Finding the Lone Warden wasn't very hard; I just had to go where the people weren't. He was sitting on a box behind the Fossil Stadium, glaring at the ground as he fought back tears. I walked up to him, standing next to his box.
"Whaddya want, Tria?" he asked, his voice a defeated monotone, "You gonna lecture me, too?'
"No." I replied, "I'm just worried about you. I don't like seeing my friends in pain."
"I'm not your friend." he growled with all the aggression he could muster.
"You may not see me as your friend." I said gently, "But I see you as mine, and that's good enough for me."
Leon kept his eyes on the ground as he asked the question I had seen in his expression countless times, "Why?"
I tilted my head. "Why what?"
He finally found the strength to look up at me. "Why do you see me as your friend? I haven't shown you an ounce of kindness, so why are you so nice to me?"
I smiled at the confused male, looking at the box he was sitting on. "May I join you?"
Leon arched his eyebrow in confusion before processing what I was saying and shrugged. "Why not? You're gonna do it whether I agree or not."
"Not true." I responded, offended, "If you'd prefer, I'll just keep standing."
Leon looked at me and rolled his eyes, scooting over. "Sit."
"Thank you." I said, sitting down next to my fellow Warden and folding my hands in my lap, "Now, why do I see you as a friend when you've given me no reason to? Was that your question?"
"Yeah." he affirmed.
I smiled kindly, not looking at him, and replied, "Because I can tell it's just an act."
Leon flinched away from me, as if I had jabbed him with my elbow again. "A-An act?" he squeaked. I nodded, looking at him this time.
"That's right. I can see right through you. You're not naturally this hard to get along with, this stubborn and standoffish." I placed a hand on his arm. "You're trying to keep people away on purpose, aren't you?"
Leon refused to look at me, but I knew I was on the right track when he muttered weakly, "Is it really that obvious?"
"Only to me. I'm good at reading people." I replied. He smiled bitterly, glad that no one else suspected the reasons for his jerky behavior. I continued, "I don't know why you don't want friends, and I'm not gonna push you to make them, but if you ever find you want or need one, I'm here for you."
Leon stared unresponsive at the ground. I sighed and stood up.
"I'm gonna go discuss the plan for Lucky's rescue with Sean and Becky. If you wish to join us, you're more than welcome to." I said, starting to walk away. However, I found myself held in place by a hand gripping my wrist. I looked back at Leon, who was still staring at the ground.
I could tell he wanted to beg me not to leave, to tell me everything, but all he said was, "Is this your injured arm?"
I looked at my bandaged arm. I really should've taken them off by then; it'd healed plenty. "Yeah, I should be removing the bandages soon."
I walked back over to Leon, letting him cradle my arm in his hands. "That Gorgo…the one you used against those thugs…was that...?"
"Yes." I replied when I noticed he was having trouble voicing his question, "That Gorgo is the same one that attacked me at Paradise Beach."
Leon looked up at me, not letting go of my arm, as if I'd disappear the moment he did. "How…why do you have it with you? Why are you battling with it? Why?"
"Why?" I repeated his question, sitting back down as I stared into his eyes, "Because you're not the only one who uses anger to hide his pain."
Leon stared at me, astonished. I reached into my pocket with my free arm and pulled out Gorgo's Dino Gear.
"He was abused and abandoned by his former fighter." I explained, holding him out for Leon to see, "Because of this, he's become hateful and angry toward everything around him. I'm hoping to ease those feelings by letting him see the good in the world. I'm doing the same for Nibbles."
"Nibbles? You mean the little vivosaur?" Leon muttered, looking around, "Where is he, anyway?"
"I sent him with Becky to report to Sean." I said, placing Gorgo back in my pocket, "He tends to get aggressive easily, and that's the last thing you need."
Leon looked back at my arm, running his fingers over the bandaged area. "Why would you help someone who has hurt you, even when they don't show any remorse?"
"Because no one's perfect." I replied, "Everyone is different. Everyone will get hurt, and everyone will hurt someone else. It's a part of life. The key to living happily with others is to accept that we will sometimes hurt each other, sometimes get hurt by each other, and learn to forgive each other for our mistakes. That's what I do, anyway." When I finished my little rant, I looked at him apologetically. "Sorry, I guess I did kinda lecture you there."
Leon looked back at me, eyes conflicted. Hesitantly, he reached out to put an arm around my shoulders. "If I tell you this, will you promise not to tell anyone else? You have to swear it."
