Marooned

By Dixxy

Chapter Three

(Glenn)

Needless to say I lost the water fight against my Blue innate friend. Leena barely got a few flecks of water on herself, but I, on the other hand, was completely drenched (though I suppose I asked for it when I opened my mouth and dared her to push me in). I can't seem to stay dry around that girl.

The second night of our marooning began rather quietly. After lighting a campfire, we dug into some of the rations left on the island and enjoyed the stars, not saying too much to each other. Eventually, though, Leena started a "game" of sorts where we tried to decide what some of the stars looked like if you were to connect them, similar to cloud watching. She found a bunny, a sailboat, and a horse. I found a fish, a cat, and, I do not lie, the spitting image of Poshul. Leena thought that was the funniest thing she had heard and wouldn't stop laughing for a few minutes. Then we turned in for the night and went to sleep.

I woke up a few hours later while it was still very dark. After taking a look at the moons, I guessed it was just after midnight. Seeing as I wasn't tired and really didn't want to go back to sleep all that badly, I decided that going out for a walk wouldn't hurt. Being careful not to disturb Leena, I quietly left the tree house and went down the ladder.

Now that I was down on the ground, I headed into the woods, heading towards the old swimming hold by pure habit. I had paid a visit to the spot once while I had still been baby-sitting, just taking a break from my job to have a few hours of peace and quiet. Had I only told them stories right from the start, then maybe I would not have needed the break so badly.

The night air was surprisingly warm and humid, and I was very glad I had decided to remove my armor. Now that my tunic wasn't bunched up under my breastplate, it was much looser, and, therefore, much cooler and much more comfortable. I hadn't felt that relaxed in a very long time, and I relished in the feeling. After spending the past few years under the intense training as an Acacia Dragoon and the added stress of the quest and Porre invading Termina, this was a much, much welcome break.

The familiar path brought back dozens of memories from my childhood. Happy memories. Memories of Dario telling me that he had feelings for Riddel, which at the time I couldn't understand. Memories of how he'd sneak up on me in the water and splash me or dunk my head, sending my thin limbs into a splashing frenzy. Memories of how once I got older I dumped a bucket of water on his head was he was sunning. I put my hands on the back of my head, weaving my fingers together as I sauntered down the path with what must have been a stupid grin adorning my face.

I came to the edge of the swimming hole. The surface was completely still, much like a mirror as the two moons were reflected in the water. I sat down on a fallen log, just looking out at the water for a few minutes. It was so peaceful there, as if the place itself had feelings. This place knew no pain or suffering, knew nothing of responsibility. Yes. This was a place of many happy memories from a time when I didn't have many cares in the world, or, when I did, they all seemed to wash away in the water.

I stood, looking forlornly at the water. The swimming hole seemed to almost beckon me into its cool depths, the wind whispering words of encouragement. I thought back to what Leena had said the previous night, and how I never did anything out of line or even the slightest bit spontaneous. Well. . . if I were to go swimming at this hour, that would be a little spontaneous, wouldn't it? I thought to myself.

Despite the fact that I saw no one, I went behind a tree to undress. Leaving my clothing in a neat pile at the base of the tree, I stepped out, seeing a few ripples in the distance. A slight breeze told me where they probably came from. Shrugging off any nerves I might have had, I ran into the water and dove in.

My mind relaxed and my body cooled as I found myself completed submerged. I felt my hair float loosely around my head as my body slowly sunk deeper into the water. Before I went too deep and my lungs began to burn, I moved my body and began to kick my way to the surface.

I gasped as my head broke the surface. The water felt incredible. I shook my head and dove back under, relishing in the feeling once more. Despite the fact water was not a property of my innate color, I loved it as much as any Blue person did. Maybe because it was a symbol of the only happiness I was able to find in my childhood. I really didn't know any other Blue innate people aside from Zippa and Marcy before the whole mess with Serge happened.

After taking another breath and diving down again, I opened my eyes and saw something else moving in the water. What in the name of the Ancient Dragonians is THAT? I thought to myself. Dario and I had never seen anything in the water before, so what was that? Curiosity got the better of me and I decided to swim closer.

Whatever it was must have seen my as well, it too swimming closer to me. Could something have moved in during the many years since I had been there, or, considering this was an alternate reality, was this thing ALWAYS in the water? I REALLY hope this thing isn't a monster, because if it is I'm a sitting duck!

