A/N: *Bowing deeply* I sincerely apologize for that last nonchapter entry! I was clueless, and I will not be conveying information like that again! I had just thought this chapter would take longer to get up, and I wanted to put in the other stuff! I AM SO SORRY!

Thank you to everyone who is still reading and who has stuck with me this far! And I am so grateful to those who continue to encourage me and review, especially birthdaypi, HersheyChocolates101, Iheartninjago2010, and NinjaNat0215!

Chapter 26

**Arwyn's POV

Deciding my run should be short, due to the circumstances, I had gone out less than two miles before I turned around in the trail and headed back toward the Bounty. I already figured someone had noted my absence, especially when I saw Merlin flying overhead.

Wonder if Nya told on me, or Zane just happened to go looking for me? I considered as I smiled benignly and waved, resisting a rude hand gesture.

The sudden movement of a rabbit skipping across the path sent a little surge of adrenaline through me, forcing my attention back to my surroundings. I knew I had to remain alert for any potential danger, my trainers had taught me that much, so I had thought ahead to bring weapons and a mode of quick transportation with me, hence Zane's shurikens.

But I was letting my mind wander way too much, which was fine when I was encircled by my protectors. Now, however, was a bad time to become careless, and not a lot of forethought had gone into this rash decision.

Oh, well, enjoy your solitary run, 'cause it may be your last one.

When I was less than a mile from the Bounty, I felt an extra pep in my step just before the static of the Master of Lightning made itself apparent. Rounding a little bend in the trail at the top of a low rise, I spotted him easily as he ran up the trace in a flowery, fuchsia-and-teal shirt. I had a good chuckle over his choice of running clothes.

Stopping on the path, Jay waited for me to reach him, then joined me in the direction of the ship, staying at my side when the path was wide enough. "Hey." I scrutinized his bright attire with a droll grin. "What's up?"

"Oh, I just heard you were out here alone, upsetting Cole, and breaking kind of a major rule." Odd how he could easily carry on a conversation while running. He also didn't wear his customary smile. "A rule which is, correct me if I'm wrong, one I think we covered during a discussion in the bridge a while back. In fact, it was 'the thing before the laundry'. Remember that one?"

"Yeah, yeah. Sue me," I dismissively said between breaths, watching the path for potential hazards.

He didn't pause. "This run could have waited. You didn't have to be so impatient…."

"I'm not impatient!" I argued. "I'm aggravated and sick of not being able to do things…pant…when and how I want to for over a month! I've only been off the Bounty…pant…to run and go into Ninjago City once since I changed my entire life!"

I had to pause in my rant to suck in a couple of deep breaths as I dodged a briar branch. "Do you have any idea what it's like to not have a say in your own comings…pant… and goings unless you have an escort? I'm shocked you guys let me go to the bathroom alone!" Gasp!

"I think we're all aware that you don't like it, but that's the way it has to be," Jay replied soberly, doing a one-eighty on a clear, straight portion of the trail so he was running backwards a step ahead of me. "Look at what just happened with the Serpentine a few days ago. We could have lost you!"

I wanted to trip him, but not just for showing off.

"As for getting off of the Bounty, we were about to do that, so that can't be one of your excuses for leaving just now," he continued with a thoughtful expression, still facing me. "Why else did you decide you had to come out here alone? What happened?"

Pausing a moment, I finally burst out with only part of the truth, "Nothing! I'm just tired of being nothing but the 'Green Ninja' to everyone! I want to be more than that!"

"What do you mean?" His brow creased as he pivoted on the trace to again face forward. "You know you're also our teammate, our friend, our sister…."

"You know that's not what I mean!" He knew that full well! Why was he annoyingly playing dumb? "You know I want to be more!"

Strangely for Jay, he didn't say anything for several running steps. Finally he offered sincerely, "I'm sorry that I can't give that to you, Arwyn. Not that I haven't tried…"

"Thanks, but I've beginning to believe that it's something I won't ever obtain," I admitted resignedly, catching sight of Merlin circling back.

"Maybe we should just come out with that secret, and get it over with. I sure it'll all work out."

"No! It'll only make matters worse," I insisted as we neared the edge of the forest and slowed to a fast walk. "Something makes me think I'd just be embarrassing myself if I did that now."

"You should try seduction," he said with the smallest of confident smiles as we stepped onto sandier ground.

I had to laugh at that. "Really, Jay? That makes a man easy to catch, but tough to hold."

