Cassie started out at the falls in front of her. The rain pouring down, washing away her tears. And the tears of blood from her wrist. She had done it. She had left. And for good. She knew her brother would be more than angery. But she had had to do it.

Now, she stood over the Falls, ready to jump if the whim so took her. She knew in her state, and with the storm, there was no chance of surival. But she didn't care. She had nothing any way. All was lost.

Cassie's family and friends were gone, and all because she had pushed them away. Away from the pain of her father. Cassie hadn't told any one, not even Sora, that her father had come back. And that he had threated to kill all of the people she loved if she didn't do as he said. So, Cassie did as she was told.

Except for one thing. She didn't go to him. Unstead she had come here.

And now she would have to live with the Aftermath of her choice.

Alex saw the girl, but decided not to stop her. She to had come to think and feel. Even if she never got the chance to do so again. Alex hated life, every thing had been taking from her. Her mother, her father, her family and friends. Zeke had left, and now she was along.

Cyrus walked slowly across the landscape, admiring the several waterfalls that seemed to enclose the small area in which he traveled through. Nothing to in particular on his mind, now that things were moving forward with his plans. The journey the centaur spoke of, it would seem, might not be so hard as originally thought. Or perhaps it would be much, much more horrific than even fathomed. This new guild he was in, could very well be the death, or salvation of him, and his lost memories. Still Cyrus could not predict the distant future, so he kept his mind focused on the here, the now, and the beauty of the running water around him.

As he enjoyed swaying in the rain that seemed to pour so gently across a pair of his wings, which he was using to block the drizzle that seemed to build, he noticed others. He made out a woman, who was…crying. She was hurt, either physically, or emotionally. Whatever it was, it was aching her, eating at her. Although it was none of his business, Cyrus thought back on the main goals of his new order. Helping her, is what one would do, and since he was one, he saw no other reason not to try and lend his services. After all, it was just days ago that a stranger had helped him regain his own name. Perhaps he could help her regain something as well.

Cyrus approached with grace, and soon reached the young woman he sought. In a calm and gentle voice, he spoke. “What is the matter?”

Cassie spun around at the voice. She had been so lost in her own thoughts that she hadn't heard any one come up behind her. With the memory of her father's last words still ringing in her head, Cassie couldn't afford to not pay attention to what was around her at all times.

Cassie looked at the man that approached her now, What is wrong? You ask, kind Sir. Every thing in my life, since the day I was born." Cassie looked back out over the falls, her wrist hurting more from the now soaked bandage getting stuck to the clotting blood. She would need to change that soon. Or it would hurt more in the morning.

Cyrus listened intently at the girls shattered words. As he stared into her tear filled eyes, he noticed the blood dripping from her wrist. Slowly, he moved his hands down towards the bandaged wound, and began untying it. After he had removed the blood soaked bandage, he threw it over the side of the cliff edge, and placed his right hand over the wound. In a few seconds, the wound was healed, just as expected. Cyrus than removed his hand from the girl’s wrist, and moved one of his top wings over the girl’s head, instantly removing the rain that pelted down upon her.

“Forgive me for being so forward, but I think your wrist should feel quite better now. Now then, tell me, what troubles you?” His voice just as gentle as before.

Cassie looked at her wrist. It did indeed feel better. And she didn't mind being taken out of the rain either. "Thank you, Sir. For healing my wound. As for whats wrong? Everything. Everything is wrong as it has been since my birth."

Cassie didn't know where to start her story, that is if this man wanted to even hear it. Why would he care about her story or her problems? Even if he had healed her wrist. That didn't mean anything. He could have just felt sorry for her, just like every body else.

Cyrus listened to the girl once more, and realized something; he hadn’t introduced himself properly. Now that he knew his name finally, it would seem the appropriate thing to do. He extended his right hand, the same hand that had healed the girls wrist just moments earlier, and spoke.

“Please forgive me, but you don’t have to keep calling me sir. You may call me Cyrus if you wish. And please, I would like to know what keeps you so…depressed. Honestly, I would like to hear “everything”.

Cassie looked back at the man she now knew as Cyrus, then down at his offered hand. Cassie reached over and took it in her small hand. "My name is Cassie. And as for my story, it is a long one. But I will tell you every thing if you so wish...

"It all started the day I and my twin sister were born. I don't remember much except that our family, which included an older brother, was happy. All of us at one time, were happy. Until my mother, sister, and I got sick with the fever when Sarah and I were only five. Sarah and mother didn't make it.

"My father blaimed me for their deaths, even though in his heart, he knew I hadn't been the cause. From the day we buried them on, my father would beat me, and my brother for tring to protect me from harms way. This lasted for years, until my brother, Telik ran away, taking me with him.

"We earned are meals by stealing money and food from whom ever we could. Not caring who it hurt in the end. As long as it wasn't us. But one day we stole from the wrong person. He was a Pirate Captain, and as punishment, he made us work on his ship.