I smiled, scooting closer so that I was pressed against his side. "Would you like a pinkie swear, or will my word suffice?"
"Your word's fine." he said, taking a deep breath, "I've never been very social, but I did have one friend who I was really close to. We told each other everything, or, at least, I told him everything. We did everything together. We helped each other with our chores, shared our toys, and had sleepovers almost every weekend. I thought we were best friends, but I was wrong. Very wrong."
I noticed something wet fall on my head, and concluded that he was crying. His strained voice confirmed this as he continued.
"When I was in middle school, I noticed that all the kids were staying away from me. I could hear them laughing and calling me terrible names behind my back. Some would even try to beat me up, but the teachers would stop them before I got more than a few bruises. I would cry to my friend, and he would pretend to care. Until one day, when I had gone to his house earlier than planned and heard him talking on the phone, saying horrible things about me. When I confronted him, I found out that he had been spreading the rumors all along! He was only close to me so he could learn my secrets and spread them to all his friends! I broke his nose and ran out of his house, and I haven't seen him since."
Leon sniffled loudly, cutting himself off. I resisted the urge to look at him. I had the feeling he didn't want me to see him crying. Instead, I placed a hand over the one still holding my bandaged arm, snuggling closer to let him know I was still there. He gripped the offered hand and tightened his hold on my shoulders.
"My parents moved me to a different school, where nobody knew the rumors about me, but the damage was done. Since then, I've never been able to trust anyone to be my friend, and so I drive everyone away. I wanted to become a Warden to prove that I wasn't weak, that I could stand up for myself, that I didn't need friends." He laughed humorlessly. "So much for that, huh?"
I removed my arms from his grasp and wrapped them around his torso, nuzzling my head against his chest.
"I'm sorry, Leon." I whispered sorrowfully, "I wish there was something I could do to help."
"Tria…" Leon mumbled, returning my embrace and burying his nose in my hair, "You've already done more to help me than anyone else has even attempted. I can't tell you how grateful I am."
We just sat there in silence for a few minutes, enjoying the comfort we got from each other. After a while, though, I lifted my head from his chest and looked up at him.
"We really should get going. We still need to rescue Lucky."
Leon's eyes, which had been closed, shot open. "Oh right! We still have to track down those damn thugs!" He stood up quickly and began to storm off toward the Fossil Center. I stopped him.
"Hold up, Leon!" I said, turning him back around.
"What is it, Tria? We have to get goi-" He stopping as I pulled out a cloth I had taken from the first-aid kit and dabbed his cheeks and the corners of his eyes.
"Do you really want everyone in the Park to know you were crying?" I asked.
"Oh yeah…" he muttered, "Thanks, Tria."
"No problem!" I said, smiling as I put the cloth away, "Ok, now let's go!"
Leon nodded, and we both ran back to Sean's office.
"Well, look who decided to join us." Sean said to me in greeting, his eyes widening when he saw my companion come out of the elevator with me, "You even got Leon to come with you?"
"Sorry, Chief." Leon said, his head bowed in shame. With an encouraging look from me, he continued, "I was so focused on proving that I was strong, that I had what it takes to be a Warden, but I only let everyone down." I put a hand on his shoulder and he smiled at me from under his bangs. "I see now that I'll need a partner, at least for this mission."
"And you know I'm ready to roll!" I concluded, pumping my fist in the air.
Leon nodded at me, and we both turned back to the sibling Wardens and the little vivosaur. All three of them were staring at us, their eyes wide as saucers and their jaws hitting the floor. They blinked at us, speechless, and Leon coughed awkwardly, looking at me for guidance.
"So…" I said in order to draw their attention, "What's the plan for Lucky's rescue?"
Sean jolted to attention. "Oh right! Well, the kidnappers said they wanted Lucky to help them find rare fossils in Goldrush Canyon, so we should probably look for them in areas with rare fossils."
Leon hummed, a thoughtful look on his face, before putting forward in a slightly hesitant voice, "You mean like Mt. Dinomore?"
Sean's eyes widened as Becky gasped, "That's right! There are T-rex Sue fossils up there!"
"That must be where they went!" Sean agreed, standing up and slamming his hands on his desk, "Tria! Leon! Head to Mt. Dinomore and rescue Lucky at once!"
"Yes sir!" Leon and I both yelled in unison and ran back to the elevator, with me gesturing for Nibbles to follow.
