Chapter 7 - Curry

"I don't see why he had to come with us." Night had fallen, and the group of regeneration had decided to rest for the night in the outskirts of the Ossa trail before they conquered it in the morning. "He's not very useful is he?" They sat around a camp fire, a pot of curry boiling away, being stirred by Genis' expert hand, the sweet aroma – "I mean, he doesn't know how to fight, and all he does when a monster appears is –" ripening the empty stomachs of the group while they sat in anticipated silence. "-run away." Or nearly in silence. There was always one who decided they wanted to disturb the peace.

"Cody." Raine sighed, sorting through her back pack for a sleeping mat and quilt. "You're making a big deal out of nothing; is it that much of a problem that the boy comes with us?"

The blonde snorted, unhappy. "He's just a kid. He'll get killed." But he dropped the subject none the less.

Lloyd sighed softly, resting his head in his hands and letting his eye lids drop. He was tired, awfully tired. And it was getting cold. He wished then, for the safety of his hut, with it's damp drafty walls and patchwork curtains. It wasn't always dry, and it was certainly never always warm, but no one else lived there and he was certainly more than half an hours stroll from Iselia, which in his opinion was one of the most horrible places to live.

He had once lived in Triet, for all of a few months before he made the move to Iselia. The desert was a hard place to live, and the locals were weary of a strange boy who had walked from the North. Never the less, they found him a place to stay with a young childless widow, who looked after him for a week or so before she fell ill and died. It had spooked the residents, and they called him cursed. Surviving off the land without any money was impossible, and the trek back to Iselia was harder still, especially when he was met with suspicion and fear.

"Kratos – will you help me with my knife skills? I really want to use this short sword I got in Triet."

Kratos had been standing to the side, surveying the mouth of the Trail in silence, when the blonde approached him. He gave the boy a small smile, and nodded. "Certainly, I'll teach you to use it."

Lloyd felt his gut clench. 'He's never smiled at me!' He thought, outraged.

They found a spot away from the camp, where the footing was firm and flat, and began to train. Shamelessly, Lloyd stood and followed, standing a little ways away and watching the exchange with a scowl. 'He's no good anyway.' He lied, watching the blonde, as much as he didn't like him, try his best to defend against the auburn mercenary, listening intently as advice was called out to him until Kratos had pushed him back onto the ground.

"You let your guard down. Next time, don't leave yourself so open." And a hand was offered to help him up. "But you handle the sword well. With time, you'll be able to master it."

Cody beamed, taking the offered hand brushing off the sand and dirt from his clothes. "Thanks."

-

Lloyd hadn't smelt anything so wonderful for a long time. Dinner was finally ready, and Genis scooped large portions into the wooden bowls as they were handed to him. Lloyd didn't have one, but he figured that now he was travelling with them, they wouldn't let him starve.

"Cody-" Raine began, "give Lloyd your spare bowl until we can get him a new one." There was still a portion left in the pan.

But the blonde only chewed around his food thoughtfully, before swallowing and shaking his head. "Didn't bring one."

"But you had a spare one the other night..." The chosen, Collette, offered, putting her spoon down as she gazed at her fellow blonde.

"Lost it."

"You packed it in your bag." Stated Genis flatly.

"It's not there."

Lloyd grew exasperated, putting his head in his hands as he stared wilfully at the pot.

"Did you even che-"

"I won't beg." Lloyd interrupted, startling Genis. "I don't beg."

Cody rounded his gaze onto him, and smirked. "Really?"

The younger boy narrowed his eyes, "You can play all you want. I ain't beggin'."

"Shame. It's good food."

That was a low blow to his stomach, which gurgled in protest. "Don't care." Liar.

"Suit yourself."

Kratos looked on with interest, himself eating little. Both boys seemed to stare each other down, neither wanting to break eye contact and submit. The air was tense, and the rest of the group felt uneasy.

"You know what my father told me-" Cody began, a smirk set firm on his lips.

"You're father's a brute and a drunk – he don't know what he say's most of the time." Came the quip reply.

And both were on their feet, fists clenched and staring each other down.

"Don't talk about my father."

"Why? Cos he's good for nothin'?"

"I said don't talk about him!"

"Thought you'd be use to takin' a beatin'." There was an amused glint in Lloyd's voice, causing Cody to turn red with anger.

And then all hell broke loose.

With a deft cry, Cody leapt from where he was standing. In the blink of an eye he had Lloyd's shirt barrelled in his hands beneath his chin, using the leverage to shove the younger boy away, where he tripped over the stump he had been sitting on.

Instantly on his feet again, Lloyd retaliated, bringing his fist to meet squarely with Cody's jaw. The strength of the blow took the blonde by surprise, as blood began to run from his freshly bitten lip.

"You bastard!" Cody cried, launching himself onto the brunette and plummeting punches into his head and chest.

