Schwenk lay down in the small cave that had become his home...his fingers ran across his face, it was very sore and lumpy. Myra has given him one hell of a beating and he felt like shit.
He had initially thought she wouldn't have killed him, but now he wasn't so sure. The leg on the throat was one attempt. Schwenk made a mental note that in future not to provoke her too much...if he ever saw her again.
He has sent the beacon signal over a day ago so she knew where he was, and still no sign.
Myra in the meantime received the beacon but didn't know if she should go or not. She lost a lot of their trust over the last couple of days. She hurt her wound on her head, to make it look like he attacked her and forced her to let him go. Mandora went off it.
Mandora assumed Schwenk would be well gone by now. The Thundercats where disappointed. She got the ear bashing of the life from her family.
Curiosity getting the better of her, she told Bengali She was going for a long walk to clear her head over what's happened. Thinking she was consumed by guilt, he let her go, let her have her space. But Myra had other things on her mind, as she followed the signal deep in the woods.
Schwenk froze as he heard rustling outside. "It could be Myra", he thought. "Then again, it
Could be about 100 other less welcome callers." he held the pistol closer to him. He couldn't
Get up and run and her certainly couldn't fight anymore. He gritted his teeth as a shadow
Filled the small entrance to the cave.
Myra entered the cave, with some previsions, as she planned to be on her "walk" for a while.
She heard the click of his pistol, and smiled a little. "I told you needed to upgrade your
Weapons" she said softly coming in to the light, in view.
Schwenk breathed a sigh of relief and lowered his pistol. "That's lucky, I would have missed
Anyway, then you would have beaten me up some more". He stepped into the daylight so
Myra could see the beaten half-pound of steak that was now his face.
"I have a med pack, I know its late, but hey late then never." she got a med pack out and took
Out some antiseptic and cloth and started to dab some on his face, as gently as possible.
"Ow! You do enjoy inflicting pain don't you...sorry, I'm just a little tender at the moment. I'm a
Little surprised you came back actually. You obviously never got time to read up on my past.
By the way, how's life in the lair...I bet they all think I shot off, huh?"
"I know about your past Schwenk." she continued, as she cleaned his face. "And yes they hit
The roof. Big style. I was nearly arrested. But I just. Had to come back. They think I am going
On a walk to clear my thoughts"
"You weren't followed were you?" Schwenk looked alarmed.
"Don't worry I was not followed"
"OK, so if you know about me then...why? Why ruin all you've got, your friends, family, and life... for me? Plus the fact, how can you guarantee your safety? If Bengali had looked at my tags, or, if you had told him, he would have ripped my throat out in front of you...why are you different?"
"I'm not any different. I know I could be in danger, I think the
Only reason they haven't done anything to me yet, I am the grand daughter of a retired
Thundercat noble - and they want to preserve his memory, not have me tarnish it. I don't know why I came. My family has their own life to lead, on new Thundera. That's why I came to Third earth, to find my own path. And so far it's led me here"
"You certainly have found an 'interesting' path then Myra. Well, you are safe, look
What happened last time, hmmm "?
"I'm not doubting that. But you only walk down a path once, which I am doing."
She finished his face, and stood back. "Do you need this anywhere else on your body, she said looking him up and down, trying to look for further injury.
"Erm, there is somewhere else, if you remember I was going to break your neck and then you took matters in hand as it were." he rubbed the inside of his thigh gingerly.
Myra looked down on his inner thigh. She looked back at him.
"Do you want to do it, or I can if you want" She said sarcastically.
"I think I can manage thanks...my tackle hasn't quite forgiven or forgotten your claws yet" he smiled weakly. "Tell you what...I'll do it later...it'll give me something to look forward too in the long, lonely night"
"Ok" Myra said, sitting down. "What are you going to do now?"
"Don't know really...I would throw the party but I've got no beer and you took care of the nuts...
