Phoebe sighed and tried to explain better, seeing that Maria wasn't quite getting what she was saying, "I mean we could change the view some people in society today have about tradition, and hopefully get rid of a few of the more ridiculous ones. Normally I'd say we do this with what politcal influence we...well mostly you have. But the king will probably outlaw us now...so yeah...But, We can talk about this later..." she finished quietly, Knowing that Maria would need time to grieve, and that now wasn't exactly the best time to propose the idea.

Maria nodded slightly getting what she was saying but not really hanging on the idea.As she felt the silent tears slips down her cheeks.She ran her hand through her horse's mane her breathing catching as she inhaled smelling the soft scent of hay on the horse's hair.This brought a new wave of pain to her...that was Jason's favorite smell...She shook her head as if clearing it and looked back not seeing the king.She let her mind stay blank as she closed her eyes trusting the horse to follow her friend.

Phoebe sighed and turned onto the road that, when it ended would leave them pretty close to the cabin. "You know...He would want you to be happy right?" she told her friend. She looked behind her, and saw one of the kings messengers trying to catch up with them. "Maria!" she said, to get her attention in case they had to run.

Maria sighed and looked back shooting an arrow at him killing him instantly."We're fine..."She said she had forgotten about the bow and arrows until then.She sat up slightly and looked around with blank eyes....

Phoebe blinked "But what if he had something important to say?!" she asked incredilous that her friend had killed the guy without a second thought. She sighed, "Come on then..." she turned Ardin back around and went farther along the road, knowing it's end wasn't far.

Maria smiled."Oh well."She said laying her head against her horse's again."I don't care he was with the king not the guards..."She said sighing softly.

Phoebe sighed, "Let's just get to the cabin and then you can get some sleep while I get some wood for a fire later and I'll guard the place while you rest?" she asked cautiously, hoping sleep would help her friend.

Maria smiled slightly and kept ridding."Okay...and thanks for always being here for me Phoebe..."she said a gentle smile accomplishing her blank eyes."Well that sounds great but if anything happens don't be afraid to wake me up okay?"She asked her voice gentle hidding the pain that filled her.

(Oh..the pic of the house disappeared on the first page...just FYI.)

Phoebe sighed "It'll get better Maria...Only the guards know where this cabin is and none of them will rat us out...they like me too much!" she joked, hoping to make her smile. She sighed when it didn't work, "Look there's the end of the road...We only have a half an hour or so until we get to the cabin."

Maria nodded and smiled slightly at her."I know...i...i don't know...I just"She studdred out not knowing what to say.

<Sorry that was uber short...haha purple....>

Phoebe smiled slightly "Hey, It's like you said, No matter what happens to you, I'll be right there by your side. If whatever happened was bad I'll be kicking the a** of whoever dared to mess with my friend." she said proudly, striking a funny looking heroic pose.

Maria smiled and then chuckled lightly."Well yeah i did say that..."She said getting a mischievous glint in her eyes.She let the thoughts of Jason slide away knowing his memory wold fade back into her mind but for now she wouldn't let that make her all sad...she knew she could be but she had a place she needed to get to first before she could think any more or at least that's what her thoughts were.She smiled slightly at Phoebe a sad glint mixed with the other emotions but her mood lighting.She saw the cabin and almost sighed in relief wanting to rest for awhile.

Phoebe paused, something was wrong. She motioned for Maria to wait, She got off of Ardin and hesitantly went towards the cabin, Her bow nocked with an arrow and ready to fire at a moments notice. "Hello?" she called out, and when no response came she carefully and quietly opened the door. She checked all the rooms, before looking in the kitchen and letting out a shriek of fright. There on the kitchen floor was a dead mother panther, two cubs laying beside her, barely alive. "Maria!" she called, "Get in here quick!"

