31 a night at Ryirawras home (1/2)

The road ended at the village of broken walls. Parking the car wasn't a challenge. The twins jumped out faster than the engine could come to a stop. Jerry and I joined them in the darkness of the night, and there was a long silence which felt like us paying respect. And it seemed like the village accepted us, for the night brightened and we could see much more. Or, it might just be our eyes adjusting to the night. I knew what Dia would choose.

Dia took the lead, wordlessly, and we followed, silently. The village wasn't big. Took us less than a half hour to walk a long lap around the outside. There wasn't much to see either. The difference in the extent of the brokenness made the walls seem even less different from each other. There was an air of ancientness about the place, making the cold night feel less chilly, almost as if the breath of the Nashi was warming the night for us.

At the end of the lap, Dia walked into the village. In unhesitant steps. I saw the knowing in the eyes of Jerry and Pratt, and I knew where we were going.

”We'll stay the night here,” she said, in front of a house indistinguishable from the rest. ”It's Ryirawra's.”

I wasn't surprised. Jerry smiled at me appreciatively.

”You're smart,” Pratt praised tonelessly.

Dia glared at him. Pratt voiced the words in her head before she could.

”I dare you to be disrespectful one more time.”

He sounded like her too. Like an annoyed Dia.

She pursed her lips, shooting daggers at his careless smile, and turned away.

”I'm going to be ignored tonight,” Pratt moaned.

Jerry sighed. Dia walked in. Pratt followed. I was the last to enter. And I was dazed.

I was standing between four broken walls, no roof over my head, nothing differentiating the outside from the inside. But I felt like I was actually inside a home. The warmth felt very real. The quiet ringing in my ears didn't feel anything like an illusion. I could almost smell the scent of life, the scent of home. And I was sure, if I closed my eyes, I could see it too. The home with Ryirawra breathing and smiling as she looked out the window.

The twins were standing by Ryirawra's window, holding hands, looking out, seeing the lightning trees that were so easily visible. Jerry was resting in a corner, readying for sleep.

”You'll be fine, won't you?” Jerry asked me.

The twins looked over before I could answer.

”What's that supposed to mean?” Dia asked back.

”Exactly what it means,” Jerry answered. ”Oh, I get it. It's not for you two. You'll be fine. I'm asking Dean. Will you be able to sleep on the hard ground?”

The twins' eyes flashed. I knew what they were going to ask.

”I'll be fine,” I said to Jerry. ”I think I will be.”

”We can make a bed for you,” Jerry said. ”We've got the things to make it a night of camping.”

I wasn't sure. I had never gone camping. I had certainly never slept on hard ground.