The herb witch gave me several more herbs, which I generously purchased for Adolin's headache. I hand the bundle over to him, which he regards with tired eyes.

"What's that?" We had met up at the stable to get ready to head on our way.

I toss it to him, and he stumbles to catch it. "It's something for that hangover. Eat them, it will help."

He takes the dates and stares at them like they are something he found in his mounts hooves.

I give him my flask. "I just filled it. Eat those and keep drinking, you'll start to feel better."

Kaladin looks back at me curiously from the stall were his mount is held.

I glance at him, then continue walking to Lasreal, leaving Adolin to gather his horse.

I call for him in my mind, and his gorgeous black head comes out into the open.

It pauses me in my tracks as I recall the dream I had last night about the first time I saw Lasreal.

~Flashback~

I was so scared of him at first, until Lance crouched down to put a reassuring hand on my shoulder. He was only a boy then, but he sounded like an adult.

"You shouldn't be afraid Lyra. He can only be as brave as you are. He's your soul now, and you have to go claim him, or it will be gone forever."

The black beast had risen out of the ocean at a deadly gallop, changing through waves of white and blue of the water to settle as the darkest color of shadows. He had felt me here, and showed himself.

I nodded bravely, and took a step forward.

The waves crashed against the sandy shore as the beast watched me with his black eyes, but I was no longer afraid.

I glanced back at Lance who was sitting in the sand, watching carefully and silently, like my guardian angel. He would save me if something bad was to happen. I was sure of it.

I swallowed, and continued forward, stopping a few yards in front of the beast.

Can you hear me? I thought as we stared at each other. Lance had told me they could hear your thoughts.

His ears flicked back, then forwards again, and arched his neck out to sniff the air between us.

He flashed his Sharp teeth as he raised his head and called, his eyes still watching my every move.

That was the first time the sound of the water beast hadn't frightened me.

I knew he was calling to me, but I dropped my eyes and raised a hand out, flattening my palm. He would have to come to me.

I closed my eyes as the sound of hooves on wet sand came closer, and hot, salty breath puffed at my hair.

I opened my eyes to see the beast, the name  Lasreal  seeping into my mind. That was his name.

I'm Lyra. I think, staring Into his eyes. If this were another situation, I would have been terrified that a beast was so close to me.

But this is my beast. He wouldn't dare harm me. I force this thought into his mind, and with a toss of his head, he seemed to accept this.

Lasreal lowered himself into the sand in front of me, bowing down at first, and then laying.

Get on, something told me.

I did, but only before Lance screamed my name, telling me no.

That was the first, and last time I trusted a water beast so close to the ocean.

As soon as I was on him, he stood and shook the sand from his mane, and I clutched at it to keep myself from falling.

He took off at an immediate gallop, and I, having never gotten to ride a full grown horse, was getting more and more terrified the faster he went, carrying me away from Lance.

I was terrified, and Lasreal knew that I no longer had control over my emotions, therefore, unable to control him.

I remember when he started edging towards the water. I screamed at him to stop, but it only seemed to fuel his excitement.

His scream mingled with mine as he took a jump into the waves, and I was too terrified to let go.

We were getting closer and closer to going under the surface, when Lances voice cut right through my fear.

"LYRA!" I looked over to him, eyes frantic. If he was worried, then I was in danger. He was half way down the beach, running towards us. "Get off! Let go! Come to me!"

Don't go, a voice dusted the corner of my mind.

I growled, swallowing my fear and dug my heels into Lasreal's sides. No. You, are mine. Turn. NOW.

The beast tossed his head in disagreement, and kept going into the sea, but it's stride slowed to a canter. "I said, NOW!" I scream out loud, punching the beast in the neck. "You will not disobey me!" I mostly did this, tried to change its mind, to show off to Lance. I wanted him to see that I could handle this. That Lasreal wouldn't be too dangerous for me to ride.

Lance splashed into the water towards us at top speed, looking terrified for me. He would try to kill my beast for this. I can't let that happen.

"Please Lasreal." I whisper, leaning into his neck. Water started to lap around my waist now, any farther, and I wouldn't be seen again. "Please Lasreal. Te Diligo." I use the words, 'my love' in Latin, my tongue seeming to speak without my consent. I had learned Latin, but the words came on there own.

Lasreal tossed his head, and did something I didn't expect. He turned.

Lance practically pulled me off of my beast, dragging me away from him like he would burn me. He held me close, and took my cheeks in his hands, looking for any signs of injury. "Are you okay? Answer me Lyra!"

I was smiling. "I am."

His lips turned down in a frown. "You should not be smiling. He should have killed you."

"But Lance, he didn't. I got him to turn around!"

Lance dropped my face and stood, turning his back to me. "You're a reckless fool, Lyra. Do you have any idea what could have happened to you?"

I stayed quiet, my head down, fists clenched, no longer happy for myself. He turned to look at me, running a hand through his wet hair. He looked like he was going to scold me some more, until he saw my face.

I sniffed. "I just wanted to show you that I could control him.. That I could ride him, because I knew you would kill him... My boy.." I looked up with tears in my eyes, and Lance, only twelve, took me into his arms and hugged me.

"I'm sorry. You did great. I knew that if anything were to happen to you, your father would have my head on a spear. He doesn't even know we're out here today."

I looked up at him. "I won't tell. But I caught him now, so I'll make up some story. I won't let the king hurt you Lance, promise." He sighed, and looked passed me at Lasreal, who stood a bit away, watching me with careful intent.

" That's a powerful creature. He could have killed you. He listened to you?"

I nodded, and wiggled away from Lance, too stand in the sand. I looked at Lasreal. Come here.

The beast lowered his head and started to walk.

Lance stiffened, and started to move in front of me, but I held a hand out to stop him.

"It's okay." I said, and watched as Lasreal came to me like a dog to its master. He stayed when he could have gone back into the water, and disappeared forever.

Down, my love.

He lowered himself to the sand, and this time, I knew I could control him, because I wouldn't be afraid.

I stepped over to him, but Lance grabbed my arm to stop me.

"Lyra," He started, eying Lasreal nervously.

I smiled. "It's okay, he's going to take us home. I told him to."

I looked at Lasreal as I said this to lance, and the beast lowered his head in acknowledgment.

And he did take us back home that day, safe and sound. I knew that I could control him.

~End Flashback~

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Sorry for the short chapter, my aunt wanted to me update,so I did!

A picture of Lasreal!

Love you, BioWalker!

A.