Winter could stay in camp while he found a way to get back to the Patriot war ship, or Nerica.

He helped out around camp by hauling wood for the fire, and gathering edible plants to add to the big pot of stew they had every evening for supper.

It was a happy camp, and some nights Winter found himself wondering if he truly wanted to leave. He hadn't made any attempts to leave, and he wondered if he would. The camp was so cozy and inviting.

But one day he made up his mind, he would leave. He had spent too much time here already. Winter didn't say goodbye to Nathaniel, he didn't like goodbyes, and believed the Outlaw Leader would manage, so he left.

Nathaniel wondered what he would do if Winter actually left. In the small time Winter had been in camp Nathaniel had come to care for Winter.
Nathaniel had given Winter freedom to do as he pleased, and so far he had.

But when Nathaniel found Winter missing, he acted in rage and ordered that Winter be found and imprisoned in the pit they used for the prison of the camp. That was, for the most part, vacant.

"How could Winter have run away like that? With no sign just decided to go! How could he?"  Thought Nathaniel. Although his better judgement said, "The boy had perfect reason to leave. You gave him freedom, so he left to find his family and go home."

In the days Winter had stayed in camp, Nathaniel had learned that Winter was about fourteen years old, and had many siblings he used to help look after before he joined the war. That was all Winter would tell him. Even if Winter seemed at ease in camp, he was still reserved with his past, and they all respected the boy in his privacy.

Winter walked all that day in one direction. He figured at some point he would come to the shore, then he would walk around the Island until he came to a town. "If there is a town on this Island it will be by the shore, to get supplies from the nearest trading port."

Then when a shipment did come, Winter would sign on as a cabin boy or what work he could find on board. And somehow make his way back to Nerica, home.

Home, the idea seemed foreign. To finally be home after such a long time at sea, at war.

Darkness fell too soon for Winter, he was in the middle of the woods and at every sound he jumped, hoping it wasn't the Dirish searching for him. He climbed a tree, thinking if it was the Dirish they wouldn't look for him there.

Nathaniel's search party went all through the night. In the morning they returned with no clue as to where Winter was.

Nathaniel was furious, but couldn't help commending the boy on his woodsman skills. He searched his mind for where Winter could be. Nathaniel had passed his childhood on Small Island and knew every tree, every place possible to hide.

He knew every place, but there were lots, and it would take some time to look everywhere. So Nathaniel started walking, he'd have to cover a lot of ground if he wanted to find Winter.

The next morning Winter woke up stiff, he wasn't used to sleeping in trees. The wind had kept him up late into the night. Then, when sleep finally had claimed him, it was shallow, because it was cold and His army coat was thin.

When Winter finally was awake enough to get on his way, he realized the foolishness of not packing enough food. Before he had left he only had tossed some bread in his pocket for supper that night, he hadn't thought to to pack more.

Though he was hungry, Winter continued on his way, walking in the same direction as before.

While walking in the woods, Nathaniel had time to think and cool his anger, deciding against throwing Winter in the pit. Now all he wanted to do was make sure the boy was safe.

By this time Winter was truly considering going back to Nathaniel's camp, it was foolish of him to think he could find a town. He had gotten to the shore and started walking around the island in search of a town. 

The sun started setting as Winter looked for a nice tree to sleep in.

Nathaniel was walking along deep in thought when an unusual noise broke his concentration. He noticed it was getting dark as he looked up to where the sound had come from. Up in a tree, he saw Winter climbing around, probably finding a nice branch for the night, he had done that a few times himself.

Nathaniel contemplated what the best way to approach the runaway boy would be. He could sneak up on him and capture him like he had done the first time he met Winter, but he decided against it.

Nathaniel eventually settled that the best way to approach Winter would be to just plop down right by him, so that is what Nathaniel did.

He climbed the tree next to Winter's stealthily, for that was his trade, making his way over to Winter.

Winter was just about ready to sleep when there, right by him, was Nathaniel. As if by magic he was there! Nathaniel watched Winter's reaction and smiled, a big self satisfied smile, "Surprise!"

He had found Winter! Nathaniel still had a chance to convince him to stay. "But what will it take to convince him?"

Nathaniel could always take the easy way, he was still somewhat loyal to the crown of Dirland, and Winter wasn't. Nathaniel could just take him prisoner and justify it that way, but then Winter would never trust him. So he'd have to win Winter's loyalty. But how?

