Terra raised her head, and the professor looked at her, then down to the book under her hand. The thought flashed between the two, and she knew the professor recognized the sign. A soft frown in her direction, then back to the same poem they'd studied for three classes. She shrugged, not caring any more than she had for the last two weeks.

Unknowing of the cause, she accepted her lack of caring without question. She went about her daily routine, getting up for school, sitting at the computer day after day, writing pointless stories and chatting on popular chat servers.

The book she read called to her, so she dropped her gaze back to the page. Natil struggled with the visions running through her mind as she played the harp for Terry Angel. It wouldn't help, it wouldn't heal, so why do it? Why waste the time and effort on a useless cause? Because for Natil there was nothing but time. For Sana, Wheat, Hadden, TK, Lauri.for all of them, there was nothing but time.

Terra glanced at the clock. Class was over. No time. No care. "Do you have a second?" It was the professor. Lie and say you've got class, or say sure and listen to her ramble when you don't care and what she says is only going in one ear and out the other?

"Sure" the room emptied. Her bag was ready to go. Coat in hand she looked at the professor, smiled faintly.

"It looked to me like..." no shit. Yeah I was reading in your class a book I wasn't supposed to. Does it matter? Your poem is pointless, has no meaning close to what you think it does. Why bother trying to interpret a poem that was written so long ago? You dont know what Blake was thinking. "It wont happen again, Im sorry" out the door, down the hall, across the road and back to her computer.

"Hello Beloved"

"No, I dont need anything"

*she walks across the room and joins him at the table "may I sit with you sir?"
"aye, please do" pulls out a chair bows his head.*

*holds out her hand and speaks delicately "Lady Gwendlyn Moon, Sir"*

"A pleasure. Orion Darkslash, Welcome to the Tower. Can I get you anything milady?"

"nay, except company sir.."

*a nod, kind smile*

"Shit, I've got to go, class." Grabs the keys, locks the door and jogs to psych. Pulls out the book and notes she's only got half a page left. Taking a deep sigh, she sits back.

Sana left the home and took to the forest. Natil was missed, Sana looked, coming around the corner there she was, her teacher, her sister, her friend, wrapped in the arms of Elthia Carisiouve, the Elvan Goddess.

"Silver and blue, stars envelope the goddess. "

"Luna, I've decided on your number."

"Moon?"

"Its 8."

"What's that mean?"
"I dunno, it's just when I think of you, that's the number that comes to mind."

"Oh, when I think of you it makes me smile, and I think of the colors blue and white."

"White and Blue? Really?"

Disconnected. Damn. She hated things. She stepped across the room, picked up her psych book, no point in studying. Put it back down.

Reconnected.

"Ah, Lady Gwen, I want to introduce you to my daughter, Shaughnessy Deathstalker"

"A delightful child, you must be proud. What shall I call you child?"

"Daddy calls me Nessy, Momma calls me Shey.."

"Then I shall call you Lena, in my own tongue it means wild."

"kay Kay"

*tuck her in, kiss her cheeks, and think I wish I had a child like you Deep sigh, shut the door, and go to bed yourself*

Turn the computer off, and climb into bed. Can't read, she finished the book in psych.

"Lady, When shall I see you?"

"When you trust?"

"Elthia?"

"yes, Terra, when you trust the lady Elthia"

"I can't"

"Have it your way"

"NO!"

Waking suddenly, she frowns. Heart beating rapidly, eyes wide, she forces herself to breath. Out of bed and into the shower. Was this enough to wash away the feeling? No, no more than the dirt and sweat.

"Lady, I need you." Deep sigh, get dressed, pick up books and go back to class.

Sitting there softly frowning the random question Does God exist? runs through her head.

"Terra, where's your calculator?"

"I don't have one"

"You did last class."

"..it was borrowed."

"Oh, help her with her's then"

"Oh, sure"

Damnit, stuck again. She doesn't like me. She'll sit there all class and think why did I have to say anything? If I'd kept my mouth shut I'd have this table and my calculator yeah, to hell with you then. Figure it out on your own!

Class is over. Time for English Lit Analysis. Back row, don't smile, don't talk, most of all DON'T READ! Pencil? Paper? Essay's done. Read the paper for next homework. FREE! Free to write. No thoughts, no glances from HER!

Health is easy, share thoughts with a neighbor, write notes the professor can't see... Soft smile, don't flirt, She's taken.

I don't care she remembers, I'm his, but still alone. You're right, I don't care

"When will you?"

"Elthia?"

"you know the answer. What's the question?"

"Why?"

"No."

"How?"silence "when?"

"Yes, Beloved. When?"

"Yesterday."

"Tomorrow"

"Ever then, Mother?"

Silence. Class is over, she grabs her coat, hit the road. Back to her room where safety is found in the creative reaches of the computerized role playing communities.

*Tulie reached out to her adoptive mother, tears streaming down her red cheeks "Momma!" gentle hug. Whispered loves, fears soothed.

"Tulie, I love you. Gently sat down go play child"

Why? No, not why. Terra knew very well why. It wasn't real. The child would rise and go play as she'd been told, under the pretense of love. Simple as that.

"Alright Momma" *Tulie runs to the fireplace where she sits and plays with Daffy her dragon friend.*

Enough! Pull out a new book. Read a little. Close eyes book in hand.

"Terra?"

"Yes Sweetie?"

"I miss you"

"I know, beloved"

"When are you coming home?"

"When?I can't"

"But why?"

"Not why. Time is the answer, it changes everything, including home."

"You're right"

"stay safe. Be good, Ill see you soon."

"You sound like my mother."

"When Mother?"

"When you are ready."

"Alright"

Floating on a river, hardwood raft against her back, resignation. Its as simple as that.

Car stops, blood.

"Mother?"

Sirens, cries, soft hands, whispered words.

"it hurts.."

Broken glass, scattered around.

"Is it time?"

More sirens, extended hands, soft prayers.

Soft pillows, warm blankets, beeping machines.

"Time."

"Time is nothing. Time is manmade. Change, yes Change."

"I love you Momma"

"I love you too Tulie"

"Lena, Blessings, beloved child. Now sleep."

"Blessings Auntie Lyn"

*deep sigh, Acceptance. This is Home.*

"Lady Gwendlyn"

"Yes Milady?"

"Shey?"

"Asleep, Beloved."

"Thank you Gwen"

"My pleasure."

"Sweeting?"

"Nay, Milady, All is well."

"Terra, it is time."

"no."

"You're right." Starlight, warmth. "Come, she is waiting"

"Terra?"

"Yes, Sweetie?"

"Are you coming back?"

"No, Beloved"

"I love you"

"Blessed Be."

"Blessed Be."

Deep breath, regret.

"Blessed Be."

Terra steps into the starlight. The novice leads the way through the silver and blue stars.

"I'm sorry. Your daughter's chances are.at best; slim. She lost too much blood in the accident. Her left lung was punctured we've done what we could to mend it, but she's slipped into a coma. I'm sorry."

"Terra!?"

"No."

"I guess this is goodbye."

"The others."

"I'll tell them."

"aye"

"Elthia?"

"Not yet. Rest easy Beloved."

"Elthia?"

"Creoso a'baramin A'maelamind"

"Welcome Home Beloved"

"Yes. Home"

Terra Maria Smith died at 12:41, of Automobile injuries.

18 yrs, 4 mos, 14 days.