Myra" he said seriously, "You do know that I can't change who I am, I cannot change what I've done... I don't want to drag you down with me...people will come looking...you'll get hurt"
Myra looked at him seriously back. "I am perfectly aware Schwenk. I am not asking you to change, or what you did, but I am my own person. At the moment I just don't know what I want" she said a little a frustrated. Ever since the last few days she has felt more and more unwelcome at the lair.
"As long as you understand that then. The last thing I need is some one moralizing when I'm
About to do something bad... OK, how's this for an example. What if Bengali comes here to
Capture me, hmmm? I'd have to try and kill him, would you be OK with that? Would you try to stop me, would you try to help me?"
"That was a good question. "That's too early for you to ask me that, I don't know where I
Stand with you. Maybe then I can answer, when I know the answer myself. So many
Questions I have to ask you, like why did you kiss me, why did you want me to find you again, knowing the risk?" Schwenk turned away briefly, then answered "Myra...you saved my life...you spared my life...you risked everything to help the lost. You are the only person in my life to do that, let alone a Thunderian...I...I feel something for you, I just don't know how to say it...I'm all
Confused. You fight fire with kindness; I don't know how to react. The only thing I do know
Is that I should be dead or condemned by now and I'm not...because of Myra...the...
'Ordinary' Thunderian."
Myra looked down and then up at him.
"Welcome to the dark side Myra...welcome to my world... that of a fleeing fugitive!"
Schwenk paused.
"I'm just sorry that I am a bad guy...things could get messy and the last thing I would ever want to do is bring all this onto you...you don't deserve that! If you want to walk away and forget about me... then...I understand!"
"I will only leave if that's what you want. All I want to do right now, is live for today, not thinking about the future, even if it's only for a little while" Myra replied.
"Why would I want you to go?" he put his arms around Myra and cuddled her "After all, I need a woman around the place to do the cooking!"
He waited for the inevitable reaction.
"Only if you can handle DIY," she joked back.
"Hmmm, I was kinda hoping you would do that as well. And the washing...and ironing...and cleaning...oh, did I mention I like a nice massage too"
Myra couldn't help but laugh a little.
"Anyways I thought you didn't trust me with your body or was it your tackle?"
"Depends if you have got retractable claws or not...I've seen those things
Hit skin then bone in the same motion..."
Myra raised an eyebrow. "Course I have" she laughed showing him with her
Left hand, extending them, and then retracted them.
"Oooh, swish!" said Schwenk a little impressed.
"See I wont hurt you. Now do you trust me?"
"Tell that to my tackle...unless you forgot to retract them then of course"
"Of course I did, like you forgot not to try to break my neck!" she replied.
"I can apologize to it if you want"
"Yeah, that sounds good to me!"
She grinned, and bent down to his groin. "I am sorry Mr. Tackle"
"Hmmm, nice touch pussycat!"
"Now its your turn" she said with a smirk
"My turn... my turn for what?" he replied innocently.
"I want you to apologize to every part of me you hurt" she said, "starting here"
Pointing to her arm complete with a bruise.
"Erm...I don't think I did hurt you did I, didn't get a chance what with all the nasty
Things you were doing to me"
"Yes you did! Its not fair that you get an apology and I don't"
"Then I will apologize to anywhere else I hurt"
"Ha, you fell for it!" he nudged her in the ribs..."made you say 'sorry'!"
Myra rolled her eyes, rubbing her side.
Schwenk then on impulse, stroked the Tigress's face. Schwenk leaned towards her.
Myra panicked. She new she had to keep this up, but by Thundera she wasn't prepared
To go this far yet, not even for love.
All of a sudden Myra broke off his embrace before he got the chance to kiss her.
"By Thundera what I am doing I just met you!" She exclaimed.
"Well I just have that effect on women…" Schwenk grinned, leaning on the sidewall.
Myra grinned sarcastically back.
"Seriously we don't much else about each other besides our names!"
"Is that a problem?"
"Well yes!"
"Geez, here is me thinking I was lucky!"
Myra put her hands on her hips.
"Well I guess I should leave…" Myra said, starting to walk out.
