25 A Team Breakfast?

I grimaced as the burning, slithering agony tore up my leg. I could feel the blood-slick thing moving inside it. Under the skin, in the muscle, and wrapping around my leg. A rustling sound came from behind me.

I had to move, to free myself from this thing worming its way around me. I grimaced and grabbed at it. It started to slip free of my leg.

The rustling sound of heavy footsteps urged me to work faster.

I yanked the thing free of my left leg with a dizzied gasp. I could hear a soft growl from the creature behind me. It was getting closer.

But some of the Jubokko's vine was still inside my leg. Wriggling.

I dug my fingers into the flesh of my leg. I needed it out. I needed it out now. The coppery smell of my own blood flooded my nose. It was so thick I could practically taste it.

Just a little more and I'd have it. A…

"Awk argh zzzzz."

♢ ♢ ♢

Kyrie woke with a start. He was bent over his recently healed left leg.

His hands were warm and wet.

"Shit."

Kyrie removed the ribbon on his right ankle and tied it around the wound in left leg. His holo-watch vibrated as a second message came in.

@shield: *@sword are you okay?

*If you don't answer soon, I'm going to call you.*

@sword: *Nightmare*

@shield: * Ah.*

Kyrie grimaced and stood. His left hand supported some of his weight as he grabbed the edge of DJ's bunk. He limped his way to his dresser and the emergency kit he'd stowed there. Kit in hand, he carefully made his way to the bathroom. Leaving a trail of bloody handprints.

After the slow and excruciating process of tending to his leg, Kyrie washed his hands, then replaced the ribbons on his right leg and wrists. He changed into his everyday clothes, gathered his bloody things, and dumped them in the wash.

As his clothes and bedding were being cleaned – he started cleaning up the bloody trail he'd left. By the time everything was clean, his clothes and bedding were done. Kyrie remade his bed, grabbed Taru, and left the dorm with a slight limp.

♢ ♢ ♢

DJ's shoulders were slumped as he stared glumly at the contents of the cool cupboard.

Centra wandered over, slipped one arm around DJ's waist, and kissed him on the cheek. "What's wrong Deej?"

DJ closed the cupboard door and hugged Centra. "Kyrie left this morning and I was planning to cook breakfast for the team."

"Ah… Did you tell him what you were planning?"

"No. I forgot."

Centra gently pulled out of DJ's hug and gave DJ a light swat on the arm. "You goof. Just call and tell him."

DJ stood there watching the beautiful angel before him. After a moment he pulled her in for a quick kiss and said, "Your brilliant. I'll call him."

DJ flicked open his holo display and found Kyrie's number in his contacts list. He impatiently waited for Kyrie to pick up.

His watch rang once.

Twice.

Three times.

No answer. DJ's shoulders slumped. The room grew humid and his glum expression returned.

"Did he forget his watch in your room?" James was always forgetting his holo-watch so Kyrie forgetting his watch seemed like a very reasonable idea to Centra.

DJ perked up a bit at the idea of Kyrie having forgotten his watch and charged into their room. He glanced at the dressers, Kyrie's had nothing on it while DJ's was already covered in things. Having no luck at finding Kyrie's holo-watch he headed to the bathroom, maybe Kyrie had taken it off when he got ready this morning? The bathroom door was closed so he knocked.

"I'll be out in a moment," called Liza as she finished doing her hair.

"Is there a holo-watch on the counter?"

Liza glanced at the counter but didn't see a holo-watch lying amongst her bathroom stuff. "I don't see one. Did you lose yours?"

The door to the dorm opened as DJ said, "No, but I thought Kyrie might've."

"Thought I might've what?" said Liza

DJ turned to face Kyrie who had just entered their common area and shouted, "Your back! Now we can have a team breakfast. I'll cook."

Centra smiled at DJ and moved to knock on Jasper's door.

Knock, knock.

Centra received no answer so she said, "Jasper! Are you there?" She waited for a bit and still didn't get a response. "Looks like he's gone or too absorbed in his work. I'll text him while DJ starts breakfast." Hopefully, Jasper's free, Centra glanced at DJ who seemed to be having one of his moody days.

*Where are u?*

Jasper: *The Magicians training ground. What's up?*

*DJ's making breakfast. You should join us."

*I already ate. Maybe next time.*

*okay.*

"Jasper already had breakfast. He might join us next time." But he'll probably avoid that meal too…

Liza opened the bathroom door and said, "Four out of five is pretty good."

"I guess." DJ pondered for a moment as he cut up some potatoes. Jasper was working pretty hard… "We are definitely dragging him with us to the festival."

Kyrie grimaced as he recalled the form of a little girl running from her big brother. The echoing call of the brother, 'Why?! Why didn't you protect her? I thought you were different! I thought you were nice.' "I-I don't think I'll be going."

Liza turned to Kyrie, her eyes wide with surprise. "What? The festival here is amazing! You have to go." She could picture the lights and shouts of hawkers. The music and the games that awaited them. The duals in the arena.

Kyrie fidgeted with the ribbon on his left wrist. But… after Avalon…"I don't think me going is a good idea."

DJ frowned at the onion he was cutting. We can't miss the opportunity of going to the festival. But Kyrie might be right, to many survivors from the fall of Avalon have moved to Laserath. He sniffled a bit before he said, "It'll be fun you should come."

Kyrie dropped the bit of his ribbon, glared at the wall, and said, "No. I'm not going."