AN: Here is chapter 7 for ya! Thanks for all the reviews guys! They make me happy =D
Red: LoL no.. I wont drag it out.. actually this fic only has 13 chapters ;)
R+R
Three weeks of virtually sleepless nights was catching up to Liika fast and she was starting to regret asking to switch beds with Tala. She barely slept at night because of the cold, among other things. She tried to get the large Demolition Boy's words out of her head, but she just couldn't. She wasn't really as weak as he said was she? She was starting to have doubts about her own strength. The very fact that she had barely slept in three weeks was example of this. It was the beginning of May, and though it still got chilly at night, it wasn't near as cold as it was when they had first arrived. She should be ok with the temperature, she had enough blankets and had ample clothes, so then why did she still feel cold? Even when it blatantly wasn't?
Maybe it was because the camp atmosphere was almost frigid. After the incident with Bryan, Liika became all too aware of the fact that she didn't belong there. She didn't belong with the four boys; she wasn't part of their team. She was just an outsider, an intruder into their world. She got in the way. Maybe Bryan was right, maybe she was weak.
Bryan hadn't really been around much since what she had termed the 'incident'. He had disappeared for three days after it before coming back as if nothing had happened. He came and went as he pleased, and was almost never around during the day. He came to eat and sleep at night and was gone before she got up. Part of her was saddened by this, the other part of her was grateful. After all, she didn't want to see him! He was an arrogant, foul tempered asshole and she didn't need his attitude tearing her down…or so she told herself. She didn't want to admit that she was worried because she didn't want to admit that she cared.
He was even more cold than before, and it had rubbed off on his teammates. Ian was cautious around her. He still made snarky comments and harassed her, but most of the time he either avoided her, or ignored her -in typical Bryan fashion. Spencer no longer bothered to try to teach her things. He spoke to her on occasion, but that was it. He was naturally quiet anyway. Tala was the only one that even remotely tried to socialize with her. He poked fun at her and tried to get her to laugh and smile, but he too was more reserved. It was as if they blamed her for Bryan's new temperament and thus were punishing her for it or were avenging the fact that she had upset their teammate. Which in her view was just stupid. Bryan was disturbed to begin with, he didn't need her to upset him!
Liika glared at the cheerfully running stream in front of her, gripping the large knife she was supposed to be cutting the evenings meal with. A conversation she had had with Tala earlier in the day filtered through her head, multiplying her annoyance.
"You look like shit you know." Tala said, leaning against the cave wall and looking down at her with a raised eyebrow.
Liika snorted and continued to fold laundry, stacking it neatly on the bed pad beside her. "Thanks for the confidence booster."
"What I meant," He paused, standing up straight before crouching down beside her. "Was that you look like you haven't been sleeping and that it's catching up to you."
"I'm sleeping fine."
Tala looked extremely doubtful, his keen eyes watching her movements. He didn't miss her hesitation when she reached for one of Bryan's blue t-shirts. He wasn't a fool. He could see that the situation with Bryan was still bothering her. He also knew that the rest of them had started treating her differently. It wasn't conscious, but it was there. Part of it was because she made it really difficult to approach her.
"You're lying. It's not something you do very well, besides, I hear you tossing and turning at night." He said, trying to get her to look at him. "Why can't you sleep?"
Liika refused to look at him. "It's none of your concern." She snapped, her frown growing with each piece of clothing she folded.
"You're wrong, it is my concern. You're part of my team and therefore your well being and state of mind are my concern. That coupled with the fact that you've been bitchy for weeks and it's getting on my nerves. So tell me. Now." It wasn't a request, it was a command.
She groaned, clenching the fabric of a sweater in her hands. Teammate indeed. "I'm cold. That's all."
The red eyebrow raised again. "Cold? It's late spring, you shouldn't be cold."
"Yeah well I am. Now that you know, please just leave me alone."
It was obvious that Tala wasn't happy with the answer. He felt that she was either keeping something from him, or out right lying to him. However, he let the matter drop, with no more than his solution to her excuse. "Very well, you'll switch places with me again. You'll be less cold in the middle."
