As soon as the Hot-Ra returned to the garage Ja-Kal smiled, waving as Rath climbed from the drivers seat. When he reached for me Ja-Kal frowned as Rath helped me from my seat and as he draped an arm around my shoulders I rubbed at my eyes letting him guide me back into the room with the mummies sarcophagi. "Jade, are you alright?" Ja-Kal asked as he followed us and I just nodded as I stumbled along the floor.
"Jade just needs to rest and she'll be fine, Ja-Kal. We've discovered that even Jade needs to recharge after spending so long away from the sphinx." Rath explained, one hand pressed to my back when I stumbled. "Careful, Jade. We don't want you to have a nasty fall."
"Yeah I already stumped my toes earlier, Rath." I replied in a small voice, covering my mouth when I yawned again. "Man I am dead on my feet." Which just got me an odd look from Rath while Ja-Kal cracked a smile.
"We are nearly there." Rath assured me as we made it into the main room and I let out a breath as I looked towards the sarcophagi only to pause. "Hmm I believe we may have a problem."
"Yeah where am I going to rest? There's five of us now..." I started only to hear a meow and I looked down in time to see Kahti rubbing against my heels. "Sorry, Kahti. I mean six mummies now."
"That does present a problem." Rath said as I leaned against his shoulder while I tried to stay awake. Which seemed to be getting more and more difficult as the minutes ticked by. "I believe I have a temporary solution if you are will to hear it." He added after a few minutes of thought and I tried to nod, my shoulders quivering instead.
"Yes to whatever it is if it means I can take a nap, Rath." I agreed and he gave me a tiny smile, gripping my back when I swayed in place.
"You have not even heard my suggestion yet, Jade." He chuckled and I just gave him a one-armed shrug which made me stumble and Rath caught me keeping me steady. "You really need to stop moving so frequently." He advised as he started to head for the sarcophagi lining the back wall.
"I think I know what you're going to suggest. I can borrow your sarcophagus to take a nap until I feel better." I replied and he slowed looking at me with two eyebrows raised towards his forehead.
"That was partly my suggestion but why my sarcophagus exactly?" Rath asked me once we resumed walking and my head drooped, my fingers reaching up to pinch the bridge of my nose. "Yes well then we will continue this conversation after you have had a good night's rest."
By the time we reached Rath's sarcophagus I was dragging my feet and it took both Rath and Ja-Kal to open the lid and help me inside. Despite never having considered sleeping in one I found myself not caring as I leaned against the back before I closed my eyes.
"Will you be alright in here?" Rath asked, watching with a slight smile when I crossed my arms across my chest. Shaking his head he gently closed the lid.
"Jade will be fine, Rath. Now would be a good time to work on finding a way to change her back." Ja-Kal told Rath who was now staring at the sarcophagus. "Rath?" He repeated and Rath quickly shook his head his attention moving back to Ja-Kal.
"Oh my apologizes, Ja-Kal. I was...elsewhere." Rath answered, moving to the scrolls lining the walls and with a shrug and a smile Ja-Kal followed his friend leaving Jade to rest.
Several hours later...
While Ja-Kal and Armon sparred, Nefer-Tina watched on as Rath read through the scrolls lining the walls. From time to time he jotted something down only to cross it out after a few seconds and when he finally rubbed the bridge of his nose Nefer-Tina tapped him on the shoulder.
"Rath, you've been working on fixing your magic spell for hours. Maybe you should take a break. Come and watch the magic box Presley brought back." Nefer-Tina offered and he sighed, not convinced as he looked at the scroll lying between his hands on the stone table.
"I promised Jade I would restore her to her human form." Rath replied as he rubbed at his eyes. On the platform everyone heard one of the sarcophagi creak open and I emerged, stretching after I closed the lid behind me.
"Never thought I'd ever sleep in a sarcophagus but that was pretty comfortable." I muttered as I wandered over. "Good morning everyone."
"Actually it is much later than that, Jade but you needed your rest." Rath explained when I cleared my throat. "Now that you are feeling better would you like to help me with something?"
"Of course. What did you need help with?" I answered and he smiled at me, rolling up the scroll on the table and after he gently set it back among the others he turned his attention back to me.
"Would you like to join us for lunch?" Rath offered and I nodded, glad I had agreed. "Good. Now let's go and pick up the prince."
Knowing exactly who they were talking about I followed my friends out into the garage, taking the Hot-Ra again which fortunately hadn't had a run-in with Scarab. So far anyway...
"So you're the new mummy huh? I'm Presley and apparently the reincarnation of Prince Rapses." Presley said as he held out his hand and I shook it. "Yeah while you were resting Rath mentioned you."
"That's cool, Presley. It's pretty strange waking up as a mummy." I replied looking over at Rath who gave me a tiny smile. "But it's not all bad since I gained some new friends. Plus sarcophagi are actually pretty comfortable."
"Maybe if you're a mummy." Presley pointed out and I giggled as we headed through the streets of San Francisco. "I'd rather sleep in a bed."
"Your loss, my pharaoh." I teased with a mock bow and he rolled his eyes towards the sky leaving me grinning and even Rath cracked a smile at me.
"Oh don't you start that. You're not my guardian." Presley sighed and I just shrugged as we drove up to a burger shop.
"Just having some fun with you, Presley. Of course I'm not an official guardian but you never know." I said and Rath's eyes widened in my direction and I placed my hand over my mouth to stop myself from laughing at the face he pulled. "Just kidding, Rath. Calm yourself." I added, patting his shoulder with my other hand and he relaxed a little as Nefer-Tina pulled into the drive thru.
