I think there might have been some confusion. This story DOES NOT tie into anything me and Randall are writing. Its sorta a spin off to what Randall's telling. Randall did not have Randolph until later on in his life. This story is a spin-off of what WOULD have happened if the two had been together at a young age. To clear that up for you VJ .

Oh Yzmakitty. Personally I think there's nothing wrong with Randall and Randolph having names depriving from each other. There's probably a particular reason why their parents named them what they did, so I guess you'll just have to find that out .

This chapter focuses more on Randolph and his protective nature toward Randall, as you will see. The end is pretty dramatic as well. Enjoy .

Chapter 2 An Eye for and Eye

Randolph had smacked out into reality. He found himself back in the shed. The light of the lantern was gone, replaced by the morning, light shinning in from the window. He had fallen asleep.

He looked down at Randall, who had, like always, rolled over on to his side. Randolph gave his morning yawn, looking about the room. Everything seemed fine, unmoved by any action. His first struggle was not waking Randall up, which would have proven more difficult if Randolph didn't have eight usable arms. He slid out, quickly tucking his part of the cover to support Randal's head. He stirred a bit, but Randolph was successful.

Forgetting the morning stretch, he grabbed the lantern. Dragging the bag over, he tucked it in between a torn book and a few things. He quickly got it out, setting it back on the ground. If they ran, it could break without the cover, the one Randall was wrapped around.

Randolph reminded himself, they had to keep moving. Besides, they hadn't eaten, had forgotten too. Remembering his first thought when they came, he slithered over to and up the wall near the window, keeping his fronds down with a hand and peeking over the frame. Solid forming ground, the house, the pen, the clouded sun, it was clear.

"How is it Randolph?". Randolph looked down at Randall, who was sitting up with his back to the shed, now starting to rub his eyes. "All clear..." Randolph answered, jumping down onto the ground, quickly grabbing the cover and placing it in the bag along with the lamp.

Randall gave a small yawn, but quickly had something else on his mind. "Jeez...I'm starving..." he commented. Randolph chuckled, having thought the same. "Don't worry….there should be a town around here where we can get supplies". Randolph chuckled again. He "borrowed" allot of their caretaker's money thought sneaking thievery. It could be called stealing, but Randolph called it a "return for pain", or reasonably, payback.

"Maybe nothing fancy but...". Randall smiled. "More fancy...more expensive...more trouble with the food". Randolph joined Randall's small laugh. He was grateful Randall understood their situation. They were both smart enough than most of the adults around the area, which gave them a huge advantage.

"We'll stay off the road, but be near enough to know where it goes" Randolph planned out. "Fins some place to stop, get a few things...find a way to get to the city...". "Why don't we hitchhike?" Randall offered. Randolph took it as a joke, but noticed Randall had come right up beside him, brow raised.

"("Was he serious?)" Randolph asked himself, going back to ordering the bag. "Randall...you know that nobody would want to help us...just rely on me ok" Randolph stated.

Randall shrugged.

Randolph had always felt he himself was responsible to take care of himself and Randall. He wanted o get them both to the city, he wanted to lead them he wanted the responsibility to himself, something he was prone to.

"Its just a matter of time..."Randolph whispered. "What?". "Nothing...". Randolph turned his attention to the door, looking past Randall. "What's wrong?" Randall asked, half his mouth in Randolph's vision. "Thought I heard something..." he answered. After a moment.

"I'll check it out...". Randall looked back through the bag at the few items they had brought, seeing if there was anything that Randolph had missed, while his brother edged his way toward the door. A slight push on it, Randolph hoped it wasn't locked. Thankfully, it wasn't. The light would have blinded him if it wasn't on his right. All clear.

"(Things are suppose to go bump at night...)" Randolph thought stupidly to himself, turning back to Randall. "Anything?" he asked, seeing Randolph looking out.

"Yeah...strangest thing..." he started. "I could have swear that...". I knew there was somebody in there!".

Before he could do anything, Randolph felt something grab his tail, hard. The grip hurt, but the sudden toss was what was unexpected. For a sole two seconds, he was in the air, then landing flat on his stomach. He felt a wave of anguish over him, not wanting to get up, But the yelp, which was indefinitely Randall's forced him to lift his eight, current feet.

He turned around, ready to jump up, until he saw Randall tossed in the same manner he was, by the tail, but farther because of his smaller size. But he also had the back, which would really hurt him on impact. Thinking on his feet, literally, Randolph dove over to grab Randall. When he fell, Randall hit his back on the ground, the bag falling on half of Randolph. He'd missed. Randolph gritted his teeth to tear the pain out, but his concern shifted to Randall only. He turned his head slightly, lifting it. "Randall!?".

He was lying on the ground, teeth barred and a slight moan. Randolph half got u p, quickly checking his brother, but his attention shifted to the owner of the farm. A tall tentacle type with four legs, two long arms, and two long stalks ending with eyeballs. Kind of like Charles Snitch from school.

"You little thieving scales!" he yelled, coming towards them. Randolph starred at the creature in front of his eyes, growling. "(He hurt Randall!)". Randolph was never let anyone hurt Randall without punishment, and this was no exception.

