Author: Sam

Story: The Never-ending Story: 14 of 33

Series: none

Setting: Summer 1987: The Realm of Dungeons & Dragons

Characters & Ages: Eric- 19, Uni- 4 (unicorn) but 14 (human)

Feedback: Yes, please? Especially constructive. samwise_baggins@yahoo.co.uk

Webpage: http://www.oocities.org/samwise_baggins/index.html

It wasn't so bad. After a year of near constant dizziness, he'd actually gotten used to it, for the most part. It only got really bad when he lay down, made a sudden movement, or changed position too quickly. Truly, vertigo wasn't as bad as it might seem. Yeah, and Eric would single-handedly save the world one day.

He snorted and, moving his head in the now habitual slow twist he'd learned to adopt, Eric studied the girl beside him. She looked like she was perhaps fourteen now, though technically the unicorn-turned-human was more like four years old with the mind of a teenager. He sighed, looked back to the mountainside they were climbing, and continued up at the crawl he'd adopted to deal with the steep rocky slope. Uni climbed just as slowly, more frustrated with her own difficulties than perhaps even Eric was with his vertigo.

She blew out between her lips every once in awhile, annoyed to be kept at a slow climb rather than scrambling up in her old fashion. As she was no longer an equine, however, climbing was not only different, it was a whole other world. The pale girl in dingy white was still learning her limitations even after the year she'd been a human. It made her short tempered at times, like now.

With a yelp, more frightened neigh then human sound, Uni began to slip. Rocks and pebbles shifted, sliding with her, threatening to pick up momentum and toss her down the mountainside. Throwing out an arm, head spinning at the sharp movement, Eric managed to grasp that long red hair and hold on tight. He closed his eyes, leaning into the rock and dirt, trying to regain his equilibrium so he might complete this rescue and subsequent climb.

Frightened, pain-filled bleats made the Cavalier realize he didn't have time to recover. He was hurting his companion with his hard grasp. Sighing, keeping his eyes squeezed shut, the dark haired nineteen-year-old slowly started pulling the younger girl towards him. She gave a wordless yell and reached up to grasp him, finally remembering she had hands. The feel of nails digging into his leg reassured the young man, and he eased his grip, sliding his arm down the thin shoulders and back to get to her waist. His own body was in a dangerous twist for the maneuver, and at any time they both risked plummeting off the mountain.

As he managed to grasp her waist, tightening the precarious hold, Eric felt the young girl start panicking. She started kicking at him, hitting and even turning her head to bite his arm. Pain seared through him and he was sorely tempted to just drop her, but he fought that nasty impulse... and won pretty easily. Gripping harder, ignoring the pain in his arm, he clenched his teeth.

"Calm down, Uni. I've got you... but if you keep biting me, I'll let go." He wouldn't, but it never hurt to threaten the kid. Uni pretty much knew him by now, and the words might break through the haze of fear in her mind.

Eric's gamble, mean as it had been, paid off. The girl released his arm from her strong bite. Instead of fighting him, now she clutched in desperation. Fingernails still clawed at him, but he could easily ignore that small pain for now. He risked opening his brown eyes and was stunned by the abject terror in Uni's maroon ones. How'd he forget her fear of heights? He'd seen it any number of times in the last four years, though for three Bobby had been the one to tend her and prevent her from panicking.

Soothingly, letting his voice deepen to a hypnotizing drawl, the young man continued to stare into his companion's eyes. "I've got you. Relax little unicorn. You're safe now." He continued the platitudes, slowly, very slowly, pulling her up the length of him and to his back. He was relieved when he felt her arms twine around his neck, despite the chokehold she had. He could survive that for now, as well. "Good, that's right, hold on Uni." With that, Eric let go of her waist.

Her eyes widened, rolling slightly, but other than that, Uni didn't let her terror through. She was truly soothed by Eric's attempts, glad he was saving her. The girl held on tight to the strong neck, unaware of how painful her grip still was to the older human. She only knew that she was safe as long as she was in Eric's arms.

Just as carefully as he'd maneuvered the younger teen, Eric started climbing once more. The shield on his left arm made it difficult, but he would survive. He needed every ounce of willpower he had to continue despite the added weight and the limited air. What seemed like hours passed before they reached a ledge large enough that Eric felt they could rest. He struggled that last little bit up and over the rock lip, mentally sighing in relief.

