Foreword
Chapter 14 Woo! Firstly, reviews!

Nimaka: Thank you kindly for the compliment! And as for the Lon'qu thing, I said at the beginning that I wouldn't put him in…and I'm still not sure, Erron's past and personality are quite similar to Lonny boy's so I think I'll keep him benched. And on the shipping front, the people are conflicted! The front runners are Olivia, Cherche and Cordelia! Some love the timid dancer! Others like the caring wyvern rider! And lastly the childhood friend and prideful knight! As I addressed in another foreword, I'm not even sure myself!

dragonman1424: Thanks for the kind words! And about Panne, weeeell that's what this chapter is about! More character interaction!

(I do not own Fire Emblem or it's characters.) (Italics are quotes, bold are transitions and brackets are thoughts or whispers.)

Morning…
The Shepherds were travelling to Regna Ferox for reinforcements as Ylisse's borders had been breached, the Exalt had decided to head back to Ylisstol with captain Phila, Erron thought it a foolish idea. It would be a few days before they reached the warrior nation, so most days consisted of marching, training and resting. Erron had awoke rather early to practice sword forms, as he ventured out he saw one of the Shepherds; the Taguel, Panne. He knew that she wasn't particularly fond of humans, but he empathised with her, they had both lost their families at young ages. She was eating some kind of herb and was training. The two exchanged glances and Erron began to walk off, but the Taguel spoke up.

"You, man-spawn." She didn't mince words.

"I have a name, you don't like being called a beast do you?" Erron didn't hesitate to return fire. He could hear Panne audibly growling.

"Fine…Erron isn't it?" The swordsman nodded silently, he was still tired and hadn't tied his hair, or taken his cloak. "I wish to speak with you."

"Fine, what do you want to talk about." At which point Panne leaned close to Erron and began to…sniff him. "…I understand the Taguel can be…curious…but please, closeness gives me discomfort." He didn't want to reveal much about his phobia.

"You smell like one of the Taguel." Erron had been called animal-like when hunting, or tracking. But being compared to the beast tribes?

"I have no Taguel blood…but someone told me once I hunt like a wild animal." He stepped back from the Beast-wearer, who was quite close.

"…Show me." Her voice was serious.

"I suppose I could, find me after breakfast, we shall go hunting." As he walked off to the mess tent, which he could hear voices from, he quickly called out to Panne. "Tell me more about the Taguel someday. I've heard stories from nomads…" She simply nodded and resumed her training. Erron entered the mess tent, not many people were there, so he grabbed some fruit and bread then sat at an empty table. Whilst eating he had seen Cordelia enter the tent, she had fled from the borders as her Pegasus knight comrades were slaughtered, it filled him with anger that his friend was in such pain. She had grabbed some of her own food and sat across from Erron.

"Good morning Erron!" She sounded happy, but Erron knew it was hollow. "How are you today?"

"Fine…you?" He was eating an apple, they were his favourite fruit.

"Just getting used to things around here." She stopped for a few moments then continued. "…How did you join the Shepherds anyway? Last I heard from you, you had left Ylisse…only leaving a letter behind."

"The Exalt had a plot on her life, as the Shepherds fled Ylisstol, I assisted them from those…Risen." He leaned back and looked up. "Chrom asked me to join…I did so to keep you two safe…"

"Me and Sumia?" Cordelia looked attentively at the swordsman.

"Indeed, that letter was my oath, I would never forget it." His words relieved Cordelia slightly.

"Anyways, I hear Robin wants me to fight alongside you in future battles. It helps we already know each other I guess." She was eating an apple of her own.

"I have no qualms with it." He had just finished the core of the apple. "You have no objections?"

"Of course not, it gives us a chance to catch up!" She smiled sweetly at her childhood friend. "I have to go tend to my Pegasus, I'll see you later!"

"Yeah, I have some things to do as well…" He waved off Cordelia, and was approached by Vaike after she had left.

"Heeey, I see what you're doin' she's a looker, that's for sure!" Vaike's arrogance annoyed Erron greatly.

"Hmph, can I not converse with an old friend without it being considered as flirting?" He stood and began to leave.

"What do you have that Ol' Teach doesn't! Sumia likes you, and now Cordelia does!" The urge to reply with a snide comment was too strong to resist.

"Maybe It's because I don't consider the female Shepherds as 'lookers', that or I'm not an idiot." Vaike got defensive due to that last comment.

"Hey are you implying that the Vaike is stupid?" The axe fighter looked puzzled.

"Not implying, saying." Erron didn't even look at Vaike as he left. "I haven't time for this." Vaike was unbearable, if he wasn't drunk after a fight, he was brandishing his muscles to the female Shepherds; he was like Virion, but somehow more idiotic and twice as big.

