Patty
      Patty was pleased with how quickly the packing and planning for the
evacuation had gone so far.  Things had slowed down a little now that night
had fallen and they were working with only emergency lights to guide them.
The plan was two-fold.  Since the eventual hope would be to return to the
Purple Tower once all this was over there was no need to take everything with
them.  But because their location was now known, it was highly probable that
looters and vandals would move in once they had gone.
      So, the larger pieces of equipment, most of the books from the library,
instruments, artworks that were completed or in progress had been moved down
to the catacombs under the stage.  Kaitlyn and Vree had worked together to
sheild their things as best they could.  Hopefully, the creepiness of the
catacombs themselves would deter any would-be looters.  Ordinary visitors to
the catacombs wouldn't be able to find their way, but a determined Aes Sedai
who had some time to spend wouldn't be too long in finding their stash.
      Patty tried not to think too long on that.  When it came down too it,
most of the stuff they had hidden down under the stage had no real value
except to their owners.  But that was exactly the reason someone might want to
get in and destroy all they had left behind.
      The second part of the plan was to have every member of the Tower pack
any signifigant personal items and clothing they would need to take with them.
Patty instructed the Nila and Stude to pack as if preparing for a camping
trip.  No electrical appliances or anything along those lines.  It was still
uncertain where they would end up and they couldn't count on having
electricity.  Also, everyone was instructed to bring along no more than they
could personally carry.  Everyone had to pull their own weight, literally.
The couldn't be slowed down by curling irons or portable TVs.
      Patty had called for everyone who was part of the evacuation to meet in
the kitchen at 8:00.  Since Jen and Liagala, Eddie, Davidson, Kat and Srendy
were among the missing, she assumed that they had gone off on the second
rescue mission.  She couldn't spare the time to worry about those folks.  They
could take care of themselves, and her job now, was to get everyone else to
safety.
      Kaitlyn and Vree had finished in the catacombs and were packing as Patty
addressed those assembled.  "Alright ladies and gentlemen, we're almost on our
way.  I know that everything has been happening very fast and a lot of scary
things have been going on, but if we stick together we can get through this."
Patty spoke quietly to the group.  Loud words weren't necessary; people were
tense enough as it was...no need to startle anyone into a heart attack.
      "We're heading out tonight.  Hopefully, with the seige broken they won't
have too many people watching us, but we won't count on that.  We're going to
head out on foot tonight.  We're heading out of Tar Valon, up into the hills."
Patty heard one of the girls murmer "Aybara National Park."
      "No, not there."  Much as Patty wished they could go there.  There was a
small wolf pack that lived and was protected there.  That was Moonlight
Dancing's pack, in fact.  "If we go to government controlled camp grounds,
they'd arrest us in no time for littering or some other nonsense.  And we're
going to avoid contact with the authorities, not let them know we're there.
No, we've got to break our own trail, so to speak."
      "Tonight we're heading up to that new housing project.  Most of the
homes there haven't been finished.  We'll have some shelter and a place to
regroup.  Then" , she shrugged, "we'll go from there."
      By this time Kait and Vree had arrived prepared to go.  They knew the
plan and Kait began to divide the groups into three teams.  Each would leave
the Purple Tower from a different direction with the intention of meeting up
at the housing project by midnight.


Jami
   Jami looked about her. I just got here, and then...we leave.....where? Alas
oh well, she stared outside of the window to see cars on fire.....buildings
with rotting paint....a very yucky White Tower...love the view.
   She hated Leo anyways (sorry for all those adorning fans of he in Titanic,
i mean no offence)....and there wasn't much to pack, since she was an orphan
with amnesia. No past....today is really yesterday's tomorrow..the future's
blight as well. Le sigh...what else is new? She packed the few clothes she
had, and the only other thing that mattered.....a bag of Skittles. 
    It all held in one bag, and that was cool. The other Studes were all cool
like that.......looking at herself she found a fool with no hope. They gave
her sympathetic looks because of her situation...she wished she could blast
their perfect selves into Shayol Ghul....she didn't need pity.She needed
friends, true ones...not some idiots that said "Ok sure"...no such luck most
likely........I wish I could run from all this bloody......from this place.
from this existence....wish I could......she wondered where they kept some
pills. Naw, with my luck, there'll  actually be an after-life worse than this.


