Creation Mischief: Part 23

"Wait, what are you talking about?" I asked, as I checked the job Ayita did on Kyle's bandage. A small moan of pain escaped from his clenched lips. "Sorry."1

Ayita walked over to the three captives. Carmen struggled against her bindings. She was still standing, face red and trying to talk around her vine gag. I would have been comical if it weren't for the knife laying at her feet. Ayita bent down to retrieve the knife by the blade and flipped it over. She wiped it on the tall grass then stuck the knife in the waist of her pants. "Should I cut the branch?" 2

I shook my head. "She'll keep like that, they'll all keep like that, until someone comes for them."3

"Should I fetch 'omeone?" she asked.4

"No, we need to talk and Kyle needs to get to the clinic. We'll talk on the way."5

Kyle had been quiet through out our conversation, but as he struggled to stand he said breathlessly, "We need to get you to the safe house."6

I shook my head. "No, you need to get to the healer."7

"I 'ill walk ahead, "Ayita stated, giving us a little privacy.8

"Kyle, you stubborn boy. What were you thinking? I can handle myself," I said, my hands on my hips. I wasn't sure this was the time to have this out, but it was happening.9

"Sabrina, will you just listen for once?" He yelled, staggering a bit as we started down the trail. "Just shut up!"10

I tried to speak, but sputtered, unable to think of something to say. He had never talked to me like that and I was shocked.11

"There was no way I was going to let you take on Carmen with a knife. I love you." He paused, "So, there I said it. You are not getting hurt if I can help it."12

I still couldn't think of anything to say. First he was rude and then he says the sweetest thing. I rushed Kyle and threw my arms around him. I kissed hard and he hissed in pain.13

The I could find something to say. "I'm sorry. Did I hurt you?"14

"A little." We continued walking for a bit, Kyle walking carefully over the uneven ground. I could see a tint of red on his makeshift bandage. "Well?"15

I looked sideways at his profile. He looked straight ahead as I wiggled under his arm. I wrapped my right arm around his waist, and didn't respond. I wasn't sure how I felt. I did care, but was it love?16

Kyle didn't say anything at my silence, I guess he learned not to push.17

"So, what do you think of Ayita?" I asked instead.18

He looked down at me. "She's interesting. She looks proficient in defending in defending herself and others. So, she's been trained. Trained by whom is another question. She, also, sounds uneducated, but that could only be a cover. She's polite, so she's been raised by people who care."19

"My thinking too. But can she be trusted? And what's with the names she called us?"20

Kyle was silent as step or two. "Think about it?" he stated. "You grew a dragon, sea serpent really, and I'm a tracker." He shrugged, as if embarrassed.21

I touched his chest lightly. "You are much more then just a tracker."22

He smiled shyly. "Thanks."23

"Should we trust her?" I asked.24

"To a certain extent, but not with Academy secrets." He joked before coughing deeply.25

"Quit teasing. Another question, how did she know where we were?"26

Again he shrugged. "Why don't we ask her?"27

I looked at him out of the corner of my eye. "Good suggestion, Kyle."28

We walked in silence, each thinking about what had happened since we'd left my room this morning.29

Ayita must have realized our discussion was over because she slowed her pace and we caught up to her lanky figure.30

"Ayita," I called. She paused, indicating she had heard me. "How did you know to find us or where to find us?"31

She continued on, not slowing. "Mas'er Rubin sen' word. He say 'o watch for Dragon creator and tracker. He says pro'ect, defend and help. I was pa'rolling the forest, like he asked. I see you and follow. I wa'ch for where I could 'elp." She smiled brightly.32

"How did you know it was us?" I asked. I was very curious about this girl.33

Around us the forest resumed it's chorus. Birds twittered in the tree tops, insects buzzed around us and we swatted at them, uselessly. The day was growing warn and helping Kyle walk the treacherous path made me warmer. I could feel moisture at my temples and hairline. Dust coated my throat and I tried to clear it by swallowing. This did not seem to help.34

Ayita paused and turned to us. "Who else would 'e held ca'ive in these woods?"35

I raised my eyebrows and shoulders in a quick shrug. She had a point. "I'll give you that, but-" I didn't know how to phrase the next question subtly. If Ayita was who she said she was the the question and answer would be alright, but if she wasn't working with Mastercreator, well who knew what would happen. I looked at Kyle. He was studying me and I squirmed under that look. He raised on shoulder and nodded, giving me his ok.36

"Ayita," I started. "Ayita, what do you do for Mastercreator Ruben?"37

She had resumed walking, her strides long. She reminded me of wild grass at the end of summer, golden and long, blowing in the breeze.38

"I'm a runner." The simple statement was said with such confidence, like we were suppose to know what that meant.39

Kyle asked the next question a little strained, "And what is a runner, exactly?"40

Ayita's stride skipped a beat when Kyle asked his question. I felt bad that we didn't know what she was, but this title was new to us.41

"Messenger, is wha' you'd call it. But I've no association with the school." She threw over her shoulder.42

That we knew. Messengers were used all over the Academy. Both Kyle and I had been one when each was a first year. All first years take a turn at it. What we didn't know, was that people outside the school were one too.43

The Academy was looming just ahead of us. The building in our path was the girl's dorm, same place we started. To our left was more dorms. Further on we would run into the commons and kitchen. We turned right.44

"We are 'o see Mas'er Ruben," Ayita said, as she picked up her 45

pace.46

"Ayita, we really need to get Kyle to the healers."47

She halted mid-stride quickly, giving Kyle and I barely enough time to stop before running into her. "You are right, but I must repor' 'o him."48

"We'll send a runner to fetch him," I suggested.49

"Sabrina!" 50

Someone screamed in my head. I dropped to the ground, leaving Kyle standing.51

I grabbed my temples, moaning. The voice was so loud it completely paralyzed me. It was agony. I tasted copper in my mouth. Somewhere in the back of my head I realized I'd bitten my tongue.52