My lungs demanded water, so I broke for the surface. As my head emerged from the water, I heard a splashing sound a few feet away from me. Looking over, I saw what had been in the water with me, and I realized that this was much worse than any sea monster or pond demon.

Leena and I let out a collective scream as we began to swim for opposite shores.

THAT WAS LEENA? My mind was swimming as much as my body was. Leena had decided to go swimming as well, apparently, and, from the fact that she'd screamed as well, she was wearing just as much as I was. I was silently thanking the darkness of the night- at least we hadn't seen very MUCH of each other.

Once I was back on the shore I ran behind the tree, shivering from the sudden chill I'd received. I grabbed my tunic and dried myself as much as I could, then pulled my pants and boots on. I mentally winced. Great. Just great. Leena was never going to speak to me again, and considering that she would be the only person I'd have contact with for a long time, that was going to be very, very bad.

I slid down to the ground, wondering what I was going to do. I was dead. Simple as that. She was going to kill me. While I hadn't really seen anything aside from bare shoulders, I had, technically, seen her naked. Leena was going to murder me and when Serge or whoever came to the island they'd find my rotting corpse.

"Glenn!"

I jumped, yelping in surprise. I turned my head to see Leena standing by the tree. While she was still very wet, she had dressed as well. Flicking wet hair behind her back, she shook her head. "Are you all right?" she asked me. She leaned her head to one side, laughing. "Guess we gave each other quite a scare, huh?"

I blinked. "You're not mad at me? But Leena, I saw you naked!"

"You didn't see anything, did you?" asked Leena, eyeing me suspiciously.

"No! The water and the night, but. . . Radius is going to skin me alive!" I said.

"Oh, no he won't," she said. "I didn't realize you'd gone out and I don't think you realized I went out- it happens. And remember, I saw YOU naked, Glenn." I blushed, then, realizing I hadn't put my shirt back on yet, I fumbled to pull it over my head. Leena laughed as I found myself even more tangled in the shirt.

Once I was back in my shirt, I cleared my throat. "You're not embarrassed?"

Leena shrugged. "Not really. Why are you so uptight about it?"

I sighed. "I don't know, Leena," I said. I sighed. "I saw you naked and all you can say is 'it happens'? Aren't you a LITTLE embarrassed?" I could feel my cheeks begin to flush. "It's just that. . . well. . . Riddel left her bedroom door open while she was changing and Karsh and I- and then she started screaming- and Dario looked ready to kill us both- and I thought she'd never speak to us again-"

My friend walked up to me and gave me a kiss on the scared cheek. I blinked, unsure what to think. "Relax, Glenn. I think I know what's going on in that confused little head of yours." She reached up to ruffle my hair a little as I blinked at her, wondering what she was getting at.

"You don't think I'm. . . confused. . . do you?"

"Confused? Of course you are!" said Leena.

I blinked. "Strange. I don't feel. . . homosexual. . ."

"NO!" said Leena as she laughed out loud from my comment before leaning against the tree. "Not THAT kind of confusion, silly!" She cleared her throat. "You're just confused about a lot of what's been goin on and every little thing that happens has you jumping out of your skin. First you decide to see what's going on with General Viper and the Dragoons, so you go with Serge. Next thing you know he hands you an Einlanzer from another world, and you find yourself with two Einlanzers after the second one responded to you. You also have two. . . um. . . enthusiastic. . . summons. . . on hand. This mess is getting bigger by the minute and you're starting to panic. It's changing all of lives one way or another, and for you it's a really BIG change because you're not just 'Dario's little brother' or 'Garai's younger son' anymore. You're stepping out of that shadow, and now that you're out of it you don't know what to do. Relax, Glenn."

"You. . . you think so?"

Leena nodded. "Don't worry, Glenn. I'll make sure you turn out okay. You just need to take a few big, deep breaths and clear your head. It's okay." I scratched my head, wondering if that was something I wanted. I shook my head as the two of us headed back to the tree house.

The following morning, the two of us sat in silence over breakfast. I distanced myself from Leena, trying to comprehend how she'd taken the previous night so. . . lightly. And her of all people! Leena's tech skills depended on her innocence, and even though I don't think I gave her any reason for her to think I'd try and take advantage of her (which I never would do), I couldn't figure out WHY she hadn't flipped out.

