Hey everyone! Thanks for the reviews everyone! I really do appreciate it. I really don't have anything else to say except GO WHITE SOX! Had to do that. I live only about an hour or two away from Chicago so I've got a little hometown pride right now since the sox are doing the best they've done in years since they're going to the WORLD SERIES! And I'm very proud of myself because I actually watched the game which I normally don't do. That's about it, hope you enjoy the chapter!

Disclaimer: Basically, I own nothing…

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A reddish glow started to settle across the hills as Kel plodded along. Well, at least I won't have to worry about being bored. She looked around at the men who were starting to slouch in the saddle. Their backs and necks were cricking as they rode along in silence.

"Alright everyone. I think that's enough for today. Let's start setting up camp for the night," Kel announced. A relieved sigh spread throughout the men as they dismounted. As soon as Kel started to remove her feet from the stirrups, Tobe was right beside her taking the reins and offering to brush Peachblossom and Hoshi down. Kel nodded gratefully as she went to help set up the tents. Kel knew that others were gathering the firewood and water, preparing the meals, and digging the latrines. Kel's men were trained to do what was needed of them and not to get in each other's way. It was pure habit at this point.

Kel heard an almost inaudible grunt as she saw a man carrying a large bucket of water back to their campsite. The man placed the bucket down only letting a few drops escape. A stocky black hunting dog trotted over eagerly wagging his tail. He started to drink directly from the bucket issuing groans from the nearby men. Now they're going to have to get some more for themselves. The man who had brought the water glared at the dog before grabbing another bucket and walking off toward the stream.

Just then, the dog started to hack as though it was trying to get rid of a fur ball. His eyes started rolling back until you could only see the whites of them. He began to sway as though disoriented.

"Daine!" Kel shouted in distress. Nothing more needed to be said. Daine dashed out from behind her horse whom she had been grooming and rushed beside the dog. She knelt down beside the dog who was now starting to convulse as though in a seizure. Her hands ran frantically up and down the dog's rib cage. A pain-filled whine echoed throughout the silent camp before all went still.

"No," Daine whispered. "No, come back…" Kel felt a lead weight drop into her stomach. She wanted to just collapse right there.

"Daine?" Kel asked. Daine continued to look down for several moments. She slowly picked her head up and looked at Kel, her eyes glistening.

"I'm so sorry, Kel."

Everyone at camp stayed where they were for what seemed like an eternity. Even the other animals were hushed as they stood stoic and solemn. Silent tears were running down Daine's face. The breeze blew Kel's hair into her eyes blocking her vision, but she didn't care. She closed her eyes and tilted her head back before squaring her shoulders and saying, "No one is to drink the water. I want you to continue setting up camp as usual. I'm going to head to the nearest fort which should be only an hour or so away. I will get what I can from there without looking suspicious." The men around her were slowly getting back their senses. "Oh, and someone will need to bury him while I'm gone too. Neal, you're in charge." Neal was in the back of the crowd unnoticed but looked alert as Kel addressed him. He nodded and started ushering everyone back to their normal routines.

Kel took one last look at Daine sitting dejected beside the dog before mounting Peachblossom. "I know you're still tired from today but can you go for a bit longer? I'm sorry but we all really need water." Peachblossom snorted as if to defy her thinking that he wasn't up to the task.

Things were starting to return back to normal at camp. Kel saw movement out of the corner of her eye but dismissed it as a trick of the light. Tobe handed up an empty bucket to her as she trotted away.

Peachblossom was ambling along at an easy pace toward the woods nearby. Kel knew that the quickest way to Fort Hrothgar was to take the main trail through the forest. Kel had barely entered before she heard the distinct sound of galloping hooves behind her. Kel's hand instinctively went to her glaive which she had with her at all times as she turned around in the saddle.

A blue-eyed sergeant grinned at her reaction. "You weren't about to attack me unwarranted were you Lady Knight?" Dom jested.

"Well, I didn't know who was there Dom. What are you doing here?" Kel asked curiously as she sheathed her glaive.

Dom trotted alongside her, his eyes dancing mischievously. "I'm enforcing the buddy system," he said simply before loping ahead of Kel and Peachblossom.

Kel caught up to Dom easily, and they walked along in silence. "So," Dom began awkwardly, the tension between them stretched as taut as a guitar string. "How's your summer been?"

Kel very nearly giggled at this. "Since when do you have a hard time coming up with something to talk about?" she challenged. Dom just grinned at her and patted his horse. Kel felt as though she was hovering a few inches above Peachblossom as she gazed at his familiar grin and deep blue eyes.

