To 8Ball3- Petition to make it sound like it's spelt! And is that a little sad face I see? :3

To An-Unnamed-Goose- ^_^


"There's a funny light over there."

"Not now, Raijin. We're lost."

"But there's a funny light! Right there!" He pointed. Huxley and Ruby continued examining the map. Louisa looked up, at his earnest expression, and then to where he was pointing.

"Huh." She said, rising into a crouch. "There is a funny light over there." She tapped Ruby on the head, drawing her attention upwards. Raijin huffed, folding his arms sulkily over his chest.

"How come when Lou says it, you look, but not when I say it?"

"Favouritism." Ruby smiled sweetly. Raijin blew a raspberry at her. Louisa stood, dusting herself down. She twisted the ring on her watch, sword expanding in her hand. "You're not going over there, are you?" Her smile had gone, earth brown eyes narrowing at Louisa. "Last time you went over somewhere, we got chased by birds all night." As if to prove her point, she rolled up her sleeve, showing the still-healing peck marks of child-eating birds.

"That was last week." Louisa waved it off. "'N' ya arm's still attached. Don't know what ya so worked up about. Come on, Raij. Let's go to the light." Huxley closed his eyes, sighing. Louisa snorted, heading off. Raijin beamed at her, falling into step alongside her.

Three weeks ago, she woke up to them sleeping in a protective circle around her, Storm included. Raijin had been the closest, hugging her arm. She vaguely remembered his humming of a lullaby, but not much else.

She could not tell them about Arnie. Physically, could not get the words out. Her dear friend deserved to be remembered, but each mention or thought of his name, only brought on the shakes and nightmares she was awake for.

They didn't press, the trio. They didn't even try and talk about it amongst themselves. They just left it be. Louisa was grateful for that. She didn't say it, but they knew.

"So, what do you think it is?" Raijin asked, skipping and clapping excitedly. "Treasure? Aliens? Ooh, maybe it's a biiig chicken!" He spread his arms, eyes shining as he imagined it. Louisa smirked.

"Ooh, dinner."

"No!" He cried, pulling on her arm and wailing. "You can't eat it, I want it!" She nodded, patting his hand and then motioned for him to be quiet. The funny light wasn't too far away, coming from a break in the trees. They crouched behind some bushes. Louisa peered over the top. Raijin peered through it, sticking his head in the foliage. "Please be a chicken, please be a chicken…" He murmured.

Not a chicken.

"Glowin' horses?" Louisa straightened. Horses were her thing, but glowing horses was a new one.

One of them turned as she stepped forward, snorting.

We're not horses. He corrected. We're unicorns.

"Unicorns." Raijin breathed, coming out, eyes sparkling. He pulled on her arm again, grinning. "Lou, they're unicorns!"

"I know, he told me." She pointed at the first one. The others were turning around now. They glowed in pastel shades of colours, from white to blue to pink to a soft lilac. Their manes and tails shimmered with starlight and they regarded the children almost serenely. "Hi." Louisa waved at them, shrinking her sword. "I'm-"

Louisa.

We know.

Been a long time since we met a daughter of Neptune.

"What are they saying, what are they saying?" Raijin swung on her arm, rocking on the balls of his feet.

"They know me."

"Do they know me?"

"This is Raijin. Yes, they know you now."

It is nice to meet you, the first one- a pink colour- bowed his head. Louisa translated, sure Raijin was going to pass out from excitement.

"Why are they glowing?"

It is a branch of magic for our herd.

"It's a branch of magic for their herd."

"So, not all unicorns glow?"

No. Translation not required- some of the unicorns shook their heads. Raijin marvelled at them, bouncing. He lowered his voice, whispering in Louisa's ear.

"Can I have one?"

"No."

"Oh please?"

We are free creatures, young man, a purple one flicked her ear, but you are welcome to come closer. Louisa pulled Raijin forward. He squeaked and pressed back against her, suddenly shy and flustered.

"It's OK." She assured him, grabbing his wrist and raising his hand. Raijin squealed and squeezed his eyes shut. The pink unicorn bowed his head, gently placing his nose under Raijin's palm. "Breathe." Louisa reminded him.

