Disclaimer: I do not, under any circumstances, own Neopets.

"Jeran! You're awake!"

The Lupe blinked. Slowly he began to take in his surroundings. He was in Skarl's hospital wing, among his friend Danner and his sister Lisha. Jeran tried to sit up, but Danner gently pushed him back down.

"You're still to stay in bed, sir. Doctor's orders." He forced a smile.

"I'm not a pup, Danner. I can move about as I please." Wincing, he slowly but surely righted himself. He turned to face his companions. "What happened to Hiasurn?"

Mikud shrugged. "We honestly don't know. No trace of him since the battle."

"But... what about... Rose?"

He knew he said something wrong. At her name, tears came to Danner's eyes and Lisha looked away. After a brief pause, Danner shook his head.

"I'm sorry I couldn't help her, Danner-"

"It's not your fault," he whispered, as he stood up and headed for the exit. "By the way," he paused at the door, "she wanted me to give you that." He motioned towards a piece of parchment laying on a table. Lisha paused, and looked at Jeran with pity written across her face.

"I'm glad you're all right. I was really worried." She gave his hand a squeeze. Jeran smiled at her. The Aisha leaned over and kissed him on the forehead, then left the room.

- - - - -

The evening was peaceful and serene. Birds flittered about and called to their young, just, Jeran remembered, as the night he met Rose. Parchment in hand, he walked towards a tree stump that lay on a hill overlooking Meridell Castle. Trees adorned the scene, painfully reminding him of the incident that occurred two nights ago.

He took the parchment from his pocket. It was wrinkled and smelled faintly of roses. Opening it, his eyes fell to the message inside.

Dear Jeran,

This is Danner's sister Crystal. Thanks for saving me the other day. I owe you one. (Jeran grinned. In that case, many people owed him duties.) I'm only fifteen, but I'm applying for a job as an an alchemist here. I was wondering if we could get to know each other better. I've already met your sister, but I was a real idiot to her. I'm really sorry for that.

Then, in a different ink color, was an added message:

I talked to your sister. She's really nice. I don't know how to tell you this, but I've been seeing you in my dreams. It's always in a battlefield where Hiesurn (is that how you spell it, or should I just say You-Know-Who?) is getting ready to kill you. I didn't know how to tell you this face to face, so I guess I'll put it this way. I didn't know what else to do. I don't know whether this dream is real or not, but I just thought I'd warn you. You may think I'm crazy, but it's better safe than sorry.

I don't know how to tell you this, but I love you.

Crystal Rose

Jeran stared straight ahead, motionless. This was the reason she was on the battlefield that say. She hadn't seen him since, so she was going to try to stop Hiasurn herself. It was all his fault. If it wasn't for him, she wouldn't have been trying to save his neck that day.

A silly schoolgirl crush? No, it couldn't be... she had risked her life for his. That couldn't be undermined as 'puppyblew love'.

He stood up, still clutching the parchment. Jeran headed towards the Meridell cemetery, which was only a few yards from his spot. He had something important to do. His eyes lighted upon her freshly dug grave. There was nothing on her tombstone, but a few scattered roses lay at the foot of the stone. He knelt down, memories of the Wocky still fresh in his mind. And this he etched on her tomb:

Crystal Rose

Died for a cause

That never returned her affections

Here she lies

Without a memory of her love

Broken inside

Falling apart

He saw regret in his actions

Dying without regret

Never will she be

Only a shadow of the past

The End