"Do you think we can trust her?" One of them whispers in the dark.

Though I cannot differentiate their voices from above in the tree, I can sense the words just the same. Not light enough to be female, I assume it's either Theron or Daniel. From the process of elimination, only one of them seems even remotely skeptical of me.

Scrubbing a dry hand over my face, I shift uncomfortably on the branch scraping into my skin. For miles in any direction, there isn't a single noise or movement. Wildlife had long since vacated the area besides a few birds attempting to escape into nature. The only light provided by the fire below.

A soft voice scoffs at the question below. "She's watching camp for us to sleep, shouldn't we be using this time to sleep? Who knows when we'll get the chance again."

"What so she can kill us in our sleep?"

"Theron..." A lower voice growls. "If she was going to kill us, she'd have killed you first. Instead, she handed me the damn knife. Sheathed no less."

There was a low grumble but no response.

Glancing down, I watch Remi roll over uneasily in a sleeping bag. Her eyes closed and arms wrapped tightly around herself. Likely asleep again, the other two are glaring at each other in a stare off. Daniel propped on his elbows and Theron on his shoulder.

Tracking the landscape again, I notice something swish against the grass and get ready to jump down. Investigating, I don't smell the scents of any type of human but instead a smaller mammal.

Honestly, I'm just bored sitting up here.

Eavesdropping again, I count the constellations visible in the sky.

"Do you believe her?" Theron asks in disgust. "About the earth, about us killing the planet."

"We're not them..." Daniel snaps, eyes turning cold and harsh.

Fascinating.

The snide man looks away, rolling his eyes slightly. A clear submissive signal, conceding to this statement as if it were fact. His lips twist before he thinks of something else. "You're not thinking about staying with her, are you?"

"We should be sleeping," Daniel dismisses, not willing to divulge anything further. "Nothing is set in stone."

Remi thrashes again, kicking her leg out aggressively before she pushes herself up with eyes in narrow slits. "What the hell are you two doing?"

"Dan's considering staying with her."

A sarcastic laugh escapes her and I raise a brow before the words that come out nearly force me to do the same. "So?"

Theron hisses something indecent and quiet, laying down. "You don't even know her name."

I cast my gaze behind us and check the opposite direction. No movement. Nothing. No hunters, nothing dangerous. Absolutely nothing to be concerned with whatsoever.

"Hey!" Daniel whisper-yells upwards, staring at me. "Goddess lady!"

A laugh bubbles past all of my defenses. "Yes?" I call back, looking down at them and dropping down a branch.

"What's your name?" he asks, a slow - more comfortable - smile grows on his lips.

"Your human tongues cannot pronounce my God-given name, Daniel."

"Humor me, you must have one you use on this planet."

I swing around near the trunk of this tree and peer into the bird's nest I've been watching. "I do," I say, failing miserably to dislike this human male and his antics. "My name is Iridian."

"That's pretty," Remi whispers in her sleep-drunk state.

Nodding in gratitude, I climb back up to my spot and act as surveillance again.

"Any more questions?" Daniel asks - a cocky grin on his lips.

His gentle, but humorous personality was winning me over on his soul. Though I didn't believe I would find myself enjoying a Destroyer's company. The look in his eyes shows a hatred for his own race I cannot begin to describe.

Theron is rude and inconsolable. Even at his best, he questions every single decision everyone makes. It did not matter that I was a God or even a girl. This was his own issue, his own distrust created by something likely miserable and unkind.

Swallowing back all the vile things in my mouth, I take a minute to try and understand that perhaps - even in this ridiculously crude state - he was worth my time and effort. Theron has a story. Everyone has a story.

I won't feel bad for a Destroyer, but maybe I can allow him a chance to improve.

A single chance.

"If we die, I'm blaming you..." I hear quietly, likely through gritted teeth.

"Careful about making threats, Theron," I warn rather loudly. "I wouldn't want it to be the death of you."

Not a sound is heard in response.

Good.

Daniel falls asleep rather quickly, Remi curling into a ball in her sleep.

The warm smell of campfire brushes into the air and consumes the fresh night, heat rising. The waves dance over the moons dimming glow and disappear into the darkness. Only a few constellations peak out tonight, the smoke from years of fire creating a thick, cloaking the atmosphere.

The flames dance in the wind and pick up against gusts. Though a barrier keeps them from reaching the humans. It's a thin, transparent orb of light, illuminating slightly with magic. Without any strength behind it, the sigil is weak and barely worth a low-class Mage's effort.

Taking a deep breath, I decide what is most important.

Clothing and Mana.

Whether it be at the hands of a witch, another god, or something of mythic decent, I needed to heal my life force enough to find Lindon.

Killing for it would be simple, easy. The most likely route in a world of Anarchy considering the odds of any allies being alive feels quite slim.

Staring off into the night, I hold guard. They need sleep and I need a plan.

Or everything will fall apart worse than it already has.

The fire burns out right at sunrise, my eyes peeking open to survey the area.

Beneath me, the humans rest nicely. Even Theron's breathing is calm and restful. They each have a similar, slobbery and exhausted look on their face. It's tempting, though I don't need sleep.

Climbing down from the tree, I gently caress one of the unhatched eggs, sealing it with the promise of life.