The danger wasn't over, though Uni immediately loosened her grip at the sight of the stone outcropping beneath them. Eric was fighting the now familiar, and sometimes very debilitating, headache in addition to the rising dizziness and nausea. He'd have to rest... perhaps for several hours... and on this high a shelf of rock, the possibility of falling was even greater for the unbalanced Cavalier. With a groan, he let his eyes close as he lowered himself and Uni to the ledge, letting his head rest on the dirt and hard stone, hands and knees balanced as best he could to support his tired weight.

Uni slid from Eric's back, worry fighting the fear, and slowly winning. He didn't look good: pale and shaky as he was. She tried to figure out if she'd hurt him badly or if it was his normal vertigo problem kicking in again. When her eyes came to rest on the blood leaking down his bitten arm, consternation and self-guilt filled the former unicorn. She'd hurt him.

"Airk?"

A gentle petting on his hair brought the young man's attention away from settling his body. He blinked open dazed brown eyes and gulped back the nausea. The sight of the very worried girl caused him to struggle into a slow sitting position, leaning heavily on the rock face of the mountain.

"Yeah?" He gulped again, trying to rid himself of the increasing supply of saliva that always denoted a vomiting spell. This wasn't going to be good, he could tell. "Uh... Uni?" He hated to interrupt her, but his needs were going to quickly become the only thing important to the pair. "I'm gonna be sick..." And with that, he rolled over and let the illness wash over him, unaware at last of the actions or emotions of the girl he'd been protecting for a year.

This wasn't good. Uni gulped and glanced around, near panicking all over again. How could she get them off the ledge? Slowly, worry driving her against her basic instincts, the small teen crept towards the edge of the outcropping. She had to check if going down would be better than trying to continue up. Fear and near panic fought the former unicorn's desire to help the Cavalier. Finally, after what was perhaps ten minutes, desire won out.

She gripped the rock with all the strength in her delicate looking hands. Moving in a sort of back-and-forth sway, Uni edged as close as she could, without actually looking over. Vertigo of an entirely different sort threatened to overcome the trim figure, but she pressed on until, finally, with a deep intake of air, she peeked. Pushing back quickly, Uni let her mind register that going down that mountain was out of the question. She would never be able to go down, even with Eric's soothing efforts.

Looking up was easier. It helped block the image of the rock dropping away and the ground so far away it was a mere blur of colors. In truth, they hadn't climbed very many miles that day, but to Uni it seemed like hundreds. Up was shorter. Up she could see the end.

The sound of Eric being sick eased then came to an end. More out of pity than disgust, the girl turned to peer at her companion. He didn't get sick as much anymore, but it was still often enough to show on his lean body. He'd lost a lot of weight over the past months. That, mixed with the continuing exercise provided by the Realm, had turned the once pampered fifteen-year-old into an athletic, though illness-weakened, nineteen-year-old. The thought that Eric was considered an adult in his culture actually surprised the slim teenaged girl.

In her own culture, she was about the age that this human body showed: a teenager in development and emotions, if not in human years. She'd always thought of Eric the same way, though. The thought that he was old enough, developed enough, to be considered a responsible adult made Uni want to laugh and cry together. She couldn't help wondering if Bobby was any more an adult now that he was in his own world. Depression swooped down on the former unicorn and she sighed, trying to push back thoughts of her best friend. He'd been gone a year, but she still considered Bobby her first and dearest friend; she probably always would.

Thankfully, the sound of Eric moving distracted the girl and she turned towards him. He had pulled himself back up against the rock wall behind them, leaning there with a pale, shaking hand running over his face. He'd want to clean up, but it wouldn't be possible yet. The debilitating illness he seemed to have showed heavily now, and the Cavalier merely rested, eyes closed, trying to steady his breath at least.

Uni felt her heart go out to him.

True, he'd been the most annoying person for the first three years of their acquaintance. And for the last year she'd been over-concerned with relearning everything she'd ever known, since she was human not unicorn now. However, as each day passed, it became more apparent that the man really did put out an effort to keep them safe, keep them going, even without any direction or guidance. She'd managed to ask what they were supposed to be doing to fight this great evil, and had been shocked that the dark-haired male had no idea. He'd grumbled and whined about it, too, but the complaints seemed to be merely old habit, rather than genuine distress. He seemed to have confidence that they'd find out sooner rather than later.

Of course, Uni wasn't privy to his real thoughts and feelings, just the ones he presented on the surface. It was highly probable that the Cavalier was just as angry as she was that Dungeon Master and Venger had left them weak, helpless, and in the middle of the Realm without anything further to guide them. Clinging to Eric's show of bravado kept her going, though... surely even being human couldn't be so bad if he was confident that they would be fine.

