The Dark Hour

--------Ridge--------

I heard Lalna sneeze again and I handed him a tissue.

"Thanks," He sniffled. He blew his nose and I sighed.

"I'm sorry you got sick because of me."

"No it's my fault, I was the one that followed you."

"Still," I sighed. Lalna laid his head on my leg and yawned.

"It's not your fault, and I'll be fine," He said tiredly.

"You sure?" I asked gently rubbing his back. He nodded.

"Mhhmm."

"Ok." I'm pretty sure five minutes later Lalna was asleep. I moved him so he was actually laying down in the bed the right way then got up and quietly went to the living room. Ty was sleeping on the loveseat and Skyla was passed out in a chair. I sighed then sat down on the couch. I can't believe I about let my cousin sell out my friends for money. I am such an idiot. I leaned back into the couch and closed my eyes. After I figured out who this gang leader was looking for I figured that that demon king told everyone that or made just the people he thinks can get the job done. I don't really know.

"Astrid we told you to be careful." Ryan shouted from outside. I got up and followed the shouting to the backyard. I quietly went outside and I saw Ryan and Astrid arguing.

"I was being careful! Sorry that training is hard, but I wasn't expecting that move!"

"Well watch your surroundings maybe I won't have to heal you all the damn time!"

"Would you guys please stop?" Axel sighed.

"What's going on out here?" I asked quietly.

"Astrid hurt herself again and we told her to be careful and she doesn't like to listen."

"Why are you guys using real swords?" I asked confused.

"Yes what else would we use." Astrid said standing up.

"Um, not real swords since those can injure or kill someone."

"We have Ryan we're fine."

"Well Ryan looks exhausted. I think he needs a break or something."

"I didn't get any sleep last night, every time I was almost asleep Astrid would wake me up to heal her so I just stayed up. I'm use to it I was a nurse at her castle." Ryan said with a sigh.

"Still it wouldn't hurt to take a break. Just an hour or so, and maybe not using things that could end up killing you or someone else so Ryan could get some sleep. It's really not healthy to not sleep."

"I know it's not but if they practice with wooden swords Astrid will throw a fit and the sword is thrown out of her hands most of time, so she does more hand to hand and magic combat."

"Ok, I didn't not understand a word you just said."

"She does more hand to hand combat along with her using her magic. I'm not making much sense cause I'm tired."

"This is part of my point. If you're exhausted when she has to fight how are you going to be able to help her at all?"

"I'll figure it out. The war isn't for a couple of more days anyways."

"At least get some sleep, and let Astrid take a short break to eat or something."

"It's up to her if she wants to take a break, but if she breaks something I'm going to let her suffer with it." He said walking into the house. I sighed.

"Ok then. Hey Astrid!"

"What?!"

"Do you want to take a small break or something? Ryan is taking a nap."

"No! I have get stronger so I don't lose anyone that I care about."

"Ok, but Ryan said if you break something he's just going to let you suffer with it."

"Fine with me!" I sighed and went inside. Ty was up and watching cartoons. I sat down next to him and he looked up at me.

"Hi," He said quietly.

"Hi, how are you doing?"

"I'm ok, Skyla went to take a shower."

"Ok, have you seen Ryan come in?"

"Yeah, he went to one of the rooms."

"Which one?"

"The one Astrid usually stays in."

"Ok."

"Astrid get your ass inside now!" Axel yelled.

"No!" AStrid yelled back.

"Fine you asked for it." He yelled back. I turned and watched as Axel walked in with Astrid slung over his shoulder. Ty shrunk down a bit as Astrid started yelling.

"Put me down! You have no right to do this!"

"Well maybe if you would take a break, you've been at this all night!"

"Hey! Keep it down," I snapped. "Some people are still sleeping."

"You go shove something somewhere!" Astrid snapped back.

"I'm taking her out sorry Ridge." Axel said getting his slippers on.

"You're fine Axel, I just don't want-"

"Why is everyone yelling?" I sighed and turned around to see Lalna standing there in the hallway. He still looked tired.

"Astrid is being stupid that's why there is yelling." He nodded then rubbed his eyes.

"What did she do?" He asked as he sat down next to me.

"She blew up some of my backyard."

"How?" I asked pulling Lalna into my lap.

"Some type of magic I'm not sure. Bye we will be back later." Axel said carrying Astrid out of the house. I sighed and Lalna yawned. I pulled him closer so his head was resting on my shoulder. He closed his eyes and a second later he was asleep. Ty looked at Lalna curiously.

"This is the kid that William wanted?" He asked a bit confused. "He's so small. Um at least compared to you, he's more my size."

"Yeah, but he's 13 and I'm 17. Also I am just taller for some reason." He nodded.

"Ok, um where are his wings?"

"Wings?" I asked.

"Yeah, um I was told he has wings. Are they sealed or is he just really good at hiding them? Cause I know how hard it is to hide them while you're sleeping."

"Um I think they might be sealed since he doesn't even know about them."

"He doesn't?" Ty asked shocked.

"Yeah, none of us knew until Astrid found out from Lalna's mother."

"So you know but he doesn't?"

"I don't know if Astrid told him yet. She said she was going to."

"Well she needs to." I sighed.

"I know she does."