Later that night Kira sat down to a pair of her father's trousers that needed to be repaired.

"Honestly father" she joked holding them up to observed the wide hole torn in the pants "I don't see how you can get your pants in such a state"

"Gardening for hours on in can really wear down a pair of pants dear" he father retorted. Kira laughed.

"Yes, do the plants grab out for you and rip you with there thorns as well?" as soon as she said it, Kira wished she hadn't. Of course plants didn't reach out for people, not the plants in her garden anyways. They did however, in Forest. That was how poor Matty and many others of Villagers had met there untimely deaths.

Kira could remember every detail of her and Matty's treacherous journey here as if it has happened yesterday. The stench, the oozing sap that had burned her friend's arms, the twigs puncturing her foot, the sinking sand. It was all to real for her, it still haunted her dreams from time to time, she would wake herself up screaming sometimes in the night, or sobbing for Matty to come back.

If the comment had bothered her father, he didn't show it. He only chuckled. "I ripped it on Mentor's fence dear" he told her.

"Oh" Kira nodded. "Why were you at Mentors?"

That afternoon her father had left to visit some friends and see if any of there relatives were sick, as well as to spread the news of the meeting tomorrow, but with Mentor sick and Jean at the Clinic with him, Kira wondered why her father would venture near the house.

"Well, I heard someone at the house" Seer told her "I went to see who it was, miscalculated the distance from the path to the gate, and my pants got ripped."

"Who was at the house?" Kira asked as she began to thread a needle. She preferred weaving to sewing, but she knew she couldn't weave a repair of pants.

"Bridget, she was getting books back that she had leant to Jean, she's about to graduate school you know"

"Who? Bridget?"

"No silly, Jean"

"Oh that's right" Kira chuckled "She told me that a few days ago, why did she need books from Bridget though?"

"When Bridget was nearing her graduation her and Leader used to study every day on these four books Leader had, when Bridget graduated second in her class, Leader gave her the books to keep, Jean wanted the books hoping they'd help her pass the final exam"

Kira didn't respond at first. She was to busy thinking what Leader must have been like in school "He must have been intelligent, top of his class huh?" she asked.

"What?" Seer through her a confused look.

"I mean Leader"

"Oh" her father laughed "He was unbelievably intelligent, knew things even Mentor didn't, when he first arrived he was always speaking about all these scientific technological terms that no one had any idea about"

"Was he a show off?"

"No and yes, he was shy and very quiet when he first arrived, he'd talk to Herbalist and Mentor and Gabe and that's it, and always afraid, looked at you like he didn't trust you, I never saw that look of coerce, but I did feel the doubt every time he was around me."

"What happened?" her sewing was forgotten, she was leaning toward her father in interest.

"Bridget, for the most part, she couldn't stand that this intelligent boy didn't like her, she marched right up to him one day and said "Boy, you've got to stop being scared of your own shadow, or your never gonna get any where in life" and that seemed to get to him."

Kira picked up her needle and began to thread again "Very interesting"

"After he got to about sixteen, he became like most boys that age, complete show offs, quietly competing for power amongst each other, oh it's not like it was in your old home, there are no real fights, just contests to see who comes out on top or first. Back then Leader won every one."

"He did?" Kira had to admit she was mildly surprised. Her friend didn't look the strongest, or the fastest of the men here.

"He was a witty one he was, always out smarted the competition"

"Ahh that seems like Leader"

"Yes"

There was a pause then. Kira concentrated on her sewing while her father stared out at the window, hearing the slight drizzle that had started outside.

"Father" Kira said at last putting her sewing down "What happened between Leader and Bridget? Why aren't they friends anymore?"

"Because Bridget fell in love" Seer told her.

"So?"

"With Leader"

"Oh" Kira tried to ignore the slight twinge of bitterness that aroused in her when she heard that. Bitterness toward any one was not encouraged here. "But he didn't love her back?"

"Eventually no"

"Eventually?"

"Leader knew a great many things about emotions, but he had never grasped sexual love, never"

Kira blushed slightly when her father said sexual. "Never?"

"Well" her father said "Never until now" he winked in her direction and Kira blushed again. "Father" she warned.

"Sorry dear" he apologized grinning.

"So did he ponder about it and realize he didn't like Bridget and then tell her?" Kira asked, outside the drizzle had turned into a hard rain.

"No" Seer turned his head out to the window again, then back at her "No, he didn't"

"So what did he do?"

"He was very confused when she admitted her feelings; he wasn't sure how he felt about her at all, kind of like how you are now about your feelings for him."

Kira nodded understanding.

"So he pondered it like you said, he spoke about it with Herbalist a few times, and then well….it was a few weeks after they graduated when he went to her house."

