Jezebel rode by Safiya with Hector in the lead in a narrow valley, they had to rely on hunting, which Hector was the only way they got this far Jezebel hoped for more things to hunt than the occasional rabbit, the brown rock walls covered with snow walls over forty feet high and ten feet in diameter. So there was wiggle room

Hector didn’t talk about what happened to the guards three weeks ago no matter how Safiya and Jezebel asked him he won't say a word. Safiya is making more sense not to trust him fully but I still trust him because he likes halfbreeds and I need friends Safiya and Hector can get along right? I need them both

“this is a nice place for gliding” Jezebel said

“It would let’s do it” Safiya replied dismounting and then started to climb the cliff wall there were plenty of hand holds so up and up they went as Hector got farther away but will catch up once they were airborne. I have not glided since I left home since the planes weren't good for gliding. Jezebel had to pull up Safiya several times when she got stuck but she was light enough for her to lift with one arm but other than that and their fingers going numb the climb was easy enough the rocky plans were covered with rocks which is why they went through the valley.

“I need to breathe how can I could use some your strength and endurance” Safiya huffed

“I've never tested my limits before my servants always told me it’s not ladylike” Safiya’s head turned sharply

“servants? I thought you grew up off on leftovers from a butchers shop” to late her tongue slipped what do I do?

“Ok I lied about that, it's just this was my last chance to fit in and if I told you how I lived in a castle and had servants you would have thrown me out” Jezebel said pleading “you lied we were struggling while you had every need and want met!” Jezebel teared up

“yes I had every need, sure I was well fed and had pretty things but utterly alone you didn’t have people you could count on. My servants weren't my friends. They rarely speak to me except to teach me about boring stuff. My mother hated me and locked me up in the castle. My father only taught me to follow the law. but went away for years at a time” tears rolled down her cheeks at the prospect of losing a friend the only sound was the wind

“that explains how you could read and be so naive about the streets” Safiya muttered,

“I had people I could count on” she said in a cold voice leaping off and spreading her wings and gliding straight towards the other side of the valley did I lose her. What if I lose them both? My chest forces I’ll just glade

leaping off with her hooves and unfolded her own wings sailing through the air made her forget her troubles for a little bit at least sailing past a birds nest on the side of the cliff Safiya landed over Hector so she waited to catch up she sailed over her a good twenty feet

when she didn't move to catch up with her she held her head in her hands I’ve lost her. fresh tears sprang to her eyes. She doesn't want to be around me don’t cry, father taught you to be strong, my only parent, it feels

Hector rode up to Safiya, she hopped on her moa and as did Jezebel when they got to her

“Did you have a good time?” Hector asked with a frown on Jezebel’s face. she could not look at Safiya. She must have felt betrayed

“So what happened?” When no one answered he gave up. Jezebel pulled her dirty cloak over trying to stay warm.

Of course Falkner had to leave in winter; he probably doesn't feel the cold being a godling of fire. letting lose a few courses

“how did you live out here in the winter” Jezebel asked

“What do you mean?”

“by the look of that beard you lived in the wilderness alone for more than a year how?” Hector looked troubled by the question he got a distant look in his eyes

“I fought tooth and nail to survive” when he said nothing more for a while she realized he wasn't going to say more that's it? What does that mean? How does that help our situation?

We need to find a town soon. We need to restock our supplies. Too bad none of us have money but where would we get it? Hector’s been living in the wilderness Safiya grew up on begging for scraps and I’ve never had need of money. I've never been to a market before. Why is no one talking? We have nothing else to do. I'm I not good enough anymore? It pained her to admit it but Safiya doesn't trust her and Hector is distinct. He was always a little distant. on and on they rode in silence no one wanted to talk with her. They stopped somewhere in the middle of the valley as the sun began to set and it began to snow lightly.

