"Uuunnni!" Bobby called. "Uuunniii!" The young boy stood with his hands on his hips and turned towards the Cavalier.
"Eric where is she?"
"Too bad old buddy," Eric replied. "Better get use to it. She's run off with another guy!"
"She has not!" Bobby cried.
"Sorry shortstuff," Eric told him as they turned back and started walking after Hank, Presto and Sheila. "It...it happens to the best of us!"
"Who're you calling shortstuff?!" Bobby was not happy.
"Hey, it's just a figure of speech!" Eric explained.
"Well just watch how you figure!"
"Well exxccuuseeee me!" Eric shot back.
It was hot as the six friends and Kosar continued through the dusty rocky ravine. The air was sticky and they'd been walking for hours. Hank was leading as usual with Diana and Kosar bringing up the rear. The two of them hadn't stopped talking since Kosar had appeared that morning and joined them. Kosar was jumpy but the rest could hear Diana talking to him, trying to get him to lighten up.
Nobody saw the wind coming. One minute they were all walking, the next Diana's words were swallowed up as it ripped at their hair and clothes and everyone raised their hands to the eyes as the wind kicked up dust from the floor.
"What's that?!" Eric heard Diana yell. What looked like a twister was heading straight towards them.
"May I offer a suggestion?" The Cavalier yelled. "TAKE COVER!"
Hank crouched and with his bow in one hand, held on for all he was worth to a large boulder. Bobby did the same, with one arm wrapped around his little unicorn. Both of them glanced behind them at the twister as it moved passed them, leaving them unharmed.
Eric was nearest Shelia. He throw his arm around the red-head and forced her with him to their knees on to the ground as he raised his shield. She buried her head in his shoulder as she held on to him. Even though he had no idea what was happening, or what that thing was, he relished this rare moment of closeness with the Thief. He'd always felt something for her but it was his own fault that he had lost her to Hank. Back before the amusement park day, he'd wanted to ask her out and he was pretty certain she would have said yes. They'd known each other for years.
"I was just too damn proud and stupid," he thought to himself. Hank had come along, shown some interest and I backed off. He thought Sheila had been disappointed, that she must have mistaken his signals but a few sarcastic remarks to mask his feelings and Sheila got the message. A few days later, Hank organised a trip to the park as a group but it was obvious he wanted to spend some time with Shelia. Eric never did anything about it.
After the twister had claimed Kosar and Diana, leaving a trail of smoke where they'd been, Sheila immediately went to Hank and laid a hand on his shoulder, asking him in disbelief where their friends had gone.
Eric stood there behind them. "Thanks Eric," he muttered to himself under his breath. "Thanks for your quick thinking and pulling me out of that freaky twister's way – hey no problem Sheila, my pleasure, I'd always protect you, you know that…"
He stood there and watched the two of them for a moment more, his conversation with Bobby coming back to them.
"Happens to the best of us Cavalier," he mumbled as he turned away.