Waking up in the morning I felt something warm nuzzled against me. Reluctantly I opened my eyes and looked down to see Niamh curled up against me. A tiny adorable ball of warmth. I carefully got up and snuck away from camp hunt up some breakfast. By the time both Leo and Niamh woke up I had already squashed some berries into a juics and cooked up some fish for breakfast.

As Niamh got out her eyes widened. "Wow Ryia everything looks so yummy!" she exclaimed gesturing to the food. "Here" I said giving her a cup of juice and a fish "eat up". "A whole fish just for me" she sounded shocked. I smiled and nodded as I dug into my food. Leo woke with a start jumping up saying "food I need food!". Niamh and I laughed as stumbled and devouered two fish so fast I could swear he ate some bones with it.

"Leo you really should chew before you swallow you could choke" I said throwing him some water which he guzzled down gratefully. "Leo, Leo, Ryia let me eat a whole fish for breakfast! I even got to eat the part without the gross eyes!" Niamh exclaimed excitedly. She turned her gaze toward me "scince I wa never on time for meals at the orphanage I always got the worst parts of the meal".

Smiling I said "well I have plenty of food so help yourself". After breakfast was finished Leo pulled me asisde. "Look I know you're fighting in the war and I don't want burden you so I'll watch her while your in battle on one condition" Leo said his face stern. "What condition?". "You need to promise me you'll come back alive" he demanded. "I swear". "Ok". I gave him a hug and said "thanks for being worried, but I can handle myself". "I know" Leo said hugging me back. It had been so long that I had nearly forgotten what a hug felt like. It felt nice.

"Ryia" Niamh said walking over to us. "Are you going to go fight in a war?" she asked sounding scarred, I nodded. "I am but I promise you that I won't let any harm come to you" I said smiling. "You'll be home for supper though right?" she asked hopefully. "Of course I will" I promised. "Good" she smiled and then gave me a hug. The next battle was approaching quickly I could feel armies coming towards each other near the mountains that seperated the shadow lands and Talahan.

A battle was coming, though from the armys' pace they weren't likley to meet for another week. I sighed looking at both of them contently. "Don't worry I won't be battling any time soon" I smiled. The rest of the day I spent blissfully playing with Niamh and hunting for food while lending Leo, who was building a more sturdy shelter. That night came all to fast and when I lay to fall asleep Niamh came and laid down next to me cuddling up to me. With a smile I let my dreams take me.

"Ryia, its so plesant to see again" Simon said. I was back in the cobble stone room but this time there were no chains at all. "Why you should see your old friends, hear how they curse your name. Even your oldest friend cares nothing for you anymore" Simon circled me like a lion circling its prey. "Even the mild sweet one hates you for burning their princess. How frusturating that must be. Your hated for fighting back against someone who attacked you, what friends would do that?".

"Shut up" I snarled. "You must be wondering if they were ever truly your friends to begin with I mean look how quickly they toss you aside" Simon said vicously. I was surprised he usually didn't tear into me so freely. "Shut up" I yelled. "Your pain, do they derserve to make you feel pain when they were using you all along?" Simon asked as my dream faded.

When I woke tears were streaming down my cheeks I quickly wipped them away and got up to go hunting. There was no point crying over things you can't change. It didn't matter now anyways I had Niamh and Leo now I wouldn't feel lonely anymore. Leo, Niamh, and I spent the whole day together hunting and playing. We laughed until I forgot about my dream, Simon, Terrin and Alexandria.

In the evening Leo insisted he needed some time to work on the shelter without any distractions so I took Niamh hiking. We laughed and giggled and Niamh showed me her fae ability, manipulating water. She told me about want to be a healer when she was older, just like her mother had been.

We had been about to head back to camp when I heard something comming closer a rustling in the woods I took Niamh's hand and went towards the sound hoping to find something for dinner but I stummbled back when I saw where the noice had been coming from and more importantly when they saw me. We were face to face with Laithen, Terrin, Alexandria, and Aaron all of whom had a bow or blade in hand.