As they traveled a week on end, Ignatius wallowed in his guilt of what he did even though Ignacio deserved what he got. But it seemed like no natter how hard he tried to justify his actions for what he did, Anahita still saw him as a monster.
As they traveled, he tended to stay far in the back, as far as he could get without being scolded by Melia for lallygagging.
Sólskin tried many times to make him feel better but it didn't worked. He was just too horrified by the fearful look in Anahita's eyes when she witnessed what he did.
   He squeezed his eyes shut from the painful memory. He just wished he could change what he did in the past.

Hours later, they stopped for the night.
It was his turn for first shift.
As the others settled down to sleep after a quick, cold meal, he sat on a rock with a high vantage point that also concealed him the shadows of night and the trees.
You know it wasn't entirely your fault. It's both our faults. Sólskin said suddenly out of nowhere.
You're wrong. It is completely all my fault. I gave into my hatred and I committed the very same act I did back at the citadel. He took a deep breath. I am just like him, Sólskin. I am like Ignacio in every way, whether I want to be or not. I can't escape his shadow no matter how hard I try.
I should have took control and stopped you but I didn't. I must confess that I did relish your revenge on Ignacio. However, I seemed to have subconsciously egg you on. For that I am sorry. Sólskin apologized. He wasn't even aware that he was called of such feats. Shut it. You should be glad I'm not letting you take all the blame when I very well could. At least I'm trying to make you feel better.
Well it doesn't seem to be working does it?
Suddenly there was a pause of silence. Sólskin didn't respond. In fact, he couldn't hear him and it seemed the same for Sólskin.
Then a voice clear as day slithered out from the darkness.
"Ignatiusss." It hissed softly, tempting him to find out who it was. But he got ahold of himself. Whoever this person or thing was it wanted nothing but trouble.
When he didn't respond, the voice continued calling his name.
He was staring to grow annoyed with the voice. Why couldn't anything leave him alone for once in his life on this forsaken continent.
"Hello, Ignatius." Someone whispered in his ear.
He turned to see who it was, but saw no one there.
He looked the other direction to see the person who had called his name.
His breath instantly left him at the sight of her beauty.
Her skin glowed like amber in the darkness as did her golden-orange eyes that resembled two flames burning in place of where he eyes should be. Her wavy, silky orange-red hair almost felt warm against his skin even though they weren't even touching.
   He couldn't help but feel allured to her by her beauty.
   "It's so nice to finally nice to meet you, Ignatius." She said once again.
   The way that she said his name sent shivers down his spine and the hairs on his arms prick up.
   "How do you know my name?" He queried her.
   "That's not important right now." She said sidling closer to him to where her hair brushed against his arm, the heat soothing him and making him want to be hers.
   Despite his last encounter with a beautiful maiden, he knew that she wasn't trying to kill him for some reason. She almost felt familiar to him. But he couldn't explain how.
   "You can sense her scent on me, can't you?" She asked, looking at him with doe eyes.
   "I can. But who is it?"
   "That is also a question for later I'm afraid." She said almost in a sorrowful manner. "But now," her hand slid up his arm and across his chest and came to rest on his cheek, "I think it's time you and I get acquainted. We will be seeing each other much in the future."
   Before he could ask what she meant, her lips met his softly.
   Her lips tasted of jasmine and lavender, making him want to kiss her back and never stop.
   Finally the kiss ended, much to his disappointment.
   "I can't wait to see you again. But for now I must leave." She told him just as his vision started to become hazy. "Sleep well, my félagi." She said softly as she gently lower him down in the rock.
He could faintly see her watching over him like a guardian as he slipped into darkness. Perpetual and horrible darkness without her light to guide it.

