A small stream slowly trickled past Cinder and Fell as they sat on a large, flat, boulder. They had finished hunting some rabbits, Fell had his tongue out into a wolfish grin. Cinder tossed one of the rabbits to Fell.

"I'm sure your hungry after chasing them. Go ahead, start eating I will wait till we get back to eat."

The wolf barked with delight, then started tearing into the carcass with his sharp canine teeth. Cinder smiled and looked up at the setting sun through the trees. Once Fell was done eating they would head home. She had learned quickly that using her own flames to cook her meal would tire her out. She was limited to 5 bursts, as well as 2 gigantic bursts a day before she would feel woozy. The only way to regenerate her energy was to eat. The wolf had been teaching her the ways of the flames for the past couple of days, in a small rocky canyon near the center of this forgotten wasteland continent.

"Do you miss being a Great Beast?"

The wolf looked up at her and licked his now blood stained lips then dove back into the carcass, finishing it off. Fell then got up and stretched his long, giant body and made his way to the bushes, stopping to wait for his summoner. Cinder knew he wanted to go so she heaved the rabbit carcasses and lit a stick on fire to help light their way back. The darkness of the setting sun made it hard to see the black wolf amongst the vegetation. But she knew he was there fore she could feel his presence with the strength of their bond.

Fell immediately stopped and crept forward, hackles raised, teeth showing, and growling. Cinder saw what he was growling at. The lights in her house were on and the door was open, it wasn't like that when she left. There was no way somebody would get in, unless somebody had a spirit animal that could go through the chimney.

She swept her hand over her torch, the fire extracted itself from the branch to her palm, it went out when she closed her hand smothering it with her fingers. Fell looked at her and opened his mouth, black smoke was seeping out from his mouth, like a dragons. Cinder felt Fell's fearlessness seep into her and understood that he was ready to attack. She pulled her sword out of her sheath, and made sure to keep the sound of metal scraping together to a minimum.

They began creeping forward silently stalking, she felt more like a cat than a wolf when they did this. Then Fell began running and Cinder followed his movements once they reached the steps their pace slowed again. Cinder creaked open the door to see if anybody was in the dining room, there was nobody. She then went into a crouch and began opening it and they began to move forward again. Fell sniffed the ground and his body began to relax and he began to wag his tail. A woman with black hair and a forest-green cloak come out of the dining room.

"It's alright I'm not going to hurt you." the woman then spread out her arms to show she had no weapons on her. "My name is Lishay, I am associated with the Greencloaks. I have come to bring you back to Greenhaven Castle." Cinder felt Fell's fearlessness seep out of her, she began gripping the hilt of her sword tightly and was shaking, Fell brushed up against her side, which startled her, but she knew what he meant and sheathed her sword.

The wolf caressed her hand, which made her less tense. Lishay smiled softly, and spoke "Would you wish to see my spirit animal? I promise he won't attack." Cinder grabbed onto the fur on the back of Fell's neck as Lishay lifted her arm to reveal a tiger tattoo. In a burst of light a white tiger, the size of a sofa, appeared. Of course, Fell was far more bigger, but the cat was big for a tiger.

The tiger stretched and yawned, revealing its glittering white teeth. "His name is Zhosur," Lishay said walking over to her spirit animal. "I'm sorry, this must be so weird and surprising for you. Just think about it for a while and let me know your answer. I will be on my way," Lishay softly said.

Cinder didn't know what to do, she was torn. The Greencloaks, they took her parents away from her life, permanently, but her parents still believed what Stetroil was doing was wrong. On the other hand, she wanted to stay with Shane, he was the only friend she has ever had.

"In one day, meet me at the hidden beach that is on the other side of this forest. If you are not there when the moon is at its highest point, then I will leave you here."

Cinder nodded in agreement and watched, as Lishay and Zhosur left into the darkness off the night.

The darkness of night was still upon them, in the fog the moon shown brightly as it dipped to the sea. Cinder set on a bench with a red cloak on with Fell's head resting on her lap. In her left hand, was a brilliant red flame, it gave warmth to her, and her right hand was resting on top of wolf's scorch black fur. She was looking out at the ghostly, shadowy, haunted sea that carried her best friend and their king. The events of last night were still heavy on her mind.

Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard creaking and Fell picked up his head and jumped off the bench. She followed his movements, they both watched as a grand ship softly creaked into port. And there at the front was the person she had been waiting for, expertly saying orders, standing there proud and brave, his muscular and sturdy build, he was at home there, he was a true leader, he was Shane.

Cinder waved and smiled at Shane as he came down gangplank, he did it back and all the while Fell was calmly wrapped around Cinder's legs. A girl that looked like she was from Nilo, shyly came down the gangplank right after Shane. Behind her, was a enormous looking cat, it had a golden yellow coat with black spots, as well as violet eyes. The cat and Cinder's eyes met, she knew instantly that this was Uraza the Leopard. Cinder got startled looking at the cat so the flame in her hand went out.

