After a week or so, Onyx and Knives arrived at a small grove near a geoplant. Leaving the bike at the edge of the grotto, Knives leaned against a tree while Onyx went in search of water.
When she finally returned, she gestured back in the direction from which she had come, "There's a pool at the far end of the grove where you can wash and change your bandages."
He frowned, "And you?"
Onyx shrugged, "I've already washed." Looking closer, he noticed that her hair was wet and shiny with moisture. "Now if you'll excuse me; I have some business to attend to. I'm leaving the bike here; meet me in New Miami in three days."
Knives leapt up and grabbed her wrist, "Wait!"
Onyx froze, "What?"
He tightened his grip, "Don't go…last time you left, you didn't come back."
She attempted to pull away, and narrowing her eyes into narrow slits, she replied, "I said you could meet me within a few days! Now let go!"
Suddenly Knives did something he had never done before: he ignored Onyx's warning. Pulling her toward him, he narrowed his eyes. "No Onyx. Never again. I'm coming with you, one way or another."
Onyx raised an eyebrow, "Why the hell would you want to do that?"
He pressed his face against hers, "Because I don't want to lose you. Because I want to stay with you. Because I—" Stopping short, he looked away.
Eyes wide, she pulled away, and before Knives could say anything to stop her, she had already flown off. Sighing, he collapsed by a tree covered in burn scars, and attempted to sleep.