|
|
Post by Sky on Jul 31, 2006 18:57:15 GMT -5
Quiet for a long moment, Sky finally said, "Well then, I hope that you're able to help him. I would offer to lend you a hand but . . . let's just say that I have some things going on that are keeping me busy for the moment." Knowing that his vague justification for not helping out a friend wouldn't sit well with Christine, Sky grimaced inwardly. But it wasn't as if he was going to tell her the real reason why he didn't have the time to hunt through dusty books or track down teachers to help cure Karel - not after she had specifically said to not come to her when something went wrong in his life. He had too much pride for that; whatever it was that was happening to him, he would figure it out on his own.
|
|
|
|
Post by Chris Strongheart on Jul 31, 2006 19:01:23 GMT -5
"Sky... I'd like to apologize. I was upset and I said some rash things," she said quietly. "I don't want to shut you out of my life but... things have to change between us." She sighed quietly. "Something's bothering you, isn't it?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Sky on Jul 31, 2006 19:06:52 GMT -5
Not entirely willing to go back to confiding in Christine just like that, Sky replied reluctantly, "Yeah, I guess there's no use denying that there's something up." With a rueful smile, he continued, "I'm pretty much an open book, aren't I? I can't seem to hide anything from anyone." Not waiting for a reply, he finished quickly, "But as for what's going on with me, it's nothing that I can't deal with by myself, so no need to worry."
|
|
|
|
Post by Chris Strongheart on Jul 31, 2006 19:13:34 GMT -5
"Are you sure?" she asked softly, lowering her hand from his back. She sighed softly and hugged herself. "I just worry about you and the others. You guys are special to me."
|
|
|
|
Post by Sky on Jul 31, 2006 19:17:57 GMT -5
"If that's the case," Sky replied, "then I would worry about Riven and not me." Shaking his head, he continued, "Would you believe that the other day I saw him running around town with Darcy of all people? Mark my words, he's going to get himself into some major trouble if he keeps hanging around her."
|
|
|
|
Post by Chris Strongheart on Jul 31, 2006 19:20:19 GMT -5
"Do you think she's the reason behind the team splitting up?" Christine ventured quietly. She placed her hand with the ring on his arm. "And do you think we should tell Saladin about what you saw? After all, it is something he should know about."
|
|
|
|
Post by Sky on Jul 31, 2006 19:32:25 GMT -5
Thinking for a moment, Sky finally replied, "Yes and no. As far as I know, Riven made up his mind a long time ago about not wanting to be around for the team anymore. But I think Darcy is what is keeping him from reconciling with us. I mean, I think if he hadn't started hanging around her, he would have been more apt to come back to Red Fountain in due time. Now . . . now I don't think he's ever coming back. And as for telling Saladin, I don't think there's much he can do; after all, he already knows that Riven dropped out. So following that logic, now that Riven isn't a student here, there is no way that Saladin can force him to reconsider what he's doing."
|
|
|
|
Post by Chris Strongheart on Jul 31, 2006 19:35:34 GMT -5
"So what do *we* do?" she asked, tilting her head slightly. "How do we fix things so we're a team again? Because we are, or were, the best damn team Red Fountain had." She glanced up at him, her eyes locking with his. "Are you sure you're okay?" she asked. For some reason, she just had this feeling that she shouldn't have her hand with that silver ring on his arm...
|
|
|
|
Post by Sky on Jul 31, 2006 19:41:41 GMT -5
With a sad smile, Sky replied, "Maybe that's just it. All good things have to come to an end. Our team was the best and well, the best can't be the best forever." Abruptly pulling away from Christine, Sky turned his back to her, choosing instead to look far out at the horizon. With a tired sigh, he said quietly, "And I'll be fine. I promise."
|
|
|
|
Post by Chris Strongheart on Jul 31, 2006 19:46:11 GMT -5
She walked over and placed her hands on the ledge. "So, we're down to three because who knows where Timmy and Helia are." She glanced up at him out of the corner of her eye. "So, team leader, where do you suggest we go from here?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Sky on Jul 31, 2006 19:53:47 GMT -5
"Well, I've been planning on going in to see Saladin about finding us some new teammates. While you, Brandon, and I are all some of the best that Red Fountain has to offer, three is hardly a team. We at least need someone who can fill Riven's shoes." Running a hand over the back of his neck, Sky frowned. "But I don't know who Saladin will manage to scrounge up this late in the year. He'll probably end up having to pull someone from one of the other teams - which will probably end up pissing off that person because by now, all the teams' members have a certain rhythm that they won't want shaken up. But I'll find a way to deal with it because, after all, that's my job as team leader."
|
|
|
|
Post by Chris Strongheart on Jul 31, 2006 20:00:45 GMT -5
"Want me to come with you when you talk to Saladin?" she asked. "Besides, there are some things I need to discuss with him myself. Like if I can switch out of my ethics classes so I can focus on dragon wrangling. I hate being cooped up in a classroom and that better not have been because you wanted me to be safe and not reinjure myself."
|
|
|
|
Post by Sky on Jul 31, 2006 20:05:14 GMT -5
"No, that was Codatorta's decision," Sky said with a faint smile. "He thought it best to keep you away from the pens for a while so that you wouldn't be tempted to overexert yourself. But now that a suitable amount of time has passed for you to fully heal, I'm sure he would love having you back in his class."
|
|
|
|
Post by Chris Strongheart on Jul 31, 2006 20:14:52 GMT -5
"Good. So tell me, what have I missed?" she asked, her eyes lighting up. She loved dealing with the dragons and hated being away from them. "How's my baby, Parn? He miss me?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Sky on Jul 31, 2006 20:18:04 GMT -5
"Of course," Sky replied with a smile. Laughing softly, he added, "Let's just say that he misses you as much as Lady would miss me if I shipped her back to Eraklyon."
|
|