"Hey Cinder, did you miss me?" Shane blushed a little.

"No, not really."

Shane lightly punched her in the arm, "Oh come on, I know you did." Cinder sighed and saw that the Niloan girl and Uraza were almost upon them and she gripped Fell's fur nervously.

"Hey Abeke, there is someone I want you to meet."

"Oh, ok."

"Cinder, this is Abeke. She summoned one of the 4 Fallen. Uraza the Leopard to be exact. Abeke, this is Cinder. She summoned Fell the Artic Wolf, the one from the 5 Lost Souls."

"Hello Cinder, nice to meet you." Abeke extended her hand for Cinder to shake. Cinder hesitated a little but eventually took her hand and shook it. Fell began howling a long, low howl once him and Uraza saw each other. Which made Cinder go bright red as she bent down and placed her hands around his head. "Shh Fell, everybody else is sleeping," Cinder explained only to get licked in the face.

"Um... Shane."

"Yea?"

"I gotta go, Fell and I haven't eaten yet."

"How about you come with us up to the castle to eat?"

"No thank you, I'm good. Besides, I'm sure Abeke wouldn't want me to intrude." And with that Cinder had a flame in her hand and silently disappeared into the mist with Fell following close behind. Leaving Shane to watch as the small flame slowly disappeared into the darkness and cold of the night.

"You like her don't you?" Abeke said with a mischievous grin. Shane's face turned bright red like a cherries. "I...I do not!" Shane stammered. Abeke smiled a shy smile at Shane. "A..anyways let's get you to the castle."

Cinder paced with Fell in her living room. She was so confused and stressed about making the decision of going with Lishay to Greenhaven castle. She wanted to leave Stetriol and help the Greencloaks see that if they helped her country then the war would stop. But on the other she didn't want to leave Shane and become a traitor. She decided once she made her decision she would go find Lishay and tell her, but that would take some time. She sighed and stopped pacing and looked at Fell.

"Fell, what do you think I should do?" she asked.

The wolf cocked his head to the side then pointed his nose in the direction of the beach. Cinder sighed and patted his head. "Alright, I trust your instincts." Cinder's eyes softened as she looked through the window up at the castle as she whispered, "I'm sorry Shane, Stetriol." She looked at Fell and nodded, tonight she would make her escape. But she had to steal something first.

Cinder looked at her house one final time before she tossed her hood over her head and headed down the rocky path, down to the hidden beach. The only things she brought with her was her sword,her bow, a small painted photo of her parents, a book that Shane gave her, some rabbit meat for Fell, some bread, a waterskin full of fresh water, a blanket, and the Bamboo Panda of Jhi. She lit no flame in her hands, for fear of being seen. She darted down the path once she was out of the woods, she saw the rocks jutting out around the dark beach and immediately headed for the small opening in between the rocks.

Adrenaline was pumping through her veins, she was terrified of what they would do if they found her, but they didn't. She made it to the beach unseen, unheard. She looked around, Lishay wasn't on the beach 'Had something happened to her?' Cinder thought. Suddenly, she could see the small details of the rocks, she could hear the smallest little sounds, she felt ruthless, she knew that Fell shared his power with her. She heard footsteps coming down the small beach, they sounded female, she turned to see Lishay standing there with Zhosur.

"Have you come to a conclusion?"

Cinder nodded, her fists tightened and she felt pain in her heart as she spoke.

"I want to join the Greencloaks." Lishay nodded and walked over to Cinder.

"You are very brave for saying that. I'm sure your friends and family will miss you."

Cinder reached into her satchel and pulled out the Bamboo Panda of Jhi, which she raised up to Lishay. "They used this to heal my back, I thought it was a talisman."

Lishay starred in amazement as one of the lost talismans, was finally returned. She cleared her throat "Thank you, but we must leave quickly." She motioned Cinder to follow her and her and Zhosur took off down the beach to a small boat. Lishay motioned Cinder to get in, Cinder gulped and got into the boat along with Fell. Lishay pushed the boat out and Zhosur went into passive state in a burst of light.

"Do you want some help?"

"No, you just relax for a bit." With that Lishay began rowing themselves through the mist and fog of the night.

After a few minutes of rowing Lishay stopped as a grand ship with white sails that had a G on them came into view. She heard shouts coming from the docks above as they began being hoisted onto the ship. She tripped stepping over the side of the rowboat and onto the ship. She went bright red and waited for everyone to laugh, but they didn't. They asked if she was ok and helped her up. She looked up only to see Greencloaks everywhere. She felt like she stuck out like a sore thumb in her red cloak and black coat with a brown tunic.

"Hoist the sails, man your stations, we are heading back to Greenhaven!" The ship began bustling with activity despite it being midnight. Cinder watched as her home slowly shrank in the distance. She couldn't turn back now. She was a traitor.