ade ran enjoying the feeling of the distances just melting away underneath her feet. She felt a wild shiver run down her body but resisted the temptation to howl as to not scare the horses. She didn't doubt that she could howl and infact several memories came flooding back to her but oddly enough when she tried to recount her modern day life so to speak it seemed to evade her almost like it wasn't important enough. She would have to ask Kat about it.

She turned her head quickly to her left at the sound of movement. She had forgotten how good her sense of hearing was now. She sniffed and then smiled. Her pack was near.

The troup that weren't far behind enjoyed the ride and watched as Jade ran.

"I thought she said she was out of shape" Marc commented
"So did I, hate to see what she is in shape" David replied
"Don't you like wolves?" Kat asked
"I never said that" David replied and Kat laughed

"What took us so long?" asked Marc breaking the silence again
"I guess we were waiting really" David replied "Glad I still found Canagán though. I don't know what I would have done without her, though I must admit I think I understand a little more why she was so hard to get to settle down."

Kat laughed

"Yes?" David asked pointedly
"Nothing, just that some things never change."
"Hmph"

Jade ran back towards them and told them about a clearing in the trees a few hundred metres which the could settle for camp. She stood some distance from the horses and Marc could have sworn she would be swishing her tail if she had one. He laughed outloud and got strange looks which made him laugh again. He sobered quickly as a memory returned to him. He saw the way he did so that he could see people's true self and thus their intent so he could better protect Kat. Kat looked at him suddenly and then smiled knowingly. She agreed that they should set up camp and let the horses rest especially after the run they gave them to keep up with Jade.

Camp that night was set up in a copse of trees, as far from the road as possible. Jade left camp and scouted the area while the Marc dug a pit for the fire, and David collected firewood. Kat lit the fire when Jade returned, and they ate sparingly of their rations.
"Do you... remember why we were there?" Jade asked finally.
"Yes," sighed Kat. "I do."
"Why?"
Kat leaned back against a log, and thought.
"It was the lady's idea. The Christian priests were looking for us, and she knew that we needed to be protected, because we were needed for the sacred rite this Samhain. So she sent us there, to keep us safe. Unfortunately, we were separated on the way. Not only did we end up in different parts of England, but different times also. Six years passed for the boys and I before you even arrived in England. And by that time, most of what we knew had been forgotten. You were obviously drawn to us, as we were drawn to you, but we didn't recognise each other. You obviously remembered *some* things... You wrote that atrocious play for one thing! The lady took the mirror, and she and Marc looked after it, but we didn't remember that. Jimmy and Darryl don't remember a thing about Avalon... They are fully based in that world now. We found each other... We got the mirror back... and we recognised each other. And now, we're back on our quest. And the four of us need to get the grail. The lady will get the boys - somehow. And then the seven of us will perform the rite."
"What is the rite for?"
"The rite will close the doors to Avalon," Kat replied quietly, with great sadness. "There is little place for Avalon in this era, and already she is fading. We will send Avalon back into the mists, and with it the chalice of the goddess, which the Christians call the Holy Grail, the sword Excalibur gifted unto Arthur by the lady herself, a wand of rowan and the land itself."
"How will we get Excalibur there?"
"Arthur will bring it."
"And the wand?"
"It will be the Merlin's staff."
"So all that is left is the grail."
"Aye. And we will be the ones to bring it."
"We had best get some sleep then," said Marc. "I'll take first watch."
The others nodded, rolled up in their blankets by the fire, and slept.

The next morning they awoke to find the horses restless. Marc jumped up rather quickly preparing to fight but Kat reached out and laid a gentle hand on him.

"No Marc, they are just saying hello"
"What?"
"Shh, just watch"

Jade stood up and walked towards one of the trees. Three wolves stepped towards her and then sat at her feet. She reached out and ruffled the fur on the wolf closest to her. It curled it's tail around it's body and lowered it's head. The other two wolves also lowered their heads before getting up and walking off Jade following. They all disappeared from sight.

