A buried memory resurfaced. At least, I thought it was a memory. It might have been a part of my dream, of which I remembered very little, but I was leaning towards the former. It was a memory of my father. It was a rare moment when I was out of my room and speaking with him. He sat me down by the table and went on a tangent, as "men his age do," speaking of a phenomenon known as restless sleep. It sounded like nonsense to me, and I told him that I thought it sounded like nonsense, but he dismissed my remarks. He said that I would understand when I grew older.215Please respect copyright.PENANAS9xah9wmZt
215Please respect copyright.PENANAd6E1MAq9Py
He wouldn't have known it, but he was a liar. Because here I was, my eyelids turned to stone, gazing at the ceiling as if I hadn't slept at all.215Please respect copyright.PENANAXEw949hAen
215Please respect copyright.PENANAliBZQKikJf
"At least... I'm on my back now."215Please respect copyright.PENANAuh8B5Ym8Iv
215Please respect copyright.PENANAMT9vDPK0It
I tested the waters. My arm rotated just fine, and I could roll from side to side. I lifted my legs one by one, then both at the same time. I wasn't sore, I wasn't in pain. I crooked my head; all the perturbing sears and tears had vanished. I heaved myself off the mattress. I tested my leg strength, and I could keep myself upright without issue. I have undeniably made a full recovery, despite how groggy I was. I didn't know how much time passed, but it couldn't have been long. I walked to the window and pulled on the blinds. It was bright out.215Please respect copyright.PENANA74xRRlC8aL
215Please respect copyright.PENANAnNns9NA5P0
I closed the blinds and scanned the room. I spotted a cup on the nightstand and reached for it, taking a sip. I sat on the bed with the cup in hand, periodically sipping from it as I stared across the room. I had an urge to stick my finger between my teeth and gnaw. I resisted it, though. I found enough solace in the way I sat.215Please respect copyright.PENANALqnM9TpBrs
215Please respect copyright.PENANAVI3uQIpqqY
It was quiet. Inevitably, I indulged myself in rumination. I was nervous, I knew that much without even thinking. I was also relieved. I was glad that, at the current moment, I was sitting here and not outside the city walls. It freed my thoughts. It let me sip the water with a motionless cup.215Please respect copyright.PENANAGEML1MSW9V
215Please respect copyright.PENANAAggFB3vMjN
"..."215Please respect copyright.PENANASBzAB7O3Cg
215Please respect copyright.PENANAML3ha5pOK7
But, I was nervous. I set the cup aside, rubbed my face, and stood up. Staring at a wall would do me no good. If I talked to someone, my stress would surely subside. It would help me stay awake, too. I stood up and ambled to the door, opening it.215Please respect copyright.PENANArzm7k6ovMO
215Please respect copyright.PENANAW72lDbtBDy
I was immediately startled.215Please respect copyright.PENANAvlDid7kRYV
215Please respect copyright.PENANAuK4JrPGxrD
"Oh, Kenny. That's funny timing; did you just wake up?"215Please respect copyright.PENANAOIPSLbsTfJ
215Please respect copyright.PENANAbBlVB9Krch
I jumped silently, grasping my chest and taking a deep breath through my nose. I stepped away and looked at the man conveniently before my door.215Please respect copyright.PENANA5cVuOJNnsY
215Please respect copyright.PENANAACDU6RnYaP
"I did just wake up Pars, yes. Did you need anything?"215Please respect copyright.PENANAttmbQoragN
215Please respect copyright.PENANAhYU2JkyXPV
"I was looking to chat. Mind if I enter?"215Please respect copyright.PENANAmgse0AnSfo
