Chapter One: Cloud hopping.
High above the clouds a mass gathering of new yearlings and other small fouls are set for a flight training. The clouds provide cover as well as a soft landing, or crash landing for many just starting out. This activity was moved far away from their usual locations. So much further away from home, for the sky was clear in their area at this time. Training was scheduled for this time, and they did not wish to wait for better conditions to form near by. That is a mass cloud covering in their area they could use.
A bustle of commotion could be heard as many were given their first instructions. The instructor gave a hush to calm them down enough to hear her.
Hover training: It was a skill worth mastering before any others dealing with flight. One could build on flying of other types off it. Many small groups are each assigned their own instructor. This made it easier for each instructor to keep an eye on the progress of their charges. Though not all the trainees are paying attention to instructions, and has their mind elsewhere. The inquisitive kept getting distracted by the sights that could be found being in the clouds so high up. Most of the youngest ones that is.
As each instructor gave the command to start, a flock of flyers tried their best to stay at a hover for as long as possible. Those that dropped quickly are encouraged to try again, while others kept themselves aloft. Much happened all at once. Some veered out of control while bumping into others near by. Some drifted out of the control areas, and has to be fetched by those set in place to do so.
Others got the hang of it rather well.
For a few it is not their first of such an outing. For others it is their very first time.
The absolute beginners are the ones going all over the place, or just standing and watching.
Those watching, are not all interested in what is going on, and wished to play, or look at the scenery. Some just amused themselves by the sight of those not doing so well.
One of just under two years of age, hovering about turned to another and stated, "I'm going for the record!" She stated that while visibly struggling.
The other felt confused. "You don't know the record, or even if there is one." She felt the one talking next to her was being foolish.
The first stuck her tongue out at her. "Does not matter. I'm going to be the best anyway." She swayed her head high while looking smug.
The other replied, "Sure, you keep talking and you just might lose your concentration. And your making me lose mine, so shut your yap! You're not the only one here who is trying hard. I just might beat you, you know. How do you like that?"
This group's instructor came over. "I don't want to hear that kind of talk. We are better than to put aside teamwork for petty self-glory of that kind. Even as young as you are, you should know not to think like that. We work together, not compete to find who's best. We are all at our best when we think alike and work alike as one unit. We do our best to provide for one another. We do not divide ourselves from each other over competition with each other, or work to be seen as better than the rest of our own. You should know this by now."
The instructor thrust a hoof in the air as she raised her voice. "Not to be like those ponies! Each of them do their own things. And when one needs help, some are left to fend for one's self, on their own! They don't always work to help one another, as a clan like us."
She put her hoof back down and glares at them both, tuning from one to the other as she spoke. "They even at times walk over each other, in their own selfish pride without care for the others. Each felling one's self above all others around them. In doing so, they may make living harder for one another, while not supporting each other as one people.
She smiled at the two then calmed her voice down. She did not wish them to think she was angry at them, just annoyed by such talk they were having. "But we never do that. We work together on the same goals the queen gives us. As we do, we are never doing it alone, for we always have each other to depend on, as we each make ourselves dependable to one another."
She gave another raise to her voice. “Got it!"
The two looked at each other and grinned. They liked this little speech, it filled them with a sense of comfort, and pride in being in such a community. A feeling that was meant to be impressed upon them, always.
The first one commented with pride in her voice, "Yes, we changelings are the greatest! For we do our best to serve our queen, and our clan as one."
The other finished with, "We won't let you down."
Feeling personally amused by the two trying to be over achievers, only wishing to be recognized, but in a harmless way that could be put to use for the colony, the instructor smirked as she walked back to her standing position.
Yearlings. While some barely understand what is going on, these two are already planning ahead to be over achievers. That is fine, so long as it is for the betterment of us all, and not for themselves.
The instructor stood tall before them all and eyed the other two from a distance. They both looked to her.
She addressed the rest of her charges while knowing she has the attention of most in her group. "Just remember that you will have the pride of the whole colony to uphold. Keep up the good work, and determination to succeed in your given tasks, and you will make fine changelings for our queen, and clan. You will help make us all strong! As we are meant to be."
The instructor looked about as so many continue to do well. Some a little larger then one of her hoofs, but still showed some promise. Some of the older youths were out to improve on what they already know and can do.