"I'm going to miss you...do you know what I'm going to miss most?" Schwenk said thoughtfully.
"What?"
"The fact that you're going to be that nice, warm cats lair and I'm stuck out here in the cold and damp with no food!"
"I don't want to rouse loads of suspicion bringing food out here everyday, then bang your on the next cruiser out of here back to Bengalia" she paused.
"I don't want that to happen, you?"
"S'pose" he replied like a spoilt child being told off.
"I should really be going," she said.
"God I wish you didn't have to. Those bastards don't deserve you, they treat you like a child!"
"I will be back. This way we can continue our little adventure" she winked.
"I really don't want you to leave me...you are SO special to me. You're right of course!" he conceded "too much too soon and I wouldn't make it Bengalia anyway, I have this feeling that Bengali would take direct action...tell me about him. Should I fear him so?"
"I would, well I do, he has a short temper, as you have seen, He is just protective of us lot at the lair, if you get on his good side he is very loyal."
"How likely is it that Gaston Schwenk will be getting on his 'good side'?"
"At the moment I don't think at all, if ever" Myra replied.
"And as an enemy he's...?" Schwenk asked, dreading the answer somewhat.
"I don't think I need to answer that, I think you already know the answer," she said.
"Tell me...please...I need to hear it" he gulped.
"He is very ruthless. His temper seems to make him. Unstoppable. And he won't stop
Either until he as done what he has set out to do"
Schwenk slumped in the corner and looked drained, he looked up at Myra despairingly
"What am I going to do?" he asked softly.
Myra crouched down in front of him and looked at him. "We will have to cross that bridge
When we cross it. Don't worry we will figure something out.
"OK... help me kill Bengali" he said straight.
"What…why?" Myra replied, taken aback.
"He hunts me down...he captures me, he kills me, then its the end of me and quite possibly you too. I didn't really think you understand"
"Look don't get me wrong, I am not the one to moralize you on what's and right and wrong,
But that's not fair on me. Its like asking you to kill a member of your own family to prove yourself, so I shouldn't have to do that..."
"I'm sorry. I should never have asked you; it's the wrong thing to do. But please, try to
Understand" he implored, "It's WHO I am, and it's a kill or be killed world out there. Do you
Think it's right for Bengali to kill me? Maybe I have to stop him before he stops
Me...permanently"
"OK, I'll do a deal with you... if the need arises I'll kill him, but not until then..." He offered.
"Ok, she replied "but ONLY if here is really no other way, just don't do it for the easy way out, please"
"I doubt with Bengali facing off to me there'll be anything easy about it! OK, are you going?
To convince him that I should be given another chance?"
"If they find out, yes I will try.
"...I just want to take you away from all this. Take you to a planet far away and sit on a hot, sunny beach sipping cocktails, then going away to have mad, passionate sex with you...hottie!"
Myra laughed at the prospect. "Why don't we do it then?" she put forward. "For real, nothing to disturb us for miles, but the sea welcoming us for when we need to cool down from all the ahem." She said in an uneasy tone.
"When do we leave?"
Myra weakly smiled. Judgment rang alarm bells in her, She could leave this, but she would regret it for the rest of her life, She had to do this so there weren't any regrets. She owed it to herself.
"When I find the planet" she smiled.
"Then you must go and find it Myra. Come back in two days, I'll be here" he ushered her gently
Out of the cave. Myra smiled.
"You have no idea what you are getting in to, " Schwenk said seriously.
"Nor do you" Myra replied sternly.
1 month later
Myra sneaked out of the lair again, heading to Schwenk's new makeshift home. She told Dion she was going for a day of meditation for training. Well she seemed to believe it. As she approached the entrance, she wondered how he was, they hadn't seen each other in a few weeks. She hoped that he was still alive.
"Schwenk? Are you here?"
"Can you actually think of anywhere else I'd be?" he replied dryly.
"Someone got out of bed on the wrong side" she replied walking in.
"Oh I'm sorry...I never realized I had a bed here... now... where the hell did I put that bed!"
