Anya slapped Charles on the shoulder.

"Ouch! Why?!" Charles moaned.

"Why would you say something like that?! That's like inviting trouble over for supper," Anya hissed at him.

"Bah, I never took you for someone superstitious."

Anya grumbled something under her breath, Erend couldn't quite hear it, then she continued, "Whatever, let's go grab it."

The deer had fallen in the same bushes where it had enjoyed the purple berries. It's eyes didn't look scared, it had never seen its end coming. Suddenly it had just been there.

Erend felt remorse for the thing. He'd killed humans, goblins, and orcs in recent times, but that had been justified. At least he'd like to think so, since it had been kill or be killed situations.

The deer had been perfectly harmless on the other hand. It was just minding its own business when suddenly it had been pierced by an arrow. Sure, he understood the need for killing, but he didn't like it.

"Should we bleed it here?" Charles asked.

"Don't know. I'm not really a hunter," Anya answered and looked at the other two for input.

"Don't look at me," Cordelia started, "I've barely had to pay for things using my own money before, let alone kill for food."

"I haven't ever hunted, but I'm pretty sure blood attracts beasts, so bleeding it away from camp could be a good idea," Erend added.

"That settles it," Charles announced. "Besides, the meat gets ruined if you don't bleed it relatively soon after the kill."

"Why didn't you start off by saying that?" Anya asked with her brow wrinkled.

"I haven't really had a chance of deciding things the last couple of days," he retorted and got to work. Charles used one of Johann's old daggers and slit the deer's throat after hanging it upside down using a robust branch.

Blood quickly flowed in all directions. Erend realized they should have probably dug a pit as his boots got bloodied.

Erend felt chills run along his spine. He looked around himself, but couldn't see anyone apart from his friends and their babysitter.

"This shouldn't take long," Charles declared with a smile.

While waiting the others talked leisurely about this and that, what they wanted to build at the camp, how they hoped to one day retake Exodus and the anchor hall.

Erend didn't join in on the discussion, despite having many questions he wanted to be answered. He just couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching him, that something was watching them.

As the deer had stopped leaking, Charles tied its front and hind legs together and carried it over his shoulder, like a sack.

They began the walk back to camp, a great bit slower than before. The deer was a hard carry, and Charles wasn't the strongest of them. Yet he was adamant in being the one to carry his prey home, he seemed proud of the kill and having contributed to the camp.

"Anya," Erend said quietly and tugged at her. "I have a bad feeling about this."

"What? Is it about the superstition thing?"

"No... It feels like we're being watched. I haven't seen anything though."

Anya took his warning to heart with a serious nod, "Got it. Charles! Wait up. We'll stop here for a bit."

"What? Why?"

"Just in case. Hide the deer somewhere."

"Why?! What if an animal takes it?"

"Stop arguing, just do it," Cordelia cut in.

Charles grumbled, "Whatever. But I'll stay close to it at all times!"

"Works for me," Anya returned with a smile. "Do you need help hiding it?"

"No. I've got it."

Charles dropped the deer on the ground and climbed up a nearby tree. Just a few seconds later a vine dropped from the canopy above.

"Fasten that to the deer and toss it back up!" Charles shouted at Erend.

Erend tied the vine around the short rope Charles had used to hogtie the animal, then tossed it back up.

Charles used the vine to hoist the deer up the tree with him. Before long it was completely out of sight.

"Crafty," Anya commented.

"Surprisingly so," Erend added. "What now?"

"Hide. I'll climb up with Charles to get a better view of the area. You two do what you want as long as it's not stupid."

Erend nodded at her and looked around. The forest had many good hiding spots, almost too many. He knew he needed someplace where he'd be out of sight – obviously – as well as have a good view of the area. He could climb up a tree, but then his view of his immediate surroundings would be clogged with the spiraling trunks.

Cordelia looked to be at a loss of what to do, so he figured he'd need to bring her as well. A hiding spot for two, one that had a good view.

Not that far off there was an uprooted tree. The trunk was dry and wilted, despite the humid climate.

Must have been dead for a good while.

"Come here," Erend said and pulled Cordelia along. He pried the intertwined trunk open. Like he'd expected, the insides where practically hollow. "Get inside."

The tree smelled funky. Some ants had built a nest.

"What? No way," Cordelia protested.

"Alright, suit yourself," Erend said and stepped in.

As he started covering up his entry-hole, Cordelia protested once more, "Wait, you can't just leave me alone!"

"If you don't get inside I sure can – and I sure will," he said and gestured at her to climb in.

With a groan, she did as he told. She was practically shaking, the color drained from her face.

He didn't like it either. The ants crawled around on his body, it tickled, maddeningly so. But it was the best hiding spot he could manage for the two in such a short amount of time.

"You're doing great," he blurted out without thinking.

"Shut up. Why are we even hiding?"

"Contradictory. Do you want me to answer or stay quiet?"