She knew she was being hard on the little ones just starting out in life. But she knew they must learn their place, and as young as possible. These two showed that they are smart enough to know better, by not slacking off, but instead by focusing on just flying maneuvers, and doing good at it.
Not all showed as much promise though.
She knows their youthfulness and inexperience to not fully understand the impact it would have on the whole group, if even a few are to think of themselves first, and not the clan. The clan depended on cooperation. It is their way of life.
A few could stand out as being better than the rest, but only their queen has the privilege of deciding who they are, and what is best for them all.
While most at this young age are still like playful infants, a few like these two has above average intelligence, and determination. This makes them thinkers, and thinkers can be very prideful of themselves.
Some who are, may wish to change things, or do things their way. If not seen for who they are quickly, redirected, and corrected early in any bad behavior, it could spell disaster to their ways.
So thinking of one's self was often discouraged, though a willingness to be great was encouraged just the same.
Some in time received the duty of being an armored group leader. The armor was more of a status symbol to all other as one to be giving directions to any large group of up to one hundred or more. Or those that stand by and protect the queen. Those leaders are chosen by the queen due to their show of loyalty to the queen and clan.
They are the ones that followed orders near flawlessly, and without question. For this they are seen as the most dependable to give only the orders told to give. Others are never given such a task. And a task it was.
It is seen as honorable, and held with it a level of prestige, but is not a thing filled with favors and privilege. One was just more respected for having that position.
It is a responsibility to delegate tasks, among other things. Not so much a chance to just get to boss others around. Any found with a taste or want to boss others around were never selected for the task, or removed from it after if found doing so beyond what was told of them to do by the queen. None are ever allowed to overstep the queen.
As the flight lesions continued over to simple maneuvers, many of the youngsters still distracted themselves with other things. Their minds ever soaking in all that they surveyed as they practiced. Some got more distracted than others, they just wanted to play around.
One little foal, quite bright, and inquisitive for her age, got so distracted she started to wonder.
Not even a yearling herself, as in only seven months old. Most of her age was brought up here just to see what they would be expected to do, by watching the older ones. And encouraged to at least try what they could.
She has no interest in flying at the moment.
Despite her curiosity of all things around her, she was also easily frightened of many things as well. Flying is one of them. So she avoided it. Her current wandering she used as a distraction from what she didn't want to be doing.
The inviting site of endless cloud forms called to her more. So much beauty could bee seen in the sky. The way the sunlight lit up the edges of the clouds. The pinks, blues, and grays that adorned the different areas along each of the clouds, and so much white puffiness could be seen absolutely everywhere.
The mass formations of other colors cascaded off distant mist as faint rainbows. Each bit of eye candy that she could behold compelled her to wonder further out, in an attempt to see more of it.
She was so mesmerized by what she saw, she let herself forget why she was up here. Not that she was interested in that to begin with. She also let herself forget about the dangers, other than a long fall if she took a wrong step. She remained careful of that at the least. She definitely did not wish to fall.
She heard stories of bad things that could be found out away from the protection of the others. And she currently did not think such things could be found in a place as this.
She merrily and near absentmindedly bounded from cloud to cloud as her little heart filled with the excitement of adventure in this misty wonderland.
Off she went getting all the more distracted the further she got. Time seems to be at a stand still for her, and forgotten altogether.
She stood near the edge of one cloud as she looked down. The land below looked so far. Distant hills, and flat lands as far as her eyes could see.
In varying distances around her she saw so many cloud forms. She made her way from one to the other as she hopped about trying to get a look at them all. Many were way out of reach, but the formations in this area was dense enough that she had plenty to play on and explore.
She set her sights on some faint colors in the distance hoping to reach them. Rays of light scattered and parted as the other clouds above roamed as they drifted. Try as she might, she never got close to the distant colors, as if they were evading her.
As she continued to travel out more, she found much around her was changing slowly. Even the positions of the bright colors far away seems to move about as she moved. She was not sure if these bright colors were what she was told of as rainbows, but she was fascinated by them anyways.
She wandered aimlessly for quite some time. She had no idea she had been traveling on her own for over three hours now. She at this moment is nowhere near her clan anymore. She found she is not completely alone though, as her gaze fell upon some distant birds.
She set herself to follow them. She was not sure what they are, but they are big. Big to her anyways. They are black and gray with a long neck and sort of long beak. They kept in a V formation, and made a honking sound on occasion.