I'm slowly killing myself, making up for what my partner cannot.

My throat goes stiff when I touch the ground, tears bubbling up again. He is love, light, and life. I am death, darkness, and destruction. In the end, I cannot make up for all the planet has done.

I need to take...

Plotting out a strategic plan for my journey to town, I wander around the borders and retract my sigils, soaking up the tiny bits of strength like small breaths after water. The tiny flickers of energy flit around my fingers and into my soul.

Remi blinks awake and coughs a little bit. "Is everything okay, Iridian?"

"Yes dear," I mutter, struggling with a particular strain of Mana in the air. "I'm just weak, I need to get into town today."

"That's where we were headed, you know..." She says shyly. "Maybe you can come with us?"

Smiling, I shrug and look at the two sleeping men covered in dirt. "Theron doesn't want me around, Remi. I don't intend to stay with you long enough to only stir problems for the future."

She huffs and stops talking, pulling her half-clothed body from the sleeping bag. My eyes wander down her legs, white scars covering her knees and ankles. I remember a similar mark from medieval torture chains, where small knives cut into the victim and strap in like belts.

I frown, over to her side in a fluid motion and awkwardly stroking her bare leg in the light. She shrieks, slapping a hand over her mouth and trying not to wake or trip over the boys. "I'm sorry," I murmur, analyzing her with fascination.

"Oh... I-uh..." She stammers, pulling away from me. "No problem."

Curious, I lean back and straighten back to full height. "How did you get those?"

Remi bends down and grabs her discarded pants off of the ground and unbundles them. The jeans are grimy and well worn. Extremely fearful, she yanks them on. Violation, I can gather.

My eyes shoot over to the boys with a sort of cold fury and back to her. Shaking her head frivolously, she bends down and whispers at me. "They don't even know, they haven't seen... I'm sorry, I kind of spaced it so please don't worry."

"What happened?"

She plops down on her butt beside me and wraps her arms around her knees. "We all have our stories, Iridian..." Remi says slowly. "Mine are just... There is a criminal camp in Argentina, a place where specific people gathered in order to get away with all the things they couldn't before. When I was little, some people with some particular interests kidnapped me... I was used for a lot of things."

I shush her and wipe away a tear she doesn't know is there.

The boys behind her stir and I pull away, going back to remove the final sigil. They groan in the background my hearing, stretching and coming to life as if they'd been dead for a century.

I'd know the feeling.

In estimation, the town isn't much farther than a couple miles. With little to nothing on my back, alone I could make it in a few hours. Their pacing is quick though, without sleep at least. It should be something to gauge with time, should they follow me. Or we head in the same direction.

I'll track them all the same.

Sighing, I bend over and take a drink from the creek. A hateful comment is mumbled into some fabric, with two laughs following suit. The friends are closer this morning, more relaxed and comfortable now with sleep and less stress.

"Did anything happen last night, Iridian?" Daniel asks.

A small smirk pulls at the corner of my lips and I scrub my arms and legs with water quickly. "Nothing I couldn't handle."

"Well, we're alive so that's something..." Theron snaps quietly.

I roll my eyes and opt to keep my lips glued together, even as Remi and Daniel both shoot him cutting looks. Their glares say enough without me bothering to speak.

They pack up and I stare out at the perimeter, with no one in sight I feel safe assuming the hunters were in a different place.

By now I forget the state my temple dwelled in and if we were in North or South America. When Remi brought up Argentina, this became more of a question mark. Besides, 96 years gives a skewed perception of location and time.

Insanity doesn't help.

Though can one truly be insane and conscious of it?

"-be smart to head there first. Iridian, are you in?"

I catch the end of the comment before turning to re-enter reality. "I'm sorry, I didn't hear you..."

Daniel searches my eyes for a moment and then smiles slightly. "We're going to continue going to the city today, I think we'll be able to make it by sunset if we leave now. I think it's smart to head there first since we're running low on supplies and I know you were talking about clothes... Are you in?"

"I've got a few things to do in this town," I reply. "I'm happy to go with you so long as it's something you all can agree on. I'm no interloper, I won't be staying to cause drama and frankly I won't tolerate it anyway."

Daniel and Remi instantly turn to face Theron. He's packing his bag when he notices the silence. Freezing, he holds up his hands in surrender and gives a deer-in-the-headlights look. "I don't care."

"You're the only reason she's asking."

He shrugs and goes back to shoving blankets away. "I don't know why sh-"

"Theron," Remi snaps, crossing her arms. "Don't even, you've been making underhanded comments this entire time. You're being a dick."

"She's a big girl, she can take it. I'm sure I'm not the first person to be rude to her and I likely won't be the last."

I shrug casually and stalk closer to him. "Sure, you weren't the first and you won't be the last, but do remember I said the person who found me is dead. Don't think for a second that if this behavior continues, I'm above doing the same to you."

He swallows hard and I turn on my heel, flashing the other to a wicked grin. "So, who's ready to leave?" 

This was certainly more on the humorous side and something I had a lot more fun writing! Thank you all for reading and don't forget to vote and comment if you enjoyed! Good luck in the Watty's everyone!

Dedicated to Wendizzy for the awesome shout out and inspiring me to think I can do better!