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"You already spoke, dumbass."

"Right. I felt something watching us when we bled the deer, so I told Anya. She thought it would be best to have a look just to be sure."

Cordelia's face fell, "You had me climb inside a dead tree, to sit on an ant-nest based on a gut feeling?"

"Pretty much... Sorry?"

When you put it like that, maybe this was a pretty stupid idea.

"Your gut better be right, or I might just have to kill you."

"Fingers crossed," Erend muttered. "Let's try to stay quiet for now."

Cordelia aimed a murderous look a him, but didn't disagree. She really didn't like being told what to do. At least not by him.

Minutes passed, and just as Erend was beginning to come to terms with dying young, he spotted movement in the shrubbery twenty or so paces off.

Cordelia stiffly grabbed his arm. They didn't say a word to each other.

A hulking figure crept out from the bushes without so much as a sound. It held a large, dark bow with an arrow loosely nocked against its string.

"Orc," Erend whispered, barely making a sound.

The orc looked around with a puzzled look. It bent down and felt at the moss. It snuck up to the tree that Charles and Anya had climbed with its nostrils flared. It sniffed a few times, loudly, and threw a glance upward, only to be greeted by a roaring arrow.

The orc bounced away, dodging the arrow with nimble motions unbefitting its muscular frame.

"Shit," Erend groaned, and burst out the withering tree with his sword drawn.

The orc screamed something at the top of its lungs. The deep voice made Erend's eardrums quake, feeling like they could burst at any moment. It loosed an arrow up into the canopy, and quickly nocked another that it fired Erend's way.

Erend had never thought that dodging an arrow would prove hard. Not when he could see the one firing it draw the string and aim first. He quickly realized he'd been wrong to assume that, as the arrow whistled his way. He had to throw himself to the ground to cleanly dodge the attack. If it weren't for Anya dropping down at the orc from above, it would have had ample time to finish him off while he scrambled to his feet again.

Anya held the orc's head in a rear naked choke while trying her best to sit atop its back.

"Shoot again!" she screamed.

Just a second later, another arrow roared down from the canopy. The orc threw itself on its back to dodge the attack, at the same time it crushed Anya beneath its weight.

Erend could hear from where he was running how she deflated with a gurgling and violent cough.

He swung his sword at the orc, who dodged it with ease by rolling off Anya. Erend threw her a glance, she was barely conscious.

He attacked the orc with a slash, then a stab, then another slash. But none connected. He didn't relent, and kept chasing the orc down, not wanting to give it a chance to fire off another arrow.

As they rounded a tree, Erend saw a flash of white. Cordelia's arcane bolt impacted the orc's shoulder, forcing it to step sideways.

Not willing to let the moment go to waste, Erend slashed horizontally while simultaneously stirring his source awake. As the slash was once again dodged, he threw a Stone Shot the orc's way. It was the first time he used casting at the same time as he fought in close combat, so the accuracy left a lot to be desired, but by some miracle it still managed to connect. The orc crumbled with a scream and clutched its groin. Erend wasted no time and lunged with his blade, stabbing the bent over orc through the neck.

Erend didn't waste any more time on the orc. There was no way for it to survive a wound like that. He rushed to Anya and knelt by her side. She was still coughing violently, blood seeped out the corners of her mouth.

"Cordelia!" Erend shouted.

"Yes, just give me a second!" she frantically answered as she climbed out the hollow trunk.

"This is going to be alright in just a second, don't you worry!" Erend reassured Anya.

She looked pained, and for good reason too. He knew how heavy the damn creatures were from dragging the bodies at the fort. He remembered his previous thoughts about their hugging prowess, and looked down at Anya's abdomen. His stomach dropped, he couldn't think of anything to say.

Cordelia hurriedly knelt beside him to take a look at the guards captain. Erend saw her eyes widen in shock.

"Heal her while we move. Charles! Get the fuck down here, we have to go right now!"

Erend didn't wait for his friend to climb down, instead he pulled Anya up on his back and got running the second his legs stopped shaking. He could feel something warm gluing her body to his. Cordelia panted erratically as she ran next to him while desperately trying to cast a healing spell.

It didn't take long for Charles to catch up to them. He'd been sensible enough to leave the deer behind. "This way!" he shouted and pushed through the forests at a speed that Erend was just about able to keep up with.

"It's okay. Everything is going to be alright," Erend panted to reassure himself and the others, "You're barely even hurt Anya. Jack is going to fix you right up. No worries."

The sticky sensation kept growing despite Cordelia's incessant healing.

"Erend, shit I'm sorry! But I can't keep running like this," Cordelia wheezed between breaths. "We've got to stop!"

"But it's not that much further. See, a triangle," Erend pointed at the etching on a nearby tree.

"It's alright, I'll go get someone!" Charles shouted and darted out of their vision.

Erend gently let Anya off his back. She didn't help in the least.