"And Tria!" Becky called after us, "Look after Leon for us!"
"Will do!" I called back, saluting. I ignored Leon's comment of "I don't need to be looked after!"
In the elevator, I leaned against the wall, sighing with fatigue. Leon noticed this and put his arm around me, letting me lean on his side. Nibbles growled at this blatant display of affection. Leon ignored him.
"Thanks, Tria." he said sincerely, making me look up at him, "If you hadn't been there, I don't think I would've had the courage to apologize."
I giggled, patting the arm he had around my shoulder. "Oh, I think you would've managed. You're a Warden, after all."
"Heh." Leon chuckled, staring at the elevator doors. Nibbles nudged my hand and growled again.
"What did you do to him?" he asked me, looking skeptically at Leon, "Did you kill him and replace him with this submissive double?"
I couldn't contain myself. I burst out laughing at the little vivosaur's assumption, clutching Leon's shirt for balance.
"What is it, Tria?" Leon cried, startled, "What'd he say?"
I drew in a shaky breath, trying to still the laughter that was escaping my throat, "H-He wants to know if I killed you and replaced you with a double." I said, still giggling. Leon didn't find this as amusing as I did, and glared at the vivosaur.
"No, she did not kill me and replace me with a double." he growled at Nibbles, who returned his glare unflinchingly. I looked at both of them when they didn't notice the elevator doors open and grabbed their arms, pulling them out of the elevator and toward Goldrush Canyon.
"Come on, ladies." I said, rolling my eyes as their glares shifted to me, "Let's save the bickering for later, shall we?"
"I'm not a lady!" Leon and Nibbles both barked at the same time, sending me into another fit of laughter as I climbed into my Digger's Rig. Nibbles followed me, still in a rather foul mood. Leon's Turf Shredder had been fixed a while ago, and he climbed in as well, following me out of the Garage and through the portal leading to Goldrush Canyon.
"Come on, Tria!" Leon yelled to me through the radio, "Let's burn rubber and bring those kidnappers down!"
"You got it, Leon!" I yelled back, flooring the accelerator as we both sped toward Mt. Dinomore.
Sure enough, at the top of Mt. Dinomore, were the Bone Buggies of the three kidnappers.
"There they are!" Leon exclaimed. I told him to keep his voice down as I tuned our radio into theirs.
"All right, kid!" the lead thug, who had taken Lucky, was saying, "Stop squirming! Just show us how much of a psychic you really are! Get out there and find us some rare fossils!"
It was then that I noticed Lucky was out of the Bone Buggy and on the ground near a large rock.
"Eeeeeeek!" Lucky screamed, looking around frantically, "Please let me back in! I can't protect myself from rogue vivosaurs! If one shows up, I'm toast!"
"You'll be toast either way if you don't find us any rare fossils!" another thug yelled.
"They're really putting the screws on the poor kid." Leon said, the guilt in his voice pitiable, "You ready for a Fossil Battle beatdown, Tria?"
"Ready!" I yelled.
"Then let's do this thing!" Leon was getting fired up.
"Bring 'em on!" And so was I.
"Grrr!" And so was Nibbles. I knew who I was going to use for this fight.
"All right, you sad sacks!" Leon yelled, his shame fueling his rage, "Hand Lucky over or else!"
"Y-You came back for me!" Lucky cried, tears streaming down his face.
"Of course we did! We're Wardens, after all!" I told him in confident reassurance.
"Well, well. What do we have here?" the thug leader said smugly.
"Looks like our Warden friends didn't learn their lesson the last time." one of his associates answered, his confidence sickening.
"I thought I told you to make like a bakery truck and haul buns!" the third thug yelled to us. I giggled at that, and Leon smirked.
"Come on, Tria! It's go time!" he yelled as the three turned their Bone Buggies to us, releasing three large Air-type carnivores called Beckles.
"Ready!" I yelled, looking to Nibbles. He knew what to do.
"Let's go, Ptera!" Leon commanded, releasing the large flying vivosaur, "We'll show these lackeys what REAL teamwork is!"
"Graaaaaaw!" the flying vivosaur screeched in challenge.
"All right, Nibbles." I said, opening the side door for him, "Do you thing."
"Grrr!" he growled, which translated to, "With pleasure."
"Ahaha!" the thugs laughed when Nibbles ran onto the battlefield, "What? You're gonna fight us with that thing?!"
