A/N: AND we find ourselves here yet again! Wow, guys I've been super busy since the school soccer season started. For the past three weekends we've had tournaments but I have finally finished this chapter!
ENJOY!
So Close to Midwinter Festivities
The backpack looked too large. Even on Arik, who was much bigger than her, the backpack looked too big. Arik wasn't showing any signs of strain yet even though it seemed they'd been walking forever. Arik had even managed to talk Gracie into giving him the workings for a small but fully functional rucksack. He then proceeded to fill it with two or three pots and pans wrapped in a blanket "to keep them quiet" as he said. He managed to slip in an assortment of other items to lighten his own load marginally.
All of this, while nothing compared to Arik's load, was placed on Kyrie to carry and it was weighing on her. It made Arik's unconcerned attitude mean that much more to her.
Kyrie touched the straps around her shoulders uncomfortably, wanting to resettle it but not knowing what exactly to move. At the sound of Arik's voice her fingers shot away from the cloth. He'd been silent for so long that the sound of his humming starting up again was a shock.
Kyrie caught a view of a brown valley. It reminded her of the vacant land they had come through on the trip up.
"Are we leavin'?"
Arik slowed his pace, looked down at her, humming gone and brows furrowed. "I thought you knew we were leaving."
"Th' mountains?" Kyrie scratched the back of her dry scalp. "Forever?"
Arik's eyes lit up with understanding. "Oh! You meant leaving leaving. No, we're just going to a private place."
"Private?" Kyrie's voice died to a whisper under Arik's close attention but she was curious enough to get it out.
"Yeah, you know, like a secret," He opened his eyes wide and put one finger over his lips. "Something nobody can know about."
"You know about it." Kyrie pointed out with the pure insight and innocence some children possess. It made Arik falter. But then Arik was the sort to have an answer to everything whether he knew it or not and something like this wouldn't keep him for long.
"But not everyone knows it."
Kyrie thought about that for a moment. Were only they going? How was anyone else supposed to get there? "What about Elena?"
"Elena?" Arik paused. Then hit one fist into his other cupped hand. "Ah! The one with Mathia. She'll be there--"
"But you said..."
"Well, you see," Arik began and from there proceeded trying to explain how secrets worked and how this one was a secret even though it involved nearly everyone in her small world. It was quite a struggle trying to explain a secret when the secret in question everyone did know, at least from Kyrie's point of view but that didn't stop Arik from trying. This conversation full of contradictions and badly put explanations lasted until they reached what looked like a wide, broad opening closed in with woods. A stream ribboned up close to the rocks from the trees and pooled on the northeast side half buried in the rocks.
Arik came to a complete stop, the smile on his face far brighter and more radiant than anything Kyrie had seen before like his excitement was a fire in his chest shining out through every pore. It sparked something in Kyrie just seeing it.
"Come on, Kyrie," Arik said nudging her on. "We'll find a good spot."
Kyrie finally examined the clearing and found small clusters of people with poles, what looked like thick sheets, and a mess of other things strewn about. Kyrie reached up and tugged on Arik's sleeve until he looked down at her. "What're they doin'?"
Arik looked where she was pointing for a moment and scoffed. "Trying to set up tents. I—we will put them all to shame."
He hopped away from the last of the rocky terrain and motioned for Kyrie to do the same. He held his arms out and to catch her. She jumped and landed in his hold garnering a small "oof". Arik was up to carrying some weight but having all of the supplies and a child flying at him was more of a challenge. He set her down gently and they set off again.
The straps cut into Kyrie's collar bones more noticeably. She worked her finger underneath the strap on her left shoulder, rubbing it until it felt better and finding that scratching worked well too. Arik glanced down at her, looked away, and had to come back to it. He moved her hand, "Stop messing with it. You can put it down in a little while."
They drew close to the stream where those that had already come down were situated. There was only one tent completely set up and that was where Arik came to a stop.
"Hello?" He called overly loud. "This is Arik Vakerson signing in!"
A head emerged from the tent. Kyrie stepped back at the sight of him as he emerged and straightened up to his full, if slightly leaned, height. His face was hard and structured: even cheekbones, strong jaw, straight blunt-ended nose. Stubble textured his jaw and cheeks. His hair was a reddish blond, thin and soft looking despite the fact that it was cut short and stuck straight out from his head. It created a short halo around him that should have looked ridiculous but instead made him feral, like an animal.
He looked at the two of them, brows pulled down over tough, brown eyes then settled on Arik. Kyrie's shoulders relaxed marginally until the man spoke with his deep voice. "What is it Arik?"
