Lake Rodney life on the road

despite the serious tone of the conversation, he smiled, giving her a gentle look as she gazed over the water. she was beautiful, especially out here in the wild. the journey suited her, giving her already lean muscles more definition and a fresh glow to her eyes.

"hey," he said, trying to get her to look back to him. "it's not that i'm just worried about what grayday will think or do, although that's a little part of it. i care about you, too." he swallowed, licking his lips nervously before continuing. "morningside can't lose you, it's true. but i can't lose you, either."

aditya shrugged, as though to himself. "i suppose it's chivalry on my part. you'd do just as good a job--probably better--scouting down there as i would, and i have just as much of a chance to get hurt as you would. but still. . ." his throat clenched suddenly in fear. "to lose you would devastate me."