Ok, well here you go! Next chapter coming soon! (Kk, no character. Thanks for the reviews though! :D) Sorry if this is short, I wrote it before but my computer deleted it….. I can't seem to restore it.
Well, bad luck!
Chapter Seven:
Ash:
Two days after we got back. Paul's back was fixed, and we hadn't told anyone about our time in the woods.
Now, Paul and I were standing face to face, about to fight each other. The winner, being the one who could get the other to surrender.
The fight didn't end until then. I look over at Paul. We are both wearing only black boxers so that there is not interference in the fight. I grit my teeth as I listen to Sam's pep talk.
"You know each other's weaknesses and each other's strengths. Paul, you are fast, flexible and agile, but once caught, you will have trouble getting away for Ash, you are stronger. This is a test of your will as well as your strength. The battle is only over when one gives."
I prepare myself, ready to leap at any moment.
"Begin."
…
Two hours later, I have been holding Paul down for over an hour and a half. I glare down at him.
"Give up already." I growl, frustrated. Sam is just amused, watching us struggle on the ground.
Paul doesn't reply, just decides that he does not have enough strength to life me off. He switches weapons, biting into my arm. I yelp with pain and slap him. He bites that hand, hard.
Sam loses it, laughing.
"You two are too stubborn!" he shouts out. Paul tries to flip us, using his legs to launch himself into a back flip but I push weight onto his legs, smirking down at him as I remove my hand from his mouth. His eyes narrow and he struggles some more but I have him easily pinned.
"This isn't going anywhere Paul, give up." He shakes his head, deciding to wait it out.
…..
The day is ending… I am exhausted and sore, but probably not as sore as Paul. I've been on top of him since early this morning and by the way he is shifting he's uncomfortable.
"This is stupid…" I say, turning to Sam. He is leaning against the wall, grinning at us while shaking his head.
"I declare that Ash is the winner. Paul, I'm impressed with your stubbornness but this is getting ridiculous. You've been pinned for almost twelve hours." He raises an eyebrow at me. "That means you can get off Ash."
I roll off him, blushing slightly. He gets to his feet.
"You two go get something to eat." Sam says, turning to go talk to Riddle. "I got to report how this training session went."
Paul ignores me as we walk to the showers, picking up our clothes as we go. I swallow when I realize that I'm staring at the way his muscles are moving, on the shine that the sweat is creating on his body.
I quickly look away. After showering we walk to dinner, meeting up with Dawn and May, who we learn are bonds and have been training all day as well.
"So, how was your day of training? Learn anything interesting? What did you work on?"
Paul remains silent so I answer.
"Oh…. Scrimmaged…."
"All day?!"
"Yeah, actually…." I say scratching the back of my head. They stare at me for a few seconds before nodding.
"Ok…."
We arrive at dinner and join everyone else at a table. They are all discussing what they have been doing all day. Paul and I are still adjusting to how much food there is and eat much smaller portions then everyone else.
"Paul." I hear a voice behind us. "Ash. You two will report for training tomorrow. I wish to practice Dare'th skills." Riddle says. "The last Dare'th there is other then you Paul has disappeared."
Paul freezes. His voice hoarse, he replies.
"D-disappeared?"
"Yes…. No matter, as long as you are ready within the next month." Paul jumps to his feet. Glaring at the man, he storms away. I think for a moment.
"What's wrong with him?" I ask standing up to follow. Riddle looks just as confused as I am.
"Well, he better be over it by tomorrow. We need another form of travel." He leaves the room. Dawn suddenly goes pale and gets to her feet.
"Oh God… I know what's wrong….." she whispers, "Dare'th's are only found in certain family lines…"
"His brother." I realize, sprinting out of the room after him. I stop, realizing that I have no idea where he is. Thinking for a moment, I decide to try the stables. He may have gone to where Chance was. I run in that direction, cursing the point that Paul is faster.
I arrive at the barn and enter quickly. I am surprised to find Paul has prepared Chance for a ride. He glances at me but ignores me after that.
"What are you doing?" He doesn't reply. Glaring at him, I walk up to him, grabbing his arm. "It's Reggie isn't it?"
"I'm going to find him."
I close my eyes, but keep a firm grip on his arm. My mother went missing a few years ago…. I remember what that was like. I had wanted to search too.
"You're not even sure he's alive-"
Wrong thing to say….
"I don't give up easily, Ash. I don't care what the hell you say, I'm going."
"I won't let you." I grab Chance's reins, ignoring the point that she rears up. He glares at me.
"I don't care what you say, I'm going."
"I'll sit on you."
"I'll punch you."
"You couldn't before."
"I wasn't this angry before." He's shaking and his body is tense with adrenaline.
"The most you can do right now, is hope." I say to him gently, "They'll find him if it is possible, and the army needs a Dare'th."
He drops Chance's reins.
"What if he is dead?" he whispers, almost so softly I can't hear. I bite my lip and place my hand on his shoulder.
"Then I will help you get revenge on whoever killed him." I say truthfully. He looks up at me, his eyes for the first time since I've known him, completely open and vulnerable.
I grab Chance's reins and pull her away from him.
"Let's go back ok?" He nods and lets me unsaddle Chance and put her back in her stall. I pat Birch on the nose to assure him that I have not forgotten him before wrapping my arm around Paul's thin shoulders. He allows me, which sort of surprises me…. but I don't reject it.
I like the feeling of him trusting me.