Hector built a small fire they all tried to warm their hands

“When is the next town?” Safiya asked looking at Hector with her eagle eyes

“a few days I think” Hector said I do not trust myself to speak in case my voice broke which would make me look bad in front of these two who have suffered more than me. With Hector and Safiya went to bed with Safiya silently weeping for her lost friends. Jezebel sat on a rock by the fire twitching her tail keeping watch without dinner. How could I lose them both so quickly? How can I keep this together? Can I? If only Safiya wanted to keep this together. She could do it, she even got handouts from a ton of people. She's so much better at this than I I’m or Hector if we could trust him completely and he can survive in the wilderness but no I have to lead and I'm failing. maybe if I was a different halfbreed one that didn't look so off like a half Dryad or oh what’s the use I I’m what I I’m a failure. rubbing the tip of her horn. I’ve never fit in with the full demons with their talk of the law. Will my father come after me if he finds out I’m a moa thief probably. they did some good though when my homeland fell into anarchy before I was five the demons set up the law again and judges replaced lords not all but over half and the king what was his name? Whatever the chief judge took his place demons have done good but I could never fit in remembering trying to fit in with the lady demons as a preteen and them quickly getting frustrated because I never cared for the law. Or the way they spoke so formally So I tried the humans my mother allowed me to meet and tried to fit in but with my height and looks they quickly tried to behave themselves when I wanted to rebel a little. but I will always miss my home father teaching me about rats just because I wanted to and the time I got in trouble he was my lawyer. I wonder if I’ll ever see him again. If I can see him again.

The fire became a bed of red coals getting her blanket shaking a grumpy Safiya awake so she could sleep under the stars.

In the morning they packed our few belongings and ate a joyless breakfast. she had all the dried meat Hector asked for a peace, which was annoying because she needed it all. I can only eat meat and he knows it. it has the texture of bark anyway so why does he want it?. They rode off towards the end of the valley which Safiya could barely see with her eagle eyes riding in a single line which made Jezebel sad

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“It will be good to see our destination again” Jezebel said trying to be upbeat Hector grunted in response which wasn't the response she was expecting. riding in silence

“How are you holding up?” Jezebel asked

“how I’m I holding up” Safiya said “I lost all my friends and could not properly grieve for weeks I’m traveling with two liars and one of them not too trustworthy and on my way to the wilderness where monsters are everywhere and probably going to die a violent death” the words hit like hammer blows. I’ve lost her I’m going to die alone

“hey maybe if you pulled yourself together a little and not treat Jezebel like human waste because of a lie and we are going to give you the power of a goddess so maybe show a little gratitude if not Jezebel will become a goddess instead and you can go home so you won’t have to deal with untrustworthy people again and I haven't see you do a lick of work this whole trip or do your full watches you just have Jezebel do it for you so maybe don’t speak high and mighty” Hector called behind Safiya screeched at him

What do I do to ease the tension? They began to argue in increasingly angry tones. It's all coming apart! halfbreeds will forever be outcasts doomed to pay for their parents mistakes to feel alone unless this works. it’s all too much. Jezebel screamed putting all of her anguish and fear into it when she stopped screaming then looked at Safiya and Hector who looked at her with horror as their moas shook with unease

“well can we continue?” kicking her moa into a trot they followed with her at the lead. shoulders slump at least they stopped. but I’m a fool screaming at them and why are they following me anyway pushing those thoughts aside and focusing on the upward slope to get out of the valley on and on the road goes on with nothing but the cold rock walls and the occasional bird in flight

“so how are we going to get more food besides stealing” Safiya asked the first time anyone spoke after Jezebel’s scream when no one answered and already almost all of the packmoa’s supplies were gone and could only eat three meals two days

“we beg and hope for the best'' Hector said with sadness clear in his voice they agreed in grim looks they dismounted and trudged up the steep slope Safiya walked slowly Hector trodden up the slope mild speed she just had to run up to stretch her legs her hooves kicking up snow with each step easily out pacing everyone else tugging her moa along its feathers ruffling in the wind finally she reach the top then waited for her friends.

the landscape of tall hills and deep crevices will make travel difficult and

The mountain is a clear indicator of progress and the other mountain range behind it at least we made good progress these past three week all thanks to our moas. we really need to name you four but what do you name a moa? Safiya and Hector stood beside her looking at the mountain too. They saw a walled town in the distance. We can get whatever we can to feed ourselves. The only problem is how to get enough?

When they reached a town by the name Eelry it was a large place there were thousands of people living in it with large palisade wall and gate were the drawbridge went over the trench the houses were small wooden rectangles with tiles on the roofs instead of thatch the streets were tight only one cart could fit there except main street which was twice that, shops were all in the center as merchants tried to make a profit with colorful clothes and fine food.

