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The Lost Stars ChronicleChapter 3: Rage
They had been traveling for a few days now. Due to the slow moving carts with the injured and dead they had been making slow progress. Right now they were just stopping for the night and Fraun was exhausted from the long day’s journey.
“Oh I wish Dordrot were here. He would lighten the mood with one of his wisecracks.” said Fraun.
“You can not change what had happened, Fraun. He made his choice, you made yours. There is nothing you can do about that.” Voolmark said comfortingly but sternly none the less.
“I know that Voolmark. It’s just that…”
“That what? Speak up boy. You can tell me…”
“What if he dies. I wouldn’t be there to see him…”
“I know it was hard leaving Fraun. But you must let go. Just like you did with Frayla.”
“DON’T BRING HER UP!” said Fraun angrily, “I didn’t let her go. She let me go. She is the one that abandoned me. Not I her.”
“I know. But you didn’t go after her when you should have, now did you?” said Voolmark, “No. You pouted and brooded until it was too late. You lost her Fraun. And it’s no one’s fault but yours.”
“I know, I know. It’s just that when I saw here again for the first time a rush of different emotions rushed over me. Anger, love, confusion.”
“So it’s no Dordrot you’re upset about. It’s Frayla.”
“No. I am concerned about Dordrot. But I know he can take care of himself.”
“Then why don't you go speak to her? Why don’t you confront her with your true feelings?”
“Because I don’t even know what I fell for her. I just, don’t know…”
Fraun was thinking hard.
Where, how, why?
There was a good question. Why didn’t he stay with Dordrot. Why didn’t he go after Frayla all those years. There was part of his past even he didn’t fully grasp. Frayla, his mother and father...
His thoughts were interrupted by a feminine voice calling his name. It was Shainya.
“Fraun.” she sad. She sounded a little worried.
“Yes?” he said.
He barely knew Shainya. They had only spoken once. A “Hi” and “Bye” was all they had said.
“Do you know were Voolmark is? One of Bjarn’s wounds has re-opened. Nothing serious, but it’s bleeding some, and with the state Bjarn is in I don’t know if he can take much loss. I looked for Jack but he doesn’t seem to be around.”
“I don’t know were either of them are. But maybe I can be of some assistance. I know a little of herbs and such.”
“Oh. Please, yes, thank you.”
Shainya led Fraun to were Bjarn was.
“I couldn’t find Voolmark or Jack. But Fraun said he could help some.”
Shainya smiled at Bjarn.
“Okay. Just stop this tyco bleeding.” he said to Fraun.
“I already tried.” Shainya said, “but it just wouldn’t stop.”
"I see." Fraun said, “What this wound needs is some flint seed from a nulbad flower. I’ll be right back.”
He got off the cart and went into some nearby trees. He soon returned with a handful of yellow-orangish flowers. He pulled off all the pedals then took the core of the flower out. He then pressed it to Bjarn’s wound.
“There. That should do it. It should be back to normal in no time. If it starts bleeding again just press one of these to the wound.” he said, handing the flowers to Shainya.
“Thank you Fraun.” Shainya said.
“Yes, thank you boy. Voolmark was right about you.” Bjarn said.
“Why, thank you sir. I was just doing what any Forestman would do for the Elk Man.”
The Forestdwellers had just left their encampment for the night, heading back on the road home. Anardan and Elacil walked alongside a great creaking wagon of weapons, their patrol walking behind them.
“At the rate we’re going we won’t be back for days,” swore Anardan, “We need to give the wounded better care than they’re getting, baking in these carts.”
Elacil walked alongside him, listening, “At least we can look forward to having a home to return to, unlike some others. We can look forward to a bit of peace for a change.”
“I know…” said Anardan, “We’re all bone-weary inside. A bit of peace would be a welcome change.”
“We should enjoy it while it lasts. There always seems to be someone to pick a bone with nowadays…”
The two keep walking, mulling over many things as their feet tread the dusty road endlessly, endlessly heading for home.
Nearer the rear of the wagon train was Bjarn, griping sourly in a rickety wagon. He was in a very bad mood, due to the intense pain he had to endure, and no one could help him, not even Voolmark.
“Just get the megabloks away and leave me!” he snapped at anyone who approached.
Every had taken this command meekly save Shainya, who refused to be pushed away.
“Bjarn, stop this nonsense and drink your tea!” she snapped, attempting to thrust a cup into Bjarn’s hands. Bjarn simply grabbed the cup and threw it over the side of the cart, where it smashed.
“Bjarn!”
Tears began welling in Shainya’s eyes. That had been the fourth cup Bjarn had smashed.
“Why do you do this, this is not you!”
Bjarn raised the lump of flesh and bandages that had been his hand furiously and shouted, “You’re shifty-brick right this is not me! Bjarn is not some crippled fool who can’t relieve himself without aid, Bjarn is not some clout who got defeated by a few tyco Cross Knights!”
“You have changed, Bjarn, but not all for the worse.”
The words were spoken softly, shakily. Shainya raised her eyes now bright with tears and said, “I know you are not the same man who hijacked a ship, battled pirates, Falcons, Rainbow Knights...you are not the same man who fought the Great Wild Fire and defended Drullen Bell against Aezezal. But you are the same man who saved me from perishing, the same man who aided Barbod and protected his friends from harm. You are aging, Bjarn, but your inner fire lives on if you choose it too.”
Her words halted Bjarn’s rage as if water had doused a fire.
“I just feel so useless.” sighed Bjarn frankly.
“You are not useless, Bjarn. You are the Elk Man, an entire faction looks to you as their leader, and you have led them well. The Forestmen have endured war, fire, demons, necromancers, ill luck and Chodan knows what else. Yet they survive, all because of you.”
Bjarn sighed, a tear slid down his cheek. “Thank you Shainya...thank you…”
The caravan continued on it’s way.
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