Author's Note: I am so sorry it took me so long to write another chapter! Hope this is okay for now. I've just been so busy. I am so grateful for those of you reading this and for reviews because that's what honestly gets me to writing this. If I hadn't posted this here, I feel I would have give up about ten chapters ago! Again, Thanks so much for reading this!

Blaze: Less than a minute ago, I woke up. My body ached all over, but at least some of the exhaustion had left. My first thought was that saving Tristan was an action I was when I heard the voices. I recognized each of them instantly. Tristan, Caleb, and Analease. And here we are now.

My chest tightens at the sight of those two. This is primarily for two reasons. First: guilt and old memories; second: lack of trust. The later is at the moment the stronger felling. I slowly draw out my little pocket knife as I walk over to Tristan's side. I look over at Analease and Caleb, they immediately become more tense. We all stand there silently. Then suddenly, to my surprise, Caleb makes the first move.

A blow dart shoots out towards Tristan. He leans to the side, with reflexes I didn't know he possessed, and the dart snares in the brush. I throw my knife at Caleb, but anticipating the attack, he dodges, but drops his darts in the process. With a glance at each other, Analease and Tristan rush towards one another. Caleb and I watch dumfounded as they begin to wrestle on the ground. I would have thought Tristan would totally over power her, but she'd doing pretty well. In the end result, Analease gets her steel fan under Tristan's neck and his swords are poking at her stomach.

Three seconds later, Caleb rushes for both his blow darts and my knife, aiming both at me. He throws the knife and I hit the ground. The knife lands right beside me. However, it was the wrong move. The only reason he threw the knife was so that he'd be able to hit me with the poison blow dart. He loads one and prepares to fire. I shoot up off the ground, grabbing onto the knife. Luckily, he doesn't have very good aim and I was quick. The dart sticks in the thick material of my boot, but doesn't even touch the skin.

Tristan and Analease are still locked in their stalemate. Instead of facing each other, Caleb and I change strategies. He now points a dart at Tristan and I prepare to sink my knife into Analease's throat.

"How about we talk things out and quit this fighting?" Tristan asks tiredly with a slight strain from the edge of the fan pressing against his neck.

"Fine," Analease pants, "On three."

"Sure," he smiles.

They count together, "One Two Three..." No one moves.

"I knew I couldn't trust you," she wines, aggravated.

"You're one to talk," I accuse.

"And you're not?" She returns.

I glare at her, having nothing smart-sounding to say. She returns my gaze with just as much contempt. Everyone is silent. The tension mounts around us, spreading through the air. You can practically feel it.

"Please," Caleb starts quietly, almost sounding like the gentle friend I used to know, "Can't we just stop fighting and talk things over?"

"Says the one who started it," Tristan remarks under his breath.

Analease suddenly becomes defensive, "What was that Smithouser?"

"Analease," I butt it, "are you stupid, or just mentally retarded? Your boyfriend here was the one who got us into this whole mess. If he hadn't fired at Tristan, we might have been able to talk things over and this whole situation could have been avoided."

"Oh please, it was you pulling a knife that cause him to attack in the first place," she rolls her eyes.

"That is not true! It was really..." I begin.

"Can you two please just shut up already?" Tristan asks boredly.

"Don't tell me to shut up, you bastard, I'm defending you!" I snap.

Analease laughs crudely.

"I have to agree with Tristan," Caleb comes out of nowhere. It's my turn to laugh.

"What the hell Caleb?" Analease glares at him, waiting for an explanation.

"I don't need you fighting my battles for me." He says looking away.

"What he means to say," comes Tristan's lazy tone, "Is that girls are only good for two things. One, the kitchen and two..."

"Don't even think about it," I warn, "Besides, everyone knows that girls are better and stronger than guys."

"Oh really?" He questions, "Prove it."

"I don't have to do anything you tell me to." I tell him, crossing my arms.

"Ha, I knew you couldn't!"

The slight movement in the air warns me before the sound. Analease's free hand comes down hard against his face. The smacking sound rings through the trees. Blades clatter into the ground. A moment later Analease groans, drops her fan, and doubles over on the ground. Tristan draws his fist from her stomach.

"That hurt," he says with a hint of real anger in his voice.

Analease doesn't cry. After all these years of hearing her sob over boyfriend breakups and the death of her hamsters, I'd expect to see tears streaming down her face. But no, she just sits there, head hung with dry eyes. I secretly feel a bit of admiration.

Suddenly she starts coughing. Tristan's eyes widen as blood splatters into the ground into a gooey puddle.

"How could you do that you ass hole? How could you punch a girl?" Caleb yells at Tristan, rushing towards him. Tristan just sits their, not even moving to block the punch that comes at him.

I hear a cracking noise and teeth rattling together. The sound rings through my head, making it the only noise I can hear. With a thud, a body hits the ground. Dark hair is coated in Analease's blood. There is the sound of Caleb gasping as he draws his fist away. The side of my head burns as I feel the skin swelling up. I made it just in time.

"Why?" Caleb asks shakily. Tristan just stares at me.

I try to force a smile through the pain and the tears coming to my eyes, "I just wanted to prove it... prove that girls are stronger than boys."

"What a reckless move," comes Tristan's monotone voice, "That only proves they are more willing to throw their lives away."

"Shut up!" Comes Caleb's cry. Tears start pouring from his blue eyes, "Blaze, I'm so sorry!" His head hangs low. I try to pick up my head, but it hurts to much.

"I can't believe this stupid game tore us all apart so much," he whispers.

A cannon answers in reply. The loud sound makes my vision blur. I don't even care to wonder who it is. The only people who I care about are here.

"Anna," I call.

"Yes," looks me in the eyes.

"Can't we go back to how it was in the old days? Can't we just sit around the fire gossiping about the most stupid thing? I wish everything could be like it was before."

"I'm sorry," she says plainly, "I don't think things will ever go back to normal."

"She's right," Tristan remarks.

"But..." she starts, "But I'm willing to try."