*Chapter 20*
~Reunion~
The sun shone high in the sky unblocked by the gray rain clouds, which had held it prisoner for so long. Birds sang in cheerful celebration of the now wondrous weather as they stretched their wings. The forest was alive with all manner of small creatures from mice and moles, to boars and deer. Flowers were blooming wide adding color and fragrance to the once drab and damp woods. The rains, which had soaked the area for over a week, were gone and now all life was awake again and rejoicing. Well, almost all life.
Kitty slumped numbly in Phantom's saddle ignorant of the cheery forest around her. Bobby was gone forever, and it was all her fault. No matter what anyone said to her, it was all her fault. That stupid boy just had to go and fall in love with her and left her no choice but to break his heart. The broken-hearted boy had stood no chance against the storm-swollen river and he had been swept away to his death. Yesterday there had been some hope for him, they'd found his horse Blizzard muddy and bruised but alive resting on the bank, but after several hours of searching what little hope there had been died. Bobby was gone and he wasn't coming back ever.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Piotr ride up beside her. The gentle Russian had tried his best to comfort her, everyone had, but it did no good. She remained trapped under a dark cloud of melancholy, the whole group did, but each was separate from the other. All were stuck wondering if they had only seen it coming, moved a little bit faster, done something different that maybe, just maybe they could've saved him. Logan spent all his spare time brooding and slicing up trees. Remy sharpened his many daggers and charged and exploded small sticks, pinecones, and acorns. Piotr gazed blankly at the sky and, when he wasn't trying to cheer her up, he was with his horse. Jean was nearly as bad as Kitty; she sat in silence and said not a word unless she had too. She was Bobby's best chance when he fell in the river, but her will was no match for the river and he had been torn violently from her grasp.
Kitty aimlessly toyed with Phantom's reins as they rode along the winding forest trail heading towards Karlsruhe, their next stop since they'd missed Saarbrücken during the week of endless rain. The trail twisted again and once more brought them to the banks of the accursed river. As they rode along its banks, Kitty glared hatefully at it. This massive, cold, dark, shimmering thing had taken him away from them. She may not have loved Bobby the he had wished she had, but that didn't mean she hadn't held some affection for him. His cheerful personality and whimsically romantic stories always brightened her day. But this cold watery beast that flowed so placidly along the trail had stolen him from her, from them all, and even the brightest days now became dim to her. The reins she had been fiddling with now creaked in her white-knuckle grip.
Damn this quest! If we hadn't been out here when we were then this wouldn't have happened! Kitty mentally raged. If she'd never volunteered to go, then Bobby wouldn't have felt the urge to follow. If Jean hadn't pressured her to talk at the time she did, then Bobby wouldn't have known, wouldn't have been hurt so and had more of a chance to survive. If only it hadn't rained. If only they hadn't reached that part of the trail. If only the bank had held firm just a little bit longer. If only Jean could've held on to him. If only, if only, if only.
But what if I'd told him sooner? This thought brought only more agony. If she'd told him earlier, before they'd left, he wouldn't have followed. He would be far away, but alive. If she'd told him as soon as they met, he wouldn't have been so utterly destroyed by the truth. Perhaps they could've become friends the way she wished. Who know what kind of fun they could've had together. While she had always frowned upon his immature pranks, they still made her laugh. His escapades and misadventures with other girls may have angered her, but they were quite amusing to look back on later. Oh how different it all could've been.
Could I have told him sooner? Could I have found the strength to tell him? To tell any of them? Could I have? No, she couldn't have. Even now the wound on her soul still bled. Her heart clenched and ached and her eyes stung with a sea of unshed tears, but not a single one was allowed to fall. The pain of her past life added an immeasurable weight of grief to her current sorrows. The icy wind of loneliness howled through her insides leaving her extremities unfeeling and numb. No there was no way she could've forced herself to reveal her secrets against such pain to anyone. Until she knew the truth of things, her pain would never fully cease.
Why? Why did he leave me? Why did they both leave me? What did I do wrong? What did I do to deserve this? Is it my fate to lose all those I come to care for? First my family, then my husband, now my friend. Will the rest of my friends be next?
***
Gott, does this boy ever shut up? Nightcrawler wondered grouchily. The past two days that he had been traveling with the lost English boy the boy had yet to stop talking. True he had been quiet for the first few hours that he had met him, but that was because he was unconscious so it didn't count. When the boy woke up he'd been a bit in shock from his terrible ordeal and Nightcrawler's frightening appearance so he'd been relatively quiet. But now that he had become used to his guide he chattered endlessly about anything and everything under the sun.
