Chapter 2
Trees, trees, and more trees. That was all they had been seeing for the past three days. Lina seemed to know where she was going, but everyday the same landmarks appeared. They were beginning to question her sanity.
"Miss Lina, where are we going?" Amelia whined for the forth time in ten minutes. She was starting to lose the color in her skin from being away from the sun so long. Once again she was answered in silence. Lina seemed to be looking for something, but what it was she wouldn't say.
The day passed on into the night and the suns rays were replaced by the moons. They stopped to camp and once again an eerie silence filled their campsite. It was beginning to worry Zelgadis; Lina usually was never this quiet for this long. Every once in a while he would catch her with a sad expression. Finally, he voiced the question that had been on everyone's mind.
"Lina, are you alright?"
Lina looked up from the daze she had had while staring into her black drink. "Wha… oh, yes, I'm okay."
"Really? You seem quiet…" Gourry said while checking to see if she had a fever. Lina quickly swatted his cold hand away from her forehead.
"Yes, I'm fine. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to turn in now." She stood and marched over to her small roll. She was weary and tired. Since taking on the job of finding the young kit, she had been having dreams of strange and eerie things, memories, things she didn't want to remember. They kept her up at night, tossing and turning, waking up sweating.
Sighing, she pulled the blankets up to her chin and shut her eyes slowly.
Blazing flame towered over the many buildings. The air was black and thick, and hard to breath. People were running and shouting. Mothers were crying and fathers shook with anger. In the midst of this village of flames stood a small figure. Her hair was as red as the flames as were her eyes. People were shouting and pointing at her.
"It's her fault!" They shouted. The little girl took a step back and fell backward, her long white dress tearing as she fell.
"Please," She pleaded. "I didn't mean to! It was an accident!" The people were beginning to gather around her, talking of imprisonment or death as a punishment. Just as they grew near, a figure dressed in white from head to toe stepped into the circle and in front of the girl.
"Look at you people! Blaming a child for your own mistakes! If you hadn't put so much pressure on her, this wouldn't have happened! But no, you wanted another powerful girl to bring glory to your town! You wanted another Luna Inverse! But now you have no town for it, and you blame her! You monsters!" The figure stepped forward and picked the child up, carrying her out of the ruins of the once peaceful town.
Lina bolted up from her roll, her hair stuck to her face with fear, her eyes filled with terror. Panting heavily, she scrambled out of her roll and headed to the near by river. The river had been one of the landmarks she had learned about. She knew that by the sunset of the next day they would arrive at the cave she had seen.
Sighing, she knelt down and cupped her hands. "Thank goodness it was only a dream, I don't think I could of lived that again." She splashed her face to clear it of the sweat and tears. Gently she rubbed her hands over her face, feeling every stress mark there was to be felt. There were far too many. She shook her head to clear it.
It's too early to return to the others, and it's obvious if I did I wouldn't be able to get back to sleep, I guess I'll go for a stroll. Lina walked along the river bed, every once in a while she stopped and wadded in. For about an hour this went on, until she heard a soft hum. Carefully following the sound, she realized she knew the beat well. She began to hum in beat with the other voice, and soon those hums became words. Lina stopped right in her tracks when she found the source.
The familiar figure stood beside the river. He had jet-black hair and deep blue eyes. He wore a rather simple out fit, that consisted of a slightly lose blackish-purple color and pants that were the same. His long hair was pulled into a low ponytail. His clothes were just tight enough to show off his muscular build.
"Chasing after you," Lina breathed the words she knew well. The figure looked up at her and smiled.
"It seems to fit the situation, do you know just how hard you are to track down, Chibi Hi?" The man said, looking her in the eyes. Lina froze as he looked at her.
It can't be, but only my closest family calls me Chibi Hi, Lina took a hesitant step forward, not looking away from his eyes.
"I missed you, you've been taking care of yourself I take it?" He smiled once again, and Lina couldn't help herself. She raced forward and flung her arms around his neck.
"Seiya!" She shouted as she began to sob. Seiya gently held her close whispering reassuring things. She gently slid to the grass and brushed her tears away.
"How have you been, Little sister?" Lina looked up at him and smiled.
"I'm alive."
"Well, that's good. I'm glad you're not mad at," He stopped when Lina punched him in the jaw. "Me."
`"You jerk! Why did you leave in the first place?" She shouted, tears threatening to fall once again.
"Please, Chibi Hi, It's a really long story." He gently patted her back and received a smile.
"Okay, but only because you're my brother. Oh no! Everyone is probably worrying about me right now!" Lina began to run back the way she came, her brother in tow.
"Lina, wait, who's everyone?"