"He seems like another brother. I think he used to look out for me when I was younger – before he left for the Main Island." She answered. She closed her eyes and let go of the worries she had been building up since her parents' death.
"What makes you say that?" Nate asked. He knew Bane had, but thought that Celtic hadn't noticed.
"It's hard to explain. He has a familiar presence – a presence that had always made me feel safe. I don't remember ever actually seeing him, but I definitely remember feeling him around." She shook her head, knowing she wasn't making any sense.
"That kind of makes sense actually." He thought about it. He'd sensed the same kind of presence when he first met Bane.
"It does?" She was confused.
"I felt the same kind of thing when I first met him." Nate paused. He wasn't sure how much he should say. "The others are nice – except for one – but there is something different about Bane. Maybe it has to do with you…"
"What do you mean?" She asked. She wondered if the exception had something to do with the boy that was with them when they first arrived, but was more curious about what her brother meant about Bane.
"He's always watched over you; always felt like he had to protect you. Maybe he became me – did what I would have done if I had been around. So maybe Bane and I get along so well because we both feel the need to protect you." Nate pondered the thought for a minute. "There has always been a need or want to protect something, I just never knew what, or rather who, it was until now."
"Who was that bot that was with you when you two first arrived?" She came back to that thought.
"Justin." Nate held back the growl but dislike could still be heard in his voice. "He and Bane are the same age but their demeanor is on two different levels. As you could probably tell, Bane acts older than fourteen."
"Grandma mentioned that it had something to do with his upbringing." She hadn't been sure if her grandmother had actually said it or if it had been said in a dream.
"Apparently, he was raised by a single parent. His mom did everything she could to raise him right – to show him the good way to be." Nate replied. He wouldn't go into any more detail than that but he also couldn't because he didn't know any more than that. It was something Bane didn't like to talk about. They flew around for a little longer before meeting up with the others to switch.
"That was so awesome!" Heat bounced with excitement. "I wanna go with Natey now!"
"Let's take a break and then we can switch." Bane shook his head. The boys had been a handful but was glad they enjoyed it.
"The dragons need to rest too." Nate added when it looked like Heat was going to complain. They headed into the cottage after feeding Iridium and Arbor. Celtic and Nate fixed some sandwiches while Bane, Heat, and Frost got cleaned up. Once Heat and Frost were done, Nate went to clean up.
"How was it?" Nate asked Bane.
"It was fun – apart from Heat squirming so much I was sure he'd fall off." Bane laughed. Heat was definitely a hyper child. "They couldn't be more different, those two. Heat has so much energy. Frost is much calmer."
"Heat lives up to his name, I guess. I'm sure you were very active when you were his age." Nate laughed. It was common knowledge that people from the Fire Clan, especially children, had more energy than most of Clans.
"Probably." Bane smiled. "How was it with Celtic?"
"It was great. We talked about you actually." Nate watched his friend's facial expression.
"Me? Why?" Bane was a little confused.
"Well, as her big brother I had to make sure she didn't have a crush on you or anything." He teased. He laughed at Bane's expression. "You don't have to worry, she thinks of you as a brother." He slapped Bane on the back and headed to rejoin the others. Bane joined them a minute later and the five are lunch in relative silence.
"Can we fly with Nate on Iridium now?" Heat asked after the table was cleared and the dishes finished.
"Okay." Nate answered and they headed outside. He prepared himself for the ball of energy that was Heat. He looked at Frost. "You okay, Frost?"
"Yep. I'm great. I think my brother has enough energy for the both of us. I just hope he doesn't fall off." Frost laughed.
"Are you okay?" Celtic asked Bane as they stood next to Arbor. Nate was helping the twins get up on Iridium. "We don't have to go if you don't want to."
"It's not that." Bane replied. He thought for a moment about how to ask. This wasn't easy to ask, nor did he think he should ask but it pulled at him.
"What is it?" She looked up at him. He saw the concern in her eyes and his resolve melted.
