"Let's leave the fort. You don't want to hunt and I don't care about being a Hunter. We can leave the fort and live our own life."

"And go where?"

"I have a lot of gold. We can find some land and build something. A cheese farm, far away from all this."

WHAT! YOU CAN'T LEAVE THE FORT. WHAT ABOUT OUR RESEARCH. Val we can't leave the fort. That's our home. The home that just sent us away? The home that wants to separate us from Rose? That's not our home! I am staying with Rose. Whatever it takes!

"What's your plan? We can't just leave," I ask Rose.

"We'll wait for spring. Once it's easier to travel, we can go to The Empty Plaines."

"That's on the other side of the continent, Rose."

"We can go to the capital with everyone. And when we're there, keep traveling east. Or we can go west from here. There's a lot of unclaim land."

My heart picks up speed. Echoing through every part of my body. My soul fights back the cold. Whatever it takes.

"Let's do it," I finally agreed.

Snowflakes rain from the sky. The clear skies are now taken over by an infinite invasion of clouds. A faint blow of wind rushed by.

My body starts to shake uncontrollably. Rose hugs me tighter and releases a stronger warmth, but it doesn't reach me.

I split off from Rose's embrace and started to dress up, "Let's head back, and develop a deeper plan."

Rose dresses up as well, and cleans our mess of blankets. She grabs her basket and my hand, "We can take it slow. I just wanted to know what you think."

"Yeah, I understand," I say, not knowing where my words are going, "I am just... scared."

Rose drops her basket and hugs me again, "We got this Valy."

I don't know what to say. WHAT CAN YOU SAY! YOU GOT YOURSELF INTO THIS MESS! It's not a mess. This is what I want. Val I am done with you. You don't listen. Destroy yourself, I don't care anymore. What? Where are you going? I AM HERE!

I kiss Rose, searching deep for her warmth. My hands hold her face, embracing her completely. She holds me back, sharing back everything. But I can't find her. The cold is the only thing I feel.

Rose finishes our kiss, her palm embracing my hand on her cheek, "You're going to get me started again."

I force a smile, "Let's head back."

Rose pulls me away from the forest. As we approach the path, the sound of panting and running follows up, "Help!"

We turn around and see a man running, "Hunters, help!"

Rose runs down the path, clutching her basket. I quickly follow her. She asks, "What's going on?"

"Monster... village... help!"

"But it's winter," I argue.

"Tell that to the fucking beast!" the man quickly catches his breath, just to curse me.

Rose grabs my hand and starts running down the path, forcing me to go with her, "Rose we don't have any equipment!"

The man follows us, "You can use our pitchforks!"

"That's not enough," I argue back.

"It's better than nothing," the man insists.

"Valy, we will be alright. I promise."

I hear a roar coming from the village. Rose lets me go and runs faster.

We reach the village and see a bear-sized creature. Made of roots and branches, all entangle around a bear skeleton. Dry leaves fly away from it, as it attacks one of the men around it.

A young boy has a pitchfork, clutching it tight. His body shakes and his feet plant on the ground.

Rose tosses me her basket and looks at the boy, "Give that to me!"

The boy tosses his pitchfork and Rose catches it. Holding tight, she stabs the creature on the neck. Moves underneath its head, and twists off her weapon.

Branches snap off the creature, but it does not react. No cry out or pain. Just a simple, meaningless snap.

The bear turns to face Rose. It jumps on its back legs and swings its claws at her.

Rose jumps back and blocks the attack, but the pitchfork snaps from the blow.

The men around charge forward. Each stabbing and shoving their pitchforks into the best. But their attacks do nothing, while the creature's body pulls the pitchfork. Infusing the weapons into its body.

The bear slams itself into the men. Swinging its claws to a couple, knocking them back. It does a quick jump, and stumps its front paw on a man's head. Crushing it and killing him.

I stand there frozen. The blood drenching snow invades my mind. I need to move, I need to save Rose.

The man that called for help, offers me a pitchfork. I try my best to grab it, but my arms don't move.

I need my magic! IF YOU HAD DONE SOMETHING ABOUT IT, YOU COULD HAVE USE YOUR MAGIC BY NOW. BUT INSTEAD YOUR POWERLESS! WATCH ROSE DIED BECAUSE OF YOU!

"Leave!" Rose shouted at the villagers. The men around the bear run back.

Rose dodged an attack, swinging underneath the bear's arm. Then punch the bear's skull.

The Bear cries out in pain, and slams Rose. It jumps again trying to slam her skull, but Rose rolls away in time.

