It was earlier when the Burrowers were preparing to set out on another crucial mission and this time, it wasn't scouting or hunting. As the camp was set in motion, getting their steeds ready, getting their weapons sharpened and fixed, Quasimodo was inside his group's resting tent, solemnly and slowly sharpening the dagger he now wore upon his sash, reminiscing. Naturally, he was a little paranoid about knives…ever since that morning when Frollo…. Well, it hurt him to remember now. For a moment, he stopped sharpening when he saw his reflection in the side of the blade. There he saw himself, just the same. Just as ugly. Frollo's words still stabbed at him. That treachery was the worst thing he had encountered. In truth, it was worse than how things were now. But why was he dwelling in the past?

Sliding his dagger back on his person, Quasimodo took a moment to fight his tears away. It wasn't the past that was bothering him. It was truly this plan that he and Evrard discussed earlier. He was afraid of his dear friends' lives. It was all too dangerous! Agatha was worrying about him, about Rose, all of it. She was just as stressed as he was. Cautiously, she came in and heard him sniffle in his worry.

"Quasimodo." she said, feeling his pain.

"Agatha." Quasi softened at her direction.

The blind had stood there for a long moment at loss of what to say. She was conflicted beyond measure.

"We admit that we like each other and then we must separate. It's like the ending of a sonnet." she said.

Quasimodo smiled slight and sheathed that dagger. She smiled a little herself, but then tried to speak again.

"I just…I want you to… to come back, Quasimodo." she then requested, quite boldly.

"Agatha - "

"I know it sounds a little too bold of me, but I had just got to knowing you so well."

"Agatha… I-I will come back." he said, confidently as he came to her and hugged her. " Don't be afraid."

"That is just it. I am bloody afraid of everything." she then whispered. "…and Rose, she… she won't…"

"I-I knew this was going to happen…at some point and we've… we've reached it." Quasimodo rasped. "And it's tearing me through. I cannot explain it – I…"

Knowing and hearing the pain he was going through, Agatha hugged him tightly, looking back when they had met in that inn before it was burnt down.

"You are strong, Quasimodo. I believe in you and I know I cannot take back all that I had said to you before."

"You've never hurt me, Agatha. Never."

The blind looked back on that last conversation with him before the entire camp had split directions. She sat beside the Archdeacon and they were both covered in cloaks with the rest of children inside the caravan, onward to the roads being taken towards the Parisian city. Just to know that Quasimodo had fogiven her after all she said and how she acted, Agatha was almost at a some sort of peace for the now. But she then was worrying if he was not returning from the task.

Dracon….

The forest had fallen eerily quiet as the sun began to peek over the hillsides. Only a quarter mile away from the foot, three brown stallions stood with their reins tied to the same tree, grazed to pass time. Adalyn was sitting down on one knee, killing the fire with her her cloak. Rose was sitting across from her with a haunted look in her hazel eyes. Adalyn sighed at her hurting figure and smiled at the girl before rolling an apple to her. The timid creature dropped the small cloak she was covered in and crawled after the fruit, smiling at Addy. It was a rare thing to happen, but Rose was smiling. For the moment.

Esmeralda, along with Evrard; they had struck a dilemma when they chose to go down this one path. The trees made it hard to judge distance, so Evrard had to climb up to go and see how far they had to travel. The gypsy woman kept and eye out as the the Burrower went up. The forest was quiet….

Meanwhile, in the opposite direction, deep and far into the north end, Fidele was led to the river, just at the falls to gather water. The young one and the hunchback were both wary before he got off the mount. So far, the woods were calm but nevertheless they did not plan to let their guard down. Clopin and the band were not too far, but they were hidden, just so to catch Dracon's men by mere surprise. Another pony rode near the hunchback's who had just gotten off Fidele. Judeth was lost in thought before she soon felt Quasimodo take her hand. She looked down at the deformed man, looking into his eyes, pained and filled with sorrow. Young as she was, she understood. It was something deep in those eyes that she recognized…. A look that only a parent would have and she had lost her father, not too long ago, it seemed.

