Something About us...Something About this Place...

[Genkai]

Something About us...Something About this Place...

Genkai & tirgesfu



- - -

She wasn't like most other girls. She didn't enjoy tea parties or shopping. She didn't use fashion magazines as bibles. Oh, and she didn't like to look like a girl either. This was something she picked up at a very young age and despite her parents trying to get her into pink skirts, she simply refused. It wasn't that she fancied girls and wanted to look more masculine, she just felt it was stupid to conform to girl stereotypes. Her name was Kanowa and she preferred being call Kan or Kano. Kanowa lived in New York City and had gone to a private school. Her parents seemed to hope that a forced dress code of skirts and being around other snotty girls might knock some sense into her. It didn't.

And throughout high school, she would dress in the skirts for her parents but as soon as she reached school, she changed into pants and went on her day. They were less troublesome to deal with. And of course because of that little trick, she often got mistaken for a male. It was a little fun, being someone else, even if it was a gender change. The game amused her and she didn't correct some of the people. Some teachers would talk to one another and get a little mixed up when someone said "her" and not "him". Kanowa didn't mean to hurt anyone, she just wanted to have some fun. And she did. Often after school, she would sneak off a bit early and head down to the subway station which was out of order.

No one used it anymore for some reason. Kanowa enjoyed it because it was an eerie aqua color. Kanowa would spend the afternoon walking around, sometimes taking pictures with her disposable camera. Other times she would just walk around. From time to time, she would see another guy and she would hurry and leave. Though at the moment, it was winter in New York City. It was pouring rain outside and Kanowa was lagging, so much so that she was leaving school later than usual. Even after the bell rang, she was just starting to pack up. She had on her usual black slacks, and black blazer and white collared shirt. She ran a hand through her hair and took her purple umbrella out and headed outside. The stress, as one might guess, were empty. No one wanted to be out in a storm. Kanowa trudged through the puddles and hurried to the underground unused area of the subways. Part of her was tempted to stop for hot cocoa but she figured she could get some on her way home.

[tirgesfu]

http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/.../6655165_m.png

This was his place, his sanctuary, some forgotten entrance to a subway line that was never finished, never used. When Casey walked through it he found solace in the muffled sound of his singular footsteps. It wasn’t a sharp tone like heels of boots on a polished surface. It was stifled steps as if through puddles. And here inside this hole the smell was musty and old, not filled with the common street smells of New York City. The sound, the smell, the look so different than the one just a few feet above and it comforted Casey to know there was another place right below the surface. So he came here on a rainy cold winter day.

Casey wasn’t from the city. No, he was a displaced Pennsylvania farm boy going to make it big in the big apple. He wasn’t street smart but he wasn’t stupid. He quickly found the best places to find cheap or free food. He wasn’t homeless, so he kept telling himself. He just didn’t have a permanent address. He wore nice always clean clothes. He had on a crisp clean pea coat and a bright blue and red scarf with blue jeans and LLBean hiking boots. That was a promise he made his mother, the old clean and God connection and who might find you with soiled underwear thing. But his mother would scold him if she knew he gave his gloves to an old guy on the street.

This was an adventure. He was a musician. Like the hundred other young men and women in this city. But to Casey, this whole moving to the city thing was exciting. He was not one of the many depressed artist driven by some high sense of painful art. He was actually an upbeat guy. He was just a little shy so most people didn’t notice. Running from some painful past was not part of his history either. His parent’s didn’t understand why he wanted to leave their safe pretty little town but they loved him, in their way, and supported him. Casey knew he could go home anytime. Instead of college, Casey was going to try to get into music in the city that never sleeps.

His attempts to get into a band weren’t so bad except he wanted to find one that would pay him. He did as many free mikes as he could and tried out for any spot that was open. Casey was actually talented and played lots of musical instruments. He just didn’t have the schooling, experience or any kind of network. Casey had been here three months now and was still not much closer to any kind of musical career.

