Zane quietly slipped through the archway into the small barracks he was sharing with Makzin, Gideon, Calla, and Timber. Makzin was laying on his bed, staring blankly up at the bunk above him; Timber was curled at his side.
"You took my gem," Makzin said in a dead tone, his eyes disfocused. Timber wasn't looking up, his head pressed against Makzin�s side comfortingly.
"Ateras' gem, yes," Zane replied softly. He stood against the doorframe, watching his friend. "You feeling okay?"
"No." was Makzin's simple reply.
Zane nodded. "I understand."
"You understand too well, dammit," Makzin grumbled. "Can I have the gem back?"
"No," Zane replied. "I know you too well."
Makzin just grunted.
Zane watched him, his arms crossed as he leaned against the arching doorway. "I just heard news of something else that happened last night..."
Makzin didn't look up, but Zane continued. "Hartsylla Hall burnt down, and a ranger�well, their only ranger�is missing. One of those suspected in the fire is one of the best geneticists in the area... and one of the others is a ranger from out in the lowlands... Lady Karen's concerned that it may be linked to the bayyo, since Hartsylla's just east of where the bayyo first appeared."
Makzin's eyes hardened. After a quiet pause, he looked over to Zane. "If you aren't going to let me call Ateras here to fly me back to Laral to go after the kokot... will you at least let me track down where it came from?"
Zane nodded. "The kokot's being taken care of. I've also ordered rangers to descretely follow each of our Jr.'s to step in in case anything new pops up... so things are being taken care of on that end," and he watched Makzin carefully. "Our job, along with the rest of the Gathering, is to stop this from the source."
Makzin took a sharp yet steadying breath, trying to force his emotional mixture of disgust, anger, and fear for his sister's saftey to a more tolerable level. He nodded.
"The fire coincides with the time Dr. Lake's blood sample would have arrived and been analyzed," Zane continued, his goggled gaze still fixed on the younger ranger. "And considering the Hartsylla geneticist was involved, it stands to be looked in to. When the Gathering reconvenes this afternoon, I'm going to offer to look into the matter... are you with me?"
Makzin watched him for a long moment, then nodded. "I'm with you, Zane."
"Good," and he held forth his hand, allowing a small gem to drop from his grasp to dangle in the air from his fist on a chain. He half-smiled. "Don't do anything rash."
Makzin sighed again to steady himself, then pushed himself to his feet and took the small gem from Zane. He avoided meeting Zane's eyes, as he was half glad that his friend had taken the gem from him, to prevent his emotions from carrying him away, yet at the same time was boiling in fury that Zane'd prevented him from going to the aid of his sister�and all other travellers that may cross the mad maow's path.
He slipped the chain over his neck, deciding not to place it back in his pack where Zane might snatch it again.
The two boys stared at each other for a long moment.
Makzin sighed. "I really wish you didn�t know me so well."
Zane smirked.
* * * * *
Guess what? That's all I have right now. Mwahaha!
::runs away:: ^_^;