215Please respect copyright.PENANABNE98danMo
"Of course. I was just meaning to talk to someone myself."215Please respect copyright.PENANAMk8Jv1CRNV
215Please respect copyright.PENANAvY8mld8Gur
I let him enter the room. He leaned against the wall and crossed his arms like before while I sat on a nearby chair, turning it so it faced him.215Please respect copyright.PENANADmYilatNpc
215Please respect copyright.PENANA0cOSJRS3e7
"Do you feel any better?"215Please respect copyright.PENANAFAz10gCnBh
215Please respect copyright.PENANAgCwzzqF2cS
"Oh, yes, much better. I'm still tired, but I can move just fine."215Please respect copyright.PENANARNzbp23FiO
215Please respect copyright.PENANAvg43ErkQ81
"That's good, that's good..."215Please respect copyright.PENANA5IAxsZ1WvJ
215Please respect copyright.PENANA6kZR3t8txy
He tapped on his arms with his fingers, not uttering a word and filling the room with an unpleasant silence.215Please respect copyright.PENANAFgHzNvOAC3
215Please respect copyright.PENANA0B4aKuOjwJ
"I'll just cut to the chase here, alright? Why aren't you with that red-haired girl?"215Please respect copyright.PENANAk7gpylQGRZ
215Please respect copyright.PENANAUREDrA6lDn
"..."215Please respect copyright.PENANAljxxmdcupK
215Please respect copyright.PENANAVTE9E6mQ7Z
To my surprise, I didn't react to his inquiry. My body didn't jolt in shock, nor did my eyes widen. I just sighed, because truthfully, I was expecting a question like this.215Please respect copyright.PENANAkeaUj12Rxn
215Please respect copyright.PENANAKqTe7AMPlO
But it didn't mean it was easy to answer.215Please respect copyright.PENANAFtUKK0ORag
215Please respect copyright.PENANAFQ3b59Ag51
"Judging by your reaction... It must've been a fight."215Please respect copyright.PENANAmcjchFmafA
215Please respect copyright.PENANAcIYSguljnm
"H-How'd you know?"215Please respect copyright.PENANAosxhK5yw9v
215Please respect copyright.PENANA7IhIyeUdqK
"I have a lot of experience with quarrels. I get into them all the time."215Please respect copyright.PENANABuljy8lEvs
215Please respect copyright.PENANAFXKv0eRv3n
I smirked at his statement. His esoteric wit didn't irritate this time. I was grateful for that.215Please respect copyright.PENANAmvI0oNyjsz
215Please respect copyright.PENANAsKAUwjAUcm
"It's good that you said it out loud. I don't think I would've been able to answer so openly."215Please respect copyright.PENANAzirqCmB7fa
215Please respect copyright.PENANA0nsbTJf5y4
I leaned back and firmly rubbed my face before returning my gaze to Pars.
"It's funny– I was just about to ask you if you happened to have seen Rover around. Is she with you guys?"215Please respect copyright.PENANAsotNaS8Qlq
215Please respect copyright.PENANAxuu9OmrTig
Pars nodded.215Please respect copyright.PENANAVSui2vx8s8
215Please respect copyright.PENANAv2twiRTQ5K
"Yeah, she's in one of the split buildings. Unfortunately for you, she's in the one where we're going, since Lola's there as well."215Please respect copyright.PENANA1E2QsyBcsf
215Please respect copyright.PENANAYqmDjpGKqx
"That's great," I replied, unsure if I said it earnestly or not.215Please respect copyright.PENANAzYZQ7MqTy6
215Please respect copyright.PENANAeVpi9WLRqs
"But I'm still lost. I don't get why you two separated at all. Last time I checked, you weren't the best of buds, but there was a bond formed there as mutual battle partners."215Please respect copyright.PENANAtCOWEiWBrx
215Please respect copyright.PENANAu3Sjsk6XFt
"Mutual what?"215Please respect copyright.PENANAC9bpJQzhGk
215Please respect copyright.PENANAlFJ5meJz77
