New Generation

Indy

((Max's POV))

        "I wish you had come to my home earlier. You seem to have the skill set to be able to survive for at least a day or so." Indy says. Was that a complement? Wow, he's warming up to me. 

        "Really? If you're referring to the flip I did the other day, its really nothing. Anyone can do that if they set their mind to it and have no physical disabilities." He shrugs, and I glance back at Alice, who has fallen behind and is looking at something on the trail. 

        "Alice! You coming or what?" She kicks something, then runs to catch up with us. 

        "Sorry, found something..." She mutters. She glares at Indy, then starts walking ahead of us. Indy sighs and looks at the ground. 

        "She doens't trust me still... I understand, but it is a little annoying. If I wanted you all dead, I could have killed you in your sleep." He looks at me and tilts his head. 

        "Actually, have you even slept? You look fine, did Alice take over watch last night?" I shake my head. I've never pulled an all-nighter before, but now I haven't slept in two days but feel completely normal. 

        "Nope, but I feel fine. Maybe I'm just in shock and don't know it or something, I'll sleep once we get to the castle." Indy stares at me for a second, then just nods. 

        "Yeah... Do you think I should turn back? You're almost there, you don't really need my help. It might make Alice feel safer, and actually, I might be safer away from her." I put my arm around him, and I feel him tense up. Geez, someone really doesn't like kind gestures. 

        "Hey, chill out. She is more likely to be in shock than I am. She's most likey stressed from learning she has to run the entire kingdom one day, that her parents are missing, and the fact she's being sleeping in the woods for a while. Once she's slept and learned the upsides to being queen or whatever, I'm sure she'll calm down. Worse case scenario, she, like, banishes you or something. If she does, I'm going with you." Indy laughs quietly at the last comment.         

        "I don't know how the two of us living on our own out in the middle of nowhere would work out, but it's an image. I mean, I have survival skills, you have magic and creativity." I smile when I remember something I was told when I was little. 

        "Actually, that's a lot like what my dads did. I mean, they weren't banished or anything, they wanted to live out there, but they sorta stranded themselves in the middle of nowhere." Indy laughs for real this time. 

        "Wow, brilliant plan." Alice glances over her shoulder at us, then stops and does a double take. After a second, she makes a heart with her hands and smirks. I let go of Indy, who looks plain confused. Alice walks back over to us and points up the path. 

        "Guys, the castle is right there. I can see the gate just up ahead. We only have twenty minutes or so of walking." Indy taps Alice's shoulder and she flinches. 

        "Alice, may I speak to you? I would like to talk to you before you do something you'll regret, like banish me once you have power." Alice nods and crosses her arms. I can't help but feel like she's turning into a bit of a jerk. Maybe I just like Indy to much and am taking her threats personally. 

        "Yeah, but if you try anything, you'll regret it." Indy sighs and takes both his guns out of their holsters and drops them onto the ground. 

        "Happy? Now listen, because I know you hate me. Your dad winning that war was the best thing that happened to me, alright? I hated the squid royal family, I hated the kingdom where they ruled, and I hated every they they won a battle. Now listen to what I have to say, because it's important. If you're going to be hateful and vengeful for every single thing that fought in that war against your family, start hating the human race. Ask anyone that fought or that lived in the war, they'll tell you it's true. Every person I've asked has given me the same answer as well." Alice's face has turned slightly red. She's upset, maybe embarrassed? Ashamed? Pissed off? I can't tell. 

        "Are you admitting-?" She starts. 

        "I'm not saying anything but you need to know that if you're going to not trust someone because you think they're something, you need to not trust anyone you don't know." Indy interrupts sternly. I admit, I feel kinda awkward here, but there's nothing I can really do to get out of this. Alice looks a bit sorry now, but there's still determination there. 

        "Alright, but tell me this: why do you wear that bandana? Squids have sharp teeth, that would be good for hiding them." Indy sighs. 

        "I don't like how I look. I don't think people would take me seriously. I'd almost rather die than take it off. Almost, so don't go grabbing your knife." He kneels down and picks his guns off the ground, dusts them off, and puts them back in their holsters. 

        "Indy, may you please take the bandana off before Alice kills you?" I ask quietly. I don't want either of them getting hurt, but I think they both will if they don't stop fighting. Before anyone can move, though, there's the sound of horses galloping. 

        "What's that?" Indy grans Alice and I's arms and pulls us off the road seconds before a group of three rides by. Alice's eyes widen, and she looks at Indy. 

        "Uh, thanks?" I could swear he's smirking. 

        "I didn't leave you to get trampled, did I? Let's not get back on the road for a minute, it looks like they're coming back." I laugh and give Indy a short hug. As usual, he stiffens up, but he relaxes seconds later. Maybe he's getting used to me. 

        "Let's go say hello and hope they don't kill us!" I cheer. Alice rolls her eyes and Indy nods, then, the riders stop in front of us.