What has come before:
An object, a Ter'Angreal, sent Ranma and Company into RandLand (Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time Universe). They are currently in the company of the Wolfbrother Elyas, a pair of Aes'Sedi, their Warders, and a Gleeman. They just stopped to make camp after finding a lone, barely surviving Aiel. Nabiki has been milking the Gleeman Coledare for information. Her information gathering was stopped when Ryouga was hit by cold water in front of everyone. Turning into a wolf.
Nabiki sighed to herself as she settled down into her bed roll. It had been a tiresome explanation of the jusenkyo curses. Ranma had almost run into the hills when Shampoo had changed. Then when Taro had changed and it had nearly come to bloodshed when all the warders drew their swords. Though strangely enough Ranma's transformation drew the strangest reaction. One of the Aes'Sedi paled while the other that had healed the Aiel fainted. She would have to ask Coledare about that tomorrow. The only good thing that had happened since then was that Ryouga had managed to find his way back. It helped that he had been escorted by half of Dapple's Pack.
Stifling a yawn Nabiki drifted off to sleep.
Nabiki sat at her desk counting gold coins. Pausing briefly to look at the coin she saw that it was imprinted with the image of an eye on one side. Looking into a mirror she held up the coin. Three identical golden eyes stared back at her. Smiling to herself she looked back at he coin and flipped it over. On the other side a pinwheel was imprinted. Setting it on her desk she gave it a backspin. She smiled again as she watched the pinwheel spin. Then catching the coin before it could roll off she set it on a neat stack to her right. The stack was guarded by a plush toy wolf with a yellow scarf. Nabiki gave the guard a slight pat on the head then moved a glass bead on her abacus.
[It is dangerous here young one.]
Turning around Nabiki saw Dapple was sitting behind her.
"Dangerous how? This is home."
[It is more than it seams. It is in this Place where all things are. This is were the Lost One became able to change.]
"Lost One? Oh Ryouga. No, he got that from Jusenkyo."
[He got to Jusenkyo from here.]
"That silly you can't take a step and be at ..."Nabiki trailed of as she realized she was now at Jusenkyo. Backing carefully away from the water took a firm hold of Dapple.
[Now you see. There is much danger here.]
"This is a dream, yes?"
[Like dream only real. Go now.] With that Dapple bit lightly into Nabiki's hand.
Nabiki woke with a start. She could still feel the pain from were Dapple had bitten her and instinctively held the hurt area. A wetness greeted her and Nabiki could smell blood. Looking at her hand closely Nabiki could see an array of slight punctures to her skin in the shape of a bite. Nabiki gulped as her throat went dry.
Nabiki took a few deep breaths to calm herself. If Dapple hadn't pulled her out of the dream anything could have happened. Thinking of Dapple made Nabiki remember her first conversation with her. It was just after Elyas had explained to her what she was.
"So you have accepted it then."
"The advantages seem to outweigh the disadvantages. How did you know?"
"With acceptance the changes begin, and your eyes are already beginning to change. Now if you will excuse me Dapple would like to speak to you privately. Continue on over that ridge and you will see her." Turning Elyas left Nabiki to go on her own.
Grinding her teeth in frustration Nabiki growled at the figure of the retreating man. Turn towards the ridge she stomped off. If Elyas wouldn't answer her questions Dapple would. Cresting the ridge Nabiki found Dapple sitting there. If she didn't know better Nabiki would have sworn she was smiling. "What are you looking at?"
[You sister.] Looking behind Nabiki at the tinker camp Dapple then sent [Long Tooth can be frustrating at times but that is who he is. Come, there is much we have to discuss.] With that Dapple left down the other side of the ridge.
At the beginning the conversation was mostly small talk. When Nabiki had managed to gain control and was not broadcasting to the immediate country side. Dapple changed the subject.
[So which one is your mate?]
Nani? [What, I don't currently have one.]
[You're joking. Which one is it you can tell me.]
[Hey!] a small smile crept on to Nabiki's face. [If your so interested why don't you tell me about your mate?]
Dapple immediately took on a depressed posture. [He.. it wont happen.]
[Sorry, you want to talk about it?]
[He just won't see me that way. I care for him deeply but... I just don't know what he wants in a female. Sometimes I just wish I hadn't met him then I wouldn't be like this.]
[Now now maybe I could help? Talk to him discreetly. Find out how he feels? Give him a push in the right direction if you know what I mean?]
[Could you?]
[Sure I do this all the time back home. For a fee.]
[Fee? Huh?]
[Don't worry you'll just owe me a favor. So who is he?]
[Long Tooth.]
Nabiki facefaulted. Elyas? No wonder she was having so much trouble. This may take a little longer than I thought.
Who would have thought a wolf in love with a human. Nabiki's eyes suddenly got as big as saucers. Wolf, Human, Love, Jusenkyo. [Dapple. Dapple. Dapple!] Damn!
Nabiki went to find Dr. Tofu. She was to high strung to fall back to sleep now and if she didn't Dapple might do something she could come to regret.
Nabiki found Dr. Tofu tending over his still unconscious patient. "Dr. Tofu?"
"Yes Nabiki what can I do for..." Dr. Tofu's eyes widened in shock when he saw Nabiki. Within seconds he was at her side, a hand gently pressed against her forehead. "Hmm.. no fever he said to himself."
Damn! Nabiki cursed to herself. She forgot her sunglasses. "Umm? I'm Ok Dr. Tofu I just had a disturbing dream and couldn't get back to sleep. Could you, maybe use a pressure point or something to help me get back to sleep?"
"Would you like to talk about it Nabiki? I am your doctor and I'm here to help." Dr. Tofu asked as he took Nabiki's hand and led her back to her bed.
"Maybe later Dr. I feel I need the rest more right now. Besides the dream wasn't a nightmare." Nabiki said as she laid down in her bedroll.
"Very well but if you continue having trouble sleeping let me know."
"Yes doctor." Nabiki sighed.
Dr. Tofu nodded then pressed a point on Nabiki's neck. Instantly darkness came to Nabiki. Dr. Tofu then got up to get some medical supplies. Returning a few minutes later he began to clean the wound he found on Nabiki's hand when he led her back to bed. Inspecting it closely he realized that it was a bite. Also he noted that whatever had bitten her had not done any serious damage as only the skin was pieced and there was no tearing of the flesh. Finishing his work he sighed and returned to watching over their new guest. He would have to discuss the bite with Nabiki later.
Nabiki found herself in the dream world again. She was at there campsite. Their equipment was around her and had an ethereal quality about it. A misty fog rolled by and she was at Jusenkyo. Looking around the pools she soon saw a naked woman standing in one of the pools leaning on a bamboo pole.
The woman was taller than her, maybe Kasumi's height. She appeared to be in her early thirties. Had a silver white mane with black highlights. As Nabiki approached, the woman turned toward her and she saw her eyes where yellow.
Nabiki sighed she was too late.
[How do you do it?] Dapple sent.
[Do what?]
[Stand.]
Nabiki didn't know if she should laugh or cry at the situation her friend was in. One thing was for sure. She had a lot to teach Dapple, but first she had to get her out of the Nyanniichuan.
[Lets start with crawling.]
End Part 3a
Author's notes:
I will be giving Nabiki a Wolf Name soon.