novelraw Chapter 313 - 253 - Travel Time
Chapter 313 - 253 - Travel Time
March arrived with great fanfare for PTRS.
"And that's the plan," said Shouri.
"I've never been to the east coast before," Vince said, with wonder. His two Resonators nodded in agreement.
"I am so excited to be seeing the Festival!" Miro exclaimed, his tail wagging joyously.
Colette had wanted to go, but it fell right at the time classes started up for the semester, so she was deep in coursework already. Meanwhile, Emily didn't want to travel again for awhile if she could avoid it (she called dibs on next year's trip). Thus, the roster for the upcoming trip was Shouri's group, Vince's squad, and Miro.
Taika tried to focus on the fun they'd have and not the fact they'd be traveling with their guild's one Natural teammate. Pacifica placed a hand on her back and rubbed her shoulder supportively. The lunar fox tried to dismiss the ugly feelings, but every time she saw that furred face and long snout, her whole body tensed, and her tail bristled.
She knew logically it wasn't fair to him. It wasn't fair to hate someone who had been nothing but kind to her. Nothing he could say or do would quell the primal instinct that was beaten into her for seventeen years. Such feelings didn't just go away.
"Taika," Pacifica whispered.
The fox girl lowered her head. "Mi dispiace…" she mumbled.
"Do you want to talk about it?" asked the otter. She earned a soft head shake for the attempt.
Pacifica knew Taika's aversion to Naturals was deep rooted, even deeper than Shouri's compulsive need to protect Resonators. While Shouri's issues were sweet, though foolish at times, Taika's was problematic. Especially given how friendly poor Miro was.
The socially savvy otter got the feeling that Taika didn't want to feel this way, however.
Unfortunately, their busy itinerary for the next week and a half didn't allow for a heart-to-heart. Pacifica felt like slime once again; spotting an issue with someone and shoving it on the back burner. She didn't really have a choice in the matter. Bringing it up now would be awkward at best, devastating at worst.
They could get through this situation--there was a solution for this, just like with Kaira and Colette. It was just that Pacifica knew she wasn't qualified to fix this. She wasn't entirely sure who could help her lovely lunar companion.
But she knew if nothing else, Shouri wouldn't rest until the issue was properly dealt with. For that, she had faith in the future, and tried to focus on the present.
Time was the enemy as it marched on without their consent. Daylight burnt away into the ashy night, and tomorrow was the start of the trip to Jenteri.
Rebecca pored over the map, eyeing the route from their humble little home to the festival's host city. It was roughly a twenty-one hour drive, and they weren't going to do it all in one go. They were going to stop in a small town off the Brocrea River. It wasn't very well known when compared to the Corhia-Sela river system or the insane length of the Maza River, but it was still an obstacle on the way to Jenteri.
It came out to roughly an elevenish hour drive, giving them another nine to ten hours of drive time the following day. As usual, she and Shouri were splitting driving duties, with Shouri taking the morning shift and her in the afternoon.
The fire fox stretched, yawning as she did so.
"We should get to bed soon," said Shouri, plopping down on the bed next to Rebecca.
She turned and grabbed him, pulling him into a tight hug as they lay in bed. "Yeah…"
His warmth flowed through her; in turn, she took his anxiety and burned it to ash. It was all so comfy and cozy, she lost herself in his embrace. She never minded how possessively he positioned himself around her. It made her feel safe, secure; not just in the sense that she knew he'd protect her, but, that she would be the closest she could be to him, in case something happened.
Her eyelids slowly fell and with them, the remainder of her consciousness.
They had done this so many times, it was well practiced. Taika arose the morning of their road trip and immediately got to work on breakfast. It was still dark out--a time some would call morning, but others would still label as night. Either way, the lunar vixen was not deterred. She hit the kitchen and began work on the first meal of the day. She had to make sure her beloveds were well-fed for the trip ahead.
