K'shalt Chronicles - Iceflame (B1)

No longer alone, but more alone than ever.

Pyro

     I gathered Scarlett in my arms as Coach looked on, "What jest happened there?  Or some sort of secret you twos got?"  I shook my head,

"Coach, I wish I could tell you.  All we know is that there's something there between us, that lets her absorb my fire... it.... we aren't even sure what it does, it could be dangerous.  And it leaves her like this after."

"You knew who could 'ave helped ya? Right?" I sighed, we both knew.  There was usually somebody  like that near every settlement.

"Yeah...  That's where we're going after she wakes up."  I looked down at her, almost wishing she never woke up, she seemed so at peace.  Whenever she was awake, there always seemed to be something troubling her, she would never look like this in her waking life.  It made me sad.

"I wish ye luck, come by here before you go, alright?"

"Yeah Coach, we will, thank you.  And... is there anything else you can tell us? Anything we need to know?"

"Yeah... come closer, it's freaky... this isn't the only thing... but Py... you might not be the only one."

~    ~     ~     ~   

     I looked down at the sleeping figure in my arms, glad she hadn't noticed Coach's look when I had put my arm around her.  I tried making my steps as smooth and continuous as possible as not to wake her.  But it was apparent she was out cold, and it was getting difficult to be continuous with all the people in the rocky road.  She needed rest, and bringing her back to her place would have the issue of her parents.  They always knew when you lied, and I wasn't about to tell them the truth about what we just did, or worse, that I'd stuck something in her that made her glow and get tired.   But my parents, I'd had years of practice, so that's where we'd go.

   I took the next right after the straight at the school, then another, two straights and a left.  The quickest way home avoiding all crowds.  Scarlett stirred in my now-burning arms, and muttered something.  As I turned towards my house, her fist clenched in my shirt and I heard "No.. no...  gramp..." She was having the nightmare, and as I climbed the stairs she whimpered as her voice came again, sounding utterly defeated, "I do care... I would have...."

     I don't know why, but I rubbed her shoulder, which was all I could reach while carrying her, and whispered, "Shh... Scar, you're safe... it's over, your grandpa's in a better place... he's not in pain, he's happy now.  Don't let him see you upset."  She didn't settle, but shifted again, and cuddled in to my chest.  I felt a surge of protectivness for her, and steeled my burning arms to get us inside.

     I walked in as quietly as possible and laid her gently as possible on the sitting pad in the family room.  Her fingers stayed curled around my shirt front, and I uncurled them as gently as possible, setting her hand beside her on the pad.  She groaned softly in her sleep, then lazily opened one eye. "Py...?  Thanks."  Her eye closed before I could say anything, but her sleep was no longer disturbed.

   I stood and looked around, searching for damage.  Scarlett would be fine on the sit pad for now, but I had to find my parents.

    

     I found them in the back yard area, talking about something that seemed important.  My pace quickened as I searched for a smaller figure with them, but my little sister Samea was nowhere in sight.  I felt panic like a slap to the face and started running to my parents, hoping they had just put her somewhere safe.  If she wasn't safe, my world would crumble; she was at it's centre, I was her big brother and if I wasn't able to protect her... what was I worth?

     Just as I started to interrupt my parents, who had turned in my direction to see what was the matter.  I didn't have time to ponder what the looks on their faces meant, I heard her voice from behind me.  "Mommy?  Dadda?  Why's Scarly sleeping on the couch?"  I stopped short and almost cried, only almost, but Samea was safe, and that was all that mattered.  My parents looked at me then, and I realized that I hadn't told them anything yet.  My mind went in to overdrive as I invented an excuse,

"Yeah... um...  Scar and I came back as soon as we saw the smoke... but something fell and hit her head, she's unconscious right now.  I didn't want to deal with her parents, and I wanted to make sure she was alright, so... I brought her here...  I hope that's alright with you guys."  I scratched my forearm in anticipation.  But I knew they'd be fine with it.  My dad smiled and nodded,

"Yeah, make sure her parents know she's alright as soon as she wakes up though, you hear?"  Second priority but...

"Sure thing dad"  I turned and looked for Sammie, but she'd already gone inside.  Strange...   She probably wanted me to find her, it was a game of hers.  I'd play with her anytime though, no matter how serious times became.   "Okay... now where's Sammie?  Where's our little Samea!"  I started to make my way inside to find her.

"Pyro, wait."  It was my mother, she sounded... defeated.

"Mom, what's wrong?"  The look in her eyes told me it wasn't good.

"Py....  we think you need to keep your distance from Sam for awhile."  No.... there has to be some reason....

"Wha-"  My dad held his hand up as my mom looked down.

"Let your mother finish."  I nodded tersly.  As my mother looked up with pained eyes,

"You came back because you saw smoke.  Samea was near one of the fires..."  Oh no... she too small... I'm so stupid!  My words shook slightly as I said,

"She didn't.... no..."   But my dad remained stoic,

"She didn't know what was happening.  She thought it was you.  Your fire, so she reached for it.  She's scared of fire now, Pyro.  She's almost scared of you.  Didn't you see the bandages on her arms, Pyro?"  Was he accusing me of hurting my sister?  I had never led her to think that fire meant me... had I?  Everything seemed to focus and blur at the same time.  I felt my pulse echo in my ears. 

And then my heart went cold.

Did they even appreciate me?  I felt unreasonable, but I didn't care.

"That's fine then." My words came out cold and mean, "I'm leaving with Scarlett as soon as she wakes up.  The elder's was taken, we're bringing him back.  Maybe you'll appreciate me then." I glared. My parents just stared at me, frozen in shock.  I turned on my heel and went inside to see if Scarlett had woken up yet.

As I reached the door, I heard her voice from behind me,

"Py... are you alright?"  Had she heard?  It didn't matter.  I slung my arm over her shoulder and pulled her towards the door.

"Come on Scar, we're leaving."  I glared once more over my shoulder before turning in to the house and slamming the door.

     The second it closed, Scarlett threw my arm off her shoulder and stared at me, hard. "Answers.  Now."

"Li-"

"I didn't even ask you a question yet, you dunce!" ,she cut me off with a hint of a smile, but it soon faded,

"Now," she pointed at the door, "what was that out there?" Her stance told me she wouldn't move unless she heard something good.  No more putting it off.  Damn..

"Look Scar...back there was me finding out Samea thought the flames were mine, she thinks I hurt her, she's scared of me.  We also need to leave and find the elder, if you want to that is.  You can stay and help here, but I'm leaving.  I'm stressed and tired.  I need to prove myself."  I let it all out, doing my best not to seem too uptight, too harsh. 

     She stayed silent and nodded, "Grab some things, I'll go find Sarah.  Meet you at my place."  She seemed so sad...  do I really want her to go through with this?  What if she gets hurt?  We don't know how long we'll be gone, we might not even come back.

I made the decision then and there that she wasn't coming with me, even if it made her hate me, I'd keep her safe like I'd failed to do with Samea.