"Oh Schwenk come on... don't be like that with me! Look lets go for some fresh air. You have me for the whole day!" she offered.
"Mmmm, sounds too good to be true...where you taking me?"
"Anywhere you like" she smiled.
"Thing is...you know where we can go around these parts... I'm in your hands, m'lady!"
"Come on lets get some fresh air" she beckoned leaving the cave.
"Lead on Stripes!" he said enthusiastically, he longed to get some decent air inside his lungs.
Myra led Schwenk through the forest of silence until they came up to a creek. She sat down and watched the water race by.
Schwenk sat down next to her. Penny for your thoughts" he said softly.
"Wondering what you are going do... It has been a month… what is going to happen?"
"Is that a practical question like, 'what's for lunch' or is it more profound like 'what's the meaning of life?"
Myra laughed. "How about for now we just live for the here and now?"
"I intend to... sometimes even that seems like planning for the future to me," he laughed.
Myra laughed lightly back. "So... tell me about you... what about your likes dislikes, you Gaston not Schwenk" Myra suggested.
"I never saw myself as being two people...I've always been Gaston Schwenk, the one, the only etc, etc. Likes... hmmm? A quiet life I think...sure seems appealing right now. Been spoilt too much with life in the cave at the moment. I think it is because I am away from everything. Dislikes...dunno... ever wished you could turn back time and change things?"
"Yes" Myra nodded. "What would you change?"
"A lot! I've made mistakes...I mean...everyone makes mistakes, but mine aren't like the 'damn, I really hate that wallpaper now it's up' or 'did I really sleep with her?' no...my mistakes are bigger and hairier and will lead me to my early grave I reckon"
"You never know. Life has a thing called Irony that could change everything"
"I'd need a ton of irony I reckon" Schwenk stood up and walk to the edge of the creek. He pointed into the river "Look at this...Myra...come look!"
Myra stood up and looked behind him. "Yeah... I see it!" she shouted, pushing him in.
Schwenk stood up thoroughly soaked. "You bitchbag...I was going to...erm..."
"What? Show me how wet it is?" she smirked, folding her arms.
"Maybe...but in a nice sort of way... here give me a hand out!"
Myra eventually held out her hand.
Schwenk pulled himself up onto the riverbank and patted himself. "See...you thought that I was going to pull you in didn't you...bad kitty!"
"You needed a bath anyway" She replied casually.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah..." he walked past Myra and gave her a sharp titty twister.
"I feel better now...I think we're even!"
Myra growled at him, rubbing her chest. "Come on, lets go and dry off" she muttered, and went back to the bank and sat down.
Schwenk sniggered to himself and followed her and sat down next to her, thinking about Myra's question.
"So...what can I tell you...what do you really want to know about me?" Schwenk sighed.
"Are you ready to share your self with me in that manner?" Myra replied.
"Of course. Ask...anything because I will do the same to you"
"Ok..." she said her eyes wild thinking of something to ask. "I don't know start from the beginning. When did the Schwenk the war criminal start?"
Schwenk thought long and hard. "What, the military career, or my...other business?"
"Other business" she replied.
"Hmmm. OK, I was married and I had a young daughter. They were stationed with me in a garrison town on Calvise...a backwater nowhere really. I was due to be posted elsewhere and my family were to go back home. One night, when I was leading a patrol, the garrison town was attacked by rebel insurgents. This was supposed to be a 'safe' area, but even safe areas are attacked...all the humans were killed, slaughtered in fact. My wife and child amongst them. That was the beginning of the end for me really" he sighed.
Myra looked at him, sad. "I am so sorry. Where the rebels...Thunderians?"
"Yes! Angry, embittered people whom we had routinely subjugated. They had their revenge."
"I am surprised you would want to have company, " she said. "Especially with a thunderian," she said a little uneasy.
Schwenk faced her. "I try to see a person before their race. Not often, but I try. You are not thunderian, you are Myra"
She smiled a little.
