An Unknown Secret
Loving Each Other
Sandry and Briar were still at the table talking when Tris arrived home. Sandry jumped up when the redhead walked into the room, and almost knocked her down with a huge hug.
"Tris! I've missed you soooooo much! Yes! We're almost all together again!" She squealed. Tris smiled, and walked over to the table.
"Nice to see you again too, street-rat." She said to Briar, her face totally serious.
"Heya Coppercurls. How's life been treating you?" he greeted her with a grin on his face. She shrugged.
"Fine I guess." She said. Briar was about to respond, but was cut short of opening his mouth by something huge bounding up to him and knocking him down. He felt something long and wet slide across his face.
"Little Bear!" he cried out, hugging the huge dog. Sandry ran over and petted Little Bear too. Tris snorted and said, "You guys can take care of him all you want now. I've had enough." Briar looked up at her, and grinned. He was taken by surprise when she grinned back. He didn't think he had ever seen her grin before. It made her look kinder, easier to get along with. It was nice. Somehow it also made her fiery red curls stand out more. He grinned back more broadly at her, but was then distracted by Sandry putting her hands over his eyes. He turned his head up to look in her eyes, and so her arms fell around his neck. She grinned devishly at him, and neither of them noticed Tris stalk out of the room like an offended cat.
Tris stormed out of the room, appearing only on the outside to be truly angry. In reality, her heart felt like it was being torn into a million bits. How could that bastard do this to her? She thought… She thought that they had had something. But how could she have been so stupid? Of course he would choose Sandrilene Fa Toren over her any day. How could she have not seen it earlier, before she had gotten her hopes up? She sighed, and sat down on the grass, for she had come to a meadow by the sea. The wind was whipping around her, and she breathed deep, trying to harness her emotions. Because however mad she was at that… that bastard she would not take it out on her home, the only home she had ever had in her pathetic life. And she would never do anything to hurt it. Intentionally.
XXXBriar looked at Sandry, her smiling face, bright eyes, and knew that it was now or never. His visage became serious, and he took Sandry's hand in his own. Sandry stopped laughing, and looked at him, startled almost.
"Briar… what…?" She whispered, blue eyes shining with anticipation.
"I… Sandry, I love you." Briar said, his face glowing because it turned so red. Sandry leaned over the table and kissed his cheek.
"Briar Moss, you don't know how long I've been waiting to hear that." She stated, a huge smile returning to her face. Briar let out a huge sigh of relief, and grinned lopsidedly.
"So, now that I've told you all about my adventures, why don't you tell me yours?"
Tris gathered herself together, determined to at least act supportive of her fellow housemates, no matter how much it hurt inside. Because gods knew it hurt. But Tris was strong. She would be able to survive this… this trivial matter. She had never let herself feel this way about anyone just for this reason. She had gone soft. She let out a soft laugh as she thought this, because no one would ever think that Tris could be that caring towards another human being. She realized that she was more like Rosethorn then she had thought. She laughed again, this time louder, and she decided that she didn't mind being like Rosethorn. That was okay with her.
All of the sudden her connection with Briar and Sandry flared. Tris closed her eyes, almost knowing what she would see if she dared to look at it. She did look, against her better judgment, and what she saw tore her heart to pieces once again. The soft honey thread that was Sandry, and the green, wild vine that was Briar, had woven together to form one single line. It pulsed with emotion, and Tris followed it to it's owners.
"I… Sandry, I love you." She heard Briar say. There was a pause, and then Sandry responded.
"Briar Moss, you don't know how long I've been waiting to hear that." Tris rushed out of their minds, before they could realize that she had been there. When she found herself back in her body, tears were flowing down her cheeks; she had started to cry unconsciously. She wasn't so sure that she would be able to make it anymore. It seemed… It seemed… she couldn't exactly put it in words… But her soul was frayed, and she didn't know how much longer it could hold on.
Sandry was smiling more then she had in… well since everyone had gone their separate ways. She was so very happy that they were all coming back together again. Already she could feel Daja's thread getting thicker, which meant that the Trader was getting closer. Sandry couldn't wait to see the patient girl again. She examined Tris's lightning bolt, and tried to talk to the girl, see where she was, but… there was no answer. It was like Tris had blocked her or something. She recoiled, slightly hurt, but then she went and examined Briar's vine, glad to see it so close once again, and had a bit of a shock. Woven into the green plant was some golden threads, her own. She frowned, trying to figure out why she seemed to be so closely connected with Briar all of a sudden, when she was jolted back to reality by a dog jumping on her and licking her face.
"Little Bear! Wanna go for a walk boy?" she asked the drooling pup. He wagged his tail more vigorously, which Sandry took for a "YESYESYES!!!" and she opened the front door and stepped outside. Little Bear followed her, jumping around in circles, and making her laugh. She started running, challenging the big dog. He barked gleefully, and chased her along the oceanside. They stopped only when the path ended, leading into a dark cave. Sandry looked into it curiously; she had never noticed this particular cave before. She turned around, deciding to come back and bring the rest of the circle with her. It would be a new adventure for them! And maybe then Tris would tell her why she was acting so weird… It wasn't like the copper-headed girl to cut herself off without reason. Sandry sighed. She would find out the reason sooner or later. She smiled, and called Little Bear over to her, and they started the walk back down the beach… towards home.
Tris looked at Sandry and Little Bear as they made their way back down the shore. She sighed and stood up, determining it was about time to head back for dinner. She gathered her skirts around her (she would not wear pants, that's what boys wear!!) and smoothed them out, although due to the fact that Sandry had made them, there weren't many wrinkles to smooth out. She began the trek back to Discipline. She gathered her wits about her, and prepared herself to put on a cheerful farce. She wouldn't let them know how she was feeling. For the first time in what felt like forever, the girl would shut herself off again. At least for now.
XXXEnd Chapter 2
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A/N: Hey all! Sorry this took so long to get out… Now there are two fully revised chapters! I kinda lost inspiration on this one, and I'm extremely against forced creativity, so it kinda got put on hold… ;; Well anyways, let me know what you think of the revision, and I'll be able to get the next one out sooner!! Review onegai!!!