All About Rhythm
DG crouched in the mud and splashed some cool water on her face. The pond was probably not the cleanest place to freshen up, but to her it felt like heaven. She glanced at Glitch, who squatted close on her left side, and she could tell he was thinking the same thing. Tutor stood off to her right, staring out across the pond. In the distance, Raw had gone to talk to Cain. DG glanced through the trees at her two friends. She hoped Raw would be able to find the right words to comfort her friend.
"Poor Cain," she said, shaking her head.
"Yeah," Glitch agreed. "All that hope, only to find out his wife really is gone after all. The guy can't catch a break, can he?"
"I have a lot of respect for him. He's managed to keep a level head and keep on going. I don't know if I would be able to do the same."
"Are you kidding? DG, look at you. You've been spirited away to an entirely different world, found out your parents aren't your parents, found out your real family's got some serious closet-dwelling skeletons, escaped from Azkadee practically on your own—"
"That reminds me, I've been wondering how you two ended up dressed like Longcoats. I tried asking Cain, but he just told me to ask you."
"Ahh... he didn't want to talk about our little dance, I see."
"Dance, huh?"
"Oh, it was fantastic. All those turns and twirls. I hadn't moved like that in..." He gazed into the distance, a dreamy smile on his lips. With a twitch, he turned back to DG, beaming. "All those turns and twirls. I hadn't moved like that in..." He looked down, then back up. "Next thing I knew, they were all on the ground and we had our way in." Tilting his head to one side, he added, "Not that you needed us, you crafty girl, you."
"Wow," DG chuckled. "I have to admit I never took you for a fighter."
"Oh, it was never about the violence. It was all about the rhythm." He grinned, and DG's eyes wandered to his dimples. Even with the weight of The O.Z. resting on her shoulders, Glitch's adorable smile always managed to bring one to her own face.
"Sounds like I missed out. I'm sure that was quite a sight."
"Well, then." He stood and offered his hand to DG, pulling her to his feet in front of him. "I guess I owe you a proper demonstration." He bowed, exaggerating the movement, and smiled up at her. "You know, after you stop Azkadelia and all."
DG smiled back at him, her eyes locked with his. Coming from anyone else, a statement like that would have suffocated her under the pressure. Glitch, though, had nothing but faith in her. There was no doubt in his mind that DG would save The O.Z. from eternal darkness. That faith gave her the courage to keep going.
"I would like that very much."
That faith, and the promise of a dance with the smartest guy she knew.