He laid her down on the mossy ground. The greenery gave a stark contrast to her now pale skin and scarlet red abdomen. The jagged armor had eviscerated her stomach. Despite Cordelia's best efforts, the blood still poured out of her like a flood.

"Anya?" Erend asked.

No answer.

"Anya, you're going to be alright. Jack will be here in a second and patch you right back up. Don't worry."

He could feel Cordelia eye him from the side, but didn't turn to look at her. Instead, he gripped the hand of his sword instructor. She'd taught him so much in the little time they'd spent together. Sure, she'd beat him up a lot of times too. It wasn't the most orthodox way of teaching, but it was damn effective.

He'd never been able to land anything other than his desperate tackle on her. In his mind she was nigh invincible. So how was it possible that she laid here now, while he was completely fine?

She's the reason the orc didn't finish me off. I'm the reason she's hurt...

Erend felt the cold hand of despair grip hold of his heart. His eyes clouded with tears.

"There's no way you'd die from this Anya. No way!"

The hand he held felt so cold – so small.

Cordelia sniffled beside him, "I'm sorry Erend. I really tried..."

"It's okay. Jack will be here any second now. He's going to make everything okay. I know he is."

"No Erend... She's already gone."

"No she's not... She's just... Just unconscious. That's right."

He felt Cordelia's soft hand on his shoulder, he turned to look at her. She smiled a warm smile at him and wiped the tears from her eyes, "I'm sorry. You're right. We can't stay here any longer. I'm good to run again, I'll keep healing her as we go."

Erend nodded enthusiastically at her and heaved Anya up on his back once again. They got running, just as frantic as before. Cordelia's breathing was ragged and grating. By the time they reached camp he had steeled himself to carry her unconscious body as well.

Johann came running as soon as they got into sight.

"Why didn't you come help us?" Erend demanded.

"I'm sorry, boy. I had to protect the others."

"Where's Jack? She needs healing right away."

"They still haven't returned. Charles went out to look for them a few minutes ago."

So it hasn't been more than a few minutes?

"Which way? I'll take her to them."

A firm hand grasped his shoulder just before he could set off running again, "Son. I don't think that's a very good idea," Thomas said with his soft voice.

"But she has to be healed right now!"

"Even if you run off, the chances of you actually finding them are slim. You'd do better to wait here," Johann chimed in.

"But... But."

"It's alright, Erend. Let us take over from here. You two go rest. Alright?" Thomas said and pried Anya off his back.

"No, I don't thi--"

"It's alright. You've done enough."

Erend could hear in his voice that there was no room for discussion.

"I could use a hand," Cordelia said with a smile. It was obviously strained. The bared teeth couldn't betray the sadness in her eyes.

Nonetheless, Erend went along with it. He couldn't bear the thought of not doing anything. Not now.

"Right this way," Cordelia said and pointed at a cabin.

Her abode was a lot rougher than the others. Erend hadn't thought about it for a good while, but Cordelia didn't have anyone with her. She was alone here with no family, alone with people she hadn't known for much longer than two weeks.

The cabin walls had been insulated like the others, but the roof needed patching up. The ground could be made soft with some moss, and if she lined the inside walls with clay she wouldn't ever have to worry about feeling cold come winter.

"Thanks," she whispered as he helped her lay down.

"Don't worry about it. I'll go back and check on Anya, will you be fine here?"

Cordelia clenched her jaw, "Can't you stay here for a bit?"

"Oh?"

"I just... I don't feel like being alone right now."

"Oh. Alright..."

Erend sat down next to her. In an attempt to hide his shaking hands, he sat on top of them. His body still refused to stay in one place, somehow he decided to work a bit on the walls. He became so engrossed in the work that the world around him fell away. He lined the inside walls with some leftover clay that his father had made, patched the roof up, then he went outside and gathered some moss. As he was about to have Cordelia move out of the way to plant it, he realized that she was asleep.

The weight of what had happened settled on him. He threw Cordelia a glance, it didn't look like she would wake up anytime soon. She had been pushed far after all, with all the running and healing.

He left the moss in a neat stack by the door as he left the cabin.

Almost everyone in camp, apart from the children, had gathered in the center. They sat in a circle, discussing with hushed voices. Jack and the others had returned from their excursion. Yet Anya was nowhere to be seen.

They quietened down when he approached. Thomas got up to receive him with a hug.

"Where is she?"

"I'm sorry son. You all did what you could," Thomas comforted him.

Erend's eyes darted around everyone, he saw Jack avert his gaze and bite his tongue.

"So... She's gone then?"

"I'm sorry... If only I'd been here," Jack mumbled.

Without a word, Erend left the others behind to go sit in the cave. He'd sat alone in the darkness for gods know how long, when he felt something surge within him, something he'd never felt before.

A familiar voice echoed through his mind.

"Ahtar, maia..."