"Good morning," Rosethorn said cheerfully when Crane woke up.

She already had the fire going again and was eating breakfast. Stormy and Tiger were off a little ways, munching on grass as if there was no tomorrow.

"Ugh," was all Crane could say. He felt very dizzy and his head was pounding. Blinking, he stumbled to his feet.

"Crane?" Rosethorn asked, pausing in her eating. This was bad. Perhaps he had hurt his head more then was apparent. A concussion?

He shook his head, and then winced, "I'm fine. My head is just a bit sore. We don't need to delay because of me."

Rosethorn nodded, she should have known she wouldn't get a reasonable answer out of him. He always denied it when he was sick. This was stupid. He really needed to see a doctor. At the next town she'd make stop and get him to see one. If he died from a concussion there only be herself to save the world. But, if she had any say in it, Crane was not going to die.

A half an hour later they were back on the road, heading towards this place that neither of them knew anything about. Crane, although he denied it every step of the way, could barely sit in the saddle, and Rosethorn knew it. Tiger, apparently knew it too because he walked gently and followed Stormy calmly.

"I'm really not that sick," Crane commented at one point, when Rosethorn glanced back at him to see how he was doing.

"Of course you're not," Rosethorn replied.

Crane sighed. It was the truth. The pounding had already gone away. He was only a bit dizzy and his head was aching. But whose wouldn't? He had just hit it on a log. Rosethorn was being silly, she worried to much- Crane paused. Since when did Rosethorn worry… about him?

This trip had been revealing a different side of her, and him a bit. Strange what being alone with someone did to you. You learned things about the other person.

A few hours later they reached a village. Rosethorn halted Stormy and looked back at Crane, who was half asleep and sweet little Tiger, who was being careful to make sure he didn't fall off.

"We need to go in and get some more provisions," said Rosethorn as an excuse.

Crane nodded and they rode in. Rosethorn stopped in front of a small Healer's home and they tethered the horse's outside. Crane managed to get off Tiger and tie him up. Rosethorn, without saying anything, walked into the office.

"I don't need a healer," Crane said crisply as he saw where they were going.

"Yes you do," Rosethorn told him.

Inside there was a person sitting at a desk next to a fire, he was scribbling something on a piece of paper and mumbling things. The room was filled with medical supplies and remedies.

"Excuse me? Are you the healer?" Rosethorn asked.

The man looked up and smiled when he saw them, "Yes, I am. How may I help you?"

"My friend here fell of his horse and hit his head yesterday. As you can see, he's not feeling too well," Rosethorn said, glaring at Crane.

"I'm fine," he insisted.

The Healer nodded, "Let me look at your head."

Crane glared at Rosethorn, but not without suddenly realizing how beautiful she was when she was mad. So of course, he wasn't really angry with her because the truth was, she was right. But he would never admit that. The Healer came and looked at the cuts on his head and frowned.

"I'll fix those up quickly but you had better rest a few days. You seem to have a mild concussion," the Healer informed Crane, "sit down here."

Crane nodded and sat down while the Healer's blue magic flowed from his fingers and healed the cuts. It didn't take more then five minutes.

"Thank you," Crane replied. They paid the healer, who had also given Crane some medication, then left.

The moment they were out the door Crane got on Tiger and started riding. Rosethorn hurried to get on Stormy and go after him.

"A few days?!" Crane said when Rosethorn rode next to him.

"Crane. Would you rather you die and I go on to this place of Moonstream's alone?" she asked, amazed that Crane would actually be this thick headed.

"Me or the world?" he demanded.

"Crane, if you rest a few days, the world is not going to end!" Rosethorn told him.

Crane waved a hand at the sun, "It could!"

Rosethorn sighed in exasperation, "Crane, you and I are among the greatest plant mages in the world. We need you, if you die from not getting enough rest when you're sick, it's not like we can replace you!"

Crane reined in Tiger, looking at Rosethorn. She was genuinely concerned about him. Well, of course, since they were really friends despite all their arguing. But really concerned, like a little overboard concerned. Was there, perhaps a chance, she liked him more then a friend?

Crane suddenly looked away. She was looking at him with a confused expression. Were his true feelings showing in his eyes? Crane grimaced. She was the most wonderful person he knew, yet, he was just a friend to her. She certainly hadn't shown any signs that she liked him more then that, except being worried about him. Then again she just said that he wasn't replaceable and that's why she thought he should rest. He really shouldn't get his hopes up, for if she did find out, and she didn't like that way, it would be much worse.

"Lets go," Crane said and kicked Tiger into a walk.