At times when he needed to regroup, find a quieter spot, and stop the random noises of the city streets, he would wander down to this lost manmade canyon. He thought he heard other steps. That didn’t surprise him much; with all these people surely others have found this place. Once he actually saw another young man. He wasn’t dressed like a homeless guy. The kid looked as if he was in some sort of suit actually. And then, here he was again. Casey had slipped in to get off the rain soaked cold winter streets. At first he thought maybe the kid had done the same.

There was something about the way he moved. The guy didn’t look lost or cold or looking for some sort of escape. As Casey watched the kid actually looked over the place as if he was in some museum or something. He moved easy. He stopped and looked at parts of the walls where water left marks or colors from past molds. Casey wasn’t sure he ever saw anyone look at nothing the way this kid did. What does he see? Casey wondered. But it was more than that. Casey began to watch the way he would push his hand through his hair, the way he would stretch his neck, the way he would take a few steps one way and then swing around a different direction.

Curiosity must have gotten the best of Casey. He stepped out of his hidden spot closer to the kid than expected, opened his arms and hands just a bit to show he wasn’t hiding anything and just offered a small smile.

[Genkai]

The excess water seemed to enhance the mysteriousness of the underground chamber. Kanowa was in her own world that she hadn't even noticed someone else was around. She enjoyed looking around, her movements were graceful and fluid like the water which was starting to go past her ankles. Kanowa could hear her mother's words in the back of her head, telling her to stop dawdling and come home in rainy weather. Getting sick wasn't much of a concern as she had gotten into plenty of real fist fights and the threat of a sniffling nose didn't hold a candle to getting slammed into a wall. Resembling a boy, a rather feminine boy at that, she often got pulled into fights. This was pretty troublesome but it wasn't all bad. Aside from getting banged up, Kanowa couldn't help but feed off the adrenaline rush. It only made her facade more interesting.

Being a girl, she didn't have as much strength and endurance but she was agile and quick on her feet, which made things easy on her when it came to defending herself. If she could avoid a fight, she would, since it would only make her mother question her school life, which would be bad. However, if she had no choice to fight, she would enjoy it whole-heartedly. In fact, a boy at school had recently taken interest in backing up Kanowa when trouble decided to rear its ugly head. Kanowa was surprised but after a while, she didn't bother to tell him off for butting into her own personal issues. Aside from having an interesting school day when boys and girls were attracted to you, her grades were average. The only subject she seemed to excel at was English. Everything else was pretty poor.

Perhaps her creative mischievousness could be channeled into a novel or an actress for her future lifestyle. That didn't really concern Kanowa though. Why worry about the future when the present was all that mattered? Worrying about something that you can't really controlled seemed like a waste of time and energy to her. Maybe that's why in the chaos of her day, she sought refuge in the underground chamber where the lights and soundless escape calmed her down and pulled her mind back to where it should be. The air was cold and fantasy shattering. Kanowa clasped her hands behind her back and crossed her right leg over and moved along, just looking at every inch that her vision could reach. Sure, she had seen it all hundreds of times but each one was new. Her movements made the water swish as she turned and heard more movement, which wasn't her own, and there she saw a blond male about her age, though taller.

He looked familiar. Sorta. Kanowa recalled seeing him a few times, they didn't really speak though. Kanowa unclasped her hands and pocketed them inside the blazer's pockets. They were clammy and cold, so it was about time to try and warm up. Perhaps retreat home and get that drink she had been craving. When the blond made a gesture that he was unarmed, she smiled slightly and raised a brow. The guy didn't strike her as some mugger or homeless guy so she hadn't been on edge to begin with. Keeping her hands pocketed in perhaps a protective manner, or just a I'm-cold manner, she opened her mouth, "You don't go to my school." Was the first thing that somehow escaped her mouth but it was watch she was thinking. New York had countless schools. Most private, some public, there were honestly too many to keep track of and she had better things to do. "You're lucky." Kanowa finished her suddenly comment. She glanced off as she could have sworn she heard some sort of sudden gush or rush of water from someplace close by.