With a gentle blow of air through her lips, the once unicorn turned and crawled over to her protector. She gently brushed the sweat-damp tendrils from his face, feeling the black tresses cling to her sensitive fingers. With a frown, Uni pulled her hand away and wrapped her arms around bent knees, pushing away the odd sensations, which had raced through her so briefly. She merely watched the man, instead, waiting for signs that his vertigo would ease and they could get off this cliff.

It was long moments later when Eric felt well enough to slowly open his eyes. He had been fully aware of Uni's efforts at soothing him, and they were appreciated greatly. It had been a long time since anyone had cared to make him feel better. With a very slow turning of his head, the exhausted Cavalier looked at the brooding teen beside him. "Thanks, Uni." The words were soft and tired, but sincere.

Uni gave him a brief startled glance, then smiled in response. With a shrug of one shoulder, she restlessly, absently, stamped one foot on the ground then rose. "Myeah." Running her hands absently over her trouser legs, the girl looked up the cliff, noticeably avoiding the edge. "Airk? Meow?"

"Meow?" Eric let himself chuckle over the mispronounced word. "Are you cat or unicorn?" He crept his way up the rock face behind him, just as careful as his companion to look up, not down. "It's now you silly unicorn. People'll give you milk if you keep that up." The words were without rancor, however, and he widened his smile at her answering grin.

"Okay, I'm ready. This time, we'll do it a bit differently, though." Eric was on his feet and the swaying was minimal. He was getting back under control. With the dizziness eased and the nausea gone, he could manage the ever-present headache. "I'm gonna strap this stupid shield to my back, and you're gonna hold onto my front. That'll leave both hands free so we're steadier."

He glanced again at the girl and noticed her worried frown, the hint of fear in her eyes. That wouldn't do. Better to have her spitting mad at him then petrified again. His neck couldn't take another wringing. "I could just leave you here. I'm not the coward who can't climb up."

That did it. Her eyes narrowed and she stamped her foot, tossing her head so her long mane of red hair flipped over her thin shoulders. Striding purposefully over to the taller human, ignoring the drop not feet from her, Uni took the magic shield he still sported on his left arm. She didn't even pause to think why he'd not kept it on his right arm, as was habitual for him. She merely lifted an imperious finger and twirled it forcefully, bleating, "Myuern!"

Eric's mocking grin enraged her further as he slowly crawled his way around to face the cliff.

He felt her fastening the shield to his cloak, vaguely wondering how in the world he'd managed to keep that article of clothing in her earlier panic attack. When she finished and slipped in front of him, Eric slowly looked down and gentled his smile. "Okay, Uni, up you go." He gripped her slim waist in his strong hands and lifted her until she was able to clasp her arms around his neck. "Hide your face so you don't have to see, kid."

And with the feel of her face burrowing against his shoulder, Eric reached up and gripped the precarious surface of the mountain. He took a deep breath, willing the vertigo away as he slowly began the climb. He could see the edge, concentrated on it in fact, and as it inched closer, confidence welled inside. The Cavalier knew that with patience, and if his waning strength held out, they'd get to the top and be able to have a real rest... in safety.

Uni didn't look down. She trusted Eric to carry her safely to the top... of course she did. But even she could tell he was weak, feel the trembling in his entire body. It had been too soon since he'd gotten sick. He'd needed more rest. The feel of something thick and sticky trailing onto her neck and face from his upraised arm alarmed her. He still had that bleeding bite wound untreated. How could he do this? How could she let him?

Wanting to tell him to stop, to wait for awhile longer, Uni opened her eyes and peeked up. She blinked in wonder at the set features she found. Eric was concentrating very hard on his task, his brown eyes intense, his handsome face harsh with the effort. Something was almost hypnotic in the sheer power and determination that radiated from the man. Uni had to close her eyes against the unfamiliar pull. Burying her face in his shoulder once more, she decided to simply wait until they got to the top, then yell at him for being a fool.

It was several more long minutes before Uni became aware of an odd occurrence. Eric was talking. Actually, he was making a low, rumbling noise, but she couldn't hear the words. She could feel the vibration through his chest, though. The low unintelligible sound, and the near-purring sensation, soothed the former unicorn and she found herself smiling into the cloth before her face. Eric was giving her the sensation of being content, despite the circumstances. It was refreshing to think the Cavalier was that... relaxed.