Laughing lightly with me, he said, "Oh, if I were being seduced, I don't think I'd put up much of a fight!" His laughter stopped all of a sudden, and he revised his remark, "Uh, I don't think any man would!" His glance at the ship ahead of us seemed nervous.

Lifting my perspiring face toward the Bounty, which was still about three hundred feet away, I spied Cole, Zane, and Nya at the railing. My chest tightened when Cole retreated from the banister and disappeared from view.

"Just forget it," I advised him, lifting the hem of my tank and wiping my brow.

"Okay, whatever you want," my colorful companion sighed as we approached the ship. "Anyway, you know that when we get back, there's gonna be a lecture, Cole's really pissed! And then he's got to discipline you in some way for breaking the rules. We all get it if we don't stick to Sensei's orders."

I wasn't sure it mattered anymore if I upset Cole. Did I still have any chance with him? But there was another issue at stake. "Like what kind of punishment?"

"Like extra training, missing a day off, or doing everyone's chores for a week," Jay listed with a little scowl. "Usually that sort of thing." Chuckling a bit, he added, "Kai did it several times in the beginning, and I screwed up once, but never again! Cole and Zane have never broken the rules, though." Goody-two-shoes times two.

I tried to act indifferent as I caught my breath, and my respiratory rate slowed. "Whatever." I was so gonna regret having done this.

"Just remember that whatever he does, it's not to be mean," he quickly amended, doubtless trying to head off any knee-jerk reactions.

"I know. It's just because he's the leader. He's just my boss." Jadedly, I added, "That's all he'll ever be."

"He's nobody's boss!" Jay disagreed insistently. "But rules are rules, and whatever he does, I'm backing him!" He made his point with a finger in my direction. "You can't keep taking risks like this."

"I know, already!" I snapped as I watched him pop a small handful of berries into his mouth. "Where'd you get those, and why aren't you sharing?"

Chewing happily, he informed me, "I'm not sharing. You have to pick your own, like a booger."

Grimacing, I stopped and crossed my arms when we reached the anchor. "Go on up first, so you can line up with the rest of the gauntlet."

He gave me a puzzled look.

"Get in line to dole out the punishment!" I simplified. "And make it snappy, or I'll pants you on the way up!"

Already starting his climb, the fuchsia-and-teal ninja glanced quickly over his shoulder, exclaiming, "Arwyn, don't you dare do that again!"

As he scrambled up the chain, I followed him and let loose a loud, maniacal laugh, wishing there was somewhere else I could run instead of having to face Cole.

**Cole's POV

After my revelation following my outburst with him, Zane had quietly contemplated me a moment as Nya stood silently at his side, waiting, possibly, to offer me her support, but, more likely, hoping to nag me. With a finger, I fiddled with a splinter of wood on the railing, wondering what he was thinking. Eventually, he voiced a comment. "How long have you felt this way?"

Looking out toward the spot Jay had entered the forest, I heaved a sigh, "Since I met her in the clinic."

Zane's pale brows came up. "I assume she is not aware of this." His tone was even and non-judgmental. "Why have you not informed her of your affections?" Nya wordlessly rolled her eyes at that.

I ran a hand over my face and mumbled awkwardly between my fingers, "Because she's the Green Ninja…and Sensei's daughter?"

He looked doubtfully at me. "But…what does that matter? She is also a woman who appears to care for you to at least some extent." A self-righteous sound of agreement came from his elbow.

Rubbing my face with both hands in a self-conscious gesture, I muttered, "I know. It seemed so reasonable in the begin…" Then I grasped the rest of his comment and dropped my hands quickly. "Wait, what? 'Appears to care' for me? How do you know?"

"Anyone who is observant enough would notice how you interact with one another," he answered straightforwardly. "Also, yesterday evening, when you revealed her as the prankster, you both had elevated resting heart rates into the nineties, which is very unusual for both of you." He raised a brow again, along with a corner of his mouth. "I deduced that something had occurred between you before you came out of the bathroom." Nya snorted and covered her smile with her fingertips.

Knowing my face had gone the color of Kai's uniform, I put my back to them and squeezed my eyes shut. Does he also know my blood type and sperm count?! At that moment, my comlink vibrated with an incoming call, startling me back to the present situation. Only Jay or Arwyn would be likely to be calling.

