"I didn't get any of my homework done. They're going to know."
Eric shrugged. "So what? We went camping on the Veldt over the weekend. Big deal."
Before opening the door to the Academy, Alice took in a deep breath. I could have really gone for an extra day--
Ms. Aimes and the entire class looked up when the quartet slowly filed into the room. Ms. Aimes was taking roll, so they weren't late. At least, not technically.
"Hey, Ms. Aimes. We made it."
Alice could have clobbered Eric. Instead, she sent him a 'what do you think you're doing' look. To which his expression responded, 'what?' with a slight outstretch of his arms.
Alice turned her focus back to Ms. Aimes...
...who lowered her roll sheet to slip the delicate glasses from her face. "Eric. Gau. Carol. Alice. Take a seat."
The group moved to their assigned places, Gau returning to his seat with the younger students, and Ms. Aimes resumed roll.
Carol leaned over and whispered in Alice's ear, "I didn't have a chance to ask before. Is everything okay between you and Eric now?"
Alice nodded. "Yes. We're still friends."
"Friends?" Carol received a warning glance from Ms. Aimes and apologized. She promptly pulled a small tablet of paper from her pack. 'Friends?' she wrote.
Alice took the paper and pencil. 'What did you expect? We've always been friends.'
Carol pulled the tablet into the center of Alice's tilted wooden desk and took out a second pencil. 'Yeah, but you didn't always want to be friends. Remember?'
Alice frowned and crossed her arms. Carol slammed down her pencil, again apologizing when Ms. Aimes pinned her with a second warning. Glancing over her left shoulder toward Gau, she intercepted his smile, returned it, and then continued to watch him and the kids around him as he refocused his attention on Ms. Aimes. After awhile, so did Alice.
"Now." Ms. Aimes placed the roll sheet on her desk to again slip the glasses from her face. "I know that several of you older students are planning on sending entry essays to Figaro's Academy next month."
Alice's attention perked.
"There's a chance the King and Queen may be making an appearance here in the next few days." A cascade of murmurs and conversations crashed through the classroom. "I thought you should be warned ahead of time so that you could make preparations."
"Omigosh," raved Lena. "King Edgar? Here? I've got to go shopping!"
Alice rolled her eyes. Carol gave a shrug before leaning back to look over at Gau. He grinned.
Eric sat forward to place a hand on both Carol and Alice's shoulders. "You don't suppose he had anything to do with that, do you?"
Alice turned her eyes toward Gau before catching Eric's gaze. "I don't know and I don't care. All I do know is I'm going to the library to finish that essay tonight." Thanks to their excursion around the Veldt over the weekend, and the day alone with Gau, she was more than ready.
Eric looked over at Carol. "What about you? Up to a jaunt around town after class?"
"Sure. Sounds like fun. Do you think we could bring Gau?"
Eric glanced over at him before giving a one-sided shrug. "Sure. Why not?"
Alice frowned as she picked up her pencil to tap it on the desk.
"Aright then," Ms. Aimes continued. "Those of you whom are submitting an essay to the Figaro Academy are excused. All others, today we'll be working on fractions and common denominators."
Three quarters of the class groaned while digging out textbooks and paper. Alice, however, bid Carol farewell before gathering her things and hurrying down the aisle to the back exit. She sent Gau a smile before running outside to hurry home and take a shower.
Alice glanced up, giving a grimace before strategically placing her hand on her forehead in such a way that blocked the trio from her view. Carol, Eric, and Gau had just entered the library. Much to her displeasure, they looked happy and content. She on the other hand was frustrated and grumpy because the thesis and closing argument weren't flowing. If I have to listen to her melodious laugh... I will kill her.
Eric placed a hand on the table on either side of her as he leaned in to rest his chin on her shoulder. "So, how's it going?"
Alice turned the page. "Fine."
He sniffed, sniffed again, and then straightened. "Nice. You took a shower."