She didn't fancy sitting in the van for twelve hours (especially in the company of a certain individual). To see new sights and experience new stuff, however, she'd deal with it.
Just like her own part of their routine, the others rose shortly after. Shouri and Rebecca took their turns in the bathroom so Pacifica could partake of her morning shower. While Taika put the finishing touches on breakfast, Rebecca ran trips out to the van with their stuff, and Shouri checked their luggage to ensure nothing was forgotten.
"I saw Mila running their bags out to the van," Rebecca reported.
"Oh good, I was afraid they wouldn't be up. Have you seen Miro?" asked Shouri.
"Haven't seen him, but his room light is on, so I'm sure he's up."
"Good good."
Taika plated their food and Shouri took over cleaning the kitchen while she ate.
After everyone was nice and full, Shouri and Rebecca did one more sweep of the room before they loaded up in the van. Rebecca got the heater going, much to Pacifica's relief.
Taika stared out into the darkness that rested over their humble home. In a few hours the sun would rise and chase away the dark. At least for now, it was nice and peaceful.
The side door swung open, and Vince's party loaded in, taking their place in the back. Mila rolled the door shut to keep the warm air in.
"It's too damn early," complained the cat through a yawn.
"Didn't sleep well?" asked Rebecca.
"Nah… don't go on as many trips as you people," said Mila, failing to suppress a second yawn.
The group in the van watched as Miro ran down the steps. Shouri talked to Emily at her door. They could mimic the conversation with ease.
"Don't let them burn down the building," said Pacifica, deepening her voice in the best Shouri impression she could muster
"I know let me sleeeeep," said Rebecca in a whining falsetto.
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Rebecca and Pacifica laughed at their assumption of how the conversation was going.
Miro finally reached the van and threw his stuff in the back, slamming the door. He hopped into the cabin and sat in the back row with Vince's party.
"Buongiorno!" greeted the fox Natural.
"Morning," Mila returned the greeting in kind.
Taika huffed and turned her head out the window.
Shouri finally joined everyone else, assuming his spot in the driver's seat. "Okay, last check before we go; does everyone have everything?" he asked.
Everyone replied at once they were good; and with that, their journey began.
The first bit, while they were still in Dalliva, was admittedly boring for those who had traveled so extensively out of the city. Pacifica had started on her dailies in her various mobile games; Taika already had her reading tablet out and was losing herself in another book; and the two at the front, Shouri and Rebecca, idly chatted between themselves.
Miro hadn't seen Zephyr, but assumed she had come--he could feel the light of the tiny Resonator's rhythm, after all. Mila's head bobbed and she snapped up every so often, as she struggled to stay awake. Vince just stared out the window, his smile illuminated every couple of seconds by the street lights that whipped by.
The Natural turned to watch the passing scenery himself. He had traveled much more in the last half a year than his entire life before then. Even so, every new sight was wonderful. He particularly loved how the city in the distance sparkled against the backdrop of night.
It was not to last, however, as they escaped the concrete jungle and returned to the familiar country roads they lived on. It was still a treat to see the small towns they blazed through. People living their lives with no idea who was passing through town. They probably didn't even care.
Their first stop was at about eight in the morning, in a small town nobody bothered to figure out the name of. It was uneventful, they all made use of the facilities, grabbed some snacks, and returned to the van after it was fully charged.
The second stop was at noon--in a bigger city, Fotonzia. It was a city off one of the smaller Lyberteran rivers. They took an hour to eat lunch, wanting a break from their marathon drive so far.
In the afternoon, Rebecca took the wheel, and the trip resumed in earnest.
At around four in the afternoon, came their final pitstop before they arrived at their lodgings for the night. The most eventful thing that happened during this stop was a fuss about their traveling party. Considering it further, Miro did realize they were quite the odd bunch. Two Maestros, a Natural, and a complement of five Resonators (one being the elusive fairy, and the other a lunar element).