I hastily punched the button to turn on the audio and could hear Jay saying, "Oh, I just heard you were out here alone, upsetting Cole, and breaking kind of a major rule." He had opened his end one-way. I brought the communication device closer to my ear.

It was apparent as he questioned her that Arwyn was not aware that Jay was allowing me to listen in, which I thought was very underhanded of him, but I wasn't gonna turn it off, either! Moreover, neither of the two with me suggested doing so, especially when they were leaning in closer to hear better.

When Arwyn stated with conviction that she wanted to be more than just the Green Ninja, and Jay replied that he had tried to give her that, Nya assumed an uneasy expression. I shared her reaction. The topic of the secret came up, and she really perked up, appearing more disturbed. I could only shrug.

However, "What the frick?!" was the reaction of both of us when Jay suggested seduction. "Just who is he proposing she seduce?!" Nya angrily asked no one in particular. I didn't want to think about it.

We descended to the main deck, and I watched the tree line until I saw the pair emerge as their conversation went on, with Arwyn saying she'd embarrass herself with a disclosure, increasing my misgivings.

A knot was developing in my stomach as I dreaded the confrontation I knew was coming. I had no problem yelling at Kai or Jay for doing something stupid or reckless, but this was going to be different.

Leaving the railing, I wandered over to the entry to the below-deck stairway, passing Kai who was coming up to check out what was happening. Noticing my demeanor, he wisely kept on going to meet Nya and Zane.

One of the last of her comments, the remark about my being just a boss to her, made me flinch hard as I reached the stairs. Was that truly how she regarded me? Not willing to hear more, I turned off the comlink, then reached up and gripped the wooden lintel of the stairway opening, staring blankly into the darkened passageway.

It wasn't so funny how a statement of hers could so easily kick my legs out from under me. Guess that's what I get for eavesdropping.

Crazy laughter sounded from Arwyn below the ship, followed shortly by a cry of protest from Jay. Within a minute, Kai's cackling greeted Jay as he landed on the deck. "Yeah, yeah. She did it again. Laugh it up, fuzzy-head, you're time's coming!" the lightning ninja returned. "Hey, Nya! Almost ready to leave?"

I couldn't catch her reply, but he bounded up to me, muttering, "What's eating her?" Adjusting his shorts, my fleet-footed brother addressed me with more enthusiasm, "Ahoy, Capitan! Did you catch my transmission? I thought it might make it easier to figure out why Arwyn went AWOL."

Cutting my eyes toward him, I answered, "Yeah, I got it…It was quite…insightful."

I guess he noticed I was a little wound up. "Sorry you heard that 'boss' thing. I think Arwyn's kinda miffed about something."

"Well, we're two peas in a pod, then." Behind us, I could hear Arwyn being greeted by the rest of the team as she crossed the railing onto the deck. Better get this show on the road.

Releasing the lintel, I turned to face her as she strode toward me in her curve-hugging running clothes, possibly intent on heading for her room. As usual for her runs, she had pulled her hair back into a tight ponytail, but long, wavy tendrils now hung on either side of her still-flushed face, softening the challenging look she flashed me.

How the hell was I gonna pull off a disciplinary action when she looked so beautiful to me, even with the way her eyes dared me to chastise her? Although her 'boss' comment still rang in my ears, for the moment I had gotten past wanting to yell at her for running off.

Planting my feet and crossing my arms over my chest as she stopped impatiently within a couple of yards of me, I prepared to go into ninja-leader mode the way I knew everyone standing around expected me to do. Here goes nothing.

Inhaling slowly, I began unsmilingly, "I'm sure you're aware that you just broke the biggest, and probably only, rule you have, which Sensei made before you even came here." I tried to disregard her eye-rolling. "You are not to leave the Bounty without a Master with you. I know you haven't forgotten about it, since the subject comes up on a regular basis."

"How can I forget it?" she bit back sharply, posturing herself in imitation of me. "I'm the only one on this ship who's stuck here like a freakin' prisoner!"

"Let me reiterate. We are protecting you!" I pointed out quickly, trying to remain calm and diplomatic. "Although it's not all you are to us, as the destined Green Ninja…"

"Yeah, you know what?" said individual rudely interrupted me. "I didn't ask to be the 'destined Green Ninja', I didn't apply for this position, and I didn't even ask to come here!"

Gesturing in frustration, I could feel my ire rising rapidly. Why is she making me do this? "I shouldn't have to remind you that you were born into this, that there is no one else ordained to help us defeat the dark lord!" I shook my index finger in front of her face. "By selfishly running off alone, you recklessly risked yourself and all of…!"

