I'm baaaack! Yay! Thank you for all of the encouraging reviews and new subscribers =) I've been going through a writer's block so please bear with me! Enjoy the new chapter!

Disclaimer: I don't own final fantasy crystal chronicles

Caravan Tale

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The following week seemed to fly by. Everyone was busy preparing for the caravan departure and the celebration to welcome the Nens family. Lora and Puck's fathers had been solely working on wagon modifications. Trista's parents were preparing and organizing food supplies for their trip. The villagers were all very busy offering help when they could. The caravanners had spent their remaining time packing, fixing up the farm, and training. For Lora and Trista training had become a new challenge. They had a limited amount of resources to practice translating Selkic runes. On top of their work the elder had asked for them to perform at the welcoming celebration.

"Ugh! I can't get through this anymore!" Trista cried in aggravation, she felt like pulling out her own hair out at this point.

"Breathe Trista. How about we start on our routine for the party?" Lora suggested since she was almost at her breaking point as well.

Trista slammed the old book shut immediately and stood up to stretch, "I don't know how De Nam can do this for years."

Lora chuckled, "So he is still hard at work in Shella?"

"Mmmhmm. He has started talking about some sort of experimentations, but he doesn't tell me much about it."

"Well maybe you'll find out more when we stop in Shella this year."

Trista's face lit up, "You mean it Lora!? I was hopeful since we have the sluice this year. Oh this is great! I'm going to write him right now!"

Lora grabbed Trista's wrist before she could run off, "After we work on the routine."

Tobias wiped the sweat off of his face with his sleeve. He was out in the field finishing up training for the day with Kima and Puck. They had been working their hardest these past few days, but it wasn't the same since they barely could see Lora and Trista now a days.

Kima sat in the grass with Puck, "You know, it feels odd being a minority here. Usually selkies got the looks in Pora and other towns, but here it's the other way around."

Puck nodded, "Lora seems to be the pride of the village at the moment as well. You wouldn't see that in other areas, certainly not Alfitaria."

Tobias joined in, "Well doesn't it all just depend on what race is more prominent in a town? No one likes someone that is different. I'm surprised at how welcoming Cedon is. We are all very lucky to be here during these times."

Kima smiled, "I agree. I don't mind being the minority here, Cedon saved my family."

Puck nodded in agreement as well, "My family was always a bit on the odd side, but Cedon treated us like family the day we arrived."

Tobias looked back towards the village center. He hadn't had a decent conversation with Lora for days. He missed her presence around him. Lora was a good leader even though Tobias knew her secret insecurities. Training wasn't the same without her or Trista.

"Well since its dusk I should return home and help with dinner. See you two at sunrise as usual?" Kima asked as she stood up.

Puck and Tobias both nodded and wished her a goodnight. Puck soon stood up as well, "I should go as well; Killy will be upset if I don't come home soon."

"I'll see you and Kima tomorrow. I suppose I should head back as well."

Puck turned back around before he walked away, "Give Lora our best!"

Tobias nodded and headed back towards the Li home.

Lora opened the door before Tobias could knock, "How was training?"

Tobias crossed his arms, "Not a hello or how are you Tobias?"

Lora was too tired to play games, "Well?"

Tobias sighed as he walked in, "It went fine as usual. Puck has improved everyday and Kima had some really good defense today." He dropped into a chair as Kala served him dinner, "Thank you."

Kala smiled and nodded, "You kids have been running yourselves ragged, shouldn't you take a break?"

Lora sat down at the table with Tobias, "We don't have time mother. We don't know what to expect this time."

Kala just shook her head, "Well maybe after the celebration is over you'll calm down a little. I'm going up to give Nem a bath. Poppa is still working on the wagon; he won't be home until late. Please don't pester him too much Lora."

"I won't."

"So how are the texts going?" Tobias asked once he had finished eating dinner.

Lora sighed, "Nowhere. Trista and I are at a dead end. We've been working on the dance more lately."

Tobias began to feel frustration crawling up his insides, "So you're telling me while we are out training all day you're practicing a dance for a party?"

Lora crossed her arms, "Trista and I have been stuck here for days working out the Selkic texts. We needed a change of pace."

Tobias sat back trying to calm himself, "You should have come to the field." Before Lora could interject he stood up, "I'm going for a walk."

Lora watched as Tobias walked out of the house not even glancing at her. She let out a frustrated sigh. Everyone was getting overworked. Her mother was right; a break was needed even if they wouldn't be as prepared for future challenges. Lora decided she would wait for Tobias to return so they could talk.

A few hours later Ben tromped through the Li house, "Lora what are you doing up still?"

Lora was sitting by the window with a cup of tea, "I'm waiting for Tobias to come back."

Ben sat down next to her, "You have rings under your eyes my dear. You should get some rest. That boy will come back when he feels like it." Ben gave her a wink and headed upstairs. Lora looked out the window but it was all black. She could barely make out the silhouettes of the trees. He would return on his own time. Maybe he even stayed with Puck or Kima for the night. Besides she could barely keep her eyes open…

Tobias returned much later than he had intended to. He had calmed down by the ocean. Tobias had been to the ocean a few times. Every time he went though, he felt like a new person, so refreshed. He knew he had snapped at Lora out of exhaustion. He hoped she wasn't too upset.

Tobias quietly snuck into the Li house. As he lit a candle he noticed Lora sleeping on the windowsill with a cold cup of tea in her hand. A feeling of guilt washed over him. He should have returned sooner. Tobias took the cup of tea out of Lora's hand and placed it on the table. He then picked her up and carried her over to his makeshift cot. Tobias returned to the leftover cup of tea and emptied it in the wash basin. Tobias looked down at Lora who was fast asleep. She seemed so peaceful. Tobias shook his head and whispered, "Lora, what am I to do with you?"

*

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