"Uh huh"

"No one knows exactly what happened, the two never speak of it, but we do know he went there in the evening didn't leave to early morning and hardly spoke to her since."

Kira's mind which to this moment had been keeping it pretty clean and innocent about the depth of Bridget and Leader's relationship filled up in it's entirety with dirty thoughts. She may have had very little actual romantic knowledge but she wasn't stupid, she knew what usually happened when a male spent the night in a women's room.

"Father that is gross" she told him.

"You asked." He told her.

"I wished I hadn't" She picked her sewing up. She put all her focus on it and not on the growing jealousy burning in her.

About an hour later Kira put the sewing down and told her father she was going to bed. He kissed her cheek and told her sweet dreams. She bid him the same and then hurried down the hall to her room.

That night she woke herself up crying. But she knew for a fact she hadn't been dreaming of the Forest or Matty, she never forgot those dreams, but she couldn't remember just why she had been crying. She lay back down on her pillow and fell into sweeter dreams.

The next day Kira and her father set out for the meeting. Her father usually so cheery grumbled about how the cold was no good for his old bones. Kira rolled her eyes at her father's grumbling knowing it was just him covering up his own worry about the troubling news of the epidemic.

"Morning Seer, Kira" an unfamiliar voice greeted them from behind. Kira and Seer turned around. Bridget was standing behind them, leading an elderly woman along the path. Kira guessed that the old woman's sight was failing.

"Hello Bridget" Seer said kindly. "Who's with you?"

"Grandmother" Bridget said.

"Oh hello Diane" Seer straightened up a little. "How have you been?"

"Cold and miserable" the old woman croaked. Pulling her blue cap around her shoulders.

"Oh grandma don't be so silly, tell Seer about that lovely walk you went on yesterday" Bridget laughed. Kira winced at the sound of it. It was a beautiful laugh, unlike Kira's on laugh which sounded like a donkey baying.

"Yes Diane, come tell me about that walk" Seer offered his arm. Diane took it dreadfully slowly and the blind (or nearly blind in Diane's case) pair strolled off. Leaving Bridget and Kira alone with one another.

"Grandma is so amusing sometimes, she always gets grumpy when somethings bothering her" Bridget told Kira.

"Yes, father does the same" Kira responded. If Bridget was going to be nice, Kira saw no reason why she shouldn't as well. Bridget smiled sunnily at Kira and offered her arm to her "Shall we?" she asked.

Kira took it, and smiled back at best as she could "We shall."

The two walked in a comfortable silence, Kira spent most of it pretending to watch her father and Diane ahead of them but secretly stealing glances at Bridget.

Bridget was lovely; there was no doubt about it. She was tall, taller then Kira at least, and had the most beautiful red curls Kira had ever seen in her life. Her eyes were the same color as Kira's, dark brown, yet there was a mysterious aura to them that Kira's lacked. Kira had paler skin then Bridget's, much paler, and a bit blotchier. Her body had more volume especially in the chest, and she had two straight perfect long legs.

Kira had never been ashamed of her crooked leg, and she wasn't now, it was what gave her, her gift. Still she had to admit Bridget looked lovelier with those long perfect legs.

"Tell me Kira, have you ever been horseback riding?" Bridget said at last.

"No" Kira shook her head "I'm afraid I haven't"

"Oh then you have not lived!" Her dark eyes lit up "You should ask Leader to take you some time"

"Leader's very busy" Kira pointed out "I doubt he has time to take someone riding"

Bridget thought about it for a moment "That's true" she said at last "Then I must take you"

Kira wished she had kept her mouth shut "That would be lovely" she lied.

There was more silence, and then Kira felt compelled to say "Bridget, how old are you? If I may be so bold."

"No worries" the girl giggled "I'm twenty, how old are you?"

"Eighteen" she admitted "But I'll be nineteen soon" at least Kira thought it was true, she hardly knew when her birthday was exactly, she knew she had been born in winter, so it had to be soon.

"Ah" Bridget nodded "Have you made many friends here?"

"A few" Kira told her "Jean and Olivia and Leader of course"

"All wonderful people to be friends with" Bridget said "I do hope me and you can be friends."

"I see no reason why not" Kira gave the girl's arm and affectionate squeeze. Except that it slightly bothers me that you maybe, possibly slept with Leader.

"Fantastic"

They had reached the meeting place. People were already gathered, murmuring to each other worriedly and giving family members of sick there condolences. Kira spied Gabe in the crowed with Olivia and Herbalist. Sweetheart was at his side.

"Hello Miss Kira" he said when he saw them "Hello Miss Bridget."

"Hello Gabe" the two girls said in unison.

"Hello you two" Olivia said kindly "Are conspiracies being formed here?" she laughed pointing to there joined arms. Bridget joined in the laughter "Shh Olivia you'll have us found out." She joked.