"It's something you notice the longer you're in the combatant business. You can make lifelong friends in one day just by battling alongside them."215Please respect copyright.PENANA8z7fMRXtwL
215Please respect copyright.PENANA4IxvBpBvWg
"Is that a studied phenomenon?"215Please respect copyright.PENANAWcSiwJzHRw
215Please respect copyright.PENANAbfQ8DKhckD
"No! But if you ask anyone with as much experience as I have, they'll tell you the same thing."215Please respect copyright.PENANAjIylgnrNYL
215Please respect copyright.PENANAW9KWvRpVFg
"Really now..."215Please respect copyright.PENANAHrPaxUIYEM
215Please respect copyright.PENANAdmPeQuncZf
I felt like we got sidetracked, but the way Pars spoke ensnared me. Fortunately, he was a man not easily taken off-task.215Please respect copyright.PENANAZQdSQFm85z
215Please respect copyright.PENANA1mnMfR1Iuv
"That's beside the point. You must've had a pretty bad fight if you two separated."215Please respect copyright.PENANAmihsCZb4cw
215Please respect copyright.PENANAIPQzvxkZQR
"..."215Please respect copyright.PENANAZrZ6Ta8S7I
215Please respect copyright.PENANAZKuJotMRgC
I fiddled with my fingers. I thought back to yesterday and viewed my memories with warped eyes. Even though it was recent, the magnitude of the event made it remote, detached from my mind as if I were reading a stranger's book. I remembered the outcome but all else I could recall were caustic words, drastic actions, and weighty, suffocating feelings. My amazement rivaled the strength of my jitter; only one day had passed and I had tucked it away. Yet, I let a little piece of the memory stick out of the wardrobe that harbored it.215Please respect copyright.PENANAy84ijpmkD6
215Please respect copyright.PENANAzt8ZXJDdDC
"Wow... it must've been bad."215Please respect copyright.PENANAFDCU70hRrH
215Please respect copyright.PENANAfbE5CQcG5w
"You're almost as flippant as I am."215Please respect copyright.PENANAhEYJbW8jcB
215Please respect copyright.PENANA7y7UlVG1BO
He uncrossed his arms and held his palms out, pushing them to and fro with a nervous gaze.215Please respect copyright.PENANANNQQozXaUK
215Please respect copyright.PENANAcNgKUTtDrz
"I didn't mean anything mean, you know."215Please respect copyright.PENANAT0KfvsrHPG
215Please respect copyright.PENANAU0SQmLHq8M
"Yeah yeah. She and I disagreed on what to do. She wanted to stay in the city, Juke and I wanted to leave. After learning of what you and Dave told us, the situation is different now, which is why we're still here. But..."215Please respect copyright.PENANAXPUSLTDUK6
215Please respect copyright.PENANAJ4nK4FfITj
"It won't be easy talking to her again, will it?"215Please respect copyright.PENANAPERubTRFBP
215Please respect copyright.PENANAU6sdISsvEh
I shook my head no and kept fiddling with my fingers.215Please respect copyright.PENANAZPu0f5ou8Y
215Please respect copyright.PENANA3lRsn5vfWw
"I'm not sure if I can do it at all. Or, if I even want to."215Please respect copyright.PENANArnApbmyouV
215Please respect copyright.PENANAVrKlp5Xdoe
My gaze turned into a meek look. It wasn't a plea exactly, but I made sure my face invited advice. I had too much shame to ask what to do with my words.215Please respect copyright.PENANAZSOCNQsmaz
215Please respect copyright.PENANAbwYmzdrGo3
Pars stepped away from the wall, crossing his arms again and nodding his head.215Please respect copyright.PENANAecIUzJMCoa
215Please respect copyright.PENANA8Q4iVnPxqO
"Baby's got his first fight on his hands, huh?"215Please respect copyright.PENANAJsj2J6ScYs
215Please respect copyright.PENANAtGULiitUgp
"W-Whaa? Did you just call me a baby!?"215Please respect copyright.PENANAluyutaVy56
215Please respect copyright.PENANAXjN6vaSEY5