He had bent low to get a drink of water and to fill the canteen. Judeth nervously looked around if someone unwanted would come.

Deep within the trees though, trying to keep out of sight if it were not for Hugo's ridiculous grunting.

"…will you just…?" Laverne sighed before she tried to see the group by the falls.

"You should talk - "

"Shoosh, shoosh, shut up." Laverne strained. "Quasi and the others are in trouble. That dragon fellow is tracking them."

"What do we do?" Victor asked, nervously.

"Rose is not here. He has another child with him, but it's not her."

"Not good. Not good."

"We need to talk to him."

"Like…how are we going to do that? Huh?" Hugo soured.

The three gargoyles looked out to the group, as a few gypsies had emerged to get some water before they pressed on.

"Suppose that they catch us. What then?" soured the cynical Clopin as he tightened his bow string.

Quasimodo was sitting near in a curled position, his melancholy eyes entranced by the ripples in the water. Judeth sat near after her fair share of water.

"My fellows are on watch. Hunchback, I am talking to you."

Quasimodo shook from his trance and looked at the vegabond leader.

"Did you even think this through, lad?"

Quasimodo looked lost in thought even as Judeth came close to him to keep safe from the cold.

"There is not much to think on except…keeping hidden until they come…."

"Why do you weep?" Judeth asked, seeing the tears in the hunchback's eyes.

Quasi sniffled slightly. "…no need to fear. Beyond our eyes… the forlorn towers caaall…" he then sang, very softly.

"One voiceless soul comes to an knell… where the screaming demons expel… Beyond her eyes…a protection spell blankets her… she must awaaay… a song brings her … to a forgotten home…"

Clopin listened to sadness in those words sung and ceased his tying.

"…to be away from the dragon's scorn…" the gypy added with his own scratchy way, but he was just as low spirited.

A wind blew through the trees, grabbing Quasimodo's attention. He gazed up the cliffsides above them when the sound of rustling came from the top. Naturally, he had become quite uneasy. When the wind came calmly, having some of the fall's mist to rain upon them, Quasimodo sighed as Clopin got to his feet as soon as his bow was tightened.

"Come. Time is short." Clopin huffed, leaving to his silky steed.

Indeed, time was to worry over. Who knew as to where the brual enemy might show up. The woods had gone mysterious as a mist covered most of the ground…but a few birds were lively to say the very least. Evrard spied a pheasant picking about and aimed his arrow.

Rose was nervous and did not have the desire to rest when she was told to. She heard an arrow strike the ground and tried to look around. Adalyn kept her dearly close before Evrard returned with a rather small meal.

"How are we to go about cooking it?" Addy asked.

"Horse ride. We'll do the knight trick." he stated, blandly as he tied the dead bird to the back of saddle.

Esmeralda stabbed a dagger into the dirt and gently put her ear to it to listen for distant horses. So far, nothing. In relief, she took the dagger out and sighed. There was no sign of being followed, so far.

Back to where the decoy was, in order to save time for Rose's departure. The woods were mighty and wide. Dracon could be anywhere by now. Fidele was becoming restless again, according to his rough breathing. Quasimodo kept stroking his mane as Judeth held onto him with fear. He felt her shake and lowered to whisper to her.

"…don't be afraid." he said.

"You won't leave me." she said.

"Never."

Seconds after, Clopin and the gypsy band galloped back into the woods. Quasimodo, who was not so used to riding, got his grip tightened on the young pony.

"I have never forsaken Rose. I will never forsake you." was his last say before Fidele broke into a frantic gallop back into the woods.

Judeth tensed as they sudden had gone fast. He had a strong arm around her to keep her firm with him as he rode, away from the paths, away from the water. As she was told, she kept her hood down to hide her face and had her hair hang down out of it, to trick the enemy if they were to come. They were supposed to come.