Spirit Animals: Saving The Evertree

Making Friends

Meilin had had enough of Rollan for now. He was strange. She also had a bad feeling about Tasha because Rollan seemed to tense around her, so she didn't really trust her either. Well not yet. Right now Tasha was the only person around that wasn't Shane.

"We were glad you guys were searching for us." Meilin said thankfully trying to start a conversation.

"It was Rollan's idea." Tasha said flatly not smiling. Her face a mask of annoyance.

"Oh." She flinched at the mention of Rollan's name. She wasn't exactly sure why she was mad at him but she felt annoyed.

"Yeah." Tasha said, expression not changing she crossed her arms in front of her.

"Well, thanks." Meilin said unsure of what she should say.

Tasha just shrugged. "No problem. We barely made it out too."

"Yeah Rollan has told me about that." Meilin lit up, finally having something to talk about. She might as well try to make friends. As Meilin jumped a bit excited they finally had something to talk about, Tasha deflated.

"Oh." Tasha apparently didn't have as much enthusiasm as Meilin did which was odd because she was usually the guarded one.

"Ok..." Meilin had no idea what to say again and this was getting awkward.

"Hey, what are you guys up to?" Asked a voice behind her.

Meilin turned as Tasha leaned to one side of Meilin to get a better look. Rollan was making his way out if the hole in the ground.

"Hey Rollan." Meilin said with a forgiving smile. He bowed his head slightly, pausing halfway out of the hole.

"Yeah...it's just...I'm not supposed to..." he said stumbling over his words.

"It's fine. I over reacted." Meilin shrugged. Tasha looked skeptically between them, confused.

"Really?" Rollan seemed surprised. Hesitantly he held out his hand. She took it and pulled him out. He exhaled as he plopped in their cleared area not covered in muck. Now that she had a good look at him, she realized that the black muck stained his shirt and pants. "Thanks." He breathed exhaling. Meilin just nodded.

"Did I miss something?" Abeke asked pulling herself out of the hole followed by Conner. Meilin realized she and Rollan were just staring at each other. She looked away blushing. Abeke grinned as she helped Conner out.

"Where's Takoda?" Meilin asked not seeing him follow them out.

"He wanted some time with Kovo." Conner said sweat beading his forehead. Meilin wondered how long he had before the parasite took him over.

"Kovo." Shane hissed as he strode over. "Where is he? I need to teach him a lesson." He peered over the hole into the dimly lit cavern.

"Wait." Meilin said placing a hand on his shoulder. "Kovo's changed. He is helping us."

Shane turned his eyes slits. "Kovo? Changed? Impossible. He doesn't help anyone unless it's for his own good. He uses you making you think he's changed." His lowered his voice. "Kovo won't change."

Meilin retracted. She couldn't do anything about what Shane thought.