"You have got to be kidding me." I muttered and Artha shrugged as I sat on the stable floor. "He's doesn't like me like that. Does he?" I whispered as I tried to get my head together. But it wasn't easy as I had almost perished after being poisoned and right now my body was still recovering. Seeing the confused expression on my face Artha knelt beside me.
"From what Kitt and Lance told me he did kiss you." Artha said and I protested that I kissed him. "Yeah but he kissed you back. Look just ask him and see what he says. Anyway you should be resting." He told me and I sighed as I realized that my stomach still hurt. Giving up on thinking about my dilema I lay back down. As everyone besides Quiksilva left me in peace I mulled it over.
"What do you think, 'silva? Do you think he likes me?" I asked as he walked over and after staring at me for a few seconds he snorted. "Is that a yes or a no?" I said and he shrugged before he wandered over to get something to eat and I sighed shifting this way and that as I got comfortable. Pretty soon I fell asleep and Quiksilva walked over looking down at me before he snorted happy that I was feeling better. Then as he looked up towards the doorway he saw someone standing there. At first he growled until they stepped forward and as soon as he realized it was a friend he snorted and wandered over.
"Good to see you too. How's Rayne?" Moordryd asked walking over and the moment he saw me lying on the blanket he rolled his eyes. "Out cold as usual. Still I suppose that's better than being sick." He said as he knelt beside me. "That girl doesn't do much other than eat and sleep." He said as Quiksilva looked on with a grin on his face. "I just wanted to make sure she was okay before I go back." Moordryd told my dragon but before he could leave Quiksilva almost knocked him over, giving his face a lick. "Yuck! Hey! I just had this jacket cleaned." He complained and my dragon rolled his eyes. Annoyed at being slobbered on Moordryd left the Penn Stables though not before giving me one more backwards glance. Hours later I woke and as I opened my eyes I found Quiksilva lying beside me.
"Morning." I mumbled as I sat up stretching and that's when I found Lance staring down at me. Seeing I was awake he grinned and sat beside me as I rubbed my eyes with the back of my hand. "Hey Lance. What did I miss?" I asked as Quiksilva nudged me.
"The Dragon Booster kicking the Shadow Booster's butt. And fighting off some wraith dragons." He told me laughing as Quiksilva licked his face.
"Very drac. So where is he?" I asked just as Beau wandered in and once I noticed he was in his blue and red form I grinned. "Well that answers that question." I added as Artha appeared in the doorway.
"Good morning. So how are you feeling?" Artha asked as he joined us and I grinned as I went to stand only to almost topple over and he quickly grabbed me. "Heh not so good huh?"
"I thought I was fine. Guess not huh?" I said as Quiksilva nuzzled me and I gave his head a pat unable to hide a sigh. "Maybe I need to rest more but I want to go outside." I complained and Lance laughed. "Fine so I complain a little. I'm bored." I pouted and everyone chuckled.
"How about coming to watch our race today? You can rest and go outside." Artha suggested and I instantly smiled liking the idea. "Cool so let's go." Of course Connor chose that exact moment to appaer and feeling him frown at me I cringed.
"Please? I'm going crazy from boredom." I asked and he gave me a smile. Suddenly I felt like I was begging my parents for permission and just for a few seconds my face fell as I wondered where they were. Seeing the sad expression on my face made Connor sigh.
"You can go but just be careful. And I want you boys to look after her." He said and Artha and Lance both agreed. Heck I nodded too glad to be going outside and as Quiksilva magged me I giggled.
"Last one there's a yellow bellied newt." I called before I rushed away leaving my friends to hurry after me. Rubbing the bridge of his nose Connor sighed to himself.
"What part of 'be careful' did they not understand?" He said as his two sons rushed past on their dragons. Though he was glad to see me looking a lot better after my close call. By the time we reached the racetrack Beau managed to outsprint my dragon and I sighed as he came first leaving both me and Lance as second and third.