Alice tried to ignore him. To her credit, Carol took hold of his arm to lead him toward a table on the opposite side of the small library. However, Gau continued to stand at the end of the table, ignoring Carol's attempts to get him to follow.
Holding her place in the encyclopedia with a finger, Alice looked up. "What's the matter, Gau?"
He crouched beside her, eyes studying the grain of the floorboards. "Why want this thing so bad?"
"What?"
Gau raised his eyes to hold her gaze. "Why want go from home and friends? You say for help of Veldt, but is really?"
"Yes, Gau, it is."
He looked away. "You help just as good here as away. Better if you study Veldt like you say you want. You go? Then you forget what learn here. You forget friends left behind. You forget the 'why'. Why you study." Gau shook his head. "This not good."
Alice blinked. "Are you asking me to stay?"
He didn't look up. "No. I want only make look inside. To see if what do is best. To see if be honest with self."
"Gau, I've wanted to study at the Figaro Academy ever since it was established two years ago." She laid a hand on his shoulder. He looked up, and she smiled. "I want to do this. Really."
Gau examined her expression before standing to move toward Eric and Carol without a word. Alice watched him go, pressing her lips together when Carol greeted him with her infamous siren smile. When Carol laughed, Alice cringed and focused back on the encyclopedia with a frown.
Dutifully, Alice attempted to write another closing statement. The only problem being her eyes kept drifting toward the table across the room where Carol, Gau, and Eric gathered over a tattered art history book. Both Gau and Eric smiled as Carol explained her take on art's evolution and how it affected mankind. All was done with a serious expression and anecdotes that only a fellow fashion-conscious young woman would understand. Then why do they look genuinely interested? They never look like that when I explain about the Veldt. Of course, she didn't talk to many others about the Veldt.
Alice lowered her gaze back to the encyclopedia when Carol smiled up at Gau. Apparently he'd made a fascinating point. A fascinating point? Gau is a fascinating point. She glanced toward him out of the corner of her eye. He's sweet, intelligent, and he understands a whole lot that no one gave him credit for. If it wasn't for his wild tendency to do crazy things, no one would know he'd been raised on the Veldt. By himself. Alice looked away. I guess Carol and he make a great couple-- Oh, shut up and work on your paper!
Risking one more glance toward the table, she quickly looked down when Eric peeked over at her. Then Carol giggled and Alice heavily sighed. 1... 2... 3...
Alice closed the encyclopedia and the multitude of reference manuals and stretched. When her back popped, she smiled with an "ahhh" before standing and gathering her things, stuffing papers and whatnot into her bag.
All she had to do now was plan what she would say when she met with the King and Queen. She pulled out a report cover, carefully placed her typed report into it, and then delicately slid it between two of her textbooks so it wouldn't get wrinkled. Then she slung the bag over her shoulder and made sure she'd cleaned up her mess by the typewriter before sending a smile and a wave to the librarian as she made her way outside.
"Well it's about time."
Alice stopped outside the doors and looked to her right. "What are you doing here, Eric?"
He approached with hands in pockets. "It was getting late, so I thought I'd walk you home."
Alice arched an eyebrow. "Thanks."
They made their way down the front steps.
"It'll be weird without you around," he said as he kicked a rock.
"Yeah. I know." Alice adjusted her grip on the strap of her bag. "You can visit, you know."
Eric sent her a glance. "And make you think I'm stuck on you?" He shook his head with a slight chuckle. "Nah."
Alice reluctantly smiled. "You would say that."
"Hey, it's all about me."
Alice shook her head, catching herself scanning the little town with a tightening throat. Home had always been where her family and friends were. Now she was trying to leave it as fast as she could.
"What if I don't come back, Eric?" she asked quietly. "Gau says I might forget this place. But..." Alice tucked some hair behind her ear and tightened her grip on the strap of her bag. She sent him a glance. "Will I forget the Veldt and what I want to do?"
