Thread: The Wheel Weaves What The Wheel Wills (Ryees & darkangel76)

Leithia's eyes widened as soon as the tree caught fire. She hadn't expected the dry branches, a canopy of lush orange and red hues, to suddenly ignite while she'd dreamed the flames of the bonfire would lick the flesh of the girl in the arms of the one she'd been pining for over the years. Hearing the leaves crackle as the branches groaned within the dancing flames, she wasn't sure what to think. The music had stopped abruptly, her parents nowhere to be found. Everyone seemed confused, frightened, startled. Villagers were running from the flames as they climbed higher along the tree, engulfing it entirely. For a moment, Leithia looked down at her hands. A soft glow seemed to swirl about them. Blinking hard, she wasn't sure if it was the light of the fire, her fear or something else causing her to see such things. Suddenly worried, she grabbed a hold of the blue fabric of her skirts, determined not to look at her hands again unless she had to. Just what was happening...and why? She scanned the area looking for the one she desired. But he was gone. And so was the girl he'd been with. In her heart she knew he'd fled the scene. He'd never been one to help or stand up and face crisis, but she would never admit that out loud. Not yet. Not when she so deeply yearned for his affections, just a single glance her way. Eyes stinging with tears, Leithia backed away from the horrific sight unfolding as people began looking her way, to the odd girl. To the eccentric girl with no prospects and one even her parents ignored. Her blood suddenly felt cold, her feet slowly moving her away from the light and closer to the shadows. Caitrin looked up at Aermun, her blue eyes widening briefly before she gave him a nod. Her insides twisted as her thoughts ran wild. She could sense saidin. It was everywhere. The angreal was telling her as much and the artifact would never lie. As she looked at her Warder, all her trust and faith in his words rushing toward him, she saw it...that moment when he noticed the aura around the wilder girl. He shouldn't have seen it. Not with all his training or time spent with her. It was impossible. Unless... Dark thoughts began to circulate through Caitrin's mind. None of them she liked. All of them led to the inevitable and it made her heart ache. Not wanting to believe it, she decided that she had to be wrong. There was no other option. Her sense was thrown off due to the chaos. Pushing the notion aside that somewhere lurked a male channeler, she decided to focus on the moment. Glancing toward the villagers and the fire, the girl they'd been seeking was lost in the crowd. Their only hope of finding her now would be to search once things calmed down, but... There would be no later. Caitrin closed her eyes. The girl was the least of their problems, second to the fire. Her heart knew it even if she wasn't ready to accept. Opening her eyes, she reached out to Aermun. We go, for now, she agreed. The fire was spreading fast, another tree was engulfed in flame...a house! A part of her felt guilty for not lending aid. But to do so would place them both in danger. Aes Sedai were not welcome in these mountains. Back to the path. There was a clearing near a stream a few miles back. Perhaps there it will be safer, she suggested. Caitrin was not fond of these mountains, their forests providing little to no shelter, leaving them vulnerable. As she glanced at Aermun, her heart racing, she feared that more than failure of a mission was at stake. Though she no longer felt or saw saidar, she could feel the saidin through the angreal...and it was only growing stronger.