He awoke to someone yelling at him.
Ignatius! IGNATIUS! Sólskin bellowed loudly in his head.
Sólskin, he groaned, touching his head, what's the big deal?
   What's the big deal? WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL! I'LL TELL YOU WHAT THE BIG DEAL IS DAMNIT! Sólskin was full on pissed in like a non reasoning way. You bet I'm pissed, especially about what happened last night.
   What happened last night?
   Really? You don't remember?
   Ignatius tried to recall what happened last night, but it all seemed to fuzzy to make out any details to what happened.
   Before he could tell Sólskin he didn't remember anything, he began on explaining to him what happened.
   One moment I was talking to you. The next I couldn't hear you anymore, nor could you hear me apparently. I don't know what happened last night either. Like I said, one moment we were talking, the next I feel another force trying to block me from you. And I then I guess when you passed out I passed out cause I also don't remember anything else after that.
   Strange. He said, vaguely remembering the taste of lavender and jasmine and he was certain it wasn't Anahita he kissed.
   Now he had a drive to find this person who had apparently approached him last night and figure out what they had done to him to make him forget what happened.
   Oh no you don't. You don't know what else this person could do to you. For all you know they could be like that one nymph that tried to drowned you after she seduced you into literally almost walking to your death! So no, you are not engaging in any attempts to find this person. Sólskin told him like a parent would to their child, which annoyed him. He didn't need another controlling "parent" in his life.
You're not the boss of me. He snarled back at Sólskin, tired of Sólskin acting like the boss of him when he was the one in charge.
Really? You think you're in charge because you are in your human form. Well I can very well make you not in your human form and I can be in charge and I will keep you in dragon form until you learn that my "parent" like attitude is the only thing keeping you alive. So shut up and be a good little boy. Sólskin growled back in clear annoyance of what Ignatius just said to him.
   Ignatius didn't honestly even care anymore. He just wanted to find that girl back, and learn more about her and the other person she mentioned.
Then someone smacked him in the back of the head, hard.
"You were suppose to wake one of us up for second watch, Fire Lander." Melia growled, using her nickname for him. "Instead, you apparently fell asleep on the job and we all very likely would have been snuck up on."
He turned to look at her, not even in the mood for her bullshit right now.
"I'm sorry if I continued to be a inconvenience for you. Maybe you should have taken the first watch yourself. Then you wouldn't have to worry about me falling asleep again."
Melia's faced formed into an unpleasant look of hatred.
"Listen here, Fire Lander," she said gruffly, poking him harshly in the chest, "I will not tolerate your behavior because I don't particularly like Fire Dragons. All you hot heads do is bring death and destruction everywhere you go. I thought you might be a little bit different but it appears I was wrong. And I don't even have to be protecting you right now. I should have let those soldiers back there kill you. After all, ones kind should deal with each other, right human filth?"
Ignatius gritted his teeth, and clenched his fists, longing to punch her in the face as hard as he could. To take out all his frustrations on her.
Absolutely not. Sólskin suddenly said. You will not attack her. You know why?
Because you said so. He replied curtly.
I don't appreciate that tone. I swear you are acting more and more like a child than a young adult. Sólskin said to his annoyance. You will not attack her because she is laying her life on the line to protect you right now and deliver you and the others to Carmentha so you can figure out how to bring peace back to Elementa. Peace between humans and all the magical creatures and races. So be nice to her or else.
Or else what?
Or else this.
Ignatius didn't know what Sólskin was threatening him with, but it seemed like he was bluffing.
Then he felt his hand scream in agony.
He looked down to see that it was slowly forming into a clawed talon.
Fuck you, Sólskin! He bellowed at Sólskin, as he clasped his agonized hand.
"It seems someone got into trouble with his other soul. At least someone is keeping you in check." Melia said, a small grin spreading on her face as she walked away from him to go pack up the camp.
That made him more eager to punch her.
The pain of his slowly changing hand brought him back to Sólskin punishing him.
Behave yourself, or else I'm taking permanent control for the next few days while you get to be in the back watching.
Tyrant.
Am not. I'm merely keeping you from regretting a choice that you will regret for the rest of your probably tragically short life if you keep going the way you are.
Shut up Sólskin. He hissed at him. Now stop breaking my bones, and leave me alone in peace and quite.
I will as long as you behave yourself.
I'm not negotiating with you, Sólskin. It was an order.
Oh? So now you think you can order me around. Let's see how you like this than.
Suddenly Ignatius had felt a burning against his hand and his cheek.
Did you just... he trailed off, looking down at his red hand.
Yes, I did just make you slap yourself. And I assure you I can do much worse. So if you do not want to be slapping yourself involuntarily every five minutes then I suggest you be a good little human and listen to Melia. She may be a Treehugger but she knows how to keep you alive and how to find Carmentha.
If she's a 'Treehugger' then why do you want me listening to her if you don't particularly like her?
That's not an questions that needs an explanation. Now get on moving.
He groaned, and picked up his pack, following the other four dragon-blooded through the forest.

Hours later they arrived at a large grove of trees that towered over all the other minuscule, sickly looking trees that made up the main patchy forest of Elementa.
   "Welcome to Shadow Forest." Melia said.