All clear!

Jay looked up through the tree branches, trying to catch sight of the grey-clothed figure he knew had to be up there somewhere. Even as he looked, he knew he wouldn't be able to see her. No raiders, then? he asked.

Which part of all clear' didn't you understand? came the query. Jay pointedly ignored the question.

The raiders had not bothered to cover their tracks in their retreat from the Shumi Farm; the SeeDs had easily tracked them to the edge of the forest. There, Jay, Jiri and Tiana got out in order to track them through the woods. As they had expected, their tracks disappeared shortly after a point not far in, where they had apparently stopped to lick their wounds. This was where they had assumed their regular stealth.

Jay immediately began to examine the snowy ground, but Tiana never gave him a chance. They went that way, she said, pointing due east.

Same direction they've been going all along, Jay thought. What's over that way? he asked, trying to remember the geography of the region.

Tiana shrugged. More forest. Then plains all the way to Midgard.

Jiri asked. What's Midgard?

City on the coast. You didn't know?

We didn't have much time to research, Jay defended. How big a city?

Second biggest on the continent. About half Trabia City, maybe. Mostly does trading across the gulf to Grandidi.

Jay frowned. Do you think the raiders would attack it?

Why don't you ask them? Grinning, Tiana disappeared into the woods.

Sighing, Jay reached for his radio. Tycho, we're going east through the forest. I'll keep this signal open, just follow above us, all right?

You got it, boss.

Jiri snickered.

Stop calling me Jay snapped off the audio before Tycho could reply. Let's get going.

Jiri saluted, visibly shaking. Jay glared at her, then set off into the woods.


Hold it.

Jay pulled up short, looking around. The forest seemed to be empty except for Jiri and himself.

Tiana dropped from the trees in front of them, her customary grey-and-blue outfit blending neatly in with the snow. This isn't right.

Jay asked again. Tiana bent down, staring at something in the snow that Jay couldn't even see.

They didn't go through here. The tracks end right here.

Jay stared at her.

Tiana was staring at the ground with an expression of concentration on her face. Running a hand over the frost, she shook her head. It doesn't make sense, she muttered.

You lost them? Jay demanded.

I never said that! Tiana snapped, glancing up. Huh. Foxy little devils. I should have realized as soon as I saw that broken branch a while back. Dammit.

Can you please just tell me what is going on? Jay was rapidly losing patience.

They didn't come this way, Tiana said. They got here, then doubled back on their path for about a half-kilometer. Then they moved up into the trees. She shook her head. Pretty smart for a bunch of raiders, she said.

Jay grunted, and turned to go back the way he had come. Tiana tapped him on the shoulder, motioning upwards.

You might want to get in the trees. We'll be able to see them better if we're up there.

Jay looked up at the huge trees, mostly evergreens. Which meant needles. And, being from Esthar, he had rarely even seen a tree, much less climbed one. No, thanks.

Let me put it this way, Tiana said. I'm going to have to track them from up there, since that's how they've been moving. Which means you'll have to follow me up there. And if we run into them, then you'd be better off if they didn't get a chance to surprise you.

Yes, but fighting in the trees isn't something they taught us at Garden, Jay thought.

Come on, Jay, Jiri said. It sounds fun!

With another look at the needles, Jay groaned. he said. I guess it'll be easier than having to follow Tiana from the ground. Reaching up, he grabbed a branch and tried to pull himself up. It snapped under his weight.

Try to only grab the ones that look dark, Tiana said. Make sure they have needles. That'll tell you they aren't dead.

Jiri jumped up, latching onto a branch almost as thick around as her leg. Struggling onto the top of it, she looked around. Need help, Jay? she asked.

If Jiri and Tiana can, I can, Jay thought. Besides, if I can't, Tycho will never let me forget it. Stubbornly grabbing another branch, he hauled himself up. Tiana clambered up into the trees as easily as a squirrel, pausing a few branches above him. Jay took a moment to settle his weight so he wouldn't fall off, and climbed a bit higher. He was trying very hard not to look at the ground.

How are we going to get to another tree? Jiri asked. Jay looked at Tiana, who was making her way across a long branch.

Just find a place with strong branches that come close to each other, and jump, she said. What did you think? As if to demonstrate it, she pulled herself to a higher branch and leaped onto another that had to be at least three meters below her. Jay couldn't help but feel a bit sick when he saw her flying — falling — through the air.