As they moved swiftly she found herself unable to keep up with them for long. Without warning the flock darted in another direction, off to her left. They moved away faster now as they honked more frequently as if distressed by something.
The little one did not like this. She felt something is wrong. She turned around only to find herself now lost among the clouds, and alone, aside from the fleeing birds leaving her behind. She did not realize that she been now hopping about for the past four hours. She felt scared. She had never been alone like this before. She knew she made a mistake.
Something about this told her to head back to the others quickly. Though she did not know where her clan is anymore. She could not hear them, or see them. And many of the clouds she had been hopping on had either changed positions, or are gone all together.
Her path back is now unfamiliar, and partly missing. The clouds have taken on new shapes as she saw them do earlier in front of her. This had added to her earlier fascination with them, that is when her mind was not set on being safe at home with the others. Now the moving clouds she saw as a hindrance to getting back to where she wants to be. She saw no path home.
As she made her move, she saw a shadow move across her new chosen path she felt she might try. It came from on her left, over and around to her right. She followed the shadow with her eyes as the shadow circled her. In the light above her she saw another form that loomed overhead, and is what cast the shadow.
It is not one of those gray birds. It is red with webbed wings, and a long tail. It is something the flock of birds was trying to avoid, she thought. And it found her.
She has no idea where to go. The open spaces did not leave her a lot of options. Puffy clouds are all over, but many still out of reach. So other than to take a long fall down, she had to run along those that are the closest. The figure circled around in the direction she was heading, then turned back again with a wiping sound as it's wings caught the air. It swooped down and headed back in her direction again. This time it looked as if to make chase as it moved even lower.
The little one got a good look at this thing coming after her, now that it was not partly obscured by the sun. It is reptilian. She was told of dragons, only in stories. This looks like one. It is much smaller than she was told they could be, and this one has only two legs. And a spike at the end of its tail. She didn't know what this thing is either, but if it is anything like a dragon, she knew she best run.
The fluffy clouds under her hoofs did not give her much traction, she has to use her wings. She buzzed her wings as fast as she could, just like in her earlier hovering practice back when she was made to try.
Now she needs them to move her forward, not up. She now wished she paid more attention to her flight lesions, instead of wandering off. She was never very good at it, and spent most of her flight practice thinking of other things.
She kept an eye on the thing behind her as she gained speed. She saw it is moving much faster than her and gaining quickly. As it got near she darted to her left. This lanky flying reptile swooped past her, just narrowly missing her with it's claws.
She looked in horror as it banked around again, faster then she could respond or she expected it to move. She quivered in place till it got near grabbing distance again, then she ducked into the cloud beneath her. She scared herself as she noticed she almost fell completely through. She waited a moment before coming back up. She popped her head up and saw it is gone.
Breathing a sigh of relief she pulled herself up and back onto the cloud. No sooner than she did, she saw that same shadow again. It was not gone. She did not think it would be, but hoped it would.
Aided by her wings again she started her running once more. This time she moved quicker, and she found herself able to keep aloft in the air for a time, letting her leap to more distant clouds. Though leaping a distance was the most she could do.
She move with purpose. Though she saw at the corner of her eyes as she glanced back again, so is her poseur.
~~~~~~
A deep red pegasus stallion with a light brown main by the name Star Chaser glided along on his way home. He is heading home after talking with his parents more on the good news of his new young foal Fluttershy. After a time he set his sights for home.
He spent a good few hours this morning, early, visiting relatives at his old home he grew up in. Now he wished to get back to his wife Stella, and his new foal Fluttershy. He felt the two would be still be resting and waiting for him. Being a father for three months time, he was still as excited as the first day he set eyes on his new born foal.
He is quite taken by his little Fluttershy. She is so small. Adorable barely described her to him. She looks much like her mother to him.
Stella, a rich deep yellow with a reddish orange mane that almost looked like fire. Fluttershy a different shade in color to her mother. Fluttershy has a brighter yellow coat, but her main was pink instead of reddish orange. Chaser's eyes is red just like himself, and Stella's eyes is green, with Fluttershy's a light blue.
He imagined Fluttershy would be a heart-breaker when she got older, just like her mother. He felt he would have quite the time having to be picky about who she could date, when that time would come. For now, she was his. And he intended to spend as much time with her as he could before she grew up, and move on in her life. He hoped that time would not be anytime too soon.