"What was that about?" Marc asked
"The pack wanted to say hello I'm guessing" David replied yawning
"Yes, well we may as well get ready"
"Ready for what?"
"A feast, they have gone to hunt and when they return they we will feast."
"All this feasting is going to put us behind though" David replied
"Maybe, but I am not about to have bad manners simply because we are on a time schedule. Plus the Godess has a funny way of allowing time for simple graces"
"Oki if you say so"
"I do, now lets move, for starters you may want to move the horses away a little more"
"No," corrected Marc. "They must respect us also."
Kat considered for a moment.
"Good point," she allowed. "The other conmhaol must also be near by, though, so I think we should prepare for a larger gathering!"

Kat, Marc and David set about gathering more firewood, and clearing the area of things that would be uncomfortable to sit or stand upon, and then Kat set about making bread. An hour and a half later, when the Jade returned, the bread was just cooked. Following Jade into the clearing were two members of the wolf pack, closely followed by another female, four males, and another three wolves. A moment later, a man entered the clearing, carrying the haunch of a deer, flanked by two wolves. Kat stood, and greeted him.
"Conrí," she said, respectfully. "Wilt thee and thy pack break bread with us?"
"We shall. Wilt thee and thine share meat with us?"
"We shall, and gratefully."
The two bowed to each other, and Kat motioned to Marc, who came forward and accepted the haunch of deer. One of the males stepped forward at the Conrí's motion, and accepted a loaf of bread from Kat. After this, the wolves seemed satisfied, and the two standing by the Conrí moved forward to sniff at Kat. She allowed them to sniff at her, then bent down to allow them to smell her hair. Apparently they were satisfied, as one, then the other's plumed tails began to gently wave. At this sign, the other wolves relaxed and flopped about the clearing. David moved to put the meat over the fire, and Jade and the other conmhaol moved forward and placed their weapons on the ground in front of the Conrí, kneeling beside them. He greeted them each by name, and as he spoke, they rose again, and sheathed their weapons. Then everyone in the clearing relaxed, and found a comfortable place to sit. The Conrí moved to sit near Kat.

"It has been a time, Cáitlín."
"Indeed it has, Conrí," she smiled. "I believe the Lady spoke to you?"
"Aye," he confirmed, stretching out his long legs and slowly stuffing his pipe with herb. "At the same time as she told me why she would not accept my proposal for thee!"
Kat laughed. "I was ne'er meant for the life of the conmhaol, Conrí, as you well know."
"The life of a Priestess of Avalon art no' that different, Cáit."
"Perhaps this life wast no' meant for me either?"
"You have doubts?"
"Always."
"I have no doubts in thee."
"You were ever a comfort, my dearest friend."
The two sat in silence for a moment as he lit his pipe and quietly smoked it for a moment.
"What is your direction?" he asked, finally.
"We head north," she replied. "For about a week, then Nor'east for a further week. Then I have a week to locate and collect the grail. Then we head back via the long woods."
"Why? That is a three week journey, Cáit, and this is a two week one."
"Aye, but they will be expecting us to come this way - and a thief never leaves the same way he comes in. You taught me that, Conrí!"
He chuckled softly, and conceded the point.
"Will you stop at Camelot?"
"I doubt it. We have eight weeks until Samhain, and five of those will be travelling. I would rather not risk being late by having to stop at Camelot and hand out love and fertility charms!"
The Conrí laughed again, a louder laugh this time, which caused Marc to look over. The Conrí caught his look, and looked at Kat speculatively.
"What is it?" she asked.
"Is he your betrothed now?"
"Marc?" Kat asked, with a smile. "Nay. He hath no' asked for my hand."
"But if he did, you would accept?"
"I don't know, Conrí. I have known him all my life as my protector. When we were... elsewhere, I didn't see him, though I have no doubt he was always close. He was certainly drawn to me the day I finally met him again, he followed me everywhere, unobtrusive as always... But in truth, it took being there to open my eyes and see him as anything *other* than my protector... In truth I have only known him as such for a few days, and it is a strange experience. I know him better than I know most people, but I am only just getting to know him in this way..."
The Conrí reached over, and patted her hand comfortingly.
"All will work out, Cáit."
Kat smiled at him. "Aye, eventually."
"I will always be here."
"I know, Conrí."
"Is it so hard to call me by my name, Priestess?"
"Erick," she replied with a warm smile, "my oldest, dearest friend. You and I grew up together. I shalt always think of thee thus. Thou art, however, also conmhaol, and Conrí on top of that. 'Twas thee, if I recall correctly, who instructed me on the lore of the conmhaol. 'Tis merely a measure of my respect for thee that I award thee thine title."
He chuckled, softly.
"You always manage to twist things around when you shift to formal language, Cáit. I do no' object to the Conrí - I merely wished to be assured that you remembered my real name!"
"I would never forget it, Erick."
"I am glad."
A moment passed, then he knocked his pipe against the tree.
"I hadst best leave thee, fair lady, for a while. I canst see Sinéad over yonder hath been itching to introduce me to her betrothed - or rather, she wants to introduce him to the others, and must introduce me first! Besides, your protector has been watching me for some time!"
Kat laughed, then took his hand.
"Thank you for coming, Erick."
"I will always be around, Cáit. The conmhaol and I will follow you north for a week, and meet you again in two weeks after that in the long woods."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
There was another short pause.
"Does he... Know?"
"Daibhí? Nay, not that I know of. I think Sinéad was awaiting your approval before..."
The Conrí sighed, then smiled.
"I shall hate to lose her. She is a fine warrior."
"Do not give up hope just yet, Conrí. I have lived with him as my brother for 11 years - he is tougher than he looks."
"We shall see. I'll talk to you again."
"Good health," Kat replied, and watched as he moved away to talk to Jade.

