The storm had calmed down, most of the flooding subsiding. The Dragon castle was bustling with activity, since Lykouleon, lapsing back into his community service days, decided to open the Castle to the less fortunate of Draqueen as a shelter. Preparations were being made as person after person, family after family filed into the Castle, staring around with wide eyes in disbelief. Even the adults had a look of amazement on their faces as to where they actually were.
Alfeegi got the task of getting them to sign in and assigned to a room. He'd much rather not. Ruwalk had gone off somewhere, still feeling depressed. Perhaps the Lord had called for him, who knew. All Alfeegi knew was that his lover was blaming himself too much for something that he couldn't even prevent, much less predict. He claimed it was his own fault Kaistern had died; yet how could he have known the ground wasn't stable?
Another thing about it was it was distracting him from his work.
Tetheus stepped up. "Alfeegi, why don't you take a break? I'll take over here." The white officer nodded and let the chief of security take over. But instead of resting, he headed off to try to find Ruwalk. His instincts, which lead him to outside the door of Lykouleon's office, were correct.
"Ruwalk, it's not your fucking fault," came Lykouleon's voice. He must've been repeating this for the thousandth time—his voice and choice of language showed it. "How the hell were you supposed to know the house was going to go? I'm just as upset as you are about losing Kaitsern." His voice lowered. "Hell, I don't know how we'll break it to Rath. But we saved people, and that's what matters. Kaistern didn't die in vain."
There came a stifled sniffle. "But still," came Ruwalk's voice, and it pained Alfeegi to hear his voice so thick with tears and not be able to do anything about it. "I just wish......... It could've been different."
"Yes, it could've. But don't beat yourself up. I don't think he would've wanted that."
"There's only one thing."
There was silence, so Alfeegi guessed the Lord had just raised his eyebrows or some other gesture as to say "what."
"The woman he saved........." Ruwalk sighed, a tired sigh that wished the day had never come to be. "She's dead. Only the baby's alive now."
".........Dammit........." Lykouleon said, and Alfeegi could hear the soft slap of skin against skin. "Goddammit. We could've at least........."
"'Don't beat yourself up.'" Ruwalk said. His voice was tinged with grim humour.
"Shut up and get some rest." Lykouleon told his friend. "That's an order, by the way."
Ruwalk walked out, just noticing Alfeegi, who tried to conceal himself. The white officer blushed. "I'm sorry," he whispered.
"S'ok," Ruwalk said, kissing his forehead.
"You have to go rest........."
"Can't you stay with me a while?"
Alfeegi considered this. Tetheus –had- relieved him of his duty, and he didn't think anyone would be needing him right now—at least, not as much as Ruwalk may be needing someone. He nodded. "Of course," he said, brushing some of Ruwalk's bangs back from his face. He took the yellow officer's hand in his own and set off down the hall to his room.
"You're still damp," Ruwalk noted.
Alfeegi giggled a bit, which felt out of place. "I haven't had a chance to towel off," he said. "Besides, didn't the Lord ask Sarazar about the weather?"
"There may be more on the way."
A loud crash of thunder sounded, confirming Sarazar's suspicions.
Rath came bounding around the corner. "Why's Kaistern out in this weather?" he asked. Alfeegi felt Ruwalk stiffen. "He said I couldn't go out in it, but –he- can? It's no fair! Where'd he go that was so important?" The little boy's gaze settled on the clasped hands of the two officers. "And why're you tow holding hands?"
Alfeegi blushed and went to move away, but his lover held firm. "Kaistern could tell you that when he gets back," the yellow officer said, which made his partner wince slightly. –Don't lie to him. Don't lie to him any more than we already are.-
"Oh fine," Rath sighed. "Every thing's till later." He motioned to the Dragon & Dragon Dog behind him. "Come on, guys, I know a place where we can watch the storm & look out for Kaistern." They ran off, Rath muttering on about being left behind.
"You lied to him," Alfeegi said after Rath was out of earshot.
"It's not impossible," Ruwalk countered.
"But what if it is? What if........." Alfeegi sighed and used his free hand to cover his face. "Oh, God." He looped himself around Ruwalk, who opened the door to his room at the same time.
"'Oh God' what?"
"It's turning into a huge mess."
"Oh, you and your disasters," Ruwalk sighed. "Come on. You're stressed—"
"Like you aren't?"
"Oh, shut up," Ruwalk whispered, kissed Alfeegi, pulled him into the room, and shut the door behind him.
"She looks weird."
"Rath!" Cernozura whipped around to scoop up the sleeping baby. "Don't fuss with the baby! What if Fire got too close to her?"
Fire sweatdropped and held up a sign: "I was keeping my distance," but Cernozura took no notice. Especially since Rath had begun to grill her about the child. "Is it a girl?"
"Yes."
"Ugh. Where's her parents?"
"Both dead, I'm afraid," Cernozura said softly, stomach turning at the lie she'd told him earlier. "Her father we're not quite sure about, but her mother died shortly after arriving here."
"Oh," said Rath, not quite getting with the older woman was saying. "Is she staying here from now on?"
"Yes, I think Lord Lykouleon suggested it."
Rath looked like he was considering this, then turned and ran off, with Fire and Crewger close behind. Cernozura sighed tiredly. The day would soon end, and that brought some relief to her. Even though the next few days would end up just as trying as today. What with all the people now using the Castle as a shelter, cleaning and the like was about to become evn more of a chore than it already was.
Far off, downstream by the ocean, away from all the trouble and stormy weather, was a girl sitting by the mouth of the river as it flowed into the ocean. The river had been flowing abnormally fast today, and she'd heard something about storms off in Dragoon. So she decided that accounted for not only the swift current, but also the amazing loads of wreckage—including the house that drifted by.
Only she soon discovered something far more interesting.
A man washed up on shore. He wore a dark trench coat made to be water proof (to some extent), which was now dirty and soaked, as was the rest of him. He had short white hair, and, interestingly enough, pointed ears. He wore an interesting clasp on his left ear; a small tooth shaped thing dangled from it.
The girl grabbed a stick and poked him out of habit. He moaned, then rolled over, coughing out water.
"Hey," the girl said, blinking in surprise, "You're alive?"
The man sat up, clutching his side. "Yes, I suppose. Where am I? Who are you?"
"You're on the West coast of Dusis," the girl aid, "And my name's Jazelle. And you are? Where're you from? Why the heck were you in the river? Was it the storms?"
The man (who, Jazelle noted, was actually an albino) threw up black gloved hands as if to fend off her questions. "Whoa, calm," he said, then winced in pain. "Jazelle, right? Well, just calm down with the questions. Besides," He sighed. "I don't remember who I am or where I'm from. At all. I remember nothing."
End chapter 2 of part 2
A/N: as for the ending......... heheheh.