As Star Chaser drifted in the air humming a tune to himself he spotted movement in the distance. He though there is little mistaking what he saw. He caught a glimpse of a little dark gray foal trying to outrun a young fledgling wyvern. What the hay is going on! This foal is alone, and needs my help!
He moved in closer. He could barely make out this odd filly. She was a dark gray with some dark blue on her back. It was not the only thing he thought was odd about her as he got closer. A nearly unnoticeable stubby tail, and short trimmed main that is both dark gray like her body. The most odd thing about her that he could see was an unusual curved little horn and bluish wings. And now her legs he noticed looked odd as well. The wings moved too quickly for him to see well, but they did not look normal either.
Nothing about her looked normal to him, from what he could see as he kept getting ever closer.
The wyvern was at a near grabbing distance to the foal again. The foal made a leap into a batch of clouds hoping this trick of hiding in a cloud would work twice. The wyvern saw this and was not going to be tricked again so easy. It too passed into the cloud. It came out the other side with the foal in her claws.
Star Chaser closed in. Oh' no you don't!
The wyvern held the foal for only a moment while her captive struggled, till something hit her. The jostle knocked her pray out of her grip. She looked about and saw a much larger red pony fly towards her. The pony hit the wyvern again but harder. This time knocking it out of flight completely. She fell for a short distance.
After regaining control, she looked about again. She saw that same red pony look down upon her while he stood standing on a nearby cloud. The wyvern knew she could not take on this pony, so she moved off to find something else to hunt.
Star Chaser felt satisfied that this wyvern would no longer be a problem. He turned his attention to finding this very unusual little dark gray pony he just saved. One thing crept into his mind.
An Alicorn? Could this pony be some kind of Alicorn? If so, where did she come from. I never saw anything like her. And could she tell me anything of who or even what she is? She looks too young to be even of a good speaking age, never mind old enough to be out on her own.
He started looking about for her. He had to fly back up to where he thought she might have been dropped. He hoped she did not drop all the way to the ground.
He found her. From what he could see she is doing more running than flying. He was not too sure if she could fly. At the least she can run on clouds, what ever she is.
This was not giving him any answers as to who she is, and what she is doing up here all alone. If that wyvern was on her as it was, she must be alone. Is she a runaway or something? I don't see anyone here protecting her. No other pony, or whatever she is around at all.
He was much faster than the young wyvern that was chasing her, and had no trouble getting to her. He dropped right out of the air and landed in front of her.
She gasped in fright. As she did, Star Chaser got a good look at her fags. Her gasp sounded more like a hiss to him. Though he could tell this was no mere hiss. She was neither being offensive or defensive, she just looked in shock.
The yearling felt scared again. If it was not some winged reptile after me, it is a big red pegasus pony. No! He's faster than that other thing! What does he want with me? I can't just get away from this one. What do I do?
She huddled herself on the spot waiting to see what this winged pony would do. She just felt cornered by him with him just standing there.
Star Chaser felt more confused by her appearance than before. She looks almost bug like, or is she reptilian? He thought.
Her body looks smooth with a shine to it. No fur pelt or head main made of hair. Her ears looked chewed and stubby. Her legs looked as if they have holes in them, like a sponge of some sort. Her main looked more webbed, like that found on some dragons or other reptiles.
Her wings now that he could see them better seemed a transparent teal color. They also looked like a cross between a leaf, or bug wings.
She over all looked like some misshapen mix of pony, bug, and reptile to him. On top of all that, she has both a horn and wings. Only an Alicorn pony has wings and a horn, though not like those. What could she be?
What ever she is he could tell she is afraid of him. He folded in his wings so as not to look threatening. He took a slow step to her, and laid himself down in front of her. He was not sure what to do next. Should I take her with me? She shouldn't be left alone like this. That wyvern proved it's not safe out here for her.
Star Chaser thought of his little one. If it was my little Fluttershy out here, lost and alone like this, the most I'd hope for if I could not find her, is for some kind and caring pony to find her and take care of her till I could find her again. I would want her to be safe, even if I didn't know where she was.
He sighed some at that thought while looking at this odd young thing. She doesn't look much older then my little Fluttershy. I just can't leave her alone.
He made up his mind. He is going to take her with him. Though he was not sure if she would follow. He felt he might as well try and talk to her.