"Is something wrong, Caitín?"
Kat looked up, and smiled at Marc.
"Nay. Just thinking."
"Some of the conmhaol want to meet you, now that you have finished speaking with their illustrious leader."
Kat accepted Marc's help to stand, then looked at him closely.
"Do no' worry, Marc. The Conrí and I have been friends a long time."
"I know, Cáit. But you forget I can see into people's hearts when I look at them in that way. He loves you."
"I know he does, Marc. Come, we should talk to the conmhaol."
Marc reluctantly followed her over, where she sat and talked to the conmhaol.

That afternoon, after their large noon-day meal, Jade made her way over to where David was talking to Kelly. She had received the blessing of the Conrí, and had happily introduced David to the conmhaol during their luncheon feast. The wolves had gone off the consume the rest of the deer, and were just starting to return, with full tummies. Jade had noticed one of the male's stomach was severely bloated. He was currently flopped down near the fire, not moving other than an occasional flick of the ear.
"David," said Jade, nervously. "I need to talk to you."
He immediately excused himself, and followed Jade away from the clearing. They walked in silence for a while, and ended up by the stream.
"What is it, Canagán?" he asked, quietly.
"I need to explain something to you... About being Conmhaol."
David sat on a rock and gestured for her to continue. Jade paced as she talked.
"Well, you understand how each pack of conmhaol has a patron wolf pack?"
"Aye."
"Well, in each pack there is a one to one ratio... In our pack, there's currently seven wolves, and so there's seven of us in our pack."
"Yes," David indicated that he understood.
"Well... Wolves mate for life."
"That was always my intention, Canagán."
"I know. But when I marry you, you become permanently joined to me, and through me, to the pack..."
David remained silent and allowed her to continue.
"The problem arises, David, because there's already seven conmhaol in my pack."
Jade paused momentarily in her pacing to glance at David's face.
"Either I would have to leave the conmhaol, or you would have to fight for a place, David."
"I understand, Canagán. I would never ask you to leave the conmhaol."
"I couldn't ask you to fight them."
"I would fight to keep you, Canagán," he replied seriously, standing and putting his arms around her.
"You would?"
"Aye. We have already mated, remember? You are mine, and I am yours, until the end of our lives."
"You wouldn't have to fight until the wedding."
"I understand, Canagán. There is another option, you know."
"There is?" Jade looked up at him surprised, and he lightly kissed her.
"Aye. The pack could expand. New pups mean room for new members."
"I don't think that's very likely, David."
"Don't give up hope, Canagán."
Jade smiled at him.
"You inspire me eternally, my love."
David smiled back, and kissed her.