Arik didn't seem intimidated by the bigger man the way Kyrie was but then Arik wasn't affected by much. "Signing in, sir!"
The man's face didn't change except for a minimal lowering of the brows. "What the hell are you talking about?"
Arik put his hand over his heart, opened his mouth to say something but the man nipped it in the bud. "Boy, if you want to be a Player leave now and never return. If you have something to tell me be done with it."
Taking the hand resting over his heart, Arik crooked one finger at the bigger, harsher looking man. "Alair, you are still my greatest and most favorite challenge."
"If I understood what was coming out of your mouth I'm sure I still wouldn't care," Alair's tan face turned fully to Kyrie. Black eyes widened. She had only seen the left side of his face from where she was standing but when he turned to her she found what lay on the other side. Where another bark-brown eye should have been there was only a thick covering of scars with one single line of it trailing down to his jaw bone.
He turned away as if he had never seen the rude shock on her face. "Ah, you've got one of mine. I was hoping after you'd left my group I wouldn't have to see you again."
"And here I've been hoping we might be bosom buddies."
"Leave, Arik."
Arik knew how far he could push someone, a knowing that seemed innate but might probably have been won through experience. He hefted up the bag he had put down, saluted and pushed Kyrie along laughing all the while.
"Who was that?" Kyrie whispered more as an after effect from Alair's presence than anything else.
"That was Alair, the Shang Lion," Arik said with a Player's grandeur. He chuckled and broke apart the act. "Remember his face. He will be in control of your life for the next four years whether you know it or not."
Kyrie doubted she would be able to forget his face. She swallowed, wanting to ask what had happened to his face. Another child might have asked, another child might have even asked Alair himself, but Kyrie held herself back. It was this inhibitive nature that Arik worked to break her of but in some instances she would not be broken of it and this was one of those times.
It didn't matter though. Arik's mind was already on another subject.
Arik dumped their stuff in the most concentrated area of people: near the tarn which was obviously the most ideal place to be. It was still early though and "concentrated" translated to five or six other tents. It was around eight or nine people in all counting the tadpoles.
It was a very specific space left empty between two other tents where Arik had them set up. (Kyrie was rather amazed at his efficiency and felt slow and stupid when he asked her to come over for help or an explanation).
"Arik!" A voice called from behind them, someone leaving the tarn, no doubt.
"Hey, Yzark," Arik stood, wiping his brow and turning with a smile. "Thanks for keeping an eye on my spot."
"Oh, no problem," Yzark pushed some of his brown hair out of his gray eyes. "I don't think anyone would have taken it anyways. You know, 'specially after last 'ear."
"I thought it was the year before that."
"Mayhap it was at that!" He laughed. "Either way, I bet you'll be a big contender these next coupl'a days."
A queer little smile lit up Arik's face. "I sure hope so."
Yzark stared at him just as curiously as Kyrie did before laughing again. "When do ya think Amasse will be comin' down?"
"He didn't tell you?"
"Neh. You know Amasse. He gives the same answer every year." Yzark put his hand on his neck, fluttered his eyes and pitched his voice high. "I'll be down when I damn well please."
Arik laughed. "My bet is for this evening."
Yzark nodded. "Well, me, him, an' some o' the other guys were talkin' an' we wanted to know if you wanted t' join our circle for the Midwinter celebrations."
"Who's all going to be there?"
"You if you want, me, Amasse, Cathal, Ardo definitely," Yzark stopped there even though it seemed like he might have gone on.
"Sounds fun," Arik nodded slowly.
"You don't sound convinced."
"Well.." Arik looked down at Kyrie then back up at Yzark. "As long as I don't have to cook."
Arik knew very well they wouldn't have asked him to cook even if all of their hands here temporarily crippled. It was just another thing people had come to know about him. Instructors joked that once he was a Shang on his own he'd simply starve or accidentally poison himself. They wanted him there not only for his joyous presence but because he tended to bring in a good haul in the hunt.
Yzark laughed again, "That's what we've got Ardo for, he's got a natural talent and taste for such things. He may not be good in the ways of fist and sword but he's got the stomach down pat."
"Alright, alright! I'm in."
Yzark gave Kyrie a curious stare. "Are you going to be able to join the hunt with a tadpole? That's why I'm not doing it this year, because of Xavier."
"Sure, sure," Arik waved him off.
"What do you mean I can't join the hunt?" Arik demanded later that day. Kyrie had never seen him so mad. Ever. She hoped she never had to again. She cringed away from his hard tone.
