Training In the Snow [Caden]

[Jay]

Jayme had been training for only two months under Miguel, but already he was starting to thin out a bit more, and a slim muscular tone was coming to his form if ever so slightly. Despite his slimming, the boy's endurance was growing by the day, and as time passed, Jayme began to find that what was once heavy was becoming lighter and lighter still. He was becoming faster, and though he had found himself relatively bruised and sore each day, he began to appreciate what it was doing to him. Though the attacks on the capital had crushed his spirit at first, he was slowly starting to rebuild it again. He wanted to get stronger and stronger in order to keep everyone within his sights safe.... even at the cost of himself if it came down to it.

Oddly enough, this notion had started to haunt him slightly as he continued to train. What would happen if he failed? People would suffer more, and even if he did everything he could to protect the people in his sight, people would only continue to suffer somewhere else. He'd talked with Miguel about it a few times now, but it simply wasn't enough to fill Jayme for some reason. It left him feeling somewhat sickly, and though he tried to ignore it, it ate at him silently in the back of his mind.

Thankfully today he wasn't thinking much on this notion. No, he had training to do and work around the castle to do as well. Miguel had asked him to go cut some fire wood from just outside the castle and bring it inwards. Though Felis had at some point refused to cut the trees, the Duke slowly began to realize that their heating system simply wasn't advanced enough to keep those in the castle warm, and because of this, he'd allowed for the cutting of fallen branches and some trees in order to be used for fire wood to be burned in selective areas of the castle. During his first expenditure out to cut wood, Jayme had learned how to hold the axe from Miguel and learned the proper technique for doing as such. It was hard work, but Jayme oddly found himself enjoying it.

The klanking sound of steel on wood could be heard quietly in the frosty air that even then was throwing out sparkles of snow here and there as Jayme worked and chopped up bits of wood. After a few minutes, he stopped and rubbed his shoulder slightly in pain. Oi, that had hurt....M.... Shaking his head, he stood up fully for a moment and looked towards the castle that had taken him in somewhat. He could still go home any time he chose, but he found himself spending more and more time there due to the need to train. It... was oddly becoming a second home for the pink haired boy if that was even possible.

[Caden Bunny]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/VC/cadentable.png);color:#77553b;width:435;height:373;line-height:14px;][atrb=style,border:3 #512b17 ridge,bTable][scrolly:h(256),w(199),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:80px;margin-left:227px;)] Caden had heard of the news about the Capital being bombed. He had just recently gone to check that his family was okay, and since they were, he moved on again. They would be alright, and he was glad he got to see them. He was now on his way through the east again. This was definitely his favorite area so far. The trees looked so good and he struggled not to draw all of them. He wanted to find a town first, but he wasn't entirely sure exactly where he was going. When he finally knew he was getting near one, he noticed a castle. This castle really caught his attention, but he knew he wasn't going to be able to go in it. Instead, he just walked around it a little bit, and while going, heard a slight noise of somebody hitting something. It sounded a little bit like somebody cutting a tree. He knew he shouldn't get in the way, but he had to do something. After all, he was Caden, and that's what Cadens do. He walked rather silently as he dug through a bag. Occasionally he stepped on a branch that cracked, but he did his best not to. He found himself failing to find food that he was hoping he could to give to the lumberjack. By the time he gave up and looked at whoever was there, he was about to run into poor Jayme. "S-sorry." Caden quickly calls out. He then looked up to see who it was. He stepped back and stared for just a moment before he noticed who it was."Jayme! I haven't seen you in so long. You probably don't remember me." Caden says with a bit of a grin. He wondered if Jayme did know who he was anymore. [/scrolly]

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/jaymejoyposttable2.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 347][atrb=style,border:0 black none,b,Table][scrolly:h(250),w(270),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:40px;margin-left:220px;color:#de9898;)]Jayme had gone back to working again cutting the wood that he needed to, and thus his senses had turned back to work rather than who might have been walking around the woods at that particular moment. However, just as he was about to swing down again at the wood, a sorry vibrated the pink haired boy's ears, and Jayme had to fight back the urge to jump. Slowly lowering the ax, the pink haired young man turned around and found the face of another boy. Though he ad met quite a few people on his traveling, he recognized Caden then and there. A rather huge easy smile came to his features. "Caden? Caden right?" he asked raising his eyebrows and smiling at Caden. The more he said the name, the more Jayme was sure that this was, in fact, the boy. If he hadn't been holding the ax still, Jayme would have turned and hugged Caden right then and there, but because of it, he slowly lowered the sharp object to the ground before turning fully around and then quite literally hugging Caden. "Caden!" he beamed easily. "I can't believe it's you! What are you doing here?" he asked breaking away from the hug after another moment. Indeed, he hadn't been expecting to see a familiar face, but then again, this place seemed to draw all kinds of people. It had drawn him to Elayne despite the fact that he hadn't even known his friend was there, and now it had drawn Caden to him. Heh, maybe this was just the castle... or maybe some sort of after Christmas gift. [/scrolly]

