Karkat woke up to screaming. His eyes shot open and darted around, trying to indicate the source. Then he realized what was going on. Kanaya was already at Aradia's side. She was trying to calm her down, but it wasn't working. Aradia was still trashing around and awful pained screams were still piercing the air.

"aRADIA ,,," Karkat saw tears running down Tavros' cheeks. Gamzee put his arms around him.

"Nepeta, Could You Hand Me That Bag?"

Nepeta shook her head. "huh? oh, sure!"

Kanaya dug out a bottle and filled a shot with the content. Oh. Pain killers. Good thinking. Karkat doubted Aradia could take any more pain.

"Karkat, Hold Her Still, Please."

He nodded and knelt next to the pair. Aradia began to relax almost immediately after Kanaya finished. She stopped screaming and her breathing slowed down.

"It's Quite A Strong Medicine. It Should Do For Now," Kanaya whispered.

Karkat could use some of that himself. His heart was still pounding like crazy.

"Tavros, It's Okay Now."

He lifted his head from Gamzee's neck. "i-IT WAS LIKE THAT OR, uH, w-WORSE BACK THERE ,,, s-SHE'S STILL IN P-PAIN ,,, iSN'T THERE SOMETHING WE CAN, uH, DO?"

I'm Afraid We'll Just Have To Wait For Her To Recover ... It's A Good Thing We Have These now." She held up the bottle. "They'll Make The Whole Thing Easier For Her. Tavros, Are You Sure You Don't Want Any?"

He shook his head. "sHE NEEDS IT MORE THAN, uH, i DO,"

Nepeta and Terezi sat down next to Karkat.

"the bandages are soaking through," Nepeta said in a small voice when she gently trailed Aradia's back with her hand.

"It's Because Of All The Moving ... The Wounds Still Aren't Completely Healed. I'll Change Your Bandages As Well While I'm At It, Tavros."

Karkat stood up and walked to the edge of the cave. Kanaya had this under control and he needed some fresh air. He sat down outside and looked up. It was already night. He watched the stars and the two moons, and thought. There, they were all out of that place and (mostly) alright. Now what? Were the high bloods looking for them? He hoped not, but they would still need to keep moving once Aradia was better. They had to get as far from the Arx as possible. Just like Equius had ordered. Just thinking about him made Karkat's heart sink. He had promised Nepeta they'd get him out, but it was probably already too late. He couldn't tell her that. She might do something stupid, like go to the big tree herself. None of them could go back. He was so lost in thought he almost didn't notice Nepeta sit down next to him.

"IS SHE OKAY?"

Nepeta nodded her head. "like kanaya said, it's a good thing we got those supplies." She smiled. "i f33l like we could take on anyone. i mean we did chase away three teal bloods."

Karkat sighed. He knew where she was going with this. She was really confident now.

"NEPETA, DO YOU TRUST ME?"

She smirked. "i don't know, karkat. why should i?" she said playfully.

"WELL, WHAT IF I SHOWED YOU THIS?" He took her knife and made a cut across his palm. He watched Nepeta's eyes widen at the sight of bright red blood.

"karkat ..." She was at loss for words. "what ..."

"THERE, YOU ARE NOW ONE OF THE THREE TROLLS TO KNOW ABOUT THIS, INCLUDING ME. NOW DO YOU SEE HOW MUCH I CARE ABOUT YOU? I MEAN, ALL OF YOU." He motioned to the cave. "THIS IS THE KIND OF THING THAT GETS YOU KILLED JUST FOR EXISTING. I'VE SPENT YEARS HIDDEN AWAY FROM EVERYONE, BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE RISKS. AND WHEN I FINALLY TOOK A RISK, THERE WAS A BIG CHANCE THAT EVERYTHING WOULD GO WRONG. BUT I DID IT FOR THE PEOPLE I CARE ABOUT. AND I'M TELLING YOU THIS, BECAUSE I CARE ABOUT YOU. NOW, DO YOU TRUST ME?"

They were both silent for what seemed like forever. Then, Nepeta nodded.

"GOOD. NOW, LISTEN TO ME. WE CAN'T GO BACK. I KNOW I PROMISED, BUT THERE IS NO WAY WE CAN GO BACK THERE AND SURVIVE. I'M REALLY SORRY."

She wiped away a tear. Then another. "karkat, i have to go. i'm not expecting all of you to go with me, but equius is my moirail. i have to help him."

"NEPETA, I'M NOT LETTING YOU GO. LOOK, I'M PRETTY SURE IT'S ALREADY TO LATE TO HELP HIM. I'M SORRY. BUT, IT'S ALREADY BEEN FOUR DAYS. THERE IS NO WAY THEY'D KEEP A TRAITOR ALIVE FOR THAT LONG." So much for not telling her. She couldn't keep it in anymore. He held her as she cried into his shirt. They stayed like this for a while, but then Karkat thought he heard something. Or someone.

"NEPETA, HOLD ON. I HEAR SOMETHING."

She stopped crying and looked up. There were voices coming from a little further ahead. Karkat and Nepeta quickly got up and ran into the cave. Kanaya was just finishing with bandaging Tavros's back. She looked up at Karkat and raised an eyebrow.

"SOMEONE'S COMING! ACTUALLY, WE HEARD A BUNCH OF VOICES. JUST HIDE!"

They all pressed themselves against the wall and waited. Nothing. Maybe Karkat was just slowly losing it. But then three blue bloods walked by the cave. They didn't see the seven trolls hiding a couple of feet away. Karkat listened to their conversation.

"Two high blood executions in three days. Incredible." Karkat heard Nepeta stifle a sob. He put a finger on his lips.

"Maybe you were on to something when you said the system was breaking."

"Yeah, well, you can't expect it to last forever. Revolution is happening."

The third troll shushed them. "If the Empress hears you talking about this, we're all dead!"

"Oh, yes. I bet she can hear us all the way from the Arx. Oh, wait. She's too busy preparing for the duel."

Karkat heard a laugh. "I bet the little one doesn't stand two minutes against the Empress. She's killed too many heiresses to count."

"It will still be fun to watch, though."

The trolls were now too far away for Karkat to hear them. He slowly moved away from the wall and let out a breath.

"what was all that about, anyway?" Nepeta wiped more tears away.

Terezi locked eyes with Karkat, even though she couldn't see him. They were both thinking it.

"F3F3R1."