Yeah, he thought to himself. He's trying......it's not good enough, but he's trying. Trying to keep his cool. Trying not to lash out every time something startled him. Trying not to scream every time someone says something wrong. Yep, trying.

Zack was right though, he HAS been calmer than many months before.

Nothing has changed for him though, every time something bothers him, he can bite his tongue all he wants, but he'll still hear the vicious screams in his mind.

When will this ever stop? I thought I'm free! Why do these things still haunt me?

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To take his mind off of things, he did what he said he was going to do, and plan the next hunt.

They weren't going to enter the Valley anymore....he knows HE didn't want to anymore than they do. That one trip was just for fun.

Shadow laughed at the memory of him scaring the shit out of Max! He even laughed at Matthew saying, 'We came all this way, for nothing?'.

He sighed. Good times, good times.

He crouched down in front of a patch of loose dirt and grabbed a stick. He ran the stick over the dirt to form a location. He then remembered the thick patch of trees that were not very far from where they camped. That area is full of game. His mouth watered at the thought of having a nice plump peasant for dinner. He smiled at the thought of that.

Lovely.

Suddenly, his mind flashed him a memory he wanted so badly to forget.....