Snippet #2445912

We went 10 leagues today. 10 leagues of 20. We should be there tomorrow. Good, I'm tired. We've set up camp and the fire is crackling softly. I know we're visible, but I don't care. We're talking noncommittally, about nonsense. By the firelight Marqun seems different, stronger, less serious. In a flash I am reminded of the last time he and I were just friends. We were 13. Or rather I was 13 and he was almost 14. It had been a pretty good day. We had gotten back from school and he and I had been walking to the crystal-pool. It was kind of our private place, even though a lot of people know about the place. No one was ever there when we were so it was always private. All was peaceful then suddenly we heard yelling. We knew that sound. The sound of a fight. In Jenetzu territory, which means there are invaders. We looked at each other and ran towards the sound, dropping our towels on the sidewalk behind us. When we reached the fight, it was a mild one, using dirt clods. A war for fun. We both grinned at each other, relaxed, and joined in. I grabbed a lot of mud and threw it at the other group, bringing up several bruises and scraps. Then a dirt clod hit me in the face and my mouth was badly scraped. Marqun took one look at me lying on the ground the charged at the person who threw it. My vision was foggy, but I saw Marqun grab the person by the shirt and punch him in the face repeatedly, over and over. By the time I had shaken of my haziness, the entire fight was over and everyone of the other gang had run away all except the boy Marqun had hurt and to people laboring under his weight. Our own group had backed away. Then they rushed forward and began to cheer on Marqun like a hero. Marqun smiled, but then his eyes met mine and saw my face. My face that was frowning. My face that was bleeding. His smile faded and he ran over to me and helped me up. Then he said "We had better get me home. I tried to stand, but I almost fell over. Marqun simply picked me up, grunting under my weight and carried me home. After that I stopped looking at Marqun in the same light, and our friendship that had lasted so long was ruined.

"What's wrong?" Marqun asks me and I realize I was frowning at him. I shake myself and smile.
"Nothing," I say "Just thinking. I guess we should all go to sleep, we have a big day tomorrow." Marqun and Michael stare at me, and I shrug. Then I climb into the tent I have to myself, and in a few minutes I hear them climbing into the other tent they shared. I smiled. I wondered why Marqun started acting different around me after that day. I fall asleep thinking about it.