“Do you fight here?” he asked offering another bite.


    “No, Master Damien,” I answered confused.


    “Why did Christof teach you to hold a sword then?” he asked.


    I blushed and wasn’t sure why Christof would have shared this with Master Damien. “I was just curious


    about what you all do. I told him I didn’t know how to use a sword and he showed me a little. I had to


    use a branch, because his sword was too heavy to pick up.”


    “Here, use this stick. Show me what you learned,” Master Damienmanded.


    Master Damien fed me throughout, but made our lunch into a training session. It was fun like Christof


    and I used to have. Heughed heartily at my approximation of a Warrior, but helped me get a little


    better at the fundamentals.


    At one point he handed me the bowl and told me to feed myself while I watched him. I ate heartily and


    watched him demonstrate some of their moves. He made a really impressive site.


    When Lunch was over he walked me back to thepound along the sheltered trail. I was absolutely


    stunned when he reached down and took my hand. Suddenly he stopped and looked down at me. His


    other hand cupped my face in a gentle gesture.


    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    “We were very unhappy when you were in the vige, Ciara. It bothered us a great deal, more than we


    thought it would,” he told me Looking ufortable.


    “It was awful, Master Damien. I won’t do that again. I promise I wasn’t trying to escape,” I pleaded my


    case again.


    Master Damien chuckled softly and pressed our Lips together. It wasn’t a short peck, which I had


    expected. He nibbled my bottom Lip and teased my mouth open with his tongue. My legs felt weak as


    he expertly kissed me senseless in the middle of the forest. Despite my shock, I responded in kind.


    Breaking the kiss he pulled my ear to his mouth and breathed heavy for a moment, as though


    composing his thoughts. “We miss this,” he said finally, “when you are not here. This is important to


    us.”


    ninjanovel


    I was confused as he hugged me close. Master Damien had nevere into the forest with me, only


    Master Christof had. They were bonded now, though, I suddenly realized. Whatever that strange


    attachment was, it must affect all of them.


    Hugging Master Damien, I whispered words of love to him. It was what I would have done with Christof.


    He responded and it floored me.


    “So soft, so sweet, and so curious,” he murmured into my ear, “you are so important to us. You must


    not leave us like that again.”


    It was a generous sentiment; a personal and heartfelt plea. I never expected to hear something like that


    from Master Damien. Pulling back I looked deeply into his eyes and he smiled ruffling my hair.


    “Come,” hemanded, back in the no nonsense tone I anticipated, “you must get back, so I can be


    on time to my post.”


    In the afternoon I sat with Rose and Fuji on the beach. There was a new grate that rose above the


    water line protecting the inlet. Despite the added barrier, a chain was attached to my cor.


    The new Keepers informed me I could swim all the way to the grate, but no farther. My lead was


    attached to a metal ring sunk into the sand right by the water line. When I sat on the beach it kind of


    made me a trip hazard.


    I didn’t really care about the chain, though. The water scared me; I didn’t want to go into it today. I told


    Rose that and she looked concerned.


    “Your Warriors will be upset to know you fear something,” she said seriously. “They do not wish us to


    be fearful creatures. They like us to have a little bit of attitude, even if it means asional punishment.


    They will not be happy if they know you fear water now.”


    I nodded to her and quickly changed the subject. “What happened to the old Keepers?” I asked Rose


    instead.


    “When you didn’t surface at the bell one of them went to look for you.