Bran paused for a moment, not sure if he should voice his true opinions on her brother or not, he was after all the only family she had. He finally sighed and answered the question, "Honestly I have no idea, but does the arrogant fool really like anyone but himself? He doesn't treat you much better than he treats the rest of us after all."

"He actually does treat me better, when we're alone," Kari-Bliss looked down, "But in public, he makes it appear he doesn't care so no one can use me against him."

She sighed, softly. "It's alright though. He's the only person who cares about me; I can put up with it."

Bran shrugged again, "Well he has a real screwed up way of showing that he cares, to truly care means not being ashamed to show that you care in front of others.."

As they arrived at the entrance to the library Bran paused to open the door and leaned against it for a moment, clearly out of breath from the walk there.

Kari-Bliss looked at him worried, stepping closer. "Bran? Don't be stubborn if you need help, just ask."

Faroak turned and saw the door shut. He heard something about "tomorrow" but didn't notice completely what it was. He really didn't care. He was to sad and angry with himself to even acknowlege it. He hated himself. He hated that he left his parents at his home. He couldn't stand to see that happen to someone else. Faroak sat up and walks out the door, slamming it on his way out.

Taking quick shallow breaths Bran managed to calm his breathing and said, "I'll be fine, trust me, I've been dealing with this for years. It will pass, and once I get sat down in here it will be much better for me." Quickly covering his mouth he went into another quick coughing fit and turned away from her, hating his cough more than ever.

He knew a lot of people were always whispering about how they were going to catch what he had from all this coughing, how the big rumors were that his condition was a highly contagious disease and that he was going to end up making every last one of them sick as he was. This of course was crazy talk, not only was his condition genetic, it was not contagious in the slightest, and the cough wasn't even related to his physical health but an unfortunate side effect of the night his mother had been murdered.

Kari-Bliss jumped at a door slamming near by, but continued to watch Bran, worried. Slowly, she sat down by him and put a hand on his leg.

"Well, I'm here if you ever do need anything."

She remembered the day she met Bran, how her brother had instantly disliked him and she herself had secretley vowed to take care of him and become his friend. It was one of the reasons the other girls in Riverridge disliked her; instead of gushing over boys, she was always on the sidelines, watching out for Bran, or defending him. Even though she didn't really get why; she'd stick up for him.

And it was slowly driving a wedge between her and her twin.

"Even if it's just to talk," She smiled again, forgetting her brother for a second.

Bran gave a half shrug and muttered a quick, "I'll keep that in mind." He then reached into one of the large pockets in the cargo pants he was wearing and pulled out a book with a plain leather cover. There was no title on the book, no author, and no other markings at all that might indicate what the book was. He then opened it to a page he had marked previously and started to read silently, content to lose himself in its contents.

Kari-Bliss smiled again and then stood up, "I gotta go pack, I guess I'll meet all of you tommorow," Then headed off to her room.



The Next Morning Kari-Bliss yawned, laying over her desk with her bag across her lap. ONly her brother would choose to wake them up at dawn to get them early; and she'd had trouble getting to sleep in the first place.

The morning had come too soon, especially for someone who constantly woke up in the night coughing himself hoarse. But none the less he had to make his way to the check point and meet with the others, as much as he was against the idea.

He hurriedly brushed his hair, making it presentable before pulling on a smoke gray tank top, a pair of black cargo pants with plenty of pockets, steel-toed combat boots, and a sleeveless trench coat also with plenty of pockets. He had to travel light, so he always preferred to only carry what he could get into his pockets.

He gathered up his usual pocket clutter, namely his knife, PDA, some loose cash and change, and of course his medication. He then picked up the leather bound book he had been reading and placed it into his coat pocket before grabbing his cane from the urn by the door where he kept it and heading out to meet the others.

Faroak trudged over to the tree in one of the corners of the village. You always liked sleeping in trees. He even turned down the cabin the school offered him. He climbed the tree with cat-like grace. He was beginning to take on the traits of the animals he turned into. He lied there, conflicted. He couldn't take his mind off of Kari-Bliss and Cain's argument and his arguments with his parents. He began to slowly cry himself to sleep.

Cain nudged her lightly with his foot, and his twin instantly turned and slappped him. "gah!" he stumbled back, frowning, "PMS KB, what's with you?"

"YOU WOKE ME UP AT THE BREAK OF DAWN FOR NO REASON!" She put her head back down, grumbling.

(She is NOT a morning person.)

The next morning Faroak woke up laying on is back. He began to sit up and realized to late that he was laying on a thin branch. The second his weight shifted the branch snapped. He tumbled to the ground and landed on his stomach(like cats always do). He couldn't breathe for a moment but he quickly regained his breath and sat up.

"Damn," He lifted his shirt and looked at his chest. It was bruised in certain places where he had landed on rocks and sticks.

"Not the best time to get injured," he stodd up and wound his arm in a windmill type motion,"Right before we're getting sent out on a mission."

Faroak limped over towards the school and leaned against the wall outside the main door. He looked up at the sky and caught his breath. He just stood there waiting for Kari-Bliss and Bran to show up.

Cain slowly nudged her again, "We should get outside for the others."

Kari-Bliss slowly stood up, mumbling curses at him, and dragged herself outside, nearly running into Faroak. She scowled darkly, "WATCH IT! People are walking here!" She grunted and slid down against the wall, eyes half-closed.

Faroak startled at her yelling at him and hit his head on the wall.

"DAMN IT! What is it this morning. I keep getting hit and bruised every where I go..."

Faroak rubbed the back of his head and glanced at Kari-Bliss who seemed to be half-asleep.

He smiled and said, "Did Cain wake you up? I can tell by how sleepy you are that you wouldn't have gotten up this early yourself."