"'Selfishly'? You try living like this with no autonomy!" She was now pointing angrily at my chest while our brothers and Nya watched the whole mess with morbid curiosity. "And what is the big deal? The radar was clear! Nothing happened, did it?!"

Oh, it was definitely time for a serious reality check. "'WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL'?" My voice rose steeply in volume as I bawled out irately, "THE SERPENTINE, WHO CAN TUNNEL, HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO APPEAR OUT OF NOWHERE, AND COULD'VE KIDNAPPED YOU OR SLAUGHTERED YOU, POURING YOUR BLOOD OUT ON THAT TRAIL WHILE YOUR FOUR GUARDIANS WERE TOTALLY OBLIVIOUS TO THE FACT THAT YOU WEREN'T EVEN ON THE SHIP!"

The color drained from her troubled face as she was struck speechless either by my yelling or that image. I somewhat regretted my tirade when I saw Zane grimacing behind her, but she had been missing the big picture.

Fighting to quiet down, I moved to within an arm's length of her and took her by both shoulders, saying firmly. "This is not about your independence. It's about your life and safety and the future of everyone in this land. If something were to happen to you, what would happen to Ninjago?" What would happen to me?!

Staring at my chest, she opened her mouth as if to speak, but made no sound. I had obviously knocked the wind out of her sails, giving her pause to consider. Gone were all traces of defiance or irritation.

Dropping my hands, I looked past her at the somber, mute faces around us. "Does anyone want to add anything?"

In unison, Jay and Nya shook their heads in a negative reply, while Zane just looked at me like I had slapped her in the face. With his arms crossed, Kai alone stepped forward in support of my upbraiding.

"I agree with everything he just said and whatever discipline he imposes. Each one of us would fight to the death to protect you, Arwyn, but we shouldn't have to potentially lose our lives because you did something dumb." A painful look shadowed her face, and she covered it with her hands in shame as he went on frankly, "We got damned lucky a few days ago that the blood spilled on this deck wasn't yours. We can't take any more chances."

When he was done, she lowered her hands and looked contritely at each of her guardians in turn. "I am so sorry. I wasn't thinking beyond myself or my own stupid concerns when I did this. I promise you all, something like this will not happen again." Each of us nodded our solemn acceptance of her apology, and she turned back to me to face her penalty much meeker than when she had first marched up.

Doing this to her when nothing bad had actually happened was killing me, and now it was time to make things worse. She had begun the fall of the dominoes, but it was up to me to ruin all of my plans and this day of leisure for both of us. "Everyone gets disciplined when they screw up. So, while everyone else enjoys their daytrip in the city, you'll be here training all day under my supervision."

"I think that would be most unfair to you, Cole, since you specifically asked for this day of rest." Sensei's voice startled me as he ascended the steps to the main deck. Walking from behind me to stand by my side with his bamboo staff in his hand, he addressed Arwyn without hesitation.

"I am most disappointed." Alarmed, she glanced at him, then silently cast her eyes to the deck as he continued in an obviously vexed tone. "I took such pains to protect and shelter you since before your birth, giving you up to strangers at the cost of my own heart and happiness, all because of my love for you and for the sake of the salvation of Ninjago. All of that, only to have you act disobediently and childishly because you desire to do as you wish?" He punctuated that last part by rapping the butt of his staff on the weathered wood of the deck.

"For what reason would you act in such a way?" He waited for Arwyn's response as her eyes darted up to mine for a second before she lowered her head again and answered softly, "I have no good reason."

Our teacher was quiet for a moment, then he spoke gruffly, "Look at me." Raising her face, she dutifully met his gaze, whereupon he must have made a gesture unseen by me, for she suddenly dropped to both knees on the deck, curiously settling into what I thought was seiza.

Her next move stunned me, however, when she placed both hands on the floor in front of her and bowed so low that I thought her forehead rested on the wood.

Dogeza. I had only seen this traditional outward expression of apology and submission one time before while traveling through a remote mountain village. Seeing Arwyn performing this act of humility hurt my heart, and I thought the tension in my neck and shoulders was going to cause muscles to snap.

Sensei Wu stood straight as an arrow and stared out over the deck of the ship, expressionless, as she remained prostrate, both of them unmoving. I noticed that Nya and the guys were busily examining cloud formations during all of this.