Liika froze, her head snapping up to meet Tala's eyes. "No! I mean…no. That's ok. I'll be fine. I mean it's getting warmer right?"
"Doesn't matter." Tala replied instantly, bringing himself back to his feet. "My decision is made and it's final. You sleep in the middle between Bryan and Ian."
Liika ground her teeth just thinking about it. The thought of sleeping beside the burly jerk did nothing for her. During the night was the only time he was home! She could successfully avoid him any other time. Then there was the whole fact that she just knew her traitorous body would somehow worm its way into his bed and under his blankets. It always did…even when she slept on the other side of Ian. The only difference was with Ian was that she just didn't feel safe and always woke up, then could detach herself with out him realizing. Only once did Ian catch her and all hell broke loose. He ended waking up the other three with his shrieking…well not really shrieking, more like loud complaining and ranting. She swore that she had never heard Tala laugh so hard. As it had been like five in the morning, she had got up and stormed out, spending the day avoiding the cave like the plague until Spencer had searched her out and convinced her that it wasn't a big deal. Ha, that's why Ian had bothered her for days. Bryan typically said nothing, however, he seemed to glare at Ian more than usual. She took no notice, as she didn't look at him unless she absolutely had to.
Her gaze traveled from the creek in front of her to the knife clenched tightly in her lap. She wasn't going to be weak any more, she decided. She wasn't going to depend on the four boys to take care of her, she would be an equal to them and not just their maid! …Even if she had to swallow down the bile in her throat that rose at just the thought of skinning and gutting an animal. It didn't matter. She would show them all that she wasn't just a weak little girl, that she was just as strong as they were!
Just then the wind blew her long blue ponytail over her shoulder and into her face. The heavy locks were slightly greasy as their length made them really hard to keep clean. Something inside of Liika snapped. Emitting a frustrated scream she jumped to her feet and brought the knife up to the back of her head.
"Ok, she's officially lost it."
Tala watched as Liika slide the knife through the base of her ponytail effectively shearing off her long blue hair. He glanced down at Ian who was staring at the girl as if she was certifiably insane. "Hm, perhaps, but I don't think it's in the way you think."
Ian snapped his crimson eyes towards his red haired leader and raised a navy eyebrow. "What do you mean? She just hacked off her hair with a hunting knife!"
Tala chuckled, throwing the other teen an amused look. "Maybe she's finally figured it out."
"Figured what out??"
Tala's smile turned into an evil grin. His eyes glinted mischievously. "We'll just have to wait and see won't we?" He said, stepping forward. Yes we will, have you finally decided then Liika? Will you take what Bryan said and prove him wrong? Will you save him?
Ian sputtered for a moment before groaning loudly and rolling his eyes. "Tala! That is not funny!" He grumbled, turning on his heel and stalking into the cave. Tala may think she was mentally stable, but he for one didn't!
Liika panted roughly, staring at the loose tresses that hung limply in her left hand. She had just cut off her hair…the hair she had been growing out since her parents' death five years before. She searched for a reason why, but the only thing she could come up with was that it was a nuisance and always got in her way. Long hair was too hard to keep when one had no access to running water or excess shampoo or conditioner. She stared harder at the hair; it was almost unreal. Her head felt pounds lighter…and so did her heart.
"You're not cracking on us are you?"
Liika stiffened at the sound of Tala's voice, however she didn't turn around. Slowly she let the loose hair slip through her fingers and drift away in the wind.
"Well? Ian's worried your going to turn into some psychotic killer and murder us all."
She rolled her eyes and tilted her head backwards to look at him. "I'm not going to kill you…though for Ian I might make an exception."
Tala laughed even though she was completely serious. He hoped that this little episode signaled a change in her; that they wouldn't have to deal with her bitchy mood swings any more. He wasn't really worried about the fact that she had just hacked off her hair, and had screamed while doing it. He had seen stranger things in his life. Lifting his hand, he ran his fingers over the now short, jagged locks that rested on her neck. It actually didn't look that horrible. "You should have used scissors." Was all he could think to say.
