Category : Stories

Sub Category : Fantasy

A door slammed in the distance; a familiar, even comforting sound. Lara sighed and gazed out into the old field with empty eyes and the half smile she got on her face when she got sentimental. Sirrus had gone through a lot, but he was still his old grumpy, hard headed self, curse or no curse. With a soft chuckle she got up and headed back to the barn loft where he always retreated when he got upset over something, which was frequently. 

"Sirrus? Sirrus I know you're up there. I'm coming up!" 
"Leave!" He shouted angrily. "I don't want your filthy ass up here! Go play with your flea bitten animal friends!" A small hunk of rock came flying down from the loft. Lara only smiled patiently and began to climb the ladder. 

"You know you don't scare me Sirrus, you never have," she said amusedly as she clambered onto the loft and sat down next to her childhood friend. 

HIs voice was a low growl. "We're not kids anymore Lara. I could really hurt you," he paused for a moment. "If I wanted to." 

"But I know you; you don't want to. I know you'd never hurt me." Sirrus gave no reply, and the two sat in silence for a few uncomfortable moments as he smoldered in anger. "Sirrus, look. I know you're hurting --"

"You know?!" He snapped suddenly, causing Lara to jump. "You?! What could you possibly know about this? All you do is play with your plants and animals all day like some putrid, godforsaken druid trash! You know nothing of real magic and you know nothing of real pain!"

"Sirrus --"

"Stop pretending you still know who I am, Lara. You don't know anything!" He slammed his fist down hard on the floor of the loft with a burst of energy. That part of the floor cracked with a loud snapping sound and looked as though it had been burned with a fist-shaped iron brand.

Lara was taken aback. She was used to Sirrus' moods, but this was different. He had never pushed her away like this. She spoke to him through clenched teeth, trying to keep back her tears. "How... how could you say something like that to me?!" She shouted. "I've always been there for you, haven't I? There's never been a problem we couldn't work through together!" She reached out to touch Sirrus' shoulder but he grabbed her wrist with his still burning hand. Lara yelped in pain and pulled her wrist away. She cradled it, cringing from the fiery sting.

"Don't touch me," he growled. "Just, stay away from me. People close to me get hurt. Remember that." He spoke coldly, in such a way that Lara was unsure if it was a warning or a threat.

With nothing to say and no further desire to be near Sirrus, she jumped down from the loft, calling the wind to carry her safely to the ground, and ran from the barn. She didn't know where she was running to, and she didn't really care, either.