Chapter Fifteen
The next morning Siria woke with the sun bright in her eyes. She bolted up when she remembered she had to baby-sit and that she was late, but then she had heard Aravinda's voice earlier telling her to sleep in for the day. Lev had drilled in to her the night before that Devin was a Bellowind and even worse maybe a Nite Ryder as well. Siria wasn't sure what all of this meant and she wanted answers. Packing a light sack she quickly slung it over her shoulder and hoped there wouldn't be too much rain.
Siria walked until she came to the creek she had found her first day out. Picking up some pebbles she gently sat on the bank and threw them in one at a time. Siria looked idle but really she was waiting for someone. After a few moments she heard the soft crunch of grass as someone grew near. She smiled, "Hello Lev."
He sat next her. "Did you sleep well?"
"No, because I've been spending the entire night trying to figure what a Bellowind and a Nite Ryder are."
"Don't worry about it." Lev sighed.
"You know that's difficult for me, especially when Devin wanted to cart me off to his leader."
"They are always looking for slaves."
"Oh really Lev because Devin said me and his leader belong together. What is that supposed to mean?" Siria said raising her voice gradually.
"I don't know, ok, I don't know why he wanted you, but I know one thing he's not going to get you."
"Lev, I don't need your heroics. I just want to know what's going on."
He sighed putting his arm around her and pulling her close explaining about the Bellowinds and their quest for power. He explained that the Nite Ryders were a group inside the Bellowinds who are devoted to any endeavor placed by their leader, Amon, who showed up hardly a year ago. "Siria, is there anyone who might hold a grudge?"
"Not that I can think of no."
"Maybe someone told him about you."
She sat up looking at him. "I don't know why anyone would want me; there's no one before the Virus I can think of who would want revenge on me."
"Well there has to be some."
Siria sighed. "Lev, I don't want to endanger the tribe, so I think I should go back to the City, and–"
"You can't go back!"
"Lev if I put the tribe in danger and something happened, I wouldn't forgive myself."
"Siria, I...I don't want you to leave." He hesitated for a second. "I really like you."
"I know you like me," Siria grinned taking his hand in hers. He leaned in ready to kiss her when Aravinda rushed toward them her face flushed and excited.
"Something's gone completely wrong, Lev you better see this, you too Siria." She rushed off leaving them little choice but to follow.
Siria still held Lev's hand as they moved through the forest; she wanted to ask what was going on but knew she wouldn't be answered. Living with the Gaians Siria had developed the ability to distinguish were she was. As she looked around, she noticed that they were getting closer to clearing she was at last night. In fact that was their destination as Aravinda's pace slowed as she came near. She made her bird call which was answered by Bantu, one of the hunters.
Aravinda sighed looking at Siria and Lev. "Something else happened here that neither of you told me about."
"But we told you—I told you what happened." Siria started. Actually she hadn't. She hadn't mentioned the guy with glowing eyes and dreads.
"Lev did you come back here after our fight?"
"No, I went back to my place."
Aravinda gave another deep sigh. "Then I think you better see this." She led them into the clearing stepping aside so they could see Devin.
"W-What the hell happened?" Lev yelled disturbing the silence.
"That's what we're trying to figure out." Bantu grumbled moving to cover the body.
"He was stabbed with this." Aravinda held the umbrella rod by its ducky handle blood dried at the other end. "We don't need the others worrying about this. Lev you were right to be suspicious."
"Devin was a Bellowind, a Nite Ryder in training. He had the crescent moon brand on hid chest but not the crossing arrows." Bantu said informatively.
Aravinda turned to Siria. "You might be in more danger then we thought, maybe—"
"Yes," Siria interrupted her voice weak. "You're right maybe I should leave. Leave the Gaian before more come."
Lev squeezed Siria's hand but she quickly pulled away. "I-I better go pack my things." Siria ran back to camp.
Lev watching her go turned glaring at Aravinda. "Why'd you have to go and say something like that?" He looked at Bantu and Aravinda taking them in. "Siria is not a danger to this tribe. We have been a target of the Bellowinds since this thing has started." He didn't let them say a word as he ran after Siria.
