Star Bright

Key:

* * * Scenery change

//talk// Daine or an animal talking

* * *

At first glance, you would only see a grassy hill lit up by the moon's silky glow. Taking a second glance, a figure of a young girl could be made out. "Star light, Star bright, people will change tonight… destiny…" was carried in the gentle wind.

* * *

Veralidaine Sarrasri tumbled carelessly out of a clearing. Her heartbeat was high, and she was panting heavily. "Star light…" was whispered from the forest. Daine tripped over a large stick. Instead of getting up like a normal human would, she quickly transformed into an animal. All of a sudden, a shadowed figure jumped out of the forest.

* * *

Numair Salmalin rushed outside to greet his lover, Daine. She had gone away for a day in the forest, but instead been gone for a week. "Daine!" he called out. The girl ran into his arms.

"Sorry I was gone so long, Numair. I was… side tracked." She said.

"It's OK, I forgive you. Just remember to tell me next time you plan on staying a little longer than expected." He said. Daine smiled.

"Sure, I'll remember." She said. Numair pulled her into a kiss, but before his lips touched hers she hurriedly pulled away. "No…" she whispered.

"Why not?" Numair said, hurt. They were engaged and were to be married in a year, so what was wrong with a small kiss?

"Just… I don't feel well." She said. There was a trace of anger in her voice, so small that Numair probably didn't detect it.

"Let's come inside, it's cold out here." He said. He forgave her, though was still a little upset. Daine smiled.

"That sounds like a good idea." She looked down at her stomach. "And hungry, too. Food would definitely make me feel better right now."

"So, we shall get some food." Numair said. "Everyone's been worried about you, Daine." She just shrugged. Numair sighed. She was acting a little odd. They turned the corner, and Alanna jumped out.

"Daine!" she cried. "What happened to you?"

"I was side-tracked." Daine repeated. Annoyance was clearly visible in her voice.

"Oh, that's all? I thought something happened to you." She said.

"Just side tracked, OK?" Daine snapped back.

"Daine…" Numair whispered warningly into her ear. "Stop that." Daine just made a face, and walked off to her room. "I'll go get you some food…" Numair said, but she didn't make any gesture of hearing him. "Gods, Daine…"

"Don't worry, she's probably just tired. That's all." Alanna said.

"You're probably right." Numair said, happy for an excuse for Daine's behavior. He went off to the kitchen to get some food for her. In Daine's room, however, she was laughing into her pillow, making it sound like she was crying. "…destiny…" she whispered before she got up to find Numair.

* * *

A black cat rushed through the dewy grass. Its fur was very silky, and a white star pierced the black on its forehead. It was headed for Corus, the capital of Tortall. When it got there, it expertly dived in between people's feet. It only stopped when it   got to the palace doors. It then sat there, with a blank look on its face like it lost something important, or forgot something. Luckily for it, Daine came out. She had just taken a nap and was feeling a lot better, and a lot more like herself and cheerful. The cat came up to her, purring. Daine looked down at her, and smiled. She squatted down to faced the cat. //Hello, there. What's your name?// The cat blinked.

//…Star Bright// it replied which in Daine's mind was almost a whisper.

 //You don't sound good, girl. What happened?// The cat searched its mind for a memory of what happened to it.

//Attacked. By darkness. Forgot home so came to you.// Daine then gently picked up the cat. To us, it's body was that of a Siamese but the coloring was odd.

//I'll help you. I won't let you down. I promise// The cat rubbed its head against her.

//Thank-you// It purred.

"Numair!" Daine called out. "I found this cat. It's really weak, but it doesn't have any physical damage. I think it forgot everything." She said when Numair came.

"I've never heard of cats having memory loss." He said.

"Can we keep her? Please?" she asked.

"Magelet, you know I don't have a choice." Numair said.

"Thank-you!" Daine said, gave Numair a quick kiss, and then rushed off to put the rapidly growing annoyed cat down on her bed to see if she could do anything for it. As soon as she got to her room, Alanna called out.

"Daine! Some of the horses are having trouble. Could you help them?" she asked.

"Sure!" Daine said, but before she left she told the cat to wait for her. The cat actually nodded. Daine smiled and then ran out the door. Star Bright picked herself up, and leapt of the bed. //Sorry… Daine.// it said to no one in particular.

* * *

Daine ran over to Alanna. "Where are they?" she asked. Alanna just shook her head.

"That was just to get you out of there to greet our guest." She said.

"Who's that?" Daine asked.

"Varice."

"You have to be kidding me…" Daine groaned.

"Don't worry, she's coming here with an announcement. One you'll like." Alanna said. At that moment, almost if on cue, and Daine suspected it was, Varice walked in with a huge smile.

"I'd like you to meet my fiancé, Marcus." She announced. Then, a man dressed almost as well as Kaddar would have walked in the room. He had crystal blue eyes and long blonde hair tied into a horsetail. Then, Daine realized Numair was behind her when he walked over to Varice.

"Congratulations!" he said. He then shook hands with Marcus. Marcus, compared to Numair, or probably anyone, was very scrawny. After some polite talk, they were led to there rooms for they were staying for a ball that was being held in a month and had come early to tell the news. Numair walked up to Daine again.

"Well, now she's out of my hair." He said jokingly.

* * *

Star Bright wandered around the palace. Then, she noticed a woman walking with a man. Not happy without a good look at them, Star followed. The man kissed the woman goody-bye, and walked away. The woman noticed Star, and picked her up in a position that Star still couldn't see her. She put Star down on her bed, then sat next to her. And cried. Star walked over to her, and then finally got a good looked at her. Star Bright then remembered. Everything.