(Disclaimer: I do not own Golden Sun.
Pg – hey hey, chapter two and not even a page of notes written!
Ivan – is that a good thing?
PG – ummm, I dunno. It might be, because it shows how long this story's gonna be, but it might not be cos it shows how little I've prepared for this chappy…but I dreamt the scene last night, and I can remember it, so is that good?
Ivan – well…if u can transfer a dream into words, then…yes.
PG – WOOOOT! R&R please ppl)
Chapter 2
The group tramped through the forested areas near Kalay. It was a long trek through these areas, past Kalay itself, and through Gondowan cave, and across plains to Tolbi. There was now a faint drizzle of rain dampening spirits. To think that a few days ago, they slept in soft beds in Vault…to think of that was torture. Being under the canopy of trees, the rain did not hit as hard as it could have, but it was still wet. Heavy drops collected on leaves and dropped onto the heads of the adepts. Wet twigs cracked half-heartedly, adding to the noise of the rain and the silence of the group. Hardly anyone felt like talking, and those who did couldn't think of what to say. Each and every one was wrapped in her or his thoughts, whether those thoughts were the task ahead, the likeliness of stopping at the Kalay inn, or what their last meal was (Ivan - *cough cough * GARET *cough cough * PG – shhhhhhh!!). Suddenly, there was a resounding crash in the undergrowth ahead.
"What the-" Felix started, before realising that everyone else had already run ahead.
In the clearing just ahead of them, there were three heavily armed men- swords ready, extra daggers at their waists, and a bow and quiver each – thrusting at a girl, barely taller than Ivan, who was desperately trying to defend herself. Her brown eyes flashed with determination and strength as one slight, slanting beam of sunlight that came through the green canopy with the dieing rain. Some kind of necklace glittered in the light. It was obvious that the girl was beginning to lose.
Who to help? The men, or the girl? Either one may be thieves, Piers thought.
As if reading Piers' mind, Ivan did a quick mind-read on one of the men.
"They're bandits!" He cried, rushing forwards to help the girl.
The rest of the party followed, and as the bandits turned to see themselves outnumbered, they seized the opportunity to rush into the denser wood to the right.
The girl stood, panting, and sheathed her sword.
Did I just see a glint of gold? Jenna thought.
Ivan walked over to the girl, and asked, "Are you OK?"
"Yeah," She answered. "Just…a little worn out now, I guess,"
Ivan cocked his head to one side, and studied the girl for a moment. "You're an adept, aren't you? Why didn't you use psynergy against those guys?"
"Yep, I'm an adept," She admitted. "And I ran outta PP,"
"What's your name?" Isaac asked, walking over.
"Bethany," She answered.
That night, Bethany was offered to join Isaac and company's camp. As they were sat around a fire with some game roasting on a spit, Sheba decided to try and find a out a bit more about the group's guest. She used a mind read, making sure that no-one would notice.
"Mind read…"She whispered silently…
A moment or two passed, as Sheba tried to read Bethany's mind…but…it seemed blocked. Bethany looked up suddenly, and glared at Sheba.
"Y'know, if you want to know more about me, you could just ask," She said sharply.
Sheba turned red and silent.
"Well?"
Sheba mumbled something under her breath, and was aware of the looks everyone was giving her.
"Uhhhh, I'd like to know something about you," Mia said.
"Hmm…the long or short version? Basic or in-depth?" Bethany asked.
"Uh, you give us your…long version, we'll give you ours, right, guys?" Mia looked around the group, as they each nodded in turn.
"Ok." Bethany took a deep breath, and begun. "I'm 15, and a Jupiter adept. I'm not sure where I was born, my…my parents were always travelling here and there. One day, when I was about 9, they decided to settle down, find a place to live, to have a proper home. There was this mountain-" She pointed to a range of mountains to the left of where Vale once was, "- called Thor's Peak. On the side of the mountain there was a village of Jupiter adepts. My grandparents lived there, so we decided to go settle down. The village was called Thor's Village.
Anyways, even though there wasn't much means of communication up on a mountain, we still always knew when bad things and good things were gonna happen, being a town of Jupiter adepts. Also, from the peak of the mountain, we could always see if something major was happening. Like, when the Elemental Lighthouses were lit- someone would foresee it, so then we could all go up to the top of the mountain and watch the lighthouses burst into life…
Shortly after the last lighthouse was lit, my grandfather foresaw a evil Mercury adept climbing Mt Aleph, and being buried alive with it when it sunk into the earth. He also foresaw the archaeologists trying to dig Vale and Mt Aleph up, and that the evil man would be unburied alive, and would escape. Being the best swordsman in the village, I was send down the mountain, to try and stop the excavations of Vale, but when I got to the site…they had already dug deep, and the Mercury Adept escaped…
I ran back to Thor's Village to find that the Mercury adept and what seemed like one of the rebel armies after Alchemy were one step ahead of me. I returned to find my village burning, everyone I knew dying. I rushed to my house, and found my Grandfather there, barely alive. He told me that the Mercury Adept wanted everyone in the village dead, because they wouldn't give up a powerful heirloom…Grandfather gave it to me, and told me to run…
So I ran down the mountain. I didn't know whether I was being followed or not; I just ran. It's a big mountain, so three days later, I reached the bottom and Lunpa. Since then, I've just been running, trying to shake the last of the Mercury Adept's forces off my tail…and that's what you saw earlier. And so now, here I am," Bethany finished.
"How…why did you trust us with all that?" Piers asked.
"Because you lit the lighthouses," Bethany answered simply.
"How do you-?" Isaac frowned.
"I've seen you all before…in my dreams,"
( Ivan – crap, that was long!!!
PG – I kno.
Ivan – that was a heck of a lot on just Bethany's life story…
Pg – well, I couldn't have a new character without everyone knowing her background, can I?
Ivan – but what about the 'powerful heirloom'? When are we gonna find out what it is?
PG – in time, Ivan. In time. That's what chapters are for. Anyways, R&R, ppls!
Ivan - *nicks notebook again* hey, this says-
Pg – nooooooo! *yells over what Ivan says* Phew. They didn't hear.)