The sensation was interrupted abruptly as Eric stopped, his arms straining to keep them both dangling on the mountainside. His low rumble turned to genuinely audible words as he instructed the girl to turn in his arms. She was afraid to, shaking her head against his shoulder, refusing to even look at him. She knew he'd be angry and disappointed in her.

Eric felt frustration welling and squashed it. He'd yell at her later. Right now he had to get her off his neck. He couldn't hold on much longer; he needed Uni to climb the rest of this by herself. Resorting, once more, to the soothing manner that had worked so well in her panic, Eric deepened his voice and chose placating words.

"Come on, you're safe. We're at the top now, little unicorn: just a couple of feet. You can do it. Turn around and grab the rock. That's my brave girl. Turn and grab, Uni." He continued to coax, willing his strength to hold out. He was rewarded with a worried glance, Uni blowing in a show of nerves. Then, without warning, Uni twisted around and gripped the cliff face with one hand. Eric smiled winningly at the girl when she worriedly looked up at him. "That's right, little unicorn. Now your other hand. I won't let you fall."

With gentle words in her ears, Uni managed to twist around further, gripping the rock wall in hands turned white with strain. She glanced up, morbidly wondering how much Eric was going to make her climb, and was stunned to see the top right above her head. It would only be a handhold or two more and she'd be on the top. They'd made it.

A joyful bleat escaped the girl and she found new strength. If it hadn't been for the lean, hard body pressed against her back, the girl would have forgotten herself so far as to try to scramble up, which would probably have resulted in her slipping. Instead, she felt the exhaustion of the man behind her and tamped down her enthusiasm. It could wait. Right now they had to get to the top in a safe manner.

She reached up, groping for a handhold. When she found it, the girl tensed her muscles and pulled the weight of her thin body up. It wasn't easy. The incline was greater here than where she'd fallen. Only the feel of Eric mirroring her movements gave her the strength of will to defy muscles and gravity to grip another handhold and pull again. It was the third reaching grasp that connected with the lip of the mountain tip.

"Wheeehinnn!" The whinny couldn't be repressed as Uni scrambled over the side and lay panting in delight on top. She turned to smile at Eric only to see his grip faltering. "Myuooo!" Throwing herself to the cliff-side, the teen grabbed the weakened hand and held on as tight as she could. She tugged backwards, trying to will her friend up that last stretch. "Airk! Meow!"

The sudden give against her muscles sent her tumbling backwards. Uni felt the hand pull from her grasp and she flailed blindly, trying to grip it once more. A shriek of fear and defiance ripped from her lips, and tears started welling up. "Myuoooo! Airk!"

His soft, tired chuckle brought her to a complete standstill, eyes snapping wide in shock.

There he lay, dark hair plastered to his face with dirt and sweat. His clothes were tattered in places from their climb, his armor still bundled in the cape he'd managed to retain the entire time. Lifting his face from the dusty ground, the man grinned up at the teen before heaving a deep sigh and letting tired brown eyes close. "Yeah, Uni. We made it."

The former unicorn grinned suddenly, all anger and worry forgotten, as she crawled over to sink next to the tired Cavalier. With a soft blowing of air, Uni started untying the bundle of cloth and metal. When she had him relieved of the extra burden, the girl looked around for some way to clean her companion up. Thankfully there were several pockets of still water around. She dipped his cloak in one and brought it back, starting on the dried blood of the bite wound she'd inflicted on him.

Eric didn't protest, despite the renewed pain. It was enough just to be able to lie there and know he wasn't going to spin off the cliff. Sure, he felt like it at the moment, especially with his eyes closed, but he still knew it wasn't going to happen. The efforts of the girl to help him merely made him smile, glad he'd managed to keep her safe, too. If she accidentally hurt him with her still unfamiliar human hands, he'd put up with it. After he caught his breath, he'd worry about getting rid of the sour taste in his mouth.

Uni tilted her head as she worked, her soft "Airk" bringing the man's attention to focus once more. Without waiting for his habitual "Yeah," the teen continued. "Wheeyiii?" Seeing his eyes open and watching her, Uni gestured with a hand towards the cliff, then to the pair of them.

He chuckled softly. Letting himself continue to rest, Eric asked, "Why'd I help or why'd we climb?" He watched to get the bodily clues so necessary to understanding Uni's speech.

She thought that over, then shrugged and grinned back. "Myuovvv."

