Tsugi squinted, blinking rapidly from the blinding afternoon sun. She let out a groan, feeling all the aches and pains in her body all the way down to her bones. She was being rocked from side to side atop the wagon. Every shift, every bump made her wince. She sits up, gazing at the mountain of rocks and surrounding trees far below. She inhales sharply at another bump, making her cough from the burning of the air hissing pass her parched throat.

“Whoa!” Lugo called out, halting everyone on the path. Within moments he was by Tsugi’s side. “Hey.” He said, placing a hand on her forehead, but she swatted it away, surprising herself that she even had the strength to do so when everything hurt so much. “Well, I’m glad to see you back.” He chuckled, letting out a sigh of relief. “How are you feeling?”

“Like I’ve been hit by a boulder.” She mumbled hoarsely. Lugo pulled his waterskin from his belt and pulled the cork off with his teeth.

Oh how soothing the gentle cool liquid was, touching her tongue and her throat, even her lips that were so very chapped and dry. She coughed up the aspirated water, having been too eager to want to consume even the sea at the moment.

“Drink carefully, weirdo.” He chuckled, patting her back.

“What happened?” Tsugi said after catching her breath.

“I should be asking you that.” Lugo said sternly, his once calm eyes now livid in a way she had never seen in them before. “What the hell happened? You were right there on the wagon last I checked, and then when we cleared the treeline, you were gone!”

“I was climbing back onto the wagon, but the rope snapped and I fell.” She stretched her sore arms, flexing her hands that seemed to even ache at the fingertips.

“Why didn’t you say anything? You could’ve yelled for help, screamed, howled – anything. You could’ve done anything to get our attention and you didn’t!” He scolded angrily, his fist shaking, pressed against his thighs.

“It all happened so fast the thought didn’t occur to me, but at least you all made it out.”

“I’m sorry, I wanted to go after you, but the sun disappeared and the path was gone.” His eyes fell upon the holes in her clothes where the scars glistened under the bright sun, and he seemed so very angry, so very lost in them.

“I’m fine.” Tsugi mumbled, running a weak trembling hand through her hair.

“Like hell you were!” He glared at her with red teary eyes. “You came out of there looking like shit! You were basically dead! Do you have any idea how scared I was?! How scared we were?!” He tried with all his might to control his shaking voice but to no avail. If she didn’t know any better, she’d say he wanted to kill her right now.

Tsugi glanced around at the peering eyes like she really was on her deathbed. Even Ellie was off her horse and kneeling beside her on the back of the wagon.

“You act like I did it on purpose. If it wasn’t for the guardian, I would’ve died.”

“Guardian?” Princess Aylin tilted her head like a lost puppy.

Tsugi let out a long sigh and explained to them about the events that occurred after she fell.

{I’m glad you’re okay now.} Ellie smiled. {When you appeared out of the forest, we thought you were a ghost. No one has ever made it out of there alive before, at least not before sunrise. And even then –} She leaned in a little closer as if to impart a secret like the others could even understand what they were saying. {You should’ve seen him. He was so distraught, he refused to leave your side, and he’s barely slept since.}

{Really?} Tsugi furrowed her brows, confused why he would even lose sleep over her. {Thank you for healing me.} She grabbed Ellie’s hand and squeezed it in gratitude.

{Of course silly. I’m just glad you are finally awake. We would never leave you there to die.} She chuckled and hopped off the wagon to give her horse an apple.

“How long have I been out?” Tsugi turned to Lugo, who seemed he couldn’t take his eyes off of her like she would turn into dust and be blown away with the wind should he even dared to blink.

“Several days. We’re already on the last stretch to Listoria.”

“That long?!” Tsugi sighed, muddling her face. “Well, let’s keep moving.” She moved to get off the wagon, but Lugo held on to her arm. “What?” She said looking from his hand up to his face.

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“You just woke up. Stay on the wagon till we get there. We’re almost there anyway.”

“Exactly. We’re almost there so I can ride the rest of the way.”

“You’ve been lying down for a long time, just take it slow and stay on the wagon. You can ride when we leave Listoria.”

“I’ll be fine.”

“Damn it Tsugi! I’m not going to have you fall off your horse and injure yourself!” Lugo hissed through his clenched teeth.

“Okay.” Tsugi capitulated and laid back down. “Jeez, what crawled up your ass and died?” She muttered under her breath.

“Thank you.” He muttered. Though if he heard her, he made no indication, he only let out a long sigh as if he had a huge weight lifted off his shoulders, and jumped off the wagon.