"You're right, that was incorrect. You were a baby, but from here on, you're taking your first steps into maturity."215Please respect copyright.PENANAxSYANdXDV3
215Please respect copyright.PENANAiq4Cp2LPu3
I wanted to correct him. After all, this wasn't my first fight. But when I looked back on the other few I had, this one was much more severe, so I kept shut.215Please respect copyright.PENANACeLGdg7YNZ
215Please respect copyright.PENANA1mtbwQEEAJ
"I don't want you to liken me to a baby, though. That's frankly rude."215Please respect copyright.PENANAZlOXDG7NdW
215Please respect copyright.PENANAhJDzM9Sibv
"I know."215Please respect copyright.PENANANLrzlb3PTA
215Please respect copyright.PENANAfxvFOJxpc8
He took a few steps towards me and sat on the floor.215Please respect copyright.PENANA5oe56DaaOJ
215Please respect copyright.PENANAKOGoikJA7Y
"Tell you what; I can't help you."215Please respect copyright.PENANA8HynlTIA7Q
215Please respect copyright.PENANAzUUvEt1lFe
"...Are you serious?"215Please respect copyright.PENANARPb9SJ8tME
215Please respect copyright.PENANAy35lQoryS4
"Don't be disappointed just yet," he exclaimed while thrusting his palm forward, "Because I know what can help you."215Please respect copyright.PENANA1dzMLvD8qS
215Please respect copyright.PENANAMnOctL5BDh
"What? What can?"215Please respect copyright.PENANARRJocFetiU
215Please respect copyright.PENANA2H5XikqVhm
"Well, I'm sure you've been told this before, but I do this with Lola a lot, so I have a bunch of experience. I just make up with her."215Please respect copyright.PENANAYAFmNPhjGr
215Please respect copyright.PENANAUJcx1gXVlb
"..."215Please respect copyright.PENANA0HiEuSWBLw
215Please respect copyright.PENANA2YJmpeqPEA
A little explosion happened in my brain. Clarity washed over me; all the haze blew away.215Please respect copyright.PENANAbamkp8c56v
215Please respect copyright.PENANAyCLOEIsru9
His words, I mulled over them. It was really that simple, wasn't it?215Please respect copyright.PENANAMle1JzwWqY
215Please respect copyright.PENANAHuXYYZ9dI8
When I asked myself that, the haze immediately returned, and as I skimmed through possible outcomes of speaking with Rover, I was filled with more and more apprehension.215Please respect copyright.PENANA534wQEwS9R
215Please respect copyright.PENANAJct9jj4EZ4
"Give it a try."215Please respect copyright.PENANA1vQr0KX52C
215Please respect copyright.PENANA2MAeYhbXvF
He stood up and patted my shoulder.215Please respect copyright.PENANA9ud5Au2L7i
215Please respect copyright.PENANAzIqLDhxFIC
"Come on now. I think it's high time we start going."215Please respect copyright.PENANAhFNx3pOVyO
215Please respect copyright.PENANAnY1JcYJQpJ
"H-Huh? Right now?"215Please respect copyright.PENANAoDqz0dt6TK
215Please respect copyright.PENANAQPY3yY877k
"Yes, right now. I'll go wake Juke up. Get ready to head out."215Please respect copyright.PENANAqt8u0Nua7H
215Please respect copyright.PENANAt0IOk1Las4
Our conversation ended. Pars exited the room and shut the door, leaving me unsure if he helped or only made it worse.215Please respect copyright.PENANA3HyoMk2aHJ
215Please respect copyright.PENANAdvSWyKifF8
–
–
–215Please respect copyright.PENANAUCCrzS5SKT
215Please respect copyright.PENANAqI9tEDeE7g
"Are ya all packed up?"215Please respect copyright.PENANA2e3LyiHmY5
215Please respect copyright.PENANAgLrNZ55vnD
As I made my way downstairs, I saw Juke at the bottom, his hands gripping the bag's shoulder straps. I gave him a bemused look and responded to his question.215Please respect copyright.PENANA1265EcmFYj
215Please respect copyright.PENANAl4GW5nDf9F
