Rins Home

The hideout is quiet, as we pass the stables I notice that none of the horses are there. I guess everyone went home. I wait outside as Rin goes inside to get some things and his escorts. I look around and see butterflies flying around and hear birds singing, the sun is hiding behind the clouds. Rin thinks it's going to snow again, so he wants to get home before it does.

Rin comes out and hops on his horse he turns around and smiles at me. "Let's get going."

I look at him for a second and realize his escorts aren't here. "What about-"

"They're not coming with us." Rin puts on his cloak and hood before setting off. After a few moments, I follow close behind.

"Why not?"

"They don't need to. I have you with me, and you're a good fighter. Besides, I don't plan on leaving the village, and I'm sure you'll pass by on your way to the capital."

"I guess, but I thought you had to have escorts if the whole squad isn't with you?"

"Not necessarily, the king would prefer that, but we can go out and about with one person from the division or one escort." We ride in silence for a while before Rin stops abruptly. "I hear something."

It's quiet I don't hear anything. "What is it?"

"You don't hear that?"

"No."

"Oh, it sounds like someone's crying, could be a village nearby or someone needs help. We should check it out, follow me." Rin starts going in a different direction and I follow him, I still don't hear anything though. He stops again. "I don't hear it anymore."

"Maybe the person doesn't need help anymore."

"You're probably right. Let's turn back and start heading for my home."

As we continue for the village it starts flurrying, we ride in silence with Rin leading the way. I think about everything that's happened in the past few weeks. It was chaotic and strange. I still don't know if I believe everything that spirit told me. Trinity, is she a demon? Or was she saying that so I wouldn't ask any more questions?

"We're here." I look past Rin and see the village, it looks like it did when we left. Rin gets off his horse and stares at the entrance of the village. "Skye, are you coming?"

"Yeah." I get off the horse and walk up to him, his eyes not leaving the gate. I look up at him, and the gate flies open.

Zach and Austin walk up to us with big smiles on their faces. "Hey, welcome home Rin. Skye, welcome back."

Rin snaps out of his haze and starts messing with the guys, the three of them walk past the gate and into the village. Just as I'm about to turn around and get on my horse I hear them call my name. I look behind me and see Rin. "Where are you going?"

"Home."

"What?" He lets out a little laugh. "The sun is starting to set, it's not safe. You can leave in the morning."

"I'll be fine, Rin. It's not the first time I've been out by myself."

"Skye, please."

"I'll see you in a few days." I try to get on my horse, but Rin grabs my hand.

"Please stay for the night, not just for me but for Zach and Austin too. They told me how you didn't spend any time with them while you were here. We can all catch up."

I think about it for a minute. Letting out a sigh I roll my eyes. "Fine, but just for tonight." He smiles and leads me to his house.

As we walk through the village I look around at everyone and everything. It's the same, nothing's changed. The gate is still messed up, some of the houses are ruined, and there are mounds of fresh piles of dirt. I can hear some people crying, banging sounds, glass from one of the houses hitting the ground, and shattering. It's so sad, and what makes it worse is that Rin and I couldn't stay to help.

Is that why he wants me to stay? "Zach and Austin will be coming later, until then it's just the two of us." His house is past everyone else's, so it wasn't affected by the fight. He opens the door for me. "Do you want anything to drink?"

"No, I'm fine for now." I sit on his couch; it's so soft and cushiony. He leaves me to sit on the couch alone, I hear noises coming from somewhere in the house then Rin comes over and sits next to me. "Was that you?" I look at him and notice that he's staring at me. "What?"

"You've changed a lot since we were little."

"I guess."

"Tell me, why did you want to become a knight?"

"I don't know, it was just something I've always wanted to do since we were little. There's no goal or anything that I want to achieve."

"This is why all the guys liked you back then." He lounges back into the couch and looks at the ceiling. "Everyone loved you, adored you, and wanted to be with you. I remember when Zach and Austin would fight over you."

"What about you?"

"I felt the same as everyone else, the only thing that was different was that I was the weak puny kid who couldn't even land a punch on anyone, not even a dummy." He sighs and his door swings open with Zach and Austin arguing loudly. As soon as they see Rin and I though they stop and rush over to us, plopping on the couch.