“You two act like an old married couple.” Princess Aylin muttered, making Maki snicker beside her.

“YOU try having a stubborn idiot, who always seems to get hurt, be your friend.” Lugo sneered, glaring at them with his murderous eyes.

Their eyes widened and they immediately raised their hands in defeat, having the exact same bewildered look Tsugi had. Lugo had gone into overprotective mode, and he wasn’t going to let anyone say otherwise.

He hopped back onto his horse and led Tsugi’s horse down the road with the others following behind him.

Maybe he’s PMSing.

Tsugi chuckled under her breath, confused as to why he was acting this way. It wasn’t her fault she fell off, but yet he was still so angry. She couldn’t help but think that he was angry at her.

Did he find out?

Tsugi gasped and quickly sat up, feeling around her bound chest, but they were still securely in place. Looking down, her clothes were still covered in blood with huge holes where the branches had penetrated her abdomen and thigh. Through the holes, she could see giant red scars the size of her fist.

She ran her fingers along the scars, amazed that she was still alive. The layer of skin was missing and left a thin layer of clear film-like texture to cover the striated muscles underneath.

Perhaps this is why he’s so angry. Hell, if she saw him come out of the woods like this, she’d be pissed too.

She sighed and slumped back down on the wagon. Even though she had been out of it for several days, she was still so very exhausted. Closing her eyes and feeling the heat of the sun along with the cold breeze on her skin, sleep had found her.

“Tsugi.” Lugo shook her. “Wake up. We’ve arrived.”

She stirred, finding herself still on the wagon, but she was in the barn with the horses. They were already unsaddled and feeding.

“How long have we been here?” Tsugi yawned and stretched, sitting up on the wagon.

“A while, I just wanted to let you sleep while I got things settled.” He picked up Tsugi’s pack off the ground and swung it over his shoulder. “Come on, I got a room for us. The ladies are already in their room.”

“Are we sharing rooms again?” Tsugi sighed.

“Yes.” Lugo said sternly. “I’m not leaving you by yourself. Not after what happened. Are you crazy?” He had that murderous look in his eyes again – the one that she had found to be quite amusing now.

“Alright. Calm down, or you’ll end up killing me instead.” Tsugi muttered, jumping off the wagon.

“Careful!” Lugo yelled, catching Tsugi right as she landed and lost her footing. “This is why I can’t fucking leave you alone! You are always so fucking careless!”

She gapes at him, her jaw to the floor and eyelids to the sky. “Why…why are you so angry?”

“You had a huge fucking chunk of muscle bitten off your calf! You really think you can jump and do that kind of shit right now?!” He ran a hand through his hair. “Jeez Tsugi.” He inhaled, exasperated. “If you’re going to keep being reckless, I’ll fucking carry you! You want me to carry you?!”

“No!” She pushed him off her. “I’ll – I’ll be careful.” She rolled her eyes and limped away, but he trailed close behind her, his arm outstretched and ready to catch her at any moment.

The inn wasn’t as lively as the last time when they passed through. There was only quiet chatter in the corner of the empty inn.

“Will you stop hovering?!” She snapped, eyeing him from the corner of her eyes. His arms were frozen, outstretched behind her like a parent watching over a child's first steps.

He blinked at her in shock, but hesitantly lowered his arms. “Up the stairs, third door on the left.” He muttered.

Finally making it to the room, she stood at the door, and tried to catch her breath. Her body was still very exhausted and worn out that just limping from the barn and up the stairs had taken a toll on her. She flexed her muscles and they twitched sorely – achingly painful, making her wince.

“Are you okay?” Lugo rushed to her side. “Where does it hurt?”

She raised her hand to shush him. “I’m fine.” She said sternly. “Just sore.”

“Come. I’ll take you to the bath house. The hot spring there has replenishing magic that will make you feel better.”

“I don’t want to go to the bath house.” She griped.

“Do you want to limp forever?!” Lugo glared at her. She pinned her lips into a thin line. “Please Tsugi –” Lugo beseeched. “I know you don’t like public bathhouses because you don’t feel comfortable around people. I’ve already made an arrangement with them, and reserved the whole bathhouse for the next two hours.

You have the whole place to yourself. I won’t even be in there with you. I’m just going to walk you there and then I’m going to the other hot spring up the mountain.” He sighed, drooping his shoulders, and there it was – the sleeplessness that Ellie was talking about, so very worn out written all over his face. “The place will be locked and the workers won't even be in there.”

She let out a long sigh, glaring up at Lugo’s pleading silver eyes.

“Fine.” She capitulated.