We drove back to the park and with no one around we sat on the grass, eating our burgers which made me wonder how exactly we could eat. "You know I've been wondering something." I said and at my left Rath looked at me, curious. "If I'm a mummy now does that mean my organs are outside my body."
"Eww...not while I'm eating, Jade." Presley said next to Ja-Kal and I nodded lying back on the cool grass once I finished my own burger. After a pause Presley looked over at Rath. "Actually now you've got me wondering about that."
"It is possible that when the spell changed you on the outside it also changed your body on the inside as well." Rath agreed after thinking about this for long enough to draw everyone's attention. Once he saw that we were all looking at him he raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"That is kind of gross and sort of cool. In a weird sort of way." I replied, prodding my rib-cage. "Now that's another thing I have to worry about?"
"Since you are no longer vulnerable in the same way a living person would be it should not be a concern." Rath answered as I crossed my arms under my head. "Still it is rather interesting to consider."
"Please don't think about it anymore, Rath." I groaned hearing everyone else laughing as I lay on the grass. Eventually we had to head back though after I finally straightened, brushing grass from my bandages, Rath climbed to his feet.
"Jade, might I have a quiet word with you?" He said only loud enough for me to hear and I just nodded, a little worried untl he gave me a slow smile. "Nothing unpleasant I can assure you."
"Alright so what did you want to talk to me about?" I asked, looking over at my friends as they escorted Presley to the waiting Hot-Ra. "If this is about me sleeping in your sarcophagus I can just sleep on the couch next time."
"Jade, I did not mind you resting in my sarcophagus. On the contrary I wished to ask if you would like a resting place of your own." Rath asked and I quickly nodded watching his lips curl into a smile that had me smiling as well.
"That would be wonderful but how? No offense but I wasn't buried 3,500 years ago so I doubt I could just happen across an sarcophagus that no one's using." I answered and he chuckled softly beckoning me to follow him back to the Hot-Ra. A little confused I followed climbing to the vehicle and as Nefer-Tina drove to Presley's house I looked over at Rath who just fixed me with a slight grin not offering any further explanation.
Slumping in my seat I stared ahead as we traveled back to Presley's house and once we dropped the prince off safely we waved goodbye. Once he climbed the steps, disappearing into the building Nefer-Tina headed back to the sphinx. Along the way I glanced at Rath who leaned over, whispering something to Ja-Kal who looked at me with a nod.
Slightly annoyed I decided to wait until we arrived back at the mummies' base instead of asking Rath and Ja-Kal what they were whispering about. At the speed Nefer-Tina drove the Hot-Ra we arrived back in a short time though once I climbed from the car Rath motioned to Armon and Nefer-Tina next and I frowned as they headed past me, giving me a nod as they did. When they walked away and started talking in hushed tones I snorted, feeling more left out.
Once they broke apart I looked towards Rath but he just waved at me as he left the garage and I groaned to myself, clenching my fists together.
"If you're going to ignore me two can play that game, Rath." I grumbled as I headed back to the couch and the TV hoping that something would make me forget how miserable I felt at suddenly being ignored by my friends.
Later that night Rath grinned to himself, rolling the scroll that he'd been sketching at before he set it down. "I wonder if Jade is still up? She seemed a little upset when we arrived home." He said and at his side Nefer-Tina shrugged.
"I would be if my friends were ignoring me. Rath, are you sure we can't tell her anything?" Nefer-Tina asked and Rath shook his head heading towards the TV where he had last seen Jade but as they moved closer he stopped the couch empty.
"Now where has she gone?" Rath asked looking up when Armon emerged with a multiple layer sandwich in one hand. "Armon, have you seen Jade?"
"She was in here the last time I saw her." Armon answered and Rath brightened until Armon paused. "But that was a while ago." He added, taking a huge bite of his sandwich.
"I should have known this would happen. Rath, I'm going to look for Jade." Nefer-Tina said though as soon as she moved towards the archway Ja-Kal appeared.
"Jade is sitting by herself just outside the sphinx. I do not know why but she looks...lost." Ja-Kal commented and Rath rubbed his eyes with his hand hurrying past their leader.
I was sitting on the cold ground just outside trying to ignore how cold the wind was though when a gust of wind brushed my bandages I wrapped my arms around my body, shivering.
"Once again he pretends to be my friend and I was dumb enough to believe he actually cared about me. I barely know the guy and still I trusted him." I whispered to myself not knowing I had company who had just emerged into the darkness.
There you are, Jade. Why are you sitting out here in the dark? It is much too cold for you.
Rath stepped closer his footsteps light as he approached my spot though once he heard my voice he paused, listening closely as I sighed to myself. "Why is he ignoring me again?" I muttered shivering again as I stared into the darkness. "What did I do wrong this time?"
"Jade?" His voice made me jump and I shot to my feet whirling around only to find Rath standing behind me his eyes searching my face. Once he saw my eyes slowly narrowing he sighed. "I did not mean to startle you but you should be inside."
"Now you want to talk to me?" I asked, taking a step further away from the sphinx and Rath as I crossed my arms in an effort to warm myself.
"Jade, I was not ignoring you but I needed to speak to the other guardians first." Rath explained and I just tossed my head, my head turned away as he took a step closer to me.
"I know I'm not one of the prince's protectors but that doesn't mean it's alright to just pretend I don't exist." I snapped at him, walking towards the entrance until he placed a hand on my shoulder and I turned my head enough to stare at him. "What are you keeping from me?"
"Jade, I want to tell you why I'm being secretive but I cannot. Not right now so please understand that I will tell you everything when the time is right." Rath explained and I just shook his hand away moving back inside the sphinx and he rubbed the bridge of his nose wondering how he was going to fix this.