She was still huddled in that one spot just looking at him with those blank deep sky-blue eyes, that is a little darker than the aqua-blue eyes of his little Fluttershy.
They seemed to have a white glow in the direction see seems to be looking. The only indication that her eyes are definitely fixed on him.
He wished to know what she is thinking, and if she would come with him. So he finally asked her. "My name is Star Chaser. I mean you no harm, and I wish to help you. Who are you, and why are you out here all alone? Where is it that you belong? Did you run away from home, or are you just lost? Do you wish to find your home? Do you understand me?"
He did feel he was asking her too much all at once, but he also felt he needed answers.
She reasoned in her mind his questions. This pony is helping me? He saved me?
She had a quick look around, then back to him. I do not see that other thing. He does not want to hurt me or anything?. Yes, I want to go home. I want to find the others.
She thought back to when she saw her clan attack an outsider. It was a big individual. Easily twice the size of the adults. Even a little bigger then the Queen. It is of a grayish-blue, stood on two hooved legs, has big arms, broad chest, and two horns, one on either side of its head.
She had no idea what it was, but its size made it look quite scary to her. She did not know what it was doing, but her clan descended upon it in numbers. They used magic to make it stick in its place so it could not move. Then pelted it with more magic till it stopped moving. After, her clan made it unstuck, they dragged it into the castle. She never saw it again. Or ever found out what it was.
This action by her clan made her feel safer to be around so many of her own. She felt protected by them. Still, she did wonder what happened to the outsider.
Till now, she but almost forgot that day. The thought of this pony before her being spotted by her clan made her concerned. Not for herself, but for him.
If he helps they might hurt him, and drag him away too. They don't like the ponies. And he seems nice. He did save me. I do not want to see him get hurt. So what do I tell him? ...
She thought quietly for a moment. I will just tell him to go away.
She sat up and gave herself the nerve to speak to this big adult pony. She tried to be demanding, but her fear of speaking to him alone, made her voice little more than a squeak. Despite what he did for her, she was still afraid of this winged pony that is larger than her. "You, go."
At this Star Chaser sat up as well while still looking down on her. She can talk.
Her voice sounded quite foreign. It has a reverberating hollow eco to it. The voice was small, and strange, but he could understand her.
Why does she wish me to go? Is she in some kind of trouble? Or is she just afraid of me?
I think she does not trust me yet. I can't just leave her though. A scared little thing like this, on her own.
She does need my help, and she is going to get it whether she likes it or not. It's for her own good. She does not look like she can handle any kind of trouble on her own, even if she is smart enough to talk.
He thought he would try again. "I can't do that. I see you can talk, and possibly understand me. Whatever kind of trouble you are in, I will protect you." He smiled to her, while trying to earn her trust. "Do you want me to bring you home?"
She gave him such sad eyes. She felt grateful to him, yet she did not want him involved with her.
She did wish to go home, but she still feared what might happen to him. She did not want him to take her home.
She shook her head, then spoke in a lower tone than before, while lowering her head in sadness for what she felt she must tell him. Her voice now near incomprehensible, but he still heard her. "No."
Chaser is not sure what to do about her. He could tell she was saddened by something, something that might have happened to her. He decided to try and convince her to come with him, but he is not sure how.
This little thing before him seemed beside herself, lost herself as what to do. He could tell she was having a hard time deciding what to make of him as well, or what to do. "It is best you come with me little one. Till I can sort this out then, if you don't want me to take your home. Please come with me. I can't in good conscience leave you here alone. It's not safe. I only wish to help you. Do you understand? I will not do anything bad to you. I promise."
He hoped she would understand, and not fear him. He figured that is what is making her look so down and afraid in this moment. He knew he didn't know enough about her to know for sure.
If she was a regular foal, she would have been eager to go with me, mostly after what I did for her. But this strange little foal does not seem happy to be around me.
She did understand him. He is right. I am lost, and I do not know where the others are. He should not look for them. It is not safe for him to. But it is not safe for me out here alone. So what do I do? Should I go with him? Do I even have a choice? If I don't go with him, something else might get me, and I do seem safer around him then being alone. I wish I did not wander.
Star Chaser stood up fully as he waited for her to think it over. She seemed to be having trouble deciding. Poor thing, probably never saw a pony before, and likely still does not know what to think of me yet. I will give her a moment to think about it. Maybe in time she will see I don't intend to hurt her, but that I only wish to help her.