"I just thought it might be a little more difficult for you because of what you went through"
"There are times...like when you prevented me from escaping back in the woods. Then you were a thunderian, deliberately cursing my life...how wrong I was"
"I Hope its not a curse anymore" she smiled. " I don't mean to be out of line here...but I am curious. Wouldn't you want to join your family? Or was it when the blinded revenge fury thing started? I know if I loved someone that much I would to want to be them in spirit and body" she said her eyes quickly averting away from Schwenk's, thinking of her own pain.
"No. I'm just an old-fashioned 'eye for an eye' kinda guy. Their memory lives on in the death of others...I'm not proud of that, but it is... me!"
"Well that was how you dealt with it at the time it seemed" she said.
"I am a bad person Myra. I took the attack out of context, it became personal, even my superiors couldn't control me" he laughed.
"A million death warrants can't be wrong! You're wonderful Myra, you try to see the good in everyone...even me. Sometimes, you'll have to accept that a bad person can act good, not be good"
Myra nodded slowly and thoughtfully. Schwenk put his hands on hers.
"Oh Myra...stop analyzing everything. I don't hate all thunderians and bengalians...I don't hate Bengali. It's business, he would kill or capture me, I would have to kill him...this might sounds strange, but Bengali, Lion-O...even Shula...I respect them. When you consider what
They could do to me, they command sincere respect. Do you understand what I'm trying to say?"
Myra took her hand away. "Ok… I understand. That explains you to me a bit more." she paused.
"Anything you want to ask me?" Myra asked.
"Hmm, let me see" he rubbed his bloodied chin. "Tell me about Lion-O and the 'Do Goody Gang', for example, if I was to throw myself at Lion-O's mercy...not Bengali's, what would happen? Don't say 'I don't know' either"
"I have never met him. So No I don't know."
"I need to know about your comrades...anything at all. It could save my life...and our future"
Myra sighed. "Well I came to third earth three months ago. This is the first time I met any of the Thundercats, Bengali I know the most. Cheetara I met fleetly when I was chosen to come here. Pumyra has always been at the tower of omens. I will be meeting the rest of the Thundercats today"
"OK...get me info...please?"
"Ok, I will get you the info!" she said.
Now, for you Myra...hmmm, have you ever killed a person?"
"No I have never killed anyone closest I came was you a couple of days ago"
"Any other questions? …Hmmm?"
"Why come here? To Third Earth?"
"Well, I wanted to create my own path as much as possible. It has been laid out for me by family because of our…well power. I wanted to be my own person. So I jumped at the chance to be posted here, by away from my family for the first time, being me."
"Power...what kind of power?"
She looked uneasy. "I am different from other Thunderians...I am one of the last...I doubt you would know us unless you know your Thunderian history," she said holding her staff tightly then normal.
"Oh…some skeletons in the closet...do go on"
"See this staff?" she said. This is not a stick, but my Summoning staff" She said putting it down back on the ground.
"What's that then?"
"I can summon the Guardians of Thundera. Each Thunderian clan has a guardian spirit, for my clan, the tiger, and so on. It is a very strong power, but it's my biggest weakness. If I am not careful it could drain me considerably"
"Its a bit of a family secret purely because of the power we could posses. We used to do the Thundercats job in ancient times.
I don't think even the Thundercats know of us now"
"Oooh, exciting stuff! So, what's this summoning all about then?"
It stems from ancient Thunderian times. We can call on the guardians before there was Thundercats in times of great need. It stems deep in our family history, not a lot of people know if it now, it has been long forgotten by others since the Thundercats have been around. I have summoned once. Only our family call on the Guardians, so I am one of the last, unless I have children."
"Hmmm, so what do the Guardians do?"
"Fight, They have a lot of magical powers. For example, the Cheetah has the power of speed and wind. The panther, which has the power of strength, and honor, the Jaguar, has the power to make force fields to protect us from danger, plus it has a powerful holy-light attack. I have the puma Guardian, and the Wildcat Guardian. The puma has the power of earth and Justice, and the Wildcat guardian has the power of truth, and surprise-which are non-elemental attacks. The lion-O is fire and emotion, and the tiger is water and stealth. And there is one more guardian."
