Date: Thu, 30 Jul 2020 16:39:49 +0000 (UTC) From: Albert Collins Subject: You were there -- Part 6 Disclaimer: This is a romantic love story about love between young adolescent boys. There will be some explicit sex scenes in the story later, in subsequent chapters, but they are not the main focus of the story. So if you are looking for a story with a lot of explicit sex action, you are in the wrong place. If you like to read a sappy romantic tory with occasional kinky sex scenes, then please sit back and enjoy! Thanks again to all those who wrote with comments and feedback! I did not get as far as I hoped with Ch 6, but I am posting what I have for now. My laptop keeps crashing, so I am taking it to an Apple Store today. Hopefully they can figure out what's going on ... Of course, as usual, comments and constructive criticism are welcome! albert.c87@yahoo.com Oh, yeah, and please, donate to Nifty: donate.nifty.org ************************************************************************** You were there -- Part 6 He was falling, falling through a dark bottomless void. No light, no sound, no air, only cold emptiness extending infinitely in all directions. He had no body, no weight, no face, no name, no memory, no substance. Just a tiny mote of consciousness falling through the empty darkness, cold and alone. Then there was light up ahead, gradually growing stronger, brighter. Light, warmth, movement, shapes, sound, life. Something, someone was calling to him, trying to pull him out of the void. He strained to reach that light, that warmth, strained to break free from the cold clutched of the void. He could almost see it, almost reach it, almost touch ... The next morning Diego woke up feeling surprisingly restful and refreshed. As he opened his eyes, he realized that he turned during the night and was now spooning Luke. The top of Diego's head was pressing against Luke's chin, and Diego's face was pushing at Luke's bare chest. Luke, who was still asleep, was hugging Diego with his left arm. Diego felt awkward and embarrassed but at the same time he loathed the thought of moving. Being spooned with Luke like this felt sooo-o-o good! Diego savored the warms and the strength of Luke's body and felt his face flush. Suddenly Diego realized that he had sprung a major case of morning wood and that it was seriously poking Luke's leg through Diego's flannel pants. "Oh, no!!!" Diego screamed in his mind. Mortified, he awkwardly jumped off the bed, tumbling on the floor and waking Luke. Luke rubbed his eyes and looked down at Diego with a friendly grin. "Good morning, Diego, buddy! Hope you slept well! Dude, what are you doing on the floor?!" Luke inquired. "I ... Yeah, good, thanks, sorry, I didn't mean to ...," Diego trailed off, turning red-faced. Luke thought he understood in part what was going on. He got up and gave Diego a hand, pulling him up. "Hey, Diego, dude, chill, man, it's all good!" Luke laughed gently. "I told you, you've got nothing to worry about with me, ever! If you need a hug, I'll give you a hug, probably ten hugs! Need a cuddle, I'll cuddle you to death, man, yeah! And if ever something pops out, he-he, well, that's only natural, we are growing boys after all! It's totally cool, man, I swear! Okay, buddy?" "Okay... Thanks, Luke," Diego answered shyly, still blushing, but cracking a small uncertain smile. "See, now, that's better!" Luke declared with a big smile, quickly grabbing Diego in a huge hug. This time Diego quickly responded and hugged him back. Luke grinned wider and gave himself a mental hi-five. The morning routine went much quicker, easier for Diego compared to the day before. As the boys were heading to the clubhouse for breakfast, Diego caught himself realizing that in just one day he almost started thinking of this place like home. He listened to Luke's friendly chatter absentmindedly. Luke was here. Luke was making it home. At breakfast Diego still sat at his customary corner spot next to Luke but he managed to chat a bit more with other kids, including Rafael and Toby. Toby did not forget Diego's help with the card trick and he beamed every time he talked to the new older boy. After breakfast most kids were leaving for various church services in the area, with Frank, Margie, and several volunteers. Rafiq, of course, stayed, and one of the counsellors, Gregg, was going to keep him company. Diego was milling around on the terrace, uncertain what to do. "Umm, Luke," he