"If I were you…" I said confidently to my opponents, "I would not underestimate the power of the Nibblesaurus."
Everyone paused, with even Nibbles, Ptera, and Lucky turning to look at me with an "are-you-kidding-me" look on their faces.
"…Nibblesaurus…" Leon groaned, "Really, Tria?"
"Don't look at me, man." I said in my defense, holding my hands up, "Talk to Professor Little. That's what he decided to call Nibbles." I then took out my Fossilary and held up the entry on Nibbles. "It even says so right here."
Leon sweatdropped, as did Nibbles and Ptera when I showed them the entry. "So it does…" Leon said in a slightly disbelieving tone.
"Grr…" Nibbles growled low in his throat. I didn't hear everything he said, but I did catch the phrase "green-haired rodent" and could guess the rest.
"Just transform." I said exasperatedly, waving my hand dismissively. Nibbles shook his head tiredly and jumped to the ground.
The thugs were laughing at the name Professor Little had given Nibbles' unique species, but their laughter turned into terrified gasps when he transformed into his larger battle form.
"What the hell?!" the lead thug cried, "He was so small just a second ago! What happened?!"
"So he really CAN transform…" Leon said, his voice soft with awe, "Roland told us about it when you were in the hospital, but I've never seen it in person." Lucky's eyes were sparkling.
"Leon!" I yelled to him, "Nibbles and I will draw the Beckles away. Have Ptera grab Lucky!"
"Right!" Leon affirmed, ordering Ptera to circle.
Nibbles danced around the three larger carnivores, his agility allowing him to easily dodge their attacks. As the three Beckles became more enraged, so too did their fighters, leading them to become so focused on attacking Nibbles that they forgot all about keeping an eye on their captive. With the coast around the young boy clear, Leon ordered Ptera down and Lucky clung tightly to the vivosaur's neck as he brought him back to Leon's Bone Buggy. Once Lucky was safely inside, he clung to Leon's torso, bawling his eyes out into Leon's shirt. Leon looked at me through the screen, silently pleading for me to help him. I quickly drew the conclusion that Leon was not very good with kids.
"Glad to see you safe and sound, Lucky!" I said through the radio.
"Thanks, Tria!" he cried, still not letting go of Leon, "I was so scared!" He then looked up at Leon. "Thank you for coming back for me, Leon! I'm sorry I was so mean to you, and I'm sorry you got hurt!" His eyes were big and tearful.
"Hey, don't mention it." Leon said, awkwardly patting Lucky's head, "I'm tough. I can take it."
Lucky looked up at the older male, eyes sparkling with admiration, and I cleared my throat.
"Hate to break up the lovefest, boys, but we've got a battle to finish!" I called, laughing when Leon pushed Lucky (gently) to the passenger seat.
By now, Nibbles had already taken down one of the Beckles, but he'd been injured by the other two in the process. As one of them lunged at the smaller vivosaur, jaws open and ready to strike, it suddenly disappeared in a bright flash of light as it was struck down by the beak of a flying vivosaur on its side. That left only one.
As Nibbles and Ptera faced off against the last Beckles, it roared, charging at Ptera, who had weaker defense than Nibbles did. When it got close, however, Ptera flew upward and flapped his wings, creating a twister that carried the Beckles with it. With the Air-type carnivore immobilized, Nibbles ran forward, leaping into the air and bringing his front claws down on its head, followed by a backflip kick that sent it back into the air. Ptera shrieked, flying in a flip before seeming to fly straight through his opponent as it followed the rest of its pack in a bright flash of light. We had won.
"Th-They're so strong!" one of the lackeys stuttered as the three backed away from us.
"Not even our REAL vivosaurs were enough to stop 'em!" the other cried in terror.
"Come on, boys!" the leader yelled, "Let's make like my pants and SPLIT!" And with that, they took off. We all laughed as I reported in.
"They're headed your way, Sean!"
"Roger that, Tria!" he replied, "I take it you got Lucky back?"
"Right here, sir!" Lucky called through Leon's radio, "I was so scared! I don't know what I would've done if they hadn't come for me!" I noticed his arms were back around Leon's torso, much to the latter's chagrin.
"Well, we're just glad you're safe. Your parents are waiting here for ya!" Sean told him, laughing at the look on Leon's face.
"Well, we'd better get you back to them." Leon said, turning his Turf Shredder around and shredding the turf of Mt. Dinomore as he sped down the mountain. I laughed as Nibbles hopped into my Digger's Rig after transforming back into his normal form, and drove after the purple Bone Buggy.
