A/N: Yello! Ok so this wasn't as soon as I thought. For those of you who were confused by the last chapter update, that was my bad. When I went to exchange chapter 7 with the authors note I accidentally forgot to hit save so it reverted back to the authors note. Stupid thing… anyway here's chapter 9. Hopefully it won't be melodramatic; it's the apocalypse type thing.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Kiesh'ra books or ideas, blah blah blah. (I always forget to the put the disclaimer up…)

Chapter 9:

He had only traveled the path once, but apparently that was enough for him. He weaved in-between the trees slowly pulling me gently along with him. I glanced at Malic wondering if he wore the same grin as me, but he was frowning.

"What's the matter?" I asked.

"Nothing," he said unconvincingly.

"It is something," I said fearing that something was amiss. Or worse that he had suddenly stopped enjoying my company.

Malic stopped, seeming to have come to a conclusion.

"Listen," he said.

"For what?" I asked confused.

"Just listen," he said anxiously. I did what he said and tuned my hearing. I tried to pick up a rustling in the bushes or something or someone's footfalls but there was nothing.

"I don't hear anything," I said turning to him.

"Exactly," he said. The meaning of what he was trying to say dawned on me. "Don't you think it's odd that on a clear night like this that there are no animals making a sound?"

My muscles tightened as my fear spread through my body.

"Something has them spooked, even the night time predators aren't feeding," Malic said grasping my hand tighter. "Hurry," he whispered urgently as he took off at run. I was pulled behind him as I tried to keep up without tripping on my skirts.

"Malic!" I whispered as soft as I could. "Where are we going?"

He didn't answer but kept weaving me through the trees to some unknown location that was getting farther and farther away from Wyvern's Court.

"Malic!" I said again trying to gain his attention. My ankle was starting to throb as we wound our way deeper and deeper into the woods. I kept my eyes on the ground watching out for stones and fallen branches that would trip me and let Malic find our way.

Suddenly a shrill shriek sounded above us and my head shot up. I immediately tripped and crashed into the stone solid ground. I grimaced as pain shot up through my leg from my ankle. When I looked up Malic was kneeling over me with a worried expression on his face. He held a finger to his lips, signaling me to keep quiet. I obliged happily. Malic laid down beside me signaled to keep our exposed skin as hidden as possible. I pulled my legs up into my skirt and tucked my hands under my armpits. I glanced at Malic once more before putting my head to the ground. His jaw was clenched and a mix of fear and raw determination was sketched onto his features. This made me feel a bit better as I pushed my nose down into the dirt, trying to hide from whatever was in the sky.

We laid stock still for what seemed like hours. It could have been merely five minutes but I was filled with so much anxiety that I couldn't pay attention to the time that had passed. I finally couldn't stand breathing in the dirt and having ants and other small bugs crawling on my face. I turned my head slowly towards Malic's, who was looking at me as well. He gave me a reassuring smile and got to his knees. He scanned the sky and the trees before reaching down towards me. He picked me up with his arms under my knees and around my back.

"I'm sorry," he whispered as he started walking toward our unknown destination.

"For what?" I whispered back.

"I forgot about your ankle," he replied.

"It's ok," I said trying not to laugh even as we fled from our unknown pursuer. He smiled faintly. "Malic?"

"Yes."

"Would you mind terribly if I asked where we were going?" His smile got bigger.

"We're going to a cave I stayed in once," he answered.

"A cave?" I asked in shock. "Why were you sleeping in a cave? We're barely more than two miles away from Wyvern's Court."

"Because I had been in Wyvern's court a day before we met," Malic said. "When I said I wasn't staying with one it wasn't because I had just got there, it was because I didn't have anywhere to stay and I didn't want to draw attention by staying at an inn."

I felt horrible as he said this. I had treated him so bad, assuming that he was toying with me because he was a rich merchant's son but he was staying in that cave the whole time. My cheeks grew red with guilt and embarrassment for my actions.

"Are you blushing?" Malic asked in amazement.

"No," I said indignantly. "How can you see me?" I whispered fiercely. He looked down at my face and his eyes flashed yellow. Duh, I thought. He's a wolf. He can see in the dark.

A/N: Obviously this isn't the end of the chapter, because if I write another short one I think someone's going to beat me to death. But until I get suggestions for Alise's serpiente half then this is going to stay as it is. Plus I'm at a road block… Please and thank you!

Yori