Snippet #1464820

When they approached the camp Ali's mind finally began to rest... They were getting home, at last. When the sounds of a party reached her ears though, she winced. Not long after that she heard Crys' voice. "Aw, mom... No..." She whined. Ali couldn't help but laugh though. "Oh, come on Crys... Let them have one night of thinking this is over." Crys simply sighed and didn't answer. She didn't like crowds, or too much excitement, parties had both. So Ali knew she wasn't at all happy right now, but Ali also knew that it would be a long time before they had the chance to celebrate anything. So, they shouldn't put curses on Dani for wanting to give her clan one night to party.

Ali made it through the crowds of people who wanted to greet them and made it to her cabin. She simply dropped on her bed and laid there for a few minutes alone, she picked up a pillow and pressed it against her face as to stifle a scream. She was sure that with the sounds of the party she wouldn't be heard. Tears rolled out of her blue eyes as she finally let all the pain she hadn't been feeling since the battle started storm right back into her body. She should never shut her pain off for so long and she knew it, but she was afraid that if she didn't the others would have to carry her home, she didn't want that, so she waited until she was home and alone to allow herself to feel. It was a while until her door opened and she heard someone sit at the wooden table where she had laid out Bastian's chess board. She sighed. "Go away Jake."

"Dani came out of Evin's house, pulled me by the arm and... She offered me an assignment that..." He sighed. "It's a big deal. Huge."
Ali sat up, wiping the tears off her eyes and moving to sit across from him at the table. She turned the chess board so the white pieces were on his side. "And?"
Jake sighed, moving a pawn two spaces. "And I'd have to go back to Newhaven to do it. I'm officially still a citizen and... I'm known there as a mercenary."
Ali moved her knight, and nodded. "So you'll be leaving us... Does Crys know about it yet?"
"No. I haven't told her, she's barely speaking to me."
"You have to go talk to her. You know that." Ali let out a long sigh. "Plus, I'll be away for a while too."
"Where are you going?" He asked curiously.
"I have a promise to keep. That if Dani will let me go. I haven't asked her yet."
"Yeah. I don't know Ali, things are going to be though from now on. I don't if she will."
Ali shrugged. "That's alright with me, really. You need to tell her."
Jake frowned. "Tell who what?"
Ali laughed. "You know what I mean Jake. After tonight there won't be a right moment... For anything, anymore. You understand me." Then she smiled. "Check mate."
Jake nodded at the board. "Oh, what the hell?" He sighed. "I know you're right, it's just..."
Ali nodded, laughing. "Jacob, listen to me... You won't be telling her anything she doesn't already know. You idiot. Just say the damn words! Go!"
"What now?"
Ali sighed. "Yes... NOW."
Jake chuckled. "Alright, alright." He got up and left.
Ali nodded, and went back to her bed. She could still hear the party outside, but she didn't feel like taking part in any of it.

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Crys was hiding. She was hiding by the lake, not really wanting to be around that many people anytime soon. The sound of familiar footsteps didn't reassure her in one bit. "Hey mom." She mumbled.
Crys felt her mother sit beside her, she chuckled. "Why aren't you playing with the other children Crystal?"
Crys laughed. "And when have I ever? Really?"
"Exactly."
Crys sighed. "Honestly? We were very close to dying, my whole body aches, I need a bath, and I just... Can't stand being asked for the details over a hundred times."
"Kid, do you know why you're here today?"
"I know where babies come from mom."
"Don't be an idiot, Crystal. You know what I mean."
"I'm here because I worked for it." She stated, in a slightly bored tone. They had that conversation many times.
"No... You're here because you annoyed the hell out of me until I agreed to let you train. Same reason why Allison is still here, because you wouldn't leave me alone until I gave her a chance."
"So... I'm annoying." Crys snickered. "Way to go with the compliments mom."
Dani slapped Crys on the back of the head. "Stop that, I'm trying to say something."
Crys laughed. "Ow, that hurt!" Then she stopped laughing and sighed. "I know mom, don't worry about it. If I couldn't handle it I'd be dead by now, now wouldn't I?"
"That's not funny. Not at all.
Crys laughed. "No, I'm serious. I'll be alright mom."
"Oh, I'm sure you will." Dani said, patting her in the shoulder before standing up.
"Don't stay up too late mom." Crys laughed.
"Someone has to enjoy the party, don't you think?" Dani said before walking out.
Crys nodded, laughing while her mother walked away back to the center of camp.

"What are you laughing at?" Jake's voice caused Crys to shut her smile quickly. She was still angry at him for what he did. She didn't answer him so he sighed, and sat next to her. "Look, I'm sorry. You do understand that it was necessary?"
"It wasn't necessary Jake. He's dead." Crys frowned.
"The dagger is the real threat, not that maniac. And it's missing. Anyone could have taken it."
"No one else would know how to use it."
"We can't count on that Crys. That much power... You know what a person could do with that? It's insane."
She sighed... The agonized tone in his voice made it difficult for her to still be mad at him. She laid a hand over his and felt him slight startle from the sudden gesture.
"I know, it's scary, but can't we just believe we're safe? Just for a little bit?" She rested her head on his shoulder and added. "That's not why I was mad anyway."
"Are you going to tell me why you were mad or let me torture myself trying to figure it out?
"Don't tempt me Jacob." She smirked. "I was mad because you planted that antidote on me. What if I hadn't figured it out in time?"
He laughed. "Oh, it's not because I planted it on you. It's because I did it without you noticing. That's what bothered you, right? I lied and you couldn't tell."
"That's not funny. If you died..."
"I never planned on dying. I planted the antidote on you because you know me better than anyone. It was the safest place I could think of. I'm sorry Crys, I didn't mean to hurt you."
"Who said you did?" She asked, in an angry tone.
Jake laughed. "No one Crys, no one."
She punched his arm all of a sudden. "Of course you hurt me you idiot! I love you. I didn't want to be the one responsible if you died" She punched him again. "You jerk!"
"What did you say to me?
"You're a jerk." She repeated.
"Before that Crys."
She sighed. "I said I love you. Was I not supposed to?"
"Well I love you too."
"I know that Jake. You're really not discrete." She smiled when he went silent. "It's alright." She said, laying her head back on his shoulder.
Jake wrapped his arms around her and nodded quietly. "Until the party is over, at least."

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Ali found herself under Dani's gaze waiting on an answer to her request. She didn't know how that would be seen, and she was a little reluctant to leave herself. She knew things would get rough from now on. Dani sighed. "I can't say no to that. You deserve to know your history."
"I can wait though." Ali was almost regretting her request.
"No... It's better if you go now. You might not get the chance again." Dani stated. "Things aren't exactly looking pretty for us."
"Alright. I'll leave tomorrow then." Ali stated. She was worried, but she didn't want to insist on staying if Dani had told her to go.
"Tomorrow?" Dani looked at her and frowned slightly. "You don't look like you can walk that far."
"I'm visiting healers. Might as well give them some work." She shrugged.
Dani laughed. "Lena will have a lot of fun with you, I'm sure."
Ali laughed. "She probably will, yes."
Dani patted her in the shoulder. "Well, if you are leaving tomorrow I suggest you sleep. We'll all have a lot to think about when the morning comes."
Ali nodded, with a slight frown. "When the Knights finish burying that killer... And Newhaven goes back to normality."
Dani nodded. "Newhaven will never go back to normality. Neither will we."
Ali sighed and nodded in agreement to those words. Those were things to think about in the morning. For now... She would sleep.