[PSL] Got a dragon on my back

[conglomeration]

The crunch of leaves and sticks beneath his boots is echoed by Lina's steps just behind, the two forming a cadence that never quite matches up. Unbalanced to match the strange seed of anxiety Zelgadis has about this whole thing.

It's not that he's in any position to turn down the help, but this is -- unusual. After he, Gourry and Amelia help Lina defeat whatever horrible Monster has it in for her this time, Zelgadis goes off alone. To look for his cure, of course. He never asked any of the others to go with him, and they'd never offered. That was how it went.

Now, the speeding set of footfalls behind him are systematically ending years of routine with each twig-snap. (And why does she sound impatient even when she's just walking?)

The difference is obvious, of course. This time he's setting out knowing that there's nothing to find, if Rezo was to be believed. Zelgadis' quest should be over, but -- no. Too many years and miles have been invested to give up that easily, and Zelgadis is far too stubborn to just accept this, no matter what Rezo said. He couldn't possibly know that there wasn't some dusty scroll in a long-forgotten cavern somewhere... even if he was probably the most knowledgeable source on Chimera short of perhaps the Clair Bible and had no reason to lie...

As his thoughts turn darker, he ignores Lina and just presses forward. But he doesn't, for one instant, forget she's there. Nor does he expect the respite of silence to continue for long.


((OOC: I was going for post Evo-R but if you want another canon point I can adjust! I will try to remember to prose but forgive me if I forget here and there ^^;;))

Comments

((if you don't mind my terrible need for a canon-review at that canon point that's ok with me!))

[blowstuffup]

We can just excuse it as AU if I mess up or sth.

Lina was never the type to give up hope on much of anything, even if she'd never say it out loud. Saccharine cheer-leading was always more of Amelia's forte than Lina's, and it was obvious why - even if it did bring the occasional welcomed smile on Zelgadis's face, it was always fleeting. Lina wasn't stupid. Short-sighted, maybe...but it's not like it took a genius to see what was on Zel's mind.

She didn't hide the fact that she was staring into his back. She knew as well as he did that this quest out would most likely bear no fruit. She claimed she was coming along to plunder ("another man's trash is this woman's treasure!" --or something), but honestly...as much as Zelgadis probably wanted to be alone when facing disappointment...he shouldn't be.

Ugh. Though why did everything have to be so quiet? So boring!!!

"Hey." Lina finally spoke up over the crunch of their footsteps. "Hey, Zel." She shortened her gait, increasing her pace a bit to catch up with him. "Hey."