The hair was taken from the vial and placed upon the alter. Sha'uri drew the symbol over the item and chanted the prayer, involking the rights of ressurection and then watched as the single piece of hair began to shift, morph, grow and mold itself back into the form it had once been a part of.

It had been a few days since Sabre was gone. Sha'uri had made excuses for the cat's disappearance, but she never let anyone know the truth. They didn't need to know. She wondered at the turn of things, but tried not to let any of it bother her. Sabre would be agian soon, as she watched the growing blob get bigger and change form into that of a small ...

"Kitten? Oh no... I knew I should've cleaned that pillow more often...."

The look on her face was classic as the form took the shape of Sabre, but not the grown up one. How would she explain THIS one? It was Sabre the kitten once again. She stared in shock as the kitten began to breathe, mewling as sweet as could be. Then Sha'uri began to laugh, just laugh as she picked up the little kitten, wrapped her up in a little blanket and conjured up a warm bottle of milk in her hand. She nuzzled the kitten's mouth with the nipple until Sabre took to it, eating contentedly while Sha'uri sat down on a bench, smiling softly at the kitten.

"Well, maybe this time I can teach you better, eh?"

Purrrrrr.....

She had fairly convinced herself ... and was telling Sabre this outloud ...

"..that your whole demeanor was either a case of being weened too soon or else a screw loose in the wiring of your brain... or both."

All she knew was that Sabre was more content then Sha'uri had ever felt her be. Concentrated on the kitten as she was, it was no surprise that she was surprised at Bri's entrance, door somewhat banging against the wall as it was thrust open. Shock and then guilt was written all over her face as she lamely stuttered.

"Oh..I... well, see... it's just that.. I..."

She sighed and shifted her gaze back down to the kitten, who was unaffected by the sudden entrance or the stuttering bafoon holding her.

"I messed up."

That much she felt was true as she patted a spot next to her on the bench.

"Come say hello to Sabre two."

Nods. yes, she knew she'd have to fess up to some things... as little as possible.

"Yeah, I had to ressurect her so ... this is the second of nine lives being used? I got hold of one of her kitten hairs instead of a more recent one... thus a kitten again."

She grinned a bit and patted the seat next to her, softly spoke.

"Come hold her?"

Sabre kept purring, eyes closed and sucking on the nipple.... she was so little, so cute. She wondered where Tina was during all this, thinking she would get a kick out of seeing the little kitten. But then... how would she explain this to her? It would be easier then telling Bri the whole darn truth.

If anyone had a reason to be annoyed...

Large Sapphires gazed up at him with just a brief flash of an Emerald hue wrapped up with annoyance? ... anger?... Sapphires settled back with wide eyed hurt.

"Well, I guess I deserve that. " Sarcasm dripped as she quipped shortly. "I could ask you the same. You probably know more then I do."

She sighed, releasing some of that anger, allowing those gentle tones to return with sincerity.

"Look, all I know is Sabre was hurt the other night, bad enough... though Lyndra took care of that part, bless her heart for trying. She was so frantic. But, I suppose the tainted blood Sabre took in was what cursed the whole situation. I couldn't do anything then. So, I did what I could at the time. I didn't want to disturb you, knowing you were entertaining a guest. It seemed it was just bad karma.. bad luck that lead to these events....that is, until just before she left."

She paused briefly, remembering that shocked sensation. He'd been so innocent, so undeserving of the treatment that woman had given him.

"I know you were hurt too. I heard what she said. She was so wrong for that. You didn't deserve that, neither did I. And the last person that called me a witch was Kairee. Corellon showed me as much some time ago. I've never done anything to either one of those women yet they seem to have this vendetta against me... and you. Oh yes, Corellon showed me some things that have been said. I doubt that whatever reason this woman gave for being here was the truth. It was most likely a ruse. I've never really met that woman, yet she acts as if she knows me... So now you tell me... what's going on."

For the third time, she indicated a spot next to her for him to sit, gaze shifted briefly to the bench and back to him, her eyes tainted with a mist of tears.

He talked, She listened.

Her legs shifted closer so that he could keep petting Sabre, though he seemed distracted from that now as he kept staring into the flame of the nearby candle.


"I planned on finding Sabre and making certain all was well. I could have removed the taint of vampirism. ...but you have to admit, Sabre was on the cusp of going feral."


She was in agreement as a thought occured to her.

"Yeah, I don't know why she was going feral but something was wrong with her and had been. It wasn't rabbies because I've been checking her for that. Something affected her over time and I don't know if it was something to do with Erique or not. I should scan her and see if she's got any anomolies growing in her brain. That is something I never thought to check for.... brain tumor. Either that or a chemical inbalance. I'm kind of glad I made the mistake of getting a kitten hair. Now I've got time to find out what went wrong and fix it."

It was her turn to stare into the flames, watching it flicker on its own for a few moments. She absentmindedly began to Will it to move to her whim, causing the flame to take on a more humanoid shape, dancing circles upon the candle surface and wiggling its bum end and waving sweetly at Briari and Sha'uri. She grinned at her own stupidity.

"Nobody wants to be alone, Bri. I know I don't. I think I'm even afraid of it and I strive to be around people and part of their lives. I mean, isn't that why we exist? To be a part of each other? Yet fate is dealing me this card to be alone in some respects and I have to accept it. You don't. That woman isn't the only fish in the sea. There are far better ones then that and I would see you happy with someone that will treat you right. Besides, I don't understand what's in your existance dictating you have to be alone. Is it your unacceptance of people's quirks? Everyone has their quirks good and bad. Even you. It matters which ones you keep looking at. So, I'll just say I'm sorry.. I'm sorry if you find me so annoying."

She had spoken calmly, gentle tones were used and in no way were they harsh. She shifted her gaze to him, seriously needing to understand where that annoyance in his voice, when he first came in, came from.

"Am I one of those so annoying, Bri, that you would contemplate being alone?"

That brought a gentle smile to her lips as she shyly leaned closer, hesitating... leaned in some more... hesitated again... and meant to kiss his cheek. Her aim was about two inches off, down and to to the side by a degree of 45 to the original aim. Sapphire hues twinkled with mirth gazing into his.

"I love you, too, Bri."