81 Phase 70: A Serious Conversation

"{This} is Lynn." Colin gestured.

At two hours past midnight of Colin's ninth night on Dreamworlds, Lynn and Katrin met on Crabby Island.

Katrin inspected Lynn from head to toe, noting the light of her golden hair, the strength of her gaze, and the grace in her bearing. She glanced over Nightwind, the Lord of Shadow Hawks, whom Lynn rode.

Lynn studied Katrin, noting every detail, from her short black hair, to the green eyes, to the balance of her feet.

[She looks prettier in your memories.] Lynn observed.

[She looks tense.] Colin noted right back.

"Hi, Lynn." Katrin said, sounding surprised. And relieved.

"Hello, Katrin." Lynn gave her a warm smile. "I've heard a lot about you."

[More like 'remembered', from my memories.] Colin thought to Lynn.

[Let's not scare her, Colin.] Lynn chided. [Don't tell her about the psi-link. She might freak out. We best keep the psi-link a secret between ourselves.]

[Agreed.]

"I've heard about you too." Katrin said. "Are you really the Forest Princess?"

Lynn smiled. "For now. Would you like to make your Home Base in the Forest of Legends?"

"I can do that?" Katrin blinked.

Lynn nodded. "It won't be so dangerous if you're accompanied by one the Forest considers a friend."

"Like you?" Katrin guessed.

"Of course."

"And if you're not around… I'll be attacked anyway, right?" Katrin guessed again.

"Maybe. Depends on how much disturbance you make." Lynn said. "You could always go around with Colin, though. He'd be considered a friend by all the Wilds there."

"All of them?!" Colin jumped. "But there were so many more you haven't introduced me to yet!"

"Would you like to meet them now?" Lynn invited.

Colin glanced at Katrin.

"She can come." Lynn said.

[You can introduce her too, can't you?] Colin asked. [Then she'd never be in danger there herself.]

[I can't, Colin.] Lynn said. [It won't be the same.]

[What do you mean?] Colin frowned.

[You'll understand someday. But as you've already told me, some things are still too complicated for you.]

[Oh.]

Katrin, however, was shaking her head. "It's okay, Lynn. I need to stay here and watch over my new Comrades. They're all feeling down without Colin right now. At least they've stopped getting worse. It's the third night."

"That's good. That means they've started to get better." Lynn nodded. "It won't be long now."

"Someone's been giving me some perfect habitats for every one of them." Katrin said. "I never even thought of giving Bubba a Bubble Bath. And I didn't know there were such things as redwood branches; Fireheart really loves those. Would you have anything to do with them?"

Lynn shook her head. "Sorry, Katrin, it's not me. If it were me, I'd bring those Comrades over to the Forest of Legends to recover. I believe that's best for most of them."

Something furry with bright eyes popped its head out of Katrin's front pocket. "Mik."

"Meek?" Colin blinked at the cheerful creature. "Wait. That's not Meek. It's way too small."

It was a Lynxmouse, though. The coloring was brighter, the color of sand rather than the brown of wood, but it reminded Colin sharply of Meek. It scurried up to Katrin's shoulder, imitating Shiro who sat on Colin's.

{His tail was straight. What was it Henry said? Straight tail means…} "A boy?"

"You can tell?" Katrin smiled. "This is Mika, the only one of my Comrades not in recovery. I'll give you one guess where he came from."

"He's one of Meek's babies, isn't he?" Colin said, remembering. "You told me you would keep one."

"He takes after his dad. A Desert Lynxmouse. He'll be stronger than Meek ever was." Katrin went on.

"What exactly do you intend to do with that fellow?" Lynn asked curiously.

"Breed him with some other good Lynxmouse and get an even stronger one." Katrin said. "I've been helping out at this Comrade Home for two nights already. I'm learning a good bit about breeding Comrades. Lynxmice and bug-types are good for starters, I've been told."

"Satrox wasn't a starter, but he used to breed Lynxmice." Colin remembered. "Mika's father was one of his."

"I {thought} Meek's kids all seemed surprisingly good." Katrin laughed. "Now I know why."

"Are you sure you won't come with us, Katrin?" Lynn asked. "You might find you enjoy the forest."

"Lynn, I'm honored for the invitation, but I made a promise to my new Comrades to stay with them until they've recovered. That means another night, at least, possibly two, even with those habitats." Katrin said. "Besides, I'm more of a farm girl, myself."

"You've never even set foot in the Forest." Lynn pointed out. "How do you know?"

Katrin hesitated. "I don't." she admitted at last. "I guess I really should try it out. But not tonight."

"As you wish." Lynn nodded. "Colin, I'm afraid you'll have to wait if you want to bring Katrin along to meet the remaining Forest Wilds."

"It's okay." Colin said. "I'm already caught in the middle of something anyway. It's best I don't stay away too long."

Lynn turned to Katrin. "But still, as a friend of Colin's, you would be welcome to make your Home Base in my Forest. Don't forget."

Katrin gave Lynn a grateful bow. "Thank you."

Lynn called Nightwind and mounted his back. "I'll be back in an hour, Colin. Make sure you're ready to go by then."