"Lucky you didn't call them on me!"
"I know you was close!"
"That would have been bad, right?"
"Err yes!"
"Like...how bad?"
"There wouldn't be anything left put it that way"
Schwenk stood motionless "You...were going to kill me!" he said starkly.
"That's where it gets dangerous. I haven't learnt to control it properly so it doesn't kill" She shrugged. "I don't know what would have happened"
"That's comforting to know" Schwenk replied with no sincerity
"Well I can't help it, I was fighting for my life as some one was trying to break my neck!"
"I wouldn't have killed you, I'm sure."
He rubbed his chin, which now had a fair amount of stubble. "What dya think of my new look?"
"Very rugged. Very nice" she grinned.
"I want to ask you a question"
"Ok" Myra replied.
"Am I the first?"
"...Erm war criminal...yes" she replied. "Why?"
"Wow, what an honor! You obviously don't run into many war criminals in your travels"
"Not many no" she laughed.
"...so come on, tell me. There has got to have been special thunderians in your life, that one fella. Not for sex of course, but you know,...that might have led somewhere"
"Well, I met someone, I was going to be joined with him, and I think in human terms it is called marriage"
"Really? Do go on."
"His name was Jaxx, a Thunderian from the jaguar clan. I loved him very much. And he loved me."
"So what happened?"
"He died" She replied with no emotion, throwing a pebble in to the creek.
"Oh Myra...I'm sorry" he said holding her hand. "I didn't mean to bring up painful memories...forgive my intrusion"
"Its ok. I haven't talked about him in a while. He passed…let me see...About 2 years ago now" she smiled. "Don't worry about it"
"Did he die in battle?"
"Yes" she replied. We where on a baron planet at the time, picking up supplies. We got attacked by a band of people who hated Thunderians. They killed him while I was on the ship, I didn't see anything. My family was in the local town, he died on his own." She said sadly.
"I'm so sorry"
"Its ok"
"I think we both have our fair share of pain in our lives"
"Hmmm, some more self-inflicted than others"
"What do you mean?" Myra replied with a hard look.
"A lot of my pain is because of what I've done to others"
"Its how you processed it. Its not an excuse, but it was how you dealt with it" Myra shrugged.
"Fancy words for bad things I'm afraid"
"I know" Myra agreed.
Myra looked up at the sun peering down at them through the trees.
What she doing?
She should be doing a whole lot more then just sitting there next to him.
But she found herself understanding him.
She was doing exactly the same thing he did, even though his path was tainted with a lot
More blood then hers. Was it wise to follow the same path for same reason? Or should
She listens to him and takes heed of his words?
Do not get consumed and become bitter?
Myra gazed back at Schwenk and smiled a little.
"Lets head on back" she said eventually.
"I think we have had enough paths down memory lane for one day"
"I heard that" Schwenk agreed, standing up.
"God I am hungry!"
"Let's get something to eat" Myra said, leading the way back to the cave.
Schwenk ran off after her.
Myra reached the cave entrance. She reached for her bag.
"Come, I will show you around the forest" She said, walking past the cave heading
Back in the forest.
"What? I am hungry! Stripes I don't want a bloody tour!"
"Oh woman stop whining" Myra snapped.
"There is more to this place then the cave and your stomach"
"Myra…" Schwenk wailed.
"Look I have got some steak, I need to start a fire to cook dinner!"
"Well at least you know place woman!" Schwenk conceded, and started to follow her.
"Well I could shove it where the sun don't shine!"
"Well I could be quiet for 5 minutes" Schwenk sulked. He didn't want lose his only one decent meal. Myra headed away from the cave and walked deeper in to the forest of silence.
The afternoon sun had set in, gliding through the trees, the silence never unwelcoming.
It was Peaceful.
