Previous Story:
'Symbiote'

Kodora Is Tired

Next Story:
'Shaken Faith'



Flash_Guardian drifts through the green of the peaceful woods, head lowered, arms at his side, watching the earth roll slowly underneath him as he pads his way along in no particular direction. He had chosen to be in these woods, but didn't care where. He doesn't seem to be in much of a mood to be around people at the moment.

Little_Half~Breed_Kodora she sat high in a tree, her complection notgood at all,, dark bags under her eyes, almost white as snow skin, her black hair dull and rather fuzzy. the damn mood made her human for the past few nights, which didn't help at all, and any sudden change in wind movements could send her falling to the ground.

Flash_Guardian finds a tree nearby, weary from the day's wanderings, and settles himself against it, not really taking care to move his red cape out from under him as he slumps against the trunk, shaking the whole tree in the process. "Oohhhh," he groans. He doesn't look too well either.

Little_Half~Breed_Kodora she fell out of the treee from the slight thump, falling straight towards Flash, amazingly being able to dodge the branches, though her cloths were being torn and snagged by them.

Flash_Guardian hears noise overhead and sees movement as he looks up, seeing a girl falling towards him and quickly reaching out a pair of arms to catch her and break her fall.

Little_Half~Breed_Kodora she layed limp in his arms, not moving at all, barely breathing, her body trembling, she didn't even blink at the sight of him. something was wrongwit her. almost like her body was refusing sleep. she hadn't slept in weeks.

Flash_Guardian stares down at the human girl ... he doesn't recognize her, but yet he does. And she looks terrible, almost as like a zombie ... then it comes to him, and his eyes go wide and fearful. "... Kodora?!" he whispers. Something welled up inside of him, willing him to act and act quickly ... yet he sat there, unmoving and just staring at the girl, confused. "Wha ... how ...?"

Little_Half~Breed_Kodora she didn;'t say anything. once the moon would leave she wouldhave more energy, but sitll would look like hell. her body no trembling as much. but she needed sleep, but her body was refusing it decpite all of her efforts.

Flash_Guardian watched the poor girl for a few moments. He knew that it couldn't have been lack of food, since he had given her that Carp a few days before. Carp are large fish, and she would have easily gotten a meal or two from that, even in her demon form, he assumed. He watched her silently for a moment more before he knew exactly what was wrong with her - sleep deprivation. Flash had suffered a similar condition not too long ago himself, so riled up with fear that he just couldn't do anything, even rest properly. He knew just what to do ... at least he hoped he did. Slowly and carefully, he rose with the young girl in his arms, surprisingly lighter in her current form, and began to move away from the tree, carrying her. Fortunately, the journey wasn't long ...

* * * ((Later, at the Stream Bank ...)) * * *

[Little_Half~Breed_Kodora ] she moved a hand to cling to his shirt, though weakly. she didn't want to fall again. she wanted to sleep, so badly, but it wouldn't come to her, she was afraid she would miss jester coming back, even though she knew he wasn't going to, but the lack of sleep pattern had been with ehr for sucha while that it wouldnt leave her alone.

Flash_Guardian carries the limp form of Kodora through the woods, heading in the direction of a stream that is familiar to him. He looks around, hoping desperately that someone he knows will be here ...

Little_Half~Breed_Kodora she watched his worried face .. " i'm sorry" she said, well, it was barly even a whisper. she turned her eyes to watch around her, but nothing was happeninging. " i want to sleep" :she siad again.

Flash_Guardian reaches the side of a stream, with a fallen log laying across the ground. The stream flows idly by, babbling silently in the night. Flash continues to peer in every direction, hope dwindling as Kodora speaks to him. He looks down at her sympathecally. "I know," he tells her quietly, turning his gaze back to his surroundings and kneeling low to deposit her in a patch of grass nearby. "You don't look well."

Little_Half~Breed_Kodora she noded slightly, thoug hto oslightto notice. " why can't i sleep?" she asked him, hereyes begging for sleep, even if it was just a few minutes , her voice weak and trembling with ever letter.

Flash_Guardian grins weakly at Kodora, settling down in the grass next to her, cape trailing along the ground behind him. "I know exactly what's wrong ... and I'll bet you do, too." He asks Kodora a question, though he has a strong hunch that he already knows the answer. "What are you thinking of right now?"

Little_Half~Breed_Kodora she didn't hesitateto answer, and he would know it too, he didn't even have to ask the question to know the answer " jesty" she said softly, a few tears coming to hereyes.

