Leaf and Jack talked most of the day about Leaf's adventure with Spark and the others and about other adventures she had been on since then.

"It sounds like life here is rough." Jack said when Leaf showed him a scar she had on her right arm just below the shoulder.

"No it's really not that bad." Leaf said. "As long as you know how to use a sword you'll be fine."

"But I don't know how to use a sword." Jack said looking at Leaf.

"You don't need one with that riffle was it?" Leaf asked.

"Rifle." Jack corrected her. "And I only have about 30 rounds left."

"Rounds?" Leaf asked.

"Bullets it took one bullet or round to kill that Dark Elf yesterday."

"Oh I see so that will be useless after that right?" Leaf asked.

"Yes but I also have my sidearm that has 10 more rounds. So I have about 40 rounds." Jack said.

"Well once we get to Flain I'll ask king Kashue is he has a sword for you." Leaf said.

"That sounds like a good idea." Jack said as he looked up at the sky. "It's gonna be dark soon."

"Yes it will." Leaf said. "Let's make camp and we'll continue on in the morning."

Leaf helped Jack off the horse then she jumped off herself. She started looking through her things she had packed and after a few minutes of looking she got very frustrated.

"Grrraa how could I have forgotten it?" She yelled and threw her pack on the ground.

"Forget what?" Jack asked.

"Blankets." Leaf said. "I forgot blankets."

"How cold dose it get?" Jack asked.

"Cold enough." Leaf said.

Jack took off his pack and opened the top and pulled out a cammo jacket.

"Here this will keep you warm." He said handing it to Leaf.

"But what about you?" Leaf asked as she took the jacket.

"I'll be ok." Jack said. "I've been trained on how to deal with cold weather."

Leaf gave him a warm smile as she started walking off.

"Where are you going?" Jack asked.

"There is a small spring not far away and I thought I might take a bath." Leaf said. "No peaking." She said looking over her shoulder.

Jack chuckled to himself as he unpacked his gear from his pack and began cleaning his rifle.

'She is very out spoken.' He thought.

Meanwhile at the spring Leaf was watching the bushes hoping to see him peaking.

"Boy are all humans this proper?' She thought. 'I gave him a clear offer and he didn't get it.'

She was standing waist deep in the spring when she heard a rustle in the bushes behind her. She couldn't help but smile as she turned around.

"I thought I said no pe." She started to say until she saw several eyes on her. "AAAAHHHH!!"

Jack had his rifle in peaces when he heard the scream but none the less he was on his feet and running leaving his rifle behind. By the time he got to the spring he had his sidearm in hand. He looked at the bank of the spring and only say leafs clothes and sword laying on the ground. He ran to the waters edge and picked up the sword then started looking for tracks. It didn't take long for him to find the drag marks from Leafs feed as she struggled. He also saw several other tracks.

'Boots.' He thought to himself as he started following the tracks. 'There were 3 of them heading west. But not very fast judging by the spacing of the tracks. I can catch them if I hurry.'

He began running as fast as he could and before long he could hear laughing and muffled screams. He walked to the tree line of a small clearing and saw 3 men dressed in red and black armor dragging Leaf into the bushes.

'Ok it's a 15 yard shot no problem.' He thought as he took aim on the leader of the group with his sidearm.

The 3 men were struggling to drag the completely naked Leaf away when the leader of the group dropped to the ground after a loud bang.

"What was that?" One of the men asked letting go of Leaf's arm.

That was her chance and she took it. She used her freed left hand to punch the other man that still had her arm right in the jaw. He stumbled back letting go of Leaf's arm. Leaf ran back the way she had been drug but the men were right behind her. Jack stepped out from the trees in his cammo gear with his pistol raised. He took one shot and the man the Leaf hit was dead by the time he hit the ground. The other stopped in his tracks and looked at Jack in wonder. Jack had leafs sword tucked into his belt and she took it from him and drew it and faced her kidnaper.

"Leaf are you ok?" Jack asked.

"I'm fine." Leaf said positioning her self at Jacks side.

"And what were you planning to do with her?' Jack asked.

"That's not my concern." The man said. "I was told to get a female half elf and I found her."

