Mariana stood, books in hand, only ten feet away. Moby Dick lay at the man with scar's feet. He stopped and stared. Tossing the boy to the ground and cracking his knuckles. His voice as crooked as always.

"Well, well, well if it isn't our little Info-Thief," He said holding out his hand while the other man pointed a gun to Ethan, "We'll make this easy. Give us the drive. We'll take the boy, not in a body bag. And you can be on your way."

"Give me Ethan," Mariana spoke stepping towards them. The two men laughed as Mariana ripped a gun from her bag and pointed it towards them. "Sebastian, Zack, back away. From him. Now. Or this will get bloody." They laugh again. Mariana growls as she let out a shot towards Sebastian-the scared one. Then one towards Zack-the one with the bloody hand print in his hair. Zack tossed his gun from Ethan to Mariana as Sebastian ripped his out a gun, pointing it towards Mariana.

"Why don't you hand it over," Sebastian said. Unquestionably Mariana new what he met but refused to move an inch-afraid they'd take a mile. She watched Ethan's body lay frozen in the dirt as she closed her eyes and turned away.

"You took everything from me. And now... I will do the same with you and Michael..." Mariana said pointing the gun towards Zack and pulling the trigger. With a single bang, followed by a large thump, Sebastian dropped to the ground, gun out of hand. Zack followed him, gun where his feet held him in the previous seconds. Both clear from Ethan's path. Avoiding the torment of what she had just done Mariana ran by, grabbing Ethan in her arms and running far, far away.

Coming outside of Hollow Brooks Mariana came along an older woman working in a garden surrounded by mist. She stared at her, at Ethan. Mariana motioned Ethan towards the woman as she signaled for them to come and follow. As Mariana approached the little things appeared more. White curly hair that fell to her waist, the thin wrinkles on the women's face. Even the blue gem around her neck that matched her clear stained lips. Mariana put Ethan in one arm and began to pull down her bandana-stopping when she saw the shimmers in the women's yellow eyes. Mariana immediately stopped and fixed her bandana. For this was the first time she had been reminded of that fox, and of what she saw, glad that she wore the darkly blue colored bandana. She had not wanted to see the eyes that reminded her of her Father, who by not doubt was no longer at their tree.

"Come children," The women said lifting up a large basket and walking along. Her voice was weak, frail, but closer to life than to death. She had large strong arms and a short stout body that carried her endlessly and with ease.

She had brought the two along to a small little cabin hidden back in the woods. Hidden in weeds and brush about as high as Mariana's six-foot figure. The cabin was covered in ivy and trees, not to mention some flowers growing along each wall. As Mariana stares at the cabin she feels Ethan rustle in her arms. Her face darts down to him and catches more scars along his arm from when Zack threw him. Again, Mariana pushed for the woman to take him, but she shook her head and led them inside. Mariana stood outside the door by a foot. Taking deep breaths as she remembered the words she was told years ago by her Father. Him saying that she shouldn't trust those who say no name. Was that her with Ethan? Was that this woman and her and him? Was that everyone on the train with Mariana? Was that Mariana and the world?

The woman watched as Mariana stood frozen and smiled. Her voice soft and innocent, flushed against the wind in a single strand of words, "Call me Carla." Mariana doesn't turn towards Carla, she doesn't say anything. She only nods and takes a step into the house. Holding Ethan closer to her chest as she walks further into the house with Carla. "ROSA!" She called out to stairs that led down into the Earth. "WE HAVE GUEST! ONE IS HURT!"

"Mama I'm in the kitchen!" Another voice called. Mariana froze more after jumping back into the corner. Ethan tight in her arms as a tall girl walked in wiping her hands on a towel. By the age and height, a teenager. Black thin lines of hair dangling from a messy bun on top of her fairly tanned skin. Her eyes weren't yellow shimmers like Carla's, they were a deep blue. Spanish girl. Easily heard in her voice that was equal to Carla's innocents but not as softly placed. "Hello Ma'am." The girl said sticking the towel in her apron pocket, "I am Rosa. A pleasure to meet you." Mariana nodded and looked towards Carla again. Carla looked towards Ethan and how tightly Mariana was holding onto him. Her grip loosened.

"In here. Get the mat, get the supplies, you fix this boy up in here now. You understand me?" Carla says sternly. Rosa nods and walks past the stairs into a closet. Then she motions back to Mariana, and to a couch telling her to sit. "Now let's talk." Mariana sat down, never letting go of Ethan as Carla talked. "I saw what you did in town. You are a brave girl. Facing a gun for your boy. That is the bravest thing I have seen." Mariana shakes her head as Rosa comes back out with a basket and a white mat.

"He's not mine," Mariana says, no emotion in her voice, as she sets Ethan down on the matt. "Found him on a train. He likes to follow me."

"You protected him. For what reason?" Rosa chimes in.

"He would've died... not even the greatest enemies we have deserve to die," Mariana answered and she stared down at Ethan. He rustled more and more in his sleep causing Mariana to smile. Carla and Rosa looked questionably. "It means he'll wake up soon. Which means he'll be okay."

"How do you know?" Rosa asked.

"Training Partners," Mariana answered simply.