First Eclipse

Tim put on the new porter and handed the old one to Sith. "Just set it in my room," he said.

Sith nodded and put it in his pocket. "I have to go over and see Vex, so I'll tag along and then take it there when I get back." Kara handed him a smaller porter. "This is for Fauna. It takes her to their building."

He put it in his pocket. "All our gear is there?"

She nodded. "Leone and Rafael are over there now. They took over two ATVs so you can go up to the cabin they used to go to."

Tim nodded and went over, picking up his sword and tucking it into the case. Inside were a few extra blades because you never knew when you would need them.

"Oh, good you haven't left." Crissy came racing into the landing room. She slid to a stop and held up a backpack. "You have to take this with you."

Tim took it and glanced at Kara.

"What's in it, Criss?" Kara didn't seem phased by her sisters-in-law's fast entrance.

"Food." Crissy nodded. "Water. There's water, too." She looked at Tim, and he always wanted to hunch down to be closer to her level. "Take it with you everywhere." She nodded.

Tim exchanged glances with Sith. If there was one thing they knew without a doubt, it was that when the little seer said something, you listened.

"Is something going to happen, Criss?"

Crissy was digging in her backpack. "Always. There is always something happening." She jerked her head up. "Even when there isn't, there is because doing nothing is still something, right?" She nodded and looked very happy with her answer. "So, they just need to take food because?"

Crissy scoffed. "Everyone eats," she said, looking up at him. "You eat, don't you?"

Tim nodded but still had a heavy feeling in his gut, "I have to go." Crissy raced out of the room.

All three of them looked at the doorway for a moment.

"Food is good." Kara shrugged. "I doubt the guys took much. They were more interested in getting the ATVs..." Rafael and Leone appeared on the other side of the room. Leone's face and whole body were covered in mud.

Rafael grinned like he used to when he was a boy, when he had done something he probably shouldn't have.

"What happened?" Kara started over and then stopped and looked her mate up and down. Only his boots were covered in mud.

"Well-" Rafael looked at Leone. "We now understand why Victor and Quint always told us that porting while in motion can get messy." He started laughing. "He" He pointed to Leone. "He gunned the ATV as we ported and came out on the other side on the top of a knoll and went flying down it into a half-dried-up pond." Rafael laughed and bent over, holding his stomach.

"Shut up." Leone wiped at his face. "You said you were going to do it too."

Rafael laughed harder. "I know. I lied." Shaking his head, he looked at Tim and cleared his throat. "The gear and ATVs are at the base of the mountain. The trail looked pretty rough, but if you head straight up, you'll see the cabin in a little clearing after about ten minutes." He glanced at Leone and chuckled. "I've seen Fauna on her bike, so you won't have to wait for her on the ATV."

Tim nodded. He would have liked to see Prince Leone's descent into that pond. The first thing they told you when you started porting was to be stationary.

"Criss came running in, gave Tim a pack of food, and told him to take it with him everywhere." Kara glanced at Leone and shook her head.

"Oh? Did she say why?" Rafael wiped a small spot of mud off his leg and grinned at his brother.

"Not in any way we understood." Kara shrugged.

Rafael turned back to Tim. "Keep the food with you, I guess."

"I will." He looked at Sith. "I'm ready when you are."

"Keep in touch," Kara said. "And nothing huge."

Tim smiled. "We'll see what we find."

She opened her mouth and then closed it and nodded.

Tim watched the captain give her a look. If he understood the dynamic between them, he was telling her no, and she hadn't even spoken.

"Let's go." Sith motioned to the bag with his weapons in it. "I want to be here in case my queen comes back."

"I'm surprised Chase has stayed away this long." Rafael shrugged.

"Alona's health is more important than playing in the mud." She looked at Leone. "Are you going to go get washed?"

He looked down. "I'm trying to figure out how to port to our room without making a mess."

Rafael laughed. "That ship has sailed, brother. Beth is going to smack you no matter what you do."

Leone sighed. "Yeah." He disappeared.

Tim put his hand on Sith's shoulder and nodded.