"Okay so I'm the yellow-bellied newt. How long until the race starts?" I said as Quiksilva magged me onto the ground. As I watched Kitt joined us on Wyldfir having been waiting for us.
"In two hours so that gives us enough time to run through gear, race tactics..." Parmon said as he walked over and to my left I saw Lance start to zone out and I giggled at the blank look on his face. "Hah hah very funny, Lance." He added clearly annoyed at Artha's brother who just laughed along with me. "Getting back to what I was saying..." Parmon started again until I saw Moordryd and Cain a few feet away and I grinned before I walked over, Quiksilva following close behind and so I missed Parmon's race walkthrough.
"Hey guys." I called out and Moordryd looked up for a moment before he grinned at me. All of a sudden he frowned and before my eyes he walked away and as I stood there Cain just shrugged at me before he hurried after his friend. "What did I do?" I whispered and to my shock I felt tears begin to well in my eyes. "Oh scales." I whimpered and turning around I rushed away leaving Quiksilva to rush after me and by the time I found somewhere quiet and deserted, a tent unused, tears were running down my face. As Quiksilva pushed his way inside he found me sobbing quietly and giving a concerned growl he moved to my side, kneeling before he nudged my hip. Still sobbing I knelt and threw my arms around his neck, burying my face in his neck. Sitting next to him I sobbed hurt by Moordryd giving me the cold shoulder and because I was so distracted I didn't hear someone walk inside.
"Rayne where did you go...oh." Kitt asked and when I looked up she sighed knowing exactly why I was so upset. "This is why you shouldn't be his friend. He'll just use you." She sighed as she walked over and that's when I frowned at her. Though I wasn't angry at her but Moordryd and before both Kitt's and Quiksilva's eyes I wiped my eyes before I stormed out of the tent. "Something tells me that Moordryd's in big trouble." Kitt muttered as Quiksilva looked on confused by my abrupt mood change. And she wasn't wrong as I went looking for Moordryd and the second I found him, chuckling about something with Cain, I stormed over and before his shocked eyes I glared at Moordryd.
"You're such a jerk!" I yelled and he just stared at me. "I really believed it when you said you wanted me to be your friend. Then you go and push me aside, again. That's it I've had it with you." I growled and not giving him a chance to say a single word I whirled around feeling like my heart had been ripped in two. When Quiksilva caught up with me he knew instantly that I needed to get away from everyone, except him of course, and so he magged me and as I held on to his saddle we left the racetrack. As Quiksilva ran across the pavement I decided that it wasn't worth caring about someone who only had his best interests at heart though my mind kept playing back the hours he stayed by my side after I had been poisoned and I sighed, wanting to go back but I knew it wasn't worth getting hurt again.
Of course the sudden appearance of six wraith dragons managed to distract me from my problems and as Quiksilva took off, moving even faster I tried to ignore the anger I felt for my so called friend. Once I spotted an alley I told Quiksilva to duck down it and moments later, hidden in the shadows, we watched the three wraiths rushed right past us. Taking my amulet out I grinned and slipped it into the gauntlet as I yelled. "Release the light!" As my clothes changed into armor Quiksilva let out a roar as he changed to his pure white form and rushing outside he slammed into the wraiths, scattering them in all directions. Having something to focus on made me feel a lot better as I kicked out at one wraith that tried to bite Quiksilva before Quiksilva slammed his tail into two others. Focused completely on the fight I didn't hear footsteps until a set of green trapping gear slammed me into a wall, pinning me and leaving me helpless as a yet unseen wraith appaered letting out a roar. Echoing its roar Quiksilva fired a blast of mag energy at any wraith who ventured too close as I struggled to free myself. Thankfully I heard a yell and something struck the gear pinning me to the wall. As I fell I heard a voice call out to me.