Shrugging it off, she kept her round eyes on the guy in front of her. She only had a mild interest in him. She didn't really care about his name or origin. Though she couldn't help but acknowledge that he was attractive, easy on the easy for sure. Then again he was likely just another person to have fun with. Kanowa had learn that over half of the people she met, assumed she was male. Perhaps someday she would publish a book filled with her statistics and crazy adventures as a teenager. But seeing as the girl lived in the present and not the hazy future, she didn't think about such things. Even though she didn't have much else to say, she still heard a nagging voice inside of her head, telling her to talk to the guy. After all, they could probably be friends or something. "So...why do you come here?" Kanowa asked lightly. Did she honestly want to know? A little. It was likely his answer wouldn't resemble hers, and she had a feeling it would be a boring or cheesy one but she did still have a hint of curiosity. The female part of her was of course open to talking to the cutie but she couldn't shake a chill that was overcoming her.

Something was colder and she glanced down to see the water had now risen from her ankles to right below her knees. She quickly looked to the weird cutie and saw the water was only up to his lower calves. Lucky bastard. Kanowa was short and was finding the moment, good enough reason to be jealous of someone else who was taller than her. The voice her head had now gone from telling her to make a new friend, to telling her to hurry home where it was dry and safe.

[tirgesfu]

Casey still wasn’t sure why he just didn’t stay in his spot and watch the kid. Why did he have to go and make himself known? Now of course there were questions. Well, not at first. He had to grin when the kid stated the fact that of course Casey knew. Right, he didn’t go to his school. That explains the suit like outfit. Some private, nose in the air, rich kid school. Sure that makes sense. Then the guy had the nerve to call him lucky. Like this kid knew anything about luck, rich, in school and thinks his life is hard. And even though those thoughts raced through Casey’s mind he couldn’t help but smile at the guy.

There was a soft self-confidence Casey found enjoyable to watch. The guy wasn’t a cocky in your face, street rat smart New York City style kid. He didn’t seem to find the need to puff up his chest and show, with the squint of his eyes or the posture of his shoulders, how cool he was. No, he moved with an assurance that interested Casey. But even still Casey had no idea why he stood there, like a dope, watching him. Oh ya, Casey blinked, why was he here? He had to figure some answer.

Instead he looked down to the water that all the sudden started to rise. Surprisingly it wasn’t anywhere near as cold as the air. Casey glanced down hoping it wasn’t some sewer backing up. But the water was clear. It was more than just clear it was sparkling clear. That didn’t make sense. Casey had not seen any clean water in New York City. Everything here was dirty. He looked up with a surprised look to the guy and then back down to his feet.

Wading across the cement canyon just a few steps he pulled his feet up onto a step that wasn’t yet covered by water. “Come on.” He waved one hand, “I don’t know where the water is coming from but it’s coming.” There was a small walkway long side only three feet wide. Along the walkway were a few benches. Casey sat on one and pulled his wet feet up out of the water.
As many times as Casey had escaped down here he never saw the water before. “I can’t get over how clean the water is. Where do you think it comes from?” Casey didn’t feel like trying to explain why he came down here. He figured the guy must have some idea, he was here. Why was he here? Some sort of same reason, Casey figured.

Suddenly Casey heard a rumbled further down the abandoned tunnel. He looked in the direction but his gut knew what his eyes couldn’t see. He stood on the bench and waved the kid over. “Shit!” He looked above for something to hang onto just in case the water rushed in over his head. “It’s coming fast.” He yelled the sound getting louder. Even as fear crept into Casey he looked at the water still amazed how clean, clear and warm it was.

[Genkai]

It shouldn't have surprised Kanowa that the guy wasn't going to reply to her question. Guys weren't the talkative sort who opened up to strangers. Trying not to take it personally, she looked around and clenched her fists within her pockets. The water indeed clear. Much cleaner than the water she had at home. It was rather odd. She looked up to see the blond had moved over to the stairs, she sighed softly and trailed after him, following suit. Suddenly there was a rumble which made her stay still. The voice in her head grew louder, more frantic with worry. It was telling her to run home and forget the cutie. Kanowa hurried up the stairs and climbed onto the bench and resisted the urge to hold onto the stranger.