Beneath them, Schwarzi stirred and stomped restlessly, the mighty black stallion was unused to bearing such a talkative rider. Nightcrawler struggled not to grind his teeth as the boy babbled on ignorant of the effect his speech had upon the horse he rode and his master. The situation was made even more uncomfortable by the fact the Nightcrawler was forced to ride behind the boy. If he were to sit in front, the boy would end up crushing his sensitive tail. So that left Nightcrawler sitting in the back, a most awkward position to steer a horse from. He could only hope they ran into Bobby's friends soon, otherwise he might do something unpleasant to their stray friend.
"Isn't this weather wonderful?" Bobby asked.
"Yes." Nightcrawler muttered.
"Much better than it was before." Bobby brightly commented.
"Yes." Nightcrawler sighed.
"I hope it stays this nice forever." Bobby declared.
"Do you always talk so much?" Nightcrawler grumbled.
"Yes, of course, why wouldn't I?" Bobby replied, sounding somewhat confused.
"Because talking too much can be very annoying." Nightcrawler grumbled.
"It can?" Bobby asked.
"Yes." Nightcrawler muttered.
"I don't see how. It's silence that really gets to me." Bobby said.
"I can see that." Nightcrawler grumbled sourly.
"Really?" Bobby asked. Before Nightcrawler replied a sound reached his ears that made him signal Schwarzi to stop.
"Quiet." Nightcrawler commanded.
"What-?" Bobby started to ask.
"Quiet." The German repeated. This time Iceman fell silent. After several moments of uncomfortable quiet the faint sound of horses slowly became audible. Bobby started to call out, but Nightcrawler stopped him. "They may not be who you seek. Wait until you can see them." Nightcrawler whispered harshly. Bobby nervously nodded and they continued to wait in silence. Many long minutes passed before a line of weary horses and their riders came around the bend. Without warning Bobby jumped of Schwarzi and made a mad dash for the strangers.
"Hey Logan!" The stupid English boy yelled. The short, rough looking man at the head of the line instantly froze and whipped his head around. The whole group stopped and looked. Then as one they urged their horses forward and encircled the boy, and even from many yards away, Nightcrawler could hear their joy.
Nightcrawler smiled, it seemed his job was finished. The English chatterbox was returned safely to his companions who had missed him. Why they missed him he could not understand. But they all seemed happy enough now that they had their missing member back. And since they hadn't seen him he was free to go. Nightcrawler still was dying to know what it was these foreigners were looking for, but it was unnecessarily risky to show himself to ask them. So without a word Nightcrawler bade Schwarzi to turn around and go back the way they had come.
//Stop right there whoever you are!// A foreign voice roared deep within his skull. Nightcrawler froze.
//Who are you?// Nightcrawler thought back hesitantly.
//That is none of your concern. Who are you?// The voice coldly demanded.
//Are you a friend of Bobby's?// He asked.
//I'm the one asking questions here, but yes, I am.// The voice snapped.
//Well then ask him. He knows who I am. He gave me a name.// Nightcrawler replied teasingly. A sudden sharp pain exploded behind his eyes and he had to clench his teeth tightly to keep from crying out.
//Do not toy with me!// The voice shouted. Nightcrawler stubbornly remained silent. The voice stayed silent for some time though he sensed a foreign presence lurking around the corners of his mind. //Come forward so we can see you.// The voice ordered. When Nightcrawler was slow to act the pain briefly returned. He turned Schwarzi around once more and left the cover of the bushes and trees so that the strangers could see him.
//Now are you satisfied?// He asked the voice as they group recoiled from him when they laid eyes upon his demonic form. There was no reply, the presence vanished.
"Who are you?" The gruff one Bobby had called Logan asked.
"Didn't your friend tell you?" He called back.
"That isn't your name." The man stated.
"I know." He replied. The man glowered menacingly. Nightcrawler only smiled. If they tried anything he and Schwarzi would be gone in an instant and these foreigners would never find him.
"Do you know the way to Karlsruhe?" Logan asked suddenly, catching Nightcrawler off guard.
"Yes I do mein Herr. Would you like me to lead you there?" Nightcrawler asked nervously, half-hoping the man would say no.
"That would be most kind of you." The gruff man replied 'politely'.
"Then if that is what you wish of me I shall." Nightcrawler courteously replied. "This way." He called and sent Schwarzi of a narrow branch of the forest path in the direction of Karlsruhe. Isn't this a fine mess I've gotten myself into? Nightcrawler mused. Well, nothing to do now but lead them to the town and leave them be. Then I can go home...