In Aravinda's tree house. Siria packed her bag trying to hold back her tears. They were kicking her out and she had so say. She heard someone walk through the door. "I'm almost finished; I'll be gone in a minute."
"I don't want you to leave."
"She turned looking at Lev. "I have to; there's no other way."
"Yes there is. You can stay; I told you, I would protect you." He put his arms around her waist pulling her close.
"You can't fight your own tribe." Siria whimpered burying her face in his chest and quietly crying.
He wrapped his arms around her kissing the top of her head, "I know." Lev pulled her away leading her to her own mat. "come on get some rest. You've had a trying morning." She nodding in agreement and laid on the mat letting her tuck him in. He looked at her smiling. Siria reached up stroking Lev's cheek with her thumb. "I'm going to miss you."
"You just rest ok." He watched her nod and then fell asleep. He sat against the wall sighing. "I'm not going to lose you." He had to think of something.
When Siria woke late that afternoon the sun was beginning to set. She sat up rubbing her eyes and moving her braids out of her face. She didn't understand why she had slept so long. She had to get going. She moved to get up when she saw Lev next to her. Leaning against the wall Lev had fallen asleep. Siria smiled and kissed him on the cheek. This was how she wanted to remember him: liking her despite everything. Siria moved to stand again when Lev grabbed her wrist. "You were going to run out on me without saying goodbye."
"Do you blame me? You told me to take a nap and now I'm behind on my trip."
Lev looked out the window. "Oh I see, and you can't travel alone at night. You're wanted remember?"
"I know." Siria sighed, "But I can't stay here, gossip travels fast in this campsite."
"That's why I want you to stay with me."
"What?" Siria looked at him unsure.
"You know I stay outside the camp toward the City you can stay with me and get an early start." He stood pulling her up with him.
"Why do I feel like I'm going to regret this?"
They shared a smile, "Because you're paranoid."
Lev's tree house was hidden far better the Aravinda's, lost in the protective foliage of leaves and branches the only way anyone could get in was by the out of place vines that were actually a rope ladder. Lev had already brought Siria's things pretty confident that she would come. When they reached the tree house it was dark. As Siria made her way inside she wasn't surprised to find the place a mess, but everything was pushed to the side leaving a clearing in the center. She grinned. "I see you knew I was coming."
He looked at her. "Yeah, you had to come sooner or later, I have your stuff."
"You thief," She said playfully.
Lev tried to straighten up some more then looking at Siria he smiled. "Make yourself comfortable."
Siria walked to a pile of blankets and sat, "comfortable."
"You're not hungry are you? I think I might have something." He turned going through a paper bag and pulled out an orange. Walking over he handed it to her. "I could peel it." He said sitting.
"Um thanks, I got it." She managed to peel the orange then breaking it in half, she offered him some. He shook his head 'no' and watched her eat. Finally she turned and looking at him. "What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing, I just can't think of anything to say."
"Well then don't say anything. I'm going to bed." She looked around. "Where do I sleep?"
"Where you are sitting..."
Siria gave a single nod. "Fine, can I get comfortable?"
"Uh, yeah."
Siria smiled her thanks then removed her boots and shirt and snuggled into the blankets. Lev stared at her a bit in shock. Then swallowing with a tiny he gulp he did the same and turned out the lamp. Siria turned under the blankets facing Lev. She gave him a weak smile. "You'll walk with me to the City tomorrow?"
Lev turned his head. "Yeah, but you should stay Aravinda didn't really mean for you to leave."
"And what about the others?"
"They're just paranoid; they'll get used to it."
"They shouldn't have to get used to danger."
He sat up on his elbow looking at her. "But what about me? Siria I love you." He leaned over her.
She turned her head looking away. "That's not going to change thing."
"But it's true; why can't I say how I feel about you?"
She looked up at him, "Because we can't be together."
"Or because you don't want to be with me."
Siria sat up. "You know I love you, so don't act like you don't know." Lev sat up in order to be eye level with her. They stared in silence, then leaning in Lev kissed her. She kissed him back with more passion leaning back into the folds of the blanket taking him with her.
