Chapter 3
When they got to the village, they saw Abe and Alf in an heated debate.
"Looks like Abe lost his temper again." Cili groaned.
"Looks like Alf did too." Munch muttered.
"We should take out the mining factory in the north I tell you!" Abe said.
"That's too far away, the logging factory in the east is much closer!" Alf countered.
"The Glukkons would be expecting us to take out that one next! Therefore it would be more heavily guarded! We must be unpredictable!"
"Yeah but this new logging factory is barely a two day journey from this village. It's too close to wait!"
"They probably set that one up so they could use it for a trap! We can't risk that!"
"If we don't, we'll be overrun within a few weeks!"
"How about we go after some Vykkers instead?" Cili piped in.
"Why?" Abe said, trying to keep himself from taking out his frustration on her.
"Well it would be the unpredictable thing you need."
"Oh sure, side with him." Alf muttered.
"As far as we know there aren't any Vykkers nearby. What's with the sudden interest in whacking Vykkers?" Abe asked.
Cili told them about the young Moon Guardian that was believed to be in their grasp.
"Hmmm," Abe thought a moment,"The thing is is that we don't know for sure if the Vykkers have him, plus we have no idea where to start looking."
*We have detremed an area of greatest possibility during are previous searches* Arc said.
"Then why don't you look for him yourself?" Abe suddenly snapped.
*We tried..*Arc recoiled from Abe's sudden outburst, *we search for a whole month without success.*
"Then he's probably dead."
*No he is not, even now I can hear his cries of fear and pain.*
"If you can hear him, then why don't you know exactly where he is?"
*I...I don't know. Something about the place he is in is keeping me from pinpointing where he is.*
"Humph some Guardian you are." Abe snorted turning his back to them.
"Abe!" Cili said, surprised at his attitude, "What has gotten into you? Arc is only requesting our help."
"You know exactly what has gotten into me!" Abe suddenly turned toward her with a scowl.
"Abe...." she was a bit taken a back at his sudden anger toward her, "Our personal lives should have nothing to do with this!"
"Humph!"
"Abe you're letting your frustration about our 'problem' get to you."
"So what if it is?"
"Abe if you don't stop with this attitude of yours you could lose everyone you care for!" after a moment she added, "including me."
Abe stood there for a moment in shock and Cili realized too late that what she just said was a mistake.
"Abe I'm sorry, I didn't mean..." she started but Abe stopped her.
"No, you did mean that." Abe said quietly and started to walk away with tears in his eyes, "Do what you want Cili. Go save the Moon Guardian, but I won't...can't help you right now."
"Oh Odd Abe, that's not what I meant...I swear." Cili said as she sank down to her knees and sobbed.
*That,*Arc said, flabbergasted by it all,*was uncalled for. Doesn't he know how much he is hurting the one he loves the most?"
"I have never seen Abe like that before..." Munch said while trying to comfort Cili.
"I'll go after, maybe I can talk some sense into him." Alf said.
*Be careful, who knows what he'll do next.* Arc cautioned.
"Don't worry, I can handle myself if he decided to take a swing at me or something." Alf said as he ran after Abe.
*Still we must leave in the morning, with or without Abe. Cili will you still be up to this?*
"Yes," Cili said quietly, "Yes I will."
*Then it's best that you get some rest, I will watch for Abe if he comes back. Munch I suggest you go with her.*
"Righty o." Munch said as he led Cili back to her hut.
Chapter 4
*How is she?* Arc asked Munch as he came out of her hut.
"Finally asleep, poor girl cried herself to sleep." Munch said sadly.
*What's gotten into him anyway?* After a quick explanation from Munch Arc said, *I see, that can be a problem considering.*
"I think Cili is regretting telling him in the first place."
*I think he would have figured it out sooner or later.*
"True, but like Cili said, he letting it get to him way too much."
*I agree, I have seen and heard of many couples with the same problem, but have been able to live their lives quite happily."
"Maybe we should take him to meet them."
*That would be difficult, you see most were on other worlds.*
"Then how do you know about them?"
*We Moon Guardians get around, plus we have our connections* Arc grinned mischievously.
It took awhile for Alf to find Abe again. When he did, Abe was sitting under a tree with his knees against his chest and his head in his arms. He could hear him sobbing quietly.
"Hey Abe..."Alf said gently.
"What?" he heard Abe's muffled response.
"Would you like to talk?"
"Not really." Abe said looking up at him, "what is it you want to talk about anyway, as if I didn't know."
"Well I was wondering what happened between you and Cili, I mean you two were like this..." his crossed his fingers,"and now for the past week you two have been virtually at each others throats."
"Cili wants something I will never be able to give her." Abe said with a sigh.
"And that is?"
"A child." Abe said after a moment.
"But that's..."
"She know that, but she can't help it. Her kinds method of reproduction is so different from ours."
"And you're afraid she'll be so driven by her instincts that she'll leave you for the first fertile male she comes across." Alf said cautiously
Abe tensed a moment then finally said, "Yeah. I...I don't want to lose her. She means everything to me."
"But if you keep acting like this you will lose her."
"I know I know, I can't explain why I'm acting like this."
"Maybe you have become just as desperate as she is to have a child."
"Perhaps. But how can I? I mean our kind isn't meant to function like that."
"It probably stems from you trying too hard to ensure she's happy."
"Maybe."
"Abe what I trying to get at is that Cili needs you as much as you need her. If you two don't work together to resolve this, you'll both be miserable for the rest of your lives. Look why don't you get some sleep. I heard them saying they'll be leaving in the morning, in case you change your mind about going."
"You really think I should go?"
"Sure, you and Cili make a great team, and always will as long as you too work together."
"Thanks Alf." Abe smiled.
"Hey, I'm your friend. That's what friends are for."
|