"What are two talking about?" Zach looks at me with a smirk.

"How you and Austin would fight over me when we were younger." Both the boys look over at Rin with embarrassment and tackle him, the three of them fall to the ground as they rough house with each other.

After a few minutes of them playing, they sit up and look at me; Zach and Austin are blushing a little while Rin is smiling at me. It's just like when we were younger, I missed times like these. I missed them so much. I start crying and laughing, the boys jump up surprised and in unison ask me what's wrong.

"I just missed you guys so much and all the fun we had." I'm suddenly pulled into a hug; Rin wraps his arms around me while Zach and Austin have a hand on each of my shoulders.

"We missed you too, it wasn't the same without you here," Zach says comforting me.

"Yeah, especially since those two idiots weren't fighting all the time." Zach and Austin scowl at Rin and we all laugh. "How about I make some food and we can all catch up." We all nod, Rin gets up and leaves me, and I feel cold and alone. I sit on the couch while Zach and Austin are sitting on the floor; Rin comes in a few minutes later with food and drinks before sitting next to me.

We spend most of the night talking and laughing, the boys occasionally tackling each other. Zach passes out on the floor a few hours into the night, Austin found a pen lying around and convinced Rin and me to draw on his brother. The three of us talk, while Zach sleeps. Austin tells me how everyone else moved away as they got older, Rin said he's seen a couple of them in the other divisions, the others no one's seen or heard from.

Not too long after Zach, Austin falls asleep on the couch. "We should probably go to bed as well; you'll still be leaving in the morning right?"

"Yeah."

"You can stay in the master bedroom tonight; I'll sleep in the guest room."

Before I can protest Rin leaves me again, and I hear a door shut. One of these days I'm gonna punch him.

I sigh as I make my way to the master bedroom, the bed is neatly made. There are clothes folded on it, a t-shirt and shorts.

"Those are for you, it's not much but it's something at least." I jump and turn around to see Rin; he's shirtless and wearing sweatpants that end at his hips. "I noticed you didn't pack any clothes."

"Oh." I can't help but stare at him; he lets out a small laugh and starts walking towards me. He cups my face and we stare into each other's eyes. Our faces only inches apart.

He looks into my eyes, his facial expression changed. "I won't let anything bad happen to you ever again."

I look at him confused. "Wha-" Rin puts three fingers on my forehead and everything's dark and silent.

I wake up, the sun shining through the window. I groan and roll over facing away from the light, I try to go back to sleep but I hear voices. I get up and walk out of the room; I see Rin, Zach, and Austin sitting on the couch talking. They all look at me and smile. "Hey guys"

"Skye, how are you?" Zach gets up and walks over to me.

I yawn. "I'm good, how are you boys doing?"

"Were all good, shouldn't you be leaving to go home?"

"Oh, right I completely forgot." I turn away from them and go to the bedroom. I look in the mirror and see that I'm wearing the clothes that were on the bed. I close the door and change quickly so I can hurry and leave.

I open the door and see Rin standing there, he was about to knock. "Oh hey, Zach and Austin just left. They said they're sorry for not saying bye but they had to go to their posts."

"Oh okay, I'm sure I'll see them as I leave." I smile at Rin, but he has a straight face.

"What do you remember about last night?"

"What do you mean? Zach and Austin came over, we all stayed up late, then we all went to bed and you gave me some clothes to wear to bed. Why do you ask?"

"Do you remember if Zach or Austin fell asleep first, they were having one of their little arguments about who fell asleep first?"

"I think it was Zach, wait didn't we write on Zach? That should've been a clear sign of who fell asleep first."

"Oh, right."

I walk past him and leave his house. That was weird.

Zach runs up to me and catches his breath. "Your horse is at the stables, I brought her in last night."

"Thanks." He walks with me to the stables and gets my horse ready.

"Here this is for you, it's food for on your way home." He hands me a bag filled with food and I smile at him before getting on the horse.

As I leave the village Rin and the boys' wave bye, I leave my old village and start going home.