(A/N: In writing my other fanfics, most notably "Drow", I have come to realize just how much I like hearing from the people who read my stories. So, I want at least three more reviews before I post up the next chapter. And, for once - all you people who read "Drow" know what I mean - I actually HAVE the next chapter written. So, R/R, please!)
Chapter Four
Pa'das gave Jander the coins, and he thanked her. They started moving again, with Soorefina at Jander's side.
"She likes you," Pa'das said aloud. What brought on the change of heart? she asked the panther silently.
I can change my opinions, she replied crossly. Do you have a problem with that?
Of course not. I was just curious. You almost never change your opinions, and you've been harping to me for weeks about how he would be nothing but trouble.
There's a first time for everything. She bumped against Jander's legs, and he dropped a hand down to scratch her head. But don't worry. You're still my favorite.
I'm glad to hear that. I was beginning to think you'd ditched me.
Jander was holding Korrieana, so Soorefina was free to pounce on Pa'das and drive her to the ground. The two of them, rolled all over the forest floor in a mock fight as Jander looked on, grinning.
When the two had ended their wrestling match, with Pa'das pinned beneath Soorefina, it was time for lunch. They usually didn't stop, but today they decided to. Jander said he'd make some more squirrel shish-ke-bob, and took Soorefina out to find some squirrels. Pa'das heard him teasingly scolding her as they walked away.
"You better hope you didn't scare away all the squirrels with that ruckus you made back there. We might have to try some panther shish-ke-bob, instead."
The cat snapped playfully at him as they faded from view. Pa'das was glad Jander had found another friend in Soorefina. She sublimated her feelings of jealousy - Soorefina was now spending more time with Jander than Pa'das - because she knew Jander needed all the friends he could get.
When the two came back, Soorefina came immediately to sit beside Pa'das. This made her feel a whole lot better. Since she had already started a fire, Jander began roasting the meat right away. When it was done, Pa'das took it and chowed down on it.
"Squirrel here tastes better than squirrel in Makam," she mumbled through a mouthful of hot meat.
Jander fed tiny bits to Korrieana. Both of them were totally oblivious to their surroundings, and jumped when Soorefina growled.
Pa'das dropped her empty stick to the ground and moved her bow within easy reach. If the thing weren't a threat, they wouldn't look threatening. If it was a threat, Pa'das would have her bow in an instant, and Jander - well, Jander was Jander. Soorefina guarded Korrieana. That was the drill every time Pa'das and Korrieana were on the road. Jander was an added bonus.
To Jander's surprise, it was Eckerd who walked into the clearing.
"Eckerd!?" he gasped, shocked.
"Jander!?" Eckerd also exclaimed. Eckerd was no less surprised than Jander. He had been out looking for a particular spell component, not searching for Jander.
They embraced each other warmly, like two long-lost brothers.
"When you left in the middle of the night," Eckerd said, "I though that was the last I would see of you forever."
"That's kind of what I planned to have," Jander admitted, abashed.
A look of hurt flashed on Eckerd's face, but was gone in an instant. "Why?" he asked. "I mean, without even telling me? Did I do something to offend you? Whatever it is, I'm sorry." The look on Eckerd's face was of sincere concern. It touched Jander deeply.
"No, no," Jander was quick to assure Eckerd. "You have never done anything at all to offend me, except by being too damn curious for your own good." They shared a quick grin, but Eckerd's faded quickly.
"Then why?" he asked. "I mean…" he drifted off.
"Why when it was going so good?" Eckerd nodded. "Staying in one place too long is dangerous, both for me and the people around me. And it's always easier to just leave instead of trying to explain." Jander grinned ruefully at Eckerd. "And if I didn't tell you, you could truthfully answer any questions with a simple 'I don't know'. I'm truly sorry I did not tell you. Please, forgive me."
"No problem," Eckerd said and socked Jander on the shoulder. "I get your reasoning and it makes sense to me."
Jander lightly shoved him. "I knew it would."
"Don't think I'm going to let you get away with that," Eckerd growled in mock anger. He hit Jander with a flying tackle, and Jander obliging fell to the ground. They wrestled, Jander tempering his strength to match Eckerd's. After a few minutes, Eckerd was sitting on Jander's chest.
"Just like old times, eh?" he said to Jander.
"Yep," he responded, grinning, "now get off me."
Eckerd got up and gave Jander a hand up.