Winter watched Nathaniel think, and wondered what about? Probably me. It was an unpleasant thought. If he's thinking about me, what would he be thinking? He's probably mad at me for leaving and not telling him. But why? Why would I have to tell him? It was my right. He doesn't own me! Winter's thoughts were getting angrier and not that nice towards Nathaniel. When suddenly he was surprised by Nathaniel asking an unexpected question "Are you comfortable?"

Winter acted as if he wasn't there, ignoring him.

"Hmmmm" well that didn't work. What will? Wondered Nathaniel.

Finally, to break the silence, he said, "I'm sorry"

That surprized Winter even more. "Sorry for what?" he asked.

Nathaniel shrugged "Gettin' mad at you, I don't know?"

"So you did get mad at me? Hmmph!" He had no reason to, Hmmph!

Nathaniel thought maybe this is better than him being super angry with me, but not much. Then he said "Yes I got mad at you."

"Got?" said Winter catching his phrasology. So Nathaniel isn't still mad at me?

"Yes I was mad at you"

"You mean you aren't still mad at me?"

"That's correct"

"Hmmm, why?" asked Winter.

"I had no reason to be" replied Nathaniel.

"Hmm, true enough. So what do you wan't now, why did you follow me?" asked Winter.

"At first I was angry and ordered you found and thrown in the pit. When no one could find you, I went out myself, for I know these woods well. That gave me time to think and change my mind. Your a strange boy, you know that? I haven't met anyone stranger." answered Nathaniel.

"So you still think I'm a boy?" Winter said with a secretive smile.

"Why wouldn't I?" asked Nathaniel thinking it a strange question unless.....
Winter was a girl !!!

The thought had only acurred to him once, the first time Nathaniel'd met him, no Her. Her? Is Winter really a girl?

Winter shrugged "I don't know?"

"Wait. Are you telling me your a girl?!?" asked Nathaniel, grabbing Winter's shoulders and looking him or her in the eyes.

"I said Nothing of the sort." replied Winter, looking down at his shoes. Knowing if he made eye contact Nathaniel would be able too see straight through his lies.

"Stop trying to avoid my question. Are you, or are you not a girl?" demanded Nathaniel, getting frustrated.

"Answer my queston first! Do you think I am?"

"It doesn't matter what I think! What matters is the fact." stated Nathaniel, growing tense with the direction of thier conversation.

"Well, the fact is, I am a girl an..."

"I knew it!" interupted Nathaniel.

"You did?"

"Well, sort of"

He loosened his grip on her shoulders and she shrugged them off easily.

"So ya wanna go home do ya?" Nathaniel leaned back. And with an evil grin on his face, folded His arms across his chest.

"Well, yes, wouldn't you?"

"Hmmm. I never thought about it." said Nathaniel thoughtfully.

Winter was a girl! It all made sense now. How strange Winter has always been, though I could never put a name to it. He, no she has always done her work well. Just differently than any
of the other men.
Now it was all put together like a big puzzle. Winter was a girl!

Nathaniel was quiet after answering, and Winter wondered what he could be thinking about. Me. Was her answer again to her own question.

She found herself thinking about Nathaniel, when he asked a, not unexpected, but unprepared to answer, question. "Why were you disguised as a boy?"

"To sign up for the war, of course" answered Winter matter of factly, covering Her loss for words smoothly.

"Why'd you sign up for the war?" pressed Nathaniel.

Winter shrugged, "I don't know?"

"So, you just, all of a sudden, decide to disgiuse yourself as a boy, and join the army for no reason?" Nathaniel laughed. "And to think, after all that trouble you got captured."

Winter chuckled a little, "But hey! I wasn't the only one who got captured!" she said defensivley.

"Yes but how do you know your fellow prisoners weren't girls dressed as guys as well?" he said sarcastically.

At that they both burst out laughing.

"You know you have always been strange. Even if you being a girl resolves some of it, you are still strange." said Nathaniel.

Winter shrugged again. "The world is full of strange things, what does one more strange thing matter?"

"Well I guess it doesn't" said Nathaniel. If it did? Why should I care, I was willing to accept Winter as a strange boy. Why not a less strange girl?

"So we're friends?" asked Winter timidly.

For all how old She looks Winter is still fourteen. At least, if she wasn't lying about Her age too. "Of course we're friends." he said, chuckling. "How 'bout you come to camp for a warm place to sleep. And we'll see what we can do to get you home in the morning."