Acadia Restoration

Chapter 22

 Laiko felt nauseous. What had he done? He kept staring at Norah.

"Is something wrong?" she asked him.

"No," he shook his head.

"I probably should have said something," she trailed off awkwardly. He took her hands.

"No I should have asked, I'm sorry," he replied. "I didn't hurt you did I?" he was concerned.

"No, I'm fine," she assured him with a smile.

"Okay," he breathed. He'd already crossed too many lines with Norah and this-, this was entirely different. He couldn't tell her that he thought she was her dead sister, whom he killed. The worst part was he didn't entirely regret it. Laiko clutched his head in his hands.

"What's wrong?" she held his shoulders. "You look sick,".

"My head hurts. What happened?" he asked. Her face softened.

"I forgot what it was called, but you got pricked by a little animal with poison coated quills," she tried to explain.

"Very good explanation," he teased. She shoved him playfully.

"Jia treated you, so you should be okay now except for some nausea and she mentioned hallucinations,"

"No shit," he mumbled to himself.

"What?" Norah asked.

"I said oh shit," he lied. "How long was I out?" he asked.

"Only about two days," she shrugged it off casually. He flopped back down on the bed letting out a sigh.

"What did I miss?" he asked.

"Not much, just discussions about getting the fairy dust," Norah shrugged.

"So when are we going to get to the factory?" Laiko asked.

"We don't know yet. Hopefully soon, since you're awake now," Norah said. Laiko nodded.

~~~~~

They spent the next day hiking and the next. No one commented on the tensions between the fairies. Even Luna refrained from her typical sarcastic comments. While the fairies drifted from each other, they began to talk more to the group.

"So how did your group form?" Quinn asked Lily as they marched through the terrain.

"You're asking the wrong person," Lily snorted.

"Why's that?" Quinn teased.

"I was the last to join the "group"" Lily said. "I've gleaned bits and pieces of the group's origins, but I feel like I'm still on the outskirts," Lily confessed. Quinn's face softened. "That probably sounded like I'm all alone, but I'm not," Lily corrected. "I just feel like I joined late is all. What am I even talking about?" Lily crinkled her brow. "I only joined like a month after Norah, Leo, Cristina and Max originally left Cadean," Lily paused and gave Quinn an embarrassed smile. "I'm rambling aren't I? I shouldn't be unloading right now,".

"No, it's fine," Quinn said. "I don't mind," Quinn offered her a smile.

"Back to your question, most of us are being hunted by-"

"Dubriom," Quinn finished.

"Yes and somehow we've all found each other and are trying to save the world?" Lily laughed at herself. "The details are murky. How did your group meet? I know you guys have been together for a long time,".

"Oh yeah, we all go way back," Quinn smiled. "It all started as a fighting ring group,"

"A what?" Lily laughed.