Part Five: Icarus Rising
“Ok, Canna, put the stew pot next to the campfire, not on it!” Rune commanded, practically being throne into the house by the wind. Shaking off the rain like a wet dog he turned to Adee, who also seemed to be sopping wet. “You’ll have the sleep between Canna and I since Ms. Cranky doesn’t like to sleep next to me.”
“That’s cause he steals the blanky!” cried Canna, groaning as she changed her wet clothes to dry ones. Rune rolled his eyes and crossed his arms, blatantly ignoring his sister. “Anyways,” he sighed, “That’s ok with you, right Adee?” Once again trying to stifle a laugh she nodded in agreement.
“Alright good, we’ll warm up by the campfire, finish eating and then maybe if the entire planet doesn’t keep making a ruckus we can all get some rest.”
***
Another clap of thunder awoke Rune in a jump. He groaned, rolling onto his side and rubbed his tired eyes. Vision still blurry he looked around the room, first checking on Canna and – wait. Where was Adee? She was sleeping beside him, so where was she now? Probably got herself lost trying to pee, he thought, another groan as he sat up. It was probably pouring right now and if tonight was like any other winter it’d be freezing outside.
He grabbed the blanket beside him and stumbled out the door. It seemed however that he didn’t have to go very far to find Adee. In fact the moment the old worn door had been swung back towards him Rune had found her sitting on the last step, facing the harsh winds. She was still as a board, clasping an odd metal device, totally obvious to the idea that anyone was near her. Rune knelt down, wrapping the blanket over her shoulders. “Hey, what are you doing out here?” he asked, “You’ll turn into an icicle.” She jumped at his touch, turning to him, giant eyes even larger than usual. “Adee?” Rune repeated. Adee’s shoulders relaxed, a sigh shuttering from her nearly blue lips. “Sorry.” She mumbled but her apology wasn’t all to convincing.
“Uh… if you don’t mind me asking, what are you doing out here.” He asked.
“I um,” she sniffed, shivering under the tattered blanket, “just… a message, I – um, got a message from Daedalus.” There was a moment of silence – fear induced silence. Something was extremely wrong, something Adee must have heard or done.
“Is everything ok Adee? You look a little shaken up.”
“…Yeah. Yeah, there’s reasons for that.” Another sniffle as Adee looked behind her at the door, hoping Canna wouldn’t be waking up anytime soon. “Listen,” she admitted at last, “You need to hear something, please don’t tell Canna, please, please, please. Daedalus sent me a message, a message I wasn’t supposed to hear, it’s about Misori.”
“I won’t tell her a thing.”
She shifted in her place, taking the communication device in her hand once more before hitting a little grey button. “Just listen to this Rune… please.”
“You’ve heard anything about where Adee is?” Daedalus asked though the scratchiness of the speaker.
“No, no,” said a soft sultry voice that Rune assumed was Misori. “But I’m sure she’s with the human boy and if not? Then she’s frozen beneath the snow.”
“I know you may not like her, General, but she is still my partner, I do care if she lives or dies.”
“That makes one of us.”
A sigh, “Is there something that you needed Ms.?”
“Yes, I think we need to talk about the little human and your partner,”
“What about, exactly?”
“Tell me Daedalus, have you heard of the tale of Icarus? An ignorant fool who didn’t abide by the rules and flew to close to the sun and died?”
“…Not exactly how I remember the story, but yes, I know it quite well.”
“Thought so. Listen Daedalus, our friend and the human are… a little too rebellious; especially after just last night. Tell me, what exactly do you think about their little friendship?”
“I’m not sure I understand.”
“I think Adee is informing Rune about things a human shouldn’t know about and I don’t think he’s going to be so calm about the news. I think Rune has made a set of wings of wax and now? Now he’s flying a little to close to the sun. I think we need to help the poor boy before his wax wings melt.” A deep sigh before she muttered, “Icarus is rising, Daedalus.”
Adee – hands shaking – looked up at Rune, tears running down her eyes, “She knows, Rune.” She whispered, voice quivering as much as she was physically, “I don’t know what to do. Oh god I don’t know what to do, I’m scared.” She dropped the com and buried her face in her hands. “I threw you into this and now – now she’s after us. She knows! She wasn’t on our side, oh dear God!”
Rune grabbed her wrists; catching her attention, “Don’t say that, you didn’t do this.” He sighed, trying to keep himself calm, “I know you’re scared, I know but we’ll figure this out, I swear.” She pulled away from his grasp and threw her arms around Rune, nearly bawling into his shoulder. “How can you be so calm?” she cried, “When a solider like me, meant to be totally emotionless is terrified. How the hell do you feel?” Rune buried his head in her hair. He didn’t exactly know how to feel besides just… numb to the whole idea.
“You want to know how I feel?” he muttered, “Right this second?” She nodded. “I feel like you’re doing the best you can, that none of this is your fault and… I feel like I love you.”
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