That would be too weird. "Where is this all coming from?" She muttered and gripped her backpack which had been draped over one shoulder. Kanowa closed her eyes for a moment and when she opened them, the rush was louder than ever. The water below the two of them had now flooded the strairs and was closing in on them fast. Kanowa couldn't believe it. This wasn't natural. Or maybe it was, compared to the unnatural state of the city above them. "We have to get out of here." She told the guy but as soon as she did, she looked to her right and saw a large wave heading for them. Before she could even vocally question its origin or intent, it came sweeping toward them. Out of instinct, she reached out and grabbed the hand beside her. The two bodies were pushed off the once dry and safe bench.

Now they were being pulled back under the water. It was as if a current was pulling them down. The sheer and sudden force made Kanowa release the guy's hand she had been gripping onto. She gasped for air as she was sucked under the rapid surface. It was warm and rushing. Perhaps the warmth in contrast with the cold was supposed to subdue them. Either way, Kanowa was freaking out! She struggled and found it futile as she was pulled into a hole in the corner of the wall, that had suddenly appeared like magic. She closed her eyes as she was pulled in and then the next thing she heard were the sound of...birds. She opened her eyes and found herself floating in some sort of river. Flailing, she began treading water and looked around. No more cold walls. No more brick or metal. Kanowa felt like Dorthy. There were hills and rocks and small rapids. It was a scene out of one of those Discovery tv shows she watched. The river itself wasn't too strong, but it was graced with surrounding rocks and grass.

The girl swam over to the side and looked around, in a state of shock and wonder. "Is this a trick..." She said quietly. She couldn't hear the typical horns or angry taxi drivers anymore. It was...peaceful. "I wonder where that guy is..." Kanowa stood up and could feel the warm sun overhead already beginning to dry her clothes. She looked around and then saw his blond hair and she hurried over along the rocks. "Hey." She said and bent down and held her hand out to him, as he was still in the water, a bit dazed. "Can you believe any of this?" Kanowa asked him, if he did, maybe it would get her to believe that some sort of odd water activity took them into some new world. Or location. Was this apart of the city or was this something greater? She had never done much traveling, she wanted to, but her parents never saw the need to leave New York. Thus, Kanowa just watched those tv shows about the wilderness and traveling, eyes filled with evny.

But now, she honestly wasn't sure if she was dreaming or what.

[tirgesfu]

If things had been different, if a huge wave hadn’t been rushing toward him, Casey might have noticed the guy grabbing him. He would have thought it sort of strange, a guy holding his hand. But fear took over and Casey didn’t give any thought of another’s touch. In fact he took hold, for as long as he could.

Even that wasn’t very long. They were both pushed easily like leaves in the gutter. Swept up despite the efforts to fight the current. It didn’t take Casey long to realize there was no way he was swimming against whatever, wherever, this force of water was pushing them. So he did exactly the opposite of what he thought he should do, he relaxed.

Casey was sure he would end up in some storm drain on the way to the Hudson or out into the ocean. If he could just stay on top of the water, if he could make sure he could breath, he’d be ok. He’d be ok. Trying to control his fear he allowed his body to go limp and began to just watch the area ahead of him trying to find something to grab hold of.

But suddenly, not a gradual change at all, he was in a river, with rocks on either side. And grass? In the winter? Casey was so surprised, no shocked, that he just floated. It wasn’t until the guy in the school uniform called to him and held out his hand, that Casey began to pull out of the water.

As soon as he got out, noticing he wasn’t cold at all, which was weird enough, he spun around in a quick circle looking for something familiar. “What the hell is this?” He yelled. It was an angry question as if he expected someone to laugh and jump out from behind the rocks with a camera. It wasn’t really directed to the school guy but since no one else answered he turned back around and glared at him.