"Umm Leaf don't you think you should go get your clothes?" Jack asked.

"There may be more of them." Leaf said.

The man, seeing Jack and Leaf talking quickly pulled a small dagger and threw it at Jack. Jack had only enough time to pull the trigger on his sidearm killing the man as the dagger hit him in the chest.

"Jack!!" Leaf screamed as Jack stumbled back but did not fall. "Are you ok?" Leaf asked.

"Thank God for Body Armor." Jack laughed patting his chest plait.

Leaf burst into tears and threw her arms around Jack who at first was shocked.

"Leaf its ok your safe now." He said as he put his sidearm back in its holster and put his arms around her.

"I know I'm safe I thought you were gonna die." Leaf cried.

"Yea right it would take a lot more than a knife to kill me." Jack laughed. "Let's get you dressed."

Jack walked in front of Leaf as they walked back to the spring. Leaf was quickly dressed and they made their way back to camp. The rest of the day Jack couldn't help but see the way Leaf smiled when she looked at him. The sun went down and all the land was dark except for the small campfire Leaf started.

"Let's see, for dinner we have jerky or jerky." Leaf laughed as she handed Jack a piece of dried meat.

"I guess I'll have the jerky." Jack laughed as he took it from her.

They talked for a few hours before Leaf drifted to sleep wrapped in Jacks jacket. Jack had the fire burning in his eyes as he looked through the flames deep in thought.

'I think this may be an ok place.' He thought and looked at Leaf as she was deep in sleep. 'I don't know what side they are on but I'll take her side."

He threw the last of the wood on the fire then settled in for the night and fell asleep thinking about Leaf. Leaf woke up because she heard something she could not explain. She heard short and fast breaths and she sat up to see where it was coming from. The fire had almost completely died but she could still see Jack curled up in a ball and shivering.

'I guess he can't handle the cold a well as he thought he could.' Lead thought with a smile as she stood up and walked over to where he was laying and laid next to him and threw the jacket over both of them and fell back to sleep. The sun was rising when Jack opened his eyes. He looked for Leaf but when he couldn't see her he was about to jump to his feet until he felt an arm around his waist.

'I guess she got cold.' He thought as he slowly got up so not to wake her. He turned to look at her as she lay sleeping and chuckled slightly. 'She is cute when she is awake but she is beautiful when she is sleeping.'

He went to his pack and took out a few matches and started a fire to help warm both of them up. Leaf woke up soon after the fire was lit and sat up with a yawn and a stretch.

"Good morning." Jack said as he piled some wood near the fire.

"Good morning." Leaf said with a smile.
"Did you get cold last night or something?" Jack asked.

"No why?" Leaf asked.

"Because the way you were holding on to me this morning I thought you got cold." Jack said.

"Oh that." Leaf laughed. "You were shivering in your sleep so I helped to warm you up."

"Really I was shivering?" Jack asked.

"Yes and I didn't want you to get sick so I lay next to you." Leaf said. "You're not mad are you?"

"Mad no not at all thanks for not letting me get sick." Jack smiled.

"Well we better get packed and get going." Leaf said. Flain is still over a days ride away.

"Ok let's get going." Jack said and began packing his things.

Before long they were packed and the fire was put out and they were on their way. Before the end of the seconded day of their trip the desert was in view and it was getting hot. Leaf had taken off her armor leaving only undergarments on and Jack hat taken off his Cammo shirt was only wearing a white beater.

"Man it's hot." Jack said as he took a pull from his camelback. (US Soldiers use them now instead of canteens.)

"It's gonna get hotter." Leaf said. "Flain is a desert kingdom."

"Great." Jack gripped. "I hate the heat."

"You better learn to love it." Leaf said. "We're gonna be here a while."

"Yea I know." Jack said. "I'll be fine."

"Be aware." Leaf said. "Even though its hot in the day time it gets even colder than last night."

"And we have to be out side for it don't we?" Jack asked.

"Yes we do." Leaf said.

"Well as long as I have you to keep me warm I'll stay outside forever." Jack said.

'Wow he is straight forward.' Leaf thought with a smile. 'I think he likes me. This is good. This is very good.'