| After retrieving Vivi and Quina, I trailed Zidane�s thought patterns to where he and Freya had challenged Queen Brahne and her highest-ranking general because some Burmecian soldier was stupid enough to try and take her on himself. We immediately joined in. We beat Beatrix . . . but just barely. None of us had Tranced, which made it that much more difficult. Even though we won, Beatrix�s last attack wasted us to nearly nothing. Vivi lay on the ground face-down, stunned. Quina looked like it�d had one too many frogs and also laid on the ground on its back. Freya was face-down, but fighting to lift her head and stand. Zidane was sitting, breathing heavily and tiredly, as if it were an exertion just to stay sitting. I, myself, was crouched low to the ground. If I wanted, I could�ve probably beaten Beatrix on my own (if I�d had my real body), but I dared not involve the others at that moment. They were too exhausted right now, too weak. Any more thrashing and they might just die. So I pretended to be beaten and glared death at her as she passed. She tried to glare back, but gave up, too unnerved by the intensity of my stare to feel comfortable at all. My naturally (but unnaturally, to humans) green eyes probably helped too. A long while after they were gone, we gathered ourselves and continued on to Cleyra, the only logical place where all the Burmecians could�ve gone. We�d only gotten part way up the tree by the time night fell, but decided to stop and set camp for the day. Most of the night was quiet--I took the night watch--which allowed me time to nap while monitoring my surroundings. Half way through the night, though, I woke to soft whimperings. I glanced around for the source, surprised to find it was Zidane. He�d never had any problems sleeping before, so why now? Freya poked her head out of the tent and gave Zidane�s back a glare to rival a dragon�s. I put my hand on her shoulder and shook my head. � I�ll check on him.� She nodded and disappeared inside. I stood and headed over to him, but he suddenly gave a cry and leapt up, then raced past me. I gave chase immediately, finding him hardly twenty feet farther up the tree. His face was hidden and his shoulders shook with suppressed sobs. I fell to my knees beside him and placed my hand on his back, rubbing between his shoulder blades soothingly. � Ziaden, what is it?� He rubbed at his face, knocking some of the sand off. � It was a nightmare, but I don�t remember anything about it.� � Don�t lie to me.� He sighed and sat up, brushing the rest of the sand off. � It was . . . everyone . . . in some plains area . . . talking . . . Then there was wild, cruel laughter . . . and everyone just disappeared . . . I was alone . . .� He finally looked at me with fearful eyes. � I . . . I don�t want to be alone.� I opened my arms and he all but fell into my embrace. I pulled him into my lap and soothed him, stroking his hair and rocking him gently. � You will never be alone, Ziaden. I will always be near, even if not physically. I will never forsake you. You are my son and nothing can change that.� Eventually, his sobs quieted to sniffles and drifted into the soft sounds of sleep. Poor thing had worn himself out. I picked him up and carried him back to the camp, then sat where I had before and cradled him the rest of the night. There were no further nightmares until we reached Cleyra. After the initial tour, Zidane wandered off. And I mean wandered. If he did not bump into one thing, he ran into another. I followed, intent on making sure that he didn�t walk off a branch or something. For a long while I trailed him at a close distance, but when he almost fell into the pool at the base of the waterfall I decided to stay closer. � What�s the matter?� � . . . I�m just thinking.� � Of course. Thinking suicide. You need to watch where you�re going. The Burmecians and Cleyrans are kind enough to get out of your way, but any stationary objects aren�t as willing to do so. The air isn�t going to catch you without wings either.� � Kiti . . . when you hatched, how did you feel?� I frowned. I had never been asked such a question before. Could I even remember that far back? � I don�t know about when I hatched, but the first emotion I recall feeling is sorrow.� � Sorrow?� � My clutchmates died before hatching. They were strong, but the eggshells were much too thick. Even with me pecking away from the outside, they suffocated in moments. By the time I freed them, it was too late.� � Did it hurt?� � Hurt? Physically? No. Emotionally? Yes.� � How much?� � Too much.� � How much?� � Enough so that I starved myself for a week. If they hadn�t come to me in a dream I may�ve just let myself die.� He nodded and I watched his eyes unfocus as his thoughts turned inward. � Why are you asking such strange questions?� � Just wondering,� he answered absently, as if programmed. � Just wondering?� I echoed. � Ziaden, you have never been so engrossed in my past before. Why now, when everything�s so muddled?� � Been thinking.� � You should stop thinking so much. It kills brain cells.� He blinked and focused on me. � Really?� � In my opinion. When you think so hard, you overstress your brain cells and they die.� � Hm.� He glanced around. � Can I talk to you?� I rolled my eyes. � As if you haven�t been.� � I mean really personal stuff.� � . . . I don�t see why not.� � Great. Come on.� <--Part 9 Part 11--> |
| There is a time and place for everything. The problem is finding the time and place. ~Dragon's Teachings, pg. 33 Part 10 |