He expected an answer. This guy would explain it all. He would make sense of everything. Casey wasn’t sure whether he would laugh and share some good joke or punch the guy. But the look in the kid’s eyes scared Casey almost as much as the water did. He looked as clueless as Casey did. Slowly as if it took an effort to pull his eyes away from an answer he was sure the guy would have, Casey looked around.

Too weird. Too strange. It was like some picture painted scène of quaint landscape. Clear water, rocks placed just right along the edge, and grass. A few feet away huge white pine and blue spruce draped long branches down toward the fern covered ground.

Casey put both hands to his head and closed his eyes. He almost hoped when he opened them all this would be gone and he would be back in the underground water. He peaked open his eyes. Nope. Still here.

“Ok, ok,” Casey was talking to himself as much as anyone. “If I follow the river, the waterway, it will have to end up where we were. I mean, if we go back. If we follow against the flow.” He shook his head agreeing with his line of thought. He turned back to the other guy and asked, “Right?”

Casey felt just a bit better having some kind of a plan. And maybe it wasn’t far. Right, he knew that was stretching. He stomped his feet and noticed that he was almost dry all ready. Whoa, could things get any stranger?

[Genkai]

After helping the blond up, she stepped back and ran her hands through her wavy hair. She couldn't help but let her mind wander to how terrible she must look. "Where's my bag?" She blurted out and looked around. It wasn't around anywhere. It had her phone and skirt and books, everything of value was in their, minus her computer and music. She groaned and kicked the grass under her foot. "This sucks..." Then the boy started to ask her questions which she did not know the answer to. Kanowa frowned a little and got a little angry that she was being put on the spot. "H-how the hell should I know?" She shot back at him. Then it seemed like he was mumbling to himself. Kanowa shook her head and muttered 'men' under her breath and took off her blazer quickly and wrung it out and put it back on. Thankfully her shirt wasn't see through or anything or that would be awkward and embaressing. Kanowa put her hands behind her head. As far as she knew, they weren't in New York City anymore. They had no money or cell phones to get home.

"This is how horror stories start out ya know..." She couldn't help but remark. "Though maybe less cheery..." She added. "Anyway I don't see any way back up. Hell, I don't even see where we came from, it's just water and light rapids and there's no way I'm swimming against that!" She said and heard someone approaching them. Their footsteps made it sounds like they were skipping. Kanowa turned and saw a girl with long briaded black hair and tanned skin walking toward them. Her arms were cradeling a basket with strawberries, peaches, lemons and blackberries. "Who are you..." Kanowa asked slowly. The girl simply laughed. She had on a pink and blue dress, it looked hand made. And even a part of Kanowa could admit it was sort of nice looking.

"You two aren't from around here, are you?" She asked. "I'm Talimay. I'm from the village down hill."

"Oh I'm...I'm Kan...Kan, yeah Kan." Kanowa said, figuring to just give the first half of her name. "Kan or Kano...whatever." She shrugged. "Um, I don't know who he is..." She gestured to the blond. "But yeah, we have no idea how we got here...there was a wave, warm sparkling water," the kind preps liked to drink. "And now we appeared here of all places..."

"Oh! The myth of the magical springs must be true!" Talimay exlcaimed.

"Huh?"

"Well my grandmother told me a story when I was younger. It's a romance story about a man and woman who loved each other but sickness took the woman away and the man remained her, where she was buried. He never stopped crying and soon this wild river formed. It was said that every 100 years or do, a portal from one world to another opens up and brings two lost souls here. I can't believe it. I must know everything about you two!" Talimay said happily. "Please, come with me to my village, you both look hungry and tired." She said. Kanowa frowned slightly and folded her arms, taking the last bit as an insult of sorts. Kanowa couldn't deny she was a bit hungry though. And she and the blond guy had to make a plan.

From the sounds of it, they were in some fantsy world or Kutcher had gotten so bored, he was punk'ing high school kids now. Kanowa wasn't sure what she could do. She didn't even know much about the guy who was stuck with her. For now they had to try and make the best of things, even if it meant following some girl back to her village. God knows what might happen. "Well I guess I wouldn't mind checking out this village..." She trailed off and looked to the blond. "What do you say?" She honestly wasn't sure if he was about to dive headfirst into the water again to look for a way home but while she was dubious, she was willing to play along and get food. Maybe something interesting would happen.