He rose to his feet, dashing forward and leaping onto the owner's arm. "Get off me you...aarrrggghhh!".

And bit straight into it with his razor sharpened teeth. The monster screamed in pain, ecto running down. In an instant, the creature moved his right arm, the good one, back and grabbed for him. Randolph jump off, backward, but was cut across the eye by something he hadn't seen on the end pours of the tentacles, spines, sharp spines.

Randolph flipped backward, but landed near Randall, hot ecto dripping in front from his left eye. Randolph fully subsided when he heard Randall's moan again. He snapped out, running over and picking him up. Grabbing the bag and heaving the little lizard up, Randolph ran as fast as he could, Randall helping as much as he was able to.

Randolph may be bleeding, but he did give them enough time to get away.

(NS)

Randolph didn't think to head to town. It would be the first place they would look. So instead, they found some outskirt buildings and decided to stop there.
Randolph had ducked them into an alley between two concrete buildings, two trashcans for cover. They both sat against the walls, slumped down in the dirt. It wasn't really an alley, but close enough to one.

They were on opposite sides of each other, Randolph against the west Randall on the east. Randall had his eyes closed, holding his chest tight with all four hands. Randolph was healing, the echo still coming down his eyelid, drops forming a miniature puddle on the dirt. Every time it irritated him, or impeded his sight on Randall,, he'd simply brush it away. His top left hand was drenched in the vital fluid, getting cold now.

"...Randall...you ok?" Randolph firmly asked, seeing his brother still with his eyes closed. Randall simply placed himself more on the wall, holding his chest, as if pushing in with his arms.

"My...whole chest and back..." he said, moaning. Randolph could tell Randall wasn't as strong as he was. Randall was as smart as him, sure. Randall could do simple hotwiring, but that didn't mean he wouldn't die from doing it. Strong heart Randall had, but couldn't take a stab in the chest.

Randolph tapped his finger son the bag on his left side, its strap on his shoulder. "...Randolph...". He looked back, Randall was leaning in a bit, looking at him. The two had hardly seen each other since their run, so Randall didn't notice the wound Randolph was carrying.

"Your...bleeding..." he said, concern in his voice. Randolph scuffed. "Its just a cut...I'll live...". "Are you sure? It might...". "I said...I'm fine...".

Randall seemed slight taken back by this, but remembered. Randolph was always the tough one, the fighter, the kind you want t o worry about because they don't want to be worried about. Randolph on the other hand, he thought he should be the only one worried. He was concerned for Randall, but knew it was the same for him. Randolph didn't like to accept concern, but from Randall...

"Sorry...your right anyway..." Randolph added in, trying to assure Randall. "We should see to something first...don't want echo dripping on the food or others getting the wrong idea...".

A short chuckle followed. Randolph was thinking to get up, but his feet just wouldn't move. He tried once more, and got to his feet, bag on shoulder. He felt uneasy from his eye, but refused it, holding a hand down to his younger brother. "Come on...we'll look around... they've probably never seen us before so I think it won't matter of we're banged up..." he said.

Randall chuckled, holding his front with his right hands, lifting his left set for Randolph to get him up. To Randolph's hope, Randall was ok, just with a few slight pings of pain.

"Probably find a pharmacy or something..." Randolph whispered to himself. A little over concerned, Randolph sling Randall's left hands over his neck, pulling them out of the alley, easy now since Randall could walk normally. When they edged out, they looked their respective sides down the dirt road, nobody in sight.

"I was wrong when I said it was a town I guess...its more of a service station..." Randolph commented. It was. Ahead, over the road, was another that led into a gas station. The buildings the two had stayed beside were and outland bank and a dinner. Not something you would expect to find, but then again, the two hadn't gone far from their usual routine in the Orphanage.

Randolph was considering checking the gas station, it might have some medical related things for sale, but remembered that Randall was as hungry as he was. Besides, Randolph wanted to get the taste of ecto out of his mouth. There was still some in it, his forked tongue trying to avoid it, other vital fluid wasn't a good idea to swallow down your throat. The bank was useless, so Randolph set his sights on the building on his side, the diner. As they passed by it, they could see it was really old, maybe a diner made in the 60's.

The building was a long metal, trailer like structure. Randolph was tall enough to see the lights and the top of the specialty menus, other than that...

They came to the door, Randolph opening it, Randall whispered to him that he was all right, so he didn't drag him anymore.

(NS)

Like said, a trailer-like. The door was a screen, but wasn't rusted. The whole left side, standing in front of the steps to the door and looking to your left, was full of stalls. Each had a round black table and chairs the same with cushioned backs. The floor was checker board, black and white. The counter on the right, seeing bar stools boarding it. Past that was the kitchen, not what Randolph was currently looking at of course, not interest, but was looking at the overhead menus.

Randall gave a slight pleasurable "mmm", Randolph agreeing. "Better sounding than that slop they fed us..." he commented. Randolph replied with a nod, looking it over. It was luck for them, this place seemed like a pit-stop for those one the go, truck drivers would be a reasonable answer. Everything seemed cheap.