Maria got off her horse and waited wondering what could have happened.She ran into the cabin as she heard Phoebe.She held a hand over her mouth in shock seeing the dead mother and almost dead babies."Oh god..."She said and picked up one of the cubs she saw a towel and wrapped it around the little baby girl and handed the other to Phoebe."Here wrap this around the other cub."She said.She went to the cabinet and grabbed two baby bottles.She didn't question why they were there but was greatful.She filled them with water having no milk and let the baby drink from it.She held her gently hoping her body would warm and the water would rehydrate her.

Phoebe sighed "This one's a boy..." she said copying Maria. "Do you want me to ride to the village and get some milk?" she asked, glancing at the mother she added "And it doesn't feel right to just leave her here like this. She must have been desperate to come into a human house, especially with cubs!".

Maria nodded and held the baby softly."That would be great...and let's bury her when the babies are well enough to be left alone for awhile..."She said softly rocking the little baby girl with worry written all over her face.

Phoebe nodded "Do you think you'll be okay with both of them for awhile? I'll leave your bow by the door in case you need them. She said, grabbing Maria's bow and some arrows from her horse and put them next to the door. She quickly led Maria's horse to the small three stall stable out back. She grabbed the saddle and quickly put it on Ardin knowing he wouldn't need the bit and reins. "To town we go boy." she said as he set off towards the town at a walk. She sighed and he gave a horse's laugh and went faster.

Maria nodded and walked into the front home with the baby cubs and the bottles in her arms.She sat on a chair and fed them both at a time seeing as how skinny they were.She let her eyebrows stay knit together as she watched over them protectively.She felt so sorry for them and wanted to do all she could for the baby boy and girl.She saw how they reacted to the water as if it was their life line which saddened her.She gently let her thumb rub the top of their heads soothingly softly her eyes not moving from them an inch...

Phoebe sighed as Ardin stopped in front of the only store in the town. She got off and told him to stay, walking to the door she looked at the nearly empty street in suspicion before pushing the door open on it's rusty hinges, wincing as it squeaked loudly. She looked inside and seeing the milk she quickly grabbed as much as she could carry and seeing no one in the store she decided that it would be better if she just left the money on the counter. She set the correct amount on the counter and left. Securing the glass bottles so that they wouldn't break she got back on Ardin and headed back towards the cabin.

Maria kept them in the comfort of her arms as they sucked the rest of the water out of the bottles.The baby girl snuggled into her arms and so did the boy their bodies shaking violently."Ah...."She whispered softly her eyes filling with tears.She wrapped her arms around them to warm them along with the towels.The kittens began mewling at her and she shushed them and rocked them softly hoping phoebe would get there soon.

(ur Maria. Not Nyx...though that is a sweet name.)

Phoebe sighed and let Ardin go find somewhere to graze, knowing he wouldn't go far. She picked up the milk bottles and walked back inside "Maria?" she asked walking into the kitchen area to put the milk away. She took two bottles and went into the sitting area and smiled slightly at the sight of the cubs "I'm guessing they would appreciate this?" she asked holding up the two bottles questioningly.

Maria looked up and smiled slightly and nodded."Yes I think they would greatly...want to feed the baby boy?"She asked Phoebe gently.She gently took one of the bottles filled with milk and then held up the baby boy to her softly trying not to jolste him to much.She watched as the baby girl meowed scared from the lose of contact from her brother."Shh...It's okay baby girl he's right here."She said softly letting her smell the bottle before she drank it.

Phoebe nodded and carefully took the male cub from Maria, "Hey there handsome....hungry?" she asked, guiding the bottle to his lips, after a hesitant lick and a sniff he latched onto it like a man who just found water after a day in the desert. Phobe chuckled slightly "I guess that's a yes..." she murmured, staring down at the cub affectionately.

Maria gave the baby girl a gentle smile as she pulled away stronger and full.The baby cub snuggled into her arms and let her shaking body warm against Maria's tummy."Rest babygirl you need it..."She whispered softly watching as the cub closed it's eyes in response to her soft tone of voice.

Phoebe grinned as her cub followed its sisters example. "So...we're going to raise them?" she asked Maria hesitantly, no question in her mind as to whether or not she herself would. She didn't really doubt that Maria wouldn't but it was always good to be sure.