"Why? The knife served its purpose." She replied, pulling her head away. Her frown was pensive.
He sensed that she needed to be alone to search her self for answers that she obviously needed. He wanted sorely to laugh. Who knew that Bryan's uncharacteristic outburst would have caused so much trouble? "Go check the trap lines. I'll cut the meat." He said placing his hands on her shoulders and steering her towards one of the outbound trails.
Liika blinked and let herself be pushed away. "By myself?" She asked slightly nervously.
"Yes." He replied, reaching over her shoulder and taking the knife from her. "By yourself. You'll be fine, Spencer taught you the way. Just keep on the marked path."
"But-"
Tala shook his head, and muted her. Reaching down to his thigh he unstrapped the black knife holder then handed it to her. "Take my knife, strap it to your leg. You shouldn't need it." He hoped she didn't, as he knew that knife or no knife, she would be no match for any wild animal should it choose to attack her.
She sensed that he was trying to get rid of her, but for what reason she couldn't tell. Maybe she was just being stupid, and that he wasn't really trying to get rid of her, and really wanted her to check the trap lines. Maybe he trusted her enough to do it herself…
Hadn't she just been cursing them for not treating her like an equal?
"Fine." She sighed, strapping the knife to her leg. "Thanks."
The red head smirked and ruffled her now short hair. "Be careful. Don't get lost and don't die. We'd have a grand time explaining that to the old man." He chuckled. "Oh and make it quick. There's a storm coming."
Liika looked up and sure enough nasty gray storm clouds were building overhead. "Righteo." She saluted before disappearing down the trail.
Tala sighed, rolling his eyes and smiling fondly. Women were such handfuls.
Liika jumped slightly as thunder rumbled threateningly over her head. She glanced upwards and cringed. The clouds were dark and looked heavy with rain that could start falling at any moment. She would not be a happy camper if that were to happen. She was only wearing a light hoodie and a pair of sturdy capris. They would be soaked in seconds. However, she still had another kilometer of traps to check, so sighing she hoisted the one rabbit they had caught and continued on her way.
No sooner than she had got twenty feet did it start pouring. Large, fat raindrops splattered over her head and the ground, soaking the world around her –and her- in seconds. "Oh bloody hell." She muttered, pushing some dripping bangs off her face. She continued to trek forward, bound determined she was going to finish checking the trap line. Her shoes soon became squishy with water and a chill set in just as she reached the last trap. The rain hadn't slackened any, in fact it seemed to be getting worse. She needed to find some kind of shelter to wait out the storm. She was a good five kilometers away from the camp (it had taken her over two hours to get where she was), and she'd catch her death of a cold before she got back.
And so, knowing that there was no shelter behind her, she continued forward, desperately looking for somewhere she could hide from the rain. She should also do something with the two rabbits she had slung over her back, however there wasn't much she could do. All she knew was that the wet rabbit fur smelled really bad.
After traveling for another fifteen minutes Liika was growing weary and cranky. Rain did nothing for her, neither did being wet and cold. Especially cold, though wet was horrible too. She began to run then, blindly through the rain, she just hoped she didn't run into a tree, or the side of one of the many cliffs that littered the valley they inhabited. It was only when she tripped on an outbound root some ten minutes later that she finally stopped. Falling onto the muddy ground she narrowly missed a puddle, not that it matter, she was already soaked to the bone. Damn it…her life just kept getting better and better. "Ugh…"
Suddenly a loud thump sounded in front of her followed by a low, rumbling, feline like growl. Liika lifted herself up slightly and raised her head, only to come face to face with a full-grown mountain lion. Her eyes widened dramatically and she scrambled back, her limbs quivering in fear. Why did crap like this always happen to her?! First a flippin' bear, and now a lion! She was getting mighty sick of fate laughing at her. "You know it figures. I'm all alone in the world and going to die. Fate is wonderful." She sighed heavily, slowly lifting herself to her feet, wary of the big cat. "Well then Mr. Lion, if you're going to eat me get it over with. It might even be a release from my boy-related torment."
