Starsong

Scene 31

{--} Aro {--}

          Stars, this was boring!

          Aro drummed his fingers on the table, scowling a little. Everyone had split up when they got to town. Heros and Tok had gone off by themselves to go look at some clothes they had seen-- stars know that the thin shirt Tok had been wearing for the past few days was nowhere near comfortable, and he didn't have a change like their mom had packed for them. Ren went to buy some bandages and she took Piya with her-- something about not wanting her to run off again. Ferie had gone to buy ink and paper. Leaving Aro with his mom.

          He'd begged to go with one of them, even after Lilith told him that Tok and Heros shouldn't have to watch him, that Ren shouldn't have to watch him, that Ferie shouldn't have to watch him. Like he couldn't look after himself! She wasn't even watching him, she was talking to some lady to buy another canteen for their water because one wasn't enough, apparently!

          He rolled the flute back and forth across the table under his fingers. Ren had made Piya leave it with them. It wasn't fair. Everyone else he knew except for his mom had used it! He wanted to see what his enhancement was! But she had said that she would take it away if he even tried, and he'd rather be able to roll it around to entertain himself than lose it.

          He looked around, sighing deeply in resignation-- until he saw it, that was. He perked up, unsure of what he was seeing. On one of the buildings, closest to the river, was some kind of engraving in the wall. It was small, and Aro could barely make it out, but from where he was sitting, it looked like...

          He looked down at the engraving on the flute then up at the one on the wall. An angular drawing of a paw. It had to be the same, right?

          He looked at his mom. She was completely engrossed, laughing with the woman about something she had said. The crowd around them was loud, loud enough to cover up just one more set of hooves...

          Aro, quietly as he could, eased his body off the bench, putting down his legs softly as he watched his mom. She showed no signs of noticing him over the noise as he clutched the flute. Grinning to himself, he turned and took off towards the building.

          As he got closer, it became clearer. Yes. It was no bigger than both his hands, but it was carved deep in the stone. In his thrill, he didn't even think to wait for the others-- even Heros and Piya, even though he knew they would help him. Because he didn't want to be helped. He didn't want to be watched. He wanted to do something, and he wanted it now.

          He brought the flute to his lips and played a high, harsh note. The symbol suddenly glowed a vivid yellow, and he gasped in sheer thrill. The river beside him began to make a strange sound, and he looked over to see a strange tunnel being carved into the bank by some force of yellow light, going under the water.

          "Aro!" He heard his mother scream from far behind him.

          He didn't even hesitate. He could take care of himself, and he wanted to be doing something.

          Without looking back, he ran down into the tunnel, hearing it close behind him.