[Caden Bunny]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/VC/cadentable.png);color:#77553b;width:435;height:373;line-height:14px;][atrb=style,border:3 #512b17 ridge,bTable][scrolly:h(256),w(199),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:80px;margin-left:227px;)] Caden watched Jayme as he realized who he was. Caden never thought Jayme would have been chopping trees. How was he even able to swing that thing around? Caden was sure that he would end up dropping it or cutting himself if he were to try using it. They weren't like a knife, which he was better with. He watched Jayme set it down and suddenly was hugged. Caden wrapped his arms around Jayme and hugged him back. Caden felt so happy when Jayme hugged him, and he found the smile staying more easily now. He let go of Jayme and listened to him trying to make sure he had the right name. Caden nodded when he asked if Caden was the right name. "Yeah. We met a while ago with that one girl. Uh... Rikka I think it was." Caden says as he tried to recall the memory of that day with the scary Gyrados and Ashton almost freezing. That.. really wasn't a very good day. He then heard what Jayme said afterwards. "Oh, I just got out of the capital. I went there to make sure my family was fine, and they are. I decided I'd just come over this way and maybe draw something while I'm here." Caden says with a grin. While looking at Jayme, Caden now realized something that confused him a little bit... Jayme was taller! It wasn't like an entire foot, but it was still a few inches, and Caden remembered being a little taller when he met him before. "Wow.. your so tall." Caden mumbles as he thinks out loud. Jayme looked more fit now too. DX What happened! Caden was thicker and shorter than him now. Hadn't walking around all over the place been enough to at least keep him thin? Maybe he should have worked his arms some too... Caden found so many thoughts of how to get fit rushing through his head, though he didn't intend to do much of any of them. [/scrolly]

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/jaymejoyposttable2.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 347][atrb=style,border:0 black none,b,Table][scrolly:h(250),w(270),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:40px;margin-left:220px;color:#de9898;)]Rikka! That was the other person he had met that day back on the beach. Wow... it really had been a long time ago, and yet he hadn't seen either of them this entire time. He suddenly felt oddly sullen wondering how he could have lived with himself if either one of them had been hurt during the capital bombings. It wasn't like he knew the other boy or the girl well really, but they were still acquaintances, and well... :/ That wound have been sad...As Caden explained where he had just come from, Jayme had tensed startled until the other boy had confirmed that his family was alright. Oh, that was good. Thank God. well it seemed that he was still free and doing what he wanted to, heh... That... that was good! At Caden's words, Jayme blinked a little and sweat dropped before grinning and laughing slightly. "Not really!" he answered back shaking his head. "I'm just a little taller than you now. But yeah... I grew a lot....Momma said something about puberty and whatnot, hah," he laughed slightly sweat dropping still. "Oh.. have you been drawing a lot?" he asked after a moment shifting the conversation away from their height changes and what not. He had remembered that the other boy wanted to be an artist, and well... "Oh yeah and I got my nursing permit! So that I can really help around any of the centers." he grinned proudly. [/scrolly]

[Caden Bunny]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/VC/cadentable.png);color:#77553b;width:435;height:373;line-height:14px;][atrb=style,border:3 #512b17 ridge,bTable][scrolly:h(256),w(199),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:80px;margin-left:227px;)] Caden listed to Jayme claim that he wasn't tall and caused Caden to almost lose his smile. That was just a cover up. That mean.. Caden was short! He knew about puberty and things, but he wasn't sure how Jayme was taller than he was now. Not to mention how much different he looked. Caden shook off the thoughts though and just gave a slight nod as Jayme spoke. As soon as Jayme brought up drawing, the smile returned even brighter this time. "Of course I've been drawing. I have gotten better and finally got my own technique to work. My pokemon all love to draw and help with it too." Caden claims rather happily. He would hopefully climb that ladder and be able to finally call himself an artist.. though he had no idea when that would happen. Once he heard Jayme say he got the nursing permit. "You can actually work at a center now? That's so cool!" Caden says rather happily, though he now had another bad thought clawing at the back of his head. He still couldn't really call himself an artist.. but Jayme could call himself a nurse. DX Jayme was ahead of him in everything. Caden took a breath and calmed his thoughts down. He should be happy! He was meeting an old friend. There was no need to be jealous. Everyone worked towards their own dreams at their own pace. [/scrolly]

