~@~
Alice closed the encyclopedia and the multitude of reference manuals and stretched. When her back popped, she smiled with an “ahhh” before standing and gathering her things, stuffing papers and whatnot into her bag.
All she had to do now was plan what she would say when she met with the King and Queen. She pulled out a report cover, carefully positioned her typed report inside, and then delicately slid it between two of her textbooks so it wouldn't get wrinkled. Then she slung the bag over her shoulder and made sure she had cleaned up her mess by the typewriter before sending a smile and a wave to the librarian as she made her way outside.
“Well, it's about time.”
Alice halted outside the doors with a quick glance to her right. “What are you doing here, Eric?”
He approached with hands in pockets. “It was getting late, so I thought I'd walk you home.”
Alice arched an eyebrow. “Thanks.”
They made their way down the front steps.
“It’ll be weird without you around,” he said as he kicked a rock.
“Yeah. I know.” Alice adjusted her grip on the strap of her bag. “You can visit, you know.”
Eric shot her a glance. “And make you think I’m stuck on you?” He shook his head, his lips teased with a slight smile. “Nah.”
Alice laughed. “You would say that.”
“Hey, it’s all about me.”
She shook her head, catching herself scanning the little town with a tightening throat. Home had always been where her family and friends were. Now she was trying to leave it as fast as she could. “What if I don’t come back, Eric?” she asked quietly. “Gau says I might forget this place. But . . . .” She tucked some hair behind her ear and tightened her grip on the strap of her bag. She peeked at him. “Will I forget the Veldt and what I want to do?”
“I don't think so. I just know you have to at least try to do this.” He sent her an understanding look. “You can’t be spooked of what might happen. You know you’ll always regret it if you don’t do this. You’ll be miserable.”
She inclined her head as they arrived at her family's home. “Thanks, Eric.” She looked up at him. “A lot. I'll see you in class tomorrow. Right?”
“Yeah.” He pulled her into a hug. When he stepped back, he gave her a quirky smile and a wink. “Good night.”
She blinked up at him, completely nonplussed. “Good night.”
Then he turned and walked away, Alice staring after him. She shrugged it off and turned for her house, her pace slowing as she ascended the steps. She stared at the weathered door, her fingers curling tighter around the strap of her pack. Then she eased it off her shoulder to set it on the front porch and make her way toward her family's back yard: the Veldt. She lowered herself onto the hard ground, staring out at the dark earthy tones of the twilight sky as she tucked her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around her legs. She had fallen in love with the Veldt the first time she saw it. How can I forget this? It had become a part of her a long time ago.
Alice lowered her gaze to the ground near her, retrieving a pebble as a stealthy figure sat down beside her. She glanced over with a start and immediately smiled. “Hey, Gau. Couldn't sleep?”
He shook his head. “Thoughts be heavy this night. More strong than Gau. Sleep run far.”
For the first time since meeting him, his gaze never left the ground. More than that, though, was the tautness to his profile. It made her look at him a little different. “Hey. What's wrong?” Gau opened his mouth and immediately clicked it shut. He frowned. Alice had never seen him like this before. “Is it school?”
He shook his head again, more violently this time, and his frown deepened. He changed his focus to the Veldt with a deep breath, the anger and frown immediately fading.
Alice's expression lightened as she watched his profile in the moonlight. “You really love it here, don't you?”
Gau nodded, those feral eyes almost glowing as he glanced toward her. “Been here whole life. Even when go, Veldt here.” He touched his chest.
Alice looked away, her throat tightening as she remembered all the whispers and rumors as to why he lived alone on the Veldt. “Do you mind me asking why?”
“Why?”
“Yeah. Why did your father . . . you know.” She peeked at him only to catch him watching her. “Why did he make you grow up on the Veldt alone?”
Looking away, Gau retrieved the pebble from her fingers and rubbed at its surface. “Don’t know. Sabin say ‘cause mother die when Gau come. ‘Cause pain too big for father when see baby Gau.”
Alice watched the misery and loneliness flicker as shadows across his face. “Your dad blamed you for her death? He thought you--Oh, Gau. I’m so sorry.” And she finished the tear-filled comment with an arm around his bare shoulders and a tender squeeze. “It seems both of us have painful histories, doesn't it? You and your father and me and not having a home. Well, not until I came here.”
Gau didn't say anything, and there came a darkening to his eyes as he watched her face.
Alice gave his shoulders another squeeze. “You want to go for a walk? Out there?” She gestured to the Veldt with her other hand. “Just a short one? Maybe it will help?” He stood, helping her to her feet before walking silently beside her. Alice slipped her hands into the pockets of her jeans. “I can't tell you how much I appreciate all the help you've given me, Gau. You've really brought my paper to life. And it's been fun, too.” Her shoulder bumped against his arm as they walked. “The camp out, the swimming, the exploring of the cave, the stories. I'm glad you suggested the adventure. It has been a while since Eric, Carol, and me did something like that.”
