Douce Dépendouce

Chapter 22

— Warning —
• This story contains mature context and language that some viewers may find uncomfortable. Read at your own risk •

 The next day I had practically spent the whole day in Fripps Lare. Avalon had been keeping watch of him for the past mornings and wouldn't take his eyes off of him. He had also seen the need to hold a Druid meeting which involved catching Fripp up and telling us the possible ideas he had for us and what the next steps would be. Fripp had asked a bunch of questions whether it was about recently, or from months ago. I had filled him in along with the others tuning in while I made an effort to say that I had started my Druid training again. Fripp had still shown signs of fatigue and often needed us to stop for him to take it all in as he seemed to get dizzy spells on and off. I wondered if that would be a long time thing, or if it simply was side effects as he had only woken twenty four hours ago. When Avalon had told us what he had in mind, I had hoped I wasn't the only one who felt uncertain about some of the ideas. Now that our main goal was complete, he had mentioned some side ones and continued from where we had left off which was vague in my memory. When I looked around the room, I saw a look of uncertainty on Alex's face, along with a puzzling gaze from Lisa. It made me hope that either they were uncertain of everything that Avalon was putting out, or if they had misinterpreted what he had said.

I broke away from my thoughts when I heard the sound of something or someone moving. I turned to look at the back of the Circus tent, hoping to see someone emerge from it. I had only managed to escape the Druids an hour ago which by then dark had settled in. Everyday felt longer and longer as the days got shorter and shorter, seeming to be colder than before even though it was now mid January.

When I saw the back Circus tent flip up, I locked my eyes on the figure, seeing Ydris step out, his face showing a look of unsuccessfulness.

"Anything?" I asked, seeing him adjust his coat.

"Unfortunately not," he replied, walking through the arena and towards the audience box where I stood. "I'm still trying to think where that inconvenience could have run off to."

I smiled, knowing how long Ydris had been looking for Xin. I truly didn't know where he could have disappeared, my only hope that it wasn't somewhere where he shouldn't be.

"Is that the whole grounds searched?" I asked, seeing him wait for me as I stepped out the audience box, following him out the tent.

"Indeed. He can find himself back home as I simply have no more effort to find him and his incompetence."
I smirked, following him up and into the waggon as he opened the door for me, stepping inside as I followed, shutting it behind me. Ydris walked forward as I sensed annoyance in his atmosphere as he took off his jacket along with his gloves as he stared out, seeming to be on a train of thought as I proceeded to take off my jacket, walking over to the bed and sitting down. I then watched him place his clothes off to the side as he seemed deep in thought, his mind lingering on probably Xin's disappearance. The atmosphere on the Circus grounds and Nilmers seemed to have changed dramatically since he'd been gone, almost like the air was tense and unsure whether this was the new normal or not. I got the impression that the rest of the Druids sensed that too, but whether Ydris had picked up on it too I was unsure. I snapped out of my thoughts when I noticed Ydris climb over me, lying down next to me on his side as he faced me, his eyes lingering on me as his atmosphere seemed to change, his expression having that familiar alluring glimpse to it.

"What is on your mind my dove?" He asked, his eyes locking on mine.

"Whether your clown has gotten himself lost or stuck somewhere," I replied, seeing him smile, sitting up on his arm as he peered down at me.