"Nyssa, I don't think I can go any further without stopping." Sara panted as they ran together.

The Heir to the Demon, on the other hand, looked like running the ten miles up a steep mountainside was a simple walk in the park.

"Don't stop, Sara. Not yet. I know you can do this. It's only two more miles than you've run up here before. Your body is physically capable; you just have to convince your mind."

Sara tried to keep her breathing steady. In through her nose, out through her mouth. Several minutes passed and she really was about done for good.

"Can't go... further. Legs... burning..."

"No, Sara. You're stronger than you think. Look ahead - the marker is only 100 meters away. The end is in sight!"

Sara couldn't feel her legs anymore, but somehow they kept moving underneath her. Placing Nyssa as her trainer was probably the best move Ra's could have made because Sara couldn't bear to let her down. She craved her praise and support. It helped immensely that Nyssa participated in every single training exercise with Sara. She wasn't like some sports coach who yells at her players from the sidelines to keep running; Nyssa was always right there with her, giving encouragement and advice.

"Just another 25 meters!" Nyssa called out.

Sara smiled, but then suddenly her knees buckled under her. She started to go down, but somehow Nyssa swooped in, pulled Sara's arm over her shoulder, and helped support her weight for the last few seconds. They both dropped to the ground once they reached the marker and Sara gasped for breath.

"Be aware of your breathing. You don't want to hyperventilate," Nyssa said.

Sara just nodded and slowly brought her breathing to a steady pattern. She grabbed her water canteen from the small pack she was carrying and drank half of it.

Nyssa stood up and reached a hand out to Sara to help her stand. She groaned as she was lifted up and Nyssa laughed. "C'mon, old woman, we need to stretch. There's a level wooden platform just over there, and it doubles as a beautiful lookout over the valley."

"Ha! Who are you calling old woman? I bet you're older than I am. I'm twenty-one. And it's almost my half birthday! It will be in a few days, actually."

Nyssa looked confused. "Half birthday? What in the world is that?"

"You know!" Sara laughed and they started to stretch. "I guess you probably don't know, living out here your whole life. It's just something fun you can celebrate six months after your birthday, so it's right in between your last birthday and the next."

"How odd. Do people actually give gifts?"

Sara laughed again. "Not usually. It's just a fun thing to remember. More a joke than anything else, really."

"I see. So when is your half birthday?"

"On the twenty-fifth!"

Nyssa's eyebrows raised. "So you were born on Christmas?"

"Yep! I love it. That day is always one big party. When I was with my family, at least." A sad expression came over Sara's face.

"Are you alright?" Nyssa asked. "Is it your family?"

Sara nodded. "Yeah. I haven't let myself think about my family too often lately, but this memory of past birthdays just caught me off guard. It hurts to think I may never experience that again with them." It was quiet between them for a minute until Sara spoke up. "Enough about that. I need to be distracted again, and you never told me how old you are!"

"Barely twenty-four," Nyssa answered with a smile.

"And how long have you been a member of the League? And Ra's your husband, right?"

Nyssa choked on her water. "Heavens, no! He is my father."

"Oh!" Sara laughed. "He seemed too old for you, but when I saw you two standing together during my evaluation that's what I assumed."

Now Nyssa laughed. "Don't assume anything. And as for the former question, I came to my father here in the League when I was six years old."

Sara stared at her. "Six years old? Wow! And you started training then?"

Nyssa nodded. "Yes. I barely remember a life before the League. It is all I know."

Sara paused, carefully choosing her words. "And have you ever wondered what life would be like if you weren't in the League? Have you wanted a normal life?"

Nyssa chuckled. "What is normal? I would be lying if I told you it didn't come to mind every now and then, but have I ever wanted a different life? No, I haven't. This is what I know and where I have found my purpose."

Sara stood up. "That's what I need to do here. I need to find my purpose." She walked over to the wooden fence at the edge of the platform and gazed out over the valley.

Nyssa got up and joined her. After a few moments she turned to Sara. "You will find your purpose and place among us. I hope you are starting to feel like you belong here." She hesitated, not wanting to give away how much she was starting to feel for her. These feelings terrified Nyssa. Not only had she never fallen in love before, but she certainly never thought she would be in love with another woman. But maybe it wasn't love. Maybe it was just a bond they had because it had been a long time since Nyssa was able to really interact with another woman. That must be it.

Sara smiled, Nyssa melted. "I am starting to feel more like I belong. All thanks to you, really. I'm still a newcomer and a bit of an outsider to the rest of the League, but not with you. With all this time we've spent together the past few weeks, you're seeing me at my best and my worst."

It took all of Nyssa's willpower to not reach over and touch Sara's face. They were so close - it would have taken no effort at all. She wanted to hold her and tell her that everything would be okay. That she would always be there to protect her. But this worried Nyssa. She sensed great weakness within herself because of Sara, and she understood better why her father always said that weakness could not be tolerated. Nyssa already knew that she would want to be on every mission Sara was on so she could watch over her. Of course, that would be impractical, and she would have to let her go without her at times. Nyssa was also afraid that these feelings would tear her apart. What if someday she revealed her feelings to Sara and they weren't returned? Her life would be hell if she had to work and live with Sara with that between them. But maybe even worse - what if Sara did feel the same way? Did she think they would actually be able to have a life together? Could they keep it a secret? Or would they reveal it to her father and all of the League? What kind of consequences would come from that?

Nyssa jumped when Sara placed a hand on her shoulder. "Whoa! Sorry, Nyssa. You okay? You just looked like you were in a completely different place for a minute there." Sara laughed. "What happened to 'be mindful of your surroundings'? I didn't think you could get surprised."

Nyssa cleared her throat and tried to get her head back on straight. "Yes, well, it only seems to be when I'm with you."

"Well, that's okay, right? It's just us out here."

"Getting caught off guard is never okay. Outside of training it means death." She took a deep breath. "We've taken enough time to rest and stretch. Let's head back down."

Sara quietly followed her mentor. She had noticed that Nyssa could be pretty hot and cold lately. It seemed to be whenever they were finally relaxed and talking easily together, then a switch would flip and Nyssa she would become the cold, unfeeling assassin once again.

After descending for a mile in silence, the return trip went much faster than anticipated when they hit a patch of treacherously loose gravel.

"Sara, be careful! Steady your footing!"

Nyssa quickly grabbed onto a thick root that was protruding out of the ground, and when she looked to find Sara, she was too late. She helplessly watched as Sara struggled to stay upright while she was mercilessly pulled down the mountainside. The force was too strong for her to fight. Sara fell and desperately screamed Nyssa's name before her head struck one of the many large, jagged rocks surrounding them.

"Sara!" Nyssa had never feared for her own life like she feared for Sara's in that moment. Nyssa knew she had a decision to make and she knew what her father would say: One person alive is better than two who are dead. Just as Sara's body slipped out of view, Nyssa made her choice. As she let go of the root she felt the gravity of her decision, and knew it was much more than just placing herself in danger for another person - she was turning away all she had ever known by letting go of logic and following her heart. And there was no turning back.