Caged No More: Chapter 35

Instructions

CW/TW: Fire, minor swearing POV: Sable The oak planks creak under my feet as I walk down the hallway towards Onyx's room. I turn the handle to open her door. I see she's asleep, back facing me. I turn back to leave but the floor creaks again, startling her. She squints, confused, before she realizes it's just me. "Come in," she says, a hint of confusion lacing her words. I lean on the armchair in the tiny room. "Why're you up so late?" Onyx queries. "Something you wanna talk about?" "You've been kind of distant lately," I sigh. "You spend so much time with Birch, and I'm the one taking care of Flame and helping around the cabin while you two are off in the wild." "How do you know I haven't been doing anything?" she shoots back. "I'm doing the laundry and dishes every night, for God's sake! Is that not enough for you?" "Tonight, you just played games with Birch! I was working outside and tending to the plants and animals! Those chickens you say you feed every day? They literally fought over a few seeds!" "So what? One mistake's nothing, I really think you're overreacting! Why are you suddenly like this?" She tugs at a lock of her hair. "I'm just pointing out what I'm doing and that maybe you should help a little more," I argue. "Birch and you are just goofing around all the time!" I feel my temper rising and take a deep breath, trying not to lash out at her. She shoots a glare at me. "We're not goofing off! Plus, I can have other friends, you're not the only person who I can hang out with! The title of 'friend' isn't reserved!" That one stung. I exhale, not sure if I can keep my cool. "I'm not saying that! I'm just-" "It really seems like you're saying that!" she hisses, standing up suddenly and pacing across the floor. "You're always wanting to be with me, and I just need my space to be with others sometime!" I don't feel hurt, only angry. "I want to be able to protect you! Because no one protected me as a kid. I was all alone. And you were my light in the darkness, and I could never repay that favor!" Onyx's expression shifts, but I can't place it. "I understand," she mumbles, tone forlorn, "but this isn't how you protect someone. Now can you please leave my room?" I pad out of the room, closing the door behind me. I see the goldbeast in the kitchen, frying an egg. "It's two in the morning," I say bitterly, "and you're freaking cooking." It glances at me. "Something's up with you. Want a drink?" I stifle a laugh. I'm twelve- no, thirteen. The goldbeast sees my expression. "Seriously," it replies, sliding a mug over to me. "I drink when I'm depressed." I glance into the cup. It's ginger ale. "But I'm not depressed," it chuckles. "Noo, I am not." I have to laugh at that. "You almost got me," I say. It flashes me a quick grin before finishing up the egg. It looks like a hunk of charcoal, but the goldbeast sucks it up like a vacuum. "Wanna talk about anything?" it offers, cleaning the black goop off the plate. I groan. "Now two people are asking me this. But sure." ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ "Yeah, I just think she's spending too much time with Birch. I miss being around with her. Maybe I am clingy. But she brought the first happiness to me that I've had ever since I went to the orphanage." The goldbeast nods. "I can't relate to that at all, but I feel for you." It takes a swig of ginger ale. "I can't believe I've been talking to you for so long, it's probably 4 in the morning now." I stand up from my chair. "Let's make everyone a big breakfast!" I yip. "But don't burn anything." It rolls its eyes. "I like eating burned things!" it protests, running its hands through its short hair. "Plus, who do you think makes your breakfast every day?" I turn on the stove and find some bacon in the fridge. As it's cooking, the goldbeast and I talk some more. "I had no idea this was your actual personality," I observe. "I act like your average dry, sarcastic Texan father, without the accent. That silly personality was a veneer to get you guys to trust me more." "Shame," I reply. "You kinda let that mask slip after that incident with your gold pool and that underwater fight." It nods. "Eh, that was to talk some sense into both of you. You were getting a little cocky, thinking you had control over me. It's impossible to kill a Chrysaetian, be it a gold or an obsidian one." "Ah, those obsidian guys are really creepy," I shudder, remembering the long, razor-sharp talons and leathery wings of the shadowbeasts. I can even smell the smoky scent they reeked of. Wait. Smoke? I whip around to see the pan of bacon on fire. "Oh crap," the goldbeast and I whisper.