heh, sorry 'bout the cliff hangers. at least i didnt leave it off THAT badly rite.
oh and yah, they were ooc. sorry, ill try more this time.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
Briar dipped his bare feet in the waters of the natural caves. After walking over rocks, without shoes, his feet ached slightly.
They had agreed to meet there, to discuss "plans." When Briar had pestered Niko about another traveling companion, the man had sighed. "Briar, do you think i need some other thing to worry about?"
Well, after three hours of constant and forced deliberation, the mage had wisely capitulated.
Sandry? Briar called in his mind. He listened for her reply, patting his pocket just to feel the emerald-encrusted rock he had dug out of the cave wall. Just imagine! There didn't seem to be any more, but...it would be enough for something he had in mind.
Almost there! her distant cry rang faintly in his ears.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
Sandry, streaked with mud, entered the dark cave. "Briar?"
The dark shadows moved, and the boy slouched out. "Here." He nearly laughed out loud when he saw the mudball she had become, until she threatened to push him in the pool. Again, she added. I did it when we were thirteen, remember? And I wont hesitate this time..." she warned silently. Briar continued to grin, however.
Washing her arms in the pool of cave water, she avoided eye contact. Worried, Briar nudged her mind. Sandry? Is everything alright? He poked at the shadowy blot, trying to see what was bothering her.
She whirled. "Briar, stop that!" Realizing they were not going to go anywhere until she told him, she groaned and sunk down onto her knees. Burying her head into her lap, she moaned, "Uncle wanted me to think about settling down...you know, the whole betrothal operation and all."
"What?" Briar yelled, his voice echoing to distant caverns. Taking a deep breath, he controlled his temper. I better keep to this, 'wise i would alert all people on the continent with bellowing.
Briar! What am i going to do? I yelled and practically threw a tantrum. So far, i've made him stall all processes, and i can go to WInding Circle with you and Niko. But he's still thinking about it! Sandry sniffed, pausing her frantic mindspeech. Besides, i couldnt explain to him exactly why i didnt want any formal arrangements, either.
"Well," Briar said out loud, "At least you can come with us. That gives us a bit of time, considering."
Her blue eyes flashing, she scowled. "I dont want a bit of time, i want my own life!" Sandry kicked the dusty stone floor of the cave. "I will go absolutely nuts if Uncle trys to control every little bitty aspect of me, including marriage!"
She sighed, her anger dissipating. "I know he just means best, but sometimes he's so traditional." Sandry looked so sorrowful that Briar felt, despite his usually gruff moods, the strong need to hug her. Kissing her forehead, he restrained himself. It wouldnt be appropriate to repeat that amazing display they had shown on the staircase yesterday.
Briar grinned, an idea entering his head. "Then we won't let him do that, will we? I mean, there has to be another way."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Niko pounded on Briar's door. "Boy, its time to leave! Our wagon and horses are ready, and we have to leave! Briar! BRIAR!"
"Hey, Niko," the plant boy complained. "Its barely dawn!" He stifled a yawn and grabbed his carrysacks. Stumbling out to the gates, he saw that Sandry was already mounted on her Honey, seemingly perky and awake.
"And why are you so up and alert at this ungodly hour?" he grumbled. Approaching his brown Nutmeg, he vaulted up to the saddle. He then saw she was dressed in worn breeches and an old shirt. Raising an eyebrow, he asked the silent question. Why?
She winked. "I had to leave now, before Uncle changes his mind. Theres a big ball scheduled for tonight, and I couldn't risk any chance that i would have to go!" She then added, Well, they are more comfortable than skirts, and, frankly, i just felt like it. I had to hide these from Uncle, he gets so upset when i wear them.
"You two!" Niko growled, also unfriendly in the morning. "Now! To Winding Circle?"
"See what i have to put up with?" Briar murmured. Sandry just giggled.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
oh and yah, they were ooc. sorry, ill try more this time.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
Briar dipped his bare feet in the waters of the natural caves. After walking over rocks, without shoes, his feet ached slightly.
They had agreed to meet there, to discuss "plans." When Briar had pestered Niko about another traveling companion, the man had sighed. "Briar, do you think i need some other thing to worry about?"
Well, after three hours of constant and forced deliberation, the mage had wisely capitulated.
Sandry? Briar called in his mind. He listened for her reply, patting his pocket just to feel the emerald-encrusted rock he had dug out of the cave wall. Just imagine! There didn't seem to be any more, but...it would be enough for something he had in mind.
Almost there! her distant cry rang faintly in his ears.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
Sandry, streaked with mud, entered the dark cave. "Briar?"
The dark shadows moved, and the boy slouched out. "Here." He nearly laughed out loud when he saw the mudball she had become, until she threatened to push him in the pool. Again, she added. I did it when we were thirteen, remember? And I wont hesitate this time..." she warned silently. Briar continued to grin, however.
Washing her arms in the pool of cave water, she avoided eye contact. Worried, Briar nudged her mind. Sandry? Is everything alright? He poked at the shadowy blot, trying to see what was bothering her.
She whirled. "Briar, stop that!" Realizing they were not going to go anywhere until she told him, she groaned and sunk down onto her knees. Burying her head into her lap, she moaned, "Uncle wanted me to think about settling down...you know, the whole betrothal operation and all."
"What?" Briar yelled, his voice echoing to distant caverns. Taking a deep breath, he controlled his temper. I better keep to this, 'wise i would alert all people on the continent with bellowing.
Briar! What am i going to do? I yelled and practically threw a tantrum. So far, i've made him stall all processes, and i can go to WInding Circle with you and Niko. But he's still thinking about it! Sandry sniffed, pausing her frantic mindspeech. Besides, i couldnt explain to him exactly why i didnt want any formal arrangements, either.
"Well," Briar said out loud, "At least you can come with us. That gives us a bit of time, considering."
Her blue eyes flashing, she scowled. "I dont want a bit of time, i want my own life!" Sandry kicked the dusty stone floor of the cave. "I will go absolutely nuts if Uncle trys to control every little bitty aspect of me, including marriage!"
She sighed, her anger dissipating. "I know he just means best, but sometimes he's so traditional." Sandry looked so sorrowful that Briar felt, despite his usually gruff moods, the strong need to hug her. Kissing her forehead, he restrained himself. It wouldnt be appropriate to repeat that amazing display they had shown on the staircase yesterday.
Briar grinned, an idea entering his head. "Then we won't let him do that, will we? I mean, there has to be another way."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Niko pounded on Briar's door. "Boy, its time to leave! Our wagon and horses are ready, and we have to leave! Briar! BRIAR!"
"Hey, Niko," the plant boy complained. "Its barely dawn!" He stifled a yawn and grabbed his carrysacks. Stumbling out to the gates, he saw that Sandry was already mounted on her Honey, seemingly perky and awake.
"And why are you so up and alert at this ungodly hour?" he grumbled. Approaching his brown Nutmeg, he vaulted up to the saddle. He then saw she was dressed in worn breeches and an old shirt. Raising an eyebrow, he asked the silent question. Why?
She winked. "I had to leave now, before Uncle changes his mind. Theres a big ball scheduled for tonight, and I couldn't risk any chance that i would have to go!" She then added, Well, they are more comfortable than skirts, and, frankly, i just felt like it. I had to hide these from Uncle, he gets so upset when i wear them.
"You two!" Niko growled, also unfriendly in the morning. "Now! To Winding Circle?"
"See what i have to put up with?" Briar murmured. Sandry just giggled.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~