"You have to try, Alice." He sent her an understanding look. "You can't be spooked of what might happen. You know you'll always regret it if you don't do this. You'll be miserable."
She nodded slightly as they arrived at her family's home. "Thanks, Eric." She looked up at him. "A lot. I'll see you in class tomorrow. Okay?"
"Okay." He stepped forward and gave her a hug. When he pulled back, he gave her a quirky smile and a wink. "Good night."
She blinked up at him. "Good night."
Then he turned and walked away, Alice staring after him for a bit before releasing a deep breath and turning for her house. She took her bag off her shoulder and set it on the front porch and then made her way toward her family's back yard: the Veldt. Sitting on the hard ground, she stared out at the dark earthy tones of the twilight sky as she tucked her knees to her chin and wrapped her arms around her legs. She'd fallen in love with the Veldt the first time she'd seen it. How can I forget it? It had become a part of her a long time ago.
Alice lowered her gaze to the ground near her and picked up a pebble just as a stealthy figure sat down beside her. She glanced over with a start and immediately smiled. "Hey, Gau. Couldn't sleep?"
He shook his head. "Thoughts be heavy this night. More strong than Gau. Sleep run far."
Noticing his grammar wasn't as good as usual, that made her look at him a little different. He stared at the ground at his feet, expression serious and... confused.
"Hey. What's wrong?" she asked.
Gau opened his mouth to say something, but then shut it again with a click as he frowned. Alice had never seen him like that before.
"Is it school?"
He shook his head again, more violently this time, and his frown deepened. He changed his focus to the Veldt with a deep breath, the anger and frown immediately fading.
Alice's expression lightened as she watched his profile in the moonlight. "You really love it here, don't you?"
Gau nodded and glanced toward her. "Been here all life."
Alice looked away, her throat tightening as she remembered all the whispers and rumors as to why he lived alone on the Veldt. "Do you mind me asking why?"
"Why?"
"Yeah. Why'd your father... you know." She sent him a quick glance to find him watching her face. "Why'd he make you grow up on the Veldt alone?"
Looking away, Gau took the pebble from her fingers and rubbed at it. "Don't know. Sabin say 'cuz mother die when Gau come. 'Cuz pain too big for father when see baby Gau."
Alice watched his expressions, throat tightening. "Your dad blamed you for her death, didn't he? He thought you... Oh, Gau. I'm sorry." And she finished the tear-filled comment with an arm around his bare shoulders and a tender squeeze. "It looks like both of us have painful histories, huh? You and your father and me and not having a home. Well, not until I came here."
Gau didn't say anything, and there seemed to be a type of confusion in his eyes as he watched her face.
Alice gave his shoulders another squeeze. "You want to go for a walk?" she asked. "Out there?" She gestured to the Veldt with her other hand. "Just a short one? Maybe it'll help."
He stood, helping her to her feet before walking silently beside her.
"I really appreciate all the help you've given me, Gau. You've really brought my paper to life. And it's been fun, too." Her shoulder bumped against his arm as they walked. "The camp out, the swimming, the exploring of the cave, the stories... I'm glad you suggested it. It'd been a while since Eric, Carol, and me did something like that."
"Me glad could help."
Alice kicked a pebble. There were so many things she wanted to say that she didn't even know where to go next.
"Alice sure go is right?"
Alice changed her focus to his profile. "For right now? Yes. I've always wanted to make something of myself, and now I have the chance. I'm going to miss this place, sure, but I have to try. I don't want to regret anything."
"Not be same when go."
She sighed and nodded. "I know. Eric said the same thing. But you can visit. You know where the Academy is probably better than Eric does."
"Veldt Gau home. Leave Veldt, no breathe. No live." He shook his head and pressed his lips together. "Veldt teach life. Teach Alice if stay."
Alice sighed and lowered her gaze to the ground. "I know it can teach me a lot. It already has. So have you. But if anything, you've taught me to tough this out. To not let anything change me or change my mind. Gau..." She faced him and her eyes widened. "Gau, look out!"
