Kyran didn't get too far ahead before the others caught up to him. Jacquie reached him first and she grabbed his collar. She lifted him up and watched his hoverboard speed away. He was lighter than Jacquie expected, but that didn't stop her from tossing onto the nearest sand dune. Jacquie jumped off her hoverboard and caught it before it could get away.

She sat down beside Kyran and heard him say, "Astra Dolmini." A small, lilac forcefield formed around them. Kyran was sitting next to her with his knees curled up to his head.

Jacquie didn't know what to say, so she sat there kind of awkwardly. She leaned against him and said, "It's okay." Kyran sniffled and only buried his head farther. Now only his dark curls were showing.

"I'm sorry about your parents, Kyran," Jacquie said.

"Don't be," Kyran said. "You didn't know them."

"I know I didn't," she said, "but they clearly meant— they clearly mean a lot to you."

Kyran sat there silently.

"I want to help you. I hate to see my friends sad." Kyran looked up at her. The crying made his eyes red, turning his irises a dull purple.

"You… think I'm your friend?"

Jacquie nodded.

He sniffled and said, "Thanks. I'll be okay. Now can you please tell your friends to stop beating on the forcefield?"

Jacquie then became aware of a dull, pounding sound. She looked up and saw her friends saying words she couldn't hear. Kyran let the forcefield drop and everyone started yelling at them.

"What were you two doing in there?"

"I'm so glad you came out."

"Group hug!"

The last one was Kirna.

Everyone crowded around Kyran and Jacquie and hugged them.

"Would everyone please get off us?" Kyran said. Everyone backed off.

"Man," Johnathan said. "Now I'm actually sorry that I caught your hoverboard."

Kyran perked up a bit and asked, "You caught it?"

"Yep."

"Man," he said, "I really underestimated you."

Johnathan said, "Yeah, I— Wait. You underestimated me?"

"Not important," Kyran said. "We need to find a place to stay for the night. Luckily, I know a place."

"Wow," Robin said, "it's like you've got this place on the back of your hand or something."

Kyran shrugged and said, "We'll be lucky if we get there before sunset. Let's go."

They traveled for the of the day, reaching a gleaming, purple spire in the middle of a ruin site. Kyran said that it had been abandoned five centuries ago by an old tribal settlement. It was still safe to stay in —minding the several tripwires and poisoned arrows. Jacquie fell asleep in a corner at the top as soon as they reached it.