeah, I know," Mara murmured, "It's just that I've got this feeling..." They all walked up the staircase and into Mara's apartment to find it empty. Mara looked around. The coffee table was knocked over, as was the couch. Riff, the last one in, called out to the others.
"Uh, guys, I think we have a problem." They all crowded around as Riff closed the doos to reveal a dagger with a note attached.
"Mistress Mara Jade," Aathos said, reading the note out loud, "Remember, a rose by any other name only smells as sweet when it lives. Come to the corner of West Havelin and Langua Street at midnight. Alone." Mara went pale.
"I shouldn't have left her behind," she murmured, "I knew I'd recognized him. That was one of Saul's men." Mara sat down, angry, guilty, and frightened.
"Who's Saul?" asked Heather.
"A leader of another gang in the Guild." said Aathos witha sigh, "Tekisi, that's what they're called. They do everything they can to get cheat more territory off of other Guild gangs, always without the Guild's knowledge."
"And that's why they kidnapped Amber." murmured Max.
"Well?" asked Colleen, "What are you gonna do, Mara?"
"I'm gonna go down there and kick their monkey asses, THAT'S what!" Mara exclaimed angrily, rising to her feet.
"You're crazy if you think we're letting you go alone." Sarah said reproachfully.
"She's right, y'know." Riff chimed in. He shrank back as Mara glared at him, "I mean, about you going alone, that is." Mara nodded regaining control of her temper.
"If they see that I didn't come alone..." Mara said quietly.
"Then they won't see." Aathos said gently, putting a hand on Mara's shoulder.
Meanwhile...
"OW!! Boss, the brat bit me AGAIN!"
"Oh, shut up, you worthless idiot. It's only a little girl."
"Yeah, but that little girl's got teeth!" Amber squirmed in the chair she was being held in.
"Don't bother to squirm, Imp, there is no escape." Amber looked up and glared at the speaker; who was standing beside the man that had kidnapped her in the first place. Amber directed her attention back to the ropes around her waist and continued to wriggle.
"Gee Saul, I don't think she's gonna listen to you."
"I can see that you idiot!" Saul snapped at the other man who he addressed only as 'idiot'. "Listen to me, little girl, there is no way for you to get out of here alive. Don't you realize that you have been kidnapped by the greatest band of thieves and cut throats in existance?" Amber looked around her,
"Funny, I thought the Brotherhood of the Blade would be a lot neater..." The Idiot began to laugh, but was cut short by Saul's threatening glance in his direction.
"Very amusing, I'm sure. We'll see whose laughing if your sister doesn't show up." Amber frowned and sank back into her chair. "That's better. Now you begin to realize, I'm sure, that Tekisi is no laughing matter." Saul said with a contented smile.
"Te- what?" Amber asked.
"Tekisi."
"What's Tekisi?" Amber asked.
"I'm afraid you are much too young to hear such things, the word itself strikes fear into the hearts of all thieves. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got an asassination to attend. Keep that girl here, understood?" The Idiot nodded and watched as Saul crept quietly out of the room. Amber turned to look at the Idiot.
"Hey." the man didn't turn around. Amber rolled her eyes and addressed him again. "Hey you!" Once again, the man didn't answer. "Hey Idiot!" Amber yelled. The man turned around.
"Yeah?"
"That guy said he was going to an asassination...what's he talkin' about?"
"Ohh..." the Idiot said slowly, nodding, "Well, y'see, he went to go meet the Lady Smuggler and kill her."
"Kill her?" Amber repeated.
"Yup. Saul's got ten armed men waiting to jump out when he gives 'em the signal and kill her." Amber went pale. She had to get out and fast...
"Say, Idiot, do you know how to play poker?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Tell you what, I'll make you a deal. We'll play a game, and if I win, I go free, but if you win I stay put and I'll never bite you again, kay?" The Idiot thought hard.
"Sounds good to me!"
Mara pulled her cloak tightly around her shoulders as she turned onto Langua Street. Turning her head to the side, Mara was comforted to see Colleen walking unobtrusively on the other side of the street. Mara unconciously picked up her pace as the large tower clock chimed a quarter to 12 in the background.