"You're the only one who's carrying anything"215Please respect copyright.PENANASMVa5ZqcZG
215Please respect copyright.PENANAlVEqIPY8r5
"Ah, well look at ya, yer right."215Please respect copyright.PENANAwpatZZ6ycL
215Please respect copyright.PENANAsAtZc9FkmC
I made it downstairs and scanned the room. It looked the same as when I left, only Dave and Pars were engaged in conversation. Dave was rubbing his head; it was clear something troubled him.215Please respect copyright.PENANAKfB37lGB4t
215Please respect copyright.PENANAepngMyCM4k
"Did Pars relay our discussion?"215Please respect copyright.PENANAhAf4mkoCB9
215Please respect copyright.PENANApOKerTkHXh
"I dunno. I ain't listening to what they're sayin'. I'm too busy thinking."215Please respect copyright.PENANAtJArCepj3l
215Please respect copyright.PENANA2YtSLS9KAC
"Thinking...? If you don't mind me asking, are you also nervous?"215Please respect copyright.PENANA0c0VABWVrG
215Please respect copyright.PENANAowia2lpzAR
He huffed through his nose, like what I said was ridiculous.215Please respect copyright.PENANApGknx8ahOP
215Please respect copyright.PENANAV692a8rcGV
"I ain't nervous. I'm just thinking about the whole operation. I ain't gonna fight Hard-Bringer without a plan."215Please respect copyright.PENANAvnHTboVz0V
215Please respect copyright.PENANAZuGcdty11G
"I suppose that makes sense."215Please respect copyright.PENANAKUhm9eLjcr
215Please respect copyright.PENANA3ZtBdi6CnS
"Ya remember that crazy lady we fought, right?"215Please respect copyright.PENANADY21TPyI2w
215Please respect copyright.PENANABns74jwglW
"Yeah. You said you figured out her power before, didn't you?"215Please respect copyright.PENANAr33pyFftE5
215Please respect copyright.PENANAYmqMCfQghF
"Good thing that explosion didn't hurt yer memory. But I'm afraid I lied to ya."215Please respect copyright.PENANAib3KzhGYos
215Please respect copyright.PENANAhMAIM53PzE
I blankly stared at him. I wasn't surprised to hear that, but it still was a blow.215Please respect copyright.PENANAyOcMHjX9w3
215Please respect copyright.PENANA4sdim7IKvJ
"I have a theory, but I wanna ask ya first. What do ya think her tricks are?"215Please respect copyright.PENANAScpk8h2Bhd
215Please respect copyright.PENANAWZ5c5PleKT
"What do I think...?"215Please respect copyright.PENANAIFx4yCORQ9
215Please respect copyright.PENANADoapVNXNrL
I raised my hand and pinched my chin, gazing pensively at a random vase in the shop. Though the craze of the event made it difficult to remember the details, there were two oddities I couldn't forget: the Harbinger could strike Juke from a distance, but somehow didn't always do so, and the Harbinger dodged and blocked my attacks as if she could tell they were coming.215Please respect copyright.PENANAbfEyS2KE4C
215Please respect copyright.PENANApeVKb1K4Ol
"You suggested foresight. It's a part of it. I don't think she can see too far into the future."215Please respect copyright.PENANAV1Aq8TiaFP
215Please respect copyright.PENANALd9upQqdKA
"I don't either. I'm thinkin', just a few seconds."215Please respect copyright.PENANAU89Ydypwtx
215Please respect copyright.PENANADZRB4GJBO4
"That seems right. But then, what about the kick? How did she pull that off?"215Please respect copyright.PENANA0WuImbPyTz
215Please respect copyright.PENANAbi6ofNoP8n
"I'm asking ya, kid."215Please respect copyright.PENANAInRmv8Pjzw
215Please respect copyright.PENANAqbSZbihAA9
I rolled my eyes and continued rumination. Since there was nothing rational about her power, I threw ideas into the world and saw how my better conscious would react. Was it wind magic? If so, Juke would know. Was it an illusion? Illusionary magic has been stated to exist, but no corresponding mana exists in this area. Was it an Endowment? Likely. In fact–215Please respect copyright.PENANAZXJKQUDYt7