He looked into the sky around him and thought again to his little Fluttershy and his wife Stella. Thoughts of them filled his heart, and made him long to be back home. As he did this, the little one felt this from him. It was a strong feeling. It made her feel strong as well. The feeling felt good. It lifted her spirits, and for that moment her fear of him completely melted and forgotten.
She perked up. What is that!
She didn't understand any of this. But it made her long to be with him more. It made her feel great. This feeling, it was like emotional candy to her, and she wanted more of it. Like the the child that she is, this new want took control over her.
The little one stood up and looked to him and smiled. This movement by her caught his attention, and he looked back down to her. He saw her smiling up at him.
Wow! I don't know what I said, or did, but I think she is ready to go. I think she will follow. I wonder what made her change her mind about me so drastically?
She is now looking at me as if I am her best friend or something. No matter, she seems willing to come with me and that will be good enough for now.
He made a motion to move in one direction as he smiled back down to her, in an attempt to encourage her, and show her he felt happy with what he hoped she had decided to do. As he took a few steps away she did move to follow. Excellent! She is going to come with me after all.
They walked for a bit, then it hit him. It is still a ways away to back home, and we will have to fly to get there. I am not sure she can fly yet.
He turned to look back down to her. "You can't fly can you?"
She shook her head. Chaser thought about this. She can't fly, so how did she get up here? This is pretty far up.
He thought to ask, "How did you get up here if you can't fly?"
The little one did not like this question. She did not wish to answer. If I told him, he might look for the others. I do not want him to know. What do I tell him?
She looked up at him with what he could determine was worry again. What in Equestria could she be so worried about. I don't think it's me anymore. Possibly whatever she ran away from at home, I guess.
like my little Fluttershy she is a little bigger then my hoofs. Something must have happened to her to make her be out here alone like this. Wish I knew what happened to her. What could she be, and who is she?
When she gave him no answer he decided to let it go. I do wish I knew more about you, but you are not saying little one.
He sighed. She can just ride on me then. I will not trouble her with more questions right now, not till we are both safe at home. Maybe she will tell me more then, if she can.
I am actually surprised that I got this much out of her. It just might be the most I will get from her.
He lay down on the cloud they were standing on and gave a head tilt to suggest she hop on. "Hop on. I will take you home with me. No more question, OK?"
She gave a little nod and got on his back. He stood up carefully and spread open his wings. "Hold on. I will fly slow and steady so you don't fall."
She gave him another nod. She lay down against his lower neck. Her back legs resting at the base of his wings. She put her head to one side of his neck. She laid down this way as she held tight, not knowing how well this would go. Once he felt she was settled he gave himself a slow running start, then did a small hop in the air as his wings took over carrying them both into flight.
They glided for a while in silence. Her thoughts on some more worrying.
I am doing this!? I am on a pony! I do not know where, or how far. It is all my fault. I am bad to have wondered. Now I may not ever get back home, and see the others again.
Something else caught her attention that pulled her away from those thoughts. The same feeling she felt from him before. It felt nice. It made her feel comfortable to be with him. He is nice. I like him. This is not so bad, she thought as she smiled to herself.
Not long into their flight she remembered what she was told of the ponies of Equestria. Not that they were seen as the enemy, but seen as an inferior race. She was also told that they were nothing like their own kind. They did not work together all the time, or live the same as one race.
This to her put them at odds with not only the changelings, but with each other.
There was also a show for lack of concern for one another she was told. They did not care about each other, as was impressed upon the changelings should show for each other.
This gave her the impression that the ponies were mean and not to be trusted.
She thought on this some more. This pony I am with is not bad. Not like I thought. I am not like him, but he is nice to me. He is helping me, I think. I did not know they could be like this. Do we not know them? Are we wrong about them?
She felt all the more confused by what she was told, and by what is now going on. She no longer knew what to think.
She decided to put such thoughts behind her till she could find out more about them, or at least more about him. She sighed and looked out at the scenery. It was what got her into so much trouble to begin with, but it looked nice to her just the same.
She calmed herself and tried to enjoy the ride.
She felt way in over her head, but she also felt safe with him, and this other feeling she got from him gave her all the more reason to wait it out with him and find out what was to be next.
What ever was to happen next, she felt he would help her and protect her, if and when she needed him too. She is with him now, and that is how it is to be for now she thought.