The group stood back, blinking in surprise at the unexpected fight, and it seemed that all at once they regained their wits, with Kratos and Raine running towards the brawling teens, and The chosen and Genis standing off to the side yelling for them to stop.

With both boys rolling in the dirt, trying to get one up on another, the adults found it hard to grab a hold of them, until Lloyd kicked the blonde clear off of him and sent him sprawling into the bushes. Raine saw her chance, and grabbed him by the collar, hauling him off of the ground and holding him firmly by the arm.

Cody reappeared, looking a little worse for wear, with a bloody lip and nose, and an eye that was already beginning to swell; with Kratos holding him by the elbow.

"Now really!" Raine scolded, shaking her hostage. "Can't you two get along?!"

Cody snorted. "He started it."

"Regardless of who started it, if neither of you can get along – then I'll escort you both back to Iselia." Replied Kratos, letting the blonde's elbow go free.

"Honestly. Two grown boys..." She gave another shake for good measure, only letting go when Lloyd hissed in pain. "Instead of fighting each other, how about concentrating on protecting the chosen like you're mean to. The last thing we need are injuries inflicted on yourselves." She looked at them disapprovingly, "Cody – give Lloyd your spare dish; and Lloyd, don't get into any more fights..."

Begrudgingly, Cody handed the other teen a spare bowl, scowling.

Once he'd been served, Lloyd stalked off to sit on his stump again, away from the group, not feeling at all sociable.

'Stupid.' He snarled, 'He's dirtied my new clothes.'

-

The rest of the night proceeded in near silence, with Genis, Collette and Cody sitting around the fire, telling stories and jokes and whatnot. Kratos had volunteered to be on first watch, and so Raine was left with the task of packing up the cooking supplies. Once that was done, the group busied themselves with laying out their mats and getting into bed.

"Since I'll be on watch," Kratos announced, startling Lloyd from his half doze. "you can use my mat. We'll get you one from the next town tomorrow."

Lloyd nodded, smiling slightly. He'd been prepared to sleep where he was.

"Kratos..." he began, "You're other things... That you left before..."

"Were burnt, I know. It wasn't your fault."

"But all that gald-"

"Lloyd – don't worry about it."

"Oh. Okay."

"Just go to sleep."

"Alright..."

"And don't get into any more fights."

"..."

-

The night was silent, besides the odd animal rustling around and the odd bark or snarl from a mountain dog or cat. He had been on watch for roughly an hour, The chosen's group had long been asleep, the fire beginning to slowly fizzle out. Close by, lay the boy that he had allowed to recently join the journey, against all of his better judgment.

'Am I really that soft? A child with the same name as my dead son, and that slightly resembles my dead wife...'

It had been fourteen, nearly fifteen, long years. Long and painful years, filled with restless slumbers and cries in the night. An unquenchable guilt, could this boy be linked?

'They said the boy was nine years old – or maybe it was simply how long he had been with them? He could be well into his teens, perhaps at a stretch the right age... But he's so neglected, hurt – is this really my Lloyd?'

But something was off with the boy, something plagued him with doubt.

As if hearing his thoughts, the boy stirred, bringing himself to a sitting position and rubbing his face sleepily. He stood slowly, hissing and holding his side as if it pained him, scanning the area for the watchful watchman.

Quickly, Kratos feigned sleep. 'So he didn't get away from the fight unscathed.' The boy gathered himself, and limped away into the trees. Silently, Kratos followed.

He followed him to a small clearing, where there was a small pool that he and Raine had found a few hours before when looking for some water. So the boy wanted to bathe?

Clearly so. He watched as the boy, stripped off his clothing, folding them almost lovingly and sitting them out of the way of the water. Even in the low light, Kratos could see how thin he was, and how the beating Cody had given him had left him black and blue on his back and chest. He shoulder looked jarred, and slightly out of place – but the boy ignored it as he climbed into the water, washing an age of grime and dirt from his skin. His feet were blistered, a sad combination of the new boots and his trek in the hot sand the day before. What wasn't black, was an angry red that peeled painfully away from his neck. He washed his hair last, scrubbing the soil from it until it returned to what must of been its original colour, a soft brown, almost auburn. The likeness made him groan. What was going on?

Finally, after what seemed like a lifetime but was only a matter of minutes, the boy was done; deciding that he would confront the boy, Kratos stepped out of the trees, planning on scolding the boy for wandering off.

He never got that far.

Lloyd had turned at the same moment, and both met eye to eye. He panicked, gasped, stood shell-shocked before snatching his clothes off the ground and turning around.

But it was too late, Kratos had seen it.

Branded, barbarically, into the middle of his chest – almost an inch deep; "#A012c", and below it - embedded into his torso - was half an exsphere.

Time stood still.

Kratos could barely breathe.

-----

Well there you have it folks. Chapter 7. Thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Don't jump to conclusions though, that's all I warn you; I have a few ideas and hopefully they'll be put into play.