William stared wide eyed at her, jaw hanging open. James lay on his side, eyes closed, hand over his wound. Kaari knew that if he lost too much blood, it wouldn't be good. She wiped her forehead with the sleeve of her tunic, hurrying over to James' side. 

Her brother opened his eyes, watching her fearfully. Kaari looked back over her shoulder. "Akira! Get Cirrus, please," she asked the wolf. The canine flicked her tail and bounded off, returning a few seconds with Kaari's white horse. 

William swallowed, "How did you do that?" Kaari didn't even glance at him when she replied. Instead she got up and ran over to her horse. "Very carefully," she retorted.

She dug through her saddle bags until she found the extra cloth she always had with her for wrapping food in. She found her water canister and went back to James, Cirrus following her deeper into the cave, avoiding the two men laying limp on the ground. 

James flinched as she touched his arm. "Your gonna have to sit up," she told him, removing his hand from the gash. William helped his twin into a sitting position. Though they were only two years older than her, Kaari noticed that they sometimes acted younger than her. 

James continued to observe her closely, sucking in his breath as she poured water over the wound to clean it. After that, she bandaged it with the cloth she had in her saddle bags and gave him some bread she had. He wolfed it down eagerly like he had nothing to eat in days. 

"Okay, lets go," Kaari said, washing her hands with the rest of the water. She stood up and walked over to the kidnappers. She knelt beside them and took the sword and scabbard along with the long dagger. She clipped the two extra weapons to her belt that already held her own dagger. 

As William helped James to his feet, Kaari strapped the bow and sling of arrows to her back. She didn't have much experience with the bow but at least she knew how to use it. 

After Kaari raided the men if anything valuable or useful, Akira helped Kaari get Quill out of his prison. He had a broken wing but other than that, he was fine. Kaari would have to take him to Wren's father also. Akira had multiple scrapes and bruises but nothing major. 

Cirrus was not injured because he agreed to stay back, although he was not pleased with the plan. Kaari was grateful that he complied because she needed him more than ever to help transport James and William home. 

As James was helped I to the saddle, Kaari repacked her saddle bag with the stolen items she found. She glanced around at the cave once more for anything she had forgotten to do. She didn't find anything so she led Cirrus carefully outside. She felt the three new weapons weighing her down and she had to put her trusty dagger in the saddle bags since the other weapons wouldn't fit. 

"Are we all ready, now?" Kaari asked, glancing at James in the saddle. William nodded, gripping an arrow in his hand as if it was protection against all dangers. He had to walk on the ground since James was in the saddle. 

"Where are your horses?" Kaari asked, suddenly remembering they had found her in horses. William shrugged. 

"They took them from—from us when they grabbed us," James stated, his voice shaking from lack of use. 

"I can go try and look for them around the cave if you want," Akira offered, her blue eyes still sparkling with victory. "Only if it's brief," Kaari agreed. The horses would be very useful and make the trip go a lot swifter. 

The journey to the cave had taken a little over and hour. On foot it would take much longer. With horses it would go much faster even if they did have to go slower. Akira nodded and leaped away.

Kaari watched her go then turned to William. "Tell me what happened."

William opened his mouth to begin when Rowan stirred. Kaari glanced back at the cave. The man's dark eyes fluttered open, coming to his senses. He sat up and stared at the little group. He blinked and tried to move. He struggled against his binds but to no avail. He grunted and tried to break the rope but couldn't because of his position. "Hey, wake up," he said, not caring if Kaari heard, nudging his partner. 

Before he could wake the other up, Kaari interfered. She bound over to him and pushed him away. He banged his head on the rock wall, uncounciousness taking him over again. 

Kaari waited with Cirrus once again for Akira to return. Finally, after about five minutes, Akira returned with her tail wagging behind her. "I found them!"

Kaari smiled, the first time that day, and raced over to her friend. "I'll be back," she said and followed the wolf. Akira stayed light on her paws as she lead Kaari around the cave. Behind a bush were two horse. One brown, the other grey. "These are their horses," Kaari confirmed, hugging the wolf. 

"Thanks for everything today, Akira," she said, her heart warming at the knowledge that at least someone cared for her. 

Akira and Kaari quickly brought the horses back and got the twins settled in the saddles. Kaari also took her spot on top of her own mount Cirrus. She had to hold Quill in her arm and steady herself with the other since he couldn't fly. He perched on her arm with defiance. 

"Those boys might not have been so lucky today," he chirped, walking up her arm and settling in her shoulder. "Yeah, maybe," Kaari nodded. She turned to the others. "Now, are we ready?"

James and William nodded, James grimacing at the pain. "Let's go." Kaari gave Cirrus the signal and set off in a comfortable trot.