Lucian saw her, emerging from the woods behind her house. Her platinum hair shone in the waning sunlight and her small face looked from side to side; her eyes spying for anyone who just might see her. He crept from behind the tree and stood waiting for her, a wide basket being carried in front of her, loaded with small, fresh apples.

"Lucian…" she breathed and set down her load, gently throwing her arms around him. He embraced her readily, resting his face against her hair and pressing her delicate frame hidden by layers of robes, to his own.

"You….you shouldn't be looking for me," she cried, and pulled back to face him, "you should be resting. Please. I don't want to see you like that, again,"

He nodded understandably, but ignored her comments. "I need you to come away with me,"

Platina's head tilted to the side, in confusion. "Is this some sort of…joke?" she asked quickly, letting him go. Lucian's weakening spirit immediately felt crushed, and he looked to the ground.

"Nothing," he retracted, wishing he had never said anything at all. He looked up again, met her frightened gaze and knew he wasn't staring at the Platina he met in the moonlight. She was like a little rabbit, drawing back and huddled against the late summer breeze. Lucian almost resented her for it, right then.

"Are you alright…?" she asked timidly, "I haven't spoken to you since Brian took me to see you when you were recovering that time," She came forward as if to touch his face but he took a step back.

"Just…everything's different now" he said flatly, his heart beating fast and hurting. She let her hand fall in defeat, and blinked at him. He turned to dart back into the trees.

"Where are you going?" she called after him, sadly.

"Back to Brian. He's been teaching me how to use a sword for the past three weeks. Good recovering technique," he threw over his shoulder, off-handily. A flush of shame came to his cheeks as he stared into the woods, angry with himself for the way he spoke to her.

"That's not what I meant," she returned softly.

After a few critical seconds of silence, he turned and said, "No where,"

Her eyes were alive with thanks and fear. Slowly she bent down and eased her hands around the basket of fruit. He looked at it intently.

"Mother Laia discovered it last year, deep in the trees," she explained quietly.

"You haven't told anyone?" he asked suspiciously.

"Of course not," she returned, threatened by his tone.

Again, they stared at each other tensely, until Lucian finally said, "Be careful," With a nod of her head, she left him.

He made his way back to barn Brian had lived in for his entire time in Coriander. The villagers who had graciously invited them into their household now very rarely said a word to him. He said he was content and the animals didn't bother him in the loft, where he slept.

"I can't go with you," Lucian sighed, when he climbed up into the hay. Brian was sitting comfortably in one dark corner. Outside, the sky had clouded over and the barn seemed unusually welcoming.

"What is it?" the man asked casually.

"I can't leave her," the boy said angrily.

"Ah, so you mean you can't go with me without her," Brian was focused intently on taking apart what Lucian came to know as a katana.

"Well yes," Lucian crept onto a blanket Brian had given him the day he had awoke, weeks ago. It was plush and full and very unlike anything Lucian had slept under in his entire life.

"Sounds like love," Brian offered, still occupied.

Lucian knit his brow and replied, "Sounds like stupidity. She always talks about wanting to be 'free', whatever that is. And the second I offer her a chance to leave this hellhole, she freezes,"

"Have you not thought about the fact that Coriander is the only world she's ever known?"

Lucian gestured furiously with his hands, scoffing, "It was for me too, up until last month. But still, that was only for a few days. This is the only place I've lived in, and yet I'm not afraid to leave,"

"I don't think the problem is she not wanting to go with you. I think you're angry at yourself for knowing that you can't bring yourself to go without her," Brian suggested, and Lucian looked sharply at him. The older man still sat comfortably, a set of spectacles placed across the bridge of his nose as he carefully, wiping down all parts of his dismantled weapon.

"What am I supposed to do?"

"Nothing," Brian told him.

Silence ensued, and Lucian was suddenly fed up with talking. He slumped himself down upon a pillow and pulled the blanket over him.

Rain had begun to fall.