starkdiary6

Stark's Sixth Diary
I'm a vet, not a MD (or how gullible do you think I am)

I don't seem to be very good at hanging on to the men that enter my life. My father left and as far as I know died before I was born. Aedan walked away after one season. Greyson left me after about a week. While I can tell you whether an Aussian Neffir beast is about to bite, or wag its tail and be friendly, I could not tell you whether this message was sincere or not.

My dearest Stark,

I've had cause to wonder in the last few days if you realize how ironic
your name is. You are the opposite of stark; I would rename you
something else, if I was allowed, but there is probably not a word
available to describe someone as warm, generous and kind as yourself.

With that said, perhaps you will understand how much it pains me to tell
you that we must part ways for now. I have a vague feeling, a fuzzy
understanding, of something I must do. I go now to do it. I would tell
you the details, but that would jeopardize my mission-- not because you
are not trustworthy, but because my memory is not. For the first time in
a long time, I remember something from Home, and I must now strive to find
it again.

I hope that we will meet again, and that you will not look too unkindly
upon me then. Until Amber, my dear lady. Keep well.

Random

It didn't sound like the Greyson that I knew. I briefly wondered if it had really been written by him, but deep down I believed it had been. The other niggling worries, that I had squashed, such as whether the man already had a wife back in Amber came back. Perhaps he could not tell me, or those memories would be lost also.

We took Shen to the beach, because he had never seen an ocean. He seemed to like it, for he spent most of the time there staring out into the sea. He said he didn't mind if I swam without clothing on, but afterwards he seemed slightly uneasy. This made him seem more human somehow. Cecily was too bothered by the cold to go in. At night, Griffin spun enchanting tales. The two days passed by very quickly, and even pleasantly. After our brief sojourn at the beach, we headed out to look for some woman who might know how to get to Amber. Fletcher came back with a brief report of his talk with Benedict, but I had the feeling we really weren't getting the full story. I asked what had happened to Greyson. His response was sarcastic verbal slap, but I was secretly pleased that he had gone looking for Greyson, because he knew I was "sweet" on the man.

The fight with the beholders took us all by surprise. I should have known something was wrong. I hadn't seen the dogs for sometime and Kammi was restless. I was more focused on the approaching party of soldiers who were chasing after Syrana. I didn't blame the poor girl. Who wanted to be given away in marriage like a piece of furniture or land.

I was pretty annoyed that my gun did no good. The demon thing that attacked me did not seem to care whether I was of Amber blood or not. I briefly wondered how it had evolved, and what were its predators if bullets would not dent its flesh. I watched Cecily battle out of the corner of my eye, and saluted her. Quite impressive. However, I didn't have time to stand and gawk. If I stayed there, there was no question I was going to die. I backed towards the window and flipped backwards and over. I didn't think the beholder could make it through. I added what support that I could, but I mainly stood and watched my companions get knocked down. I was at the point, where I was going to run. Not out of cowardice, but out of a need to preserve my hide. I am practical that way. Griffen was down and out cold. Fletcher looked like he had half of his face burned. Syrana was down in a pool of her blood. I winced when I saw Cecily, she looked down at her stomach and the contents as they bulged out. Shen, was fighting strong, but he had multiple cuts and abrasions. Time stood still for a moment as I tried to figure out what to do, and realized the group was going to lose. Then the arrows rained down from the sky.

These guys looked fierce, and they knew how to use the bows they were armed with. The demons died quickly. That was when I knew I had to act. Ignoring our saviors, I rushed over to Cecily. Somehow, she had managed to hang on to her concious. I looked at her and shook my head. I'm not a doctor, but I could tell that the pool of blood she was lying in was too much. The leader of the the winged men walked up. He was tall, incredibly handsome and rugged, and had wings. He started ordering the other people in his group to grab everyone and go. I shook my head no. What was he thinking, idiot. If they were really here to give us a hand than I was going to be in charge for a few minutes. If we moved Cecily or Syrana in the state that they were in, they were going to die. I interrupted his order. He looked angry, but acquiesced. I looked down at Cecily and she mumbled something under her breath. I knew she was going to fight me on the shot thing. I wanted to get her a pain killer and some antibiotics. But I know how to deal with surly clients. If you want to distract a dog, while you work on its throat, you have one of the technicians, give it a good scratching on its back. I figured this would work, and asked her to tell me what her brother was doing. She looked, and never saw the first shot coming. I needed to give her another one. One of the winged men asked if he should hold her down. I thanked him greatfully and he seemed amused by the proceeding. She promised me death once she felt better.

I couldn't tell her that I didn't know if she would have a chance. If we didn't get her a transfusion, she was going to die.