"Myra… I had only promised 5 minutes…. Like an hour ago!"
"Look we are here!" Myra exclaimed, settling down in a clearing.
"Gee this looks more interesting then the trees a few minutes ago!"
"Oh stop it!" Myra snorted. She slumped her bag and staff on the ground.
"You come here regularly?"
"Yes… my little place away from the lair"
"Hmmm…. So what's so special here then the rest of the forest?"
"Look up"
"Yes…erm there is a sky up there?"
"Well its late afternoon now" Myra said in thought. "If you notice, there isn't any other clearing in the trees above. It's the only window to life beyond the silence of this forest"
"And?"
"You will find out in a hour or so, now go and collect some firewood, while I will set dinner all up"
Myra said, unpacking her bag.
"Now say please." Schwenk scoffed.
All his response was a cold stare.
"Ok…" Schwenk muttered, walking off.
An hour later, the fire was roaring with life, and the evening sun was settling in the east, letting the night sky glide across from the west.
"Stripes, you should listen to me more, your place is in the kitchen," He said patting his belly with content.
"Hey!" Myra replied slapping his leg.
Schwenk laughed, sitting back.
"I like your company…your fun!" He mused.
"Thanks, I feed you then you give me compliments" Myra laughed, settling down next to him.
"Count yourself lucky"
A distinct buzzing sound suddenly traveled through the forest where they where, sounding a like the singing voice of a Siren's song as it was so high pitched.
"What the hell is that?" Schwenk asked, sitting forward, and got his pistol out.
"Don't worry" Myra replied, looking unfazed by the foreign noise.
"What? Erm yeah sure, my eardrums are going to burst, it's getting louder! Turn your hearing aid up for god sakes!"
"Lay back"
"Erm no! God are you wrong in the head or something?"
"Lay back!" Myra persisted, pushing him backwards.
"Ok now what? We get down and jiggy?"
"You are not even that lucky" Myra snarled, leaning back herself.
"Look up"
Schwenk sighed and looked up.
"Nothing"
"God you are impatient! I am seeing more and more similarities between you Bengali every day"
"Say that again and I will shoot you…Seriously"
"Look! There they are" Myra pointed upwards.
Schwenk looked upwards to where she was pointing.
Little balls of light zoomed above them and flew away as quickly as they came.
Soon a whole mesh of them flew past, singing their song.
"What are those?"
"Pretty aren't they? They are called the Yousei"
"Ok next question…what are they and do I need something to squish them with?"
"Oh by Thundera no! They are not bugs! Little people"
"…Little people"
"Yes not much is known about them," Myra said not taking her eyes off them fly by.
Schwenk looked at her.
"You brought me all the way out here to show me this? God at least you can cook"
"Look again Schwenk"
Schwenk glanced up.
"They light up everything, especially at this time of night, with that clearing up through the forest revealing the sky. It's like looking at different world. It's a form of escape. Anything bad, anything bitter, nothing matters, here you are safe. You can forget your life for five minutes and be happy, no matter how helpless it seems. It has been invaluable to me…I thought you may like it…how wrong was I" Myra sniggered, glancing over at the human. Schwenk was completely engrossed in the Yousei.
"Schwenk?"
"They remind me of home"
"They do?"
"Yep. On my home planet, when I used to have a life, a family. I used to lay back like this with my daughter and watch the clouds go by in the summer, imagining all types of animals with the clouds. Or at night, the fireflies used to fly by, we used to watch them pretending we where in space traveling in our own space ship, and the fireflies where the stars flying by. Or Shooting stars…we used to make wishes together"
"Like what"
"Doesn't matter…they didn't come true" Schwenk said quietly. He sat up and quickly rubbed his face. "Thanks"
"For what"
"Thanks for taking me back. Pity it was only for five minutes" He said watching the last of the Yousei fly away.
"Lets get back. They will be worried where I am soon " Myra said eventually.
Schwenk nodded and helped her clear up and put the fire out.
"I need to sleep" Schwenk said solemnly, walking on ahead.