Patty
      Patty knew why they had to walk.  It made sense when they came up with
this plan originally.  Walking lets you sneak into small spaces where you
couldn't take a car.  Walking people could split up and be harder to follow.
Walking...was a pain in the ass.  Or, a pain in the calf to be more precise.
      Patty absently rubbed her aching calfs as she sat in the unfinished bay
window and looked once again for the missing group.  They weren't technically
*missing*, just late.  Patty hoped that their lateness had more to do with
sore legs walking uphill than anything else.  That, she could certainly
understand.
      The two groups that had already assmebled in the unfinished house were
subdued.  Some of the Nila and Stude had found themselves some floor space and
crashed for a nap.  Patty envied them that.  She couldn't recall the last
decent night of sleep she'd had.
      Movement outside caught her eye.  It was Moonlight Dancing returning
from patrol around the empty housing project.  Patty greeted her with a
sending of gratitude and love.  She was amazed at just how important the wolf
had become to her in the short time she'd known her.  And now, she couldn't
see how she could get along without her furry friend.
      ~~The last of your Pack approaches, Sister~~ Moonlight Dancing sent
back.  Patty let out the breath she hadn't realized she was holding.  "Great!"
She moved out of the window and limped over to the door to watch for the last
group.  Soon Kailtyn came into sight with a weary group of people following
behind her.  Kaitlyn didn't seem fazed by the walk at all; but then, she was
in better shape than most people.  Two of the Nila were supporting a Stude as
they made their way up the front walk.
      "What happened?"  Patty asked with some concern.
      "Twisted ankle.  Don't worry, she's fine.  No Trollocs, Whitecloaks or
Red Ajah.  Just an ordinary twisted ankle."  Kait gave Patty a swift hug as
she entered the house, then directed the placement of the injured Stude.
After making sure the girl was resting comfortably Kait turned to Patty.  "Are
we all here?"
      Patty nodded.  "Yes, Vree's group got here shortly after me.  We were
just waiting for you to arrive."
      Kait tilted a look at Patty.  "Okay, so what's the plan?"


