A Meadow of Sorrow

[Loyal]

Loyalty ran in, tears streaming down her face. Equanimity shall never love me! I was so stupid! she cried to Nalea, who was trailing behind her. He loves the girl in the picture. I should've known! She dropped to her knees, her eyes staring at nothing.

Nalea ran to her, panting and squeaking in concern. Loyalty, you shouldn't have done that! Who knows what might happen to him now that you're gone? That girl must've left him; He must miss her terribly.

Loyalty glared at the summon. I thought you were trying to get me away from him! You lying traitor! she screamed at the chinchilla. Nalea's eyes grew wide with hurt.

Loyalty picked up the chinchilla. Nalea, I'm sorry. I'm just hurt. My chest is tight and pained. She whimpered. Nalea nuzzled her, squeaking softly.

I really thought he cared for me.......

[Sean]

Othel flew over Loyalty a few times. Then gracefully landed in front of them. He brushed the snow off of him. Then gave a low bow. The Idiot is here. It was to get Loyalty happier hopefully. Othel looked up from his bow with a large grin. He winked at Nalea. Missed me?

Othel was a minute behind Othel. For two major reasons. First was that Othel was extremely fast when flying. Usually someone running would be faster. But Othel was a summon so he had many years to know how to become much faster. Lastly was that Equanimity hasn't ran in a long time.

So when Equanimity came to where Loyalty was he tripped and rolled to behind her he was panting heavily. He tried to talk but started to gasp for breath. It took him a few seconds before he could start to talk. But he had to breath between a few words.

"Just. . . Let me. . . Catch. . . My breath. . . Ask. . . Any questions. . . You. . . Want." He continued to try to slow his heart. It was helping but not very quickly. So to hear what Loyalty was going to say Equanimity started to not breath so heavily.

[Loyal]

Nalea grinned when she saw Othel. Yes, I really did! she answered him. But do NOT let Loyalty know. She'll kill me! But Nalea laughed just the same. She was glad to see the squirrel again. It freaked her out.

Loyalty turned to see Equanimity panting on the ground. She couldn't help but smile a bit, but it quickly vanished. She stuck her tongue out at him. "Jerk," she mouthed, not wanting to speak to him yet. He hurt her, just like her friend. And that thought made tears sting her eyes.

She glared at him. "Don't act like him. You hurt me, just like he did. This is why I don't trust people that can resist my spell. Now you know." And then she turned her back on him. She hugged Nalea tighter, scared.

[Sean]

Othel chuckled. Ya I can see why. He then looked up at Loyalty. you aren't every good at calming her down are you? He gave Nalea a warm smile.

Equanimity was breathing easier. He sat up and looked at Loyalty. He laughed. He saw what she couldn't. "The difference between that guy and me is that he never saw the inside of you. He couldn't see how your mind works. He did what he did out of his own stupidity." Equanimity laid back down. He gave a sigh. Then knew what was eating at her mind.

"Do you want to know how the girl is in the neckless?" I was that though that was keeping her in this mood. Hopefully what he will say will put her in a better mood.

[Loyal]

Naleanuzzled her master, hearing her heart calm. I'm better at calming her down than you are at showing Equanimity how love works. She smiled back. Don't worry; This won't last long. This happens every so often, squirrel. She turned to Loyalty. Tell him the truth. Don't lie, or I'll attack him. Eat his nose or something. She eyed Othel as Loyalty laughed. See? I can make her happy!

Loyalty turned to Equanimity, smiling. "No. I want nothing to with that what's-her-face. I don't want to know. I-" she paused, then looked at Nalea, warm in her arms. "I'm......just glad you came. That's all. And you too, Othel." Nalea turned to Equanimity, eyeballing him. Fine.Kiss her, whatever, but remember I'm right here. Make her happy; And NO WINE! She hates it!

[Sean]

Othel snorted. You need to stop calling me squirrel! And so that you know it isn't exactly wine. I call it more like grape juice. Then Othel laid down on the ground. he gestured with his head for Nalea to join him.

Equanimity gave a smirk. "Gladly." He had been waiting for this. Without warning he kissed Loyalty. With the kiss he put a much passion and affection as possible into her. He moved himself slightly away from her face but still close enough for her to kiss him for once. On his face was an even bigger smirk.

"Your summons orders. What do you think? Better than the last two?" And he really wanted to know. Because he knows what to say if she says no or yes.

[Loyal]

Nalea smiled. You ARE a squirrel, aren't you? she asked him. She jumped towards him. She could hear Loyalty's heart pounding loud enough to wake the dead. Jeez, she does make a big deal out of him, doesn't she? Nalea didn't turn around to she her master. She still didn't like Equanimity kissing her. She rolled her eyes. Othel, do you think he'll stay with her? I want her to be happy, no matter what I think.

Loyalty smiled when he kissed her. At least he still liked her. She kissed him back, lightly though. "Yes, it was. Equanimity, will you stay with me?" she asked, scared that he'll say no, he had to leave. "Do you love me, too? Well, at least, do you think you love me?" She had to know. No matter the answer, she had to know.

Don't worry, Nalea told Loyalty. I think he'll stay.

[Sean]

Ha ha ha. Othel shook his head. He looked over at Equanimity and smiled. He saw the energy that he was flowing into Loyalty. Then Othel looked up at Nalea. Ya, he will. Othel thought about it. Well. . . What would you think if they. . . He gestured with his hand like it was a ring. He made it clear in the tone of his voice that he was joking.

Equanimity's face never changed. He kissed her on the check. "I will stay with you as long as you follow me. And you know I can't feel love but I know that I love you." He kept his face close to Loyalty's. He moved his body closer to hers. He may not feel that he is in love but he knows that his being is.

