Kain was angry. He'd fought with Maleah, and she'd hit him. Even a good distance away from Coorhagen, and her, his face still stung from her hand. He was 15, now, and headed off to the University of Nachtholm. He was so angry that he couldn't even remember what had been said. He unclenched his fists and thought of a happier time. His little sister had cried until he promised her he'd write to her as much as he could. She'd grown into a pretty little thing, really, and he was rather attached to her. The sun began to sink in the sky, and one of the men-at-arms who accompanied Kain asked if perhaps they should stop for the night. Kain nodded, and as they stopped for the night, he distinctly heard a voice call him. It was Maleah. She must have ran all the way from Coorhagen to have caught up with him, and she looked it, with her long hair tangled, and her face was red. Maleah was going through that stage between girlhood and womanhood, with the long legged awkwardness of a fawn. She was mildly pretty now, although in a year or two she'd likely be very beautiful.
"Kain..." she said softly, gently touching his shoulder.
"Don't talk to me."
"Please, Kain, listen! I...I wanted to apologize..."
Kain turned to face her then, but said nothing.
"I'm sorry I hit you...earlier..." she continued, "And...I didn't mean anything I said to you back there."
"Nor did I..." he murmured.
"And...I'm not happy to see you go..."
"I'll write you, too, Maleah, and you wait, I'll be out of there and back home in ten years!"
"It seems like a long time, Kain..." Maleah said.
"It'll go by so fast!" Kain laughed, hugging Maleah, "And I'll have one of the men-at-arms take you home tomorrow morning, you shouldn't be out alone at night."
"I'm glad we're friends..." Maleah said later that night, as she began to fall asleep.
"As am I..." Kain said sleepily, gently touching Maleah's hand and drifting off to sleep himself.
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Thank you, reviewers! Thank you very much!
