Crafted Origins

Chapter 11: Seto's History

(Ty's POV)

“Who is this person?!” I asked when Jason had shown me to the guy he had met last night. I felt my gills flare, and quickly adjusted my collar. He stood there, watching me. Oddly enough, he had no questions about my hair and headphones, unlike Quentin had.

Jason flinched. “Seto,” he said. “And he wants to join the group...”

“Seto?” I asked, not taking my eyes off the new guy. “What kind of name is Seto?”

“A made-up one,” Seto himself replied. I blinked as he continued. “I'm never going to give away my real name, so you can call me Seto.”

I rolled my eyes. “Sure, and you can call me Deadlox. Listen, Seto, if you can't muster up the courage to even tell us your name, you might as well leave now.”

“It's not the courage I have a hard time with,” Seto began. “It's—”

He was cut off as Adam and Quentin emerged from the tent at last, Adam yawning and asking, “Whazzgoingon?”

Seto blinked and looked at Adam's chest. I followed his gaze to see that he was looking right at his amulet. Adam frowned and looked at Seto. Then they spoke at the same time:

“That guy was YOU?”

Jason looked from Seto to Adam and back again. “What's going on?”

Seto shook his head. “I gave that cursed thing to you?”

“It's not cursed!” Adam told him.

“Wait, what?” Quentin asked.

“You guys know when some random dude gave me this?” Adam asked, not taking his eyes off of Seto and fiddling with his amulet.

I nodded and Jason said, “Yeah.” Quentin didn't say anything.

“It was this guy,” Adam said.

That still didn't change the fact that Seto, or whatever his name was, shouldn't be in the group if he wouldn't tell us his real name. “Look, unless you're really willing to fight the squids, then—”

“Wait, what?” Seto asked. My eyes widened and I gritted my teeth, turning to Jason.

“You didn't tell him?!”

Jason took a step back, his hands raised. “I didn't see any reason to, it was the middle of the night, I didn't get the chance!” He said it like he couldn't decide which one was right. I took a deep breath and turned back to Seto, readjusting my collar.

“Look, Seto, if you want to join us then you're going to have to help us fight the squids. They're trying to develop technology that is capable of turning humans into squids. If you don't believe that, you might as well leave now.”

Seto blinked, but then he said, “Fine, I'll help you.” I felt a little bit of shock. He wasn't surprised at all?

“Where'd you even get this, anyways?” Adam asked, holding up his amulet.

“I sto-” Seto seemingly just noticed Quentin, and realization dawned on both of their faces.

“You're a wanted criminal!” Quentin said, starting to launch himself at Seto. Seto leapt forwards and made a move to punch him, but before he could, Jason stepped in between them.

“We're all on the same team now, so can we please not gouge each others eyes out?” he asked. Adam came up and pulled Seto back from Quentin, and Jason moved closer to Quentin so he couldn't attack Seto easily.

“This goody-two-shoes town council member wanted my head!” Seto snapped.

“If you wouldn't go around stealing jewelry, I wouldn't want you arrested!” Quentin shouted, trying to see over Jason's shoulder.

“Wait, this was stolen?” Adam asked, looking at his amulet.

“Wow, are you slow or what?” I muttered. Then I spoke up. “Fine, Seto can come. Quentin and Seto, Jason has a point; Quentin, you aren't even a member anymore. Can we please stop worrying about Adam's jewelry and just keep going?” Wow. I sounded like Jason.

The day continued without too much further incident, although Seto was moodily silent and Quentin didn't even acknowledge his existence. When Adam told the story of just how he and Seto had first met, Quentin refused to speak to Adam as well. I felt like Quentin and Seto both needed a high five. In the face. With a chair.

Eventually, we set up camp for the night, Seto sleeping in his own little tent. Jason was the only one who said 'good night' when we had all crawled inside.

Rawr peeps, it's Cookieh... and JSLKDFJL:AKJKL:JCKL:JA S WUT THE HECK DID I MISS?! We have, I repeat, we have SEVEN new members of the cactus squad!!!! Wow, guys thank you :)

Here are all you lovely new cacti:

IttyBittyBeast44, CharlotteLynn, TimeIsTicking (who is AWESOME btw), TheOreoKiller, Cookie_Freak (THE COOKIES ARE COMING), iwuvanimals101, and GingerFoxMC. Thanks to all of you SOOOO much for the follows, it really means a lot to me ^^

Well... I really have no other notes to put here. :/ Oh yeah, if you haven't already, check out my other book, Rise of the Void. Some of you may not like it, but I'm sure the majority of you (especially those who came right from gina_the_dragon's page) will at least appreciate the concept.

Oh, and one more thing... I HATE WRITER'S BLOCK! *stabs repeatedly with a cactus* Otay, I'm good now ^^