The Hidden Orphan (The Chronicles of Mistar - Book 2)

Nine · · · Dest

Faz, Rol

WIND WHIPPED DEST'S FACE. All she could hear was the sound of distant laughter, sand against her board, and the whistle of wind in her ears. It was ear deafening and Dest loved it. Her hair whipped back and forth, coming out of the tue that had held it all together halfway down the slope.

Wax on her small sand board, the front end pointed to make it easier to slide down the hill, kept her feet from slipping out from under her. Using her body, Dest swayed back and forth moving the board in the exact direction she wanted. Since it wasn't their usual sand boarding spot, at least not the more famous one, there were no jumps to do cool flips off of. Dest did her own cool tricks instead by jumping and grabbing the edge of her board.

Next to her, she saw Mell zip past. Instead of standing, Mell sat on the board with a giant smile on her face. Towards the bottom of the hill, Mell's board flipped, slipping her into the sand. She rolled until her body was splayed like a star. Dest winced and came to stop next to her new friend, bending down to see if Mell was okay.

"Are you okay?" Dest asked, giving Mell a hand.

Laughing, Mell doubled over when Dest finally got her to stand up.

Relieved, Dest looked up and shouted, "She's fine guys! Just having a fit of laughter!"

Looking back to the hill, Ryn was already halfway down the hill, panic and relief flashing through his facial features. Kast was right behind him but didn't stop running. He ran all the way down the hill until he was at Mell's side.

"I know we're on a planet, but that doesn't give you the right to hurt yourself," Kast grumbled, giving Mell such a precious look that even melted Dest's heart.

Still laughing, Mell pushed Kast away. "I'm fine, Kastal. I'm not as fragile as you might think."

Kast backed away, smirking. "Fine. Whatever you think, princess. Don't blame me when you get hurt."

Mell rolled her eyes. "If I do get hurt, I'll just brush it off."

"I know," he replied. "I've seen you do it many times in only the few days I've known you."

Glaring at him, Mell said, "And a few days it has been."

Dest felt uncomfortable as they stared into each other's eyes. There was definitely something going on between them, just like Roppy and Theo, even if they didn't realize it. Dest went to back away when Theo's voice from the top of the hill made her almost trip over her feet.

"Hey love birds," he called, making both Kast and Mell blush, "would you like to bring those boards back up here? We only have three and you guys have two! Others still want a turn!"

Next to Theo, Roppy waved showing that she didn't have a board and was desperately wanting one. Dest watched Theo hand the last board to Ryn who was now back at the top of the hill. His feet were readily placed on the board, waiting for a competitor to race. 

Out of the corner of Dest's eye, she saw Kast politely take her board. He then walked over to Dest, the moonlight reflecting off of the yellow on his face, showing how shiny his skin was.

"May I take that for you?" he asked, smiling at Dest softly as he slid his hand across the board, probably figuring that she would give it to him.

Dest yanked it out his hand, taking kast by surprise. "No thanks," she growled as she started to walk away. "I can take care of myself, thank you very much."

What she wanted to say was I'm a big girl, but she figured it would be too childish say in front of somebody she just met. That phrase was more likely to be heard by Roppy and Theo who would be more prone to laughing as if it was a joke.