'No offence Pac, but I am sticking with this guy. That was what they told me to do so that is what I will do.'

Fern looked at Kaz. 'Don't look at me like that Kazzi. Feiht might appear and I do not want to miss it.'

Kaz let out a slight growl as he wandered off, followed by Fern. Couldn't this guy give him five minutes to himself?

Pacco watched the two leave and remembered how annoying Kaz thought he was when they first met. He had no doubt those two would become friends.

"Fine. Bring back some wood 'n' we'll get a fire goin'." He called out so they could hear.

Like Pacco asked, Fern picked up some branches along the way.

'So Pacco an old friend of yours? He seems nice.'

"I wouldn't say he's an old friend, I've only known him for a couple o' months. He's a bit odd but his personality grows on you real quick."

Kaz kept his ears up, listening for anything past the natural noises of the grove. The canyon wasn't far away from their current location so he was on edge.
He was always like this when he knew Feiht was close.

"How 'bout you? I haven't seen you hang out with anyone back home."

Fern stopped walking for a moment. A quick shimmer of sadness in his eyes. It was gone just a quick though. Hiding behind his though guy act.

'I was busy helping dad and Pine, so I didn't have much time to hang around my friends. Just wait till we are back, you'll see plenty of sylesties around me.' He boasted.

He tried saying in an excited voice. It kinda felt forced though.



(Welkome back Good to see you again or read you again I should say lol. Anyway Fern doesn't have any real friends. He is loved by the people in their home and treaded nicely by the older ones, but most sylesties his age treat him like some sort of boss, or superior because he is strong and helps his dad a lot. Because of that there has been a gap between him and the others his age because you can not become real friends with a person you always are polity/nice kissing up too. So he is like this popular guy everybody wants to hang with, but nobody knows and really likes him for him. And because of that he is always invited to big parties, but never to intimite fried parties. So he feels a bit lonely. Nobody challenges him, nobody scolds him when he goed to far, they always agree with him, and girls ''love'' him even though he knows it's only his position and who's son he is that they love. )

"Ah, I see."

Kaz recognized that look and that tone. He had no doubt Fern had friends but they were obviously not real friends.
He knew the sort.

Kaz had a few of those, himself. Though, he suspected, for a different reason.

Fern didn't know what happend to change things, but he didn't hate Kaz anymore. He wasn't fond of him either though.

'So ... how far are we going to walk?'

He asked a bit bored.

Kaz looked up into the sky. The light from the almost-full moon made it seem earlier than it was but he didn't want to head indoors yet. He could see they were at the edge of the grove, it was smaller than he'd thought. You could easily walk around it.

Although he was still fidgety Kaz thought they'd better head back, he'd rather they not face Feiht while tired.

"This is it, I guess. If you insist on following me, I'm going to go around. The branches on the outside of the grove will be dryer than the ones on the inside. Better for the fire."

'Fine by me, Kazzi, lets hurry up though.'

Fern didn't understand why, but he got a bad feeling all of a sudden.



---
Meanwhile a pair of red eyes was following the young lads. His lips moving to make place for a smirk.

A soft chukle excaped his mouth. It was Not loud enough for anyone to hear.

He knew they were being watched. Shooting a quick glance at Fern, he noticed that he looked uncomfortable.

~He must feel it too.~ Kaz thought.

Not knowing exactly where their stalker was, all they could do is continue on their way and be cautious.
Kaz started collecting branches, holding them loosely in case he had to make a quick move.