From: Save Address Block Sender Date: Mon, 3 Aug 1998 22:09:45 EDT Subject: Interim Post: Interim Posters: Ian Note: Stana-- i hope this is ok, and i didn't rush the send-out. If so, feel free to override. * * * The night air was crisp and cool as Shinji ran through the tall trees. His breath was coming out in white, luminecent clouds in the moon light. He liked it this way. It was something he had liked for a very long time. It was just him and nature, without the corruption that man brings with him. That was something else he never figured out. He always seemed to refer to his fellow man in the third person. "Well," he frowned slightly. "I suppose no one would like to be associated with a creture of destruction." His mind drifted back to his current situation. So here he was, teamed up (well, sort of anyway) with three people he hardly knew, and yet had come to trust within a span of several days. Days! And here he thought this would be a nice, peaceful training expedition. Oh well. Someone has to keep that self-absorbed Clip in line. He snickered at that thought. Speaking of which, it was probably time he got back to camp anyway. Shinji leapt up onto a nearby boulder (funny how these things show up a the most convinient times) and searched for the fire light from their camp. There it was, glinting through the trees and leaes. At least Clip was decent enough to leave a light on. He hopped down from his post and would have broken into another run, except that now there was something. . .different about the atmosphere. Did he just feel something move? He stood stock still and closed his eyes, listening as intently to the surrounding silence as he could. But no, whatever it was wasn't there anymore. But it was there, and he didn't like being spied on. His former feelings of peace having abandoned him, he returned to camp with that same worry lingering in the back of his mind. * * * When Shinji felt whatever he felt, Clip had been too engrosed in his own maze of thoughts to really care. His recent conversation with Teri had him slightly worried. For starters, he fancied he might actually be getting to like the company of these humans! While that was scary enough on it's own, it was compounded by the rather adverse reaction he had to Teri's comment about his smile. Human emotions were such COMPLICATED things, he couldn't fathom how they could go about their entire lives with all these clashing thoughts. He had to find his Alicorn asap, otherwise he would probably end up getting to like even the company of that brat Shinji! Terrific, now he would probably have nightmares (yet another human trait he seemed to have aquired)! Just the soft rustling of leaves made him look up and move his hand to the hilt of his sword. The rustling stopped, and the form of Shinji slipped out from the trees, the glowing fire light dancing on him as it did on Clip. Shinji looked a little suprised to see him. "Aw, you waited up!" he quipped not a little sarcastically. Clip couldn't help but smile just a little (damn these human emotions!). "Someone had to make sure you could find your way back without waking everyone up. By the way, how did you get here making so little noise?" Shinji's jaw dropped slightly. "Is the mighty Clip actually giving a complement?!" Clip shrugged (ARGH!!!) "I suppose, but don't let it get to your head. It's swelled enough as it is." "You might be right, since you obviously would know, right? No, I'm kidding. As to your question, we were taught how to do that at the Monastary." He chuckled. "Great for sneaking food, or in my case sneaking out. Kind of ironic if you think about it." Clip almost chuckled himself, but he forced that down as hard as he could. That complement was so. . .so HUMAN!!! If this kept up, they might go into friendly conversation, if they weren't already. Clip decided it would be best to end it, and the sooner the better. "Yeah, I guess it is. We should probably get to sleep; we still have a lot of walking to do," Clip said, standing up and slowly walking to his sleeping bag. "What about a watchman?" Shinji asked, the feeling he had a while ago still preying on his mind. Clip turned and looked at him, then shrugged. "I've done my watch. If you want, you can take the next shift, but I haven't seen or heard anything. Other than you, of course." Shinji was thoughtful for a moment. "You didn't hear anything? Anything at all?" Clip shook his head. Then, I suppose it would be pointless to continue the watch, huh?" he conceded, moving towards his sleeping bag. Clip said something to the effect of "I guess not, go to bed", but Shinji didn't really hear him. The night seemed too quiet, like it was waiting for them to lower their guard. But Clip was pretty sure there was no danger, and his sense for those things was usually on the mark. Shinji slipped into his sleeping bag. Unless, of course, he is losing his ability. With that, he and Clip were asleep, leaving only the bright fire light to stand vigil that evening.