The mountain lion merely caulked its head at her and blinked. It then snarled, pacing a circle around her, eyeing her and the rabbits at her feet. Liika clued in and slowly reached down and picked up the rabbits before tossing them a few feet away at the cat's feet. "You want them? They're yours…"
It stared at the rabbits for a moment, sniffing at them and then dismissed them. It stalked past them towards her, snarling and hissing.
Liika wanted to cry. "It figures you'd rather eat me. Look, why would you want me? I'm skinny and …and…chewy! Yeah, wouldn't you rather eat those nice plump rabbits?" It was then she realized she was talking to a mountain lion as if it could actually answer her. She would have rolled her eyes if they weren't glued to the large cat that was stalking her. God what she wouldn't give for a miracle! Any one would do…right about now!
As if to answer her prayers a loud shot echoed through the forest. It was so close that Liika ducked as if someone had actually shot at her. The cat had a similar reaction. It jumped before shooting off through the bushes. She sighed a loud sigh of relief and sunk back down to her knees, completely oblivious to the rain that beat down on her head. That was too close.
Boots sloshing in the mud caught her attention then and she looked up, peering blearily through the rain, trying to blow soggy bangs out of her eyes.
Standing in front of her, looking down her with a frown on his face was Bryan, a rifle clutched tightly in his left hand and a pack hefted over his back. He too was soaked to the bone and looked as if he had been in the rain as long as she had. They stared at each other for a few moments before Liika huffed and pushed herself to her feet, pushing her hair out of her eyes. She had really never been so glad to see anyone in her life. She fought the urge to leap on him and hug the life out of him in gratitude. She knew that would go over well. So instead she settled for looking away, her cheeks tinted pink and muttering a quiet "Thank you" while she dug the toe of her shoe into the mud. Why was she so nervous all of a sudden? She was mad at him! …yes mad. Mad at him for stating the obvious. Damn him. She was mad at him because he was him…and damn it she cared and he didn't. Wait a minute…since when did she care?
Out of nowhere she felt fingers brush her neck and she turned her head back to see Bryan's fingers toying with the ends of her newly cut hair, a strange look on his face. However, as she looked at him he snatched his hand back and turned around abruptly, nudging his pack further up onto his shoulder. Walking over to the fallen rabbits he stooped and picked them up by the ears, then tied them to the back of his pack. He then stopped and looked up at the sky. He was completely silent, and so was she, the only sound being the soft pitter patter of the rain falling on leaves and trees.
"Why are you alone?"
Liika blinked rapidly at the sudden question. It was…unexpected to say the least. She stared at the back of his head, willing him to turn and when he didn't she huffed and tossed her hair, sending a shower of water through the air. "I'm perfectly capable of being alone you know!" She said defensively, crossing her arms over her chest.
"That's not what I asked."
Why couldn't she just answer him straightly for once? Why did she always have to get angry and take everything the wrong way? He was starting to get annoyed, even more than he already was at finding her alone miles away from camp. How could Tala let her go out alone? She could have died…and almost did! It was a good thing he had caught sight of her some time ago and decided to follow her.
He was annoyed and angry. Annoyed at Tala for letting her out alone, and angry at himself for actually caring. He didn't know when it started, but sometime in the three weeks since he had blown up at her, he had started to care like he cared about his teammates. And that was why he was never at the camp. He couldn't be around her; she drove him insane. She confused him badly, and confusion was not something Bryan enjoyed feeling. She woke up feelings and emotions that had long been smothered and dormant, and Bryan hated it. He didn't know why he cared about a weak, fragile little girl, and he didn't want to know. He didn't want to care at all. But he couldn't help it.
He refused to recognize the raw terror that welled up in him when he saw that big cat jump off the cliff to their right and begin to stalk her. He wouldn't. Because recognizing it meant recognizing her, and he refused to. She wouldn't break him…she wouldn't change him. That was also part of the reason why he was facing the opposite direction. He couldn't look at her with out seeing the helpless girl that needed protection…his protection. Also, her clothes clung to her body like a second skin, and that certainly wasn't helping his situation any.