The next morning Siria woke with the sun bright in her eyes. She bolted up when she remembered she had to baby-sit and that she was late, but then she had heard Aravinda's voice earlier telling her to sleep in for the day. Lev had drilled in to her the night before that Devin was a Bellowind and even worse maybe a Nite Ryder as well. Siria wasn't sure what all of this meant and she wanted answers. Packing a light sack she quickly slung it over her shoulder and hoped there wouldn't be too much rain.
Siria walked until she came to the creek she had found her first day out. Picking up some pebbles she gently sat on the bank and threw them in one at a time. Siria looked idle but really she was waiting for someone. After a few moments she heard the soft crunch of grass as someone grew near. She smiled, "Hello Lev."
He sat next her. "Did you sleep well?"
"No, because I've been spending the entire night trying to figure what a Bellowind and a Nite Ryder are."
"Don't worry about it." Lev sighed.
"You know that's difficult for me, especially when Devin wanted to cart me off to his leader."
"They are always looking for slaves."
"Oh really Lev because Devin said me and his leader belong together. What is that supposed to mean?" Siria said raising her voice gradually.
"I don't know, ok, I don't know why he wanted you, but I know one thing he's not going to get you."
"Lev, I don't need your heroics. I just want to know what's going on."
He sighed putting his arm around her and pulling her close explaining about the Bellowinds and their quest for power. He explained that the Nite Ryders were a group inside the Bellowinds who are devoted to any endeavor placed by their leader, Amon, who showed up hardly a year ago. "Siria, is there anyone who might hold a grudge?"
"Not that I can think of no."
"Maybe someone told him about you."
She sat up looking at him. "I don't know why anyone would want me; there's no one before the Virus I can think of who would want revenge on me."
"Well there has to be some."
Siria sighed. "Lev, I don't want to endanger the tribe, so I think I should go back to the City, and–"
"You can't go back!"
"Lev if I put the tribe in danger and something happened, I wouldn't forgive myself."
"Siria, I...I don't want you to leave." He hesitated for a second. "I really like you."
"I know you like me," Siria grinned taking his hand in hers. He leaned in ready to kiss her when Aravinda rushed toward them her face flushed and excited.
"Something's gone completely wrong, Lev you better see this, you too Siria." She rushed off leaving them little choice but to follow.
Siria still held Lev's hand as they moved through the forest; she wanted to ask what was going on but knew she wouldn't be answered. Living with the Gaians Siria had developed the ability to distinguish were she was. As she looked around, she noticed that they were getting closer to clearing she was at last night. In fact that was their destination as Aravinda's pace slowed as she came near. She made her bird call which was answered by Bantu, one of the hunters.
Aravinda sighed looking at Siria and Lev. "Something else happened here that neither of you told me about."
"But we told you—I told you what happened." Siria started. Actually she hadn't. She hadn't mentioned the guy with glowing eyes and dreads.
"Lev did you come back here after our fight?"
"No, I went back to my place."
Aravinda gave another deep sigh. "Then I think you better see this." She led them into the clearing stepping aside so they could see Devin.
"W-What the hell happened?" Lev yelled disturbing the silence.
"That's what we're trying to figure out." Bantu grumbled moving to cover the body.
"He was stabbed with this." Aravinda held the umbrella rod by its ducky handle blood dried at the other end. "We don't need the others worrying about this. Lev you were right to be suspicious."
"Devin was a Bellowind, a Nite Ryder in training. He had the crescent moon brand on hid chest but not the crossing arrows." Bantu said informatively.
Aravinda turned to Siria. "You might be in more danger then we thought, maybe—"
"Yes," Siria interrupted her voice weak. "You're right maybe I should leave. Leave the Gaian before more come."
Lev squeezed Siria's hand but she quickly pulled away. "I-I better go pack my things." Siria ran back to camp.
Lev watching her go turned glaring at Aravinda. "Why'd you have to go and say something like that?" He looked at Bantu and Aravinda taking them in. "Siria is not a danger to this tribe. We have been a target of the Bellowinds since this thing has started." He didn't let them say a word as he ran after Siria.
