"You're gonna feel the cut soon."

Delotrè, because he had no sense of urgency, sat down in the middle of the field and actually started to pick stalks of wheatgrass out of the ground and wrap them around his finger.

"I'm so glad you can occupy your time. And how old are you? I think the last time I played with grass was when I was 6-years-old. Also, I was a little girl." Irritation was more than a little obvious in my tone, but I would not lose patience. I kept my gaze fixed on my incredibly lazy brother. I would not look anywhere else, especially not to my left leg just above my knee, where there's a three-inch-long gash just starting to bleed. I'm pretty sure it's three-inches-long, at least. There's no way to confirm it because I can not look at it.

"Let me check it out." He moved toward me. I stepped back.

"I'm fine."

"No, I'm pretty sure you're not. It's turning pink." I tried not to flinch when we said that, but I was not able to stop a lone shiver from escaping.

"Yeah, I know. Rust. It's probably infected. But listen! We need to get home."

"We still have a mile to go, and I don't think you should be walking on that." He pointed at my leg again, and again, I shivered. "You are in way too much of a hurry," he continued, "I'm pretty sure Eathös will be able to wait..."

"Eathös?! No..." I sighed. Oh, how could I explain it to him? Sure, yes, I want to see Eathös. Good job, Delotrè. But could you please get the idea that I'm in love with him out of your head? It'd be much appreciated. "It's not him I'm going back to."

"Then... Who is it you so desperately need to see?" He had that half-smirk he always gets when he thinks he's about to win. It drives me insane. I don't want to let him win... But he'll turn my words against me if I say anything. I can't explain the real reason, though. I can't tell him secrets I promised I would tell no one. Even though he's my brother. I guess I'll let him win, then. I'll sigh, then smile and blush. Let him get a kick out of it.

"Okay," I said, "Fine. Can we go now?" He just laughed.

"No. You're being completely irrational. Look at your leg."

"Umm... No thanks. If I do, then I'll feel it."

"Ariana, just look at it." So, I did. And the image I had formed in my mind - small bits of red-soaked muscle and torn, slightly mangled flesh that dripped streaks of thick blood - was downright modest in comparison to the real thing. I screamed.

"How could you let me walk on that?!?!" Immediately, my balance gave way and I plopped forcefully onto my butt. I felt dizzy. Delotrè didn't laugh, though.

"Are you okay?" Oh, now he shows real concern.

"Yes, I am. Thank you. Oh, wait... Where's my kneecap? I seem to have lost it."

"Eww... Don't be gross. I'm pretty sure your knee's still there... It's just covered over with swollen... stuff. And I'm pretty sure you'd feel a missing knee right away."

"Probably not. High pain tolerance, remember?" I glanced back at my gaping wound. "Yeah... I'm gonna be sick."

"You are unbelievable. Well, at least you don't have to worry about gangrene or anything."

"No, but I do have to worry about permanent damage." I am pretty unbelievable. How did I ignore this? Eathös will have field day. My first battle-scar, he'll say. Except, I was running from rabbits when I got this. But he doesn't have to know that. Oh, Eathös... "We need to get home." I tried to stand up, but the pain from the wound was too prevalent now. I didn't mean to wince.

"Here, I'll help you." Delotrè propped me under his shoulder and pulled me to my feet.

Hey, look what I found stuffed under my typewriter! I think I wrote this two summers ago. I occasionally spend my free time writing about the many adventures of Ariana and Delotrè, without much point. I always suppose I can use them in some sort of flashback scene later on in my book...

But whatevar.

This particular scene is slightly disturbing... But it is the first written instance of Ariana's freakish tolerance for pain. It's actually a disorder, but she certainly uses it to her advantage. Her "need" to get back to Eathös was clear in my mind when I originally wrote this, but her motive is a bit fuzzy at the current moment. I know it had something to do with Eathös returning home after a long absence... And she "needed" to go see him as soon as he arrived out of concern... This would be not too long after Eathös' discovery of Rala Este... Anyway... Prior to this, Ariana and Delotrè were chasing rabbits. The rabbits eventually gained up and started to chase them back...

It's all a long story, really. I just like to jump into the middle of things...