After several painfully long moments, he bent forward and tugged on Arwyn's shoulders, urging her up. Running footsteps sounded behind me, and Lloyd rushed up to meet us as she stood, exclaiming, "Did I miss something?!" No one answered him as the tension slowly eased.

I placed a hand on the boy's shoulder to stay him as Sensei stated to Arwyn, whose head was still bowed, "As Cole said, you will remain here in training for the day, but I will be supervising while he and the rest of your brethren enjoy the day in the city." I jerked my head in his direction to dispute my change of schedule as he added on more to the sentence. "And you will also be denied the pleasure of their company for the rest of the day."

NNNOOOOOO! I gawked at him incredulously. He was ruining the last shreds of my plans! Not only was our day of fun in the city gone, but the afternoon in the glade and anything beyond that was trashed, too! I would have no time with her today, at this rate!

Arwyn's head had come up, desolation on her face as she realized she was being ostracized, if only temporarily. I had not seen her this unhappy since she had come here, not even when she had questioned being abandoned by Sensei. Omigod, she's going to hate me for all of this! I have to do something quick!

"Uh, Sensei, I really don't mind staying behind," I began hesitantly, since I knew I was gonna be stepping on his toes. "I can take care of the training, you really don't…" He didn't let me finish.

"Put it out of your mind, Cole, and enjoy your day." Like that was gonna happen now! "Arwyn and I will be fine alone, and if we run into problems, we will contact you all." Regarding Arwyn, he instructed, "Wait for me in the aft-most training room."

Nodding wordlessly, she set out for below-deck, glancing my way over her shoulder as she began to descend the stairs. "Arwyn!" Reaching out a hand, I started forward, but was brought up short by my master's bamboo staff thudding against my chest.

"Go now as I said, Cole. We will be fine,"he reassured me confidently. "Do not return before five, and bring back kibbah and chicken shawarma from that restaurant on the corner of Reed and Benoit for supper." And, just like that, with an order for take-out, I was dismissed along with the rest of his students.

After I helplessly watched his rice hat disappear, I remembered that Lloyd was heeling when he spoke. "Um, Cole? I don't know if I really feel like going to Ninjago City now. Maybe later. Will that be okay with you?"

Glancing down at him in surprise, I felt a twinge of betrayal. "But earlier you were dying to come to the city with me. I thought you wanted to go to Doomsday Comix."

Fidgeting somewhat, he apologetically mumbled, "Well, something's come up, and I'd just rather stay."

Something in the way he said that suddenly clicked with me. Tousling his pale mop, I laughed quietly. "That's okay, buddy. I totally understand."

Surprising me even more, he responded with total assurance, "I know."

My eyes narrowed suspiciously at his certitude. "You know what?"

"Der. I know you like Arwyn." Lloyd awarded me a very tolerant look.

"Uh, well, uh, everybody likes Arwyn…" I tried covering. Was this the day everyone, except the object of my affection, found out I was in love?

"Yeah," he agreed, then smiled conspiratorially up at me. "But you 'LIKE-like' her."

Attempting to act as cool as a cucumber, I scoffed lightly, "How can you possibly know this?"

Rolling his steel-grey eyes, he stood a little straighter, saying proudly, "I may be ten years old, but I'm not a kindergartner. I can see it every time you look at her." Well, crap.

Oh, well. May as well utilize this. "Uh, can you tell if she… 'like-likes'… me?" I asked, more hopefully than I should have.

Garmadon's spawn peered at me derisively. "Hey, I'm only ten years old! I can't tell what a woman is thinking!" Drat.

Running a hand through my hair, I sighed heavily, "Ah, well, don't worry about it. You won't be able to tell no matter how old you are."

Viewing me inquisitively for a second, he finally shrugged and started for the stairs. "I'm gonna see if Uncle needs my help with anything!" Stopping on the third step, he turned back to me as I still stood on the deck, feeling my mood circling the drain, following my plans for the day.

"If you're bringing something home for Uncle, would you get me a gyro, too? Oh, and I bet Arwyn would like veggie kabobs and falafel! And could we have baklava for dessert?" Having given me his order, he dashed down the steps.

I had just been officially relegated to food-delivery duty. Closing my eyes and rubbing my temples, I soon became aware of the conversation going on behind me.

"Well, Sensei said to leave, so we'd better get going," Kai declared, with his comrades voicing agreement.

"I'm already ready!" Jay announced. "Just need a little extra antiperspirant! Are you about ready to leave, Nya?"

