AN: Hooray for updates! I meant to upload this three days ago but as you can see, I got sidetracked. However I hope you are all enjoying yourselves as you join Serenity on her quest to find Endymion. I know I probably would have given up before even reaching Lita's cottage. I'm one of those people who get a burst of determination and then that's it. Lazy is my middle name - not really. Thank you, my wonderful beta Kaitlyn Fall for your help in shaping this lumpy clay of words into a legible string of them.

The Escape

That night, the three devised a plan. Ann convinced Alan that to stave off the bitter cold, another round of spirits would be needed. Serenity had no idea what Ann had said to convince Alan, but it worked because before long, the men were drinking themselves into a stupor.

"Hey there, sweet stuff." Cain sidled up to Serenity as she washed the old pots and bowls after dinner. "It's going to be real cold tonight I hear. And I know it's been hard on you lately what with your lost blanket and all. But there's always another way to stay warm, you know." He swayed closer and Serenity almost gagged at the intensely alcoholic breath that was blown into her face. But she held her composure, knowing that she her getaway would be easier if Cain drifted off to sleep on his own, rather than being incensed with her and watchful of her every move.

"Yeah, and that'll be from the roaring fire that's fuelled by your lifeless body," Ann threatened from where she sat across from the fire. Serenity had thought her deep in conversation with Alan, but Ann's timing proved otherwise.

"No need to be jealous, darling," Cain called over, before catching Alan's reproachful eye and lowering his own to the ground. "Just being friendly to our princess here." And he ambled off.

Ann gave a large and dramatic yawn, which was immediately followed by several others, due to the contagiousness that is yawning. Soon after, conversations started to lull and the men started slurring their speeches. Shortly after that, bodily crashes sounded as the group fell to sleep one by one, where loud snoring ensued.

Ann and Serenity pretended to also retire to sleep, lying awake in wait for Alan to drift off himself. He stayed up late, remaining where he'd sat from his conversation with his sister, staring silently into the fire. Serenity started to grow agitated, feeling like her escape was escaping her itself, crawling further and further away from her outstretched fingers the longer that time went on.

But at long last, Alan kicked dirt into the fire and set off for the area where he slept. Ann held a finger to her lips and remained where she lay for almost half an hour more. Then she motioned for Serenity to get up and they crept through the camp, heading for the cave. Helios was ready and waiting for them, constantly shuffling in what Serenity deemed to be nervous energy. He was so close to freedom – they both were. She could feel the excitement in her bones and it was often hard to stay still.

"Here." Ann threw a couple of small, dead rodents at Helios' feet. "Eat. You'll need your strength."

Helios lowered his head and began feeding as Ann and Serenity worked hard to undo the ropes that chained him to a large and heavy boulder. Eventually, Ann got frustrated with trying to lift the rock and gave it a swift kick.

"It wasn't this heavy before," she said after several moments of hopping on the spot and hissing in pain. She pulled out her knife and cut the rope around Helios' neck. It fell limply to the floor of the cave and the reindeer's head jerked up, sensing independence again.

Ann ducked and grabbed the blanket that had dropped to the floor. "You might be needing this," she told Serenity as she handed it over. "If you're heading north, then you'll be flying right into the snow."

"We won't be flying," Helios said before craning his neck around to see Serenity replace the blanket on his back. "What are you doing?" he asked curiously.

"You'll need it more than I," she said, giving him a soft pat. At seeing this, Ann gave a frustrated sigh and removed her own fur coat, which she hadn't taken off since she'd switched clothes with Serenity all those weeks back.

"Ann," Serenity was more than surprised. She looked at the fur that had been dumped in her arms and then at her friend. "I don't know what to say."

"Don't say anything," Ann snapped, cross again. "You and your selflessness are really annoying sometimes. Always got to do what you think is the right thing, don't you?"

Serenity rushed in to envelope the girl in a hug. "Thank you," she said over her shoulder. "It looks like you've learned how to do the right thing too. Even if somewhat unwillingly."

The blonde felt the auburn haired girl relax ever so slightly into her embrace, before she was roughly pushed away. Ann cleared her throat and avoided her eyes.

"Thanks," she said gruffly, putting her hands on her hips. "I've never had one of those before. And I certainly don't intend to again," she added forcefully with a glare. She bent down to retrieve the lamp and guided them to the mouth of the cave where she blew out the candle.

"And this is where we part," she said, extending an arm to the sleeping forest. Helios bent down to help Serenity up onto his back and bowed his head silently.

"You won't get in trouble for this, will you?" Serenity asked worriedly, thinking again about what consequences Ann would face as a result of her leaving. Though they hadn't gotten to a good start in their friendship, and Ann would often be temperamental and grumpy, Serenity did feel that over the past few weeks, Ann had thawed a little and warmed to Serenity – her first friend. And Serenity didn't want her friend to receive punishment or difficulty for helping her. "If there's another way we can do this," she started, but Ann shook her head.

"They'll not have a clue I had anything to do with this," she said as her face shifted between being casted in the moonlight's glow and the shadow of the tall, imposing trees that surrounded them. "Most of them are drunk! They won't have any idea what happened tonight and I'll simply say you ran off. And stole my coat to make matters worse. Now get going or I'll have to skin you alive." She pulled out her knife with one hand. Serenity laughed, but when Ann gave a swift slap to Helios' rump, she threw herself flat and wrapped her arms around the reindeer's neck as he started careening through the forest.

Again, feel free to play spot the SM reference in your reviews if you get the subtleties! Oh my god that word was so hard to write :S And doesn't it look so weird? Subtleties... subtleties... subtleties