JANA
Jana had never been this hungry or thirsty before in her life. Her arms and legs had been tied tightly to the large stone rock- the Kronock- and could feel that her hands had gone numb from lack of movement and the cold.
Her mother had tried to bring her food and water, and so had Ceri, but her father had shouted at the both of them and had made Aran and Meinir guard them to stop them from sabotaging the rite.
The second task would be completed the following morning and Jana was looking forward to the feast that would follow. She tried not to think about the meat that was being prepared or the fresh water that was being collected. It had rained once but only for a few minutes and that felt like years ago.
At least she wasn't alone.
Rhydian stood before her, his blonde hair glowing in the moonlight. He waved at Jana and smiled at her.
"I guess you must have really annoyed your father," the boy said.
"No, it's the Rite of Twaltan," Jana explained, although it hurt to speak.
Rhydian moved towards his friend and tried to untie the ropes.
"No," Jana said, "I have to stay here until morning."
"Then I'll stay with you," Rhydian replied.
Jana smiled as she looked at the small three year old boy who had always been a brother to her.
RHYDIAN
Rhydian rubbed the sleep from his eyes as he sat at the bus stop in a town that he had only been to once or twice. The sun had just risen above the horizon and was blinding him slightly, but light kept him awake.
He had run all night and now was a good twenty or so miles from his foster home. He didn't really care too much about where he was going, expect he wanted to make sure he was heading north. He had barely enough money for the bus to Newcastle and from there he would just have to hope that he remembered his way back to the brown haired girl.
The bus pulled up at the stop and Rhydian climbed on showing his ticket to the driver.
He settled in a seat next to a large window and fell asleep.
For the first time in a long while he felt like he was going home.