Jen
      "Aw, screw it," Jen muttered. "Liagala, you can take my car. I'm going to
help everyone pack. If that woolheaded sheep of a man wants to go kill
himself, let him go right flaming on ahead." 
      She threw down her jacket and left it on the floor in the foyer and went
to go look for Patty. The Studio was empty. Apparently all the Nila and Stude
had gone to go pack. Jen decided to do the same. She went up the stairs to her
room. At one point there had been a curtain dividing the walls, the sort you
see in schools--hence its placement. The room was actually two (one smaller
than the other) that had been opened into one ... with Air, she took all of
her stuff, everything that mattered to her, and scattered it into the larger
side; bed included. She left a few meager items and a crappy old couch on the
other side. With one final burst of anger, she slammed the divider (manually)
across the room. 
      From her desk, though, a Polaroid that had been snapped at her wedding
caught her eye. It was hanging from the computer monitor with a piece of
Scotch tape. She wished she could rip it apart with her bare hands, but
Polaroids don't tear. They're virtually indestructable. Cursing loudly and
profanely at whoever invented Polaroids, she tore the photo piece by piece
with mental knives. And then began to burn it with the (not even) ounce of
strength she had in Fire. For good measure, she cursed some more, words she
never even thought she'd hear herself say ... Lia, sure, but not herself. 
      She wanted to burn it all, but she didn't have the strength for that.
She wanted to smash it all, but the windows were made of shatter-resistant
glass, so there was no hope in that. She lifted the window open and craned her
neck out of it, feeling the soft drizzle on her head. It was cleansing, so
cleansing and peaceful ... Rain. Yes, rain would most certainly do it. 
      Water and Air had been her strong suits--Air mostly, but plenty of
Water. She created a whirlwind outside, the sort that zipped around whatever
was in its path and landed it somewhere else. The sort that threw cars into
ditches. It rained, the clouds overhead darkening and the soft drizzle
becoming a downpour, with fat wet drops that would turn the earth to mud.
Lightning she could not do; there was too much Fire involved in that, but this
would be an oh-so-delicious storm.   -------- (Jami)
 Jami looked about the new place...wasn't as nice, but, alas oh well. She
started to unpack her lil bag, when she felt a light breeze. A very stinky
light breeze. She turned around, and saw a....er, portly Stude, that had
always been rather mean to her, because she was rich, and Jami wasn't.
Shrugging, she went back to packing. Then she felt that darned breeze again.
What is that? Suddenly, it hit her. That girl has some major gas! She was
about to be nice...just leave the room.....when suddenly, it was like the
whole air of the room was contaminated. GROSS! Did this chic eat beans? She
kicked herself mentally for saying that, and started to open the door...when
the girl started to talk.
    "HEY YOU! You forgot to unpack," The girl snorted. "Oh, I'm sorry! That's
all you have....I wonder why we don't just keep you in the kitchen, like a
dog...wait...a dog looks better..."
    Jami tried to ignore that....she had her hand on the doorknob...I'm better
than that...
   "At least I don't have the kind of odor that kills roaches," She muttered.
Opening the door, she felt clean, good air. Suddenly, a huge hand threw her
back inside, and locked the room. NO! I will suffocate...
    "What did you say?" The chic was getting pretty annoying. 
    "Didn't you hear?" Jami hissed. "Or were you letting out another atomic
bomb?" A hand slapped her face. I'm better than...
    She grabbed the arm (that contained more hair than a man's..), and pulled
it to the back of the gir, and started to crack the girl's fingers and wrist.
    "STOP THAT!" The girl obviously wasn't a regular at cracking. 
    "Sure," Jami ran out of that room, as soon as she said that. Dang, I guess
I'm not better than her. Oh well.


Patty
      It was well past time for the sun to have risen, but it was hard to tell
that it had.  The storm that had rolled in last night was ferocious in its
intensity.  Unusual for this time of year.  The winds had almost a hurricane
intensity.  Luckily they'd all made it to shelter before the storm had hit.
      Patty had chosen this house to stay the night for two reasons; it had a
roof, and it was closest to the forested edge of the housing complex.
Hopefully the lingering rain of the storm would keep the construction crews
away long enought for them to leave without being detected.
      Patty knew she should be getting up.  It was far past time for them to
get moving.  But three weeks of almost no sleep had decided to catch up with
her, and she found it almost impossible to move.  Lack of sleep, although it
had some ability to prevent her body from working, seemed to have no effect on
quieting her mind.
      She could hear other people moving about the house.  Someone, it sounded
like Lissy, had taken charge of orgaizing breakfast.  Vree had already begun
to order the cleanup, making sure they left no trace of their presence behind.
Kaitlyn was dealing with Jami and a screechy voiced Nila about some incident
that had occured the previous night.  **How did I miss that?**
      ~~You cannot attend to all the pups, Sister.~~  Patty turned her head
and found herself being nuzzled by the furry form of Moonlight Dancing.  Ever
since the incident in Tel'aran'rhoid, the wolf had been a constant friend, and
sometime nursemaid.  ~~That is my job.~~  She gave a mental as well as
physical grin.  ~~They're my pups.~~
      Moonlight Dancing fixed Patty with a look.  >o?~~Does not Kailtyn have
the job of tending to the pups?~~  Patty had to laugh outloud at he mental
image Moonlight Dancing sent of Kaitlyn trying to corall a denful of pups.
~~We all tend to them...and I hardly think they'd appreciate being refered
to as pups.~~
      It was at that moment that Liam stuck his head in the room Patty was in.
"Excuse me, Ayenda Patty?  I was sent to check if you were awake."  Liam gave
Moonlight Dancing a wary look as he pushed an unruly lock of chocolate brown
hair out of his eyes.  He'd never fully recovered from the shock of seeing a
wolf in the Tower; and she never tired of sneaking up on the poor boy and
giving him a start.
      Moonlight Dancing "sent" an image of Liam, all long arms and gangly
legs, big brown eyes and unkempt hair to Patty.  ~~A pup!~~>o?  Patty tried hard
not to burst into a fit of giggles.  The poor boy was unnerved enough by the
wolf, it wouldn't do to have him think they were laughing at him too.  "Thank
you, Liam.  You can tell them I'm up and on my way."  Liam gave a shy smile as
he retreated, and Patty managed to contain a chuckle until he was out ofearshot.
      She swatted at Moonlight Dancing.  "Not nice!" she admonished the wolf.
Moonlight Dancing answered with her best wofly grin..  Patty gained her feet
and quickly rolled her blanket.  She followed her nose to the wonderful smell
of coffee when one of the Studè on watch in the front called out, "Someone's
coming!" 