"This is the greatest day of my life." Raijin wheezed, awe and wonder flooding his face.

"What's going on?"

"Oh my gods, are those unicorns?" Louisa turned. Ruby and Huxley had ventured over, curiosity winning out.

Who are they? A yellow one asked.

"That's Ruby 'n' that's Huxley. Part of our group."

"Guys, look! Unicorns!"

"Are they OK to come over too?"

Of course. We trust you, the purple one nudged her affectionately, therefore we trust them.

No, no, no! She's my human!

"Storm!" Louisa half-laughed. The pegasus bounded in, wedging herself between Louisa and the unicorn, snorting defensively. The unicorn did not seem offended, curious and rather amused. She snuffled Storm's face in inspection.

Mine! Storm insisted, pressing closer to Louisa.

I will not take her, little one, the unicorn promised, just make sure you look after her.

I will! Storm vowed, almost defiantly. She was not overly impressed when the unicorn licked her, turning to Louisa in bewilderment.

"It's alright." Louisa laughed, scratching the foal behind the ears. Storm huffed, leaning into the pets. "Look at you, bein' all nice."

Am not.

"Yeah, you are."

Shut up.

"Nah, you're a softie."

That's lies!


"Are you sure it's edible?"

"Listen, Prissy. Why don't you do the cooking?"

"No thank you, I've done my fair share of cooking."

"When?" Huxley demanded with a laugh. Between him and Louisa, they were quite good at salvaging food from their surroundings. Sometimes they would find a shop, but money was often an issue. Resorting to stealing was their back-up, back-up plan.

Ruby didn't answer Huxley, glowering at the flames. He sighed, stirring their rabbit and vegetable stew. Louisa sat to the side, cleaning her bow. Raijin was squashed against her, practising his little raincloud trick with a fierce look of concentration.

"Are the stupid faces helpin'?" Louisa asked him.

"Yes." Raijin clarified dramatically, going boss-eyed. Two seconds later, his raincloud exploded, splattering them both with cold water. "Look what you made me do!" He accused. Louisa snorted, bumping him with her elbow.

Ruby sniffed. Louisa leaned forward slightly, Raijin squealing as he toppled backwards upon the loss of his backrest. She couldn't see the other girl's face, Ruby's head bowed and concealed by her hair. "Ruby? You OK?"

"My dad made me cook." Ruby said quietly. She rubbed her hands on her knees, sniffling. She raised her head a fraction, the firelight dancing on tear tracks. The stew bubbled, flames crackled. At Ruby's voice, Raijin sat up, attentive, albeit a bit damp from exploding rainclouds.

Ruby dragged her sleeve across her face. Huxley started serving the stew, pouring it into cups. "Before… before I came out here, I… I lived with my dad. He…" Her voice wobbled and she ducked her head again, dabbing at her nose. Huxley gently set her cup in her free hand. She nodded her thanks. "I've always known who my mom was. Dad told me as soon as I was old enough."

She stirred her stew miserably. "He wasn't very nice. Always drinking beer. Made him angry. Made him… made him break stuff." Louisa saw a shake begin in Ruby's hands, chest squeezing.

"Do you want to talk about it?" She asked. Ruby glanced at her, quickly, gaze darting away as if guilty.

"Not… not really." She managed a minute shake of her head, empty hand curling into a fist. "He… he hated my mom. She wouldn't stay with him. And he… he hated me for it." She remembered her stew, ate a spoonful, sniffing. "I want to meet my mom. Just to ask her, what she saw in him? She's the goddess of love, right?" They nodded, but she didn't need their confirmations. "Then why did she go with him? He- he didn't have love, he had hate." A scowl crossed her features, jaw setting stubbornly. Another sleeve-wipe across her face, glared at her hands to relax. She scooped out a chunk of vegetable, making a face at it and flinging it away. Huxley frowned.

"Why is my food never good enough for you?"

"I don't like peas."

"Could've just said." He muttered. Ruby offered a small, apologetic smile.

"You OK?" Louisa asked.