"Full house." Amber cursed silently, wishing she was better at poker. "You win again." She muttered, putting down her cards, "Looks like I go free." The Idiot paused.
"Hey, wait a minute, you don't get to go free!" he exclaimed.
"Oh, okay," said Amber, "Then I guess you don't win."
"But I did win!" Amber nodded, leading him to the chair and tying him up.
"You see, the deal was that when you won I'd go free so since you won that means I have to go free, because that was our deal." Amber explained, trying to tie a double knot. The Idiot nodded,
"Makes perfect sense to me."
"Just tell me one thing." Amber said, turning to face him,
"What the hell is 'Tekisi'??"
"OOH!" said the Idiot, "It's a great secret...promise not to tell?" Amber nodded. "It means...taxi."
"TAXI?!" Amber exclaimed, "That's it?!"
"Yeah," the Idiot replied in awe, "frightening, isn't it?" Amber nodded slowly and walked out. She shook her head.
'Wow, what an idiot...' Mara slowly turned into the empty lot and scanned the area. She backed slightly closer to the nearest escape route as she heard a gun click.
"Greetings, Misstress Jade." Mara clamly faced the shorter duck as he smiled unpleasantly at her. "It's a pleasure to see you again." he continued.
"What do you want?" Mara said quietly.
"Not very civil of you if I do say so myself, but if you really wish to get down to business..."
"I have no intrest in exchanging pleasantries with you." Mara cut him off, her voice showing only a slight hint of contempt.
"In exchange for your sister," Saul began, pacing around Mara, " I want your territory, any money you have at present, and complete control of your gang itself."
"That's quite a list." Mara replied distrustfully, her eyes never leaving him, "Anything else?"
"As a matter of fact, yes. Your life." Saul whistled sharply. Mara looked about her to discover she was completely surrounded by armed men. All of the exits were blocked.
"I'm impressed." Mara said dryly, "But don't you think you've forgotten something?" Mara pointed upwards. Saul looked up to discover six ducks standing along the roof tops with their guns trained directly on Saul's men. He growled at Mara,
"I see you chose to ignore my instructions."
"No," Mara corrected him smugly, " they did. Now where is my sister?"
"Call them off or you'll never find out." Saul said angrily, jerking his head towards the BRS. Mara hesitated, looking up at them and back down at Saul. "Think fast Misstress. If I don't give the signal within five minutes, my men will kill her." Mara nodded at the ducks on the roof tops, who reluctantly put down their guns.
"Where is she?" Mara demanded. "Inside, but if I were you, I'd be a little more concerned about yourself." Saul's men began to fire at Mara while Saul yelled out orders to them. She quickly ran out of their line of fire trying to find a way into the building. Maxine signaled to the others not to fire back. A stray shot may hit Mara.
Amber poked her head out of the doorway only to discover Mara hiding behind a garbage can to keep out of Saul's line of sight. Mara hadn't seen Amber yet, but neither had Saul. Amber ran out to a back entrance and ran along the outside of the lot until she was directly behind Saul. Smiling evilly, she tugged on his overcoat. When Saul turned around, Amber punched him directly in the stomach, knocking the wind out of him. Without Saul to yell out orders to them, and with the Black Rose now opening fire on them, Tekisi quickly dispersed, a few men dragging Saul out with them. Amber smiled, happy with the help she had given them. Arimus and Max walked up to her.
"Nice shot there, Amber. Are you alright?" Heather asked her with concern. Amber nodded.
"Yeah, I'm fine. That was kinda fun!" Everyone laughed, and Riff patted her on the head. Aathos' smile faded as he looked around.
"Where's Mara?" Everyone looked around them. There was no sign of her.
"Split up." Max said quietly. Amber's face was becoming very pale as she slowly scanned the perimeter of the parking lot.
"Guys, come here." Heather said shakily. The BRS all ran over.
"Mara..." Riff murmured. Amber walked over. "Guys? What is it?" She asked anxiously. Colleen and Aathos tried to stop her, but they were too late. Amber stopped dead in her tracks, staring at her sister. Mara was lying unconcious on her side, a puddle of blood forming beside her.