"Light Booster! You okay?" Dragon Booster called out as I quickly climbed to my feet and as Quilsilva magged me I managed a grin. "Guess so." He added as Quiksilva rushed at two of the wraiths, knocking them over and as I yelled, angry at being attacked for no reason, my friend frowned. "Hey leave some for us!" He called out as Beau stared at us then his rider. Shrugging them teamed up with us and as we sent the wraiths packing he saw the way I was panting. Jumping down he walked over as Quiksilva magged me and just as he stepped next to me I hunched over, gasping. "Rayne? What's wrong?" He asked as he went to lay a hand on my shoulder and I shrugged him off trying to act like I was fine. But then I shuddered and Dragon Booster only just caught me as I collapsed.
When I came to some hours later the first thing I saw was a pair of amber eyes staring into mine, almost glaring at me.
"Yeah...I'm stupid." I muttered still half asleep and he nodded before he rested his head on my lap.
"That's for sure. You should never have let Moordryd upset you. And you should have been resting, not rushing headlong into a needless battle." Quiksilva told me and I stared until I realized I was still the Light Booster. "Yes maybe you should change back." He suggested and I nodded slightly as I reached for the amulet. Once I changed back I shivered as I felt really weak and that's when I heard someone's footsteps.
"Huh who's there?" I asked and as I lifted my head I saw Connor in the doorway and I cringed knowing I was in for a lecture. "Yeah...reckless and stupid. That's me." I sighed feeling pretty sorry for myself as I lay there.
"Reckless, yes. Stupid...not so sure about that. The wraiths did attack you first though you did let your anger get the better of you. But with training I believe you can be a great Booster. With a little more self control." Connor told me as I lay on my back and after thinking this over I finally grinned.
"I thought I was cured. Why do I feel so weak?" I asked as he knelt beside me and Connor chuckled.
"You're not in any danger now but that doesn't mean you're completely recovered. That will take at least another day or two." He told me as I sat up cringing as my head spun. "Give yourself time."
"So you're finally up." Artha said as he walked in and stood beside his dad. "You faint a lot you know that?" He commneted and I narrowed my eyes at him surprising him. "Okay what did I do?" He asked and I turned my head not wanting my friends to see how upset I was.
"Not mad at you." I muttered as Quiksilva nuzzled me and I stroked his snout, closing my eyes for a moment. "I'm mad at him...he's no friend of mine." I added before I yawned hugely, wanting to rest but also wanting to understand why someone I might actually like had pushed me aside. When I went quiet, looking towards the back of the stable as I stroked Quiksilva's snout, Artha sighed and went to leave only for his father to lay a hand on his shoulder.
"When she's healed I want you to teach her some basic fighting technigues. And once she's ready mag moves too." Connor said and as he walked back towards the house Artha looked at me and then at his father's retreating back.
"Okay then I will. I just hope she's ready to help. Or willing." Artha whispered as I lay back down and soon I was sound asleep. With his head resting against mine Quiksilva gave a snort as he wondered why I cared so much about the human with the long white hair and the cold personality. Finally he decided it wasn't worth his time and closed his eyes. At the same time Moordryd was standing before his father who had gone very quiet after hearing that his son had failed in bringing the Dragon Booster or even the Light Booster before him.
"Why don't I have a booster in my citadel?" Word asked and when Moordryd mirrored his glare he stood. "Explain yourself, Moordryd." He said and for a long moment Moordryd almost growled at his father.
"Because. father, neither booster showed up to save Rayne. So Artha ended up saving her instead. Obviously they care more about Rayne then the two boosters. That's why the plan failed." Moordryd answered keeping his voice even and Word frowned.
"That is interesting. I would have thought that the Dragon Booster actually cared what happened to an innocent girl. Hmph. Then I'll set my sights on bringing the Light Booster here. You are dismissed, Moordryd." Word said as he turned back to his desk and with a sneer Moordryd walked away.
