Chapter 5

When Neureleine woke the first time, it was to the sound of Loki's melodic voice singing a soft ballad. From her position by the fire across from him, she watched as he whittled a small stick. Glancing up, he saw her awake. His eyes immediately lit up and his face broke into a welcoming smile.

"How are you feeling?" he asked gently.

When she didn't reply, his smile was replaced by a look of concern. Moving around to her side of the fire, he took her hands in his, chafing them,warming them. "Don't stop," she finally croaked.

Still a little daunted by her silence, Loki flashed her a grin, but resumed his singing. Slowly, she started to doze off again. It wasn't until later that Neureleine realized she was wearing their only two blankets and taking up the closest place to the fire.

The second time she woke, it was early morning and the frost had not melted yet. The embers were dying and Loki was huddled into a ball across from her.

Resisting the urge to groan every time she moved an aching muscle, Neureleine dragged herself over to Loki and lay down next to him, spreading the blankets as best she could over both of them. Looking up to the dark, gray sky, Neureleine felt Loki flinch behind her then resettle with his arm around her waist.

When Neureleine was well enough, she watched Loki performing his daily duties and give attention to her nips and scrapes. After watching him for over an hour, she finally asked, "What happened?"

Loki, looking prepared for the question, looked up and feigned ignorance. "What do you mean?"

Speaking slowly and as if to someone very slow, she said, "Well a matter of a few hours ago I walked off into the woods to think, was chased through the woods by bandits, escaped said bandits, only to be attacked by a tree. I think that's about it. Oh wait-there was also that little thing about fainting dead away but still managing to end up here without being mauled by those same girl-chasing bandits." Neureleine's mood was dark; she could tell Loki's light manner was forced.

Loki stared at her and then gave her a fleeting smile. "Oh that. You walked into the woods, were chased by bandits, escaped said bandits…" Loki trailed off seeing the mock glare she was giving him.

As if in sudden understanding, Loki said, "Oh you mean the whole getting back here without being mauled? I can't say I have the slightest idea."

Neureleine's look of shock brought him to emit loud peals of laughter despite his previous sobriety, from which it took almost a full five minutes to recover. By this time, she was extremely annoyed and was preparing to whack him with a nearby stick that could more justly defined as a tree branch. But as she was not quite sure she could lift it in her sitting position, she decided to drag it over instead. When he saw what she was doing he sobered quickly, looking like a little boy caught doing something naughty.

Sitting across from her and drawing his knees to his chest, he took the bough from her. In preparation for his explanation, his face became the epitome of sobriety that Neureleine would have found hysterical had she had the strength.

"I honestly do not know what happened. I took after you when I heard the horses but could not find you. I searched the rest of the night but found no trace of you. Not even a sign that the bandits had been there." At this, Loki looked away, to hide his face, but Neureleine saw the anxiety there. "Anyway, I heard such a scream that sounded as if the Earth was shrieking in pain. It filled the forest but did not scare the birds of the animals; it was as if they were used to it or knew what it was." A faraway look entered his eyes and he gulped. The scream would haunt him forever. "I followed it but you were nowhere to be found. I must have been going in a circle because eventually I stumbled upon the camp. There you were lying by the ashes as if you had never left."

Neureleine glanced around in discomfort knowing that he would leave her now. She was too odd for anyone to be around for long. Except Mally. But even she seemed to be perturbed by Neureleine's odd ways from time to time. She would get a glint in her eye, followed by steely resolve. It was then Mally would become protective and be sure to know where Neureleine was at all times. But Mally wasn't there now. She was all on her own.

"Well, I guess you'll want to be going then?" she asked.

He nodded and stood in silent agreement, extending his hand to hers to help her up. She accepted it, wondering why he was being so courteous to her.

"Which way are you going?" she asked him, delaying the separation for as long as possible.

"The same we've been and are going," he replied, looking at her quizzically.

She looked up in surprise, but quickly hid it.

"What, you thought I would leave you?" he asked indignantly.

She nodded gravely. "People tend to do that."

He looked at her kindly and said, "I don't tend to do that."

They had been riding for and hour before Neureleine started to recognize the landscape. And hour and a half after beginning, she suddenly got down off her horse and walked off into the trees on her right.

Loki turned to look at her and saw her enter the woods. "Mithros, what is she doing?!" Loki jumped down from his horse and followed her in. He found her sitting on her knees, staring in wonder at the blackened ruin before her. In her hand, she held a bird's nest, its owner still mercilessly inside. He turned his attention to the tree and found a tree not burned as he expected, but split down the middle and singed.

"It looks like it was struck by lightning."

"This is the tree I was sitting in."

"How do you know?"

Silently she held up the bird's nest, then climbed to her feet.

I know it's short and bad but it was necessary for my story. I want to thank you all for your reviews and to tell you that they make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.: ) I will acknowledge you all once I get ten reviews! (oh, and this chapter was dedicated to heartdamoose for her faithful reviews!)