"Just like old times," he repeated, a bit wistfully.
Then, for the first time, he noticed Pa'das. "Who's your lovely companion?" he asked Jander, then said to Pa'das, "I've met you twice, and have yet to learn your name."
"Pa'das, Eckerd. Eckerd, Pa'das." Jander obligingly introduced them to each other.
Eckerd bowed low and kissed her hand. "A pleasure to meet you."
Jander continued with the introductions. "This is Soorefina, and this," he picked up Korrieana, "is Korrieana."
"Pleased to meet you," Eckerd bowed to Soorefina. Hey cutie," he said to Korrieana. She stared at him with huge blue eyes. He made colored sparks fly from his fingers, making her giggle and laugh. As with everyone he met, Eckerd won Korrieana over within a few moments. Soorefina even seemed to be able to at least stand him, at least, she didn't snarl at him - only ignored him.
"Just like old times," Eckerd whispered sadly, almost silently. Jander's sharp elven ears, sharpened even further by being a vampire, picked up the whisper.
"You're leaving, aren't you?" Eckerd tried to mask the sadness in his voice. He and Jander were like twin brothers. In Tika, one was never seen without the other. It had hurt Eckerd when Jander left. It felt like a major part of him was missing. People only make friends like that once in their life, Eckerd knew. Although Jander left for a good reason, it still hurt deeply.
Jander took saw this all in a glance, and felt deeply ashamed of himself. He had left to ensure Eckerd's safety, and in doing so had pained Eckerd more than he could ever have thought. If Jander could have taken it all back, could have prevented Eckerd any pain, he would have. Eckerd was his first true friend in a long time, and certainly his closest throughout his entire long life. He vowed tom himself to make it up to Eckerd in any way possible.
"Do you want to come with us?" he asked Eckerd, already knowing the answer. He prayed Pa'das wouldn't get mad at him for inviting Eckerd along without asking her first. A quick glance her way told him she didn't mind, and probably saw the same things he did.
A grin lit up Eckerd's face. "Sure!" he quickly agreed.
Jander laughed at his enthusiasm. "And I bet you already have a bag packed with all the stuff you need to bring along."
"You know me," Eckerd grinned again. "I just need to throw in a few spell books. I'll be right back." He looked as though he didn't want to let Jander out of his sight, and if he did, he would disappear again. But, he couldn't pass up the chance to go along, and quickly put those thoughts aside.
"Eckerd," Jander called as he was leaving the clearing, "why were you wandering around the woods?" It struck Jander as extremely fortuitous that Eckerd had so suddenly came upon them right as they were leaving.
"I've been looking for months for some tralize," he glanced down at a patch of it by his foot.
"A scrying spell?" Jander was confused for a moment, but then it dawned on him why Eckerd would be using a scrying spell.
"Ironic that I find the last ingredient when I finally don't need the spell." Eckerd disappeared from view, running as fast as he could to grab his things.
"Make yourself comfortable," Jander told Pa'das when Eckerd was gone. "We'll be lucky to see him by noontime tomorrow." He looked over to her, and saw that she was about to berate him for inviting Eckerd without asking her. "Don't you dare start in on me. Did you see his face?"
Pa'das grinned in apology at him. "Yeah, I did. It still would have been nice if you asked first, but you did right in asking."
"And undoubtedly if I hadn't you would be chewing me out right now for that, right?"
"Of course!" She sobered up. "He cares for you deeply. You should have at least told him the first time."
"I know." Pa'das saw that he was sincerely ashamed of himself. "If I could go back in time and change it, I would. But I can't, so I'm going to do everything possible to make it up to him."
"How could you have left? I mean, after seeing you two together…" she drifted off. It truly confused her for he seemed to have had it made.
Jander sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. "I feared for his safety." He paused and a shadow crossed his face as he remembered Rhynn. Luckily, she had gotten away. Others might not be so lucky. "If anyone ever found out he knew…it wouldn't be pretty. So, I shoved him to the back of my mind and tried not to think of him. I knew that the first time he came up in my thoughts, I would want to run right back here, and I couldn't do that." Jander remembered the almost daily struggle it was to not come back.
"It makes sense now. Thank for telling me." Although they had known each other for less than a year, Jander and Pa'das had established almost the same relationship as Jander and Eckerd, just not quite as deep. They could share almost everything with each other, and trust the other to understand.