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“Like it? I heard siblings can be a pest sometimes,” Acyn smiled, rather wryly.

like it… a year ago Quin would have told him that siblings were the best relationships in the world; that his brother was his best friend; that they could tell what the other was thinking without ever saying it.

But now?

Quin shrugged. “It’s not…always easy to get along with siblings, I guess. But I had great childhood–we did everything together.”

“And you–you’re an only child? Er, I mean to say, where did you grow up? What’s it like?”

Acyn nodded, apparently unbothered by the question.

“No, I don’t have siblings. I don’t know if I should be grateful or sorry. As for that, where didn’t I grow up? The most specific I can be is the eastern half of the country, most of the time.”

He got a far off look in his eyes as he searched for a way to describe the past years.

“As for what it was like… We traveled around a lot. I’ve seen a lot of the country, but I’m glad I can stay in one place now. It’s a lot less–” I gestured vaguely. “Unstable.”

He stopped, and a look that wasn’t altogether happy crossed his face.

Maybe it wasn’t any easier to be separated from you family. then perhaps it would be better if that family never existed at all…one look at Acyn’s face gave him the answer. Neither was better.

Acyn shook my head as if something were in it he was trying to shake out.

Quin frowned. That bad, huh?

“And you? I thought you said you were a farmer?”

Quin’s eyes shifted away. Just like Pa’s…

“That’s right–or, I guess you could say I was.” he fell silent. The words seemed too heavy to say; and the memories hurt too much to stir. But he could feel Acyn sinking again, thinking he had messed everything up. Quin struggled to say something–anything. For a few moments nothing happened, and Acyn seemed to be loosing interest, staring off across the stream where Sahar was flying by like a streak of sunlight.

“I mean, my family still farms.” There. It was out. Acyn turned back to him. Now I’ve got to go on. “I can’t do much with the crops anymore. I help Grace…in the house.”

It hurt just as much to say it as he thought it would, but Acyn didn’t react, which made it a little more bearable.

He answered hurriedly before the conversation by the stream caught both our interests.

The pretty new girl seemed to be getting a little more comfortable. A man in armour Quin hadn’t seen before had handed her something that obviously tasted delicious, and Sahar had already introduced herself.

“So what’s going on?” Leytara asked.

“We’re all doomed to die horribly and now you’ve joined us.” Acyn spoke up from beside Quin. “I’m Acyn,” he added, a little too late to be any good.

So that’s what’s going on. In all the confusion and fear, and after that the memories, Quin had forgotten wonder at the strangeness of the whole situation.

Sahar glared at Acyn.

“Was that necessary?”

“It’s the truth. ” He sounded surprised.

“Nobody has actually gotten hurt besides Yila and we’ll probably be fine.” Sahar ignored him and spoke to Leytara.

Acyn snorted.

Quin raised his eyebrows. what’s up with those two?

“Something wrong? You seem annoyed.” Acyn was talking to Sahar, but Quin stopped listening. He was looking at Leytara instead. Someone I can finally look in the eyes without looking up…

“I’m Quin. You said you were Leytara?” He almost gulped in surprise. He hadn’t meant to say anything until he could watch her awhile longer and get comfortable.