"Well as you can tell I was checking traps!" Liika finally answered, jamming her arms over her chest.
"Alone?"
"Yes alone!" She exclaimed stomping her foot on the squishy ground. "Believe it or not I'm not totally useless!"
He growled, turning half way to glare at her. "You shouldn't be alone."
"You are."
"That's different. I'm trained. And armed."
Liika threw her hands up in defeat and scoffed. Why did she even bother talking to him? At least he answered her…and was actually talking. She wondered if he was sick or something.
Bryan tore his eyes from her and turned again, starting to stomp away. "Come on woman, you're going to get sick." He grumbled, motioning her forward with his head.
Liika muttered under her breath, but nevertheless followed him. He was her only chance at survival as she was more than sure she was lost now. Not to mention, after the lion incident she didn't want to be alone, even if it meant spending time with Bryan. She at least felt safe around him, if not comfortable.
She didn't even pick up the hidden worry in his words.
The two trekked through the rain, Liika following the bigger boy silently. He appeared to know where he was going. They had turned east and were heading to an especially large cliff face some ways in the distance. Liika really hoped they found shelter soon. She was struggling not to shiver, not to mention it was starting to get dark, and thus colder. Siberia was cold all year round, just…less cold in the summer. Liika often cursed Mr. D for choosing Siberia for survival training. Stupid old man…
"We're here."
Liika's head snapped up and she sidestepped, narrowly missing walking into the back of him. She looked toward where he was looking and found a cave entrance. She sighed in relief, shelter! Maybe they could even build a fire…
"Someone's in there."
"Huh?" Liika blinked and looked closer at the cave. Sure enough she could make out smoke leaking out of the top of the cave entrance. "Who would be out way out here?"
He didn't answer, instead he reached into his pocket and pulled out a bullet, loading it into the rifle in his hands. Liika rolled her eyes and pushed past him. "Oh good lord, put that away! You're not going to threaten some innocent campers because you're paranoid." She snorted, walking away from him and towards the cave.
Bryan sighed heavily, gritting his teeth in annoyance. She was going to get herself killed one day. Walking head long into things was the stupidest thing you could ever do!
"Hello?" Liika called when she reached the edge of the cave. She peered in the darkness. Faintly at the back of the cave (which went surprisingly far back) there was the flickering of a fire. "Hello?" She called again.
"Hello? Is someone there?" A voice answered as three shapes materialized out of the darkness.
Liika's eyes widened when she saw who it was that occupied the cave. "Michael? Lee? Robert??" She gasped, breaking out into a grin.
"Liika?" The three boys blinked before Michael leaped forward, grinning. He picked her up and swung her around. "Hey! Imagine that! You're alive!"
She laughed, pushing at his arm when he put her down. "Stupid, of course I'm alive. You don't think Mr. D would let me perish in the Siberian wilderness do you?"
Lee smiled, studying her closely. "It's good to see you, Mariah has asked after you." He said.
"Eh? You've talked to Mariah??"
"On the radio." Robert explained, looked down at her. "Apparently your team is the only team that hasn't figured them out yet."
Liika shrugged. "Oh we probably have, but they don't let me touch any of that stuff. I'm just their maid." The last part was said a bit bitterly, but also was laced with some amusement.
Michael tilted his head, frowning. "They're not mistreating you are they? We were all really worried when that big suit threw you out of the plane. Especially Kai and Tyson…Kai was super angry, he doesn't like the idea of you alone with them." He said running his eyes over her clingy shirt.
"I don't think any of us do." Lee seconded.
Suddenly a thin dry blanket was dropped over her head, covering most of her body. "You're indecent." A voice hissed angrily.
It was then that the three captains noticed that Liika was not alone and that Bryan had followed her into the cave, where he had dropped his pack and pulled out one of his dry blankets to drop over her head.