"Take it!" The man next to me screamed. I grab the pitchfork without thinking.

What do I do with this? I am not a fighter!

The bear's paw slaps Rose's blocked face. Slashing Rose's long sleeves. It goes for a bite attack, but she ducks and launches towards it.

She grabs the bear's neck, and mounts it. The creature shakes and jumps, but Rose holds on. She locks her arms around the bear's skull and pulls.

The bear stands on its back legs and falls back. Before it could slam Rose, she let's go. The creature lands on its back revealing their underneath. It has fewer branches and roots, displaying its ribcage.

Now! I throw the pitchfork. It twists sideways as it flies over. It slams against the bone and the bear roars.

The bear charges at me. My body froze, I couldn't find the strength to move. Rose slams into me, and we both doge the bear.

"Valy stand behind me," Rose orders me as she takes the basket and pulls a wine bottle.

Rose slams the bottle on the bear. Wine spilling all over the creature. She takes a deep and loud breath. Then spew orange flames, three times bigger than her.

The bear lights on fire. Screams and roars echoing through. The creature collapsed. A big campfire, three times the bear's size, stood before us and the villagers.

"Fire-breather!" some villagers scream.

"Get out of here!"

"You're not welcome here!"

Some who still have pitchforks toss them at Rose. Their unskilled attacks never came close to her.

An anger rage within me, "What the fuck are you all doing!"

The villagers' anger targets me, "Traitor!"

"We risk our lives for you and this is how you pay us! She was the one who wanted to help. She is the one who took action. She saved your sorry asses and this is how you act?!" I scream at them.

A mob is brewing between the villagers. Some left to pick something up, but before I can see anything Rose takes my hand and runs.

I follow her, not willing to leave her behind. The screams of the mob fades as we run deeper.

I see her forearm bleeding, "Rose you're hurt!"

"Just keep running."

We almost reach the end of the forest, when Rose collapses on the floor.

"Rose!" I quickly go after her. She fell facing the ground, but managed to catch herself, "Let me check you."

"I am alright, just exhausted."

I sit her up leaning on me. She is panting loudly, trying her best to calm down. There is snow and dirt all over her, but nothing fatal.

The outer part of her forearms is bleeding. Her padded long sleeves took most of the damage, but some bloody skin is showing.

"Just a scratch," she laughs at herself, "Another scar to my collection."

I focus on her injury instead. Gently pulling up her sleeves and analyzing the damage, "You're right, nothing too serious."

"See, it got nothing on me."

I pull out a long enough part of the blanket in Rose's basket, and cut it with the cheese dagger. Tightly wrapping the rags around her forearms.

She rests on me, and I support her weight with a hug, "Thank you Valy."

"Thank you for saving me," I argue back, thinking about when the bear was charging at me.

"I appreciate what you said to them. Your words mean alot to me."

I hug her torso tighter, "Don't think about them. They are nobodies, and their opinions don't matter," I kiss her forehead, "They can't change how much I love you."

My body suddenly feels warm. I look at Rose, and she falls asleep. I quickly check her breath. She is breathing.

What now? Do I wake her up? We shouldn't stay out here. OUT OF ALL THE BOOKS YOUR READ. YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING USEFUL! We need to get back. It's not safe here.

"Rose, baby wake up," I rub my head against hers and she wakes up.

"Did I?" Rose shakes herself and tries to get up. I stand up with her, letting my body support her.

"Can you walk back?" I ask.

"Yes," she tries to walk on her own but I stop her.

"I am not letting you go. I just need to know if you can walk."

Rose laughs, "Yes I can walk."

We start walking again. The raining snow speeds up a little bit, and a slow constant wind runs past us.

We reach the fort and enter through a side door into the nursing station. The open room is empty, so I set Rose on a chair. I look around but there's no one.

DON'T YOU DARE PANIC! I don't know what to do. YES YOU DO, WHY ELSE WOULD YOU BE HERE? YOU KNOW SHE NEEDS MORE CARE.

I look around the room and find proper bandages. I take a label bottle and head back to Rose.

"I hate this part," Rose comments.

I remove my makeshift rags from her and open the bottle. "Think about this instead." I kiss her cheek, and spill the bottle on her wounds.

Rose makes an unpleasant grunt, but keeps her composure. I quickly wrap them with the proper bandages. "See that wasn't so bad," I try to comfort her.

She laughs and smirks, "Now, at first it was hellish."

I laugh and help her get up. We walk to my room and I lay her on my bed, "You can sleep now. I'll get us some food."