asked, tugging Luke's arm, "are you gonna go to Church?" "Nah, I am gonna chill around here. I don't really go for this religion shit. I am an a-g-n-o-s-t-i-c!" Luke declared "You're a ... what?" Diego asked, perplexed. "An agnostic. That means I officially don't know what the fuck's going on with the universe, the meaning of life and all that stuff. Mr Frank says it's okay. We talked about it and he's cool with it! Says it's my choice!" Luke explained. "Wow ...," Diego wondered. "Yeah. Anyways, I figure, if god has got something to tell me, she knows how to find me, he-he! I'm always ready to have a talk if she shows up, man to man! Or man to woman, whatever. But I'm not gonna start believing in that Bible crap just 'cause some old fart had some vision somewhere in the desert like thousands of years ago. Probably while high on magic mushrooms or something. If that even happened. ... What about you, Diego, you going to Church? Are you into that religion stuff?" "Umm, I donno. I thought I was before, kind of, but now ... Now I donno. Don't really know what I am. I'd like to be something ... I guess I'm still trying to figure it out," Diego replied somewhat incoherently. "That's totally cool, man, figuring stuff out is great!" Luke exclaimed. "As long as you do it with your own noggin' and don't just think what they tell you to think ... Hey, maybe you'll be an agnostic, like me!" Luke giggled. "Yeah, I donno, maybe," Diego replied uncertainly. "Anyway today I'm staying here, with you!" "All right, awesome!" Luke exclaimed, giving Diego a high-five. "Listen, Diego," Luke continued after a pause. "Something I wanna ask you, especially since we are gonna be hanging out the whole Sunday together. You told Ritchie yesterday at breakfast that you know Capoeira. I've seen some videos of it on YouTube and that shit is so-o-o cool! Would you teach me some of those cool Capoeira moves? Please, Diego?!" "Ummm," Diego hesitated. He really wanted to repay Luke for everything Luke has done for him since Diego came to Green Oaks and for the friendship he offered so freely and so unconditionally. But much of Capoeira was about dance and Diego didn't know if he could handle it now. He looked at Luke's pleading eyes and melted: "Okay, sure, we can try something, I guess." "Thanks, Diego, thanks, you are the greatest!" Luke jumped up in the air in delight. "Do we need a boombox? This Capoeira thing is done with music, right?" "Eventually, yeah, we'd need some music, but not for starting the basics," Diego explained. "I'm just gonna try to show you a few forms and movements." "Okay, super!" Luke grabbed Diego's arm and pulled him towards the exit. "There's a cool lawn type area down the hill," Luke exclaimed enthusiastically as they left the clubhouse. "I figure we could practice there, yippee!" Luke was whooping and tumbling excitedly ahead of Diego as they walked down the hill, but Diego was getting more and more listless, edgy and uncomfortable. At the bottom of the hill, as they neared the pond, the boys turned right and Luke headed to one of the small flat grassy meadows nearby. "Okay, this is it, this place looks good!" he declared happily, taking off his sandals and turning around to face Diego. "All right, Diego, dude, show me some moves!" Diego had been trying really hard to get into the right frame of mind for a Capoeira practice. But the harder he tried to focus, to clear his mind, the more he tried to concentrate on the beat of Brazilian music, the more his mind was slipping away, the closer darkness was creeping in. Despite himself, he remembered being back in that car, with mom and dad and Alyssa, driving to catch a Saturday matinee. The grass was gone, Luke was gone, Green Oaks was gone. He was back in that car, in the back seat, with Alyssa, teasing her about her hair. Bob Marley's song, "One Love", a family favorite, was playing on the radio. ... Let's get together and feel alright ... Suddenly the car started spinning out of control. The world started spinning around him, turning, tumbling, tossing, screeching. Alyssa's hand grabbing his, her voice screaming in terror. His mom's frozen face again. And the music still playing. ... Let's get together and feel alright ... He was still in that car. He should still be in that car. He should have never left them. Luke looked up at Diego and a cold shiver shot down his spine. Diego was standing on the grass in front of him with an ashen look on his face. A dead