"I… I think so. I'll be OK." She wiped at her nose again, ignoring Huxley's look of disgust. "I'm glad I run away. I can just be me now."

"Yeah?" Huxley said, sitting beside her despite her pea-flinging disgustingness.

"Yep." She nodded, sitting up straighter, prouder. She glanced around at them, mulling something over. "I want to be a fashion designer."

"Can you design something to hide Huxley's face?" Raijin asked innocently, ignoring Huxley's glare.

"Oh, that would be my pleasure!" Ruby smiled, a sing-song lilt in her tone. Huxley grumbled about how he was going off the lot of them. "You deserve it." She insisted, eyes widening seriously. "You keep giving me peas."

"Eat your greens."

"No."

"Stay shrimpy then."


"Hey? Lou? You awake?"

"Mm."

"You're always awake."

"Mm. What's up, Ruby?"

"I… I was thinking about my dad."

"You miss him?"

"No." There was a slight pause. Louisa looked over at her, a shape in her sleeping bag, her back to her. The boys were snoring on Louisa's right, Storm curled up beside Raijin. "Do you think he misses me?"

"No." Yes, would have been the obvious answer. But it wouldn't have been true. Louisa wasn't going to lie when Ruby had been so honest earlier. "You said he was horrible." Ruby made a noise of agreement, shoulders hunching. "Horrible people don't know what they've got. You left for you. He ain't worth your time."

"Still my dad."

"Mmph. Dads ain't all that. My dad tried to kill me."

"He did what?"

"Held a giant fork to my head."

"Giant fork? Do you mean a trident?"

"That its name?"

"Yes. Oh my gods, you're his daughter and you've been calling it a giant fork." Louisa blew a raspberry. Ruby laughed softly in disbelief, settling back down. "Suppose you're right."

"Thanks."

"What about your family?"

"Mm?"

"Your mortal family. Did you run away too?"

"Somethin' like that." Her hand went to her watch, taking a deep breath. "I… I don't know 'em. My… my family, my mom. Don't know 'em." She saw Ruby roll over in the corner of her eye, determinedly watching the glowing embers. Raijin mumbled in his sleep, Huxley grunted as if in response. "I was left on the step. Sarah said I was only a few hours old."

"Sarah?" Ruby echoed. Louisa nodded. "You were… just left?" She sat up on her elbow. Louisa could feel the weight of her gaze examining the side of her head. "Were you in a home, Lou?" Louisa nodded again, fingers digging into her forearm.

"Sarah looked after me. I- I miss Sarah."

"Why don't you go back?"

"Can't. Dad said not to."

"Did he say you had to leave?"

"Um… no. I…" She trailed off, closing her eyes. Remembering Mr. Greaves' frowning face became harder each day, but she remembered how she had felt around him- he was dangerous, he shouldn't have been there. He needed to go. "I ran away." Louisa said quietly, eyes still closed. "I had to go."

"Why?"

"Just had to."

Ruby sat up, propped on her elbow. Louisa could feel her watching her, saw her look at the boys in turn.

"Huxley had to leave too. Monsters kept attacking his home. He left so his family would be safe." Louisa drew her eyes from the fire, considering Huxley's snoring form. Ruby tucked her hair behind her ear. "And Raijin, he used to live with his grandfather. His… his mom died when he was four. He only had his grandad.." She shook her head. "When he died, Raij was almost taken into care too. He doesn't have any other family over here. He was on the run for a week before we found him."

"Oh."

"And now you're here too." Louisa couldn't see it in the dark, but she could hear Ruby's smile in her tone. "You're annoying and you encourage Raijin way too much, but… I'm glad you stayed with us. I… I think you're supposed to be with us, Lou-Lou."

"Don't call me that." Louisa pouted. Ruby laughed.

"Too late." She lay back down, tugging her sleeping bag around her with a yawn. "Night, Lou-Lou."

"I'll kill you."

"No you won't. You're a big softie."

"Am not."

"Am too."

"Am not."

"Am too."

"Am not." Louisa defied. Ruby laughed again, mixed with another yawn.

"If it makes you feel better… but am too."