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/jaymejoyposttable2.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 347][atrb=style,border:0 black none,b,Table][scrolly:h(250),w(270),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:40px;margin-left:220px;color:#de9898;)]Jayme grinned ear to ear as Caden explained that he was still drawing. that was good! That meant they were both still learning and improving! "Oh yeah you said you were going to use your pokemon to make art," he grinned easily. "That's so cool!" At the reaction to his nursing, Jayme grinned a little and laughed. "Kinda," he answered back nodding his head. "It means that I can actually start interning as well as furthering my studdies so that I can become a full nurse," he explained before a thought suddenly came to him. "Oh yeah! And guess what!? I found a knight whose teaching me how to use swords!" he laughed a little at his own excitement. "He's also a pokemon doctor, and he knows so much...." Jayme broke off and sighed a little dreamily for a few seconds before shaking his head and coming back down to earth once more. However, even as he came back down, Jayme couldn't help but feel something else working in him. He still had a long way to go. In everything. He wasn't even close to being really good at swords yet, and he was still learning through his nursing program. There was so much to do in what seemed like so little time. Sigh. [/scrolly]

[Caden Bunny]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/VC/cadentable.png);color:#77553b;width:435;height:373;line-height:14px;][atrb=style,border:3 #512b17 ridge,bTable][scrolly:h(256),w(199),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:80px;margin-left:227px;)] Caden's smile still remained as he listened to Jayme. "Yeah." Caden confirms. He was starting to forget about the jealousy that was swarming him a moment ago. He continued to listen to Jayme and blocked out any of the evil thoughts that plagued him. "Okay. So it's kinda like being in a nursing school.. but you get to do things more hands on and in front of the action?" Caden asks, trying to make sure he was understanding this right. It was still further than Caden had gotten. He didn't even know how to make the jump from a hobby artist to the real deal. Caden then heard Jayme get really excited and tried to catch what he would say. A knight... teaching a kid to use swords? Caden stood there for a moment in complete and utter confusion. "Swords? Really?!" Caden asks after he snaps back into reality. He then heard that it was a doctor and watched Jayme space out for a moment. That.. was a bit odd. He decided to ignore it though. "That's really cool. I don't think I could ever learn to use a weapon. I prefer to just run away. I'm good at that." Caden says with a bit of a grin. He then felt his stomach about to growl, but he tried to fight it back. It would be so embarrassing if it did! He didn't want to ruin their conversation because his stomach was being stupid. He couldn't be that hungry... [/scrolly]

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/jaymejoyposttable2.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 347][atrb=style,border:0 black none,b,Table][scrolly:h(250),w(270),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:40px;margin-left:220px;color:#de9898;)]Jayme nodded his head as Caden confirmed what he had said. "Right, it's another part of school, pretty much," he smiled a little more. "My big sister is a full intern I think. She can work pretty much everything the other nurses can," he sighed thinking about Crystal. He hadn't talked with her in what felt like forever. Their schedules always seemed to miss match. As Caden reacted to learning that he was learning swords, Jayme broke into a huge grin and nodded his head. "Yeah! I'm learning," he beamed. However, at the second statement, Jayme's face fell slightly, and he looked a bit more somber than he did before. "I... used to be like that..." he mumbled softly. "But then... two people hurt my friends... and...." Jayme shook his head repeatedly fighting off a sudden shift in mood that was threatening to leave him in tears. He hadn't been able to protect Elayne from that bounty hunter or Jennifer from that crazy man. He hadn't been able to save anyone from the bombings even if he managed to help at the pokemon center in the capital the weeks after that. He always felt like he wasn't doing enough..... [/scrolly]