look. His eyes were glazed over, his beautiful tender elvish face frozen in an awful frightening dead mask. "Oh, no, god, no!!" Luke's mind screamed. Luke rushed towards Diego, but before he could get to him, Diego fell on his knees and crouched over. Luke grabbed Diego from the back, hugging him tightly, rocking him gently back and forth. He then swung Diego around, grabbed Diego's hands and started rubbing them as if they were cold. He then took Diego's face in his palms and did the same, rubbing the boy's cheeks as if trying to unfreeze them. When Luke saw Diego's eyes starting come back to life, he locked Diego into the tightest, closest embrace he could, with Diego's nose buried in Luke's left shoulder. Luke kept gently stroking Diego's soft black hair and repeating: "I'm so sorry, Diego, I've been such an idiot, I'm so sorry, so sorry ..." When Luke felt that Diego's body relaxed a little and became less rigid, he finally separated from him. "Diego, buddy, are you okay?" Luke asked softly, looking at Diego with tear-filled eyes. "I am so sorry, Diego, I have been such an idiot, such a complete fucking moron!! I should have known, should have seen that you weren't ready ..." Luke quickly hugged Diego again and then looked into his eyes searchingly. "I ... I ... I'm sorry," Diego said very slowly. "I don't know what happened ..." He stared into the ground. "Suddenly it was like I was in that car again ... With mom and ... That day when ..." He raised his gaze at Luke again. "Sorry, Luke. I tried. I don't know what happened ... Sorry that I'm such a psycho ..." Luke gently sat Diego on the grass and then sat down next to him. "Diego, buddy, you've got nothing to be sorry 'bout," Luke said softly. "It's me that should be apologizing to you. I am such a fucking moron!! I pushed you before you were ready. I should have known! Stupid, stupid moron!!" Luke slapped himself on the forehead. "And don't you ever say you are a psycho, don't ever say that! You just weren't ready. You need time, is all. I've been there, I know. You'll get there. It'll get better, trust me! And maybe, when you are ready, you can tell me. What happened that day I mean. But only when you are ready ..." The boys sat next to each other in silence for a few minutes. Diego turned his head and looked at Luke: "I'm feeling much better now. Like the fog in my head has cleared ... Thank you, Luke." Luke smiled at Diego, got up, and pulled Diego up as well. "Good, that's good," Luke said. "Still, if you feel like punching me in the face, please do it!" "Umm, okay, I'll think about it," Diego gave him a tiny smile. Luke's face widened in a relaxed grin and he gave Diego another hug: "See, now, that's what I'm talking about, man! Cracking jokes already!" Luke gave Diego a longer, more wistful look. "Listen, Diego," he continued, "to make it up to you, for me being such a giant fucking moron, I mean, whadya say I give you a horse ride now? How does that sound?" "Ah, you wanna give me a horse riding lesson now?" Diego asked in surprise. "Yeah, well, no, not exactly. Eventually, yeah, I'm gonna teach you to ride a horse on your own," Luke replied. "But today you're just gonna ride win me. No skills required. Just for fun. Sounds good?" "Mmmm, yeah, sure, sounds good," Diego answered with both relief and gratitude in his voce. "Thanks, Luke. Thanks!" "All righty then! Horse riding we go!" Luke jumped up in the air with a small whoop, but immediately threw Diego a slightly worried look. Diego was smiling slightly and Luke relaxed again. He grabbed Diego by the hand and pulled him in the direction of the barnyard. When the boys got to the barnyard, Luke did not head to the horse stalls right away. Instead he opened a nearby pantry-type door which turned out to be a closet containing several shelves filled with shoes and some other boxes. Luke sat down on a small stool and started to remove his sandals. "Ah, Luke, what're doing?" Diego asked, perplexed. "Can't ride a horse in sandals, dude!" Luke explained matter-of factly. "Need to get me a proper pair of horse ridin' boots!" "Mmm, should I also ...," Diego inquired uncertainly, looking and his sandal-clad feet. "No, man, you are good as you are, 'least for today. I'll be doing the riding' and you'll be on the horse behind me. You could even go barefoot if you like!" Luke answered. "Ah, okay," Diego said shyly, suddenly aware of the 'on the horse behind me' bit. He felt his cheeks flush