: Homesick (Nathan)

"Is this all the luggage you've got?" Ryker asked, pointing at the purse-like pouch Millia was hanging down her shoulders.

Yeap, This guy had finally decided to give us a ride to that Whispering Forest. He questioned us a lot before deciding as if we were some criminals, probably his way of trusting someone. Though it seemed he recognised me, he still wasn't any trustful of me. The interesting thing was that what caught his attention was the topic of those masked guys. He was specific about them and was trying to extract the necessary information he could get from us but Millia was not so easy to stay low.

She was suspicious of him, which she told me later and didn't give him much info on them. She told him: "My brother is a soldier in the clan and had gone missing near the Whispering Forest. We have recently heard that some masked clowns in a circus of fairies have kept him so we are just going to look for him." Though the story felt utterly stupid, this guy still declared that he is ready to help us. Our luck, I guess.

"Be assured. It is enough." Millia assured him. Ryker shrewd his eyes and first glanced at Millia then back to the pouch.

Instantly, he raised an eyebrow in revelation.

"A voidal bag....I see." He muttered to himself but my ears caught them. But even though I heard what his words were, the knowledge was still of no use. A voidal bag...What does that mean? Some kind of spell??

I turned to look at Millia with questioning eyes but her eyes didn't give me any leisure. She just walked away, following Ryker to his small carriage or a cart, whatever it is called.

The cart wasn't as spacious as the carriage we were travelling in earlier and I am pretty sure the ride wouldn't be any more comfortable after I had seen that this thing was driven by this black horse. Millia settled down at the back of the cart and I went on to sit a little ahead of her. Even getting on this thing was so damn hard. It felt like I was a kid trying his best to climb up a high bed. In the end, finally someone decided to give this kid some mercy. It was Ryker who pushed me up. I think I should get used to be embarrassed like this, here. Anyway, I settled down too and then Ryker got up and got the cart in motion.

It was dusk by now. The breezes were cooling down with the dimming light as a few little stars twinkled in the shaded sky. But right now, I really didn't give any thoughts to these things. I felt sick. Sick by the stomach and sick by the head. This bumping ride was just too much for my body to handle. My head felt like it would explode like a balloon while the things in my stomach were swirling like a toilet flush. It was moments like these that I really missed the life I left behind. I missed those boring classes and those other creepy guests of my house. The thing which I missed the most at the moment was my beautiful Mercedes. I was comfortable with her, how smooth and soothing her drive was. I was just trying to get hold of those golden memories when I was snapped back to reality by another blow from the shaking cart.

"Ca-n you go a little s-lowly?" I requested, my voice felt really feeble and weak.

"If we don't hurry, we will have to spend the night in the forest. It's better if we get to the nearby nightstand before dark." Ryker replied, his voice high above the sound of the wheels and the stomps.

I fell silent and found shelter in my thoughts. I was just thinking how abruptly my life has gone upside down. Though I never really liked this new world, I never once regretted coming here. 'Following your friend here did not lead you to trouble. It was your choice. Face it.' This was what I kept telling myself but now....now I suddenly feel so out of place. Even Elliot wasn't beside me any more....I don't even know if I would ever be able to return to that same life again. Heck!! I don't even know if I will ever return.....

"Nathan??" I heard Millia's voice call me. I suddenly turned to meet her worried face.

"Huhh?"

"You look pale...Are you okay?" She asked.

I gave her a fake consoling smile but before I could realise it, I felt a sudden outbreak of bubbling, burning liquid in my throat. I didn't vomit directly on Millia's face but it certainly did reach her dress.

"Wait!! Stop the cart. He is sick." Millia called and I felt the bumping and leaping of the cart slow down. Still I kept on vomiting a burning green liquid from my mouth in the corner of the cart.

Finally the cart came to a halt.

Millia stood beside me rubbing my back to comfort me. I never had travelling sickness like this but then I never had travelled like this...

.....

"I think we would have to spend the night here only. It's getting late. We wouldn't be able to reach the nightstand before midnight now." I heard Ryker declare from my weak consciousness.

"Yeah, I think that would be the best thing to do now." Millia said, her voice distant.

I was snugly seated in the cart, recovering from my nausea. I saw Millia's figure closing in on me from my blurry vision.

"Are you feeling any better Nathan??" Millia asked me, her voice drenched in pity and worry.

I nodded.The swirling in my stomach had stopped but the headache was still there. But I didn't mention it to her.

"We will be staying here tonight. You can rest till then." She told me.

"I am sorry for slowing you down." I apologised.

"Ahh! It's fine."

"But this dress you destroyed. I will certainly remember this and you better remember it too. You are indebted to me." She warned me. I smiled lightly and I knew she was too. I felt her presence fade in the dim lights. I sat there silently embracing the serenity of this falling night. I closed my eyes.

"Do you have travelling sickness?" I heard a voice after some time. I opened my eyes to meet the familiar figure of Ryker.

"No, just a headache." I replied. Well, the idea was true but it was partly a lie too so you can just call me a half-lier.

"All of a sudden?" He inquired. It seemed he was suspicious of me only. 'He really has trust issues.' I told myself.

I shrugged. "Homesickness, I guess." I was probably being a half-lier again. He lay down on his back staring at the sky.

"Missing someone?" He suggested.

"A lot of people and honestly and things too." I accepted.

"I see..."

"Do you get homesick too?" I asked.

"Not really. Actually, I no longer have a place to call home." He told me without looking at me.

"Everyone has a home." I told him. He turned to me.

"Home is just a place where you can find peace, a place you want to return to, a place that makes you happy just by being there. A home can be a memory, or a place under a tree, or a place with family. A home can even be someone's arms. It's just a place where someone still waits for you." I told him. He smiled a little and turned back to the stars.

"Wise words." He declared.

"I read it somewhere, I guess." I accepted.

"So do you have a home like that?" I asked.

"I guess so..."

I smiled.

Suddenly, a loud screech shook our silence. It was Millia. I could recognise it.

Ryker stood up abruptly. I too got up pushing back the reeling sensation in my head.

Ryker ran towards the source of the trouble and I followed him at my fastest rate. Soon Millia's figure came into view. She was just standing there, like a stony statue.

"What's the matter?" Ryker asked, reaching out for her shoulder.

She pointed at something among the logs. My blurry vision didn't let me have a clear view. I closed in to the direction she was pointing at.

After closing in enough, I caught a pair of bloody red eyes glaring at us. No, it wasn't just one pair, it was ten, no probably fifty of them in the dark. They were all staring at us with those hungry eyes and showing their sharp fangs in the dim moonlight.

"Nathan get back here ! They are bloodhounds!! They are dangerous." Millia called from behind but before I could make any move.

One of the creatures leaped over me, piercing his keen fangs in my flesh!