Arcadia: Amorphous

Chapter 12 : Yr Dynnu

 "Where is he?"

"He'll be here."

"He's late." Though I don't know why I'm surprised, part of me expected the entire thing to be some sort of ruse.

"To be fair, all we agreed on was after dinner, not a set time." Zander mediated.

"I'm sure he's on his way right now," added Donnie.

I was less sure. This whole endeavor seemed ridiculous from the start. A foolish joke from an influential man, hellbent on lazing his was through the most formative years of his wasted life. Always acting some part, arrogant, and undeserving. His friends may stand fooled in his corner, but I remain a skeptic. I've seen his type all too many times.

"Bakroo, Bakrooo!" It was a sharp screech that stirred us all, as a bright pink bird swept through the trees.

"What the hell is that!" exclaimed Donnie. He loosened his grip on the object in his pocket. His kestal no doubt. Bad placement, good reflexes. "Right, 50 million-year-old ecosystem. Should have expected the giant pink doom hawk."

"Pink doom hawk?" Zander smirked. "Sounds like a punk rock band."

"What would you know about punk rock bands?" Donnie asked.

"I know what their names sound like."

"We are wasting time, how much longer must we wait for him?" I asked.

"Dude, it's been like 5 minutes."

"5 minutes waisted, and for what? What are we even doing here, what is this big secret spell David insists on casting? Why does he need use here, why am I here waiting for him?"

"How should we know, you invited yourself," said Zander. We both stared blankly at him. "What, it's true. You were never actually asked to be here you just invited yourself along. And I doubt it was just to be helpful, you and David don't like each other, so I really don't know why are you waiting for him?"

"They get along fine," said Donnie.
Donnie was wrong of course. I did not get along with David, I have no interest in getting along with him, nor in aiding him in any significant way. My reason for being here is singular. A nagging question that's bothered me for weeks now.

"They really don't." Sighed Zander, growing in his disinterest.

"Blake, tell Zander he's got it wrong."

"Yes, do enlighten us," Zander added.

"Boys, what does it matter who's right or how well people get along. You're missing the big picture and that is being there for the people in your life. Plenty of families and friendships have a member who often treats each other as less than hospitable, but the important part is that we are able to come together to move forward and reach our collective and individual goals through support. I stand here at the edge of an ever creeping twilight with my friends awaiting an adventure into the unknown. And I ask of you here, together, do my action not speak for themselves?"

"Nope." Zander glared.

"Not an answer," said Donnie.

"I'm trying to get along with him."

"Told you they don't like each other," Zander smirked.

"Trying counts," Donnie argued.

"Trying, means, not." Continued Zander.

"I didn't say they liked each other, just that they got along okay. And trying to get along, being absent of lack of effort or antagonization, definitely counts as getting along okay."