As soon as Dusty finished telling the forbidden story, all was silent. The only sound Rose could hear was their breathing, and her own heart pounding. Dusty scratched the back of his neck, and was about to say something when Caden spoke.

"I... Is it true?"

Rose turned to him, and saw Caden, starring wide eyed at Dusty. Who nodded and answered.

"After me and the team had constructed research, and dug up many hidden and disturbing, things. Yes."

Caden spoke in a low, almost light voice. Looking at his hands, as if he never knew he had them.

"I... Never knew. I was told a far different story."

Dusty sighed, and said. "No one was ever meant to know, no teacher knows the story, only tells what they were instructed."

Rose spoke up next, "How long has it been since, the Wars?"

Dusty looked to her, his eyes wide and sad. He shrugged.

"I honestly don't know, but judging by what we were managed to dig up, it's been far longer than centuries. Older than we even realize."

Rose could feel her heart beat faster, her fear building up, too. Caden asked, in a demanding tone.

"Why are you telling us this?"

Dusty sighed, and answered, with a hint of frustration in his voice.

"Because I want to help you both. And yes you too. I especially want to help Rose with her, uh, health situation. But also..."

Dusty sat on one knee, and rested one arm with the other. And he spoke in such a serious voice, Rose almost didn't see him as Dusty.

"It's happening again. Darkness is slowly, ever so slowly, spreading all throughout the world. Strange occurances have been happening, some of the animals have been having strange behavior other than their usual. And mabey, just mabey, we can help one another."

Caden scoffed, "Why would we ever want to help you? We're just trying to get home."

Dusty sighed, "Well, look. I met you both by... Accident. And I understand you wanna go home. But with the, situation that is at hand. And how it's escalated, you probably won't be able to make it home."

Caden glared at Dusty. "There is no way we're working with you, we have enough to worry about."

Dusty returned the glare, and said. "I'm not asking for trouble, 'Illager'."

Caden let out an angered, "Hmph!"

Then spoke through clenched teeth.

"Remember your place, Villager. You are lower."

It was then that Rose spoke. "Um, hello? I'm still here. Don't I get to say something?"

Both men broke their hateful stares to look at her in confusion. Rose cleared her throat and spoke.

"Uh, thanks, Dusty, for telling us that really messed up story. And we appreciate that you want to help us. But if it's too much trouble, you can just point us to a direction of a Village, and we can go."

Dusty sighed and sayed, "Rose, I don't just want to help, I need to help. For one... I lost contact with other Villages, including my... Uh, workplace. And I don't know the direction to wherever the next Village is-"

"Perfect." Grunted Caden. Rose thought on this a moment. And finally she said.

"What if I tried the sword thing again?"

"What?" Both men asked in unison.

"I tried this sword idea a couple of days ago. And it led us here. If we try it again in the morning, we'll set out in the direction again."

Dusty cupped his own chin in his hand in deep thought.

"I, don't know Rose. Sounds almost risky, and I've seen things."

Then Dusty and Caden exchanges looks, not one of anger. But one of confusion, Caden just shrugged, and Dusty scratched his head. Finally, he said.

"We'll think about it. For now, let's just turn in for the night."

"Wait," Said Rose, looking skeptically at Dusty. "I thought you said there's a Village nearby?"

Dusty scratched his arm, answering. "I did, until I lost the singal. Now I don't have a clue."

Rose sighed, ,"Well, looks like it's getting real late."

The three made their way up stairs, Dusty insisted that Rose sleep in the bed, while he and Caden slept on mats on the floor. Originally, he was going to have Caden sleep on the wooden floor. But Rose asked him to give Caden a mat. Then, all was still and dark.

As Caden and Dusty slept and snored away. Rose sat up in bed. She wanted to go to sleep, and wake up bright and early in the morning. But she couldn't bring herself to lay down. Their was so many thoughts clouding her mind. She stared out the window, looking at the wide open grassy plains, and the quarter moon that sat high in the sky. The disturbing history put so many terrifying and unholy pictures in her head. There were also those nightmares that she keeps having, always making her heart thump like a charging wolf. And then their was the thought of her family. With each passing day, the more worried she was. Was her family alright? Were they looking for her, too? Only time will tell. Rose lay down in bed, she closed her eyes, and her mind went blank.