Changing Rain

all uprooted

Thoughts were churning in Eric's mind as he walked Raiyne up and down 

the village streets. Her curious attitude had been altered to 

depression, and Eric's mood was no better. Eric glanced up at the 

darkening sky, and sighed as he remembered the assigned guard duty 

that he had tonight.

" Come on Raiyne, we need to get you back to the healing house. " 

Raiyne quit walking, and it was only after a few steps did he notice 

she was no longer with him. Turning he saw her slowly shaking her head.

" Whats wrong Raiyne?"

" I won't go back to the woman."

" Hilda? She's harmless, she'll just want to check up on you-"

" I won't." Eric sighed again, he really didn't want to deal with this 

right now. Without asking, he hefted her on to his shoulder and 

carried her towards the Healing house. A sharp pain on his arm made 

him gasp, and Raiyne kicked herself out of his loosened grasp. Eric 

examined his arm and saw a crescent red mark that would surly turn 

into a bruise. He turned to look at her disbelief.

" You bit me!"

" You tried to force me to do something I didn't want to do. Which is 

worse?" He stood dumbfounded as she stared at him, her eyes glowing 

slightly in the darkening light. Something about them was so familiar. 

He swore under his breath and kept moving towards the healing house 

without her. He opened the door and stuck his head in. Eric blushed as 

he saw Jessica stirring something in a pot that hung above the flames 

of the fireplace.

" Hey Jessica!" He called urgently, she turned and gave a warm smile.

" What are you doing Eric? Are you hungry?"

" Not really, listen, I've got guard duty tonight and Raiyne won't 

come back to the healing house, do you have an idea of where she could 

stay?"

" Why won't she come back?" A voice hidden to his right asked, causing 

him to jump sideways into the doorway, jarring his tender ribs. Hilda 

emerged from the shadows, her face pale and twisted with an emotion 

Eric didn't recognize.

" She...she wouldn't say. " he lied, not wanting to hurt her feelings.

" She could stay in our Quarters." Hilda offered, gesturing to both 

Jessica and herself. There was a dangerous glint in her pale blue eyes 

that made both Eric and Jessica examine her worriedly.

" How about the fort, they have spare beds there. " Jessica advised, 

her eyes never leaving Hilda, who was looking like a wildcat about to 

pounce. Eric could see the outline of a knife hidden poorly in her 

bodice. A thrill of fear raced through him as he thought of what Hilda