A/N: I have a reason that I took a bit longer to update this time. I needed to do a Briar chapter cause I've got this Briar, Sandry, Briar, Sandry thing goin and I didn't wanna screw with that but I knew the tomatoes would be flyin if I didn't do something about that cliffie. So….. I posted 2 chapters at the same time! Yes, I know both are bit short, but work with me here ppl! Thanks for the reviews, they inspire me to make marvelous works art.
Disclaimer: I cannot make marvelous works of art.
Briar Moss stood solemnly in the front courtyard of the Duke's citadel. Over his shoulder he had slung a travel pack of spare clothes and other things he'd need in his travels.
Pulling the girth of his horse's saddle tight, Briar turned to the people standing behind him. Tris and Daja, Lark and Rosethorn, even the duke himself had turned up for his farewell. All had varying expressions on their faces according to the way they conveyed emotions. Tris, who didn't like to express what she considered 'soft' feelings, had turned her sadness into anger and frustration. Daja, calmly watched as Briar finished preparations, preferring to let her silence berate him for leaving. Lark, already distressed after Sandry had disappeared, worriedly twisted her handkerchief in her hands while Rosethorn, who was as prickly as her name led people to believe, could not stop her sharp mouth from twisting into a nervous frown. Duke Vedris simply watched Briar, wondering at how fate had driven two people who cared so much about one another so far apart.
Briar shifted uneasily, he hated sappy moments like this. He didn't really want to leave them; he preferred to grow roots among them till he was old and withered. But ever since Sandry had left, the once safe stone walls had grown oppressive, smothering. Before he went completely mad, Briar had decided to travel. If he couldn't go looking directly for Sandry, maybe he could just wander around and stumble across her. At the very least it would get him out of the citadel.
And so here he was. Standing awkwardly in front of his family. Well, the closest thing he would probably ever have to it.
"Well, I'm going to go now," he announced, rubbing the back of his neck. He got a hug from his foster sisters, though Tris huffed and still looked irritated. Lark practically squeezed all the air from his lungs, and then clucked at him like a mother hen, dusting off his shirt and smoothing his wayward dark hair. Rosethorn clamped a hand on his shoulder and looked him in the eye a moment, then swept him into a rough, one-armed hug. Shock caused Briar to hesitate, then he wrapped his arms around his old teacher. Oh man, he was going to lose it soon. Coughing slightly, Rosethorn backed away, steel gaze back in place.
Briar blinked rapidly, then turned to the duke. He had stood with his hands clasped behind his back, but now he released one and held it out to Briar.
"You know," Duke Vedris said quietly as Briar shook his hand, "leaving won't bring her back." Briar looked up for a moment, squinting at the sun climbing in the sky. He met the man's eyes once more.
"I know," he said simply. Then with a nod Briar pulled himself up into the saddle.
"Briar," Daja's voice stopped him. He paused and she came forward, taking something from her pocket. It was Sandry's nightlight. She put the stone in his saddle bag, then tied it securely. "You need it more than we do." Briar nodded again, but said nothing. Turning his horse, he trotted out of the gate, turning onto the main road heading out of the city. Even though at the present he knew exactly where he was, Briar felt more lost then ever.
A/N: Alright, I know this was a tad slow, but I tried really hard to make it the characters match canon and all that. I suppose it was a bit of a character sketch for each of them, my version of their reactions. Whatcha think?