Jezebel looked on with envy as farmers bought and sold goods while she had to beg for scraps Jezebel and Safiya drew almost every eye towards them as they sat on a street corner to beg when a wealthy merchant woman came near

“Excuse me, Miss some bread?” Jezebel asked

“no keep away from me” then she stomped past great it’s going to be one of those days isn't it Jezebel thought with despair

“sire some bread or spare coin” Safiya asked he went right on past without even looking at us

“don’t get angry we won’t get anything if you are angry swallow your pride and let’s get this over with” Safiya said then got up and walked to a different spot just ten feet away well a least the sad look on her face got her a hard biscuit and three coppers why should I beg when no one wants to give me anything

“What are you anyway?” a young teen said in a rich coat he had to be twelve at the oldest he stated at me wide eyed when she rose to her full height towering above him “a half demon and someone not to make fun of” Jezebel growled showing teeth he ran away a crowd had gathered with disapproval on there faces

“what?” slumping back down not caring that nobody came near her for the rest of the day.

“So how much did we get?” Jezebel asked munching on a rat that broke its leg she hunted when nobody came near her

“about one days worth of food and five coppers'' Safiya said looking haggard they sat around the sorry looking food a hunk of rotting chicken some crusts of bread an old carrot and one strip of dried meat looking at the town from the roof they climb onto “maybe some of the surrounding villages will be more generous?”

“I doubt it I just Wish we could get better coats”

“I wish we could take a bath the rivers are partly frozen and our bar of soap is a paperweight” Safiya said

“It does us no good to wish we leave in the morning and hope for the best” Hector said leaning back against the chimney

“So are we going to sleep on this roof?” Safiya asked

“No, we need to be by our moas so they don’t get stolen and the owner won’t want us up here at night and might call the town watch” Jezebel pointed out, standing up at the edge and glided to the ground with Safiya not far behind leaving Hector to find a way off on his own.

their moas were resting just out of town or grazing on what brown grass they could find. They didn’t look the healthiest there, their feathers lost some luster and they were not as heavy shooting a worried look at Safiya

“how can we take better care of them?”

“Why are you asking me?” Safiya said hands on her hips turning to face her

“because your part bird”

“so?”

“So do something about it!” Safiya screeched and stormed off

“wait! I’m sorry!” Why am I not good enough? sitting down in despair then getting her blanket and not caring that the sun just barely set, wrapping it around her torso and her wings around her chest and went to bed alone.

Jezebel awoke to a freezing morning right before the sun rose shivering trying to retain some warmth walking towards Safiya and Hector who were sleeping up against the moas. I should have done that. a cart began to roll towards them a man and woman they waved at Jezebel what are they doing at this hour what can I do while waiting for them to wake up? maybe walk the streets but memories of that horrible man stabbing and slashing my back it still hurts but the cold helps so that’s one good thing I wonder what mother is doing right now does she even miss me? what is home doing will I ever see anyone from home again probably not father has better things to do then track me halfway across another kingdom how can I keep everyone together apologizing isn’t working what else can I do

“Halving friends is hard” Jezebel sighed

“Yes it is,” Hector said, turning around. How did he sneak up on me?

“You yelling at her didn’t help” she challenged

“You let her walk all over you, why?”

“I don’t know what you are talking about”

“if I had to guess you did not grow up around other halfbreeds and so you were the only one who didn’t fit in and so you have low self esteem you must have begged to be around people but had no one had and so you are so lonely you will take far more abuse than anyone am I close?”

“you know nothing about my life” Jezebel sneered

“I know how to read people your father try to raise you but he did not have much love since the other demons did not like you and by the sound of it your human mother hated you and didn't hide it you grew up alone and so you become anyone’s lap dog so long as they are nice to you so you blame yourself if something goes wrong and a part of Safiya blames you for the death of her halfbreed friends so now you beg her forgiveness so you can be close to her which is why you trust me because I like you and anyone who doesn't treat you like dirt is trustworthy buy default” he said so knowingly Jezebel ran from him crying. How could he read me like a book, how!? Get a grip on yourself breath in and out in and out he’s mistaken I don’t trust him just because he likes halfbreeds heading back and not even looking at Hector as she got her moa up and saddled him and ate some bark meat for breakfast shaking Safiya’s shoulder to wake her “we’re leaving your half to eat in the saddle”

“Great,” Safiya said with a sour voice then rode off. headed to beg at the next village.