Smoke. Fire. Death. Horses. The end of the world. Her parents… oh, her parents. Ariadne.

Riding… riding fast.

Cassia hung on for dear life. Coughing…speed. Eyes closed, she held on to her savior with all her might. The horse was so fast, she had to cling on to him.

Him. She couldn't have spoken more than 500 words to him, yet she trusted him completely, this quiet man she was clinging on to with all her might.

So fast. It was make her rather dizzy.

Cassia was aware of slowing down. Slowly, the world stopped spinning by. Milo stopped the horse and jumped down. Then he grabbed her around her waist and slid her down.

"Are you alright"? he asked her. Opening up her eyes, she looked up into his. Warm, brown, and kind.

"Yes, I think so," she replied, blushing slightly. He put his hand under her arm and motioned her to sit down. They had stopped near a stream, under some trees. He guided the horse to the stream to let him drinking, patting him and giving him encouraging words. Then he turned to Cassia. "Come, you need to drink." She obligingly cupped some water with her hands and raised it to her mouth. It was cool. He knelt down and did the same.

"Are you okay?" she asked him, sitting back and peering over at him.

"Yes," he said, shyly looking at her. "I don't think our horse is, though. He needs to rest."

"So do you," she said to him softly, touching his hand. He grabbed her offered hand and looked to the west, to the inferno in the distance. She followed his gaze.

"Is it the end of the world?" she asked in a small voice.

He shuddered, considering. What horrors they had seen that day. Fire, water, and rocks. Her parents. Atticus…

"I don't think so," he replied, squeezing her hand. They had traveled 30 miles already. Once the horse had rested a couple hours, they would continue.

"I trust you."

He gave a start and looked over at her, her face so guileless and hopeful.

"I barely know you at all, yet I trust you," she continued in a small voice.

Milo sighed and cupped her face with his palm. "I will do my very best for you," he said. "We will be safe."