[Caden Bunny]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/VC/cadentable.png);color:#77553b;width:435;height:373;line-height:14px;][atrb=style,border:3 #512b17 ridge,bTable][scrolly:h(256),w(199),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:80px;margin-left:227px;)] Caden was still happy as the conversation went along until he had to open up his stupid mouth. Now Jayme looked like he was going to cry! "U-uh.. I'm sorry. I didn't know.." Caden mumbles, finding his own tears starting to work their way up. He always did cry when other's did, even if he didn't know them well. "It's good though.. that you're learning this. I-I know from experience, it would be good to know how to defend yourself." Caden says slowly, trying not to burst in tears. This was bringing up the fight he had with that guy who tried to steal his pokemon! If he could have defended himself.. nobody would have needed to protect him. "Maybe I should have learned to defend myself too.." Caden mumbles lowly. He felt really bad for Jayme and himself now. People must have died around Jayme because he couldn't save them... Caden now had tears rolling down his cheeks. His stomach actually decided not to make the situation worse though, since it stopped trying to growl. [/scrolly]

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/jaymejoyposttable2.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 347][atrb=style,border:0 black none,b,Table][scrolly:h(250),w(270),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:40px;margin-left:220px;color:#de9898;)]Jayme looked at Caden even as the other boy continued to talk, and though he was doing his best to hold back everything that was threatening to overwhelm him, he had to reach up for a brief moment and push a few scant tears away. "Wait... what?" Jayme asked managing to zero in on Caden's words. Caden had been attacked too? Oh no that wasn't even... Jayme hadn't even been there! Or at least he dind't think he had been there. "When was this?" he asked keeping his voice a bit more level than before. He wasn't going to work himself up all the way. He couldn't do it.... [/scrolly]

[Caden Bunny]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/VC/cadentable.png);color:#77553b;width:435;height:373;line-height:14px;][atrb=style,border:3 #512b17 ridge,bTable][scrolly:h(256),w(199),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:80px;margin-left:227px;)] Caden listened to Jayme and felt kind of bad for bringing up the subject. "Um... before I met you.. Some guy attacked me.. and.. and he tried to steal my pokemon and things from me. I got saved by some guy though.. The man would have killed me if I did anything.. but that guy saved me and my pokemon. I.." Caden's voice started to trail off as he went, and he found all of the terrible memories flying back into his head from that day. Why.. why couldn't he fight them off himself? Why was he the one targeted? He could practically feel the glass up against his throat again, and he was shaking pretty badly now. He hadn't brought up that day for so long... He must have looked really stupid to Jayme T_T [/scrolly]

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/jaymejoyposttable2.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 347][atrb=style,border:0 black none,b,Table][scrolly:h(250),w(270),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:40px;margin-left:220px;color:#de9898;)]Jayme frowned as Caden spoke, but it wasn't from any disdain on the part of Caden. Instead, he found himself feeling a rather deep irritation. Someone had attacked another one of his friends- leave the fact that he had only met Caden once previously- and he hadn't been there to defend him. Once again, Jayme couldn't do anything. Despite what he might have done if Caden wasn't shaking, Jayme's pink eyes did catch this motion, and after a moment, he leaned forwards and simply hugged the other boy. "I'm sorry," he sighed setting his chin on Caden's shoulder. [/scrolly]

[Caden Bunny]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/VC/cadentable.png);color:#77553b;width:435;height:373;line-height:14px;][atrb=style,border:3 #512b17 ridge,bTable][scrolly:h(256),w(199),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:80px;margin-left:227px;)] Caden was trying to keep himself together the little bit that he was able to keep together so far, but he found it harder and harder to do as time went on. Suddenly he felt Jayme's arms around him. At first, Caden felt like it was that evil man trying to attack him again, but then he realized that it was just Jayme. He wrapped his arms around the boy and continued to cry a little bit. He was accidentally getting Jayme's shoulder wet.. but he couldn't help it. Caden couldn't even speak as he just tried to forget it, but it all started to plague him again. When it happened, he didn't think much of it.. but it had more of an effect on him than he thought it would have. That man might still be after him, and Caden didn't want to die. He needed to fight the man off if the time came... but he would never be able to do that. He continued to cry as he tried to forget about the terrible thought that seemed to curse him more than you would think when you saw him. [/scrolly]

