<strong>Cecily Cochran</strong><br/><br/>The fear and worry she’d had when she first made it back state side had waned some, upon seeing Dawn. Though it had been replaced by a different sort of concern; Cecily knew what it meant to feel as Dawn did. She also knew her friend’s spirit, knew what she was inside, and knew what it would mean if they kept her in a cage such as this. Cecily herself had power, she knew her power, and knew that Dawn had it too. Only Dawn had more, even Cecily’s father would fear her … loathe her as well, but fear her. And yet, Dawn seemed to not even know or realize such a thing.<br/><br/>Dawn began to wonder more and more, just what they had told her friend, if anything at all. She knew even now others watched her, she’d been warned before walking up. But yet watching Dawn, protecting her, and telling her anything more than what she needed to know were completely differently things.<br/><br/>Did they listen? Cecily did, enough so to hear the gentle tones in Dawn’s voice change at the mention of stubborn men. For now, it managed to earn the pretty blond a raised eyebrow from Cecily. Nothing more than that for the time being, but Cecily would most certainly question Dawn further when she could.<br/><br/><em>"Mmhm Thor..."<br/><br/>"Well if you will join me Ce I say we go inside and I give the men hell and we get out of the wet clothes. And maybe I'll invite the guard that looks like Thor in so we can lick him all over after...."</em><br/><br/>The giggle was only half hearted, though her hug had been all in. She didn’t care if she got wet; all that matter is the one constant in her life since running from her father had been Dawn and Dawn was whole. There might be issues, of course there were some huge issues, but Dawn was there and cracking jokes … that was worth something huge to Cecily.<br/><br/>She knew he approached even before the bushes rustled, though her outward appearance gave no hint that she knew it. They had told her, the little group of finches in the bushes had shown her he was coming even before he did. As many of her ilk that guarded Dawn, double that many of other creatures watched after Cecily. It didn’t matter where she went, those near would come closer. It was their nature, just as finding them was hers.<br/><br/>She did stiffen, however, when he walked out. It had been easy to see Dawn, to imagine her with glimmering golden skin and other Pure attributes. But to see another, to have one so close, it made her edgy. She couldn’t help the irrational fear she had to battle, or the defensive stance her feet slid into when she saw him.<br/><br/>She didn’t know him, but she knew his kind. Just seeing him brought memories, some good and some bad. Those memories were a threat to what she’d created, who she’d become, even more so than Dawn was. Because those memories would drive her back, force her to be what she was … to accept it, to become it.<br/><em><br/>"We are glad your friend joined you my Lady, you seem happier for it."</em><br/><br/>She wanted to run, but she couldn’t. Knowing she couldn’t only had her muscles tensing, though she kept her face as no committal as could be. The birds didn’t like it, neither did the nearest of the large animals. She could feel their tension too and even hear it in the impatient flap of wings from the bushes.<br/><em><br/>"I am, she's been a dear friend for many years. Thank you.."<br/></em><br/>He was attractive, hell they were all attractive. She tried to focus on that, focus on what she saw and not what she remembered or what she felt. She was independent and safe; no one could take that away from her … she just needed to keep reminding herself that; to keep reminding herself that this was about the best friend she’d ever known.<br/><em><br/>"Jayient, or simply Jay. We only met just before the plane trip so do not feel guilty for forgetting."<br/><br/>"Ready Ce darling?"</em><br/><br/>She couldn’t help but smile at that, smile at her friend and fight off the emotions. She longed for the freedom she’d found in Africa, longed for the company of the great beast that others had feared. But, she fell instep with Dawn and slid her hand into her friends. The touch would appear innocent to whoever looked, but the gentle squeeze and grin as Cecily spoke wasn’t at all. In her mind she heard Dawn’s voice.<em>"Want to help me deal with mine? Stubborn men that is." </em><br/><br/>One thing her father had taught her was to never back down from a fight. Even if the fight came in the form of two grown women acting like troublesome teenagers.<br/><br/>“Of course, whenever you are.”