Walking past me, she halted at the top of the stairs and turned to face him with an unyielding look and a tougher tone. "Jay. We need to talk."

I didn't have to look back at him to know that no amount of antiperspirant was gonna save him now. "Uh, what about, sweetie?" he questioned in a voice that sounded a touch higher and shakier than usual.

"Cole wasn't the only one who was privy to your conversation with Arwyn," she informed him irritably, crossing her arms in front of her. Seeing her body language, I knew he was about to get raked over the coals. "You and Arwyn apparently have a secret, and you're encouraging her to seduce someone? Just what is going on between you two?!"

I had to check out how the Master was gonna wheedle his way out of this one. "Heh, heh! You heard that, huh?" His eyes flitted to me, then back to Nya, who impatiently tapped her foot as she waited for his defensive move.

"It's not really anything, just a small, insignificant secret. Heh…And I certainly wasn't suggesting she seduce me… I mean, I was joking anyway, it…" A bead of sweat was gathering on his brow as he took in her stone-cold glare. Heck, she was making me uncomfortable.

Nya continued to simply stand and wait for Jay to produce something she was satisfied with, but he insisted on making it hard for himself. And with witnesses, no less. Grabbing the back of his neck, he tried hemming and hawing. "Like I said, it's just a small, teeny secret, nothing you need to concern yourself with at all…not a thing…really! A nonentity. Smaller than small. I don't even know why I know it…Can't remember how I learned it, even…In fact, what secret?"

I could tell she was losing her patience as her stare became more penetrating, and her foot tapped faster. At last, against all our better judgments, he winced and said, "I can't say anything."

"You can, and you will!" she corrected him irrefutably.

"But I said I wouldn't! And I've been doing so good so far, too!" He seemed so proud. I wondered how proud he would be if he were single.

"Yay, you've set a record." Her cheer was unenthusiastic. Dropping her arms and stepping down the stairs, she threatened, "You will sincerely regret it if you don't tell me immediately. I'll be in my room getting ready to leave…with or without you!"

Jay looked after her worriedly. "Nya?" He glanced quickly at me, then at the two men behind me, apparently deciding that her company, such as she was, was better than hanging with us. "Nya! Wait!" Leaping from the main deck, he cleared the entire flight, landing in the corridor below, and raced after her.

As I stood watching the dust settle behind Jay, Kai and Zane stepped up to stand on either side of me. Zane had a trace of a smile, while Kai chortled with satisfaction at his brother's quandary, "I guess we should have told her about that a couple of weeks ago, huh?" I nodded in silent agreement.

On my right, Zane leaned over to address Kai from across me. "Were you aware that Cole is in love with Arwyn?" I nearly swallowed my tongue.

Not believing that the quiet one had just divulged a confidence of mine right in front of my face, I burst out, "For God's sake, Zane! That wasn't supposed to be broadcast nationally!"

From my left, with a straight face, Kai barely glanced at Frosty. "Duh. Why do you think I almost got ripped a new one a couple of times?"

Staring at my blaze-brandishing brother in astonishment, I gasped, "You knew?"

His obsidian eyes squinted in the sun as he gave a bored wave of his hand. "You may have other secrets I don't know about, but you weren't hard to figure out on this one."

He cocked his head at me with an amused twist to his mouth. "Why do you think I, (A), backed off of her, and, (B), needled you at the coffee shop over never dating? Because, (A), I didn't want to fight my much-bigger brother who cared more for her, and, (B), it was fun."

I face-palmed in exasperation. "Who the hell doesn't know?"

Kai looked thoughtful. "Hmm…maybe Jay? Nya? Arwyn? Lloyd? Sensei? No, he knows everything. Probably why he's been hounding you. By the way, shouldn't you let Arwyn know at some point?"

"I'm trying to. And Nya and Lloyd know."

"Well, get a move on," he advised as he gave me a friendly punch in the shoulder. "You may be the solid-as-a-rock Master of Earth, but even the earth's crust has fault lines and fissures. I think you've developed yours. Wait any longer and you're gonna crack wide open."

As the three of us headed to the bunkroom to change for our daytrip, I considered his words. Kai was right. Compared to how stable I had seemed two months ago, having Arwyn enter my world had really shaken things up. For the better.

A/N: Thanks for dropping by, now drop me a line! And just for fun, let me know from which country you hail! Have a terrific weekend! Namaste!