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“Why you no inside with others?”
“Hm?” Alice sat up slowly, mind ever so gradually returning from the dream of riding a white dragon across the Veldt. She looked down at Gau with a sleepy expression, noticing his somewhat annoyed expression. “Oh I’m sorry. I guess I fell asleep.”
“No safe here by self,” he pressed, motioning toward the cave. “You to be in with others.”
“But, Gau--”
“It's not so bad,” Eric told Gau as he emerged from the shadows. “I kept my eye on her.”
Gau's annoyed expression remained. “It good you watch, but I tell her thing to do for own good.” His stern gaze returned and sent her heart thudding into her throat. “If you no follow order, then I no take to Veldt. Too dangerous. You decide. One more chance.” Then Gau stepped past into the caves.
Alice carefully scrambled from the boulder. “Thanks for covering for me.”
Eric watched her as she dusted little bits of boulder dust from her trousers. “Who said I was?”
Alice looked up. “What?”
“I said--”
“I heard what you said.” Alice frowned, hands going to her hips. “What's going on, Eric?”
He sent her a glance. “Nothing.”
“Right. We’ve been friends too long for me to believe that.” She examined his face. “Did I do something to piss you off? Did I not do something that I said I would? What? What do you want from me?”
Eric faced her and stepped closer. “Some attention would be great.”
Alice's jaw gaped, arms dropping to her sides. “What?”
“First, it was the Veldt and your paper. Then it was the Veldt and your entry-essay into Figaro Academy. Now it’s the Veldt, Gau, and your entry-essay into the Figaro Academy.” He moved closer. A frown tightened his face. “I hoped to have a shot at you before you left. Now--” Eric shrugged. “Oh well. I guess I can't fight the Veldt. It's not human. Neither is he. Not really. He's more legend than anything.”
“What are you talking about?” Alice insisted. Eric’s green eyes met her brown ones. “We're friends, Eric. You don't have to fight Gau or the Veldt for anything, especially not for my attention.”
He snorted, or very nearly. “Yeah. Right.”
“Don't you 'Yeah. Right' me Eric Trugate.”
“Then what am I supposed to do, Alice?” Eric turned his entire body toward her. “Strip and live on the Veldt like him for 15 years?”
“Of course not! What’s gotten into you?”
“I care about you, Alice, but all you ever think about are the damn plants and wildlife on the Veldt!” Alice's jaw dropped. Eric threw up his hands. “Oh this is great. You didn't even notice!” Alice's jaw worked. Turning away, Eric mumbled “Forget it. Move to Figaro and have a great life. I hope you finally find what you want.”
Alice gaped after him until he disappeared into the dark recesses of the cave. Then she cleared her throat and turned from the entrance of the cave to stare out at the dark and silent Veldt.