The next morning Zaria got up early but when she looked around she found out that Ateel had already packed up and left.

"It isn't time yet so why did she have to hurry off," Zaria told herself as she pulled out her weapon bag from a wooden box in the corner there was one pair of clothes and all her weapons in it. Her eyes sparkled as she looked at the weapons.

"I should take the dagger with me," she said looking at the dagger. "I can't leave this knife either."

She paused and looked into the box.

"How can I forget to take my bow and arrow." She hugged it as she tried fitting it in her bag.

She heard a chuckling noise from behind her and turned around find Zan trying to control his laughter.

"Not my fault," He raised his hands above his head. "You looked like a girl trying to pack her clothes.It was really funny."

"You were spying on me," Zaria stated.

"No I wasn't," Zan smiled "I was trying to know you better."

"And what is the conclusion of all this watching?" Zaria threw her bag over her shoulders and walked towards the exit.

"The conclusion is that you are too fickle and weak," Zan said, "You are better fit to be a girl."

"I am not weak Mr. Zan," Zaria glared at him there was no way she would allow others to call her weak. "And are you trying to insult girls. Don't you remember the prophecy."

"When did I insult girls?" Zan looked at her " Why does your personality suck so much?"

"I just said that a girl thinks more with her heart and she lets her feelings overtake her which kind off makes it hard to take instant decisions," Zan explained.

"So that's your opinion huh." Zaria walked past him with a frown "Which girl will give you credit for that."

"You are the last one I need to hear that from." Zan put his arm on her shoulder as he turned her around "You are going the wrong way."

Zaria nodded her head in agreement and followed Zan.

" You agree to it? So you know that no girl will think of you as a decent person. Well, let's just exclude Xian ok."

"I don't wish to be considered by girls, Xian included," Zaria replied as she took her water skin and filled it.

"Why?" Zan looked at her with confusion. "Is it because they become bothersome on you."

They turned around a tent and walked towards the edge of the clearing. The trees were growing denser around them as they continued walking.

"I don't think they are bothersome," Zaria said thinking for some time as they exited the clearing.

"Then, do you wish to remain single?" Zan asked.

Zaria shrugged off the question. She trailed the tender leaves with her fingers. The cool dew drops tickled her fingertips.

" What about you? Do you not have anyone?"

"I don't have any," Zan replied nonchalantly.

"Who do you think, will like you?" Zaria chuckled "looks like, you are indifferent towards all the girls.?"

"You misunderstand me quite willingly." Zan said looking at Zaria "It's just that I don't love them like the love in those fairy tales. And all the girls I met till now aren't suitable for me."

"So who is suitable for you?" Zaria asked " Don't tell me a girl like the dead queen."

Zan coughed hiding his face.

"I got it right, huh and how do you think you'll get a girl like that? Do you want to marry the princess?"

"No, I will never marry the princess." Zan's face went pale "How can I think of marrying her highness."

"Then from where will you get such a resemblance?" Zaria asked as she skipped over a puddled.

"You resemble her." Zan said with a smirk "so I am sure of finding a girl that resembles her."

"Zar here." Ateel waved at Zaria. She was standing beside Aran with the horses and Tame.

The Sun was just crossing the horizon bringing a little life to the grayish forest. The morning dew was still sitting on the leaves as they sparkled in the sunlight.

All of them mounted the horses and their journey began.

They moved deeper and deeper into the forest. The trees grew thicker and the occasional sunlight faded away making it look like a forbidden place.

Zaria looked up but the sky was hidden by huge trees.

"It shouldn't rain." Zan looked at the sky dejectedly.

It was still misty and wet after the previous night's rain. The horses couldn't run with all the obstacles. They had to keep on moving without stop.

They only stoped at noon for some snacks. Zan pulled out a few pieces of bread and honey.

No one complained as they knew that the wet wood was not fit to make fire and there was no way they could eat meat without cooking.

They finished their lunch and moved on.

The forest floor was covered with shrubs and they had to take every step carefully, they came across snakes curled up on trees. And colorful birds occasionally flew over their heads. The vines hung making a canopy. There were layers over layers of plants. The branches hung low.

"Be careful." Aran lifted a branch as Ateel moved by his side.

"Thanks." Ateel smiled back as she stepped forward with her horse. "I didn't know that the forest was so hard to navigate. The path to Miriam's village was well maintained."

"Yeah, Suda is one of the main forest product trading villages?" Aran explained. "I still remember the first time we went to Suda."

Aran paused as he reminisced the past. His silence made the forest quieter. The only noise that could be heard was the rustling of the leaves and eerie creaking sound made by the tree tops.

"Can you tell me about it?" Ateel looked at Aran with soft eyes, She wanted to help him even if it was only sharing his past memories and burdens. 

Aran remained silent.

"It's ok if you can't," Ateel looked away feeling abashed. 'He won't tell me something so personal, I shouldn't have asked.'

"We lived in a place called Shipmoth. Well, the village was destroyed by the Army so you won't find it now. It has become a decoration on the old map we keep," Aran said. 

His eyes showed hatred. His voice was agitated he was completely different from his usual calm self.

Ateel extended her hand and held onto his trembling fist.

He lifted his gaze and looked at her worry filled eyes and he let out a sigh as he smiled back at her.

"I had Zan who was too outrageous and hard to control, he would never listen to anyone. So all this time I had to be the sensible one. The one to keep him in check." He gave a light chuckle, "That guy might be a fool and he might be a total nutcase but he was the one who made the chance for us to live."

"He made the chance to live?" Ateel asked doubtfully.

"Yeah," Aran nodded " It's a long story do you really want to hear it?"

The wind picked up and the atmosphere grew colder as the night set in.

A/N : What do you think? Do you want to hear Aran's story? It depends on you cuz this part is something I am adding right now it wasn't there in the original draft. So I'll do as you guys want. If you don't want to hear it then I'll go with the original draft. So let me know your opinion :)