Thread:Selound/@comment-4482397-20120122211335/@comment-4482397-20120211014914

i have yet another chapter =3 it's called All I Ever Wanted

Findo lollopped over to them then, his face emotionless, but his eyes dark. “So, you lot escaped.” He scanned Aqua and Tailwart with his blue eyes. His gaze fell on Kenroy, and his eyelid twitched. “What’s with the brat?”

“Findo!” Juni cried, outraged. She had come up from behind him to greet Aqua and Tail, and she gave Findo a slight punch on the shoulder. “What’s gotten into you?”

Findo’s eyes met his good friend’s and her angry expression softened for an instant, then she swooped down and cuddled Kenroy who was staring at Findo with wide, frightened eyes.

“We can’t take a child on this journey.” Findo snapped. “It’s too dangerous!”

Elonwyn stared up at Findo, her green eyes narrowed in thought. What HAD gotten into him? He did seem out of character. She’d expected him to be jubilant at their victory over Badrang, but he looked surly and cold, as though someone had done him a terrible wrong.

“Yes, Findo, that reminds me.” Ralken, who had been leaning against a tree, raised his eyebrow at the weasel. “What are we going to do with that extra cargo YOU brought along?” he jerked his thumb in the direction of the prone form of Risk.

Findo stiffened and glared at Ralken, before giving a small, Findo-like smile “Kill him of course. I couldn’t do it in Marshank, his body would attract attention. But out here, no one will notice, it’ll just seem as though he escaped with us.”

“Quick thinking on your part Fin!” Aqua cheered. ‘I’d never have thought of that. I’d have just killed him.”

Findo gave her an icy stare. “Call me Fin again and you’ll join him Star.”

“Sorry.” Aqua shrugged, unfazed. “But why couldn’t you have just killed him in Marshank and then leave his body out in the woods?”

“He’d have left a blood trail. Anyway, I wanted Elonwyn to have the pleasure of stabbing him.” Findo gave Elonwyn a pleasant grin.

Lonny gasped and pressed her paws to her mouth in horror. “K-kill him?! me?! no! no! nonononono!”

“Alright then.” Findo hoisted his spear up. “I’ll kill him.”

“Findo, before you start that lovely little task,” Alya staggered over to them from where she had been sitting. She wasn’t familiar with her new surroundings and she made her way about slowly and cautiously. “I’d like to make a few announcements and suggestions.”

“Go right ahead Alya.” Ralken bowed to her in mock elegancy. Lonny felt her throat tighten and she stared at the ground, knowing what Alya was going to say.

She was quite taken aback however as Alya grinned and said with sheer delight. “I’m not sure if any of you have realized this, but starting today, we are FREE OF MARSHANK!!!!”

Everyone, (except the unconscious Risk) burst out laughing and clapped as Alya bowed as though she had just sung an opera.

“I would also like to announce,” Alya beamed around as everyone stopped clapping. “That our good friends Tailwart and Aqua have become mates.”

Lonny and Juni let out identical squeals of delight and Sia let out a whoop while Ralken and Findo playfully tussled with Tailwart (carefully so as not to hurt him).

“I have an announcement as well.” Ralken strode over and gave Alya a half hug. “Alya and I also, have become mates.”

Lonny felt her heart sink down to her toes and her eyes burned as Ralken and Alya both entwined together and kissed passionately. Everyone let out identical and playful ooooos. Kenroy made a face.

Lonny hadn’t noticed, but Findo had suddenly gripped the charm around his neck and his eyes lit with understanding and anger.

I will not feel jealous and self pitying. Not today of all days. Lonny gripped her knees, trying to stay calm. She smiled as cheerfully as she could but she noticed Aqua and Findo watching her.

“And, I have a wish.” Alya unhooked herself from Ralken. “I am entitled to one, after all.”

“And what would that be?” Ralken laughed.

“Findo, come here.” Alya gestured for the weasel to come and he warily rose to his feet. Alya put her hand on his shoulder, and another hand on Ralken’s shoulder. “I want you two to make up.”

“WHAT?!” Ralken and Findo choked in unison. Everyone in the group perked up in interest.

“I want you two to apologize to one another and be friends again. This is a new start. We need no more enemies.” Alya gazed in blind earnest at the two beasts who were glowering at each other in hatred.

“There’s no way in hell gates I’m apologizing to him!” Findo snarled.

“Likewise.” Ralken said icily. He faltered when he caught Alya’s gaze. She stood, her arms folded and with one eyebrow raised.

With a sigh, Ralken held out a paw to Findo. “I apologize to you. Even though it was Elonwyn who was wronged, and I have apologized and been forgiven by her, I apologize to you.”

Findo glared at Ralken before he burst out laughing and clasped Ralken’s paw. “Well, since you apologized first, I forgive you!”

“You son of a seagull!!!” Ralken spluttered in indignation. “You mean all this time you were waiting for ME to apologize FIRST?!”

Findo just doubled over in laughter. Ralken knocked him over and the two wrestled on the ground, both of them hooting in delight.

