It ran in the family.

That was what he said and walked away chuckling. I had to build an immunity around the couple. They were having too much fun with me.

The day just didn't seem to end. I looked out and about and realised that the house sat on top of a hill with gentle slopes. I noticed other houses on the horizon but they were too far about. The greenery danced with the occasional breeze under the clear sky.

How long was i going to be here for?

"It's not that bad here", he returned and handed me a strange looking fruit."except for- well, anyway, I'll have you know that i also came here by accident"

He had my attention.

"I was out on a hunt", his eyes stared into an empty space."i must've wandered from the trail, I'm not sure now, but it started to rain and i tried to find cover, you see-"

His brown cloak that buttoned at the neck reached his ankle, and almost touched his heavy looking boots.

"-then i heard someone singing, it was faint and distant. I tried to let my ears guide me",he chuckled and shook his head. He looked conflicted. Then he turned to look at me."guess where I ended up?"

Was it a rhetorical question, i couldn't tell.

"At the Castle's gate",he shook his head laughing."Gable wasn't around that time, the Keepers couldn't send me back. I thought I was going to lose my mind. You're pretty collected for a first timer, it's quite baffling"

Collected? Was that how i looked?

"When you don't travel through gates, you can't go back through the conventional route. You need the help of a seasoned Keeper to vouch for you."

Vouch for me?

"Someone willing to give up their cloak in exchange for your return"

My chest tightened. That wasn't fair. I looked at the light bounce off his chestnut hair and his glistening apologetic eyes.

"I'm sorry, Blue",he meant it."If I could I would, but I'm not at that level where i can make such a bargain."

Bargain.

"Not me, not Nara", he looked behind me and his voice softened, as though it pained him to say the next words."and not him"

"What about you?", I asked.

Could he not find a keeper, or did he choose to stay? With Nara.

He seemed to brighten at the question."Well I'm here, aren't i?", he grinned."it's a long story. I'll save it for the next time"

He motioned for me to look behind.

I walked back into the room and looked around."Where did he go?"

"I wouldn't know, Blue", he shrugged."nobody knows where he goes"






© rubix_