"Claire, I'm home!" came a familiar voice from the doorway as I watched myself playing with a few toys I had as a child. I saw my little, frail body stand and run towards the living room to meet with my father and then wrap my arms around him. "How's my little girl?" he asked lovingly as he peered through his golden locks.
"She's doing fine, dear," came an involuntary voice.
"Is that so?" He laughed as he approached, "I'm sorry I can't be home more, Yuki," he said as he came close and hugged me. It made sense to me now, I was watching the dream from my mother's point of view.
"It's alright, I understand," I felt my mom smile as I watched myself come up and join in the hug, "Claire doesn't want to be left out too, she's so cute!"
"And beautiful, just like you," Rufus laughed as he picked me up, "She has your hair, and just like yours, it reminds me of the snow."
"And also your eyes," my mother whispered as she kissed my cheek, "Those crimson eyes that captured my heart."
Before more could happen, everything flashed white and the dream faded into reality as my eyes were stung by the golden beams of the sun. I got up and started stretching as I stood on the branch before realizing that I was smiling whilst a tear rolled down my cheek. "I didn't think I had the memory," I thought to myself as I wiped the tear away. I carefully and silently jumped down the tree and looked around to see Eric sleeping while Lauren was drawing something on his face.
"Oh, hey there Claire," he laughed as he continued drawing on Eric's face with a paintbrush, "You will love this!"
"Won't he wake up if you talk so loud?" I asked as I raised my brow.
"Na, Eric sleeps like a log I can even do this!" he said as he kicked Eric hard but all he did was roll to the side while grumbling, "See?"
"Oh wow," I said as I laughed a bit, "He really sleeps like a dead log."
"Okay, let me just put a few finishing touches...a~and...done!" he said as he lifted his brush, "Now this will be funny to watch, if only we could somehow wake him up."
"I might know," I giggled which made Lauren look curious, "Watch." I walked up to Eric, who had his back turned against me, and whispered in his ear, "Eric, its time to wake up, Lauren is eating your breakfast."
"Hey you jerk! That's my food!" he growled as he shot up like an arrow, which made me roll back a little. I looked up and saw the painting that Lauren did and I couldn't help but double over in pain due to laughter. He had pink hearts around his eyes with rainbows and unicorns spread across his face. Stars decorated his forehead while the rest that wasn't painted was covered in coal, making his face black. "Wha–" he was about to ask before he noticed the paint brush in Lauren's hand, "Oh, you little..."
"Do you want to dance mi lady?" He asked as he bowed and looked up at him, which made me realize that he was now wearing a frilly pink gown too, making me laugh even harden.
Eric looked down and then gazed at Lauren, "I'm going to fucking kill you!" He pulled out his swords and started to chase after Lauren as both blades began to be surrounded with frost and flame.
"My, my, how unladylike!" Lauren taunted as he jumped on to a low branch and turned towards Eric.
"Shut up!" Eric screamed as he sent waves of fire and ice towards Lauren, "I'm really going to fucking kill you!"
The morning kept going on like this for nearly an hour before Eric finally calmed down, but not before it seemed like he burnt and froze half the forest.
"Ha ha, wait till I tell Ryan about this!" Lauren laughed as we all set out, after, of course, Eric placed his own clothes back on.
"You better not!" Eric shouted at Lauren looking a bit worried, "He's going to murder me, that tree loving druid!"
"True, true," Lauren thought a while before laughing, "Then I couldn't mess with you anymore!"
"Oh, shut up!" Eric said as he tried to punch Lauren but hit nothing but air, "Damn weasel!"
"Lauren," I cautioned as I turned back.
"Alright, alright, I'll stop taunting the bull...or cow," he laughed.
"Lauren!" I snapped as I turned around quickly.
"Fine, I'll stop teasing your boyfriend," he laughed harder.
"He's not my boyfriend!" I growled as my face turned red.
"So you're an easy get then?" he started to double over in pain from the inability to breathe.
"Last warning..." I warned as I called my Neo Arbiters to my side.
"Can you even catch my with your bullets?" he taunted as he started to dart from tree to tree.
"I can," as I did a flash step to his next location and jabbed one of the guns into his stomach, "Wanna feel how a frost bullet feels in the stomach?"
"N-no mam..." he gulped as a cold sweat dripped down his face all the while looking into my hunter's eyes.
"Good boy," I said as I returned my handguns and jumped down the tree with Lauren obediently following close behind.
"Looks like she tamed you pretty quick, Lauren," Eric laughed.
"And he made a complete fool out of you," I reminded, making him shrug.
"Well, the village is nearby, we can stop there to get more supplies, sell some of the things we got and maybe even buy new stuff," he offered, "I'd actually like to sleep indoors once in a while. Besides, if I remember right, girls like to go shopping, and there's a really nice mall there."
"I'm not much of a shopper," I replied bluntly, "But take as long as you need, I just want to get to Xenia as quick as I can."
"Who's in Xenia that you want to meet so bad anyway?" Lauren asked.
"My mom, she's in Xenia," I answered as we walked.
"Oh, I see, anyway, we should still head to the village first, a couple of the old chasers sent their kids there to help, some of the old chasers are even there," Lauren pointed out.
"Then we better hurry up," I said, "Its better we don't keep them waiting."
Yay~ A really light hearted chapter that actually came on time xD
I might not be able to update this monday as I'll have open-heart surgery. If its a success then yes, I probably will be able to update and hope you guys would keep reading. I enjoy reading your comments and I'm happy to see that people actually follow the story. Thanks guys, I'm thankful for your support with the story as I'm just a starting writer and the support you have given me really helps. Anyway, Thanks again for reading and I hope I can update this on monday.
he-jay – I love reading your story and it also helps keep me encouraged to write mine(though truth be told it makes mine seem pretty bad xD ) i really look forward to reading what you write next as Rufus, Lire and Lass are my 3 favorite characters in grand chase. Good luck in your story~!
