The familiar tug at her gut increased as Gwenn focused on the Bojack. Heal him. Her eyes were closed as she felt the energy from the grass around her travel through her body and out her hand until it reached the Bojack. She was too worried to feel awesome. The grass wasn't cutting it. Heal him! She shouted in her mind to no one in particular. The Bojack was much closer to death now. She couldn't lose him - not like she lost her dad.

She used more strength, the pull in her gut growing stronger, replacing the pain. Her entire body was shaking now from the effort. She had to find another source of life - one that wasn't sentient. The pull in her gut grew, tugging at her heart now. She was getting really sweaty and shaky now. She shouted the words in her head so many times she accidentally said it out loud.

"Heal him!" She couldn't explain how, but she found another life source - an oak tree not too far away. She used all her might, stealing its life and making it seep into the Bojack bear. In her subconscious, she could hear faint voices around her, warning her of something, but she ignored them. She felt the wounds of the Bojack bear completely heal and let go. Before she had time to open her eyes properly, she was on the ground, still shaking harder than she ever had.

She caught a glimpse of the scene around her - horse hooves, a bear's worried eyes, Thomas and Thalia - then she was out.

***

Gwenn was awake long before she opened her eyes. Normal dreams had clouded her thoughts. Everything that had just happened sank in with a jolt, immediately waking her up all the way. She sat up straight - which was a terrible decision - the pain in her entire body screaming at her that it was there. The pain was already leaving because of her position, resettling itself before she was indignantly shoved back onto the bed. She winced as the knife-like fire inside her shot through her body.

She blinked a few times, focusing her attention on her surroundings instead of sitting up. She was in a small, dark room; the walls and floor made of what looked like pure tree branches. The was a curtain where the door was and a tiny, natural window on the other side of the wall. Her eyes searched the room for the person who had rudely pushed her down so hard. She found him - the only one in the room.

Kihwek was beside her, squinting at her like he was trying to figure her out. She swallowed, trying to wet her throat so that she could actually speak.

"W-why did you push me down so hard?"

He laughed, a sound that anyone in earshot couldn't help but smile too.

"You suck the life out of a great oak to heal an enemy of the centaurs and humans alike that almost killed you and the first thing you ask is why I pushed you?"

He laughed again - she'd cracked him up. He shook his head, a wide grin on his face. She hadn't noticed them before, but she realized he had long, pointed ears. When he looked up at her, his eyes were a bright blue - they reminded her of an icy sea or a pale sky.

"Where are we?"

She realized she sounded like Thomas when he'd awoken in the hospital, for some reason it almost made a lump form in her throat. Kihwek ignored her at first, answering an unasked question - she already knew the answer though.

"I thought you might like to know, you saved the Bojack bear."

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His smile faded.

"But . . . they through him in a cage. To answer your first question, we're in my home town. You're in the greatest tree of all time."

Why did he do that? Change the subject by answering the question she'd decided was less important after hearing the answer.

"Why did they throw him in a cage!? He-he's harmless - kind, even!"

Without warning, Kihwek leaned in, making Gwenn try her very hardest not to blush.

"Just you and I know that. No one else. Don't you ever tell anyone I understood your telepathy."

"Why?" She gasped, her eyes wide. "Wait! Do you have magic!?"

"Shhhh!" He almost put his hand over her mouth but she stopped him - to both of their surprises - grabbing his wrist.

"Okay! I won't tell if you don't. I'm saying, don't tell them about me-"

"Yeah, yeah, I got that."

She gave a short nod. There was an awkward moment of silence.

"I'm feeling a lot better - whatever you did must've helped. Thanks, but I gotta see my friends and I have a lot to do."

She slipped off the bed before he could protest and headed towards the exit. He was in front of her in a flash, his hand shooting out to stop her.

"Kihwek. Let me leave."

"Gwenn, you should know it wasn't my choice - I had nothing to do with it-"

"It's suspicious that you're starting with that."

"But you've kind of been sentenced to prison. No big deal though, its only for a thousand years."

"I'm supposed to . . . feel better? Obey?"

"Uh, yes, and yes."

"No. no, no, no, no, no."

"Yes."

"No."

"Gwenn, we could do this all day. Hey, do you want to know how I know your name?"

She knew he was distracting her but answered anyway, staring up at him - he was a lot taller than her.

"You heard my friend Thomas shouting it."

She turned back to the door but his answer surprised her.

"No."

She turned back to him - if her neck wasn't sore before, it was now.

"What . . ."

"If you want to know, you gotta stay here and let me tell you."

"I don't need to know, nice knowing ya', babye."

She turned back to the door, ready to take another step but Kihwek grabbed her arm. She turned her head to him, her eyes flared.

"Don't you want to know why you're even sentenced to prison?"

"I can figure it out on my own," she struggled to get out of his grip but he was much stronger than she thought.

"I can't let you go out there, Gwenn."

"Why!? Because you're my body guard?"

"No - well that's not the whole reason. Believe it or not-"

"I chose not."

"I'm your nurse- healer - doctor, whatever you want to call me."

"Oh, a lot of names for you are starting to come to mind."

"Gwenn Mordredae!"

Hearing her whole name made her falter, which gave him the perfect opportunity to gently drag her back to the other side of the room. Before she realized what was happening, they'd started a slap-war. After about three minutes straight of - real maturely - slapping each other like angry toddlers, both Kihwek and Gwenn stopped, neither of them wanting to continue the silly fight when more important things were going on.

"Fine! Fine! I'll behave!" She lied. Kihwek hesitantly stepped back, his hands up in a peaceful manner. She walked back to the little bed and sat on it, waiting for him to relax.

"We good?"

"Yes. Now tell me the things you were already going to."

Kihwek eyed her, clearly suspicious of her still. She acted innocent, raising her eyebrows and tilting her head. She could almost picture a halo over her head.

Kihwek clip-clopped over to his original place - a spot between her and the doorway - and got into a comfortable position on the floor.

"Which one do you want to know first?"

"I want to know why I'm sentenced to death."

"First of all, you aren't sentenced to death. Second of all, your sentence is because you . . . you . . ."

"I didn't think you of all people - centaurs - beings could fail when it came to words."

Even though she made the joke, it was clear the shadow that'd passed over his face.

"You know, Gwenn," his voice was softer now, "you were sentenced to death but I fought for you. The thousand-year thing is a miracle."

Gwenn was quiet, trying to be considerate of him.

"Kihwek, why would you carer if I lived or died? You don't know me."

"It - it's not important."

Clearly the centaur didn't want to talk about it so she switched the subject.

"Why was I sentenced to death?"

Okay, she kind of switched the subject. Kihwek took a thoughtful minute before answering.

"Because you used dark magic. You're a dark witch."