Wind…
Erron had returned to his tent to prepare for hunting. He tied his hair, put on his cloak, tied Hoissurā to his waist and grabbed a bow from the arms tent. As he left, Panne approached him in her Beast Form.

"Man-spawn…I mean human, we shall hunt." Whilst Panne was in her Beast Form, her voice echoed slightly, making her sound menacing. "Come, follow me." The two left for the surrounding forests, as they got further into woodland; Erron's movements changed. He kept low to the ground with an arrow nocked at all times, following the scent in the air, and tracking footprints he had found a deer in a clearing. (One shot…quick and clean…) He raised his bow and focused his sight, taking aim at the deer's neck, it raised its head as the wind changed. (Now.) He let fly an arrow, striking the prey on its neck, it stumbled as it tried to flee but collapsed quickly. Erron approached the fallen animal, and offered a prayer.

"This harvest, is bountiful. Mother Earth we thank you." Panne was confused by the incantation.

"Why are you talking to it? It is dead, and cannot understand your language." She returned to her human form, with a smaller doe over her shoulder.

"The nomads believed that Mother Earth sustains life, by providing animals and vegetation." He removed the arrow from the deer's neck and hoisted the kill over his shoulder. "I was giving thanks."

"You track like a Taguel, your senses of hearing, sight and smell are clearly trained." The two began to head back to camp. "But you respect the creature's life. Not many humans would be the same."

"I'm not like most humans…" Panne merely grunted. "I know the loneliness you feel, I lost my family as well."

"Then why do you not hate them?" Erron looked at the treetops.

"A part of me does, and always will…but kindness can shine through." They reached the campsite. "When I was alone, people cared…you aren't alone anymore…trust me." He smiled as the two brought the prey to Robin and Chrom.

"Well you two have been busy!" They placed the two deers in the rations tent.

"It was Panne's idea." Erron glanced over at the Taguel. "I just helped." Erron left as Chrom and Robin began to thank Panne for her help. (You aren't alone anymore…)

Dusk…
The sun had faded and the Shepherds were setting camp after another long march. As night had fell, some of the Shepherds were around a fire, partaking in a drinking contest. The original contestants were Gaius the theif, Vaike, Sully of all people and Robin. Gaius was out after two mugs; his sweet tooth didn't equate to alcohol tolerance, Robin was sensible and stopped after three. Leaving Sully and Vaike, they both prided themselves on their drinking ability, and they were still going after eight mugs each. Eventually after eleven, the both of them passed out, thus declaring it a draw. Erron looked on in bewilderment, he hated beer, ale or wine, they didn't sit well with him and they dulled his senses. But these people literally drunk themselves to sleep, Robin stumbled over to Erron with a mug in his hand.

"…You, want a pint?" He was slurring his words incredibly.

"I'm good." He saw Robin losing his balance. "You aren't going to feel so great tomorrow." And with that the tactician stumbled away. Erron returned to his tent and yet wasn't feeling tired, so he left his cloak in his tent but kept his sword with him. He found a clearing which would allow him to shadowfence in peace, but there was someone already there, Chrom. He was training himself, but seemed frustrated and he plunged Falchion, his sword, into the ground and cursed the air. Erron wasn't one for giving pep talks, but he did think of a way to help. He whistled loudly, grabbing Chrom's attention.

"Erron? You should rest." Chrom regained his composure.

"I could say the same to you…" Erron drew his blade and pointed it at the prince. "…But the Exalt wouldn't want her brother to be like this…" He then assumed his fighting stance. "…Raise your blade prince…let it be the one to demonstrate your convictions!" Chrom pulled Falchion from the ground and stood in his stance.

"Erron I-" He was interrupted

"Let Falchion be your speaker." And with that they clashed, Chrom fought differently, he was wiser with his strikes, and more balanced with his defences. The two swordsmen sparred for a good hour, with Erron forcing Chrom to yield each time. "Again!" They kept fighting, matching each other perfectly. "Again!" Another two hours passed, and they were both getting tired. "…Again!" The sound of clashing steel carried on through the night, untill the moon reached its highest. Chrom was leaning on his sword, and Erron was panting heavily.

"…I'm not done yet!"

"Neither...am I!"

The two clashed blades one last time, Chrom buckled and ended up dropping his sword, Erron fell to a knee, but he managed to stand and sheath his blade.

"…No one I've fought, has…" He was breathing quite heavily. "Continued for so long…" Chrom stood up and sheathed his own sword.

"I have to be strong for Emm's sake." Erron turned and walked back to camp, but stopped and turned his head.

"She trusted you for a reason." He then walked off, sufficiently tired out. He got back to his tent and disrobed, falling asleep easily after his sparring, letting his mind drift to memories.

Closing Comments

Woo, this one was fun! More character interactions means more dialogue, also more action! So I hope you've enjoyed reading this chapter, thanks again! Reviews and criticism please! -Muffin