the trap is set

[Queen Susan the Gentle]

Susan woke against Caspian's chest as she had for the past few nights. She kissed him lightly, not enough to wake her sleeping prince, then changed and went outside. Some of the workers were already awake and working hard as if none of them noticed what she noticed. The sky was filled with clouds, just like on a day before a heavy rain. The morning sun cast its light over them making them red and orange and every shade inbetween. She knew there was some childish poem about the color of the clouds and the sea, but she was too distracted by its beauty to care. Somehow, scattered across the sky birds drifted gracefuly across the skyline.

But when she noticed the birds then the trouble started. A single bird of prey, a pitch black falcon, dove at her face with its talons outstretched. She ducked, but could not avoid it taking some of her hair. Again and again it came, clawing and tearing at any piece of unprotected flesh it could find. After a few eternal moments of pain she fell to her knees screaming for Caspian. But not more than a heartbeat later the chaos stopped.

When she looked around she saw no sign of her attacker, only the faces of the confused and afraid sailors. When she looked at herself her clothes and skin had repaired itself leaving no marks on her body. It was as if the bird had never come.

Just after she had enough time to look at herself the world had become engulfed in darkness. There was no more sky, not much more sea, and thankfuly, no more birds.

[King Caspian X]

Caspian leapt up from the bed and looked for Susan, his heart pounding. "Susan!" he called for her. He knew that he heard his name, and he knew that he heard her voice calling it. The man ran out the door with his sword. He still hadn't changed yet, and looked like a child that was going to go bash the monster in the closet. The King found her on the deck and shook her shoulder. "Susan!" he said again, worry in his voice. "What happened?"

[High King Peter]

Peter walked out of his cabin, his mouth dry as he stared out the isle. He gripped the rails with both hands, trying to keep himself from shaking. He was in it for certain if the fake Aslan knew he had told. And then he would be no more....a voice hissed in his head, telling him to hurry the hell up. It was an impatient voice, one that he recognized as Lamont's. Shut up, he told it, fighting back the urge to obey the sick owner. His head snapped up when he heard Susan scream. He left the rails and bounded for her. He scowled at Caspian, not quite forgiving him for yesterday. "Su? What happened?"

[Lamont]

The boy waited far from the shore where he could see the ship drifting towards them. When it was near enough that he could carry his voice from his hiding place to them he let loose a cry identical to a falcons. This island can toy with a person's mind, maybe even drive them insane to the point of death. Fear has a way of doing that to people. He knew just by the falcon's screech Susan would duck, maybe even cry, with fear. Caspian would try to comfort her. When he dose then the boy's power would interfere.

"bring her to me Peter," he thought to his servant "the land is much safer then these waters."

[Queen Susan the Gentle]

Susan heard the bird's cry and threw herself into Caspian's arms for both comfort and protection, "I was attacked by a falcon I keep seeing in my dreams. He came out of nowhere and tore me apart and then dissapeared. No one helped me and the others just stared like he was never here and that I'm just crazy. I know I saw it and I know what I felt." All this she said in a single terrified breath. She didn't know if the bird was actualy above her or if she was just imagining things. She prayed it was the second option.

[King Caspian X]

Caspian wrapped his arms around her lovingly and sat down beside her on the deck. "It's gone now." he said. "I promise." The King rocked back and forth as the boat swayed. They were aproaching the land now. His bare back was to Peter and his attention on Susan, little did he know what was going to happen next. Caspian just sat there, holding her as they sailed towards a doom. He had so many questions, but he knew better than to ask her when she was frightend.

[High King Peter]

Peter scowled as she spoke. His eyes narrowed as he folded his arms over his chest, not use to being ignored. Then again Lamont was in his head. He was wandering if these were his feelings, not Peter's, when his voice his in his head again. His rght hand twitched towards his sword. No idiot! the voice snarled. What the hell are you doing? Peter took a deep breath. His eyes glazed over. "Lets get onto land," he told them, his voice a little off today. "Its safer,"

[Lamont]

Lamont could almost laugh seeing how predictable they were. This task was easier than he could have ever hoped for and he wondered how he had ever thought it would be complicated. His cousin could be manipulated and distracted whenever he chose. All it took was a simple falcon's cry. The day's of Caspian's suffering were very soon.

