((OOC Note: This is the beginning to Aurou's time in Aht Urhgan, shortly after being separated from the group.))

"Wakey-wakey, deary." A high pitched voice rang in Aurou's ears, faint at first but steadily growing loader. "This is no place for a nappy-wappy," she could feel a gentle shake of her shoulders.

"Becareful, Talili! You will give the poor girl whiplash like that," a deep, booming voice sounded from over her.

"Erdurn! You don't think so?!" the smaller voice squeaked, a woosh of air breezing over Aur's face as the small figure jumped back.

Not again…

Aurou opened her eyes, squinting at the harsh sun overhead.

"Oh! You had me so worried, deary-weary!" Quick as a cat the little figure was beside Aur again. She was a small Tarutaru with long dark blue hair.

"Let her breath.." Above Aurou knelt a Galka with black hair completly surrounding his face. "Are you alright? This isn't a good place to take a nap," his voice was stern, but there was a softness in his eyes.

Aur simply nodded, staring at the two with utter confusion.

"Oh no! She can't speak!" Talili looked at Aurou in horror, "We must get you to a healer-wealer right now!"

"I'm fine.." Aur coughed, her throat dry. "I'm fine. Rrreally…" She sat up, taking in her surroundings. Where is this..? Am I in Whitegate?

"Wonderful!" Talili squealed in joy as Erdurn chuckled.

Aurou rubbed her forhead, still trying to think. A bead of sweat ran down her brow.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Erdurn now kneelt infront of her, looking the Mithra over, "You're very pale. Do you feel well?"

"I told you, I'm fine.." She attempted to stand only managing to make it to her knees, unable to find her strength. "Maybe…"

"Erdurn! She needs our help!" Talili jumped up and down, waving her arms wildly. "Nowy-wowy!"

"I agree…" Without another word the Galka swept Aurou up into one arm and lifted the Taru up to his opposite shoulder with the other.

"This isn't nesessarrry…" Aur protested weakly.

Talili peered over at Aur with saucer-like dark blue eyes, "But it is! You are sicky-wicky. We found you, so we must help you!" She was nodding knowingly to Aur.

"Talili's right, we can't just leave you. Who knows how long you were lying there or how many others passed you up before we got there." The booming voice was calm and gentle compaired to Talili's.

Erdurn carried the two ladies across the Merchant's Ward, getting many a stare at the odd threesome.

Mages Aur noted, trying to look at the two as she was held securly to the Galka's chest. Black Mage she twitched an ear at the Taru's high, squeaky voice as she went on and on about doing what was right. Red Mage? she tried to get a better look at Erdurn, only able to see the muted orange-looking cloth that she rested against.

"You really should be more careful, missy-wissy. What if someone else had found you and they had not been so nicey-wicey?" Talili didn't skip a beat as she had moved on to scolding Aurou. "What if the Immortals had thought you to be a threat! Why were you so closey-wosey to the Palace? What if they had found you instead of us?!" That Taru's voice only seemed to raise in pitch (which Aur hadn't thought possible) as she seemed to grow more heated. "What if they had thrown you into prison-wison! You would never ever ever see the light of day again!!" She took a breath, "What if–"

"We're here!" Erdurn said cheerily, cutting off Talili's rant, much to Aurou's relief. He winked to her as Talili shimmied down his side.

Aur offered a weak smile, her head now ringing from the Taru's voice.

"Here you are," He set Aurou upon a soft, plush pillow. "Just a moment now, let's get you something to eat." Erdurn walked over to a counter and spoke breifly with a woman about food and drink.

"When was the last time you atey-watey anyways?" The large eyes were once again right infront of Aur.

"I… errrrr… I don't rrrememberrr…" Aurou frowned, trying to think back, "Last night? I think?" She sighed.

Talili tilted her head slightly, "Huh?"

"I'm not surrre if I ate today orrr not." Aur noticed Talili watching her speak.

" 'Surrre' " She sounded the word out. She can't understand me?

"Sorrry… I guess.. you are not from Windurst…" She spoke slowly for both Talili's benefit and her own as she tried to tone down her accent.

"Oh! A Midlander!" Talili jumped gidily, "A Midlander!! Erdurn! She's from the Midlands!"

Erdurn laughed, setting a tray of drinks and snacks infront of Aurou and Talili. "How lost you must be, I didn't realize you were a foreigner." He pushed the tray a bit closer to Aurou, while picking Talili up to set her on his lap. "Eat, please. The sugar will do you some good. It's sutlac, like a pudding. And I bought some coffee and chai, please take your pick."

Aurou stared at the food her eyes big.

"Go on." Erdurn promted her.

Her stomach suddenly felt like a pit as she picked up a bowl of the pudding. She sniffed it before shoveling it into her mouth.

"Don't go so fast! You will get sicky-wicky again!" Talili chided her.

