When they got to the Scorpion Den, Treason and Cinder used the remainder of the treasure to buy bread for the orphans scampering underfoot. Cinder was staring oddly at the youngest dragonets, hope and dread and excitement all showing in her face. For a moment Treason wondered about that—but he shook it off as a dragonet pounced playfully on his tail.

"Back off," he growled, glaring at the dragonet. The tiny SandWing backed away, eyes wide. Cinder stared at the dragonet for a moment, and then turned worried eyes to Treason, as if asking herself a question about him. You already know everything about me, he thought at her. What could you be thinking?

Dragons leaned out of stalls do gawk at them as they walked. SandWings hurried out of their way, hiding their faces. Everyone in the Scorpion Den knew them—who they were, what they'd done, and what they would do if anyone dared to cross them. 

It must have been strange to see two murderous outlaws handing out bread to starving dragonets. 

As the pair stalked by a small group of guards, they all suddenly started talking to eachother and looking in other directions, pretending not to even notice Cinder and Treason.  "Cowards," Rulebreaker hissed before they turned onto the next street.

"They have every right to be scared of us," Cinder replied somewhat smugly, shooting an evil glare at the nearest passerby, who fell into a shaking crouch. "We can't let them be any less afraid just because we're giving out food. It doesn't mean we aren't completely insane and terrifying," she finished, raising her voice for everyone to hear.

"I know," Treason growled, "it's just no fun when they run instead of fighting."

Cinder laughed. "We should get out of here, though," she told him. "Just because everyone's scared of us, it doesn't mean we're automatically safe." He nodded and they took off, scattering sand below them.

Cinder fell behind quickly.  That was strange, for her.  "What's the matter?" He asked, turning to hover in the air.  She caught up to him after a moment, flying oddly carefully until she was in front of him.

"Can we... uh... could we just walk to Unity?" She asked awkwardly, her eyes hard to read.

"Walk?" He echoed.  "But that would take days!  We could be there by tomorrow morning by flying."

"I just feel kinda sick," Cinder said quickly.  Treason narrowed his eyes at her.  She had never lied to him... was she lying?  What would she possibly need to hide from him?  Didn't she know that she could tell him anything?  But he nodded and spiralled down to land on the rocky sand below.  The mountains stretched overhead.  He wasn't looking forward to walking through them.

Cinder shuffled at a slow, strange pace, as if there was something wrong with her. "Are you alright?" He asked, getting concerned.

"Fine," she replied, waving her wings. "Just a bit sick, like I said."

"Do you want to stop and rest?" He asked, and to his immense shock, she nodded. She never wanted to rest; it was usually Treason that had to stop them for a break.

She laid down on her side in the shade of a willow tree, sighing contently.  Treason couldn't tear his eyes off of her—she looked really sick and tired. "What?" She asked after a moment, raising her head to look at him.

"Do you think we should go back to the Den? Find you a doctor?"

She laughed, too breathlessly. "Like a doctor would want to help me. I'm fine, really, Treason. I'm just tired."

Treason sat and turned his head up to the sky. What are you hiding? He thought at Cinder as she slipped into a peaceful doze. And why are you hiding it?