He hadn't liked the way the maroon haired American was leering at her.
"Bryan!" Michael exclaimed, eyes narrowing.
Lee and Robert also eyed the pale haired teen with extreme distrust, and Bryan glared right back. He was sorely tempted grab his rifle and shoot one of them…
Liika tugged the blanket off her head and wrapped it around her shoulders, peeking through the folds to look down at her chest. Bryan was right! She was almost indecent! The fabric of her hoodie clung to her chest and one could see the outline of her bra and the tips of her nipples as they jutted from the cold. Her face burned a bright red. This was the reason she hated being the only girl. -_- Stupid pervert boys.
Robert was the first to recover and recognized that even if they didn't like or trust the Demolition Boy, they were about to spend a long night in his company. "Come on, there is no sense standing by the entrance. You both must be half frozen." He said diplomatically, his tone clipped. He looked at Bryan and caught his eyes. They were cold and flat, not unlike his own. Turning on his heel, Robert led the way towards the back of the cave and the fire.
Liika would have followed eagerly, but paused looking behind her to make sure Bryan was following. He wasn't, he just crouched in front of his large pack rummaging around in it. She rolled her eyes and sighed. Stepping over to beside him she bent over slightly and slipped her hand into this larger one and tugged. "Come on Bryan…they don't bite. Besides, you need that fire as much as I do." She emphasized this with a small sneeze.
He grunted and loosely closed his pack, picking it up as he allowed her to tug him along. He didn't really know why he let her pull him along. He told himself it was because it was just easier than fighting her. However, deep inside of him he knew it was because he didn't like her being near the other three males. They didn't like him and he didn't like them. They would try to turn her against him and the Demolition Boys…he knew they would. She was part of their team now…and no one was going to change that.
"Hey Liika," Michael asked when Liika and Bryan approached the fire. Bryan dropped her hand and stayed a distance away. Close enough to feel the heat, but far enough to maintain distance between himself and the three captains. "What happened to your hair?"
"Huh?" She shivered under the thin blanket, sitting beside Michael by the fire. "Oh, yeah…well…I got mad…and well cut it off. It was a nuisance anyway."
"Oh, well you must have done it with a knife or something…cause it looks pretty jagged." Michael replied, fingering the locks.
"A hunting knife to be exact."
He winced. "Man, you're brave."
Lee and Robert moved around the small camp gathering things to cook with. It appeared that Liika and Bryan had caught them just as they were about to start cooking their dinner. "We don't really have enough to feed you both. We're on tight supplies." Lee said almost apologetically. "We're late getting back to the base camp." His eyes though clearly said they would feed her but not Bryan.
"We don't need your food." Bryan's voice was cold and final. "We have our own." He stepped up behind Liika and dropped a couple of folded items in her lap and narrowed his eyes at her when she looked up. "Put them on."
Liika looked down at the clothes in her lap and found a soft orange t-shirt that would be miles too big and a pair of drawstring boxers. They were his clothing… However she knew better than to argue with him. Already she picked up that he was more than displeased at being stuck in the cave with the three captains, if his tone was any indication. He didn't trust them and she wondered why. After all, they hadn't wronged him in anyway had they?
"Ok…Where should I change? I'm not changing in front of the lot of you." She said flatly, glaring at Michael when he winked at her.
Bryan pointed towards the front of the cave. "No one will see you there."
She nodded, getting up, taking the blanket and the clothing with her. Quickly she squished her way away from the comforting, warm fire and leaving the four boys alone.
Bryan ignored the other three, busying himself with laying out his own things to change into. It was a good thing his pack was waterproof or he and the wench would have been spending a very long, very miserable night. He pulled out his sleeping bag and glared at it as if it was his mortal enemy. He would have to share it with her, or sleep in the cold damp cave with only the thin blanket that was currently wrapped around her shoulders. He had no intention of doing that.
"You guys haven't hurt her in anyway have you? Or worse yet taken advantage of her." Michael asked suddenly, glaring at Bryan's back.