"Thanks Valy," Rose blinks slowly, then completely lets go.

I don't hesitate and quickly leave my room. Rose needs a proper meal. I have to take action, for her sake. I am going to change, that's a promise.

STOP BY THE LIBRARY, AND SEARCH INTO SUNFLOWER. Why? THEY CAN BE TURNED INTO POISON. Really? That's fascinating. I should check th- What am I saying? No, Rose needs me!

I enter the dining hall. The place is empty. The kitchen is dead. No sign of life. A horrible silence contaminates the surroundings. Like a steel sheet being smacked by a stick.

No matter, I can still make something.

I started working in the kitchen. A soup will surely help Rose. My mind ripples, like a smooth unbothered lake. I focus on my task.

Then something stabs my mind. I look around, there is nothing or anyone around me. I ignore it and continue my cooking.

It came back. I stop and look around. Again nothing changed, I am alone. When I go back to cooking something grabs my arm.

"Valeria," Etaru is holding my arm, "are you well?"

The kitchen is full of cooks. All of them had stopped and were looking at me. Next to Etaru stands an old man who is giving me a blazeful look, "What are you doing?!"

"I am making soup."

"Why?" Etaru takes charge of the conversation.

"Rose is hurt. A Ramificated

attacked her and she's wounded."

"Move!" The old man pushed me off my work, "Your soup won't help at all. Let me take care of it. Wait outside!"

Etaru guides me off the kitchen. Outside, the dining hall is full of hunters. Everyone is trying to keep the volume down, but an ocean is still brewing.

"Tell me everything. What happened with the Ramificated?"

"We were asked for help. Rose went and defeated the monsters," I answered Etaru.

"Where did this happen?"

"At the village in the forest."

"Why were you both in the forest?"

"I... I am not answering that."

"I'll need to report the attack. I'll investigate the village later," Etaru looks at my face, "Val, what was going on in there? You weren't responding."

My eyes flash for a bit, "What are you talking about?"

"The old man said you entered the kitchen without a word. That no matter what they said you weren't responding."

"There was no one in the kitchen," I quickly informed, "Rose needs food, so I started cooking."

"Val are you well?"

The question stirred a wicked storm with me, "I am fine! I just need food for Rose!"

The old man exits the kitchen. He holds a metal tray with a bowl on it, "Here, let it rest before eating it. It's hot."

"Thank you."

"Yeah yeah. Next time just ask. Don't be barging in my kitchen."

I quickly left and returned to my room. Rose is still resting. I set the soup down. I went to wake up Rose, but the old man's voice echoed back.

What am I supposed to do? Just stand here. I need to act. START YOUR SUNFLOWER RESEARCH!

I look into the soup, it's still steaming hot. Just touching the bowl hurts my fingers.

I might as well start the stupid research.

I look into my bookshelf searching for anything helpful. I see a green book without any heading. When I opened it I noticed it's one of my journals.

The pages are full with many entries. Research into many topics. I read some of the entries, then one from last spring, attacks.

It read, 'I heard sunflowers can be made into poison. I couldn't find anything about it, I'll have to ask around.'

The following entries don't acknowledge anything. As if the matter was forgotten or ignored. Then another entry pops up.

'I heard sunflowers can be turned into poison. I might check the library later.'

Just like the previous one, the next entries completely ignored the poison for a while.

'I heard sunflowers can be poisonous. I asked a Hunter who came back about it. He didn't know anything, but he reminded me of the herb shop in the town. If I ever get the strength to travel I might ask them.'

The next entries once again ignore the matter. I reached the last page. The last entry was written fast and carelessly.

'VAL STOP LOOKING INTO SUNFLOWER POISON!'

The journal falls off my grasp. My head begins to spin. The ink flames across my floor suddenly come to live. Fire spreads and everything is consumed by it. The floor shakes and the fort begins to collapse.

I quickly fall and turn into a ball. I close my eyes as I feel the walls falling on me. The ceiling quickly explodes. Shards stabbed me across my back. A cry escapes me.

My body shakes and trembles. My voice laughs and screams without my permission. My limbs cut off one by one, and my voice became louder.

"Valy, baby what's going on?" Rose hugs me. The ground shakes faster. The wall crumbles faster. The fires intensified, and blinded me.

"Rose!" I hugged her back. Tears running down my face, "Please save me. Help me."

The storm within me picks up speed. The valleys within my heart tremble and shake. My brain is sliding off my skull. My vision begins to fade.

The last thing I see is Rose crying. Her eyes aimlessly running.