slightly. Luke pulled a box from one of the top shelves and got out a pair of clean grey socks from it. "See, a proper ridin' boot needs a good heel and toe support, for the stirrups," Luke proceeded to explain while putting the socks on. "Can't use 'em sandals or sneakers. Can't really go with shoe-laces either, or that shit can get caught in the stirrup and then you could be in deep shit ... " Luke paused. "Now, 'em rich kids from good families, that ride horses I mean, they each have their own pair of ridin' boots. Several, in fact, since they always need new ones as they get bigger ... But us, poor unfortunate orphans, he-he," Luke giggled, "we gotta share, don't we?" Luke pointed out at the shelves filled with boots. "Umm, you think they got something in my size here?" Diego asked hesitantly. "Absolutely, I'm sure they do!" Luke affirmed. "You can try some on later. Mr Frank, he grew quite a collection here over the years. Mostly donated, I think... Now, here is the pair I usually use!" Luke reached for one of the shelves and pulled out a pair of yellow cowboy-style boots. "Nobody else here has gotten flippers as big as mine right now, he-he," he giggled again. "So these are kind of mine." Luke put on the boots, zipped them up and stood up, spreading his arms. "So, Diego, whadya think?" he asked, looking at Diego with a cheeky grin. Diego thought that Luke looked absolutely dashing, and the cowboy boots made him look even manlier and sexier than usual. "Yeah ... looks ... g-good," Diego replied bashfully with a slight stammer. "All righty then!" Luke declared. The boys went into the stalls and Luke walked to Summer, followed closely by Diego. Summer appeared to recognize Diego, neighing lightly and stretching her head towards him. Diego gently scratched Summer's head and patted her neck. "See, she remembers you!" Luke declared triumphantly. Diego nodded shyly, but felt a small silent twinge of pride. Luke grabbed a brush and started brushing Summer's dark brown coat. He gave Diego a quick look, and after a brief hesitation, handed him another brush: "Here, Diego, you do the other side. Just start from the neck and avoid the legs for now. Do what I do!" With a bit of apprehension at first, Diego started brushing Summer's other side, trying to follow Luke closely. Soon he felt Summer respond to his touch with rhythmic, powerful, steady breathing. Diego's fear and apprehension slowly melted away, replaced by a wonderful feeling of closeness with a large, powerful, beautiful animal. "Okay, I think we are good," Luke brought Diego back to earth. Luke proceeded to put a saddle, stirrups and bridle on Summer, talking to her gently as he did so. "Wow ...," Diego thought to himself, "Luke's really good with her. I wonder if I ever could be half as good ..." Luke slowly led Summer out of the stall and into the courtyard. "Ready to go?" he turned to Diego. "Yeah, I guess ...," Diego answered uncertainly. He suddenly realized that he was about to have to ride the horse behind Luke, and his heart started racing. Luke put one foot in the stirrup, gave Diego a sly cheeky grin, and with a lightning quick movement propelled his body upwards and sat in the saddle on Summer's back. "Oh, wow!" Diego exclaimed involuntarily. Luke giggled and grinned at him smartly. "Yeah, man, I am a regular fucking cow-boy, he-he!" Luke chuckled. "But seriously, it's not that hard. You'll see, Diego, you'll learn pretty easily, I swear!" Diego shook his head doubtfully. "Okay, Diego, man, come here. Give me your hand and I'll help you up!" Luke instructed. "Here, put your right foot in the stirrup for now, to make it easier. Trust me, I've got you, I've got you, man!" Diego, still feeling rather apprehensive, followed Luke's directions. Suddenly, Luke pulled him up with a fast powerful move, and Diego found himself sitting on Summer's back, right behind Luke. "Whoa!" Diego exclaimed in surprise. "See, told ya!" Luke laughed back. "Hey, Diego, you're okay there?" "Uh-uh," Diego exhaled. "Good, man, good," Luke continued. "Just lean into me and hold on tight! Here we go!" Diego scooted closer to Luke and embraced his torso from behind, resting his head on Luke's shoulder-blade. He wasn't sure what to expect. Maybe a gallop? Instead, Luke gently kicked his heels and pulled on the reins, putting Summer into a slow gentle trot. As they exited the barnyard court, despite himself, Diego giggled slightly. "What, what is it?" Luke asked turning