"Okay. Both. Uh..." Eric looked like he was going to tease her with some far-fetched story concerning why he'd kept her safe and sane, but it turned out that his drawn out thoughts were for the other question. "I felt there might be answers up here? I mean, we've been firmly on the same level for the past year and nothing. I figured it couldn't hurt to climb a bit higher and see if DM'd pop up and give us a stupid riddle." He refrained from shaking his head, having learned to curb such stupid movements early on. "That was a mistake I don't think I'll repeat."

Nodding, Uni waited for the other answer... the one that meant more to her. They'd only gotten along for a year, and sometimes, she needed confirmation that she wasn't a burden, a silly baby unicorn who kept her friends from going home. Eric may not be looking for home at the moment, but she still felt like she was holding him back sometimes.

Eric solemnly looked over the redhead by his side. Just as important to him was the idea that Uni didn't think he was a useless whiner who couldn't pull his own weight. True, he'd done a great deal more now that it was just the pair of them, but something about her watchful gaze always made him think he had to prove himself, so he didn't let her down... like he'd let the others down so many times. "I saved you because I like you, kid. Now stop being so serious and smile for me. We've conquered a mountain." The grin he threw her was answered, and Eric relaxed once more.

Comfortable silence passed between the two, and neither could say how long it'd been. But eventually, the Cavalier felt it was high time he got himself cleaned up. With a careful push, glad that the dizziness had once more subsided to a mere annoyance, he crawled towards the nearest pool of water. It wasn't the freshest, but it was certainly better than the taste of stale vomit and gritty dirt.

Sitting up, Eric began stripping off his shirt and trousers, signaling to another pool nearby. "Uni, might as well bathe now. Never know when we'll get this kind of free spa again." He dipped his hand in the water and was pleased to find it cool and refreshing. Without checking to see if the unicorn-girl followed his instructions, the Cavalier started washing the grime and sick off of himself, scrubbing his clothes as best he could without any soap.

Uni closed her mouth, which had dropped open. She tore her eyes from the expanse of flesh before her and, flushing bright red, hurried to a pool to bathe. She'd seen Eric stripped to his shorts before, numerous times in the past year, but somehow it was different this time. For the first time, Uni was totally aware of the muscles that rippled over his back and thighs. She had to concentrate on stripping, feeling embarrassed that he might see her in just her underclothes, despite how often she'd stripped down before.

Unaware of Uni's discomfort, Eric finished bathing, rinsing his mouth thankfully with the cool water. A fresh breeze was caressing over the mountaintop, and it made the Cavalier want to stretch out and enjoy the summer sunshine. Even with four suns overhead, he knew it would be easy to pretend he hadn't a care in the world at that moment.

Finally, he glanced over at the once unicorn and smiled. "Hey, kid. You planning on taking all day in there?" He was surprised to see her jump in shock, and frowned, wondering what it could mean. Was she still nervous, even though they were a bit away from the cliff edge? "Sooner you're done, Uni, sooner we can get moving." He frowned further as she darted him a glance of what he could only term misery. What had happened to the carefree kid he'd helped up the mountain?

"Uni?" Eric stood and approached her cautiously, praying the vertigo would stay away for the moment. He didn't like how she refused to look him in the eye, as if he'd done something wrong. "C'mon, kid, what's up? Why..." he froze. Suddenly, it dawned on him that the girl was about fourteen. That meant hormones galore.

Understanding radiated throughout the man's body and he turned, without a word, to pull on the still wet clothes. Damn if Uni's not suddenly shy. Probably doesn't like the idea of me anywhere near her right now. I wonder... he wanted to fight the idea that she might be having other female-type problems, as well, but knew it was a genuine problem they'd have to deal with... and soon apparently. Eric waited a very long time before turning again.

He was pleased to see Uni dressed and composed. She was now looking at him with those wide maroon eyes, an air of expectancy around her. Apparently, she was determined to forget the embarrassing scene of him seeing her in her drawers, so he'd let it drop, too. Instead, he slipped to the ground beside her and gently smiled. "Hey, Uni... we need to talk, don't we?"

When she lifted her eyes to meet his directly, Eric's smile slipped. He couldn't do this. Heck, the only time he'd discussed puberty with his dad, the old man had told him to get some condoms before dating. That was it; he'd been expected to find out the rest from school or some other source. Eric had been so unpopular, despite his arrogant claims, that he'd never had to worry about what else the whole growing-up-around-girls meant. Physical Education taught him the way things worked in the bodies, but that was nothing to having to deal with a girl one-on-one. Thank god he wasn't trying to seduce her in the back of his dad's limo or something.

