A Cassarian Story
Varian always knew that he cared for Cassandra. But he didn't realize how much until she was gone.
Six long years after Cassandra leaves Corona, she finally returns. Varian is overjoyed, but she comes bearing terrible news. A stran...
"Cass!" Varian shouts worriedly. He carefully crawls over to her, and grabs onto her hand just in time. While he holds onto her, Eugene slides over to them and helps drag Abhu up. Once Abhu is safely back in the basket, it is easier for Varian to pull Cass in. She falls into his arms as relief floods over him.
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But he doesn't have time to enjoy the moment. As the gang glance below, they observe the cause of the sudden jolt... the mass, or creature, or whatever it is, is flying after them.
"Whatever you do, do not feel fear," Adira tells them in almost a whisper.
"Don't feel fear?" Abhu repeats. "Do you see what's chasing us?!"
"Besides, you sounded moderately scared yourself a second ago," Cassandra remarks, still sitting close to Varian. She may not be aware that her hand is touching his, but he is. Extremely aware.
"I was worried for your safety," Adira says. "And that worry is possibly why we are in this mess."
"So you finally admit you did something wrong?" Eugene says.
"No, I would not have been worried if you had not shown up!" Adira replies.
"Okay, less fighting and more explaining, please," Varian says. "What is that mass, and why can't we feel fear?"
"Don't you mean, how do we not feel fear?!" Abhu shouts. "Whatever that thing is, it's gonna cause us to crash!"
As if on cue, the balloon lurches again and inexplicably begins to plummet downward.
"What is happening?!" Eugene asks as they all cling to the basket for dear life.
Adira looks Abhu directly in his eyes. "Take a deep breath," she tells him calmly.
"What are you talking about?!" Abhu yells, his eyes wide with panic.
Before Adira can explain, the balloon crashes to the earth violently. The basket bounces along the ground, spilling them and their luggage out across the rocky land.
"Ouch..." Varian moans, rubbing his head as he sits up. He vaguely registers hearing a soft 'whoosh' receding in the distance.
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