"Would you mind terribly if we went to see my mother? I just want to let her know that I'm alright." Bane asked. He would understand if she said no. It had been hard for him to leave his mother when he went to the Main Island. He was only twelve at the time and he and his mother were really close. They had a close bond since she raised him as a single parent after his father's death.
"Do you think that's wise?" Celtic asked. She didn't have a problem with it, but also didn't know if it was such a good idea.
"Probably not, but it's something I need to do." He emphasized the word "need".
"Okay, but we should let the others know… unless you want to go by yourself?" Bane helped her onto Arbor.
"We can't very well leave you by yourself, Iridium can't handle all four of you, Heat would be really upset if he couldn't go with Nate, and…" He paused a moment and looked up at her. "I want you to go with me." She nodded. He led Arbor to where Nate and the boys were to let them know where they were heading.
"We'll follow but we'll stay flying when you land. Just in case." Nate said. He had an uneasy feeling about this, but knew this was something Bane had to do. Bane nodded and then climbed up behind Celtic on Arbor.
"He said they'll follow us, but not land. He wants to be nearby should anything happen." He explained once they were in the air. Celtic nodded. They headed towards Bane's childhood home. He hadn't been home or had any contact with his mother in two years, it was strange coming home now.
"What happened to your dad?" Celtic asked. "You don't have to answer that." She quickly added once she realized what she had asked.
"My mom told me that it was an accident related to his work." He thought about it. "I asked her a second time two years ago, before I left for the Main Island, but she said the same thing. Even though it was the same answer, I could tell she was hiding something. I knew not to press the matter then."
"I don't think now is the time to press either." Celtic had a feeling that deaths like her parents – those shrouded in mystery – were all connected, and spanned the course of years. "Now is the time to let her know you're alright; that you're safe."
"Will I ever learn the truth about my father's death?" He sighed. He knew she was right. They began to descend when his mother's cottage came into view.
"Someday. Someday we will know the truth behind all the mysterious deaths that have occurred over the years, but now is the time to cherish the living." She leaned back against Bane for support as they landed.
"You are much wiser than your years, Celtic." He helped her down. He had her stay with Arbor while he went and knocked on the door. A woman with long red hair and pink eyes answered a moment later. "Hi, Mom."
"Bane!" She pulled her son into a tight hug. "Who's that?" She hears a giggle and noticed the dragon.
"That's my dragon, Arbor." He motioned for Arbor and Celtic to come closer.
"That with him…" His mom's eyes grew wide at the realization. "You must get out of here." She started to push her son towards the dragon.
"Mom, what's going on?" He was beyond confused but he could feel something was off. Just then Iridium landed next to Arbor, putting Celtic in between the dragons. Both dragons tensed and became alert as though they sensed danger. Arbor let out a little snarl.
"Bane, don't ask questions, just get her out of here. Now!" His mom urged him. "If I can, I'll come to you tonight or tomorrow, but it's not safe here right now." Bane shielded Celtic as they climbed back up on Arbor. They took off and headed back to Celtic's cottage. Once there, the five quickly headed inside and the two dragons stood guard.
"What just happened?" Nate asked. Celtic was tucked into the couch beside him. Heat and Frost were on his other side. Bane was pacing back and forth, running a hand through his hair.
"Celty really is in danger…" Heat said after a while.
"Frost, why don't you and Heat go to your room and rest? Arbor will be outside your window." Bane led the twins to their room. Once they were asleep, Bane rejoined Nate and Celtic in the living room.
"Tomorrow we need to prepare everything, so when the children go into hiding, there will be nothing to worry about." Abigail had returned while Bane was putting the twins down. Nate mentioned what happened.
"I'm sorry." Bane said as he ran a hand through his hair. "I put her in danger."
"It's not your fault, you had no way of knowing." Nate replied.
"But with everything that's happened, I should have known." Bane countered.
"Nate's right." Abigail agreed with her grandson.
"It's my fault." Celtic spoke up. She had tears in her eyes. "People keep dying because of me!" She bolted of out the cottage and took off towards the forest.