Emmett and Alair were in agreement here. Emmett had more power over the matter since he watched over all of the Shang organization here but Alair was head of the younger ones and he was involved too. Kyrie was better at not staring. In fact, it was all too easy to look away. The two of them standing next to each other was a juxtaposition of sorts. Emmett was physically larger, his face kinder looking in its more classic good looks and dark hair. Whereas Alair, while a smaller built man, simply looked more dangerous.
"We've agreed on this. You cannot go on the hunt with a child." Emmett said firmly as Alair nodded.
Arik let out a strangled sound. "I'm not going to bring her with me!"
Alair raised his pale reddish brows. "She is your responsibility."
Arik's jaw went rigid. He was silent for a small while and when he spoke it was as tight as his jaw looked. "I wasn't going to leave her tied to a tree. What if I found someone to take care of her while I went on the hunt."
"She is your--"
"Then wouldn't it be my responsibility to make sure she's taken care of?" Arik cut in on Alair.
"You interrupt me boy," Alair had one finger crooked toward Arik, face dangerous, when Emmett put a hand on his shoulder.
"Alair, he has a point." A bit of relief whispered through Arik. Emmett turned a stern face to him. "You can leave her in someone else's care but just remember if anything happens to her, its still on you."
"Of course!" A smile broke out on his face. There was a bit of innocence in Arik. While someone else might have sent a satisfied look toward Alair, triumphant or smug, Arik was simply happy. He left with a loud, "Thank you!"
Alair shook his head slowly, "You just can't hate that kid, can you?"
Emmett smirked. "He's ... different."
"And he manages to get what he wants," Alair said gruffly though without any real hard feelings.
"I think he'll have luck in life," Emmett said.
"They look rather popular," Eda motioned to a group of Shang-in-training laughing around their own fire. Usually when the youngsters created their own circles apart from the main group it garnered four or five people. They had gathered up to ten from what she could see, not counting the tadpoles.
Emmett looked up from handing the Wildcat another snatch of rabbit. "I think Arik's over there."
Eda snorted. "Figures."
It wasn't uncommon for the students to split off from the main group. Quite the opposite but most came back to the main group after they'd picked at their nearly inedible food or meager draws. That group seemed to be doing fine in both departments.
"Treya checked in on them not too long ago, they're fine," Emmett said scratching his chin thoughtfully.
Eda made a noncommittal sound. "Have you decided what its going to be this year?"
"The tournament went well last year," Emmett smiled. "I think everyone enjoyed it and I'm sure some of them will want that again."
"But?"
The Tiger spread his hands out before him and shrugged. "You know I try to keep them on their toes. It may not be as fun but its been a while since we did Challenges."
"Ah," Eda smiled dryly. "They always get so petty though."
"And motives behind life aren't?" Emmett laughed. "We may be secluded but we don't try to shelter these kids."
Eda nodded, lips slightly pressed together and sighed.
"Something's on your mind," Emmett said curiously.
She put both of her hands over her head to stretch. "It can wait. Give me five minutes and I"ll go check on those kids."
Kyrie was staring. There was a lot of movement around her, a lot of noise too, and even though her eyes wandered they managed to come back to one source.
It was a boy. One she remembered seeing before and could easily pinpoint again since his features were so...gripping. Child though he was, he couldn't have been more than three years older than her, he looked far older. She'd been staring at him to see if she could catch a smile on his face, curious as to how a face like his would look with one.
Would it take away from the sharpness? His black curly hair didn't. Perhaps he would look less mean. Would he be less appealing if he looked like a nicer person?
His name was Xavier. She'd learned that today. He was Yzark's tadpole and the boy she remembered seeing in Eda Bell's class.
"Kyrie, are you still hungry?" Sarah asked her pulling her eyes away from the boy. Kyrie had stayed with her all day while Arik was away.
She smiled up at Sarah and shook her head. There had been plenty of food. Soup, cuts of meat, bread and she took more than her fill which was why she was so stationary. Moving was uncomfortable!
Arik approached, laughing at some lingering joke. "Thanks, Sarah. You made the day, really."
She gave him a look. "Of course I did."
"Oh! Someone wants a hug as a thank you, I can sense it!" He attached himself to her before she could move away.
"No! No I don't!" She shouted, trying futilely to shove him off. "Get off of me!"
He rubbed his face against her cheek. "I can feel the love, really."
Arik persisted until he had Sarah half-laughing half-protesting. Finally, he let her push him away. "Arik, you are too much."
He beamed. "So will you take care of her when I fight tomorrow?"
"Of course."
"You're the--"
"Best." She finished. "I know."
A/N: Tell me what's on your mind! I NEED to know!
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