Flash_Guardian wasn't sure why, but Kodora's answer angered him slightly, prepared for it as he was. It was as if somehow Jester had found a way to mock Flash from his grave through this little girl, as if somehow he was still alive as long as he was in her thoughts. Flash closes his eyes and looks away for a moment. He had been angry enough over the events from a few days ago, so more anger at this moment wasn't helping him. He takes a deep breath, steadies himself, and asks the question that needs to be asked. After all, people are always more honest when they are tired. Lies just take too much effort for a weary mind. "Why?"

Little_Half~Breed_Kodora she sighed softly. Flash didn't udnerstand, and she couldn't explain it to him, wearily she stood up , begining to walk away, though slowly, wobbling from side ot side, stumbling over her own two feet more times then sh had sworn at someone just for tryingto help her. " i'm sorry" she said again,a few tears rolling down her pale cheeks.

Flash_Guardian rises slowly, again reminded of the stubbornness this child possesses. He moves swiftly, though never seems to go faster than a walk, stepping around and in front of her a few seconds later and looking down at her persistently. "You didn't answer my question," he says, folding his arms defiantly, his face trying desperately to show some emotion yet lacking the energy. "Why are you thinking about him?"

Little_Half~Breed_Kodora se tried to weave past him but just walked into his side insteadshe didn't move, but just leaned agaisnt him " you don't understand" she said softly.

Flash_Guardian kneels next to her, guiding Kodora into his lap with his hands. He really didn't understand. Perhaps he couldn't. But he still wanted to know why. Why this girl couldn't seem to stop thinking about him for a moment ... why a maniac like jester would ever forge such a friendship with another being ... why it was affecting her this way. "I want to," he explains, giving a soft smile and actually making it look halfway convincing. "Try me." He looks down at Kodora pleadingly. "Please. For your sake and mine."

Little_Half~Breed_Kodora she sighed and snuggledu p against him the best she could " .he was funny... and i loved him [ like a father] " :She sighed softly and closed her yes, but not otgo sleep yet, she couldn't " i can't explain it any other way"

Flash_Guardian smiles. Progress. "What kinds of things did he do with you?" he asked, reaching out to pet her head ... yet stopping as he was reminded that she wasn't in her half-tiger form, rather awkward.

Little_Half~Breed_Kodora S he smiled and gently nudged her head into his palm " ..well.. at first he was mean, then just a bit of an annoyance. but he protected me." she sighed softly looking up at the stars, trying to find some signs of jester, anything, just something, even though he wasnt alive. she swolowed her spit and continued to talk " and w=he sent a giant rat after me and i had to protect net" S:he smiled softly " but if was a good meal. nummy sauce too. the ribs and liver were the best part" :she nodde,d demons often having a liking for the liver, of al things. " and at first i hated the collar, but then i liked it. and when i was cold he wouldwrap himself arund me like a blanket, and he made himself into balls for me to play with, and lots of other kool stuff" :she ndded softly.

Flash_Guardian just listens, running his fingers along Kodora's hair ... she really isn't half bad in human form, though her animalistic nature still shows in some ways ... "Sounds like a pretty nice guy," he says, rather unable to believe what he just said. "Aside from the giant rat part."

Little_Half~Breed_Kodora she giggled a few times and snuggles up to him, begining to purr. " and... he showed me nice tricks, and made me a bedi n the trees, and flied me places" :she yawns softly her eyes shiutting a bit. " i know you hated him and he hate dyou, but.....nothings the same without him" :She said softly.

Flash_Guardian nods, agreeing to everything. "Yep. You're right. All of it's true. But you know what?" He leans in a little closer, as if sharing some sort of secret with the young human girl. "We both cared about you. And I still do." He looks down at Kodora with eyes wise and caring, much like the eyes of a father who is gazing at his ill daughter. He ruffles her hair a little at that, his face bearing a soft smile.

Little_Half~Breed_Kodora she smiled " i know yo udo. and so does he" she nodded a bit, yawning agian, slowly falling into a deep sleep.

Flash_Guardian turns his attentions away once more, to the surrounding woodlands, peering this way and that in hopes to spot who he had originally come here to find. Seeing no one, he sighs disappointedly, looking back down at Kodora and continuing to run his fingers through her hair. He begins to humm very softly, a subtle drifting tune that melts away on the wind, its rhythm slow and winding, with many long pauses. The tune reminds Flash of Glyniss somehow ... perhaps it's one that she sang to him sometime when Flash was feeling down. Now Kodora is sad and weary ... and so he humms.

Flash_Guardian continues humming, his voice growing steadily softer as he sees that Kodora has fallen asleep in his lap. Slowly and carefully, he continues to humm, lifting her gingerly out of his lap so as not to wake her, and leaves her in a comfortable patch of grass that's out of the way. He continues to humm even as he rises silently and backs away, eventually turning and leaving Kodora behind to rest.

ÿÿ