"Yeah," Svali said. "yeah okay."

She began to follow Lana, letting her mind wander as she thought about everything that had bothered her since the explosion. The sun, how it relentlessly beat down upon them, refusing to set or show any sign of moving. Damien and Lana, how they fought, though it was obvious there was no true hatred between the two of them. The explosion itself, how it took the lives of so many people, one of which could very well have been her own brother.  

Svali was vaguely aware of Damien's soft, padding footsteps as he unhurriedly stood up and began to walk, following her and Lana. Unknowingly, Svali echoed Lana's thoughts. Why is he suddenly ignoring her, didn't they just make up? Or is this just stage two of their fight...?

She wasn't used to verbal fights like this. Usually, when Krael fought, it was with his fists. He was known to make the occasional sarcastic remark, but beyond that it was purely physical. Well, unless he decided to just scream at the other guy. That was different, though. She really wished they would just work it out. 

Just then, she heard's Damien's footsteps quicken. He jogged to catch up, then slowed down when he was next to Svali. The two walked in silence, occasionally stealing furtive glances at each other or at Lana, but never speaking.

~~~

"Seth!" Krael shouted, startled, as his companion's head was plunged into the water. He relaxed when Seth stood up once more.

Without pausing, Krael rushed to the river and knelt beside it, drinking water from his cupped hands. When he had drank as much as he could, he sat back. 

"I have never," he panted, "been so glad just to get a drink." 

"Well, actually... I have," Seth said with a cheery voice. "You see mate, I was at this carnival..."

((Epic fail. D; I have no idea what to say for him. T_T When should everyone meet up and be friends? xD))

---

Lana let out a quiet sigh, glancing at the sky. She paused, looking furtively at Damien and Svali. She hesitated and opened her mouth as if to say something, but then apparently decided against it, closing her mouth and putting on a small burst of speed so that she was in the lead again.

((I'm failing so hard. Can I borrow your derp hat? xD)) 

((...Soon, hopefully? I have a feeling Krael and Lana won't get along. It should be interesting xD Oh, and sure *hands hat*))

Krael shook his head, laughing. "Somehow, I doubt it was a life or death situation at that carnival."

((Um... *steals hat back* I think I need it more than you.))

~~~

Damien sighed. I'm such a screw up. If I could just learn to keep my mouth shut, I wouldn't get into situations like this. Should I try to talk to her again? Probably. What would i say, though? I already apologized, but...

His train of thought was interrupted by Svali, who said "Wait."

She paused, looking around for a moment. "Do you hear that?"

Very faintly, a sound like running water could be heard in the distance. "Is that what i think it is?" she said, her eyes lighting up hopefully. 

"Well mate," Seth said cheerily, "I bought this huge bin full of blue and pink cotton candy. It was all swirl-like, and that's why I got it. I kept on eating and eating it, and Lana told me to not eat the whole thing in one sitting. But, I didn't listen to her and I grew all bloated. Let me tell you mate... You never wanna eat too much cotton candy. It's the worst kind of bloating, mate. So I desperately wanted something to drink. I tend to get thirsty when I get bloated. I dunno why, actually. And I always get thirsty after drinking cotton candy too, so it's like I was double-thirsty! I went the entire carnival without a drink, and I nearly died. Or at least, that's what it felt like. When I finally got a drink when we got back home, I collapsed on the floor in a heap because I was so relieved. Lana made fun of me. She's never let it go."

He chuckled, good-naturedly chortling about his memory.

((xD Oh, Seth. What a failure. x3))

---

Lana's face suddenly lit up in a wide smile. She grinned, her white teeth flashing. Without even thinking, she grasped Damien's and Svali's hands and danced away, moving quickly and gracefully like an elf. She tugged them along until the sound grew louder and louder. She let out a bell-like peal of laughter and released her grip, although she lingered a bit as she let go of Damien's hand.

Bounding forward, her injuries completely forgotten, Lana was still smiling and laughing quietly. She skidded to a stop when she saw the river, as well as two other people next to the river. Blinking in astonishment, Lana paused, her smile gone and her laughter fading away.

"S... SETH! It's y-" Lana let out a yell that was cut short when Seth tackled her and smushed her with a giant hug. Lana muttered something and Seth blinked, sheepish and a little guilty. He gently set her down. Lana grimaced and rubbed her sprained ankle, but her eyes shone brighter and she seemed loose and happy all of a sudden. Not like before, when traveling with only Damien and Svali. She seemed like a regular person now, not a vicious maniac who kept a knife on her at all times.

She stood next to Seth, simply staring at him in awe. She completely ignored Krael, Damien, and Svali, and instead gripped her brother's hand and smiled so brightly and so widely that Seth looked a little taken aback.

"First time I've seen you smile in a while," He sang out, ignoring the others as well. 

Damien and Svali allowed themselves to be tugged along by Lana, Damien once again blushing despite his efforts not to.

They watched as Lana was reunited with a boy that Svali assumed could only Seth, her brother. It was hard not to share in the happiness that radiated off the pair. Svali noticed Seth had been travelling with a companion. He was standing off to the side and-

Oh, my God. It's-

"KRAEL!" Svali shouted, already running to him. "Krael!" she said again, as she wrapped her arms around him. He smells like blood and sweat, and he's filthy, but it's Krael. It's really Krael. 

He responded with a pained grunt, followed by "Svali."

They spent a few moments, a few precious, happy moments just looking at each other. Stepping back, Svali said "Your arm..." Her voice was full of concern for Krael.

"It's nothing," he said quickly.

Svali raised her eyebrows.