215Please respect copyright.PENANAroQUMRRt2r
"It had to be an Endowment."215Please respect copyright.PENANAuwUchgzTz4
215Please respect copyright.PENANAMsmLv6UWHd
"..."215Please respect copyright.PENANA2PtzIou3PM
215Please respect copyright.PENANAAneG7zSEHq
Juke was silent. I took it as a signal to elaborate.215Please respect copyright.PENANA0Fhs8dOLX3
215Please respect copyright.PENANAbA7mA2gXdo
"It would explain the inconsistency. Endowments can have downsides, so maybe she could only strike from a distance under special conditions. I don't know what those conditions are, of course."215Please respect copyright.PENANAmnHpZWeqS6
215Please respect copyright.PENANAN6aozjZWZl
"That's a sound explanation. I just don't think she's got an Endowment."215Please respect copyright.PENANAIGcDJtiOE2
215Please respect copyright.PENANAAGGot4nqoI
I looked at Juke. Though I couldn't see his face, he looked rueful.215Please respect copyright.PENANA4o3i4M0tC0
215Please respect copyright.PENANAO8v1DzckAm
"Why not?"215Please respect copyright.PENANAhcQcySEHz2
215Please respect copyright.PENANAy2BWl1pDjP
"It's just a gut feeling. I ain't sure. But yer probably right. It's a pain in the ass not to know what's goin' on behind her bullshit."215Please respect copyright.PENANAQBidrJ5CGo
215Please respect copyright.PENANAsKVf92u6g5
"The task at hand is to figure that out, isn't it?"215Please respect copyright.PENANAWLQN1IexqB
215Please respect copyright.PENANANVjcPO84JV
Juke nodded solemnly. From the tone of his voice, it looked like we both knew what that entailed. I sighed and pinched my nose, then spoke again.215Please respect copyright.PENANAAQu5mV4i8n
215Please respect copyright.PENANAqomMdiJsHo
"Surely, there's a better option."215Please respect copyright.PENANAmgGpA4odaL
215Please respect copyright.PENANARf0kiukjCr
"I don't wanna fight the bitch either, but all the roads are pointin' that way."215Please respect copyright.PENANAWRTn2ikoTN
215Please respect copyright.PENANAFyXM1rCZot
I wanted to refute him, but all the other ideas I came up with were ineffective. Still, I decided to give them a shot.215Please respect copyright.PENANAkXb7KhQrfH
215Please respect copyright.PENANACt7KNySOHZ
"What if we spy from a distance?"215Please respect copyright.PENANAlhP2gV5hIn
215Please respect copyright.PENANAnr3XJpTtAk
"Yer crazy, kid. Did ya just get possessed to say that?"215Please respect copyright.PENANAKd4oyfjlVx
215Please respect copyright.PENANArW91nBczxj
"...Point taken."215Please respect copyright.PENANAPkXNpSurby
215Please respect copyright.PENANAo7V2ZXT79R
As I thought about it more, the idea of leaving people to fight the Harbinger while we sat by the sidelines was sickening. I discarded it immediately, thought the reality it meant I had to face was frightening.215Please respect copyright.PENANAa0qvd18Hwv
215Please respect copyright.PENANAN7yWFvsY6S
"'Course, we could always bank on others fightin' her and doin' all the dirty work."215Please respect copyright.PENANAWx64nIIDWU
215Please respect copyright.PENANAo9CsH5wKuD
"That doesn't sound too different from what I just suggested."215Please respect copyright.PENANA0bFhlWyHuN
215Please respect copyright.PENANAobfrO2kdlr
"That's cuz ya ain't... nevermind."215Please respect copyright.PENANA1QFtURuCvb
215Please respect copyright.PENANAyBxhPOBwZb
