--Written by: Naki
The trail was long and dusty, even for late winter. Rain was a mere myth lately; the trail the group walked was as dry and crack as packed desert sand. Light brown dirt covered the soles of Dart's boots as he trudged on.
The temperature wasn't cold, nor was it hot. It wasn't even humid. To top itoff, there wasn't any wind at all. Clouds were a mere dream. Serdio had fallen into more than a drought; Serdio fell into a sort of doldrum. The sun beat down mercilessly, although it didn't give off heat, it temporarily blinded the travelers.
All the walking in these perverse kind of conditions took its toll on the travelers. All except Matthias he kept on, walking next to Dart.
Sometime shortly after noon, Dart stopped. He motioned for everyone else to do the same.
"I think it's time to stop and rest," Dart called out to everyone. They had long ago dispersed from their once compact state and were spread out along the road. Dart motioned to a forest not far from the road. "We can go there for shade."
Zieg was the first off the road. When no one else followed him, he turned and looked over his shoulder. "Well, come on. I think we all need a rest."
Dart gave an exasperated look to Matthias. "I think I think even less of my brother now."
Matthias smiled ruefully and clapped Dart on the back regardless of the bright red armor. "Ah, he's just fine. He's just not used to traveling so much like you and I are. Give him some time to adapt to your company." With that, Matthias jogged off to meet Zieg.
Dart glanced up to the uncovered sky. Hi silently wished for rain, though he knew his wish was to be ignored by whatever god was up there. When he leveled his head, he found that everyone had deserted him on the road. Shana waited for him on the side of the road.
Dart jogged over to meet her and slipped an arm about her shoulders as they walked together to the forest fringe. Dart glanced down at their baby, whom Shana carried in a sling that she had tied around her torso. Little Chandra slept cuddled up against her mother's chest.
He gently set Shana down on the cool grass and up against a wide oak trunk. Dart sat next to her and stared at his daughter. Chandra had her mother's brown hair, that much was obvious. However, she had Dart's nose and forehead, but Dart had a feeling she'll have her mother's cheekbones once she lost the baby fat from her face.
Chandra awoke silently, staring up at her parents. She gave her father a toothless smile characteristic to infants. Her striking blue eyes she got from her father.
Dart just stared down at his daughter, not even thinking about tearing his eyes away from her for anything. Anything, except, maybe, his wife pulling on his hair...
Haschel sat on an uneven stump not far from the mother and daughter pair, Claire and Claira. Claira sat still on the grass while her mother kneeled behind her, braiding Claira's hair. Haschel stared at Claire. There was something eerily familiar about her...something that reminded him of his rogue daughter, his own Claire. Their hair was cut in a similar fashion, although the Claire in front of him had streaks of gray hair starting from her roots. Their eyes were the same color and both of them looked like his late wife. But, Haschel shook his head slowly; his imagination and hope were running away with him again. There was a time that every time he saw a girl with black hair he thought it was his Claire. He chose to ignore the similarities.
Miranda, uncharacteristically quiet, stood near the edge of the trees, keeping a lookout. Despite her short temper and undying stubbornness, she had taken it upon her as the resident archer to keep a lookout while everyone else rested. She didn't want to be caught off guard by some monster or thief. Shifting slightly, her thoughts shifted from the road to Queen Theresa in the Crystal Palace. Miranda felt a sudden yet small pang of disappointment. She felt as if she had abandoned her post in Mille Seseau, but a short spurt of speech from behind her quelled that feeling. She knew she belonged with the others. She had no choice but to be. The White Silver Dragon had chosen her to bear its spirit. She had no choice.
Kongol's massive form sat beneath a tree about the size of a redwood and he stared at the ground with no real thoughts in his mind. This was usual for the lone Giganto, for he never really had much to think about. He never had anyone to think about, save his elder brother whom he idolized. His painted face made no move at all in his blank stare. He was disturbed from his stasis by a high pitched whiny voice not too far from him.
Meru sat on a wide branch on the tree next to Kongol. She laid down on the branch much like a wildcat, on her stomach with her head resting on her arm and with her other arm dangling off. She moaned frustratingly. Kongol angled his head up to her.
"What is the matter?" He said in his blunt voice.
Meru turned her head over to look down at him. "Why did Guaraha have to stay behind?"
"Dart say he had to watch over Lohan," Kongol said.
"I know that!" Meru said. "I just wanted him to come with us. I missed him while he was gone."
"You fancy him?" Kongol asked.
"Yeah, I guess," Meru blushed. "Yeah, I guess I do."
"Do not be embarrassed," Kongol said, a smile breaking his rough features. "It is natural."
Meru smiled timidly. "Thanks, Kongol. You're a pal."
"Pal?"
She laughed. "It means you're a friend."
"Friend..." Kongol turned his head away from the small Wingly with a thoughtful look on his face.
"Ow!"
"Oh, sit still baby."
Zieg winced as Lily ran her fingers through his long blonde hair. In her mouth she held a strip of cloth she uses sometimes to tie her own hair back. Looping the cloth strip underneath Zieg's hair, she tied it in a knot. Patting it after she was done, she leaned over his shoulder and kissed his cheek.
"There you go, love. You have a nice, neat ponytail."
Zieg made a face at her and touched the ponytail with a hand to inspect it for him.
Lily sat back and stared at her boyfriend's profile. What they had been through in the past year. Dragoons for a short time when Matthias had given them the spirits. Zieg has grown up some, but he needs to grow up some more. They'll start walking again soon, and Dart guesses that they'll be at Bale by nightfall.
"I've never been to Bale," Lily commented offhandedly.
"Neither have I," Zieg said, not turning to look at her.
"Are you made at me?"
"No."
"Then say something."
"Why?"
"Oh!" Lily shoved him playfully in the shoulder, and then stood up and walked off.
"Hey!" Zieg watched her go with a clueless look on his face. "What...? Did I miss something?"
Albert sat against a stump staring at the ground deep in thought. He thought mainly about Emille and their son Lavitz. He then thought about the safety of his country. This topic made him feel uneasy, because, strangely enough, was controlled by Winglies at this point in time. Winglies he was sure he could trust, mind you. He'd met Charle Frahma once in Ulara. But, that was two years ago. Then again, if she had remained the same for over eleven millennia, he doubted that the Wingly woman could've changed over a two-year period. Albert couldn't wait to get home.
Lavitz sat up against a large unidentifiable tree across from Dart and Shana, and neighboring Albert. His stomach growled almost painfully. Placing his hand on his stomach, he complained aloud.
"I'm hungry..."
WHACK!
"Ow!"
Albert looked alarmed. "What was that?" He looked over at Lavitz.
Lavitz rubbed his head with a contorted face. Opening his eyes, he found a red apple sitting next to his leg on the ground. "What?"
Laughter from above him caught his attention.
"Matthias..." Albert called. "You're evil."
"Matthias?" Lavitz looked up.
Matthias peeked down from his perch above Lavitz still laughing. "Hey, you said you were hungry! I thought I'd just give you a hand." In one hand, he held another red apple.
"You didn't just drop this apple," Lavitz accused. "You threw it down on my head!" A playful argument ensued with much laughter.
Across the way, Dart smiled to himself. His daugher smiled back at him as her tiny hands lightly patted against his cheeks. He had been to the trio not far from them. It sounded good to hear Matthias laugh.