When we got back to the Fossil Park, we were met by a couple, who I assumed were Lucky's parents, along with the sight of the three kidnappers being loaded into a police car. I smirked triumphantly as Nibbles purred with pride. After we handed Lucky over to his parents (and pried him off of Leon), we headed up to Sean's office to report in. Once we were in the elevator, Leon groaned.
"Ugh…I thought I'd never get that kid off me." he moaned, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, "I'm telling ya, Tria, that kid's got a death grip. He was also givin' me this really creepy look."
"He idolizes you." I said, standing across from the other Warden and mimicking his posture, "You were beaten right before his eyes, but you got right back up and took on those same thugs to save the day. You're his hero."
Leon blushed at the idea of being someone's hero. "I didn't do anything. You were the one who snapped me out of my funk. If anything, he should be idolizing you."
I laughed, "Oh, come on, Leon! Give yourself some credit, will ya?" I shook my head, looking at him. "You were being put under a lot of pressure to do something you were afraid of, and you were beaten up because of that fear. You then opened up to someone you've only known a few days, and managed to overcome your fear and save the day!"
I held my arms out when I finished my explanation. Leon stared at me in shock before smiling and shaking his head.
"Well, when you put it that way…" he said, chuckling. Nibbles sighed.
"Duuuude! You guys totally KILLED IT!" was how Sean greeted us when we entered his office, "It's a shame people have to be so unrighteous in a sweet park like this, ya know?" He then shrugged. "But I guess, like, there's evil lurking around every corner in this old world."
I nodded sadly, although only Nibbles noticed the sorrow in the motion of my head. If only they knew what evil truly is.
Sean continued, "Anyway, now Fossil Park America can be totally chill again, thanks to you!"
"Thank you, sir." I said humbly as I noticed my Warden rank rise.
"Thanks, Chief." Leon said more casually.
"And Tria…" Sean said, looking at me directly, "Becks and I are, like, totally impressed with your performance."
"We thought that getting Leon to work with others was an impossible task." Becky elaborated, "And yet, you not only got him to work with you on this mission, but you also got him to admit his mistake AND apologize! That's absolutely incredible!"
"Hey!" Leon protested weakly, "I'm not that difficult…"
"Yes you are!" Sean and Becky both yelled at once.
"Aw, give him a break, guys." I said calmly, patting Leon's back, "I told you, I have a talent for getting through to people."
"I'll say." Leon muttered. Nibbles growled the same thing.
"Yeah, so…" Sean said, "I think you two are more than ready for me to open up the Goldrush Canyon Challenge Routes."
Leon and I looked at each other in confusion. "Challenge Routes?"
Sean growled, putting his fingers to his temples. "Oh, man! I totally spaced on telling you about Challenge Routes, didn't I?" Becky rolled her eyes at her brother's forgetfulness.
Sean continued, "If you cruise through dig sites, you can find areas sealed off with, like, huge gates."
I nodded. I had noticed those while touring through the dig site with Sean and Becky. Leon was nodding as well.
"The areas behind those are called Challenge Routes. You can find some mondo-rare fossils in there."
"Cool!" I exclaimed.
"I was wondering what those were." Leon admitted.
"However," Sean continued, his tone turning to one of annoyance, "There are also these bogus rogue vivosaurs called Fossil Eaters. Those guys aren't just mean- they sometimes destroy fossils just for kicks! That's why we gotta have these gates. And we only open up the gates to folks who prove they can handle it." He then grinned, showing off his gleaming teeth, and gave us a thumbs-up. "Got it?"
"Got it!" Leon and I answered in unison.
"Groovy." Sean said happily.
"Oh yeah, I almost forgot!" Becky exclaimed, "The Captain called. He wants you back in Fossil Park Asia so you don't miss dinner again."
"Of course." I said as I saluted the senior Warden.
"I'm impressed, Tria." Sean said to me, "Things got pretty heavy, but you nailed every trick! Next time we need help, I'm totally calling you!"
"I second that." Leon added. I blushed at the praise.
"Thank you." I said, bowing to them. I then turned to leave, with Leon following me.
"Tria, wait!" Leon called after me as I headed for the World Gate. I turned back to face him. He was blushing.
"Look, I'm not good at this kind of thing, but…" he said nervously, scratching the back of his head, "Thanks for the help. If not for you, those perps woulda mopped the floor with me."