his head back.something ... "Sorry, it's nothing ...," Diego answered, "Just I had this idea that we were gonna gallop like the wind or something ...," "Ha-ha, Mr Funny Man," Luke replied slightly defensively. "Like the wind, eh? Well, maybe later, if you behave, he-he ... But seriously, no, Diego, remember, Summer is an elderly horse. Galloping aint' her thing any more. If it ever was ... Plus I'm only 12! And I've got me a minor passenger to worry about!" Both boys laughed. Luke thought that it was the first time he heard Diego actually laugh. It was a beautiful sound, sweet, gentle and pure. Luke sighed with relief. He slowly rode Summer west, along the edge of the water, gradually turning south to face the forest. Diego was enjoying more and more the smooth steady gentle ride, listening to the sound of Summer's hoofs hitting the ground. Gradually, he was scooting closer and closer to Luke, embracing the bigger boy tighter. Luke was telling something to him but Diego realized that he wasn't really paying attention to the words. The rhythm of Luke's breathing. His youthful masculine soothing scent. The feel of the curls of Luke's hair on Diego's face. The warmth and strength of his body. The feel of his young strong pliant muscles moving underneath the t-shirt under Diego's hands, delicately clasped around Luke's chest. It was amazing. It was wonderful. Better than that, it was ... Diego knew that he had no words to describe how good he was feeling. He closed his eyes and breathed in Luke's scent deeper, savoring the magic of the moment. At some point Luke has stopped talking and they were now riding in silence. Luke has turned the horse south, and they we now riding along the western edge of the pond towards the woods ahead. On their right they were passing a series of small grassy meadows blooming with summer flowers. As they neared the edge of the forest, Luke brought Summer to a stop. "Hey, Diego, dude, you awake there?" he called. "Ummm, yeah, sure ... Just enjoying the ride," Diego answered sheepishly. "Okay, good, glad you enjoyed it! We're here to please, aren't we, Summer, girl?" Luke laughed gently. "Listen, Diego, we are gonna make a stop over here to let Summer graze for a bit, okay?" "Sure, Luke, okay ...," Diego answered, looking around. They stopped at a small flat meadow, covered by fresh grass and numerous bright orange flowers. Luke hopped off the horse and carefully helped Diego down. He then lightly slapped Summer on her back: "Okay Summer, girl, go ahead, knock yourself out! The buffet is open!" Luke looked at Diego with a mischievous grin and wild spark in his green eyes. Then Luke suddenly dropped on all fours, and moving his head side to side like a horse, started quickly biting off and eating the orange flowers growing around them. Diego's jaw dropped in disbelief. "Wha ... Luke, what are you doing??!!" Diego shouted loudly. Luke lifted up his face and burst out laughing. "Relax, Diego, dude, these are daylilies! They are edible, see!" Luke sat down on the grass, picked another flower and slowly chomped it down. Seeing the continued shocked expression on Diego's face, Luke rolled down in laughter again. "Seriously, dude, it's perfectly fine, I promise!" Luke uttered finally quieting down. "I would not try to poison you or something! It's a well known edible flower, I swear! Mark and Gregg taught us lots about this stuff, and now I'm almost like a bear -- can live off the land if I gotta." Diego sat down next to Luke and picked up one of the orange flowers with several long brightly colored petals. He studied the flower suspiciously. "Daylily, eh?" Diego repeated. "Yep. Was brought here from Asia, I think," Luke explained. "But now they are everywhere. Go ahead, try it!" Diego cautiously separated an orange petal from the flower and started chewing it. "Well?" Luke inquired. "Doesn't taste like chicken," Diego mused. "But pretty good, actually. Might go good in a salad ..." "See, told ya!" Luke exclaimed triumphantly. "Luke, you are pretty good at this stuff, right? This nature stuff, I mean," Diego asked pensively. "Yeah, by now I guess I am ...," Luke agreed. "A regular Natty Bumppo, he-he! I'll teach you and pretty soon you'll be one too!" Diego shook his head, smiling. Luke looked around and saw Summer grazing nearby. "Come on, Diego, flower chomping break is over, we've got to get moving!" Luke declared. As they approached Summer, Luke unlatched a flask that was