A black shadow leapt from a pile of boulders, charging into Gau with a roar and a hiss. Gau and the thing hit the ground with a loud thud, knocking Alice off her feet as they tumbled past. When Alice's eyes zoomed in on Gau's fallen form, she couldn't tell if he moved or not, especially when the evening clouds blocked any moonlight. Then the creature shifted its focus to Alice, and she was all-too-certain Gau wasn't moving.
Swallowing hard, her eyes flickered their focus from the thing's gaze, to Gau's still form under its massive paws, and back to the beast.
It licked the blood from its jaws and moved toward her.
"...Gau?"
The thing rumbled and hissed, exposing jagged teeth as it cautiously moved toward her. The moon escaped from behind the clouds and shined on the creature, glistening off the purple scales of its neck and head and the massive lion-like body. Alice paled. An Adamant! Of the Baskervor family, they were much, much, much meaner.
Her eyes darted back to Gau as she shuffled herself backward. One of his shoulders had a nasty bite, but he'd managed to push himself up onto one elbow while giving several shakes of his head to try and clear it.
The moonlight faded again as the Adamant gave another warning growl. Alice saw the silhouette of Gau's head rise, and his eyes met hers.
"...Gau...?" Her voice cracked.
The Adamant crouched, shuffling its shoulders and settling into its back legs for the spring.
Gau's eyes sparked with alarm. "No! Not Alice!"
It pounced, and Alice threw her hands out to protect herself, giving a scream at a shooting pain in her wrist and shoulders. Then a crushing weight fully beared down on her, forcing the air from her lungs as the pain grew-- She heard a heavy chink and then the weight was off, a small rock dropping beside her.
The Adamant's focus shifted to Gau, and the beast seemed to grin.
Scurrying backwards, Alice cried and winced in pain, her eyes not moving from watching Gau as he again gave his head several shakes. Then his focus zeroed in on the Adamant, gaze hardening and face going taut. Alice had never seem him so angry or determined.
But the Adamant only hissed and hunkered down, again adjusting its back haunches.
"Gau, be careful," she choked out, holding her wrist close.
The Adamant sprung, and Gau caught it in the stomach with a fist to knock it away. It landed on its feet, wheezing and growling before beginning to circle Gau, who followed its movements with those see-everything eyes.
The beast leapt again and Alice screamed, covering her face when the beast bit into Gau's arm. She heard one of his hits make contact, thought she heard a crack and liquid-filled growl, and lowered her hands to reveal Gau leaning over the Adamant's still body.
The moon peeked through some thinning clouds.
A red tinge to Gau's skin slowly faded as he straightened, and when he turned to move toward her, she noticed what looked to be bubbles popping over his head. They'd stopped appearing altogether by the time he knelt beside her.
"Alice?" Gau queried, voice taut with concern as he brushed some hair from her face. Then he cautiously reached out to gently examine the bite on her wrist, cringing while voicing a hushed "Alice hurt," as his eyes darkened with actual fear.
When he moved his tender touch to an examination of the claw marks on her shoulders, Alice hiccuped on her tears and pushed his hands away, pulling him into a tight hug of relief and terror while choking out, "G-Gau..."
His arms encircled her. "Gau sorry. Thoughts make blind. Make Alice hurt." His arms tightened their hold. "Gau sorry."
Sniffling, Alice couldn't voice anything but another tear-filled "...G-G-Gau..." past her sobs. She had never been that close to death, and she had never been that scared for anyone in her entire life.
"Alice, we go. Blood bring more." Gau tried to push back, but her arms resisted. "Alice. Danger. Go." He tried again, but she couldn't force her arms loose from their hold of his neck. So, he adjusted his hold and scooped her up into his arms as he stood. "We go, Alice. Take Alice be safe," he told her, repeating "Gau promise. Gau promise," as he ran toward town.