“Me glad could help.”
Alice kicked a pebble. So many words tumbled in her mind that she didn't even know where to start.
“Alice sure go is right?”
She peeked at his profile. “For right now? Yes. I've always wanted to make something of myself, and now I have the chance. I'm going to miss this place, sure, but I have to try. I don't want to regret anything.”
“Not be same when go.”
She sighed and nodded. “I know. Eric said the same thing. But you can visit. You know where the Academy is probably better than Eric does.”
“Veldt Gau home. Leave Veldt, no breathe. No live.” He shook his head and pressed his lips together. “Veldt teach life. Teach Alice if stay.”
Alice stared at the rough growth at her feet. The Veldt, still struggling to heal. “I know it can teach me a lot. It already has. So have you. But if anything, you've taught me to tough this out. To not let anything change me or change my mind. Gau . . . .” She faced him and her eyes widened. “Gau, look out!”
A black shadow leapt from a pile of boulders, ramming into Gau with a roar and hiss. Gau and the thing hit the ground with a loud thud, knocking Alice off her feet as they tumbled past. When Alice's eyes zoomed in on Gau's fallen form, she couldn't tell if he moved or not, especially when the evening clouds blocked any moonlight. Then the creature shifted its focus to Alice and she was all-too-certain Gau wasn’t moving. Swallowing hard, her eyes flickered their focus from the thing’s gaze to Gau's still form under its massive paws, and back to the beast. It licked the blood from its jaws and moved toward her.
“Gau?”
The thing rumbled and hissed, exposing jagged teeth as it cautiously moved toward her. The moon escaped from behind the clouds and shined on the creature, glistening off the purple scales of its neck and head and the massive lion-like body. Alice paled. An Adamant! Of the Baskervor family, they were much, much, much meaner.
Her gaze darted back to Gau as she shuffled herself backward. One of his shoulders sported a jagged wound which glistened with blood, but he had managed to push himself up onto one elbow. He shook his head once, twice. The moonlight faded again as the Adamant sounded another warning growl. Alice saw the silhouette of Gau's head rise and his eyes met hers.
“Gau?” Her voice crack
ed.
The Adamant crouched, shuffling its shoulders and settling onto its back legs for the spring.
Gau’s eyes sparked with alarm. “No! Not Alice!”
It pounced, and Alice threw her hands out to protect herself, screaming at the explosion of pain in her shoulder and arm. A weight crushed down on her, forcing the air from her lungs as the pain grew to agony--a heavy chink sounded and the weight vanished, a small rock dropping beside her with a dull thud.
The Adamant's focus shifted to Gau, and the beast seemed to grin.
Scurrying backwards, Alice cried and whimpered in pain, her eyes not shifting from Gau as he again gave his head several shakes. Then his focus zeroed in on the Adamant, those feral eyes flaming with rage. Alice had never seem him so . . . terrifying. But the Adamant only hissed and hunkered down, again adjusting its back haunches.
“Gau, be careful,” she choked out, holding her arm close.
The Adamant sprung and Gau caught it in the stomach with a fist, knocking it away. It landed on its feet, wheezing and growling before beginning a menacing circle around Gau, who followed its movements with those see-everything eyes.
The beast leapt again and Alice screamed, covering her face when the beast bit into Gau’s arm. She heard one of his hits make contact, thought she heard a crack and liquid-filled growl, and lowered her hands to reveal Gau leaning over the Adamant's still body.
The moon peeked through some thinning clouds.
A red hue slowly faded from Gau’s skin as he straightened, and when he turned to move toward her she noticed what looked to be bubbles popping over his head. They stopped appearing altogether by the time he knelt beside her.
“Alice?” Gau queried, voice taut with concern as he brushed some hair from her face. Then he cautiously reached out to gently examine the bite on her arm, cringing while voicing a hushed “Alice hurt,” as his eyes darkened with actual fear.
When he moved his tender touch to an examination of the claw and bite marks on her shoulders, Alice hiccupped on her tears and pushed his hands away, pulling him into a tight hug of relief and terror while choking out his name.
His arms encircled her, drawing her close. “Gau sorry. Thoughts make blind. Make Alice hurt.” His arms tightened their hold. “Gau sorry.”
Sniffling, Alice couldn’t voice anything but another tear-filled call of his name. She had never stepped that close to death--stared into its very eyes--and she had never felt so much terror for anyone in her entire life.
“Alice, we go. Blood bring more.” Gau tried to push back, but her arms resisted. “Alice. Danger. Go.” He tried again, but she couldn’t force her mind or body to obey. Her arms simply would not loose their hold of his neck. He scooped her up into his arms and stood. “We go. Take Alice be safe,” he told her, repeating “Gau promise. Gau promise,” as he ran toward town.