fastened to her saddle and took a few long gulps. "Here, drink some water," he handed the flask to Diego. "It's getting real hot and we've been ridin' for a while." Diego drunk the water silently. Surprisingly, it was still cool and tasted fresh. The boys mounted Summer again. "Had a good snack?" Diego asked with a slight chuckle, as he was settling behind Luke. "Yeah! Yeah, I did!" Luke exclaimed, giving Diego a light shove back with his elbow. Luke puled on the reins again and they continued their slow ride towards the forest. Luke gradually increased the speed of Summer's trot. After their flower-eating break, Diego was somehow feeling bolder, holding on to Luke, to Luke's chest with his hands. He could almost feel the beating of Luke's heart under his palms, Luke's raw powerful energy flowing into him. "Now I really wish we could gallop like the wind," Diego thought with a growing smile on his face. Suddenly he realized that his smile was not the only thing that was growing. He was beginning to throw a major woody too. "Oh, please, no, I hope he did not feel that!" Diego's mind recoiled. He scooted back away from Luke and loosened his grip on his chest. "You okay there, buddy?" Luke asked without turning his head. "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine, thank you, Luke," Diego replied, blushing profusely. His heart was still racing but he was gradually quieting down. They entered the forest and Luke slowed Summer's trot again. Diego looked around. The forest looked familiar yet somehow different from yesterday, as if the colors seemed brighter, richer, deeper. They continued along the main trail for a while and passed over a small bridge. Then Luke took a rightward turn, and they headed into away from the pond, into a denser, woodier area of the forest. Suddenly Luke stopped and jumped off the horse. "Here, Diego, come down, this is a cool spot!" he said. Luke helped Diego down, and then tied Summer's lead to one of nearby trees. Diego slowly stretched and flexed his arms and legs. "Ou!" he patted his bum which suddenly felt sore from their long ride. "Ah, look who wanted to gallop like the wind, he-he!" Luke giggled. Diego smiled sheepishly. He followed Luke through a thick patch of shaggy hickory trees. On the other side he saw a small mossy creek winding through the forest. "Wow!" Diego said, looking around. "Yeah!" Luke agreed, "Cool, right?" Diego slowly nodded. Both banks of the creek were framed by dense rows of tall trees, their branches meeting high above, shading the water from the hot rays of the summer sun. The air felt cooler, slightly damper, earthier, more mysterious. Luke sat down on a large log next to the creek, and to Diego's surprise, started leisurely removing his boots. "See, problem is, as dashing as these here booties look, not much room there for me flippers to breathe," Luke explained, removing his socks as well. "Need to air them after a while." Luke wiggled his toes. He gradually submerged his feet in the shallow water of the creek. "A-a-a-h, feels nice!" he declared. Diego slowly sat down on the log next to Luke and looked at his own sandal-clad feet. He didn't think they really needed airing out, but what was good for Luke was good for him! Diego removed his sandals and slowly put his feet in the water. "Ow, cold!" he exclaimed. "Of course it is!" Luke chuckled. "No sun here!" He looked at Diego and giggled again as Diego was gradually getting used to the cool water streaming around his fingers. Luke stole a furtive sideways glance at Diego's feet. Luke always had a kind of a secret foot fetish, and Diego's exquisitely shaped small brown feet seemed absolutely delectable! Luke looked at Diego's dainty arches and thought about what he might like to do with them ... "Damn, I'm definitely gonna need to beat off tonight!" Luke thought to himself. Diego's left foot gradually drifted really close to Luke's right foot, with their pinky toes touching lightly. Luke held his breath, not wanting to spook the moment. Suddenly there was a fast movement on the other side of the creek almost across from them, followed by loud squeaking. Diego saw a small shape dart into the bushes and another small shape run towards them, stopping just short of the water. Suddenly he was staring at a pair of tiny beady black eyes. "Oi, a mouse!!" Diego screamed in a frightened voice, jumping up and backing away from the creek. Luke burst into a chuckling fit. "Come, Diego, come