Bryan continued with his business, barely acknowledging the question. "Does she look damaged?" He bit out. He was going to lose his temper very quickly if the morons didn't keep their mouth shut and not talk to him.
Michael scoffed. "You never know. Outside isn't everything. You could have threatened her into silence."
At that Bryan wanted to laugh. Obviously the stupid American didn't know the little wench very well, for if he had he would know that no one in the world could threaten her into silence. Hell, he didn't even think she was capable of silence. "You're a fool."
"What?!"
"Michael that's enough." Lee commanded, frowning at the taller maroon haired teen. "Accusing him isn't going to solve anything. If anything had happened to Liika Mr. Dickenson would know." He then sighed, looking at Bryan. "It might be a better idea if we pool our food and make a soup out of it, it will go further that way."
Bryan turned his head and glanced at the short White Tiger. Jerking a nod he untied one of the rabbits and tossed it at Lee. Lee caught it and nodded back, turning away to start preparations of the meal.
Liika appeared then toting her wet clothes under her arm, the blanket still wrapped around her shoulders. She stopped beside Bryan's little niche and smiled at him nervously. He merely pointed at a spot a few feet away from the foot of the rolled out sleeping back. She got the message and dropped the blanket, allowing it to pool at her feet as she spread her wet clothes out on the ground.
Bryan was frozen by the sight of her in his clothing. His shirt was truly miles too big and dwarfed her, its hem brushing the skin just above her knees. He knew that she must have had the strings pulled taunt on the boxers he gave her other wise they would have never stayed put on her tiny waist. Somehow the oversized clothing made her look even more fragile, but it was a different kind of fragile. He frowned in consternation.
Something clicked in his chest once more.
He growled, snatching his own dry clothing from the top of the sleeping bag and stomped past her, his emotions whirling. Damn her!
Liika blinked, looking up when she heard the low growl escape Bryan's throat. She watched him stomp towards the front of the cave, tilting her head to the side as she stood again, retrieving the blanket from around her feet and wrapping it around shoulders once more. What a weird guy. What was his problem now?!
Shrugging she made her way back to the fire where Michael and Robert were chatting while Lee cut the rabbit meat, along with some dried rations into chunks and dropped it into a pot that simmered over the fire. "Hey," she said quietly, sitting beside Robert and warming her hands on the flames.
Robert nodded at her and settled back. Michael smiled and nodded as well.
"So…what brings you guys out here? I mean I didn't think our camps would be so close." Liika said tilting her head.
"They're not." Robert answered sighing. "Our camp is actually about a two day hike from here. We are exploring the valley, only we got lost and wandered for a bit. We just got our trail back when the rain started."
"Oh." She shrugged. "Our camp is about a…three or four hour hike from here I think. I don't really know cause I kinda got lost too…that's when Bryan found me. He scared off a mountain lion that decided that I would be its next meal."
The three teenage males' eyebrows shot up. "You were attacked by a mountain lion?" Michael asked incredulously. "What were you doing out there by yourself with out a gun?"
Liika stuck out her tongue. "I was checking the trap line! I needed some time alone is all. And that's not even the worst thing that happened to me. Got attacked by a bear too. Bryan saved me from that one as well."
"You're a walking disaster." Robert stated smirking. "Though I can't say I'm really surprised. Jade and Enrique were almost attacked by a pack of wolves."
"Bah, Tala just says I'm problematic." She turned her head to see Bryan walking back. Her breath caught in the back of her throat.
He was shirtless, dressed only in a pair of black sweatpants. His hair clung to the back of his neck and temple, dripping down the sides of his face. Her eyes drifted over his expansive chest, taking in every detail and every muscle contour of it. Damn…when had he got so hot? Her mouth felt dry just looking at him.
"Liika? Hey Liika!"
She blinked, shaking her head to clear it and turned back to an amused Robert and half grinning Michael. "Huh?" She said intelligently.
"See something you like?" Michael asked raising an eyebrow. "You were staring pretty hard there."