How can you do that? Jiri asked in amazement.

It's easy, Tiana assured them, jumping to another tree without waiting. Come on! I could do this when I was five!

Your parents let you play in trees when you were five? Jay asked, steeling himself. Esthar City did not raise citizens who were afraid of heights, but he was still a bit wary of jumping from them.

Tiana snorted. Parents? Hah! I don't think I ever had any.

What? Everybody's got to have parents, Jiri said. At least until they're born!

Yeah, well no one's in a big rush to claim me.

Trying to remember which branch Tiana had picked, Jay took a deep breath and jumped. For a sickening moment, he felt completely weightless, then the branch came rushing up to meet him. He fell short of where Tiana had landed, and grabbed one of the side branches for support. It cracked, and Jay barely managed to grab hold on to the larger branch before following the small one a good ten meters to the ground. The disturbance in the leaves sent a sheet of snow raining down on him.

Nice moves, chocoboy, Tiana joked. Not too great for stealth, though.

Jiri was laughing.

Shut up, Jay growled, hoisting himself onto the branch.

Thankfully, his radio beeped. Hey, Darian says he found their tracks outside of the forest. Looks like they left a while ago, still headed east.

So I humiliated myself on this tree for what, again? Head to the clearing to pick us up.

It'll be almost dark by the time we get back there, Tiana warned. It's not a good idea to be moving around in the dark.

So we'll spend the night in the hovercar. Jay looked warily at the ground below. Just how am I supposed to get down from here?


Jay? They're gone.

Groaning, he shifted in his bunk to glare at the blurry form leaning over him.

Tiana and Darian, Tycho continued as Jay blinked the sleep out of his eyes. I was on watch, I go for something to eat, when I come back, they're both gone.

Oh no not again, was the only think Jay could think. So why are you waking me?

Tycho shrugged. Just thought you might want to go find them, he said.

You were on watch, you find them, Jay snapped irritably.



You heard me, go find them. It is three o-clock in the morning. I am going to sleep. Good night.

Tycho stared at Jay as he rolled over, pulling his pillow over his head. Making a loud hmmph, he went off.


Jay had almost managed to get back to sleep when Tycho returned, heading straight to his bunk and shaking him. Rolling over again, Jay blinked several times. he demanded.

Found Tycho said.

Great. Go away.

Umm, Jaysen?

Jay seriously considered simply falling asleep and ignoring Tycho, but, for some reason that he couldn't fathom, courtesy won out. What is it this time?

I think Tiana's going to kill Darian.

Jay stared at Tycho. Good night.

I'm not kidding! Man, she is really at Darian's throat over there! Tycho motioned back the way he had come.

Jay sighed and hauled himself to his feet. I guess it was too much to expect to get a decent night's sleep anyway, he thought. ...Where are they?


True to Tycho's word, it was obvious that something was going on long before Jay could actually see the two. Tiana was not-quite-yelling, speaking in a voice just loud enough to show that she was really ticked off about something.

I already told you what I thought, you creep! she snapped, apparently continuing a tirade that had been going on for some time. I know about you, too, you know!

I have said that you have nothing to fear from me, Darian replied evenly. There was no trace of any emotion in his voice.

I am not afraid of you! Tiana spluttered. Just keep away from me!

What would that change?

Shut up! Dammit! You think you're going to catch me with all your little double-talk? There was an angry pause. The moment you say anything I could rip you limb from limb!

I don't doubt it. Darian stopped to consider something. I doubt that you would, however.

I can, and I will the moment you tell anyone! Now just get away from me or I'll find some way to rat out on you! There was the noise of someone turning and stalking off, and Jay cautiously approached. Darian was standing there, looking after Tiana with the same, half-questioning look Jay had seen in the Farm.

What was that about? Jay demanded.

Darian turned to face him as if he had known he was there all along, and for an instant, he was sure that he was going to shrug. Tiana was upset, he said simply.

No kidding.

We all have pasts, Darian explained, which we must reconcile in our own ways. I only hope that Tiana's way does not lead to her destruction.

Jay wanted to ask just what the hell that meant, but experience told him it would only get more confusing. Besides, he still felt very tired. he agreed resignedly. Any chance she won't destroy herself before dawn?