Disclaimer: see first chapter

Torak stormed out of Fin-Kedinn's shelter fuming at what had just happened. 'How could he do this to him?' He thought to himself. 'He can't make me go.' As he entered his shelter that he shared with Renn, he tried to avoid her eyes. He didn't want to tell her, he just wanted to leave.

As Renn was sewing up a tear in her left boot, she gazed up at Torak she saw how angry he was, and that he was messily rolling up his sleeping sack and tying it to his pack. He had to be angry, she thought.

"What's wrong?" she dared to ask. Torak just muttered under his breath. This time she left her bed and the boot she was sewing and walked up next to him.

"C'mon Torak, what's wrong?" she asked, putting her hand on his shoulder. He shook it off.

"I'm- I'm just going hunting ok?" She shot him a strange look.

"With your sleeping sack? Torak where are you really going?" He knew he couldn't hide it from Renn. So he decided to tell her.

"Ok," he sighed and sat down on his bed. "Fin-Kedinn is making me go back to the Mountain of the World Spirit." Renn looked as if this was normal.

"Ok… did I miss something?" she asked, looking into his eyes, as a daughter would look into a father's eyes.

"Alone, for five summers." Torak said, almost to quiet to hear. Renn was taken aback. Torak knew what she was going to say. "No, Renn, Fin-Kedinn specifically said I was to go alone.

"What? Why?" Renn said loudly.

"So that I may find the World Spirit, and beg him to teach me the proper ways of Spirit Walking." Torak said soberly.

"What? It will take you more than even three summers to find the World Spirit."

"Renn!" said Torak loudly, "Not helping."

"Oh sorry, its just… are you really going?" Renn knew there were tears in her eyes but she didn't care. She couldn't stand that long without Torak.

"I- I have to."

"N- no you can't! Torak you can't!" Renn pleaded, "I'm just… I'm afraid I'll move on and forget you." Tears were streaming down her face now. Torak was deeply touched at this.

"Renn," he said in his calmest voice, "Before I go. I need to tell you something." Renn said nothing but her eyebrows rose slightly.

"Renn you're my best friend, and -"Torak cut off, and he looked slightly embarrassed to say this, "I'll miss you." Renn blushed slightly, she closed her eyes, and said "Torak I –" but it was too late. Torak was gone.