Jen
      Too soon, Jen found she was alone in the school ... her storm was building in
its intensity, and besides that, she had no means of getting to wherever Patty
and Kaitlyn were taking the students. If she even knew where they were going. 
      She really wanted to sit there and wallow in her misery, the tears
flowing freely from her face. Everything she'd worked for had been destroyed
in short order, and only so soon after actually attaining it. Why couldn't
artists and socialites live in peace? Why did that bloody White Tower have to
interfere in *everything* she did? She let her hot tears lull her to sleep. 
      Her dreams were not ordinary dreams; they were shaded with the
heightened perception and surreality of TAR, but were not the world of dreams
exclusively. 
      She stood in Tar Valon's largest plaza, the White Tower looming up
behind her, rising so high as to appear to touch the very sky itself. She rode
horseback, awkwardly straddled over a hideous shaggy brown beast she could not
control. Sure enough, as she looked around her, the plaza was different; it
echoed of a time so far gone as to exist in only legend. The times when the
White Tower was still whole. When had it ever been broken? And no ... it
couldn't be whole. Visions of earlier that same day, before she was escaping
on so foul a beast ... visions of her own execution danced before her, played
about her like a sick and twisted melodrama. She was as helpless as in the
present day as she stood there as they robbed her of her symbols of power--of
stole and staff ... Angry Red sisters surrounded her, some scattered from
other Ajahs but the fringe on most of their shawls was red. And the circle of
thirteen Reds ... as a pain so great ripped her very soul from her being, it
was as though her heart had died.... *flicker*
      Jennaea Sedai stood in her room looking out her large picture window. A
fire burned somewhere, far away, in a place that was not here nor would ever
be. She rested her hands on the windowsill before her, and glanced at her
right hand as her gold Great Serpent ring caught the sunlight and gleamed. A
symbol of her loyalty to the Tower that found her struggling in her tiny
Altaran village and helped her overcome her fears of channeling. The same
Tower helped her master her control over Fire, weak though it was. The same
Tower gave her all it had to offer, and now she was Sitter for the Blue Ajah
within it, and a fulltime resident of the White Tower in Tar Valon. Gladly had
she accepted the archaic dress--it was a small price to pay for everything the
Tower had done for her. Even the smallest, meekest girl could rise to power
here. The Tower provided everything. And life was good. Yet somehow, there was
the tiniest shadow of doubt in her mind, the sort of doubt that cried out to
her of innocence when she marked offenders guilty. The doubt that somewhere
something was different, that somewhere a fire burned ... *flicker*
      Ayenda Jen screamed in terror as her world was torn down around her. She
was no longer in the old school that had been restyled the Purple Tower, that
place had been abandoned ages ago. No, here there was more than actual
buildings, more than simple physical items that were taken from her and
shattered. She looked up, red-eyed and gaunt-faced, at the tall and proud
figure before her. Mayadi Sedai, Amyrlin Seat, paced before her; a novice spat
at her--of course the Amyrlin Seat was too regal for common spitting. Jen
wanted to move but she found she was restrained, flat across a table, face
down and hanging off the edge of the surface. They threw things at her, Mayadi
allowed novices and Accepted alike to mock her, and laugh ... Jen didn't care,
though, all this meant nothing in comparison to the butchery that was taking
place before her eyes. One by one, each of her friends and companions, each
person who had had any relations with the Purple Tower at all, was shielded
(if they could channel), tortured, and then slaughtered by the Power before
her very eyes. Massacred, for betrayal. And to save for last, Jen herself was
severed from the Source, her soul torn from her body and flung away like so
much garbage. And on top of that, to live as Mayadi's servant until her death,
whenever the Amyrlin decided it was time for that event. It didn't matter to
her, not dying, not when she could never feel that sweet Power flooding her
again ... 
*flicker*  

