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Asha dared not look back at Gharza and Maelor as she walked away from the city gates. She could feel their eyes upon her back but with every step she took, she cared less and less. She looked at the bright moon, glad not to be completely alone in her first night of travel. In the back of her mind, the tugging was ever present. It had been there ever since she had awoken and had only grown stronger with each passing day. I need to find the ranger, she thought, he knows where I belong. A blast of cold wind chilled her limbs and she pulled the cloak closer to herself. As she walked north, she couldn't help thinking back at the first time she had opened her eyes after her long slumber. She hadn't seen much but she could remember the eyes. Yes, the ranger knows must know.

Asha walked as far as her feet could carry her and as the sun rose in a haze of orange and copper, she found herself at the border of a forest. I can feel him. He isn't too far now she thought as she sat next to a tree. Though the wind blew harshly, Asha found the cloak warm enough and she fell in a light and troubled sleep.

When she awoke several hours later, the sun was high in the sky. Her eyelashes were covered by a fine layer of frost and she could barely feel her limbs. She got up, shaking off the snow that had piled on her while she had slept. The tugging at the back of her mind had grown stronger and she wondered how far away he must be. If only mother was here, she thought, she would hold me tight and make all the cold go away. Asha stared at her fingers that were now a light shade of blue and hoped she wouldn't lose any of them.

"I'm already missing one of them, it would be a shame if I lost a few more" she said to herself as her gaze went back from her fingers to the stub on her right hand.

With the sun shining on her back, Asha set out once more in the direction her mind sensed was right. With her fingers tucked under her arm, she hoped the ranger wouldn't be too far away.

Murtagh had left the crypt as quickly as the sun had risen. Thorn had kept quiet most of the morning, sensing that his rider wanted to be left alone. I should have burned that accursed place to the ground Thorn said, finally breaking the silence. Murtagh smiled weakly and patted Thorn's shoulder lovingly. It would have made quite the bonfire. But what happened last night had nothing to do with the crypt. What happened had to do with her he said as he showed Thorn the pair of eyes that had started haunting him. Thorn growled. The girl from the crystal? You think she's behind this? Murtagh stared off in the horizon for a short moment before answering his dragon. I see her eyes when I wake up from those dreams. Anyone who can make the whole world shake can surely commandeering any mind she likes, he said darkly as his face tightened and his lips pursed. He had always valued his privacy above everything else and to have someone play with his dreams made him want to tear down mountains. He blinked quickly and tried to quell his anger; he knew how worried Thorn got when he felt his rider in such moods. The red dragon turned his head back to look at his rider, his eyes and thoughts filled with concern for his beloved companion. Murtagh shook his head and asked for his dragon to veer southwards.

When the sun was setting, Thorn gently landed in a nook on the border of a forest. The tall fir trees provided some cover from the harsh winds and the snow barely came up to Murtagh's knees. When he dismounted his dragon, Murtagh walked around the campsite to ease his stiff legs. I think I saw a group of deer just south of here. I won't be long Thorn said as he took off in a gust of snow as he unfurled his big wings. Murtagh looked at his dragon until he was out of sight. He never liked being apart from him and he felt strangely empty whenever Thorn was not around. He started a small fire and after gathering enough wood to last them the night, he sat down next to a tree and took Zar'roc out from its scabbard. He looked at the glowing red blade and wiped away any dirt or smudge on it. When he heard the distant flapping of leathery wings, a small smile crept on his lips. When Thorn was above the campsite, he dropped his deer carcass before landing himself. The deer bounced against the ground and a few squirts of blood stained the snow. Murtagh was about to start cleaning the beast when Thorn boomed in his mind The deer is not the only I brought back. I found this one a few leagues south of here. He said as he landed brusquely, one paw around a human figure. Murtagh walked towards his dragon with a scowl on his face. Thorn dropped the person who rolled in the snow before landing face down. Thorn took a small step back and lowered his massive head at the person's level, eyes aflame with anger and teeth bared. The person, after a small moment, raised its head. Thorn growled and Murtagh, hand tightly gripping Zar'roc, approached the girl. When their eyes met, Murtagh felt his legs grow weak.

"You!" he said, accusingly.

Asha got to her feet and felt her fingers grip at her cloak tightly. She wanted to take a step back but refrained herself; Thorn was right behind her. She blinked quickly and licked her lips. Before she could even open her mouth Murtagh continued talking.

"You have some nerve showing up here." He said, Zar'roc held tightly in his hand.

Asha felt hot tears stinging her eyes. There it is she thought as she eyed the red sword gleaming in the dying sun. Asha felt a shiver run down her spine at the sight I have made such a terrible mistake, she added bleakly.

"Please, just let me explain!" she cried.

Murtagh's lips twitched and he ran his free hand in his hair.

"What is there to explain? You forced your way inside my head and manipulated my dreams. I don't know how you did it and honestly I don't care. I should kill you and be done with it." He added somberly as he took a step towards Asha.

He felt his anger throbbing in his mind and his gut. Are you sure this is the best way to deal with her? Thorn had asked but Murtagh ignored him. Just as he was about to raise his sword, Asha held her hands out in front of her.

"I didn't want to do it, I can't control it! Please! You must believe me!" she pleaded.

Murtagh faltered and Asha seized the opportunity.

"I don't know how it happens but when I sleep, I-I see you. I hear screams and I see battles I've never heard of. And I feel pain, so much pain. I feel like my back is on fire and I wake almost in screams. Please you must believe me!" she said with a shaky voice.

Murtagh stumbled backwards. How does she know all this? Thorn questioned as he gave his rider a concerned look. Murtagh shook his head lightly and almost dropped Zar'roc.

"I see the ocean." He said, voice barely above a whisper.

"I've been trying to find you. Something happened when you woke me… It seems so long ago now but I know something happened. I felt this tugging inside my head and it led me here, to you. I want the nightmares to stop and I need to find my mother. Something in my bones tells me you can help me. I have no one else to turn to. Please, I have no other options." she pleaded as tears ran down her cheeks.

Murtagh took another step back and shared a few thoughts with Thorn. As much as he hated to admit it, there was something about what the girl said that rang true. He felt her desperation and something deep within him seemed to have been awoken by the girl's cries.

"I will help you." He finally said in a low voice.

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