Othel looked over at Nalea. Do you think it is possible for summons to fall in love? He was asking this because he had a small feeling inside him. He didn't know what it was yet. But he hoped to find out.

[Loyal]

Nalea stuck her tongue out at the squirrel. You wouldn't dare! No! Loyalty falling in love with Equanimity is enough for me. But no, You wouldn't!! But she was smiling. Remember, I can always bite your master's nose off, she teased. But it looks like we'll be traveling together for awhile.

Loyalty's smile was shy. "Then Equanimity," she whispered. "I shall follow you forever. And I shall never leave your side," she promised. Do you mind, Nalea? she asked her summon.

No, as long as you are happy. Which you clearly are.

[Sean]

Othel laughed. Then after a few seconds he controlled himself. I guess so. That means we need to know each other better. Othel was taking a risk with doing this. Maby she was worth it. If not then this is going to be a long forever.

Equanimity looked into Loyalty's eyes. Then gave her a long kiss. He held on to it for more that a few seconds. Now the bond was made. He gave her a warm smile. "So where do you want to go to now?" There was a small part of him that wanted her to say for them to stay here. Then a thought came to his mind. But it would depend on if she wanted them to stay here.

[Loyal]

Loyalty sighed. "I don't want to anywhere, Equanimity. I want to stay here, in this Meadow of Sorrow. But now it's one of joy and happiness." She glanced at Nalea, picking up her distress. "Uh, Equanimity? I think Othel's bothering Nalea. She's upset." Come, Nalea, Loyalty called to her. Nalea hopped to her master, nuzzling her knee. Good, now tell me whats wrong.

It's nothing, master. But Loyalty could tell she was lying. Loyalty patted her head, then turned back to Equanimity, love clouding her eyes. she smiled slightly, glad she was with him.

Forever.

[Sean]

Equanimity's mind started to think very fast. He first looked around. The meadow wasn't a very good place for what he had in mind. Then he remembered the ruins that they were first at. A grin started to form on his face. He then looked into Loyalty's eyes. "I have an idea. It might sound crazy but it will work. I am thinking that we rebuild the ruins that we were at! We wont be able to build anything here if we wanted to stay here. So why not build a house at the ruins?"

Equanimity stood up as a new idea came to mind. "If we are going to build there then why not have more people join us? I am not talking about other Immortals. I am talking about humans. Lot and lots of humans. I would think that there would be lots of people who would want to live there. Of course we would need to travel to other towns to find people to help out. So we wouldn't be able to stay here for a while. But in the end we wouldn't need to go anywhere else. What do you think?" His face showed of that of a genus.

Othel had a face of sadness. He wasn't listening to Equanimity. He was thinking of what he did wrong to make Nalea become this way. He sent his thought only to her so not to disturb the other two. Did I do something wrong? If I did please tell me and I will apologize.

[Loyal]

Loyalty looked really confused as Equanimity was explaining his plan. Then she burst out laughing, falling over on the grass. "No....!" she struggled for breath. "Equanimity......You don't listen to me.....at all!!" She sat up, still giggling. "I said I wanted to see the world, not build a house! That's boring! Traveling is my dream come true!" She threw her hands in the air for a more dramatic effect.

"See, I don't like to be in one place for too long. My life is about exploring. I always want to know more about my surroundings. It's my life. I'm sorry about your house idea, but that's not the kind of life I want. Do you understand?" She looked at him, hope brimming in her eyes. Her patted his head, eyes full of her love for him. She kissed his cheek. "I hope you do."

Nalea hopped back to Othel, eyes becoming annoyed. Othel, you're so dense. I just don't feel the same way, squirrel, and I never will. Sorry. I love only Loyalty, and that is the only person I shall ever care that much about. But I already consider you my closest friend, which is an improvement. For me.

[Sean]

Equanimity shrugged. His face was still full of excitement. Then a new idea came to his head. "Alright. We don't live there. But what he do is we travel from town to town to find more people to come here to build there own home. But with the first group we would have to stay here for a few days. But after that we can explore everywhere! Once in a while we come back to there to see how everything is going. Then we can talk to the people that come there from all over. They can tell us story's of places that we have never been to! Then we can travel there! What do you think?"

Othel was in shock. He tried to come up with words. But none would come out of his mouth. Then a tear hit the ground. He looked down at the ground. More hit where he looked. His mind couldn't think of anything. Then without any warning he flew off. He only went about 50 yards away from Nalea before he crashed to the ground. He seemed to shake. But he had been in this type of cold before. He was crying. But he was far enough away so that no one could hear him. His heart was gone. All that was left was tears.

Equanimity looked off to where Othel went. His face changed to total confusion. He then looked at Nalea. "What happened?" He truly didn't know what was going on between them.

[Loyal]

Loyalty's smile was sad. "If that's what you really want, Equanimity. And as for Othel, I think he just got rejected." She shot a knowing smile at her summon, who rolled her eyes. "anyways, do what you want, but I want to leave soon. This meadow is giving me the creeps!" As if in answer, the wind howled through the dying grass, and Loyalty shivered, though not just with cold. She thought she heard a whisper of a spirit, but it was gone in a second. She looked back at Equanimity instead.

Nalea looked sadly at Othel. Uh, Equanimity, I think I might have hurt Othel. I think he really LOVED me. But I had to tell him that I could never feel the same way. I only love Loyalty, and that's all. I'm sorry to have hurt him, but it's the truth. Maybe you should talk to him. I don't want to hurt him any more.

Loyalty picked up her chinchilla and patted her head. It's okay; You were telling the truth. I didn't know summon's could love, really. She looked confused for a second, but just shrugged. Oh well. Equanimity will talk to him, I'm sure!