*flicker*             


*flicker*



*flicker* 

      Awakening in a sweat, Jen sat bolt upright. Fears and nightmares both, but
with a stark reality dreams had never before held; like each world itself was
all too existent. Racing, she wondered frantically where they had gone; she
searched the school up and down for a note, a message, anything that would let
her know where the previous inhabitants had gone. 
      As though by request, a medium-sized, very wet, very concerned, panting
wolf bounded into the room. It was not the same wolf that had been Patty's
companion since ... well, since. 
      Jen was not, nor did she claim to be Wolfkin--nor did she think she'd
want the ... privilege ... but knowing that Patty was, she took it to be a
sign. After all, how many wolves enter old school buildings seemingly with
purpose--how many enter old school buildings at all, for that matter? Like a
post-modern Lassie (of sorts) this lupine was coming to explain the troubles
her friends were in and take her to them. On this hunch, Jen followed. 
      Such disturbing dreams must mean something. 
      While turning the nightmares over in her head in attempts to catch them
before they faded--though they still did not fade; each was as clear as though
she lived it at that moment--she became veritably soaked. Her own fault, of
course, and it took a good number of hours--through the rest of the night--to
reach the housing project on the outskirts of town. Mudcaked and sopping, she
was sure she could see--from such blackness and through stormclouds of varying
levels of metaphor and reality--she could see people on the horizon, inside a
half-finished house.
      "Someone's coming!" she heard a voice shout, one of the Nila, she
suspected ... 
      She made her way closer, though by now her guide was gone, having
disappeared into whatever shadows still lurked those few hours after dawn. 
      "Ayenda Vera!" she called, tired from the walk--and she thought she may
have sprained something on her way--and still muddy and wet. Ayenda Vera, yes,
to let them know she was not Red Ajah--or of any Ajah, for that matter. Ayenda
Vera, a friend and of the Purple Tower. Ayenda Vera, and not just that, but
Cuebiyar, a Leader of Heart. Ayenda Vera forever. 
      She fell then, slipping on mud but hardly caring because she had found
them finally. And she would not let them fall victim or prisoner to some
parasitic White Tower. "Ayenda Vera forever ..." she muttered, as she thought
she heard footsteps squelching over mud and voices ... "Ayenda Vera forever." 


