I stared into the  firelight, my eyes reddening as the orange flames reflected in it's  light. Everything seemed so peaceful. Tila and Torren were sound asleep  which didn't surprise you at all, they were always the first ones to  fall asleep, leaving you on night watch.

"Amile....Are you awake?" muttered Jasper who was curled up next to you.

"Yeh Jasper, I'm awake."

"Shouldn't you be asleep?"

"I could ask you the same thing."

"Yeh...I just can't sleep.....I keep on having nightmares...."

You open your mouth to speak but Jasper quickly cuts across.

"You're thinking about the past.....Aren't you?"

"How did you know?"

"I do that a lot to."

You stroke Jasper's head  slowly, his warm, grey scales were relaxing. His small body almost beckoned you to shield him from harm, like a mother protecting it's child.

"Are you thinking about the princess?"

"...Sort of...."

"Do you think the monsters really killed her parents?"

Every muscle in your body tenses, shadows seem to curl themselves around you and trees lean in to listen. Your eyes waver slightly as you refuse to make eye contact with Jasper.

"Oh...Sorry.....I know you were close to her family....Being one of the Drake Blood Guard's children.."

You blink slightly before finally making eye contact. "Yes.....I think monsters did kill the queen...I don't think that makes all monsters bad though."

"Is it true that the princess survived?"

You stare into the fire's endless flames and smile. "Yes.....I'd like to believe she did...."

"I think she did."

You turn to Jasper. "You should get some sleep....We have a long journey to Riverdale tomorrow."

"Ugh...I totally forgot about that."

You chuckle slightly before opening your arm, giving Jasper the chance to lean against you. Jasper quickly moved closer before curling up next to you. You put your arm around him and feel his body relax before you both close your eyes.

You wake with a start, fear in your eyes. Oddly it was not the dream that had awoke you but a vibration in your pocket. You slowly pick up the phone, being careful not to wake Jasper who was sound asleep.

As you look at your phone your face lights up, almost washing away any recollection of the our dream. You couldn't explain it but whenever you saw his name displayed on your phone it instantly made you feel happy. You quickly open the message, your face lighting up as you do so.

(Text)

Shadowlix (Amile): Hahaha, seems like you get in trouble a lot.

Paps_071 (Papyrus): NO! I WOULD NEVER DO ANYTHING TO GET IN TROUBLE!

Shadowlix (Amile): Well that's not what I heard...

Paps_071 (Papyrus): WHY? WHAT HAS SANS BEEN SAYING ABOUT ME?

Shadowlix (Amile): Nothing....

Paps_071 (Papyrus): STOP LYING!

Shadowlix (Amile):Never! :)

Paps_071 (Papyrus): -_-

Paps_071 (Papyrus): ANYWAYS, I WAS WONDER.....IF MAYBE YOU WOULD LIKE TO MEET UP IN RIVIERA SOME TIME.

Shadowlix (Amile): Um......I'm not so sure about that.....I'm not that popular in the big city....

Paps_071 (Papyrus): WELL NEITHER AM I! SO THAT'S PERFECT!

Shadowlix (Amile): Ugh....That's not what I mean....Like, I can go.....Just.....I'll have to be a bit secretive.

Paps_071 (Papyrus): THAT'S FINE! :)

(Shadowlix is typing)

Shadowlix (Amile): <3

(Amile's PoV)

OMG! Why did I send a heart? Ugh! I'm such an idiot!

Paps_071 (Papyrus): <3 <---- WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

Thank god he doesn't know what text speak and emojis are.

"Amile! Your the one that wanted to get us walking as soon as the sun was up! Can you stop gawking over your boyfriend for two seconds and help us pack up!" you heard Torren call.

"Oh...Um...Sorry." you say in a slightly confused voice. You look to the horizon and sigh as you see the sun rising above the hills. Great, there goes any chance of getting some sleep. Slowly you get to your feet, brushing the dust off as you do so. As you walk past Torren you punch him lightly in the shoulder. "He's not my boyfriend!"

"Hey, that hurt." chuckled Torren.

"Well it will hurt a lot more in a minute." Seeing as Torren was the same age as you things never normal escalated to anything more then banter unlike Tila. Thought Tila was quite close in age she was quite a bit shorter then both you and Torren due to her monster breeding. Though that didn't stop here arguing with everyone, even at the best of times.

After 30 minutes of packing we were all ready to head out on our long trek to Riverdale. Hopefully after we sorted out some business in Riverdale we could head to Riviera. The hopes of meeting Papyrus and his brother did little to stop me kicking myself, metaphorically of course. As we slowly walked up the ever steepening dirt track I couldn't help but repeat how much I hated myself for choosing this path. Sure travelling across the plains had been a breeze but now we had to travel on a two day walk across the mountains. We would hardly have enough food for the journey, not to mention that the temperature would rapidly drop as soon as we hit the base of the mountain.

Maybe Torren had been right when we should have taken the other path but we couldn't risk getting ambushed by the Hunters. I was hoping we could have gone a lower route but it had been cut off by rock fall.....Maybe I was just delaying meeting the Hunters as they would surely be on the other side of the mountain waiting for us...At least I didn't have to worry everyone by telling them yet.

"Hey....! Amile! Can......You pass....The....Water please?" called and out of breath Torren.

"Sure!" You pass the nearly empty canteen of water to him. You had been walking for 2 hours now and had only just reached the base of the mountain. There was already a chill in the air, and now everyone's pace would slow considerably.

"Hey.....Tila.....Can you pass me one of the canteens?"

"No...This canteens mine." resorted Tila

You roll your eyes. "I mean one of the other canteens."

"What are you talking about? What other canteens?"

"The five other canteens that are in your backpack." you snort in annoyance.

"Ugh, I only have my sleeping roll in my backpack."

You come to a sudden standstill and turn around to face Tila. "What! What do you mean you only have your sleeping roll?!?" you shout.

"I mean I don't have the water canteens!" snarls Tila in response.

"You mean you left them at camp! Of all the idiotic things! I specifically told you not to forget the water canteens!"

"Wait what? Tila forgot the canteens!" called Torren from above.

"Hey! It's not my fault you gave me too much to carry!" resorted Tila.

"For Christ sakes! All you have to carry is a freaking fur sleeping bag!" you growl back.

"Wel---"

You cut Tila off. "You know what we are going to have to do thanks to you? We are going to have to walk all the way back to our camp to get the canteens then we are going to have to have to walk all the way up again.....So thanks a lot Tila! Now you have added at least another 3 hours to our trek! I hope your very happy!"

Torren walks over and taps you on the shoulder. In your anger you slap his hand away. "Sorry.....I'm... just really worked up at the moment."

Torren ignores your apology and points to the area where your camp was.

"Am I the only one who sees people?" Torren asks.

"No....I see them to...." you reply. Your eyes widen as your hear a high pitched whistle sound out. "Shit it's the Hunters!" You look at Tila angrily. "Great! Now thanks to you leaving the canteens at the camp they are going to know we are here.....We need to go now if we stand a chance of losing them."

"But what about the canteens?"

"Just shut up and follow me Tila!" you snarl commandingly.

(Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Tell me if you did, I would really appreciate it. :) )