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/jaymejoyposttable2.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 347][atrb=style,border:0 black none,b,Table][scrolly:h(250),w(270),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:40px;margin-left:220px;color:#de9898;)]Jayme was quiet as he held Caden and said nothing as the boy cried on his shoulder. It was a surreal feeling to have someone there crying like that despite the fact that he had seen people sad before. He had watched the people come into the pokemon center and exchange right after the bombings. He knew they had lost everything, and he had tried to comfort as best he could... But actually holding someone was so.... "You're safe now though..." he murmured softly back to the other boy unable to find any other words to say. He wished he could do more, but at the moment, Jayme couldn't think of anything. Somewhere deeper in Jayme, an anger was slowly flowing into his blood. He hated the person who had harmed his friend... hated the people that harmed his friends. [/scrolly]

[Caden Bunny]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/VC/cadentable.png);color:#77553b;width:435;height:373;line-height:14px;][atrb=style,border:3 #512b17 ridge,bTable][scrolly:h(256),w(199),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:80px;margin-left:227px;)] Caden found himself starting to feel a bit better while he was in Jayme's arms. He listened to Jayme's voice and found himself feeling even a little better. He was far from fine, but he was getting better. He continued to hug Jayme for a while longer before finally letting go and looking at Jayme. Caden's eyes were red and he had tears going down his face still, but he seemed to smile a little bit, though it wasn't his usual smile, since he was still a little sad. "T-thank.. thank you.. Jayme." Caden says lowly as he continued to fight off the memories. He still felt like the man was going to find him again, but he felt safe with Jayme. [/scrolly]

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/jaymejoyposttable2.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 347][atrb=style,border:0 black none,b,Table][scrolly:h(250),w(270),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:40px;margin-left:220px;color:#de9898;)]Jayme only let go when Caden did, and though he tried to smile, he found himself unable to do so at the moment. As Caden spoke, Jayme nodded his head. "It's.....the least I can do... Caden...." Jayme murmured quietly looking at the other boy before slowly looking towards the castle and then back again. "....Hey... do you...er... want to help me carry some of this wood to the castle? I'm... sure Felis's got some yummy sweets we could have when we get in too..." he said quieter still. Food sounded good. Food cleared a mood. Didn't it? Yes. [/scrolly]

[Caden Bunny]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/VC/cadentable.png);color:#77553b;width:435;height:373;line-height:14px;][atrb=style,border:3 #512b17 ridge,bTable][scrolly:h(256),w(199),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:80px;margin-left:227px;)] Caden nodded lightly as he listened to Jayme. "Yeah.. I can help you." Caden says with a smile. He heard about the sweets and felt himself get a tiny bit happier. Sweets.. he hadn't had any for a while. He may have been a cook, but he wasn't good enough to make things like that. It took a lot of things to make anything good, so he'd happily take sweets when he could. Caden got up off of the ground and looked at the wood. ^^ He'd pick as much as he could and move towards the castle. It was pretty heavy for Caden, since he had no upper arm strength at all, but he refused to drop it. He'd look so dumb if he did! D: [/scrolly]

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/jaymejoyposttable2.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 347][atrb=style,border:0 black none,b,Table][scrolly:h(250),w(270),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:40px;margin-left:220px;color:#de9898;)]Jayme smiled a little more agan and slowly leaned down to pick up some of the heavier wood. It was a bit of a strain on his muscles but nothing too major. Upon standing up again, he nodded his head. "This way," he said making a motion with his head before starting around towards the front entrance to the castle. Looking slowly up at the sky even as he walked, Jayme fell quiet for a moment. "Hey Caden... have you ever been inside a castle before?" Jayme asked as he continued to walk. It was a passing thought, and he realized the answer was probably no, but still he had already asked it and wasn't going to retract his statement. As they neared the front gates, Jayme pushed one of the gates open and managed to hold it open for Caden in turn. As they entered, the sparkling white winter wonderland of sorts that unfolded before them was seen as nothing short of spectacular. Though he hated the cold, Duke Felis had certainly outdone himself to make the snow at least appear like white vegetation, somehow. [/scrolly]

[Caden Bunny]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/VC/cadentable.png);color:#77553b;width:435;height:373;line-height:14px;][atrb=style,border:3 #512b17 ridge,bTable][scrolly:h(256),w(199),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:80px;margin-left:227px;)] Caden walked with Jayme and continued to carry the heavy wood that was almost dropped multiple times. He listened to Jayme's question and instantly said "No.. I haven't." Caden walked through the gate that Jayme opened for him and suddenly froze as he looked at the castle and the yard. "Th...a...nk...s." Caden starts to say before he is stuck taking in the view of everything. It looked so much better when they were up close to it. "Whoa.." Caden mumbles lightly to himself. [/scrolly]