Liika flushed instantly, her face burning in embarrassment. She couldn't believe she had just stared at Bryan and in front of her friends no less! She wanted to crawl into a hole and die. Glancing over her shoulder, she really hoped her hadn't heard any thing or noticed her staring. She would really die then.
"Gah no!" She sputtered, looking back at Michael and glaring at him. "I was just surprised is all!"
The look on his and Robert's faces clearly said they didn't believe a word she said and she huffed. They would stare too if they saw something that fine walk out half naked…
Of course she didn't say that, that would just incriminate her further. Instead she changed the subject.
"So, how is your team doing? Surviving?" She asked, grinning teasingly.
"Heh, yeah we're doing ok." Michael answered shrugging. "Although you should have seen the Majestics' faces when they saw our lodge! It was priceless!" He snickered. "Rich boys had never been camping."
Robert looked unamused, and frowned at Michael. "It is a dirt hole and you know it. I do not normally sleep in dirt holes." He said, sniffing indignantly.
"It's not that bad Robert." Lee put in, stirring the stew. "You four made it out to be worse than it is."
Liika shifted uncomfortably on the cold stone floor. "You guys are in a lodge? We're in a cave."
"Yeah," Michael said. "Ours is like a subterranean lodge. It has earth and clay walls and wood planked flooring. The Majestics don't like it cause they say it's dirty. Personally I just think they like to whine."
She giggled. She just bet they did. "You're probably right." She sent him a conspiratory wink.
Robert snorted, crossing his arms over his chest. "You maybe used to living in squalor, but I am not."
"Chill man," Michael said laughing. "We're just bugging you."
"How's the other team doing? I can just picture Kai killing Tyson." Liika snickered, changing the subject.
Robert was glad for the subject change. He didn't like being made fun of. "They're fine. The last time we heard from them Kai, Rei and Mariah had the other four well versed in the art of survival." He explained slightly haughtily.
"And you four?"
"Pardon?"
The blue haired girl grinned saucily. "What about you, Oliver, Johnny and Enrique? Have you learned the 'art of survival'?" She teased.
The purple haired captain sniffed indignantly an lifted his chin. "I'm here am I not? Do I look like a burden to my teammates?"
"Do you really want me to answer that?"
A sigh was her only answer.
Bryan watched her interact with her friends from his place against the far wall. One knee was pulled up against his chest while the other lay flat on the ground, his arms resting on each of his knees. Even though he was shirtless, the fire had done a sufficient job of warming up the small space and he felt warm enough. He didn't have a dry shirt to wear…he gave it to her.
She looked so happy, laughing and smiling with her friends, so different than when she was back at their own cave, contributing to their tiny community. Or at least different than she had looked in the past three weeks when he'd been around. He scowled. What was so different about these three than from him or his team? They were …friendly to her, accepted her. Hell they ate the food she made, and that had to say something about the level of trust they had in her. Before they wouldn't eat anything an enemy made for them; that went completely against their training.
He had trouble seeing it from her point of view, or what he assumed her point of view would be. To him they treated her just the same as they treated each other: with cold respect. She didn't seem to understand that in their world, there was no such thing as friendship, or trust. The only thing one could trust was oneself. Anything else could lead to death. But she changed that…and he wanted to know why. It was just one of the many things that confused him about her.
Bryan grit his teeth as Liika laughed particularly hard at something the tall German had said, leaning against him slightly to smile up at him. He didn't like their closeness. He didn't like the fact that she was ignoring him and fawning over the other three males. He didn't like it at all. In fact he felt almost…almost…angry? No, that wasn't it, it something akin to anger, but not exactly it. He couldn't place it…but if he had to call it a color he would say it was green like his anger was red. All he knew was that he had never felt it before…and he didn't like it. Much like he didn't like anything about the three captains. Or anything in general for that matter. However, it made him feel slightly better to know that first thing in the morning she would be leaving with him and not the three captains.
It was then that he realized just what he was thinking about. He stopped cold, a sort of chilling wave washing over him.
It was too late.
She had already done what he swore she would never do to him.
She had changed him.