"And you'll lose if you do. Especially if she's been trained by the Dragon Booster." Moordryd muttered as Decepshun walked over to greet him and he stroked her snout. Thinking he stood next to his dragon as he wondered where I was right now then he frowned. "Probably with the stable brat. Whenever she's mad at me she runs to him." He muttered to himself, annoyed at me until he remembered that hurt look I'd given him when he'd rebuffed me and he sighed. "But I didn't mean to...just caught me off guard." He sighed as Decepshun nuzzled him and after she magged him onto her back she waited for Moordryd to tell her where he wanted to go. "To Penn Stables." He asked and after giving him a quizzacle look she nodded and raced away.
By the time he reached the stables he heard a commontion and somehow knowing that it concerened me he jumped down from Decepshun's back and hurried towards the stables as Decepshun followed. The moment he stepped through the doorway he found Artha attacking me and unable to stand by and do nothing, which surprised him, he grabbed his jack stick and rushed Artha. What he didn't realize was that Artha was sparring with me to help me fight better when I needed to defend myself again.
"Leave her alone!" He yelled and as we both looked, momentarily confused, he swung his weapon at Artha who just managed to block it and as they started fighting I stepped forward.
"Stop it! Guys!" I yelled but they ignored me and Quiksilva let out a massive roar that echoed throughout the stable. "Thanks, Quiksilva." I sighed as my dragon gave a snort. "Seriously guys stop it. Every time you two see each other a fight breaks out."
"He started it." Both guys shouted and I frowned as I stepped between them.
"No you attacked Artha first and he just defended himself. Wait a second what are you doing here, Moordryd?" I growled and he stared at me for a few seconds before he held his Jack stick against his side looking a little guilty. "Here to make me cry again? Or pretend that I'm you're friend and then attack me or maybe set the Shadow Booster on me again?" I asked the pain in my voice making everyone stare at me.
"I came back to...could you leave stable brat?" Moordryd asked Artha who narrowed his eyes at his rival. There was an uncomfortable silence for a few seconds before Artha looked towards me.
"Fine but stop calling me that." Artha finally asked and Moordryd just shrugged. "You sure I can leave you two alone?" He asked and Moordryd snorted. "Rayne's safe but I can't say the same about you." He added and I almost laughed before I stopped myself. Giving Artha a nod he walked away and as he reached the doorway he gave me a grin. Once he was out of earshot I crossed my arms and Moordryd rolled his eyes before he set down his Jack Stick and walked over to me.
"Okay what do you want with me now? If you want me to join you the answer is no. I'm sick and tired of being used and after getting sick and almost..." I swallowed then and taking a deep breath I finally told him exactly what I thought of him. "You pretend to be my friend and it ends up being a trap to capture me as bait so the Light Booster or even the Dragon Booster will rescue me. You stayed by my side after I was poisoned, by your father no less, and even after I kissed you...you gave me the cold shoulder and acted like I wasn't there." And that's when I sniffed before I spun around not letting him see just how badly he'd hurt me.
"My father poisoned you, not me. If I'd know what he had planned I would have stopped him." Moordryd said and I turned around eyes a little red as I stared at him. As I did him he gave me a grin. "I'm being honest with you. I would have at the very least done something. If the stable brat...if Artha and Parmon hadn't gone looking for the cure we wouldn't be having this conversation. You have to believe me."
I stared at him for the longest few minutes of my life then, hoping that for the first time that he was telling me the truth. When I opened my mouth he blinked as I glared at him.
"You know I don't believe you. You come here and pretend that I'm your friend. But you're just lying again." I said my voice almost a whisper and as I turned around I didn't notice him walk right up to me. "Look I said that..." I muttered just as his arms wrapped around my waist and before I knew what he was doing he spun me around.
"Yeah that's what you say." He said as he stared at me and being this close to him I blushed. I wanted to push him away but his arms just wrapped tighter around my waist. And as I stood there in shock Moordryd kissed me and just for a second my eyes went wide as I tensed up. Then I relaxed and I kissed him back, my arms wrapping around his waist.