"Rest?" Rosethorn said; would she ever get off his back?

"We'll find a spot to make camp," he replied, secretly hoping she would forget.

No such luck. The first suitable campsite she had the horses tethered and a small fire started. Crane pitched a tent, since it looked like it might rain and it was getting rather cold during the nights. Actually, he pitched two small one-person tents. Since it was only noon they still had the whole day to do whatever they wanted, and the day after. Not that there was much light to the day, but still.

Crane sat on one side of the fire, staring into it. It was after all, easier then staring at Rosethorn for it didn't ask questions, although it did hurt one's eyes after a while. He didn't say anything, and neither did she, each lost in their own thoughts. What she was thinking about Crane could not fathom, but little did he know she was thinking about him.

Rosethorn was looking up at the dim sky and the orangey sun shining down on them. She really wasn't looking forward to two days of doing nothing. It was even worse because the reason they were stopped was because Crane was sick. She glanced at him. His face was pale and he looked a bit dizzy. Even so, he was pretty handsome- Rosethorn froze. Now what was that she was thinking? Crazy things one's brain does when one is tired. Then again, why should she be tired? It was only midday and they had been riding lightly. Maybe she hadn't been getting enough sleep. Except she had gone to bed early last night and got up late…

Okay, so maybe tiredness wasn't the reason, then what was? Rosethorn glanced at Crane again. Maybe he just was handsome. Why hadn't she ever noticed before? Perhaps she was too busy arguing with him. For once, they weren't s.aying anything to each other. It was weird.

He looked so, so… pale. He really should lay down. Rosethorn pondered telling him that but ended up realizing she had been ordering him around quite a lot lately and he deserved a break. Then again, on second thought, it was for his own good.

"Crane?" she asked.

He looked up, a slightly surprised expression on his face. He must have been deep in thought.

"Yes?" he asked, and for some reason he was avoiding her gaze. Why? Was he ashamed of something? But what?

"You look like you need to lie down," Rosethorn told him.

"I do not," he replied sharply, then wished he hadn't because a flash of hurt crossed her face. After all, she had just been trying to help.

"The Healer said…" she began then stopped, seeing the apology on his face. It was really quite easy to tell what he was thinking. He hadn't meant to be rude.

Crane looked up and for once dared to look into her eyes. She looked concerned for him, and a bit confused. How he longed to go over to her side of the fire, wrap his arms around her, kiss her maybe. That was impossible though. What he should do was lie down, like Rosethorn suggested. Why had he been so rude to her?

"Sorry," Crane said and stood up, looking away.

Rosethorn watched him go into his tent and pull out a book to read, his hair falling over his face. There it was again. Just then, when he had actually met her gaze for once, something he didn't do very often anymore. He had been gazing at her with, something. She still couldn't place it, and it certainly wasn't anything she had seen in him before.

Suddenly Crane looked up from his book. Rosethorn could just barely see him, since the tent flaps were open. He was looking at Rosethorn.

"Do you think the world is really ending?" he asked.

Rosethorn stared at him, "Maybe."

"No, I mean, do you sincerely think that the sun will go out and leave us in the dark and cold?" he asked.

"Crane…" she trailed off, looking into the woods surrounding their camp.

"Answer me," he said, in a kind but steady voice.

Rosethorn looked at him. She didn't say anything, just looked, looked and thought. She considered his question very carefully, all the while examining his features. This question if his, it seemed to have more to it then just whether or not the world was ending. He seemed to be having an internal debate. If she answered one way, it seemed as if it would determine something. What though? She was pretty sure it had to do with whatever she had seen in his eyes just then.

"No," she said and it was the truth.

Crane nodded and stared at his book again, his eyes unmoving. He was still debating it. He was debating whether or not to her something. But what would secret would he have that he couldn't tell her?

Rosethorn sighed and stared back up at the sky. At the sun, which was the very cause of the problem. From what they knew, there was no reason the sun would just fade, which made this problem ever so complicated.

"Rosethorn?" Crane asked softly.

She moved her eyes from the sky back to him again. His voice had a pleading quality. Whatever he was about to say, it was costing him.

She nodded in acknowledgment of what he had just spoken, curious as to what he was about to say.

"I…"- there was a loud BANG!! and a flash of blinding white light. Rosethorn felt herself thrown to the ground, hitting it hard. Her breath left her so quickly she couldn't breath for a few seconds. But she wasn't conscious when she started breathing again. And neither, was Crane.

A/N: There it is! The fourth chapter! Next one to be up as soon as possible. PLEASE review! Me LOVE reviews, good or bad!!