Spirit Animals: Saving The Evertree

Thinking Back

"We were in the silk shop and this fat guy named Otto was like 'how much money would you like to spend on this scrap of cloth?'" Rollan  mimicked.

Meilin laughed.

He was exaggerating but it made Meilin laugh so he continued. "The silk shop was filled with silk and carpets and stuff everywhere that there wasn't a single spot not covered with silk or carpet."

"There are places like that in Zhong. They were merchant shops." Meilin said thoughtfully. "Except they weren't fat." She added with a giggle.

Rollan grinned. "It's been so long since we've talked like this." He said still gripping her hand.

"It's been a while since we talked at all." Meilin grinned.

"True." Rollan nodded. "How's Conner?"

"Fine," she said flatly. "Healing but fine."

"Oh. Ok." Rollan nodded not wanting to push the matter since Meilin didn't seem to want to.

"So," Meilin said changing subject. "Where's Uraza? I haven't seen her a tattoo or anywhere around."

"Oh." Rollan's eyes fell downcast. "She's..." he looked over to were Abeke and Conner were. And the bear skin on Abeke's wrist. Then he looked back at Meilin. Her eyes curious, not knowing what had happened.

"Well?" She asked impatiently. "Don't feel like talking anymore?"

"No...it's not that." He said but Meilin probably didn't hear.

"Fine. Just don't talk then." She huffed. "I'll be above ground. I'm sick of it down here anyway." With that she claimed a rope that Shane must have let down.

Rollan wasn't even sure what he did really. He just paused for a second wondering if it was his tale to tell. It wasn't. So he wondered if he actually did the right thing. By making Meilin mad until he asked Abeke if it was something she was ok wih being told to anybody. But Meilin wasn't anybody...

Rollan sighed. Complicated. Girls were so complicated.
He made his way to the rope and was about o pull himself up when he heard his name and stopped.

"Rollan?" Tasha asked above.

Meilin talked next but her voice was quiet so he didn't hear all of it. Apparently she had some sense that he would be listening. "...fine...fresh air." Was all Rollan could hear her say.

"Oh. How as your trip anyway?" Tasha asked. Her voice load and clear. Meilin spoke again in a low tone so Rollan couldn't tell what she was saying.

"Hear anything interesting?" A voice startled him. It was Abeke. Her dark hair pulled Into a pair of dark braids which looked even darker in the dim light. Her face was illuminated from the light from the hole but the rest of her was tinted with shadows.

"Not really." Rollan shrugged. "Just Tasha asking Meilin about her trip."

Abeke nodded. "I heard they encountered many things like the Many." She said.

"The Many?" Rollan repeated.

Abeke looked at him why looked like astonishment. "Meilin didn't tell you?" Rollan shook his head.

"I thought you out of all people would have known about their adventures." Abeke marveled.

Rollan shook his head again. "I never asked."

"Really? Then what were your guys talking about that whole time?" She asked with a grin.

"Oh nothing. Just about our trip to Nilo." He shrugged.

Abeke looked at him accusingly. "Lesson #1, never talk about yourself. Always talk about her, she's the one you want to flatter, it's easier when you guys are talking about her."

"What if I don't want to." Rollan said quietly looking down at his feet.

Abeke gaped at him. "Don't want to?" She echoed
He kept silent.

"But I thought..." Abeke paused. "Never mind." She said shaking her head and regaining her composure.

"What?" Rollan demanded. Wanting to know what Abeke was thinking.

Abeke gave him a knowing smile. A smile that made him scowl. It meant she knew something he didn't. "Oh nothing." She said sweetly. "Nothing important."