Chapter Six
A Shattered Past (continued)
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There was a quick rustling of branches, with another immediately following it from the next tree over. In a moment there was another rustle, a shape flying through the dusk, and a rustle following the shape's landing in the next one. Willow began to laugh. Caltha was leaping from tree to tree!
"Great, now we have to fly around between trees too?" mumbled Chazz, pulling himself to his feet.
"Don't be such a dead fish," said Jessica. "We walk as she flies from tree to tree. You're being about as optimistic as a limp boot."
"Shut up."
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Half an hour later, they were standing in front of the tallest tree in the forest as Caltha rummaged for a rope to throw down. Willow heard the clink of coins and glanced behind her to see Ace unhappily turning over a few gold coins to Chazz, who had apparently cheered up somewhat, judging from his self-satisfied smirk.
Ace caught sight of her expression, then stood next to her and whispered, "He bet me ten that she lived in a tree."
Unable to stop herself, Willow burst out laughing. Ace looked at her indignantly.
"I don't think its very funny! How would you feel if you lost ten gold betting if someone lived in a TREE?!"
This, of course, had the opposite of the desired effect: Willow began to laugh even harder and the rest of the group joined in. They were still laughing as Caltha found a rope and tossed it to the ground.
Caltha's treehouse was patchwork, made from logs and wood from broken carts, and Willow was reminded for a moment of her old home, back in the Wilderness. There was a pile of old blankets, obviously salvaged from someone's trash or the roadside, to serve as a bed. There was no door, and a cold breeze blew through. Even Willow's dangerous, drafty home had been more comfortable than this.
"How long have you been living here?" she asked Caltha.
Caltha faltered. "I--I don't know."
12-Jun-2009 05:15:00
Sa hindi diinan, Ako kusa hindi kainin ikaw...ibayo!