But then there was a single flaw in Lamont's mind. In this chase he wanted a thrill. An experience that would allow him to use his new sword for a while. He let his grip over Peter's mind slide, he could always restore it if he needed, but kept it to a certain level so the boy could hear his orders.

"Separate them somehow," He ordered. "I don't care how it's done. The girl comes to the North-east, and the boy goes south. Any objections and Lyric will be no more."

[Queen Susan the Gentle]

Susan said nothing enjoying the feeling Caspian gave her. It almost surprised her at how even in the darkest of times he could always find some way to pull her back to sanity. But when Peter spoke it started her mind reeling.

"Land," She thought, "A monster can't have a fortress in the sea. Lucy must be somewhere on land. And they could go there now and find her, it would only take a few hours maybe.And then she'll be safe and they could go home where no monster could hurt her again."

"The choise isn't mine to make alone." She said, "Where do you think we should go?"

[King Caspian X]

Caspian became uneasy, and felt as if he was being watched by something. Fear of losing Susan swept over him again. "I don't know. I go where you go." he said to her, and kissed her forehead. A mixture of love and worry was the expression on his face. "What do you think we should do?" the man combed his fingers through her hair softly.

[High King Peter]

Peter paled slightly at the mention of Lyric. He started to shake a bit. His mouth went dry for a moment. "Well I don't care what you think Caspian," he croaked. He had a haunted look in his eyes. "Remember who we're here for. Lucy." and Lyric, he said that part in his mind and his eyes closed. He slowly opened them and gently took Susan's wrist. "Susan and I will go north east. You'll go south. We'll meet back here once we found her," there was something in his voice that didn't sound right. It was a few inches higher than it should be. He cleared his throat.

[Syria De'more]

Syria shielded her eyes from the sun as she let her gaze fall on the ship. She gave a side ways glance at Lamont before looking away. "I don't see why I had to come my lord," she protested for the hundreth time. She was nervously playing with a few strands of her golden blonde hair. Her eyes rested on a tree and she tensed, already knowing what was going to come: a slap and a lecture. "In all truth my lord, I don't....want...to..." she quickly shook her head, snapping it up to gaze at him with fear. "I-its not that I-" Syria gave up and fell silent. She was tensed, waiting for the two things she dreaded the most to come. She didn't want to leave either. For he was her only way out.

[Lamont]

"Be quiet girl," Lamont hissed. He had his plans for the girl, though he wouldnt use them just yet. He needed to wait just a little longer, so they can be truly seperated. If Caspian is too near he will hear him and destory his plan. "I didn't ask what you wanted. You know why your here."

[Queen Susan the Gentle]

Susan hseitated to step away from Caspian as Peter spoke. She looked into his eyes and saw they were the same, he was his own person. But then, why would they would they seperate.

"If this monster is waiting for us then we need to be together.We'll all just follow the shoreline and hope we see something. I doubt we'll get around the entire island without seeing something." It was a sugestion, but nothing more. Here she would do nothing without Caspian's aproval. After all he did outrank her, even if that wasn't the reason.

[King Caspian X]

"No, I'll go with Susan, and you can take the southern route." the man protested, jumping up to stand by her and bring her closer to him. "If you want to separate anyway. But I agree with Su, we should all stay together. Especially you Pete. Not to offend you or anything, but if Lamont is here, he could take control of you at whenever he wanted and take you prisoner. It will be hard enough rescueing Lucy right now, and that's what we need to focus on." Caspian thought for a moment. "What's the reason that you want to split up anyway?" he asked. It just didn't make any sense to him. "If we do that then we are only aiding the ones who hunt us to our deaths. We won't flee and scatter from one another like frightend deer."