I smiled weakly. I took comfort in our shared reluctance to do this. In truth, what Juke said about others finishing her off would be nice. If I could, of course I wouldn't want to fight her. But, that wasn't for us to decide; that was up to our luck. As I crossed my fingers and hoped for the best, Dave approached us with Pars in tow.215Please respect copyright.PENANAB9tc8ZJyfR
215Please respect copyright.PENANAiTaN9BhxTR
"We're ready to leave. How about you two?"215Please respect copyright.PENANAauEBy0suZa
215Please respect copyright.PENANAWoxnX0MIGl
We nodded in unison.215Please respect copyright.PENANAOMP9UBv3gq
215Please respect copyright.PENANAltmnsBMXrT
"Good, good. Then let's head on out. We have no time to lose."215Please respect copyright.PENANAb0HdzKgQmI
215Please respect copyright.PENANAk3KDQkweSX
–
–
–
Out on the street, the sky turned ever dimmer. We went through the same motions as before, scuttling in and out of alleyways as we watched for oncoming Bringers. I no longer felt like I was always on my toes, dreading even the slightest error. It just became tedious.215Please respect copyright.PENANAJnByuuxOxd
215Please respect copyright.PENANABl7Q9h2WaW
At some point, we became comfortable enough to chat. We spoke in whispers, of course, but exchanging words at all made me think we were getting careless. I didn't voice my concerns, only chewed on my finger as I darted my eyes around.215Please respect copyright.PENANAYhWxJpBb00
215Please respect copyright.PENANA2TK5Jy9p4U
"Ya look a little nervous, kid. Are ya fine?"215Please respect copyright.PENANARr9sKV1CjF
215Please respect copyright.PENANAucnd1stgXc
Juke spoke up in a whisper-shout. I turned my head to him and replied at a similar volume.215Please respect copyright.PENANAnD1gnNsh8U
215Please respect copyright.PENANASB5Vt87JTq
"I feel like that's all you've been asking me today. Of course I'm nervous. Of course I'm not fine. What part about this is fine?"215Please respect copyright.PENANAtVs5SJWM51
215Please respect copyright.PENANAtarEGluLXK
Silence came for a few seconds, and I realized that I might've spoken too rashly. I didn't apologize, though. I felt no inclination to.215Please respect copyright.PENANAx4xD5TCTO7
215Please respect copyright.PENANARG6roXlrkC
"Yer right, I've been asking ya that a lot. I must be naggin' ya."215Please respect copyright.PENANAxnl9vS1ko9
215Please respect copyright.PENANA70ARX81QrD
"Well... I won't deny that."215Please respect copyright.PENANAgRm7cf4QB4
215Please respect copyright.PENANAm1DqeoFIRp
I heard him chuckle under that bucket helmet.215Please respect copyright.PENANAFCjEZW5Ago
215Please respect copyright.PENANAsGXOZq8MQA
"I'm just keeping ya steady, kid. Just makin' sure ya don't grab yer head and curl into a ball again."215Please respect copyright.PENANA9af82pmkD4
215Please respect copyright.PENANAtExg1k4Jx8
"Again? What do you–?"215Please respect copyright.PENANA92Su8r4nsI
215Please respect copyright.PENANAfFM1qmBRRX
As I formed my question, memories of my first mission with Juke surfaced. I kept quiet, but I could feel my cheeks curl into a smile.215Please respect copyright.PENANAwq9zgtzj0l
215Please respect copyright.PENANAiqtkaxcwec
"You're surprisingly kind, Juke."215Please respect copyright.PENANA4ZXBCHrYQh
215Please respect copyright.PENANAvTl5dVKFlg
He didn't respond verbally, simply nodding at my assertion.215Please respect copyright.PENANAyJy9a9MSad
215Please respect copyright.PENANACH4Z8O0P9X
"Since you asked, I'll tell you what's on my mind."215Please respect copyright.PENANAen2C5fK0XD
215Please respect copyright.PENANAYZYoyUs4dD
"I didn't ask ya that."215Please respect copyright.PENANA9jBk32ayAf
215Please respect copyright.PENANAtrRlWmkX7w