It only made sense they earned some attention. Thankfully, Pacifica ran distraction long enough for them to escape the clutches of the adoring public.
With that out of the way, the trip resumed for the final leg for the day.
Miro didn't remember the town name they rolled into at eight (local time). It was a small town off the river. Lybertera had a lot of water features. This was yet another of them. The Brocrea river, according to his travel guide, was one of the major rivers of the continent. Though not nearly as well known as the Corhia-Sela or the Maza, it was still a long and wide river.
The town had that fishy-watery scent that persistently hung in the air. If he was a water element he was certain he would have enjoyed it. As it stood, as a desert creature, he was impartial to it.
For a fire element though--
"God it STINKS," complained Rebecca.
"Awful humidity," groused Mila.
They might as well have been in Hell.
"Alright!" Shouri announced. "I'm gonna take Miro to his hotel room. Anyone wanna come with?"
Surprising everyone, Taika stepped up.
Shouri and Miro stood frozen for a moment. Taika frowned hard. "Are we going?" she asked.
"Y-yeah…" Shouri uttered, glancing to the small Natural by his side.
Miro stared at Taika, puzzling out why she'd offer. It didn't make sense to him, and based on Shouri's reaction, the Maestro felt the same.
So while the rest of the crew settled into their rooms at the MA Office, Shouri, Miro, and Taika made their way down the street to the hotel they booked for their Natural companion.
Not many people were around this late in the evening. It was warmer than back home, but even so, there was still a slight chill in the air. It was comfortable; unlike the tension between the three that prowled the streets. Shouri inserted himself between Taika and Miro. The little Natural was filled with anxiety--even Shouri could sense that.
Taika, on the other hand, was unreadable. He wanted to say something, but she cut him off from her rhythm completely. Surely, Pacifica and Rebecca felt this tug--he knew when Taika was gone his body naturally began trying to siphon willpower off of them.
They arrived at the hotel, and Shouri helped Miro check in before they left him to it.
The walk back to the MA Office was just as quiet. Taika hunched over herself, hands in her jacket pockets, her expression foul. Even without Miro's presence, she was still upset.
Shouri caressed Pacifica's tuner at his waist, and with his other hand, he grabbed Taika's shoulder.
She jumped, her breath catching in her throat. "Sh-sho!" she squeaked. That wasn't the reaction he had expected.
"Wanna talk about it?" he offered.
Taika studied him, she traced his other arm down to the blue tuner he grasped at his side. "Did she--?"
He shook his head. "No, I'm just borrowing her rhythm. If she knows something, she hasn't told me," he assured the fox.
Her gaze retreated from his kindness. She hugged herself tightly. "I want to be normal around him, I just--can't," she admitted quietly. "Every cell in my body, every flicker of rhythm hates him."
Shouri opened his mouth to speak, but she cut him off.
"I know its wrong. I know its unfair. I don't want to feel like this. I just--"
The girl trembled, the words caught in her throat. Shouri stepped forward and hugged her. He squeezed her tightly. She continued to tremble.
"It's hard, isn't it?" he asked. He could feel her try to nod into his chest.
With a soft breath, he spoke again. "When we get to Jenteri, you and I can fly back home. I'll get tickets for everyone else when they're done to fly them back, too."
Taika broke their embrace. "No!" she shrieked. The tears rolled down her face in an endless stream. She shook, her breath hard and ragged. "I'm just ruining your life I--"
He grabbed her shoulders. "Don't say that! I love you!" he shouted back. "Your feelings matter too! I'm not going to make you do something you're clearly having problems with," he retorted adamantly.
The vixen sniffled, the flow of tears continuing. "I'm sorry Sho, I'm so sorry."
Shouri drew her back into his tight embrace. "Stop apologizing. We'll figure this out. We always do."
"Mhm…" she squeaked.
It was hard, and she cried now, not from frustration, but relief that despite it all, he still loved a broken little wreck like her.