Sandwiches/Side-Dishes/Soups/Drinks

Baku Crops/Bee Stingers/Cup of Muck Green/Orange Slime

Bat Burger/Frog Warts /Cockatrice Noodle/M. Cola

Randolph only saw the tops of the menus before someone came from behind the counter. He could see who it was. Defined female octopus type. Bright red flesh, six cupped tentacles, two large blue eyes. Not to mention a few unused teeth.

"Well well well...been a while since I've seen guys like you here..." she said, cherry. The two were slightly confused. "(Is she actually not going to harsh us?)" Randall thought. Randolph quickly lost interest, thinking it was just her nature to be that way with everybody. "We're just stopping by...you've got anything edible here?" he asked, his tough side showing.

"Heh heh…" the creature chuckled. "Well of course we do...oh yeah...and in advance I'm not...you know" she trailed off, seeing Randall with a brow raised. "Uh...anyway...what do ya want?" she asked, pencil and notebook in hand...well...tentacle.

"I know what I want...Randall?". Randall just shrugged, whatever was good enough for Randolph was good enough for him, like always.

"2 Baks, a cola...and an orange slime".

She took it down fast, experience perhaps. "Ok...that's $3.15". Randolph started over to the third table in the row, Randall took a seat while his brother heaved the bag up, looking for the jar inside as he unzipped it. It took a minute or two before he found it on the left side, tucked under the blanket.

Not wanting to be scammed, Randolph kept it in the jar out of sight, taking out only what he needed. He closed the lid and hid it away. Randall looked out the window to his left as Randolph handled the pay. He simply jumped on a stool, looking for her. He heard some talking in the back, but it wasn't about them. A moment later, she came back, her tentacles holding two plastic containers and two bottles. Exchange was made, leaving Randolph to wait for the change.

Randall was looking out at the vast plain, trying to figure out how they would get to their next destination. The gas station gave him an idea, not a good one, but one enough.

"Enjoy". Randolph merely shrugged the comment off, heading over to his seat, across from Randall, setting the stuff on the table. He noticed Randall still looking out, By and off chance, probably from boredom, the waitress started talking.

"Its one of those slow days again..." she started, looking over the counter at them. Randall was listening and looking, Randolph was, simply put, annoyed.

"Hardly seen anyone in the past few days, especially kids like you". Randolph snuffed the reply. "You really like talking, don't you?" he asked, sarcastic at the tone. She nodded, kind of.

"Yep...especially since two kids with no car come in here..." she added. "I mean...I myself got this job five weeks ago...all I've seen are truck drivers...tanker pullers...business men...but no kids that's for sure...". Randolph wanted to get away from her now, at least for a few minutes.

"Be right back..." he said, getting out of his seat. "Stay here..." he added, more to Randall, who just nodded. Randolph took the steps on the far end of the dinner, the restrooms for male on the left, female on the right. When Randolph was out of sight, the waitress had to ask.

"So...umm..." she started, getting Randall's attention. "What are you two doing out here alone anyhow?" she asked. Randal smiled. Someone was actually wondering what the two had been through.

A little naïve probably, but he took a stool, took his meal, and started.

(NS)

(ttsssshhhhh)

The water from the sink had been running the entire time. Of course, the miniature waterfall found its end entering Randolph's mouth. When near full, he took his head away, gargled, then spat. The once clear water was littered with bits of echo as it swirled down the drain. Randolph was looking down, as his hand reached up to turn the faucet off. The water stopped, but a slow, more silent dripping started. Randolph's face's shadow was bleeding. A drop of each hit the pearl white near the drainage.

Randolph slowly rose his head, his fronds down, his eyes lowered in a sort of hatred. His left eyelid scared, bleeding. His hands grasped firmly onto the sink's sides, his feet set, his tail twitching from the surges. He looked at himself in the mirror, at the wound that was on him. Randall was right, he had t o admit, but only to himself.

"(Your only 10...you can't protect Randall from everyone)". He was, in a sense, afraid. Seeing his own echo dripping down his face, seeing it in his mouth, seeing his stained hand. He had came to realize that he...he...

"(...I...might not be able to protect Randall)". His face turned shocked. It was a though he never wanted. It was as if the image in the mirror was talking to him, in thought.

"(You may be able to protect him from kids...but what about those stronger than you!?)".

"(I...I can think of ways around it...)"

"(Look at yourself Randolph! Aside from the beatings...you were given that cut! You can't protect Randall because you can't even protect yourself!)".

It was realization that was hitting him. Randolph slowly lifted his hand, touching the wound. "Ah...". He took his hand away. It hurt. He knew it would but...

"(See...you'll kill yourself trying...who will protect Randall then? His...parents?)". Randolph became angered by it, the realization of the events.

"I probably can't protect him forever but I'm going to do my best for him!" he yelled at it, a whisperer to himself. "(You'll never see him die)".

That was all he could take. The realization that he couldn't over-confident himself in everything. He had to protect his brother. But there was always that doubt that he would die trying.

The end morally focuses on a main part in the story, which will be the ending. I CAN say that the ending is NOT what you expect. Let's just say that just Randolph will be in the ending, nothing more to be revealed till later….