Leena didn't bother me for a while, giving me a chance to think. She went back into the tree house and didn't come out for a while, which was fine with me. I needed time to think. Ever since we'd been marooned, Leena had made a number of good points that I needed to ponder over.

After a while, I picked up one of the Einlanzers and began to slowly go through an old routine that Dario had taught me when I was first learning to use a sword. It always helped me clear my mind whenever I wanted to think something through. It had an eerie way of calming me, and was something I did often because of that.

Was Leena right? Was my life changing because of the dimensional crisis we were all involved in? Not since I was a child had the General called me by my name, and even Marcy and Zoah were paying attention to me. But what had caused that change? Sure I'd fought on a ghost ship and gotten through Fort Dragonia, but, what was it?

Well, I had seen fault with Lynx when the General and the Devas and most of the other Dragoons didn't. Riddel and I had been the only ones to see something wrong with the alliance. And instead of sitting on my hands when the General and most of the other Dragoons left, I decided that I'd risk my place in the Dragoons, maybe even my life, to follow them to Fort Dragonia. It was pure luck I met up with Serge and his group, yet now I was beginning to see that maybe this was something I needed to be involved with.

Though I suppose it might have started when Riddel and I went to the shrines to pay our respects to my brother and my father. I had come back without a bellflower, yet Serge had one and gave it to me for free. I thanked him, and sent a thankful smile to Kid and Leena, who were with him at the time. The Radical Dreamer had given me a gutsy wink and a thumbs up while Leena had shyly waved.

Come to think of it, Leena was changing, too. She HAD been awful bashful when Serge gave me the flower, hiding behind Kid. When I had joined her and Serge, she had been just a little more open, but was still very shy. By the time Serge had gotten his body back, she was much more out going. Maybe she was only shy around those that she didn't know, and now that she knew the rest of us she was opening up a little more.

I looked up at the tree house. Leena was being awfully quiet that morning. I was now used to the much more talkative and perhaps a bit "spunky" village girl who had grown so much since I first laid eyes on her. But her quietness bothered me- she hadn't been that bashful when I met Serge.

I dropped the Einlanzer. Maybe it was my fault. I had been a little cool to her that morning. What was the first thing Dario told you about being a Dragoon, Glenn, aside from not overeating Viper Churros? Yes, that's right- never disrespect or disregard a lady. And what did you just do? I sighed to myself. I owed Leena an apology.

I swiftly climbed up the ladder and stepped inside the tree house. Leena was relaxing against the high limb inside of the small building, her eyes droop lazily. I climbed up and sat by her, catching her attention, though just slightly. I let my legs dangle over the side. "Hello," I said.

"What is it, Glenn?" she asked sleepily.

"I just wanted to apologize for this morning," I said. "I was a little cold to you."

Leena shrugged, almost as if she didn't care. She put the back of her hand to her nose and sniffled. "All right."

"That's it?" I said. Was she upset about something.

"You just needed time alone, that's all. Sometimes I need time alone, too," she said groggily. "It's not a problem at all. But if apologizing floats your boat, be my guest." She yawned, sitting up as she dangled her feet over the other side. "I think I need to get some more sleep. I'm not feeling so hot right now."

I took a closer look at Leena. She did look a little paler than usual, and she had dark circles under her eyes. Come to think of it, that sniffle I had been worried about wasn't a crying sniffle. More of a congested sniffle. I looked at her, narrowing my eyes. "Leena, how long have you been feeling this way?" I asked. Leena blinked at me, closing her eyes as she tried to come up with an answer. I put the back on my hand to her forehead and clucked my tongue. "You're burning up."

"What?"

"I think you're coming down with something," I said. I bit my lip. "I hope it's just a cold from last night's swim, because if not, and you have something serious, we're in trouble." Leena looked at me with worried eyes. "Come on, let's get you down from here, all right?"

"I don't wanna move."

"All right then," I said. "Pardon my hands." I slipped one of my arms under her knees, taking her by surprise. Putting the other across her back, I pulled her into my lap and pushed myself off the limb. Leena looked up at me in surprise. Gently, I laid her down on her cot, double checking her temperature. Still burning up. Please don't be really sick, Leena. . .

After draping a blanket over her, I knelt down by her slightly ill form and gently brushed my hand against her cheek. "Try to rest up, all right?" Leena nodded weakly before pulling the blankets around her. Giving her one last pat on the cheek, I left the tree house to give her a chance to rest up.