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Sorry this is so long, guys!

“Where does it hurt?” Qatar’s voice was softer than usual.

“Everywhere.” Quin almost whimpered. “Like it did that day—”

“Shut up! Is anything broken?”

Quin blathered to a stop and swallowed. “I don’t think so. I don’t know. Where’s Niarok? He coiuld tell.”

Qatar looked up, his dark eyes searching for Niarok. “He’s busy. Can you stand?”

“I don’t think so. Maybe?”

“Maybe isn’t an option. Come on, try.”

 

Quin pushed himself into a sitting position. Pain spidered down his ribs. If I didn’t break anything, I sure did bruise it.

As Qatar pushed himself to a standing position, a look like pain flashed across his face, and he stood still a moment, swaying and breathing hard.

What happened? And how come is he wet?

“Qatar, what happen—”

“Come on, can you stand?” Qatar interrupted.

“I need my crutches.” He said it so quietly no one else could hear. They were too busy arguing about a newcomer’s cough to notice, anyway.

“Misu!” Qatar barked. “Where’s the boy’s crutches?”

The man who had been shining started and turned around. “What? Oh, the crutches…um,” he seemed confused and a little distressed, and Quin wished Qatar wouldn’t shout at people so much.

“Well, get them, will you? Instead of just standing there.”

Misu scuttled off and returned quickly with one crutch.

Quin’s heart sank. Here we go again. He tried not to look at Locran. I don’t need any more help from him. Once in a day is enough!

Qatar handed the crutch to him, and Quin started to push himself up. At last he was standing, and leaning heavily on the one crutch.

Introductions were going around, but Quin barely heard them. Walking was hard enough. But he couldn’t help but overhear some.

“I’ve never told my name to so many people at once.”  That was Locran talking. Quin cocked his head.

Why is that?

He didn’t realize he’d spoken until Locran answered. Then he gave a sharp nod to Quin who was hobbling along. “You getting on all right lad?”

Quin nodded slowly. His cheeks flushed.

Locran smirked “Ye gave us a right scare. Try not to do that again, okay?”

Right. I’m always giving people ‘right scares’. Can’t even go looking for my brother without making more trouble for everyone.

All he said was, “I’ll try.”

By the time he made it back to where the others were he was breathing hard. Locran insisted on glancing his direction, asking with his eyes if he could do anything to help.

He felt more self-conscious then ever limping into camp all hunched over one crutch. He could feel Leytera’s clear eyes looking him up and down, and his face flushed.

He came close to the fire and looked around. Great. Not anything to sit on. Sitting down looked more like a lurch and a fall, and everyone in the group, except maybe the two new-comers and Yila took an instinctive step towards him. His cheeks grew even warmer, and he didn’t look up.