"Nonsense." I said, smiling at him, "I'm sure you would've found a way to defeat them."
Leon shook his head. "No. I used to think Fossil Battles were all about individual strength, you know? But now I see that's not all there is." He then looked around, as if worried that someone might overhear, before asking hastily, "Anyway, what do you say you and me become Paleo Pals?" He then stuttered, "I mean…you know…if you want."
My face almost split from the grin that spread across it. Unable to contain my joy, I jumped on the taller male, embracing him. "Of course! I'd love to!"
Leon stiffened, but then he relaxed and returned my embrace. "Nice." he said, a smile coloring his tone. Once we registered each other, Leon smiled at me. "You can always count on me, partner. Just say the word, and I'm there! Catch you on the flip side." he said before heading off toward his room.
I made to enter the World Gate, but I was stopped again.
"Oh, there you are!" the familiar voice of Lucky called to me. I turned to see the young boy bouncing over to me.
"You guys really pulled me out of a tight spot back there. Thanks again!"
"No problem, kiddo!" I said cheerfully, ruffling his dark red hair. Lucky laughed, looking up at me with apologetic eyes.
"I'm sorry if I sounded a little full of myself when we first met. It's just…well, as long as I can remember, everyone's been making a big deal out of my psychic powers. I guess I kind let it go to my head."
"Don't worry about it, Lucky." I said, my tone understanding, "It happens to the best of us."
"Even you?" Lucky asked me.
"Even me." I confirmed, nodding my head. Nibbles snorted in agreement.
"Well, I've thought about it, and I decided I want to be treated like a normal kid from now on!" Lucky told me, "All this fame-and-fortune stuff just causes trouble in the end."
I smiled at him. "That's very mature of you, Lucky." I praised him. He grinned and looked up at me hopefully.
"By the way, Tria." he said, looking up at me with puppy-dog eyes, "I can't drive yet, so I don't have my own Bone Buggy, but I was wondering if you wanted to be my Paleo Pal? I could ride with you and battle with my Ajka!"
"Of course!" I replied, "I'd be delighted to be your Paleo Pal!"
"Yay!" Lucky cried, hugging me around the torso, "Thank you, Tria!" He then pulled back and looked at the floor with his hands behind his back. "To be honest, my psychic abilities aren't all that powerful. But if I'm with you, I might be able to point out the fossils that don't show up on your sonar. So that's cool, huh?"
"You know it." I said, smiling.
"Oh, but don't tell anyone about that, okay? I don't want to disappoint my fans." Lucky requested.
"My lips are sealed." I swore to him, pantomiming zipping my mouth shut.
"Thanks, Tria!" he said happily. His face then took on a hesitant look, as if he was debating what to say next.
"Something wrong, Lucky?" I asked.
"I was thinking of asking Leon to be my Paleo Pal. He's my hero now!" Lucky said, bouncing excitedly, "But I don't think he likes me, so I don't know if I should…"
"Go for it!" I told him, smiling encouragingly, "I just registered him as my Paleo Pal, so knowing that you're my Paleo Pal too might warm him up to the idea."
"Really?" Lucky asked, his optimism returning.
"Yep!" I said, writing on a piece of paper and handing it to him, "Here's my phone number. Share it with Leon, and you can call me to tell me how the meeting went. Or you can have Leon call me, and you two can talk to me together."
"Okay!" Lucky took the piece of paper and bounced around excitedly, "Where is he?"
I pointed in the direction of Leon's room, and Lucky took off in that direction. I shook my head, a smile on my face as I watched him go.
"Do you really think the purple one can handle the little one's energy?" Nibbles asked me as we both headed through the World Gate.
"He'd better get used to it." I answered, "It's hard to stay isolated when you're a Warden."
"I can tell." he growled in reply.
When I came out of the World Gate, I was met with my friends there. We gathered at the table to eat dinner, with me telling the group about my mission in America. I didn't tell them about Leon's breakdown, but I did tell them that I had convinced him to be my Paleo Pal (Nate was as astonished as Sean and Becky were). Halfway through dinner, I got a call from Leon and Lucky. Apparently, Leon had accepted Lucky's offer to be Paleo Pals to get Lucky to let go of his arm. We chatted for the rest of dinner, with Nate, Penny, and Roland joining in for a six-way chat. Afterward, we said our goodbyes and went to bed, getting ready for another day of life with the Wardens.
