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Chapter Ten

So, as it turned out, Ember was starting to actually feel more at home in the Sydney Nation, even though he had only spent a week with the girls. But he really bonded more with them in that week than he had with anyone else in a year. Sure, Raven was inviting toward him, but everyone else shut him out. He enjoyed everyday and every moment with them all, their smiles and welcoming humor. The only catch was that Glory was still rather stiff around everyone, which never helped things for him except make him more suspicious and give her a lonely mood.

Ember loved watching the cascading waterfalls with Fawn, how they melted and fell down into open rivers and flowed downstream toward more waterfalls. It was beautiful to them, and nature always gave Ember a homey feeling, like he was free.

He enjoyed afternoon readings and understanding conversations with Astro in the library, though she mostly needed to read his mind to be able to talk to him fully. But she always had a brave smile and a comforting chuckle when he stuttered.

He always played around with Peril and made sure she and him didn't get caught when they pulled pranks on Urchin, but to be fair, Urchin found out and always blamed Peril, which made it her idea to begin with instead of his. He would giggle to himself when the girls would wrestle and laugh with each other.

Urchin was the stronger, more tough girl. Sure, the girls were all skinny enough, but they still had plenty of hidden muscle in them, especially Urchin. She would playfully punch him in the arm or swear while cracking jokes, which just made Ember laugh more.

But nope, every single day while either wandering the forest or training, Ember would always sense Glory being completely calm around him, but Peril was right. Glory never really spoke to him, and she had been carrying a solemn look whenever she walked off to have some time to herself. Even if it was raining, she would make it an option to go out without a hood, close her eyes, and just feel the wet raindrops fall miserably on her head, as if nothing even mattered. So, Ember made it his one priority to learn more about her when they spent time together the following day.

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Right after dinner, Glory was about to walk out with Ember close behind when it suddenly started pouring down rain. Glory's face showed no expression, though she certainly didn't want to spend any time with him at all, but she never told him that.

"Aw man, you've got to be kidding!" Ember couldn't believe it. "The one day we try to hang out and it rains."

Glory looked at him for a split second before stepping out of the kitchen, down to the base of the big tree trunk, and walking out into the rain with her hood down, hair and horns out, and her hands in her pockets. She looked back up at Ember. "You won't melt."

Ember groaned. "This girl's crazy."

"You can say that again." Urchin said while sitting at the table, playing cards with Peril.

Ember looked back out at Glory, sighed, and walked down and out over to her. She turned and headed into the forest, her body starting to become soaked with raindrops. He followed behind her and immediately wanted to start talking to her once they were out of earshot, or telepath shot, whatever that was. But he didn't know how to approach Glory, she seemed too calm and secretive, and whenever he talked with her, she usually doesn't respond. He knew she was his trainer, but she was still younger than him, and she was hard to become friends with, especially when people try to be friends with her.

He thought long and hard about what to say, but he took too long, and she ended up speaking first.

"You could've invited anyone to do this." She was overly calm, and she refused to look at him, only ahead. "Why did you pick me?"