Oh! The suspense must have killed you these past couple of days! I've felt re-inspired recently and have been writing up a storm so hopefully I will be posting chapters faster. Thanks for the reviews again!

Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles

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Tobias woke up to his head pounding. He could only see clearly out of his left eye. As he blinked a few times he began to remember what had happened and groaned. Tobias tried to get up, but it was too painful. 'I'm just going to have to stay here tonight.' He thought to himself. He hoped Lora would think he abandoned her so she would leave Alfitaria soon. He was afraid those lilties might try something on her. He also didn't want her to see him like this.

It was getting darker as Lora stopped to catch her breath. She was almost back to where she had started looking. 'Maybe he did leave…' Lora thought to herself glumly. She was about to head back to the wagon, but something had caught her ear. She looked to her right at a small side street she had missed. She walked down the steps cautiously towards the sound. As she stepped closer to the sound, she could make out a figure slumped against a wall. Lora could recognize that disheveled hair anywhere, "Tobias!" she cried exasperated. She ran over to him and dropped to her knees in front of him. Once she noticed the state he was in tears welled up in her eyes, "What happened to you!?"

Tobias had closed his eyes to sleep when he heard his name being called. When he opened his eyes there was Lora in a frazzled state.

"You idiot, Why didn't you leave?"

Lora couldn't believe what he had just said. She wanted to slap him but decided not to, considering the shape he was in.

"How dare you say that! You're my friend. I wouldn't leave you behind!"

Tobias gave a pained expression; he had heard that before, "You don't understand."

"No I don't, but that's because you won't tell me! Why did those Lilties do this to you!?" Lora was getting angry now. Why was he pushing her away like this?

Tobias couldn't stand her yelling at him. He wanted her to go away, "It's because I'm a mix. I'm part clavat part selkie, there you happy now!? You got what you wanted."

Tobias looked away frustrated. His throbbing head wasn't helping the situation. Lora sat back shocked. She hadn't been expecting that. Now she understood, it all made sense about Tobias now. That's why he never stuck so long with other caravans and no one ever wrote him. She wasn't the only one getting snubbed by the other races. Without even thinking about it, Lora ripped off part of her skirt and put it up against the side of Tobias's head where blood was still trickling down. Tobias looked back at her. She hadn't left. He couldn't believe it.

"Don't think of me as lowly as to leave a friend like this." She said sternly to him.

"I can't believe this could've happened here! Alfitaria is supposed to have so many street patrols!"

Tobias winced from the pressure Lora was putting on his wound, "They've been known to turn a blind eye."

"Can you walk alright?"

Tobias nodded, "They mainly went for my face, just let me lean on you."

"Well all the girls will be devastated at this news." Lora said dramatically to lighten the mood.

"So you do think I'm good looking." Tobias smirked.

Lora felt like hitting him again, but restrained herself and helped him up instead, "How do you always manage to turn my jokes around?"

"Skill." Tobias said plainly.

Lora smiled to see that Tobias still had some playfulness to him. That night after cleaning Tobias up, they both slept in the wagon. Before Lora fell asleep she wondered about the struggles he must have gone through. What about his family? Where was he from anyway? There were still more questions to be answered, but she knew it would come in time. Lora soon fell fast asleep.

Tobias woke up after something cold had plopped on his face, "Owww."

"Oops. Sorry! Your eye was really swollen up."

Tobias sat up holding a sack of ice to his eye, "You could have woken me up first." He took the sack off and held it in front of Lora, "Where exactly did you get this?"

Lora smiled. She was hoping he would ask. "Well I had a Yuke freeze some water from the fountain for me."

"Yukes aren't that nice to Selkies. What did you trade this with?"

Lora smiled even bigger, "I didn't. I guess he was just so charmed by my presence."

Tobias chuckled, "And I thought these spiritual Yukes could overlook temptation."

"Apparently not. Anyways, I've decided you are not allowed out of the wagon today as punishment for being stupid."

Tobias sighed, "I've learned my lesson Lora. I'm not a child."

"You need to rest anyways. I'll lead the caravan out of town today."

Tobias slumped back to where he had been sleeping. He wasn't going to argue today. The previous night was enough for him. Lora hopped out of the wagon and hitched Helon up. She was thankful Tobias didn't put up a fight for once. Was something like this going to happen at every village her caravan visited?

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Well Lora certainly showed him who's boss! Tune in for chapter 13 soon =)