"Aaron I'm sorry I just can't!" Zane exclaimed. "Come on! I did it, all you have to do is step on the rocks and try not to slip." Aaron said. Zane peered down into the icy river below. "But what if I do slip! I can't swim!" He exclaimed. "Than I'll pull you out, trust me, I won't let anything happen to you." Aaron said.

"I'm still scared.." Zane said, pulling his mask up. "It's okay.. I got you.." Aaron said, smiling. Zane took a deep breath and took a single step on a rock in front of him. He wobbled a bit but regained his balance. "You're doing great.. Keep going.." Aaron said.

Zane hopped onto the next rock, nervous sweat dripping down his forehead. He kept looking down at the water and back up at Aaron. Finally he took the jump to get on the next rock, he landed but slipped forward into the water. He landed head first into the river, almost being swept away by it, but something pulled him up. It was Aaron.

Zane was shivering as Aaron held him close, trying to calm the small nugget. But it didn't help, Zane started sobbing into his chest. "Zane what's wrong?" Aaron asked. "T-That just reminded me of something from my childhood.." Zane said as he sobbed harder. "Shh, it's okay.. I have you, you're safe.." Aaron said as he hugged Zane closer to him.

"T-Thank you, Aaron.." Zane said. "No problem, I'm here for you.." Aaron said. Zane sniffed a little and wiped his tears away. "Come on, let's build a fire so you can warm up, you don't want to catch hypothermia.." Aaron said. "O-Okay.." Zane said.

Aaron helped him stand up and then they walked deeper into the forest.

~~~

Zane sat in front of the fire, holding his hands out and shivering uncontrollably. Aaron had gone to find some food seeing as they had run out previously. The warmth of the fire didn't help Zane warm up at all. The bitter wind blew up against him and he feared that soon it would blow the fire out.

Aaron had been gone a while, and Zane was starting to get worried.

Zane heard a small snap of a twig behind him. "Aaron?" Zane called out. But all he got was silence. He spun around and his eyes widened in fear.

A single O'khasian guard stood there, holding Aaron by the arm. But Zane knew there were probably hundreds more behind him.