We had started to set up camp near the river, there were only a few buildings that were completely broken down here. Silence had fallen for now as we all worked together to set up camp. Haley helped with patching me and Lory up. The herbs stopped most of the bleeding, along with some energy. Once Lory had been patched up, she used some kind of sun crystal to make a barrier around our camp, making sure to include the river. We needed to rest for a while before following the river.

This would allow us to make sure we were prepared, had talked it out, and replenished our energy. The wounds would slowly heal. After the tents were set up, the campfire lit, and Abby started preparing a meal in a cooking pot, Haley took me apart to sit near the streaming river.

I sat down and looked at her, “Thanks for the timely save munchkin. You did great.”

She tilted her head and smiled, “This is my new look for being serious, and, did I pass the test?”

I chuckled, “Not everything in life is a test, and secondly, you are rocking this gear.”

Haley seemed to be confused, “What do you mean this wasn’t a test? You wanted to know if I would follow you, right? You were a bit slow though, it seems you slowed down.”

I sighed, “Your mom had some trouble with the heat from the volcano. She needed to cool down, you guys were slow too, you could have caught up with us before we were attacked by the vampire birds.”

Haley sighed, “I can explain why but first, what do you mean with that this was no test?”

“Haley?”

“Yes?”

“Please come closer,” she scooted next to me and put her head on my shoulder and wrapped her tail and wings around me. “Now listen close Haley, things have been a test in your life, but you also had a normal life beside that. Now, you are growing up into a fine young woman. You need to know, we will not always be around, we might get split up, your mom and I might die, you never know what life is going to throw your way. This was not a test but an option, you could have decided to listen and your mom and I would have somehow made it. You had a choice, you could stay back and use your training to stay safe but live a life in peace. Or, you could follow in our footsteps.”

Haley chuckled softly, “Well, you did train me like that.”

“It is clear you followed us, your gear says enough. You even managed to let the others follow you. You are not only a natural born fighter Haley, you are a natural born leader. You don’t have to fight, to make me proud. You can make everyone proud by choosing your own path. And by choosing to come after us, you have forged your own path.”

Haley spoke up, “Thanks dad, I love you.”

I smiled at her, “I love you too munchkin. Do you want me to tell me about your detour?”

Haley grunted, “Yes, we had Lizardians that walked over to us.”

“Oh, were they friendly?”

Haley shook her head, “No, they wanted to execute us, and there was a human with them.”

“That sounds bad, how did you get out of that situation?”

Haley let out a deep sigh, “This human, Lance, I saw he was a highly trained soldier. I later learned he was a bounty hunter.”

I looked at her, “Was?”

Haley twitched her tail a bit, “Yeah listen to me dad.”

“Alright.”

“Since he seemed like a very skilled trainer, and a guard. I decided it was the best option was to let myself get captured. It seems there is a bounty on my head. Just for being associated with the void. When we were in the cell, I seduced Lance.”

I adjusted my wings, “How old was he?”

Haley chuckled, “Only 21 dad. I seduced him, then he let me out of the cell and soon after that removed my cuffs. I kissed him and made him believe he would get the goods. However, I did not want to react too fast, or he would see through my plan. When he got his hands close to my, you know private parts. I told him to unzip his pants, that seemed like the perfect moment to snap his neck. It even was easier to do than I had expected.”

I nodded, “You killed him, how did that make you feel?”

Haley shrugged, “It made me feel good, then there are the other Lizardians I killed, they would have sent word to the capital, I killed them as well.”

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I agreed with her, “It seems you had no other choice but to kill them. I trained you for this. Are you sure, like absolutely sure there was no other choice but to kill them and if you had to, in that brute manner?”

Haley nodded, “Lance would have kept chasing us if given the chance. The Lizardians would have sent word to the capital, and it would increase the bounty on my head.”

I nodded, “I understand what you mean Haley. You handled this situation well, you need to learn, killing is not good. If there is a need to kill, then you also need to accept, it cannot be avoided. I am not angry at you for killing people Haley. You performed a nice femme fatale. Just make sure your rage is not going to lead you.”

Haley smiled at me, “Thanks dad, I am glad you are here for me. Are you going to tell mom?”

“Yes, I will tell your mom about this. Haley?”

“Yes? How did it make you feel, to seduce Lance?”

She grinned, “I felt nothing, it did not do anything for me, I also felt no attraction to him. It was just a show to lure him into a trap. If you really want to know, I have never shared a bed with someone, I know how to kiss.”

I rubbed my hand over Haley’s back, “I am proud of you, and I am glad you followed me. Did you encounter any other problems?”

Haley shook her head, “Not a lot. Thank you for listening to me dad. Funk also checked in with me, and even Abby. How are you dealing with that thing in your head?”

“Oh you know, it is still there.”

Haley smiled, “Can I see him?”

“Well, if I could, then I would.”

Haley put two of her fingers on my head and suddenly things turned black. After a few seconds, I felt myself standing in white space. Haley is standing next to me. I looked at her, “Holy crap, how did you bring us to Agent? I mean, holy fudge.”

Haley shrugged, “Well, the void sends you into a dream world. I am barely scratching the surface, but you are open and honest to me. I do not have to force my way into your mind.”

Someone clapped, We both looked at Agent. “Hello there Munchkin!”

I sighed, “Don’t call her that.”

Haley walked over to him, “If you are Agent, then why is Agent S in that mirror behind you?”

The man claiming to be Agent seemed to be caught in a lie. He sighed, “Fine, call me my name then. Captain.”

When I looked into the mirror, I saw Agent S sitting there, he waved at me. Captain looked at me, “Do you want more power? Those monsters were beating you up.”

I grunted, “No, you can just stay in that mirror.”

Haley looked at me, “And you woke him up by sprouting your wings?”

“Yeah, I think so, and he has many answers that I am looking for.”

Captain chuckled, “I am not going to give them to you, or your daughter. Does that also make her my daughter?”

Haley crossed her arms, “No, you are just a faker.”

Captain bellowed out in laughter, “Really? Are you calling me the faker? I am not the faker around here, I think he is the faker, at least I am not pretending, that nothing is wrong, I guess we are both fakers.”

Haley shook her head, “Just ignore him dad.”

“Yeah, I have been doing that, he kept talking about Bella and Alice.”

Haley looked at me, “What did he say about them?”

“Mostly how he liked their ass.”

Haley sighed, “Yep, he is nothing like you.”

“Why is he even dressed in a white robe?”

I shrugged, “Who knows, I did not pay attention to his appearance.”

Haley walked away, “Let’s leave.” I nodded and followed her as a portal opened up. We stepped through the portal, and we woke up near the river.

I looked at Haley, “Well, that is the thing inside of me. A powerful version of me wearing a white robe.”

Haley put her hand on her chin, “He also lies. He does not want to give you information. Just ignore him, I believe in you, dad.”

“Thanks, Haley, if he ever takes control of me, I am counting on you and mom to get me back.”

Haley got up, “I promise you that I will try to get you back. There is no way, as long as you have mom, you will let that thing possess you.”

“Thanks, Haley that means a lot to me. Should we head back to the campfire? I bet there is some food now!” She helped me up. “Haley?”

“Yes?”

“I am sure that you are going to grow up to be a wonderful woman!”