"Right. Talk." He shook himself out of his nerves and tried to recall what the teacher'd droned on about. He'd always figured it was the girl's job to both protect herself and deal with any of the other details of womanhood. Thus, paying attention in class hadn't been as much of a priority as looking superior and rich. He'd try, though... he owed his young friend that much. "So... uh... how old are you anyway?" Nice start, jerk, he chastised himself.

With a thoughtful look, confusion tingeing her maroon eyes, the teen shrugged and held up four fingers. At his nod, she tried to puzzle out just how much in human that would be... in case that was what he'd meant. "Nyerrrkee..." She shook her head and snorted in displeasure, but was surprised when Eric chuckled.

"Okay, let me try, kid. You're four years old. Born in spring, like any colt, huh? Oh, wait, for girls it's filly, right?" She nodded and he continued. "Okay, you look about fourteen, give or take." With a stamp and a bleat she indicated he had said something right. He grinned wider. "Fourteen? That's not a bad age, really."

It was a start, at least. Eric thought quickly, then decided to just plunge in, embarrass them both, and get it over with quicker. "Okay, have you started your... fertility cycle yet, kid? Cause we'll need to get you something for that; I mean, you're always wearing white, and I know how much girls hate white that time of month." There, he'd said it. He'd asked the worst question. Now, he merely watched her, pretending nonchalance he didn't feel.

The heat flaring in Uni's pale face indicated her embarrassment. She shook her head, averting her eyes and blowing through her lips. Taking a breath, deciding to act as adult as he seemed to be treating her, she looked back at him, meeting those questioning brown eyes. "Myuoooo."

Eric was long familiar now with some of Uni's speech. "No... you haven't started yet." He nodded and smiled at her, beaming in relief really. "Good. We'll find a way to get you something before it happens then, right? Okay. That subject's over. Now the rest should be easier." It wasn't of course. How did a guy talk with a unicorn-turned-girl about the female mysteries? "So, I guess this means you want me to stop looking when you're washing and changing, right? Okay, no problem."

Her sudden intake of breath, followed by a woosh, indicated he'd been pretty much dead on. At least, he thought that's what it meant. Most girls surprised him by reacting totally differently from what he'd assumed, but Uni'd been predictable so far. He hoped it stayed that way. It was easier if they had an open relationship, after all.

With a blink of surprise, Eric realized he'd never been this close to another human being. His dad was pretty much faceless to him now, barely a smudge in his memory. That showed how often he'd seen the man. The others he hadn't let get close; despite the dangers they'd faced as a group. But having only Uni for real company this past year had united them in a way the Cavalier hadn't fully appreciated until that moment. It made him feel like a big brother to the girl... a feeling he found he really liked.

"So, let's get going, right, kid?" He grinned, deciding to drop the subject of puberty once more. He didn't want Uni to shy away from him, thinking he was some sort of perverted jerk or something. Standing slowly, Eric offered the girl a hand up then looked towards the horizon. "We'll head that way until we find something useful, like a town, or maybe the little runt. Boy would I like to get my hands on him right now."

Uni laughed her braying laugh, and Eric chuckled along with her. As she gathered his equipment for him, he started humming once more, the same song he'd used for those last few yards up the mountain. As the teen helped the man put his armor back on, he became aware of her odd stare trained on him.

Eric lifted one dark brow and cocked his head. "What's up, Uni? My humming off-key?" He eased his cloak over his shoulders, becoming aware just how painful the bite on his arm was. He'd need to see to it when they found a town; hopefully it wouldn't be infected by then.

"Ssummh?"

"Huh?" That was a new word to him... which meant it was a new one to her, too. Reaching through his mental images, he tried to figure just what the girl would be referring to with her unknown question. Finally, something seemed to click. "Song?"

She nodded and grinned.

"Oh, just a stupid song from summer camp. 'The Bear went Over the Mountain'. It's pretty lame, actually." He grinned, but saw the curiosity in her eyes. With a sigh, draping his injured arm carefully across her shoulders, feeling odd since the bite meant he'd have to carry his shield on his weaker left arm, Eric got them walking. "Oh, okay. It goes like this... but don't say I didn't warn you."

And as the pair began walking towards the darkening horizon, Eric sang the words to the children's song in a pleasant baritone, the couple in harmony with the world around them, for the time being.