Snippet #2448802

Marqun:
We wake up early in the morning, but Aca still beats us. She's at the fire making us a little breakfast. I have to say, that girl can cook. The food, fish tamales, is a little heavy, but that's fine. We can't stop for lunch. Aca glances up at Michael and I as we walk out of our tent. "Good," she says, "You're finally awake. Go collect some firewood." Michael begins to protest but she gives him a steely look and says "Now Michael Rogerson." and he blushes. Michael has a very, erm....different name because his family were lose grains and made up names when they joined our gang. Lose grains are what we call the "Normal folk", the people without a gang, without loyalties to the crocs. I am thinking this as we walk away into the woods. As soon as we are safely out of hearing distance he says "That is one beautiful girl." and I feel a momentary flash of irritation.
"Yeah, well, don't let her hear you saying that," I reply, "She might become even worse if she thought she had the advantage." That isn't totally true. Aca is a very nice person. Sometimes I wonder if she shouldn't be in one of the peaceful gangs. Then I see her fight. I realize Michael is looking at me strangely. "What?" I ask him.
"Nothing. Just...if she's yours.."
"She's NOT mine. She is her own person. If she likes me, sure I might date her, but as it is, she doesn't. End of story."
Michael looks at me and starts laughing and then I laugh too, realizing the ridiculousness of it all. Then we both collect more firewood and head beck to the fire. After the fire get warmer, the tamales finish cooking and we eat. The fish is flavorful and it's warm juice fill my mouth. After we are done eating we pack up camp and leave. We make good time, and after swimming for about 6 hours (weaving in and out of croc territory) we make it to the meeting place. Handu, one of the few croc cities. A place of surprising grandeur. And to top it off, the leader. There is a waterfall leading into the canal which we swim down. The beauty of croc cities is the water is never polluted. We hop out at the landing strip and stand there until a courtier comes to show us where we'll be staying. I hate courtiers. Always acting as if they were the most important people in the world. Anyway, we walk a while until we reach a rather tall building made of-get this- MARBLE. Only frivolous people use marble in croc territory because it is rather rare in the Territories of the Nations. We are shown to our separate rooms. As soon as I am dropped of into my room I explore. It has to rooms (not including the bathroom). After I survey the place I take a shower and dress in some non-descript green and black clothes. Standing out blends in here. Then I walk downstairs in search of something to eat. I'm starving.