In a sudden gasp of breath I snap awake and spring upwards into a sitting position. Both hands rest slightly behind my back planted firmly on the ground. My heart is pounding like a drum trapped in my chest that booms through the rest of my body. I can feel my blood rushing through my veins. I can feel a cold sweat drip from my forehead and roll over the top of my brow.

 Did I really just see what I thought I saw? Was that dream based on truth, or was it some fabrication of my mind? 

Whatever it was, it wasn't good news.

I take a look around and see the smoldering remains of a fire that burned bright the night before. Morning is swiftly approaching and filling the sky with sunlight. An orange glow spills over the horizon and mixes with the dark blue that sat before it. My heart rate slows and I start to get my bearings. The stars above me begin to fade away as an even brighter light consumes them. I let my arms slide out and fall down onto my back into a thick blanket of grass below. Whatever that was, it was maddening -- I tell myself. I don't think I will ever get used to that feeling. Though it appears to be the only way of gaining some answers. 

I reach my hand over and place it on my chest. The pounding has stopped and my heart beat has returned to normal. All the droplets of sweat have dried and my breathing is now at a calm and controlled pace. My body is back in balance.

"You look like you've seen the face of death. Is everything alright?" asks a familiar voice coming from behind. I don't have to look to know who it is. A voice that cavernous and gruff can only belong to Thane.

"Yeah, I'm fine now. It was just a dream." I assure him trying not to act too bothered by it.

"Looks like the moss finally worked." He says as he walks in front of me and takes a seat. "About time too. It's been days already. I was beginning to wonder if it would ever take effect."

I look over to the side and see Erik lying flat on his back sound asleep. I sit back up and stretch one leg out in front of me, while the other is bent with the knee pointing upwards. I rest one arm on it before I reply to Thane. "It was intense." To say the least, I thought to myself. "But I managed to get a little information out of it."

Thane perks his head up slightly "Oh yeah?"

"Yeah, I still don't know where my friends are though." Sadly the answer to that will have to wait. I can only hope the moss works again and I can pull out the final bit of answers I need. "But I do know what happened on Kheran."

Before I'm able to continue Thane raises his hand up and stops me. "Hold that thought for just a second." He stands up and walks over to Erik "Hey, get up. You'll want to hear this."

Erik slowly sits up while rubbing at his eyes "What?" as he continues to speak he involuntarily yawns muffling his words "Hear what?"

Thane steps away from him returning to his spot on the ground "Aero" he says while sitting back down "He managed to regain some of his memories."

Erik's eyes widen and he leans in my direction waiting for me to start talking. "So what did you see?" he asks.

I start explaining everything from the beginning. I try not to leave out anything and walk them through my experience step by step. As my story unfolds and stretches longer and longer the sun climbs over the horizon more and more. Soon it's fully risen and the night sky is nowhere to be seen. Neither of them have looked away even for a second as I tell my story. It draws to a close and I can tell they are just as muddled as I am with the final events. Seeing my friends behave like that was hair-raising. What does it all mean?

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Thane scratches at his beard and says "Feelings of fear and anger are not uncommon among soldiers. Trauma and stress have a crafty way of overwhelming even the ones with the most experience. That doesn't explain the eyes though. I have no clue what that's about."

I'm a little disappointed to hear him say that. I was hoping he would of had an explanation for what that was. Guess it will have to wait. Not like I have any other choice. A brief silence rests in the air as the three of us stir in our own thoughts. Then Erik asks "So then it's true. Lunis was trying to cover something up when they slaughtered my people."

"I'm sorry, but yes it's true." I say

"And it was all for one man? Those deranged lunatics sicken me. How could one man's life be worth more than a hundred?" he says as he stands up and kicks the ashes in front of him. Small remains of burnt wood explode and blanket the ground ahead. Black smoke erupts into the air and latches onto a small breeze passing by. "And it's all for what, bigger weapons? Just so they can add more to the death and destruction? When will it end? What do they even need them for I ask? It's not as though anyone has the means to fight them. Most of the world barely has enough coin to fill their stomachs with a hot meal."

Thane lets Erik settle down a bit before telling him "They just want to ensure they always have the upper hand. It's been that way from the beginning. After the world fell into anarchy 30 years ago, Lunis was there to jump right in and claim leadership. Not like anyone had any real chance of opposing them."

Erik waves his hands at Thane and turns away from him "I know the stories. No need to remind me."

Erik is a bit older than me and likely remembers his life before the council of Lunis assumed ruler ship. I on the other hand was born into the world the way it is now. Their ruler ship is all I've ever know. Funny thing is, I was raised by them. Yet, I don't know anything of what happened 30 years ago. No one was ever allowed to talk about it around the city. Even the highest ranks of the Lunar Guard were punished when they spoke of old times.

"I feel your pain Erik. It's not all bad news though. A little light has shined in our direction." says Thane trying to quell his anger.

"Good news? What was possibly good about any of that? Erik says almost shouting.

"Erwin." says Thane

"Who, that scientist?" Erik says with a bitter look on his face.

"Yes, don't you see? He could be a tremendous asset to the Red Heart. He was the lead in advanced weapons development was he not?" Thane asks

"Yes, that's what he said." I reply

Thane stands up and keeps talking to us "Just think if we had him as an ally. We would finally had an advantage over Lunis."

"Is that all you think of?" Erik shouts "Your futile efforts in this army of yours? Do you care nothing of the lives I lost? Or even the lives you lost? All those men were following you and lost everything because of it."

"I am thinking of them!" Thane says in a loud voice almost shouting. This is the closest to anger I've seen him "It's my job to ensure they didn't lose their lives for nothing. If I just walk away from it all now I would be a disgrace to everything I once stood for." He steps back for a moment, runs his hand through his hair and turns away from us. He catches his breath and turns back around "Erik, I can't tell you how sorry I am for what happened to you and your people. I know, I lost nearly everything too. Horace and Ric, they were my closest friends. They have been by my side for years and yet I don't even know if they're alive. It's maddening to say the least. I can't focus on that though. This is my life, and in this life you lose ones who you hold close to you. All I can do is make sure their deaths mean something."

Erik calms down after listening to him "Sorry, I didn't mean to lash out at you. I just wish there was something I could do."

Thane replies "There just might be."

I look up at the bright blue sky then back at them "I don't mean to cut this short, but we really need to get moving. We've already lost a lot of daylight."

"He's right" agrees Thane "We need to keep moving. The sooner we make it to Moorhall the better. Gather your things and let's head out."

There isn't much to gather. It's not as though this journey was planned by any of us. We do have a few things however. Mostly small items gathered along the way. Makeshifts items like water pouches made from the skin of animals we've managed to capture. The cup I carved to drink my coon moss tea in. I pick everything up and we head out towards our destination. We stay close to the main trail but never travel directly on it. It's likely there are patrols as we get closer to the city.

Only a few days left now. Looking out across a wide valley I can see the hills we need to pass over. They are distant and faint, but I can see them. It's only a day's travel past those. Soon we'll be there. Soon we'll get some more answers.

Soon, I'll find my friends.