Bruno scowled. "I think that Kayalie's arrows may just be for the better in this situation. Did you see how happy the Blue Mage was? Had the arrow not struck Penelope, maybe things would be worse."
Marie scowled.
"Kupo, when do you think that we'll catch up?" Carlos asked.
Kayi shrugged. Carlos did not yet know about the trip to the past.
"Well, maybe in a few moons," Kayi offered.
"Kupo... When we go back, I'm going to take my studies more seriously," Carlos said. "I mean, I wanted to be part of a clan, and it's fun and all... But I'm real worn away," the Juggler said.
Kayi pouted. "Car-los! You're my best friend! I mean, we can make our own clan!"
Carlos heaved a sigh. "Well, I don't know if this is the right thing for me..."
"Please? We can be like another Clan Crystal Bane!"
Carlos brightened considerebly at the idea. "Ya think?" He lowered his voice. "Well, I have a feeling that they are really famous. Ya know why?"
"Why?"
"Well, during my studies..." Carlos whispered, making sure he was out of range of Layla's all-hearing ears. "Well, I came across a book. Soul Pride- The Beginning and the End of the Undefeatable Clan. You know what it was about?"
"Who? What?" Kayi asked excitedly, her heart fluttering pleasantly like a butterfly.
"Clan Crystal Bane. I read all about them. They were like celebrities- I came across section after section of books on them," Carlos said, grinning.
Kayi jumped at that. She had always known that the elders were a super-clan, but the idea of them being as famous as the royalty...
"Imagine that! And I read about ol' Bruno being a total flirt and a naughty lil' bad boy!" the Juggler said.
Kayi's ears fluttered.
"Well, do you think we should stop for the night, kupo?" Lief suddenly said, stopping suddenly.
Everyone stopped. "Well, yes I suppose," Bruno said, looking out at the evening sky.
------------------------
They had gotten used to sleeping on the ground. Kayi and Carlos had not minded at all- it was like a sleep-over party every night. Starkin, although he never did complain about it, hobbled and fell in the morning.
"Well, here's to a new day," Dasmon sighed. "I expect that we will be catching up with Clan Shakayi in a few days."
"A few days?" Kayi exclaimed. "Wow!"
"Shorter," Bruno said. "If, if we hurry. come on, let's get a move on!" The old nu mou began striding (well, not exactly striding) away.
-----------------------------
"Marie?" Kayi asked.
Marie turned from talking to Layfette to face Kayi. "Yes?"
"Well, I was wondering... But after this... Well- Are any of you in a clan?" Kayibluterted.
Layfette stared. Willy stared. Carlos stared. Lief stared.
"Well," Kayi said, continuing blushingly, "Well..."
"None. My Mommawants me to join a good enough clan. I've-" Marie continued on proudly, "I've personally turned down a great many applications and requests. My Daddy says it's my bloodlines."
Kayi waited to Layfette to butt in that Marie was actually exagerrated- that the Red Mage had been turned down rather than doing the turning down herself. But no rebuttal came- Marie was really telling the truth!
"Well," Kayi continued, stopping her blush in its tracks, "We can form a clan, like Clan Crystal Bane. We can be another CCB."
"CCB? Another Clan Crystal Bane? Well, that sounds awesome, kupo!" Lief said enthusiastically.
Marie and Layfette nodded. "Well, it's decided. We can be another Clan Crystal Bane- my brother, by the way, will probably join too, if he can," Marie said.
"Who's your brother?" Kayi asked.
Marie shrugged. "He's a super-hyperactive little Gladiator. Tried to be the first Bangaa Gunner ever."
"What happened then?"
"Gave up after shooting himself too many times."
Kayi nodded but suddenly fell forward.
Kayi never noticed anything much- only that she tasted damp, iron-rich dirt and her leg felt like it had been caught on a master weaponsmith's anvil.... And everything dissolved, thankfully, away before the true waves of pain could hit her.
Everyone halted.
"Kayi!" Starkin rushed over and picked the limp, still body up. He stared sharply at her friends. "What happened?"
Marie pointed downwards. The ex-Dragoon looked and saw the cause of Kayi's pain- there was.....
A pothole in the ground. Starkin nearly exploded. A pothole! A pothole! A pothole had ko'ed the daughter of Lady Morgana. And broke her leg too.
Starkin was enraged- not for being a bad guardian, but... A warrior ko'ed by a pothole!
"Come on," he said sharply. "Let's get her to the nearest town."