“Fight! Fight!” Kenroy squealed happily from Juni’s lap.

Findo finally pushed Ralken away his face solemn. Elonwyn felt Juni stiffen beside her. Findo strode over to Elonwyn and held out his paw to her.

“We’ve left Marshank now, so, you’re free of me as well as your uncle’s tyranny. We are no longer mates in the eyes of anyone. You can give me that bracelet back now.”

Elonwyn stared at him in surprise, then unhooked the bracelet from around her wrist and handed it to him. Their paws brushed for a second as Findo took the bracelet from her. Lonny thought she saw redness in Findo’s eyes as he pocketed the bracelet, but she could not be sure.

“W-whas goin’ on?” a slurry voice mumbled from behind. Everybody glanced in the direction of Risk, whose eyes were blurred in confusion.

“Ah! Risk!” Findo picked up his spear, which he had dropped. “Glad to see your up. Now, we can get on with what’s been coming to you.”

“What are you talking about?” Risk wriggled upright, still tightly bound. “Let me go you-

“You’re in no place to threaten and curse Risk.” Ralken stood beside Findo.

“Is this necessary?” Sia, who had been sitting beside Risk the entire time, stared up at Ralken and Findo.

“Very necessary Sia.” Findo said, giving her a weary smile, and the young ferret blinked in surprise. Was Findo crying?

Findo raised his spear. And risk began to struggle more frantically, terror in his eyes. “Ere! Put that thing away!!! I won’t die this way!!! Ya hear me?!”

“Risk.” Ralken sighed. “You have threatened and harmed my family and friends. Give us a reason to let you live and we’ll free you.”

“You think you’re so great don’t ya, you illegitimate spawn?” Risk sneered up at Ralken. “So, now you’re gonna murder me like your scum hide of a father did to my dad!” Risk suddenly lapsed into hysterical laughter. “The father kills the father and the son kills the son! Ain’t this ironic?!”

Findo started to bring the spear down on the laughing weasel, and something inside Lonny snapped.

“No!” she leapt to her feet and grabbed Findo’s arm, pulling him away.

“Elonwyn.” Ralken gazed at her. “This beast tried to take advantage of you. Are you sure you want to spare his life? It’s your choice.”

Elonwyn ignored all the eyes locked on her, knowing that is they drew her attention her nerve would fail. She noticed Risk staring at her in shock.

“We can’t kill him!!!!” she cried, clinging to Findo’s arm all the tighter. “Remember? This is a new beginning! We’ve left Marshank to get away from the killing and slaughter and slavery! How can we curse Badrang and then do as he would do?!”

Findo stared at her silently and emotionlessly, his eyes red rimmed. He lowered his spear and Elonwyn released her grip. Without saying a word, Findo walked away into the forest.

“Risk.” Ralken turned to the weasel who was staring in open mouthed shock. “Lonny here has spared your life. We will keep your arms and legs tied, until we travel, then we will release your legs and you will walk. Once we are far from Marshank, we’ll let you go on your own path.”

Risk lowered his head his mouth opening and closing wordlessly, still shocked. Night had fallen and everyone slept soundly. Findo had not returned, and Lonny lay on her side, watching Sia, who was on watch. Lonny sighed and hugged the blanket closer to her. What had gotten into Findo? He had seemed so solemn, as though he had been at a dear friends death bed.

She felt Juni get up beside her and walk away. Elonwyn sat up. “Juni?”

“I’m going to find Findo. Go back to sleep.” Juni murmured.

“Be careful.” Lonny buried herself deeper into the blankets. “Take my sword.” She stuck her paw out of the blanket to point to the sheath lying at her feet.

“Thanks.” Juni leaned over and kissed Lonny’s blanket covered forehead. Juni found Findo, sitting at the top of a bluff, his back leaning against a tree, gazing out at the moonlit ocean, and at Marshank, far away. Juni sat beside him. She had befriended Findo since the second he had entered Marshank, and they were very close and fond of each other.

She could see wet streaks on Findo’s cheeks, bright in the moonlight. Juni laid her head on the weasel’s shoulder and rubbed his back soothingly.

“You were very brave.” She sighed. She knew what was hurting her friend. She had realized it almost at once and her heart ached for him.

“Was I?” Findo’s voice was hoarse.

“But, I noticed you didn’t give her the charm as well. Aqua told me what it was. Since you aren’t mates, it doesn’t belong to you…”

“I know.” Findo sighed. “But it is to be given to the one Elonwyn will marry, not her. When she falls in love, I will give it to her husband. Until then…” Findo gave a watery smile. “I will wear it.”

“Findo, it must be hard, loving someone, who doesn’t return your love.” Juni sighed. “I know how much you love Lonny.”

“And of how much she loathes me.”Findo rubbed his eyes.

“She doesn’t loath you.” Juni whispered gently and ran her fingers through her friend’s hair. “She’s just scared of you. You can’t blame her, when you’re roused, you’re very terrifying.”

“How do you know this?” Findo gazed at her.

“She told me.” Juni smiled.