The Threads of Life: Chapter Nine (wow I can't believe I've written that much already)

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A/N: Thank you for the reviews!


Kel woke up with a start and looked around – where was she? Her legs were cramped, and so was her neck. Then she felt something warm beside her. She was lying on Dom's chest. What happened? Then she remembered. It all came flooding back – getting lost, talking, crying, falling asleep, and those nightmares. Involuntarily, she shuddered, then she jumped up, hitting her head on the low top of the cave. Rubbing her head, she gently tapped Dom.

"Dom, wake up!" she said. She grimaced – she had to get back to her squad. "Dom, you need to get up now!" Dom's eyes fluttered and he opened them sleepily.

"Have a good sleep Kel?" he asked, with a tired smile. Kel frowned.

"Not now Dom! We need to get back to our squads!" He jumped up.

"Mithros, you're right! And we didn't get any fire wood either!"

"Lets just go, there're probably twenty troops from your squad looking for you, they love you that much."

"There's probably that many for you too."

"They don't love me that much," argued Kel.

"Yes they do, but this isn't the time for arguments, lets go. And anyway, our squads only have five people in them." Kel nodded and they both scrambled up out of the cave thing, which on reflection, was actually a tree root with a large hole in it. Kel shrugged and turned around almost knocking into someone. That someone grabbed her in what she guessed was delight and shouted,

"Hey Merric! It's JOLLY! I found Kel! And Dom! They were together under this tree!" Kel laughed and shushed Owen. She didn't want him reading too much into the fact that her and Dom were together. "What happened Kel? Wasn't that a jolly snowstorm last night?" Kel grinned, her heart warming at the sight of the over enthusiastic young knight.

"I was looking for wood last night and so was Sergeant Dom. We got caught in the snowstorm and holed up for the night. That's all," she warned. Owen got the point, but unfortunately Merric, who had just trudged up, hadn't.

"Sergeant Dom," he nodded formally. Dom nodded back. "Have a good night with mother?" he asked cheekily. For some reason, Dom blushed. He couldn't fathom why, and Kel didn't fail to notice. She frowned, wondering to herself why Dom would blush about that comment.

"Insubordination, Sir Merric, get back to your camp," she joked, but then sobered. "We really should get going, we've lost almost a whole half day of scouting." She saluted Merric and Dom, then went the opposite direction with Owen.

"Y'know," said Owen, "We actually didn't lose a half day of scouting. Or at least, our group didn't. I had the three squires scout while I met up with Merric and his two green knights to look for you and Sergeant Dom." Kel beamed at him.

"Owen, for an annoyingly chipper young knight, you have good foresight." Owen beamed back at her and they made their way back to camp. Kel changed and went out scouting for the rest of the day.

Meanwhile, Dom and Merric were on their way back to their campsite.

"So, Dom –," Merric began.

"That's Sergeant Dom to you, sir," said Dom cheekily.

"Anyway Dom," said Merric, completely ignoring what Dom had just said, "How was your night with mother? I noticed you were staring at her quite a lot when we found you. You two didn't, you know --?" Dom turned red.

"NO! This time, it really is insubordination."

"Denial is the first step, sergeant," said Merric.

"I DON'T like Kel!" protested Dom, but then realized his slip. Unfortunately, so did Merric.

"I never said you liked Kel," Merric said, grinning. Dom turned away and didn't speak to Merric again until they got back to camp. The thing was, he wasn't sure what he felt about his fellow commander. He said he didn't like her, but after last night, he wasn't so sure. The things he had felt when he touched her shoulder, and how he had felt so protective of her while she was so vulnerable last night...
A/N: Well, that was short, but it was also yesterday that I posted the previous chapter, so there you are then. Review please. BYE! (well until tomorrow or something...)

Crystaltambaia