"Hey," Issy tugs my shirt and pulls me into a tight hug, "be careful down there, you'll be okay."

My stomach rotates and flips like a pancake on a pan as my heart slams into my ribs. Today's the day I leave for Stratis, and my nerves relentlessly consume my body.

I squeeze her tightly and nod my head holding in my fear, "I know, you don't have to convince me of that."

Issy smiles and on cue my mom leaps into my arms and pets my hair, "stay safe honey. Come back."

I pull away before my tears surface, "I will, don't worry. I've been training for this," My soft smile slips off of my lips as I think about Luke training me, lying to me. I thought I could trust him.

"Jean," Adam calls from behind me, "we have to go."

I nod and take a quick look of the faces in the crowd, "where's Danial?"

"Sulking, he's far too sensitive and emotionally attached to everyone around him," James butts in and shrugs his shoulders. "Bring me back a souvenir."

"It's not a vacation James," Roxy rolls her eyes.

"Okay, than I request that you come back," James looks me in the eye and squints at me, "we aren't done yet ally."

I give him a smile and quickly hug him as he try's to push me off of him, "I take it back! Get off of me you imbecile!"

I let go and let my smile fade, "I'll miss you too. And Issy, take care of Danial for me."

Issy nods and I walk over to a man with a horse and climb on. I took a lesson with Luke so I know the basics, but not everything.

Sliding my feet into the stirrups Roxy, Adam and John follow after me, climbing on their horses accompanied by a Ballator warrior trained in riding.

With a couple clicks and clucks we are on our way and I don't bother fighting the urge to look back and wave at the Immunis who yell a chorus of good byes and bring them back safely's.

My eyes catch Lady's as she smirks and waves before her gaze falls off me, I follow her stare to Luke who's trailing behind the group.

Traveling with 25 trainer warriors of the Ballator Clan you'd think I'd feel safe, but I can't help but feel the perturbation pulverize my organs. I can't trust Luke, but him following close behind allows my body to relax and my mind to drift off into a peaceful haze.

We move our walk into a trot and my horse beneath me listens obediently without hesitation.

"Pants," I hear Luke trot beside me and I keep my eyes trained on Adam's back, "we need to talk."

"No we don't," I snap and trot away from him trying to ignore the fact that he technically kissed me and must have some sort of romantic feelings towards me.

"Princess Pants, come on." Luke trots to my side again and I stares at the side of my face, "please this is important—"

"I said don't talk to me," I shoot him a glare mixed with hatred and pain. "Just leave me alone already."

Luke tries to hide the hurt and grumbles "fine," before trotting ahead of the group.

"Jean," Adam calls and softly smiling into my eyes, "is he bothering you?"

I shake my head and look down at my horses mane, "no more than Stratis City." I begin to trot fast in order to gain distance from everyone I know, my need for space growing. I wish I never met Luke, I want to be appalled by the thought of him, but something tells me that isn't going to happen.

    《《《《《《《《》》》》》》》》

Nightfall crosses the treetops and the lack of natural light forces us to stop our journey and rest until sunrise.

I groan as I hop off my horse and crumble to the ground as my feet land on the soil. My legs take a moment to regain their strength as I've been riding all day without rest.

"Happened to me too," Adam smiles and offers me a hand up which I take.

"Thanks Adam," I roll my ankles in circles strengthening them again so I'm able to stand on my own. "That ride was too long for me."

Adam chuckles and nods, "tell me about it, I'm not built to sit on a horse all day."

"So," I let go of Adam's arm and stand on my own, "are you nervous to go back down?"

Adam nods and his smile falls off of his face, "I miss her so much..."

I smile weakly and touch his forearm, "it's okay, you'll see her soon."

"Of course I will," Adam pauses as he takes a blanket off of his horse as I do, "it's just that what if she's mad at me for leaving her behind?"

"Blame it on me," I let my hand slide off his arm to his hand, "I'm sure she won't be mad, you came back."

Adam smiles and nods his head squeezing my hand, "your right. Do you want me to grab you some food?" He nods at the packets of food being passed around as a fire is lit in the centre of our group.

"I'm okay, I'll grab some with Roxy."

Adam nods and let's my hand fall as he walks off to grab food. I make my way over to Roxy my eyes still adjusting to the darkness.

"So on a scale you'd be a six out of ten," Roxy examines the man handing her a blanket for the night, "maybe a seven if we shave that ratty beard of yours."

The man looks like he's about to laugh at Roxy's seriousness and I grab her arm and pull her away before she can do anymore damage, "sorry about her, she has no filter."

The man chuckles and nods as Roxy fights my grip, "let me go grease ball."

I raise and eyebrow at Roxy's attempt to insult me and take the blanket out of her hand before setting it beside mine and Adam's. "Clam yourself. I'm just trying to get us food before there's none left."

"Really?" Roxy rolls her eyes, "you took me away from a hunk of a man!"

"You were insulting him."

"You have to play hard to get! So much to learn you clueless child," Roxy pats my face and walks off to grab food.

Following after her I tap her shoulder, "I don't have a lot of experience with men, but I'm pretty sure if you like them you don't use insults. That's a preschool tactic."

"Like I said," Roxy takes a packet of food and passes me one, "so much to learn."

Sitting down on my blanket I open the food and stare at the cool contents inside, it's smell persuading my stomach to growl.

Roxy nearly finishes hers and she sits in silence savouring each bite she can. Her eyes closing and her lips holding in the flavour. I turn my head to my food, I'm temped to eat but can't bring myself to do it. I sigh and look up from my food and see Luke staring at me from across the fire, the heat disfiguring his features.

He holds my gaze and tunes out the warriors trying to talk to him as they follow his sight to me. I look away with the embarrassment of Luke's attention but am drawn back to his stature. His relaxed alluring eyes trained on mine with such intent that my heart crumbles into tiny pieces falling to the bottom of my chest.

"Go for it," Roxy crumpled up her wrapper and throws it in the fire like the rest of the men.

"Sorry?" I ask grateful for an excuse to not look at him anymore.

"I said go for it," Roxy restates with a sassy tone, "you should ask him out."

"That's ridiculous," I laugh nervously glancing back at Luke who's indulging in a conversation with one of his men, "I don't like him."

"Right," Roxy scoffs and sighs as she lays down, "that's why you're staring at him from across the fire."

"I'm not staring," I defensively shoot back.

"What ever you want to call it, there's clearly something between you two and it needs to be persued," she rolls over on her blanket and pats the spot beside her.

Laying down I pull my blanket over the both of us and hand her my food, "I don't want to peruse it. That would be stupid."

"Take your food and eat it or I'll shove it down your throat," Roxy threatens as she pushes my food back into my hands and raises an eyebrow. "And Jean, for once in your boring life... think with your heart, not your head." Roxy stares off to Adam who's laughing with some warriors, befriending them all.

Taking a bit of my food I begin to devour it whole, my stomach aggressively scratching the inside of my body. Lifting my head up from the meal I look at Adam too while I chew my food.

"You know he's crazy about you, right?" Roxy rolls to her side and props her head on her hand.

I shake my head and swallow, "no, we're just friends."

"Does he know that?" Roxy raises an eyebrow and lays back on the ground shutting her silver eyes.

I finish my food and throw the wrapper in the fire like Roxy had before as I think. He should know, I've never hinted at anything more. Sighing I roll in the blanket I share with Roxy and turn my back away from her.

My eyes grow heavy and Roxy's soft hands stiffly cling to my shirt as she pulls me closer to her, her forehead resting in the small of my back. I can't help but smile as she snuggles closer to me to escape the cold. I don't push her away.