Young Writers Society

*Let's not let this one die!*

The others followed me up onto the bank and under the canopy. Gin took the lead and I fell back to one side, practicing stopping myself from being heard.

"How far is the village?" Sandy asked.

"A few miles!" Gin called back. "Not far."

Lathe caught up with me. "What are you doing?" he asked.

"Practicing walking."

He laughed. "You need practice."

"I mean walking quietly, sneaking," I answered. "It's hard on the leaves here."

He tried to follow suit, but though he made a good attempt, he made much more noise than I did. I even let out a laugh.

"Hey, I'm a warrior, not an assassin," he said.

"I'll give you that," I answered. "But it can still be useful. Watch and learn."

"Is this Lesson Number Two?" he asked.

I stopped and turned my head to look him in the eye. "I guess it is," I said, returning the smile he gave me.

**not while im around**
[Lathe]

"Was that a... smile?" Lathe grinned, mocking complete shock.

Chandra rolled her eyes, ignoring him, and continued on. Lathe watched her feet carefully, noticing how she transfered her weight smoothly.

"So how many lessons are there?" Lathe asked, trying to keep her in a good mood.

"You'll see," she replied, smiling to herself.

Lathe sighed dramatically and looked around at the forest, wondering how long this was going to take. He wasn't good at being patient, he hated monotonous things.

"I'm gonna see if I can see the town from here," Lathe informed Chandra, his palms itching already from boredom.

He climbed up the nearest tree, and looked out at the surrounding area. Straight ahead of them was a small town, "I think I see it!"

"Great, but that doesn't make it any closer. Come on," Chandra said.

Lathe climbed down, trying not to fall. He needed something to do, something to keep his mind occupied.

"Don't fall!" I mocked him as he jumped out of the branches.

"Please, do I ever fall?" he asked walking back over.

I stuck my foot out. He stumbled slightly but didn't fall flat like I was hoping, regaining his balance smoothly.

"Sometimes," I said with a smirk.

"I was expecting that," he said.

"Sure you were," I said, jogging a little further ahead.

"So hey, what's put you in such a good mood anyhow?" he called.

"The forest," I called back. "I spent my whole life in cities. A forest was my idea of paradise."

"And the village?"

"It's good enough. But come on, hurry up, or we won't get there by sundown."

[Lathe]

"Yes ma'm," Lathe replied, giving a stiff salute. He jogged up next to her, bumping into her playfully.

She stumbled then turned and glared at him.

"My bad," he grinned, flinching away when she pushed him back.

**I have to go, but I'll be back later today. Feel free to do whatever you want with him. :wink**

Chandra-

"Ouch," he said, rubbing his arm. "That hurt."

"You are such a wimp!" I said.

He grinned and stood up straight. "Not really. You're actually a weakling."

I glared at him.

"Okay, okay, I take it back, ow, I think you've killed me, ow!" he said, hopping about and grinned. I rolled my eyes.

"If only looks could kill," he muttered.

"They can. Last time I caught a guy looking at me funny, I stabbed him."

Lathe recoiled.

I laughed. "You act like you have no sense of humour!"

"That wasn't funny. At all," he said. "Besides, I've never heard you make a joke before."

I shrugged. "Probably because I don't make them."

"Yeah, good thing too, because that wasn't very good."

I glared at him again. "Okay, tell me a good joke then..."

[Lathe]

"You want lessons from the master?" Lathe asked, eyes going wide with mock surprise.

"Sure, wherever he is," Chandra answered sarcastically.

Lathe glared, fighting a smile, "Well I'm afraid I can't just go around giving out jokes."

Chandra crossed her arms, half smiling, and waited for him to go on.

"So I'm afraid you're out of luck," he concluded, mocking sorrow.

"Oh darn," Chandra muttered, rolling her eyes.

"Quite a tragedy I know. So when are we going to get there?"

**grr sorry my brain is kind of half-dead**

Chandra-

"Once we crest that hill the main road down to the town starts, I think," I said, pointing.

"So once the woods end, does evil Chandra return?"

"Probably," I said.

"I'd like nice Chandra to stick around for a while, she's decent enough."

I shrugged. "You might see her again."

We had fallen behind the rest of the group.

"Come on, we need to catch up," I said, hurrying to be level with everybody else.