Aurou blinked at the Taru. She's right… but I'm so hungry… With a forced sigh, Aur set the bowl down and picked up a cup of coffee to sip on.

Erdurn and Talili each picked up a cup of chai to drink, waiting for her to regroup herself.

After finishing off her bowl of sutlac and her cup of coffee, Aur could feel her energy begining to regenerate. She looked to the odd couple, "Thank you both. I apprreciate your kindness…" she still spoke slowly for Talili.

"So you're feeling better now?!" Talili clapped in happiness.

"Yes, thank you." Aur smiled to her.

"Think nothing of it. We're just glad that you're okay." Erdurn nodded to her, sipping his chai. "You should get some rest soon, I think you pushed yourself too far."

"Yeah… I think that is a good idea." Aur nodded her agreement, What did I do though? I didn't walk all the way here from Talacca Cove?

"You have a place to stay, don't you?"

"Mhmm… I can get myself to the Mog Houses okay. I do feel much betterr now, thank you again."

"I'm so glad you're okay-wokay! You're gonna be more careful, righty-wighty?"

Aur laughed lightly. "I will be, don't you worry."

Empty… the space was quiet, void of sounds. There was no light, but it wasn't dark either. For as far as she could see, there was nothing around her. The air was still, not even her breath seemed to stir anything.

Aurou sat with her knees folded under her, her hands placed delicately upon her lap. She was dressed in a pale blue and lilac-grey manteel set. Bronze colored beads and thread were embroidered on the bodice in a wistful design. Matching colored chains and jewelry adorning her neck and waist with deep blue and red gems accenting the metal. A lilac ribbon with a small bronze bell was tied in a bow around her tail. Her normally unruly hair was pinned back from her face, with three small red flowers and white feathers with a bell clipped behind her right ear. Two of each ruby, sapphire, and bronze studs lined each of her ears. Her lips were stained red, blush upon her cheeks, and her eyes lined in black.

Aurou stared at the nothingness in front of her, unmoving and still, with her pale blue eyes glassy. The distance in her eyes coupled with her flawless appearance made her almost seem as if she were a living doll.

The soft chiming of a bell rang out, breaking the silence, as Aurou's right ear brushed against the hair clip. Her blank gaze turned to look behind her as if she had heard something. Slowly and gracefully rising to her feet she turned to face the opposite direction, her little bells making each movement musical.

She raised a brow and narrowed her eyes slightly - each motion accentuated by the makeup - like she were being spoke to. She shook her head slightly, the bell ringing out.

She took a step back - another chime - her eyes gaining focus.

The bells stopped abruptly as her movement halted. Threads red as blood began to ensnare the Mithra. She strained against the thin lines, unable to budge an inch.

A single tear rolled down her face, making a trail of black on her perfect face, before her eyes turned dead once more.


*********


Tears rolled down Aurou's face, soaking into her hair and pillow beneath. She held her blankets tightly as she tossed and turned in her sleep.

Awaken.. Carbuncle gently prodded her shoulder with his paw.

Unconsciously, Aurou shook her head and rolled away from the Avatar.

Open you eyes and look at me. he nudged her face with his small, cold nose.

Aurou mumbled something incomprehensible, the tears still pouring.

Forgive me for this… Carby sighed, nipping her hand.

Aurou's eyes shot open, blood-shot and still full of tears. She stared at the ceiling for a long moment before Carby popped into her line of sight.

Are you back?

She nodded slowly, rubbing her bitten hand with the other.

The dream again?

She nodded once more.

Carbuncle sat down beside her head, looking his Summoner over.

You can't keep going on like this. It's only getting worse, it seems.

"I know…" Aurou finally choked out, "I don't know what to do."

You should talk to you friends.

"No…" She shook her head, "I don't need someone to keep me safe from nightmarrres."

Then why do you insist on sleeping with me Summoned? he nudged her face again, noting that she was still crying.

She took a breath, wiping the tears away onto her blanket.

The Elvaan woman already knows something is wrong. Or the Galka… he told you there was something dark within you. Maybe this is what he meant?

"Maybe.. I'll think about it."

Carbuncle gave her a stern look, his ears laid back.

"I will! I will!" Aur sighed, "I would like to sleep again, believe it orrr not."

Alright. I'll accept that. Carby waddled back to the foot of the bed, walked in a circle a few times, and laid down.

"What time is it anyways?"

Quarter to two, he looked up at her, You will go out now? Why not try to sleep some more?

Aurou waved her hand at the thought. "I rrreally can't sleep now… I'll just go forrr a walk. To think."

And you can't do that here?

"No, because you would neverrr stop talking to me!" She playfully jabbed at him.

Carbuncle shook his head as she quickly dressed and stepped out the door. Troublesome girl…

Outside, Aurou took in a deep breath of the chilly air. She rubbed her eyes on her sleeve, making sure they were dry. Waiting a moment for an Imperial Guard to make his nightly rounds, she then head towards the Merchants Ward.