"Sure." Colin waved as Lynn and Nightwind took off.

Katrin nudged him. "Aren't you going with them?"

"I'll join them on the return trip to Lamico. After seeing the Dark Forest, Lynn wanted to get a few things from home."

"Then what are you going to do?" Katrin asked, half-teasing, half-worried.

Colin sighed. {I'm really in for it now.}

"Katrin… we need to talk."

***

{Wow… this is surprising!}

Katrin had to admit, she hadn't expected Colin to take initiative. Part of her was excited, part of her was scared, part of her was looking for excuse to run off or something, and part of her was itching to get on with it already.

"There's a place we can talk." Katrin said.

Colin nodded, letting her show him where.

It was a cliff, really, with a tree for shade, overlooking the open sea. It was indeed, quiet; even the gulls didn't usually come here. Most were happily staking out the fishing docks.

{Is he going to reject me…?} A sinking feeling clouded the day. {Or maybe… what if…?}

Her face felt warm. Too warm. She felt a silly smile coming onto her face just thinking about it.

{But so far… he…}

The smile faded. That sinking feeling came again, this time with a taste of certainty, and a chill in her spine.

He began as they reached the spot. "Kat… I'm sorry."

She nearly turned to stone. Still a little hope flickered. Maybe he was talking about something else. "For what?"

"For leaving you alone."

Warmth and hope warred with disappointment. {Maybe… what if… does this mean…??}

"Even if I'm not ready yet, you're still important to me." Colin went on.

Katrin's heart skipped a beat. "What are you saying?"

{Is he really talking about what I think he's talking about? If he suddenly starts talking about something completely different, I'm going to kick him off the cliff!}

"Maybe in a few years." Colin said, not looking at her. "But we're too young right now. Don't you think so?"

"Are we talking about what I think we're talking about?" Katrin asked, baiting him, daring him to say it.

"Uh…" Colin was losing his momentum, caught in her deliberate effort to rewind a bit. "You and me?"

{Not quite the exact words, but good enough for now. He wants me to WAIT?}

Katrin threw her heaviest attack. "You kissed me."

Colin nearly fell over. Just seeing that brought a wave of satisfaction. "That… I… I was excited. Too excited. I was so happy to find my answer that I just…"

"Grabbed hold of the nearest girl for a bit of fun?" Katrin heard the accusation in her tone and suddenly wished she could take it back, but it was too late. It was out. Her biggest fear, out before she could think about it.

"NO!" Colin blurted. "It was more of a… 'thank you'."

"So you kiss all the girls when you say 'thank you'?"

"NO!" Colin spluttered, coughing now.

Katrin waited, wishing, hoping for him to say 'just you', but Colin was too busy coughing and trying to breathe.

{What am I saying? Is this really me saying all that?! Katrin was surprised at herself. Why am I hitting him with words? I know already that he couldn't possibly be ready… but… just asking to talk to me like that… I had hoped…}

Colin was recovering now. "It was an accident! I wasn't thinking! I didn't plan it out or anything!"

A large number of stinging answers came to mind right then, but Katrin pushed them out of the way. {That's NOT going to help! Remember what mom said! I have to think before I say anything more! There's no point pushing him farther away! That's not what I want!}

{…I think.}

Katrin shook herself, taking a step back, leaning against the tree. She closed her eyes.

Colin was looking at her. She felt it, even though her eyes were closed. Part of her was pleased, hoping he'd do something sweet and then say that this time wasn't an accident. Another part of her wanted to hide away.

And yet another part still wanted to kick him off the cliff.

Katrin slowly slid down the trunk to a sitting position. {I can't do this. Anything I do will make it worse.}

"So… what did you want to say?" Katrin asked. {At least, I should hear him out. A bit late, but better late than never.}

"I already said it." Colin told her. "Kat, you're my best friend. It's not that I don't like you or anything, but we're too young for this sort of thing. Maybe in a few years."

"Just… 'maybe', huh?" Katrin found herself saying.

***

Colin's brain was numb. {Hey… when she's sitting like that, with her eyes closed and all… Katrin looks…}

Pretty? Of course. But also… vulnerable. Scared.

Hurt.

Colin sat down beside her with a sigh, feeling a strange feeling inside. He spoke softly. "Kat… whatever happens, I'm not going to abandon you. You're the most important friend I have. You're swell, and cool, and always seem to know the right thing to do. I don't know what I'd do without you."

Katrin didn't move, or say anything. She just had a slight smile on her face. If they weren't already Dreaming, he'd have suspected her of falling asleep.

Sudden doubt crept in. Was she doing it on purpose? Trying to bait him into {doing} something 'accidental'?

Restless all over again, Colin got up and walked over to the edge of the cliff. He stared over the open sea.

Katrin said nothing. That made him even more worried.

He had to say something. Or do something. Something.

"But the kind of relationship that usually involves kissing…" He scratched his head. "I don't even know what that really is. I'll never get it right. I'm too young for it, and I don't want to mess up with you. I've seen the kind of problems that happens after messing up that sort of thing. I don't want you angry at me forever."

Katrin kicked him off the cliff.