“Can I stay here for a while?” Jioni asked as she rubbed her arm. She stood up from the floor.
“Just a little while, but you should go home and get some rest. Also, I’m supposed to be working,” Derrin replied. He paused. “By the way, why does everyone think we’re related?”
Jioni stifled a laugh. “I was just about to ask you the same thing. Maybe cause you’re always nagging me like an older brother.”
“I don’t nag.” Derrin scoffed with a smile.
“Don’t climb the wall, don’t stand next to the shotgun,” Jioni mimicked his voice. “Why didn’t you eat today, go home and get some rest—”
“It’s not nagging.”
There was silence for a moment.
“But, yeah, anyway, Don’t worry too much about tomorrow.” Derrin paused. “Asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness. Remember that. You worry me all the time with your shenanigans. So I’m glad you’re not trying to do something reckless for a change—and as your older brother I’m proud of you.”
“You think I’m reckless?”
“I know you are,” Derrin said. “So ask for help sooner. You have a lot of people who care about you.”
Jioni smiled, but more at the thought of being someone’s sister, or having a family.
Suddenly, the hands of a Tenebris came from the wasteland side ledge. It was different from the ones she saw inside the city: Its shoulders were broader. It had teeth, not just on its face but also on its arms and hands. The deer horns were missing but replaced with ram horns. Jioni darted her eyes around, found a chair, and picked it up.
“Duck!” was all Jioni shouted, and Derrin did. Jioni then threw the chair at the Tenebris, and it fell down the tower; Derrin picked up the shotgun and looked over the ledge. He fired at it once, and it disappeared.
“My chair,” Derrin said. I spent about a month’s worth of GeoCreds on that. Well, thanks anyway.”
