Brave

Chapter Four

Lloyd tossed around on the bed, he still couldn't sleep. The others had just left for classes and he was left with Red. He gave up on sleeping and sat up, only to see a sleeping girl beside him.

Lloyd's first instinct was to call Morro. He even opened his mouth to call his brother's name but closed it, remembering he wasn't here.

Lloyd got a second look at the girl. She had black hair that was a bit shorter than Morro's and the same red marks on her face as Red. She wore white robes and had a long white cape on, plus a wolf hat with red marks.

He sat there for a few minutes, and eventually she woke up.

"Er, who are you?" Lloyd asked.

The girl tilted her head before looking at herself. She jumped slightly and looked up at him. "Um.. you should not have seen me like this. My apologies."

"What do you mean?"

The girl sighed. "Do you remember Red? The wolf?"

"Of course. Where is he?" Lloyd looked behind the girl but didn't see him.

"Not he. She."

Lloyd put two and two together and realized what she was saying. "You're Red? A wolf?"

The girl nodded. "I am Akita, a Formling from the Never-Realm. I did not know if anybody could be trusted, and figured it would be safer as a wolf."

"Wouldn't it be safer as a human? I mean, as a wolf someone could have hunted you."

Akita thought for a moment. "That is correct, I had my tails together and hoped I looked like a dog, not a wolf. I was lucky to have been found by Skylor, who did not freak out from my tails."

Lloyd nodded, a bit surprised. He knew Akita would have to be protected, if the public didn't like hybrids they wouldn't be too fond of Formlings. "Do you have any family here?"

"I do have a brother, Kataru. He is back at our village, protecting it."

Akita heard someone coming so she turned back into Red. Lloyd wondered why she decided not to show others that she was human, but he didn't say anything.

Kai walked in and sat by Lloyd, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Hey kid, how're you doing?"

"I miss him.. I really hope he's alright."

"Morro's strong. He will be."

Lloyd met Red's eyes, and he could have sworn the Formling smiled at him.

"I'm really sorry Lloyd, you know, about everything."

"Don't be, it's not your fault. You're here now, aren't you?" The young dragon smiled.

Kai nodded, pulling him into a hug. "We're going to protect you. Promise."

-

Back at the camp Morro woke up to see an unfamiliar man by the bars. He groaned, and expected him to come in and unchain him for Round Two.

"What do you want?" He growled.

"Would you believe me if I'm here just to visit?"

"Nope."

"Well then. The name's Ronin. Came to see how you were holding up."

"You work here. Why would you care?"

"Hey, not all of us are heartless."

Morro rolled his eyes and sat back, wincing at his broken ribs.