"Pars came into my room yesterday. He asked why I wasn't with Rover, since I was with her when I met him. It was, well, a difficult conversation, but I learned that Rover ended up joining the Retaliation Crowd."215Please respect copyright.PENANA9drIiFwdle
215Please respect copyright.PENANAhgyM5JCORx
"That ain't surprising."215Please respect copyright.PENANAdMLW4U8EPp
215Please respect copyright.PENANADt7firOUxc
"Yeah, it isn't. It really isn't."215Please respect copyright.PENANAOTstowIcxS
215Please respect copyright.PENANAv2PVADhKfN
Juke and I stopped talking for a moment. Pars' and Dave's quiet banter quickly filled my ears.215Please respect copyright.PENANAZiIqkg3yBF
215Please respect copyright.PENANA3ahT8YEzZH
"It's funny. The thing I'm most nervous about is meeting her again. I realized that quickly, and then it made me think about a lot of other things."215Please respect copyright.PENANAmaHGsCFsea
215Please respect copyright.PENANAm7bU68HpgW
"Yeah? Like what?"215Please respect copyright.PENANA2WVStKGWuR
215Please respect copyright.PENANAAIBu1o4Ud0
"It made me think about home, and coming back to it. Not just Buffalo Village of course, but the Capitol too. I was so caught up in the state of affairs that I forgot I even had places I called home."215Please respect copyright.PENANAkHKZlUM2QA
215Please respect copyright.PENANAg1UnPLZf8Q
"I can't blame ya. All this is givin' me a headache, and I'd wanna head back home too if I had one."215Please respect copyright.PENANAjUOicrcpCa
215Please respect copyright.PENANAzJjdkJGRQ8
"No, that isn't what I'm getting at. It's just..."215Please respect copyright.PENANAvHudWcnY98
215Please respect copyright.PENANAXgSTmC7P2b
I stopped myself and pinched my chin. The words got stuck in my throat. They required tuning before being released, yes, but there was another thing keeping them from leaving Before chaos broke loose and the three of us separated, it was the robes of that woman.215Please respect copyright.PENANApmSYKocEAb
215Please respect copyright.PENANAMUSSClyxa1
I had terrible thoughts in my head. An abundance of worries and I withered because of them, but nothing I could do would make them leave. All I could do was shut my eyes and look the other way.215Please respect copyright.PENANAv5MKubpwtx
215Please respect copyright.PENANAhG64Sururp
"I hope they're doing okay, is all. Flinty, Annabelle, Jackson, and even the Tea Mage. I hope they're doing better than I am here."215Please respect copyright.PENANAqONZItqhSh
215Please respect copyright.PENANAiy23vlH0rD
I let out my thoughts in earnest. A minute passed without a reply, and it never came after. I thought I would've been agitated, but I was relieved. Dave and Pars continued their conversation, but we stayed quiet. It was a moment I'd be ashamed to spoil. With how easily my mind wandered back into contemplation, we arrived at our destination seemingly instantly.215Please respect copyright.PENANAYWgTOrmOcr
215Please respect copyright.PENANAXwvvIMcYTi
"See that," Pars pointed as he stood by the alley wall, "That building is one of our bases."215Please respect copyright.PENANAT7br5wVu7w
215Please respect copyright.PENANAUZSw3HvQm3
I moved to his side, squinting my eyes to see through the darkening sky. The outline came to me quickly, and then I could make out the building's details. That of which were–215Please respect copyright.PENANAEfWDeFAG4C
215Please respect copyright.PENANAbU5kDxy9Lz
"Is this seriously one of yer bases?"215Please respect copyright.PENANAsHJgpt7gRP
215Please respect copyright.PENANAqoGXNT309x
Juke voiced my thoughts perfectly. The building in question was a flower shop.