Tree

We were back on Second Earth. Things were, thankfully almost completely back to normal. Shannon had taken up to teasing me, as usual. My parents say she does that because she missed me. I say she does that because she loves to annoy me, but whatever.

On day in particular I found Loor to be missing. I didn't panic, as this was usual. I just set out to find her. This had become a regular thing. She loved to hide and see if I could find her and laugh at me if I couldn't. It was fun. So today, after searching for ten minutes, I found her hiding in a tree in my backyard. I climbed up to the branch she was sitting on and playfully punched her shoulder.

"Found you."

She smiled faintly and I half expected her to say something like 'took you long enough' but she didn't. She said nothing and continued to stare out thoughtfully at…well everything.

I tried again, "Hey, Loor. What's up?"

She glanced over at me, "I do not understand what you mean, Pendragon. The sky is up. The tree is up. But I am pretty sure that is not what you mean. Is it?"

I chuckled, "No, that's not what I meant. I mean what are you thinking about?"

She sighed, "So many things. Mostly I miss Zadaa. Being up in this tree reminds me of the watch towers back home."

"Oh…so you want to go home?"

"…Yes and no."

"Huh?"

She grinned at my confusion, "Yes because I AM slightly homesick and no because I love being here on Second Earth with you. It never ceases to amaze me."

"I get what you mean." I could relate to her words. During my adventures as a Traveler there was plenty a time that I would be on a different territory chasing down Saint Dane and get really homesick.

She leaned her head on my shoulder and I tensed up. Its not because I didn't like it, trust me. I definitely liked it. Its just I didn't expect it. As I've said many times before Loor isn't the touchy-feely type. So this kind of affection caught me off guard. I relaxed and leaned my head on hers. I grabbed her hand and held it in mine. I thanked my lucky stars she didn't pull away. Now that would have been awkward.

That's when my little sister came outside. She saw Loor and I sitting in the tree leaning on each other and she got a devilish grin on her face.

I picked my head up and glared at her, "Don't you dare."

She giggled, "Oh I think I will"

Loor looked at me slightly confused (again), "Pendragon? I do not understand what either of you mean."

Shannon giggled again, "You will soon!"

She skipped around the tree and started chanting in a singsong voice, "Loor and Bobby sitting in a tree! K-I-S-S-I-N-G!" I stared at her in horror as she continued, getting louder and louder, "FIRST COMES LOVE! NEXT COMES MARRIAGE! THEN COMES A BABY IN A BABY CARRIAGE!"

Oh. My. God. I looked over at Loor totally embarrassed. She gave me one glance and burst out laughing. Shannon stopped her skipping and looked up at Loor.

"What's so funny?" She wasn't use to getting this reaction when she tormented my friends and me.

"Oh! HAHAHAH! Pendragon Your expression! HAHAHAHA! Priceless!"

Shannon started laughing too. She loved any excuse to laugh at me, even if she didn't understand it. After awhile I gave in and started laughing too. When we were all done laughing Loor and I climbed down the tree and began walking back to the house, hand in hand.

Shannon came bounding up behind us and very seriously asked, "Are you mad at me?"

I smiled down at her and messed up her hair, "Course not. You know I can't stay mad at you for long."

She smiled too, seriousness gone, "Yay!" She skipped into the house.

Loor squeezed my hand and said, "You know your younger sister kind of reminds me of Saangi" We shared a laugh and walked into the house.