[tirgesfu]

Casey listened to the school kid talk about a horror story. Ya, he had to nod in agreement, or some sort of going crazy plot where some outside force drives the characters nuts. The guy said he wasn’t swimming. Well neither was Casey. He thought maybe they should just walk along the shore line. But before he could say so some girl, in a dress, holding a basket, came skipping up.

The school kid was Kan or Kano, whatever. Casey watched him as he talked to the girl. And she went on, like girls do, about some myth of a love sick crying guy. Oh sure, this river was his tears. Then this Talimay,(who names a kid Talimay?), wanted to lead them to a village.

Casey leaned toward Kan, “A village? Have you ever been anywhere they called a village?” He shook his head and ran on hand through his hair, “A girl with braids and a basket of fruit wants to take us to a village.” He looked around and then back to Kano, “We are in a freakin’ fairytale.”

He paused and then shrugged, “Might as well go see the candy house or some frog that wants to be a prince.” Casey began to follow Talimay. He looked back to Kan and then waited until the kid walked beside him.

As an afterthought he stepped beside Kano and said, “I’m Casey and I am not a lost soul. I think it’s pretty creepy that she thinks she knows all about me.” It also surprised Casey that the girl wasn’t at all worried about who they were. She was going to take strangers to her village. That added the feel of a fairytale. Casey glanced back to the river. He wasn’t sure he should leave. It was like the connection to realness, to his world. He wasn’t sure he wanted to be sucked up into someplace else. At the same time he figured the only way to learn anything about any of this was to follow the girl.

Talimay didn’t even seem to be at all concerned whether they followed or not. She just assumed they would. And she was right, they did. After her story she didn’t talk all that much. Just a few times she said, well almost sang something Casey didn’t understand. He just walked beside Kan and tried to look around to find something familiar. The place looked like the regular woods. It looked old. Big trees, old trees that shade the ground and kept the brushy undergrowth low, making easy pathways. They didn’t have to stumble over thorns, or rocks, or anything.

It wasn’t long until they crested a small hill and below tucked in a valley was a village. In fact it looked just like Casey thought a village would. On the side were split rail fences with cows, sheep, and goats. Houses lined up beside the pastures with thatched roofs and stone walls. Casey jabbed Kan in the side with his elbow, “Freakin’ fairytale.”

“Hey, Talimay,” Casey called to the girl. “Are you taking us to your house?”

Talimay looked back and shook her head no, “Oh silly, I am taking you right to the council, just like I am suppose to.”

“Suppose to?” Casey looked to Kan.

“Of course, they will all want to meet you, the lost souls from another world.”

Casey shook his head but didn’t say anything to Talimay. Instead he looked to Kan and asked, “Are you a lost soul? Because I am not. I don’t think I like this story.”

As they approached the village Casey heard a very loud screech. It was a high tone that sounded like some kind of animal. It was right behind them. Talimay started to run. Casey looked to Kan. He had the urge to grab his hand but stopped himself. Instead he began to run to try to keep up with Talimay.

[Genkai]

( XD I was thinking of ATLA and Soul Calibur when I wrote it, I figure it sounds like Tally - may more than Talie-my ^^; )

Casey seemed very grumpy the more time they were spending in their new surroundings. Kanowa sympathized with Talimay. Believe it or not, Kanowa could empathize with people while still being a deer caught in headlights. "Hmm...I guess there's no chance of getting anything to eat huh?" She sighed softly and looked to Casey. She noted how ironic that it was to find the cutie had a rather androgynous name. It was very much interesting. When Casey brought up his distaste for being considered a lost soul, she simply shrugged. The more she thought about it, the more intrigued she was. It was a shame Casey was dragging his heels, then again she didn't blame the guy even if she didn't really know him.