In Aravinda's tree house. Siria packed her bag trying to hold back her tears. They were kicking her out and she had so say. She heard someone walk through the door. "I'm almost finished; I'll be gone in a minute."
"I don't want you to leave."
"She turned looking at Lev. "I have to; there's no other way."
"Yes there is. You can stay; I told you, I would protect you." He put his arms around her waist pulling her close.
"You can't fight your own tribe." Siria whimpered burying her face in his chest and quietly crying.
He wrapped his arms around her kissing the top of her head, "I know." Lev pulled her away leading her to her own mat. "come on get some rest. You've had a trying morning." She nodding in agreement and laid on the mat letting her tuck him in. He looked at her smiling. Siria reached up stroking Lev's cheek with her thumb. "I'm going to miss you."
"You just rest ok." He watched her nod and then fell asleep. He sat against the wall sighing. "I'm not going to lose you." He had to think of something.
When Siria woke late that afternoon the sun was beginning to set. She sat up rubbing her eyes and moving her braids out of her face. She didn't understand why she had slept so long. She had to get going. She moved to get up when she saw Lev next to her. Leaning against the wall Lev had fallen asleep. Siria smiled and kissed him on the cheek. This was how she wanted to remember him: liking her despite everything. Siria moved to stand again when Lev grabbed her wrist. "You were going to run out on me without saying goodbye."
"Do you blame me? You told me to take a nap and now I'm behind on my trip."
Lev looked out the window. "Oh I see, and you can't travel alone at night. You're wanted remember?"
"I know." Siria sighed, "But I can't stay here, gossip travels fast in this campsite."
"That's why I want you to stay with me."
"What?" Siria looked at him unsure.
"You know I stay outside the camp toward the City you can stay with me and get an early start." He stood pulling her up with him.
"Why do I feel like I'm going to regret this?"
They shared a smile, "Because you're paranoid."
Lev's tree house was hidden far better the Aravinda's, lost in the protective foliage of leaves and branches the only way anyone could get in was by the out of place vines that were actually a rope ladder. Lev had already brought Siria's things pretty confident that she would come. When they reached the tree house it was dark. As Siria made her way inside she wasn't surprised to find the place a mess, but everything was pushed to the side leaving a clearing in the center. She grinned. "I see you knew I was coming."
He looked at her. "Yeah, you had to come sooner or later, I have your stuff."
"You thief," She said playfully.
Lev tried to straighten up some more then looking at Siria he smiled. "Make yourself comfortable."
Siria walked to a pile of blankets and sat, "comfortable."
"You're not hungry are you? I think I might have something." He turned going through a paper bag and pulled out an orange. Walking over he handed it to her. "I could peel it." He said sitting.
"Um thanks, I got it." She managed to peel the orange then breaking it in half, she offered him some. He shook his head 'no' and watched her eat. Finally she turned and looking at him. "What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing, I just can't think of anything to say."
"Well then don't say anything. I'm going to bed." She looked around. "Where do I sleep?"
"Where you are sitting..."
Siria gave a single nod. "Fine, can I get comfortable?"
"Uh, yeah."
Siria smiled her thanks then removed her boots and shirt and snuggled into the blankets. Lev stared at her a bit in shock. Then swallowing with a tiny he gulp he did the same and turned out the lamp. Siria turned under the blankets facing Lev. She gave him a weak smile. "You'll walk with me to the City tomorrow?"
Lev turned his head. "Yeah, but you should stay Aravinda didn't really mean for you to leave."
"And what about the others?"
"They're just paranoid; they'll get used to it."
"They shouldn't have to get used to danger."
He sat up on his elbow looking at her. "But what about me? Siria I love you." He leaned over her.
She turned her head looking away. "That's not going to change thing."
"But it's true; why can't I say how I feel about you?"
She looked up at him, "Because we can't be together."
"Or because you don't want to be with me."
Siria sat up. "You know I love you, so don't act like you don't know." Lev sat up in order to be eye level with her. They stared in silence, then leaning in Lev kissed her. She kissed him back with more passion leaning back into the folds of the blanket taking him with her.