The forest scene didn't change one bit as they kept on moving for days.The dry leaves on the ground crunched under their feet and the low hanging branches blocked their sight. The weather was growing damper and colder as they headed north.

"We are at the first river crossing." Zan said pointing at the foaming river in front of them. "Let's not camp too close to the river."

All of them nodded as they moved away from it.

The night had fallen and they all climbed up to sleep. Or at least that's what they were supposed to do.

"I really want to take a proper bath." Zaria sighed as she climbed down from the tree.

She looked around and made sure everyone was asleep before pulling out a sparkling tube from Zan's bag.

"I won't get lost if I mark the trees with this." She laughed happily.

The marked trees glowed like the silver moonlight as Zaria headed towards the river. She looked around to check if there were any animals around, finally giving a sigh of relief she stepped into the water after slipping off her cloths. The water sent chills throughout her body but it didn't matter that much.

"The mark always glows in the night." Zaria sighed as she raised her hand up.

Meanwhile in the place where everyone was.

"Does your brother even have a brain." Zan furiously punched a tree beside him.

"Zan it's not Ateel's fault..." Aran tried calming Zan down.

"I am sorry." Ateel spoke out cutting Aran off " He is really brain dead so I'll scold him well when he get's back."

"Can he even get back on his own." Zan clicked his tongue as he looked around for the glowing tube in his bags.

No matter how much Zan searched he was unable to find it.

"My Brother must have taken it." Ateel said trying to look for the markings " Let's search for the markings on the trees."

"I can't allow you to go searching at this time." Aran blocked her in a hurry. "You stay here with Tame."

Ateel looked towards Tame who was sound asleep.

"Even if he is asleep it doesn't matter." Aran shook his head fiercely almost panicking. "You just stay here."

"Aran, I understand." Ateel smiled as she climbed back onto the tree.

Aran's face was flushed red as he ran towards Zan who was already heading out.

"Are you alright?" Zan gave Aran a questioning look "You've been acting weirdly for quite sometime now."

"It's nothing," Aran calmed himself and gave Zan a reassuring nod.

"Alright I'll believe you." Zan said as he searched for the markings. "That guy is a walking disaster so let's get him back before something happens."

They followed the trail and arrived at the river where Zaria was.

"Is this it." Zan looked around but couldn't find Zaria anywhere. "I really should chain that guy down next time."

Zan was about to turn around when he heard a splash.

The moonlight was streaming in and fell on the water surface making a dreamy heavenly scene. The water crashed against a rock on which a shadowy figure of a girl could be seen. Her long hair slightly moved in the breeze and a glowing mark sat on her arm.

"The girl of prophecy." Zan's voice shook as he uttered the words. "Aran..."

"Zan, let's go away for now," Aran turned Zan's face away as he was staring at the figure. "She will think badly of us if we are caught peeking. We should go call Ateel, it's much safer to let a girl do the talking."

"Mm," Zan gave one last glance to the girl with the shimmering mark of prophecy as he went back.

"Did I here someone."

Zaria who was sitting on the rock drying her hair with a long cloth turned around but she couldn't find anyone.

"I must be hearing things." She shook her head and pulled down her sleeves.

The thick sleeves completely covered her once glowing mark.

"Ok, I'll head back now." She jumped up and walked back towards the forest.

************************************************************************

It was almost dawn and the dark forest gained a bit of colour. There was no sunlight but the tree leaves showed a green colour confirming the break of dawn.

Zaria rushed back to the camp only to find everyone glaring at her. All the things were packed and there was a serious atmosphere.

"What's wrong?" Zaria asked doubtfully.

"Come here." Ateel angrily pulled Zaria to the side.

"Is it like this because I left the camp on my own." Zaria asked.

"Zaria you ..." Ateel sighed " It's a waste to even be angry with you. Do you know how much trouble we went through after you happily left."

"Was it that bad?" Zaria glanced at Zan who was frowning while loading their things on the horses.

"Zan and Aran went in search of you." Ateel looked hopelessly " They saw your mark and came back all hyped about the girl of prophecy. They even took me back to the place with them,but you were gone by then."

" So am I exposed," Zaria bit her lip.

"Do you think they will look at you like that if you were exposed as the girl of prophecy?" Ateel asked shaking her head. "They just saw a shadowy figure with long hair and your mark. I was confused when they told long hair but knowing you I guessed that you must have been taking your sweet time dying your hair while playing with your towel."

"Don't waste time." Zan was frowning so hard that Zaria wondered if that won't make him get wrinkles faster. "We need to search for her before she goes too far away."

"How can you be so sure that it was her?" Zaria stopped Zan.

"We saw her mark clearly when she was near the river." Zan replied avoiding her as he moved forward.

"So you were peeking even when you knew it was a girl?" Zaria grinned.

"We didn't stay once we realized it." Zan glared at her.

"So did you by chance see her face," Zaria continued.

"We did not," Zan's hand was tightly closed into a fist. "Let's split up and search."

"Huh?" Zaria was surprised.

"We need to search the whole area as fast as we can." Zan said.

"What are you talking about?" Zaria furiously looked at him. " Have you gone mad to make us go searching for a person you're not sure about?"

Zan avoided her and kept on walking.

"You don't know how she looks you don't know where she came from or where she went and you want us to go on a fool's errand" Zaria didn't know what could be crazier than this.

"Yes, I have gone mad." Zan screamed "I can't lose her after actually seeing her. She is our only hope to end all this. I don't know how much longer Venarom can hide so I need to find her as soon as possible."

Zan's face had a dejected look as he turned away.

"Ateel and Zar can go along with Tame." Aran said trying to calm the situation. "You guys should take the marker with you."

"Alright," Zaria nodded and turned away.