Kira might have added something to show she was witty too, but at that moment she spotted Leader. Near the front of the crowed talking with a young man she'd never seen before. He was as handsome as Leader if not more so,with olive skin and inky black curls on his head. Kira yearned to know who he was.

"Bridget" she asked. Bridget looked at her.

"Who's that man by Leader?" she pointed, though she knew it was rude. Bridget fallowed her finger with her eyes then she smiled.

"That's Carpenter, he's Leader's age, there friends"

Kira nodded. "I've never met him"

"Well come on, I'll introduce you." She began pulling Kira in there direction.

Kira fretted about bringing Bridget close to Leader, but being that Bridget was a lot stronger then she looked, Kira had no choice but to fallow her.

"Carpenter, Leader!" Bridget called waving her free arm. Kira couldn't help but blush when the two looked her way.

"Hello Bridget" Carpenter said smiling. "Nice to see you."

"Hello Bridget" Leader said politely, though he was looking at Kira.

"Carpenter, this young lady says that you and she have never been properly introduced."

Carpenter turned his attention to Kira. "Well we can't let that happen can we?"

Kira couldn't help but blush a little; he had beautiful green eyes and a strong jaw that needed a good shave. His shoulders were broad, his arms strong. Kira wondered what it might fell like to be held in them.

"Carpenter this is Kira, Kira this is Carpenter." Bridget said in a mock grand voice.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Kira, Leader speaks often of you." Carpenter shook her hand. "Said you were quite the beauty."

Leader coughed into his fist.

"Well I'm sorry to disappoint you" Kira jested back. She hoped she sounded witty.

"No disappointment at all" Carpenter reassured "I actually think he didn't do you justice."

"Leader how dare you" Bridget chuckled.

Leader smiled, and for the first time, Kira noticed how bad he looked. There were bags under his eyes and his eyes were blood shot. His hair was ruffled and his shoulders sagged a little.

"Leader what happened?" she asked him worried "you're not sick are you?"

"No" he shook his head. "I just didn't sleep well last night."

"I can tell" Kira murmured.

"How about you" He asked her "Are you feeling alright?"

"Yes I'm fine, thank you for asking."

Leader just looked hard at her for a moment.

"I think he's being hit with some sort of epiphany" Carpenter whispered to Bridget who giggled.

"Miss Kira may I speak to you alone?" Leader asked, his eyes flickering to Carpenter and Bridget. Kira had never heard him refer to her as Miss Kira. It surprised her.

"You may." She told him. "If you'll excuse us Carpenter, Bridget." She smiled as charmingly as she could.

"I do hope to see you soon Miss Kira" Carpenter told her with a wink. She couldn't help but wink back. Leader led her away from Carpenter and Bridget who were whispering to each other and from the other gossiping and worried Villagers to a small empty corner of the crude room.

"Kira I'm going away for a while" he told her.

Kira was stunned "How long?" she asked.

"For a few weeks, two I'm guessing but I can't be sure"

"Why?" she asked. "We need you here, especially now"

"I know you do" he took her hand. "But I thought it over last night and I remember something"

"What?"

"My old community had a medical system far advanced from ours, they had a type of medicine, we called it "Relief of pain", it relieved every kind of ailment one could have."

"Even Scarlet Fever?"

"I'm almost sure it would" Leader told her. "I'm going back, to see if you'll give us some, I'm sure they will, I helped them so many years ago, I see no reason why they won't want to help me."

"But Leader" Kira said worriedly

"What?"

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Because…." Leader shifted uncomfortably on his feet. "Kira I…..I've become quite fond of you."

"So I've heard" Kira whispered.

"I'm going to miss you terribly" he whispered back.

"And I'll miss you"

"And when I come back, I was wondering….."

"Wondering what?" Kira's eyes met his.

"Never mind" Leader shook his head. "I better go get this meeting started, so I can make the announcement"

"Yeah, you should" Kira nodded.

Before he left her Leader kissed her. It was very sort; just a brief touch of his lips to hers, but it a kiss none the less. And it had been Kira's very first kiss. She watched him make his way to the front of the crowd and touched her lips, dumbstruck by what had been said, and what had been done.

"There she is!" Bridget cried appearing then, Carpenter behind her. "Come on your father's looking for you"

"Right" Kira nodded still dazed "Right" she took Bridget's offered arm and allowed her to lead her to her father, and Diane.

"Are you alright dear?" Seer asked. "You seem a little off" Kira wondered how he could sense that when he couldn't see.

"Yeah" she told him "I'm fine."

I've been kissed. Leader just kissed me. She looked up at the stage where Leader was starting the meeting. And I'm more confused then ever.