They both relaxed and started to chat about their time together in the Own and during Kel's training. "You and Raoul were very good teachers, Dom," Kel said firmly. "Honestly, the snowball fight was very educational." They both chuckled at this.

"You did learn strategic tactics to try to ambush the other team," Dom said knowingly. "Though I must say, your skills at shaping and throwing the perfect snowball are a little off."

"They were too light, Dom. Besides, it's quite difficult molding the 'perfect snowball' when the other side is cheating by chucking ice balls every which way," Kel replied indignantly.

"Oh Kel, you can't always expect the other side to play fair and square. It was our way to prepare you."

"And to see me get soaked to the bone…" Kel muttered.

Dom's eyes shone with amusement as he let out a small chuckle. Kel forgot to breathe for a moment as her mouth opened slightly gazing at what Kel thought was the most captivating shade of blue she'd ever seen. She watched him swish his hair out of his eyes. A soft breeze played teasingly through Dom's hair, and Kel felt compelled to lie it flat. Kel started to lift up her hand when…

"Kel, are you okay?" Dom asked in alarm. Kel was doubled over hacking away. Her face was starting to turn red as Dom dismounted. A fly emerged from Kel's mouth as she sat up in the saddle, her eyes shining with unshed tears.

"I'm fine," Kel gasped. "A fly just flew into my mouth." Kel's face stayed red for a while as Dom laughed, leaning on Peachblossom for support. Great, he must think I'm an idiot now. Here I am staring at him like some lovesick prissy girl, and I choke on a fly. Not that I care what he thinks since he's just along to help with the task he was assigned to – nothing more.

Dom was still smiling as he mounted his horse again. "So," he began, "how much further until we reach the fort?"

Kel took the map out of her saddlebag. That's strange, she thought as she observed their location. We followed the main trail this whole time, and we should be along the side of a river nearly the whole way. We haven't passed a river for almost an hour now. Peachblossom, sensing Kel's agitation, snorted and stomped his hoof as if telling Kel to hurry up.

"I don't know Dom. We should be by the river but we haven't passed one for a while. Is there any chance the map is off?"

"That's not very likely, Kel. I believe that map was made during the squires' trek through Tortall which was only about a month ago," Dom said pointing at a date in the lower left corner.

If the map is correct, could the paths be changing? Kel thought. Of course not, she assured herself. Another fly must've flown into my brain.

"Well, it's getting dark. I suppose we ought to just stay here for the night and head back in the morning," Dom suggested.

Kel nodded at his suggestion. "I'll let the others back at camp know what's going on," she replied as Dom started to unpack his things from his mount's back.

"Squishy?" Kel asked. The darking flowed down Kel's neck into her outstretched palm. "Can you let Neal know back at camp that Dom and I are camping out for the night since it's getting dark, and that we'll get back as soon as we can tomorrow?" The darking nodded its head. Kel didn't think that Neal needed to know just yet that they were lost in the middle of a random forest as they weren't in any actual danger, and knowing Neal, he'd probably go send the whole camp after them as a search party.

Kel started to unpack what few things she had brought in her hurry and rubbed down Peachblossom as best as she could. We aren't going to be able to last long without water.

Dom and Kel didn't light a fire for safety reasons as they were in the middle of a very dense forest. Kel laid down on the dirt and tried to brush away as many pebbles and twigs as she could. She didn't have a pillow or blanket because she had rushed out of camp so quickly that packing properly hadn't come to mind.

A chill rushed down Kel's spine as bats whizzed overhead in search for their nightly meal. Kel tossed and turned trying to get comfortable on the hard dirt. Every time she thought she was comfortable, a pebble would work its way into her back or side.

"Kel," Dom called as he got ready to go to sleep. Kel looked up at him. "I'd think you'd be more prepared. Have you learned nothing with all of your time in the Own?" Dom teased.

"I just forgot a few things is all," Kel grumbled.

"Well, it just so happens that I remembered to bring a spare blanket." Dom tossed over a soft blanket that covered Kel's head as it landed on her.

Kel sat up letting the blanket fall onto her lap. "Thanks Dom. I won't forget again," Kel replied sheepishly.

"You better not," Dom answered in a mockingly stern voice. "Good night," he said and walked over by the horses to sleep.

"'Night," Kel said as she wrapped the blanket around herself. She sighed deeply and smiled as the scent of horses and something else Kel couldn't quite put her finger on lulled her to sleep.

The soft snorting of the horses was heard as Kel and Dom slept under the starlit sky. The wind blew over them ruffling the sleeve of the jacket that was covering a blue-eyed sergeant.