"Pick her up," Aathos said quickly, "The bullet doesn't look like it's in too deep." Riff obediantly picked Mara up. Everyone was silent as they walked back to the apartment. Amber held Aathos' hand tighly, quietly talking to herself. Aathos looked down at her, worried.
"Don't worry Amber, she'll be fine in a few days." Amber looked up at him,
"Yeah, but she'd be fine right now if it wasn't for me." She choked out. Aathos shook his head,
"You couldn't help what happened anymore than I could." Amber didn't seem to hear him. A few hours later Aathos walked out of Mara's room.
"Easy enough. The bullet was right above her hip. Aside from losing some blood, there was no serious damage."
"That's a relief." Max said with a sigh. Amber stared ahead blankly.
"Amber?" asked Sarah, "you okay, Honey?" Without a word, Amber walked into the other room and silently crept over to Mara's hammock. Suprisingly enough, Mara didn't sleep in a bed. Amber looked down at her for a moment before turning away.
"I'm so sorry." she whispered, silently walking out.
*************************
"Oh, my head..." Mara moaned, placing a hand on her forehead, "I feel like I've been..."
"shot?" Max asked with a smile, finishing for her. Mara's eyes widened,
"Where's Amber?!" she asked, trying to sit up. Colleen pushed her back down in the hammock.
"Relax, Mara, everything's fine, despite the fact that you were shot."
"How long have I been out?" Mara asked groggily.
"12 hours," said Aathos, "and don't even think about getting up. Even YOU couldn't walk after a hit like that."
"Just watch me." Mara muttered, rising to her feet. She looked a little dizzy, but she was standing. Aathos shook his head with a smile. Riff walked over and stood beside her, just in case her strength gave out and she fell. "You didn't answer my question, where's Amber?" Heather shifted her eyes to the ground.
"She left. After you were hit." Mara nearly collapsed. Riff caught her and helped her sit back down on the hammock.
"WHAT?!" she yelled, "What do you mean 'left'?!" Heather winced a little at the outburst. Mara looked up at her apologetically, "I'm sorry, Heather, I didn't mean to yell, it's just..."
"I understand." Heather said comfortingly.
"What happened?" Mara asked.
"She just walked out. Thanked us for being so nice, apologized for all the trouble she caused, and ran out. Did it so fast we couldn't catch her. I think she felt kinda guilty." Sarah said quietly. Mara nodded slowly.
"I have to find her." She said, beginning to get up again. Max and riff held her down on the bed.
"Oh, no you don't!" Aathos exclaimed, not until you're well enough to walk on your own." Mara sighed. As much as she hated to admit it, Aathos was right.
Amber sighed, silently brushing Carmen's mane. It had been two days since she had left the Black Rose. Amber had gone right back to sleeping in the stable, but somehow, it wasn't quite the same. She silently fed each horse a carrot, wondering if Mara had recovered.
"Amber?" Amber turned around to see Mara. "I thought I'd find you here." Mara said gently. Amber ran to her without thinking and hugged her, but quickly pulled away.
"Mara, I'm sorry that I..."
"That wasn't your fault at all." Mara said comfortingly, "Besides, I'm fine now." Amber nodded slowly, noticing that she had a slight limp. "Do you want to come back to my apartment with me?" Mara asked her quietly.
"I can't stay with you, Mara, I'm too much for you to support, and who knows how many times this exact same thing could happen." Mara nodded, smiling.
"You may have a point on that second one..." Amber laughed,
"Besides, I like it here, you know how much I love riding."
"I certainly do." Mara said happily, "Well, it IS your choice, and I can't force you to."
"Yeah, so I win!" Amber said brightly.
"Fine, but don't think I won't drop in to see you, because I will... A LOT!" Mara said threateningly. Amber laughed,
"And I'll come and visit you once a week. S'ok?"
"S'ok." Mara said in agreement.
"Good, then it's a deal." Amber and Mara shook hands. "Love you, sis."

*THE END*

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