"It's just my wrist," he said. "I broke it."

~~~ 

Damien hung back awkwardly, watching the two happy reunions. He walked to the river and drank from it, trying to look as busy as possible. Damien had nothing left, a sad truth which he was reminded of every time he saw Krael and Svali, or Lana and Seth. Before they met up, everyone had been in the same boat, everyone had lost someone. But now...

He shook his head, trying not to think like that. It's hard, though, when you're the only miserable one among happy people, he thought.  

((Did you like the carnival story? :D I realized that Lana enjoys dragging people around. 8D))

Lana glanced at Damien briefly. She released her grip on her brother and walked toward Damien. She put a hand on his shoulder, saying something so softly and so quickly that no one but herself could hear. She removed her touch quickly, feeling really awkward.

"Are... you okay?" She asked, feeling uncomfortable alone with Damien. It was like before, when it was just him and her, but now it just felt weird. 

((Loved it xD <3 And yes, she does. A friend of mine does that too. He's also one of the strongest people I know, so I tend to go willingly o.o Once he was like "You wanna arm wrestle? >:D" And naturally, I went "YOU'RE ON! >:D" He beat me in less than two seconds, then goes "...That was it?" xDDDD))

Damien jumped a little at the unexpected contact.

"Yeah," he said. "I'm fine."

He stood up and faced her, then said. "You um... You two seem happy."

He was dying to ask who that boy was. A boyfriend? Probably. They were definitely too close to just be friends. Oh well, he thought. It doesn't matter now. At least she's happy.

((Hm. I don't think just the hat is enough any more. *Puts on shirt with arrow pointing up and text that says "I'm with stoopid."*))  

(xDD Poor Damien. owo NU. I want that shirt. D; Glee is total luff. *gets identical shirt and wears it too* :D Yaaay. We match. *gets one for YT* xD))

Lana snorted. "You curious for your own intentions, my friend?" A faint glimmer of amusement was on her sweet face. "He's my brother," Lana said quietly, her voice filled with glowing happiness. "I thought he was dead."

She stepped a little closer to Damien, her eyes content and rather peaceful.

"I really missed him," Lana let out a quiet chuckle. She paused for a moment, saying, "Do you haev any siblings, Damien?"

((FAAAIL. D:)) 

((O_O I hate Glee. The only good character is Kurt <3 I'm ashamed that I accidentally referenced that show...))

"Brother?" Damien said, genuinely surprised. "I'm glad... I mean, glad that you two are back together. And no, I'm an only child."

Damien smiled at Lana. He tried not to let the relief he felt at learning they were only siblings show. 

"Well then, should we rejoin the group?" Damien said lightheartedly. "I'd really like to meet your brother."

((ASDFGAFGSD I fail >.<))

((I love Kurt. He's so beastly. xD Rachel's the best singer ever. Mr. Shue is so beastly too. owo))

Lana smirked slightly, her eyes dark and brooding. "Sure," She said, a sarcastic tint to her musical voice. "I bet if I told you Seth was my boyfriend, you would kill youself."

Lana turned around and left Damien, jogging back to her brother, Seth. She smiled brightly and said something to him. Seth appeared slightly amused, introducing her to Krael.

((ALSKIUMB I fail too. D;)) 

((I don't even know who Rachel and Mr. Shue are xD))

((There's two reasons that Glee is... not my favourite. 1. My friend forced me to watch it for two hours straight when I was already unsure about it. 2. They butchered a song by David Bowie, which is unforgivable xD))

Damien felt his cheeks heat up as blood rushed to them again. He tried desperately to think of a witty retort, but none came to mind, so he settled for following Lana to the group. 

He looked at Seth and Krael, then said "I'm uh. My name is Damien. Hi."

Krael nodded to him in greeting. "Krael." He said simply, looking the stranger up and down, sizing him up.

((Herpderpderp >.<)) 

((D;))

 Seth grasped Damien's shoulder strongly and dragged him away from the group. Seth's eyes were amused and slightly mischievous. He lowered his voice so that only Damien could hear. "If you like my sister, I've got a little warning for you," His teasing voice was slightly serious. "The first - and last - person to ask Lana out went missing." He nodded, very serious and solemn. Seth's eyes were brooding and a glittereing golden color, matching the midday sun that would stay there forever and ever.

---

Lana smirked and snorted a little when Seth dragged Damien away to talk to him. She shook her head, holding back anymore laughter. Ah, it was good to have Seth back!

((HERPDERPHERPDERP. >_<)) 

((Lololol. Seth likes to drag people too xD))

((Poor Damien xD He's just like "Omg what now?!?"))  

Damien allowed himself to be dragged off. He had a feeling it would be better not to resist when it was someone like Seth.

"Missing...?" He stammered, once Seth had finished talking. "And did you have something to do with him going... missing?" he guessed, hoping he was wrong.

~~~

Krael smirked, also amused by Damien's situation.

"Poor guy," he laughed. Then, turning to address Lana, he said "What did you tell your brother to say to him?"  

((I love Glee. D; Glee is so BEASTLY. Nothing nice shall happen to Damien. D8))

Lana smirked at glanced at Krael, her eyes glowing with amusement. "Ah, nothing but the truth," She tucked a stray strand of dark hair behind her ear and crossed her arms, leaning against a boulder.

((FAILDERP.))

---

Seth grinned pleasantly at Damien, releasing his grip on the other boy. "Well, let me just tell you something..."

He threw a sideways glance at Lana, who was very clearly enjoying this.

"It wasn't me who had something to do with the missing boy." Seth's smile grew even wider and he winked at Damien. He stepped back, jogging over to Lana, who smiled devilishly at Damien with a glint of violence in her clever, intelligent, multi-colored eyes. Lana gently nudged Seth with a soft chuckle, throwing a meaningful glance at Damien, and then shared a look with Krael.