Patty
      "Someone's coming!"  the youngster called.  Patty immediately changed
direction and headed for the door.  Moonlight Dancing had bounded out the door
ahead of her to pick up the scent of the incoming person.  But she'd have to
get awfully close to pick up any sort of scent in the rain.
      As soon as the person outside responded "Ayenda Vera" Patty recognized
the voice as Jen's and headed out to help her.  Jen slipped before Patty got
to her but she didn't stop walking.  Patty could hear her
mumbling...something.  It sounded like "Ayenda Vera forever."
      Jen was in sorry shape.  She looked positivly exhausted.  Her clothes
were wet and muddy.  She was soaked to the skin and appeared to be limping
slightly.  Patty could understand *that* - her calves hadn't quite recovered
yet themselves.
 Patty called to Liam who had followed Patty down the path. "Liam, go round up
some blankets and some spare clothing from someone about Jen's size, will
you?"  Liam turned on his heel and trotted back to the house.
      Patty finally reached Jen, and for a wonder, had managed not to slip and
fall herself.  "Jen, are you okay?  I thought you went with Davidson."
      This earned Patty a glare, but no response.  She decided that out here
in the rain and mud was not the place to discuss it.  When they reached the
door, they were met by well meaning, but in the way, Nila and Studè.  Each was
full of questions and concerns.  "Mother, are you hurt?"  "Mother, any news of
the White Tower?"  "Mother have you eaten?"
      Patty tried to wave them off.  "How 'bout we give Mother some time to
warm up, shall we?  I'm sure there are some things you all could be doing..."
Most of the younglings dispersed with that, but Patty noticed Danielle
loitering nearby, leaning on the unfinished stair.  The girl's attitude really
bothered Patty; rules were fine for everyone else, but they just didn't apply
to her.
      By this time Liam had returned with the blankets and clothing which Jen
accepted gratefully.  Patty pointed her off to a side room.  "Why don't you
change in there, Jen?  Liam?  Just guard the door to give her some privacy."
Liam flushed a deep red, but took up his post with his back most definitly to
Jen while she changed.
      Patty caught Danielle's eye.  "I'm glad you're still here, Danielle."
The girl puffed out with pride.  "As soon as Mother has changed, you may take
her muddy things and wash them.  The washer and dryer have not been installed
yet, so you'll need to do it by hand."  Danielle became deflated and sullen.
Patty waited.
      "Yes, Ayenda Vera.  I'll take care of it."  Still sullen, but now with
something useful to do.  Patty nodded and went to the "kitchen" to grab some
coffe for herself and Jen.


Jami
    Jami had been punished, as was expected;but she was used to getting
blamed...it wasn't so bad...the dusting was a bit of a trial..but, oh well.
After cleaning up the rooms, she had found the perfect place to look about
without being noticed. There was a little crack in the wall, where she had fit
alright. She saw the poor Mum...poor Ayenda-Patty-lady....making no sound, she
tried not to hear the conversation...falling into a comfy sleep. that is until
the grand Danielle and that icky Timothy. they found the hole...and shoved her
out. Being smaller than most people her age...she was shoved alot. Which she
didn't appreciate.
   "Little girl's being weird again," Timothy sneered. "Whatcha doing in the
wall?"
   "She's like all her kin," Danielle mocked. "There must be more rats than
her about." Jami's eyes narrowed. 
    "Look, she's getting angry," Timothy laughed. "What ya gonna do, yaidiot?"
    She remembered the punishment not being bad...she was probably going to
get in big trouble for all of this, if she did what she had in mind to
do....after all, she could at least try to avoid trouble. Walking away, her
eyes smarted as she clenched her fists. Manly hands threw her down....she
threw who she thought was Timothy across the room as she fell.
    "OW!" Danielle shouted with pain, and started to roll about; trying to get
up, Jami guessed.. Timothy laughed at Danielle, not caring that she was hurt.
     "Son of a--" Jami tried to punch him, but, he was stronger. He kicked her
in the stomach, and she started to cry.
      "Little wimp," He spoke tauntingly. Not for long. With all her might,
she bit into his hands. He screeched like a little girl, and let go. She tried
to run..but, right into an Ayenda. 
      "You seem to like to fight, Jami," She spoke chastingly.
      "I--" Jami gave up trying to resist. "Yes. I like to fight so much---in
fact, if it hadn't been for them approaching me, I would have sought them out
to do it. You see, I have this really bad logic within me--I saw it in a
movie..Mars Attacks, I think it was-- 'Alienate! alienate!' I think it
was...not sure." She smiled reassuringly. 
        "Have you noticed how our restrooms seem to be---" The lady smiled
back. "Dirty?"        "Right on it," She saluted, and went to find a toothbrush.