***

The following morning, the wolves had vanished into the woods, mostly invisible, but still near. The group of ten made good time as they travelled - Kat, Marc and David riding, and the conmhaol trotting along beside them. After the first day, though, David dismounted, and trotted along beside Jade for as long as he could. She simply beamed at him, and matched her pace to his until he grew winded, and remounted. Each day of travel, however, his endurance grew, and Jade began to teach him the lore of the conmhaol in the periods when he was riding. Kat rode beside various members of the group, but most often with Erick, always shadowed by Marc.

"What will you do, when this is over, Cáit?" asked Erick on their seventh day together.
David was running for three-quarters of the day, and Jade seemed very impressed with his performance.
"That's hard to say, Conrí," she replied. "If all goes to plan, Avalon will disappear from the known world, and vanish into the mists of time. That will lead to the future that we experienced... Where Avalon, Arthur and Camelot are naught but a myth. Sure, there were some who believed, and some occasionally set off to find Avalon and purportedly did... but it is a myth, in that time. And with Avalon gone, what is left for me? I would not do well, living perpetually out of touch with the outside world..."
"You could become a conmhaol," suggested Erick with a smile.
"You already know that isn't really feasible," Kat replied. "With Avalon hidden, my magic would dissipate too, and I don't have the build to be a warrior."
"You could be a lady of the courts. A herb woman."
"I have no desire to hand out love potions for the rest of my life!" Kat laughed. "Erick... I lived in the future for 11 years. To go from the freedom of being a woman in that time, back to being a courtesan would be a very difficult shift. In time the respect I gain by being a priestess would diminish, and I would be treated the same as every other woman who is not a noble."
"You are a noble, Cáit."
"I have not been at court as one. I do not know that I would cope very well. It's not the life for me."
"So you would be going back, if you had the choice?"
"I don't know, Erick. I had a good life there. But... home is home."
"What would you do if you stayed?"
"Move to Camelot and make Arthur make me an advisor to the crown," she laughed. "Or move up into the mountains and never be seen again."
"And if you left?"
"Live happily ever after in my home, with my library, a roaring fire, more ways of learning than you could possibly imagine... Live there happily until the end of my days, when I would step back through the mirror to Avalon to die."
"I have to admit, that sounds far nicer than having you stuck in the walls of Tintagil or Camelot... And far nicer than never seeing you again, although the effect would be about the same."
"Oh, I would let *you* visit me, Erick," Kat laughed, to lighten the mood.
He merely smiled.
"You do realise..."
"That Jade and David would probably stay?"
"Yes."
"Aye, I realise that. It's hard... He has been my brother for 11 years, and I was just getting to know her when we came back and I remembered everything I already knew. I would miss them both terribly if we were separated."
"Ah, well," sighed Erick. "What will be, will be."
Erick stopped walking, and the party stopped.
"This is the parting point," he said quietly. "We will see you in two weeks, in the long woods."
"Thank you for coming this far."
"Be very careful of the soldiers, Cáit. They are everywhere, and while they haven't yet done anything untoward, I don't think it would take much..."
Kat placed her hand on his, which was resting on her saddle.
"We will be careful, Conrí."
"We will be waiting."

In a matter of moments, the conmhaol were gone, vanished into the woods. After a moment or two of silence, Jade moved to her horse and mounted. Somewhat surprised, David followed suit, and the four gathered closer on the road.
"We are within a week of our destination," said Kat quietly. "Do we continue on until the sun goes down?"
"Yes," replied Jade. "We do not want to rest at a crossroads."
"Agreed," Marc replied immediately. "I say we ride on."
David nodded his concurrence, and Kat nodded in acceptance. The four walked to the North-East road, and walked a short way up. Then Kat kicked her horse, and started to canter down the road. The others immediately followed suit, racing away from the loneliness they all suddenly felt.

From the trees, Erick watched them leave. Once they were out of sight, he howled into the sky. From the depths of the trees, and answering howl was heard, and he headed in that direction, towards the long forest; But not before he heard a single, mournful, answering howl from the direction of the North-East road.