"W-what was that?" She asked Casey as they hurried to keep up with the girl ahead of them. They quickly arrived in a village which almost looked like it was straight out of a story book by Disney or something. "This place is cute..." Almost too cute. Kanowa pocketed her hands and caught her breath as they went to walking.

"We have some pests around here, I won't go into detail about them, don't worry, you're safe!" Talimay said.

"....That doesn't sound very reassuring." Kanowa huffed as they were lead along. The ground was dirt and there were small houses around with no real strategic placement. There were kids running around with their dogs and roosters. There were people building buildings out of thin wood and straw. Kanowa bit her lower lip as they approached the middle of the small village, it was a sturdy home, probably the best made around. Kanowa assumed it was where the council was. Or whoever. It felt like something out of one of her video games, two strangers pulled into some likely drug or concussion induced state of imagination. And now they had to do some quest to get home. How weird. How different. How exciting. Talimay entered and lit two candles and led them further inside.

When they reached a room, they sat down on hand made pillows. Kanowa glanced to Casey but remained silent. In the back of her mind, she couldn't help but worry about her home and the so called pests around the village. "Elders, there are two lost sou-" Talimay cut herself off. "Two people from the springs up on the mountain." She said. "I'll go tell the village!" She said and left. Kanowa watched her go and slouched her shoulders, not sure what would happen now. It sounded like this myth was a serious matter. Kanowa had a bad feeling.

"We've been waiting for two strangers." One of the elders spoke as he entered the room and sat down in front of Casey and Kanowa. "My mother told me stories about two just like you, whom helped her, whom she helped in return..."

"...I uh don't mean to be rude, sir...but...we don't belong here. Wherever we are. We just..." She looked to Casey, trying to play along but it felt like everything was finally hitting her. On one hand, she was very doubtful this was even real. It felt like a foggy dream. "We need to go home." Kanowa said. It hadn't dawned on her that things were very much real. That pain and danger were more prevalent than back in their own world, their own time. "This place is nice, really, but...we just can't stay here..." It was hard to explain. Hard to even wrap her head around. She was almost feeling faint, just considering this was real. Was it? How? The magical ideas were just a fantasy in her head it seemed.

[tirgesfu]

As they sat down on the fluffy nice feeling pillows, Casey leaned over to Kan and whispered, “You know, you asked me why I was in the tunnel.” He rolled his eyes and for the first time actually smiled, “It was sort of my escape place.” He chuckled, “Be careful what you ask for.”

When Kan spoke of being hungry Casey nodded. His stomach was feeling very empty. But Casey didn’t say anything, just yet. Older men began to sit on pillows in front of them both. They were dressed in some strange sort of shirt. Tunic. That’s it, Casey thought as he looked at the colored vest that hung down their legs. They looked real but dressed funny.

Kan began to stumble about home they didn’t belong here and they should get back. Casey reached over and nudged the school kid just a bit and then turned to the group that sat in front of them. “We are honored to share your table,” He sort of winked to Kan, “Our journey has been long and hard. Could you offer us any substance, food or drink perhaps?” He opened his arms as if asking a question. “Then perhaps you can tell us more about this legend. I for one,” he turned to look at Kan and then back to the old men, “think much better when my stomach does not ach for food.”

One old man chuckled and raised his hand. “Of course.” He motioned to a young girl who stood outside the room as if waiting to answer his call. “Bring these young souls our best wine, bread, cheese and fruit.”

“Do you have cheeseburgers?” Casey asked.

The man looked at Casey, raised his brows and shook his head. Then some of the elders leaned to each other and whispered. Casey could tell he shouldn’t have asked. “Sorry,” he said to Kano. A rather cute girl with long blonde curls and a big chest, smiled to Casey and touched him as she severed them both large silver goblets of red wine. Casey looked into the glass and then to Kan. Two other young girls brought plates of dark bread slices of cheese and strawberries. Casey put a slice of cheese on the bread and began to eat.

“Now,” a different old man, with a long gray beard cleared his throat. “Tell us why you are really here.” Casey stuffed another bite in his mouth and looked to Kan as if to say, you tell them.