Chapter CCXVIII: Keeping Up With Things ~Naaro

Naaro twirled one of Rynn's long, brown locks around his finger. Her breathing was light as she slept, Kai in a nearly identical state as he lay in slumber in her arms. Naaro had a gentle smile on his face as he felt her hair entwine itself around his finger. It was soft and warm, like a blanket. He gave her head a soft kiss, and stroked her hair gently once. She smiled, as if through her unconscious dreaming she had felt him. With that, Naaro rose from the bed.

Bam! Whack! Bop! Thwack! The sound of punching filled the air of the dark, empty room, the only noise in the still, dank air. Naaro was at it again, this time with a stronger practice dummy. It took every hit with almost stone-like resistance. Slight auras of brownish energy surrounded his fists as his rage and adrenaline grew. After several more punches, Naaro cried aloud, and the auras around his fists flared. Naaro took one last Kamar-powered swing, nailing the dummy in the head and sending it soaring off. After letting out a growl, Naaro took a deep breath, and the auras around his fists dissipated. After another deep breath, Naaro walked over to the nearest object suitable for sitting and (of course) sat.

"Rynn got seriously hurt," he thought to himself as he rested, his heart rate gradually slowing back down to normal. "If only I could've helped her..."

Naaro sighed and reached into his pocket, searching for something to wipe his face. He felt something, and removed it. Out came a handkerchief, folded as if there were something inside it.

"Huh?" Naaro muttered to himself.

He took the handkerchief and unfolded it, dropping a topaz amulet into his hand.

"So that's what I did with it!" he mentally exclaimed.

It was the leadership amulet he had received before the start of this crazy journey. It brought back a good number of memories from his trip. There was the Spectrum arriving in the village ... running into Rexxor ... Belial and the EoE ... the Yautja ... the Tairez Empire ... Zargon's death ... Rexxor ... Jioball ... lots of things had happened on this trip so far. What was waiting for him? What was next on the agenda for Naaro and his companions? He had recently sensed a powerful new presence on Caelum...he would have to watch out for himself, for Rynn, and for Kai. Something was on the horizon, and he knew it. All he could do, however, was waiting until the time came, and preparing for it.