back, I'll protect you! I'll save you from this huge hairy beast!" Luke laughed pulling Diego back down. Diego slowly sat down, looking embarrassed, and smiling uncertainly. "First off, Mr City Boy," Luke breathed out between the chuckles, "there ain't nothin' wrong with a mouse, 'specially here, in the forest. Second, that ain't a mouse. That's a shrew!" "A shrew?" Diego asked, confused. "Yep, a shrew!" Luke confirmed. "See, look close," Luke directed Diego at the small dark grey furry creature still sitting on a small log at the opposite side of the creek. "See, his tail is real short and stubby, not like a mouse' tail. The ears are much smaller, not like your Mickey Mouse! And the feet are shot 'n' stubby too." Diego, still not quite having gotten over his fright, was eyeing the shrew with suspicion. Luke was looking at Diego and grinning from ear to ear. "Lots of 'em here in a forest, near the pond," Luke explained in a quieter voice. "Shrews, they are real tough, they fight with each other all the time. Very territorial, according to Mr Mark. I figure that squeaking we heard, that probably was a fight. And this little guy here, I think he won, he-he!" The boys looked at the little shrew on the log who was still staring back at them. "Maybe he is thinking if he's gonna take us on?" Diego suggested. "He-he, y'know, he might!" Luke agreed. "But don't worry, I promised that I'll protect ya!" Luke punched Diego in the shoulder lightly. The shrew finally turned around and run back into the forest. "I think he let us off with a warning this time!" Luke giggled. Diego shot Luke a slight awkward smile. He nestled next to Luke on the log but kept his feet out of the water this time. "Sorry for being such a doofus," Diego offered quietly. "It's really cool that you know all this stuff ..." He paused and decided to continue. "I grew up by the ocean ... All this forest stuff, its' really new to me ..." Luke looked at Diego with a serious expression and squeezed Diego's shoulder lightly. "The ocean, the forest, it's really all the same, man, you'll see," Luke offered pensively. "You just gotta learn to watch. And to listen. And I got the feeling that maybe you already can ..." Diego closed his eyes and put his hand on the ground. He tried to clear his mind, to concentrate on his surroundings, to listen, really listen. And, unlike earlier that morning, with Capoeira, it worked. Diego heard hundreds, thousands of noises, different sounds around him, some small, some loud, some secretive, some fleeting. Sounds of birds chirping, singing, swooshing through the air. Water running, bubbling. Branches crackling. Small sound of little feet scurrying. Crickets trilling. Leaves rustling. Frogs croaking in the distance. Insects buzzing. Trees gently sighing above him. These noises, sounds of the forest, merged into a kind of music, quiet, subtle, fluid, always changing. Only unlike the music he heard in his head this morning, this music didn't take him back to his dark place. No, the forest music brought him peace, brought him clarity, brought him focus. Diego exhaled deeply and opened his eyes. He turned his head and saw that Luke was looking at him with the strangest expression on his face. "Ssh-sh, look, Diego, look," Luke whispered quietly, pointing to something on the other side of the creek. About twenty feet away from them, right by the water, Diego saw a small brownish bird with yellow beak, yellowish breast and a short dark tail. The bird appeared to be picking out bugs from a wet mossy log by the water. "I think that's a yellow rail," Diego continued whispering, "I only seen 'em a couple of times before, and only for a few seconds. They're very shy, never go near the people." "Maybe it hasn't seen us? Maybe it doesn't know we're here?" Diego suggested. "Yeah, it knows." Luke asserted quietly. He gave Diego another strange look. They watched the bird quietly for a few minutes. Finally Luke stood up, and the rail flew away into the trees. "Wow ...," Luke said quietly. "Ain't this a day of wonders ... Come on, Diego, we gotta head back before we scare off a unicorn or something ..." Diego silently followed Luke out. As they approached Summer, Luke's phone suddenly dinged. He opened it and scrolled the screen. "Oh, cool!" Luke declared. "Hey, Diego, it's a text from Ms Emily! She's coming in today to do some pottery. Her store is closed on Sunday and I guess she's bored. Come on, now we really gotta hurry back!"