"After years of living with the Captain and his crew, the Cap passed away and left the ship and crew to Teilk. We kept treavling and adding more crew members, and all seemed happy and right with the world..." Cassie paused in her story.

Cyrus listened to the depressing story of the young girl’s life, Cassie he know knew her by. For such a beautiful girl, she held a dark past. Having to bury her only other sister, and her beloved mother must've truly been painful. But pain, she obviously hadn’t known it yet. Getting beaten from her father…how horrible. When Cyrus thought more on this, it was as if he could feel the pain himself, and his fists balled in anger at the man, her father, who punished her so, who he didn't even know. Then their escape, lives as thieves, and now this; pirates. Cyrus could understand now, understand why she was so miserable. But perhaps that wasn’t it at all. Perhaps the root of the problem lie deeper.

“Forgive me for pressing the issue. I wanted to know what troubled you, but I didn’t mean to cause you any more grief from these…memories.” When Cyrus said that, he paused a bit, and mentally stumbled. Even though they were mostly awful, at least she had her memories…and that was something Cyrus would do anything to receive. Returning his attention to the girl before him, he spoke once more. “But tell me, why were you bleeding then?”

Cassie looked down at her wrist before speaking.

"That happy world I once knew came crushing down on me not that long ago. My father found me one day while I was away from the others. I had gotten into a stupid fight with Teilk and left. I was in the Forset talking to a boy I had met when my father showed up and almost killed me.

"If it hadn't been for the boy, Sora, my father would have taken me back with him and slowly killed me. But only after he rented me out to all of his 'friends' at the nearest pub. After Sora enjured him, my father left, for what I thought at the time was good. I ended up going back home to Telik and the crew and all was ok for a time. I still had this scar on my neck," Cassie reached up and touched her neck with her other hand, "and the meomry of how I had almost lost my life.

"My father came back yesterday and found me again. He told me that if I didn't leave and come with him... he would kill every one I love and care about. making me watch the entire time.

"So, I left the only home I have ever been loved at, my family, and my friend, for a man who will kill me before I reach my next birthday. I came here to get away from him. I was bleeding... because I cut myself, hoping I would die before he found me."

Cyrus, being already at point blank range away from Cassie, stepped closer towards her, until he was almost right up against her. As he moved, his other wings spread out around them, and encircled them, completely blocking the noise of the pounding rain. He kneeled his head down slowly, to make eye contact with the young girl, and spoke in a less gentle voice, being more serious than ever.

“Cassie, harm will not come to you, I swear it…I…I want you to come with me, you will be safe with me, I can protect you. Your father won’t be able to lay a single finger on you if you stay with me.”

Cassie looked up at Cyrus. He reminded her a lot of Telim in the way he would be willing to protect her. Cassie nodded her head slowly. "Yes, I will go with you."

Cassie stared in to his eyes. In them she saw that he was lost in a way, and that he truely did want to help her. But most of all, Cassie saw trust. Something she hadn't seen a lot of in a long while, let alone felt for anybody. But Cassie felt that for Cyrus. as while as the beginings of friendship.

Cyrus saw the glint of happiness form in the young girl’s eye, her mind, finally at peace. And at that moment, Cyrus too felt something he hadn’t in some time now; peace. He gently laid down his wings, and as they slowly tucked behind his back to their dormant position, he threw his arms up, and wrapped them around Cassie. In the falling rain that covered the area, and toppled upon them, Cyrus stood in sweet embrace with a girl, a woman he had just recently acquainted himself with. Now it would seem, their destinies were intertwined, and Cyrus was all but happy to be tangled up with Cassie.

As he held her softly in his arms, he thought about what their next plan would be. There was only one other place he could take the girl, one place that was truly safe in all of Arda. The home, the head quarters of his new comrades; the Keepers of the Sacred Deed. Cyrus thought of how to explain the girl’s situation to his comrades, but in an instant, he dropped it. He didn’t even care at this point. What he cared about, what mattered to him, was that he had just sworn an oath to this girl, and oath of guardianship and protection. An oath he would keep, no matter what.

Cyrus held Cassie tightly in his arms, and put one arm under her legs, while the other held her back, and in an blaze of glory, his wings extended from his backside, stretching to their full capacity. They began flapping rapidly, all six, until soon, Cyrus and Cassie were off the ground. He turned as they flew higher, gaining altitude, until they were above the clouds, above the rain that crashed down to the earth. And with a smile spread across Cyrus’s face, he flew off into the distance, still holding on tight to his new friend.

Cassie smiled a small smile as she hugged Cyrus back. She felt safe with him. She felt safe in his arms. Maybe now she could live a somewhat real life. Unsteaad of one built on fear and lies. For the first time ever, Cassie felt hope for what the future would bring her and her new friend.

As they flew over the clouds, cassie looked around them. She had never been up in the air before. And it pleased her to know, she wasn't scared. After signing in comfort, Cassie snuggled closer to Cyrus, laying her cheeck againist his chest. He felt so warm, and the feel of his heart under her head, lolled Cassie to sleep.