(Hooray, it's my next chapter! Yay me! Anyways, I would tell people to go read my stories on my account, Reina no Taisho, but none are up yet. I have some old canceled versions, but they not only suck and lack point, but are to be removed soon. But do not fear, O mighty fans of mine! I shall have the first of them up soon! At least I hope so…)

I lay nearby the dragon Ryou, thoughts swarming in my mind. I couldn't possibly sleep, not when everything had happened to me so fast. I sighed. Why had I agreed to join this group? I had always dreamed of being a great warrior like my father, but I had been dreaming, and I knew it.

'How could someone like me ever be a warrior?' I thought. 'Not only did I deliberately disobey my superior, but I badly injured myself just by falling!' I fingered a small pendant attached to the leather collar looped around my neck. 'If it wasn't for my bloodstone, I'd probably be dead…' I cursed myself mentally, knowing I had gotten myself into this mess, and now I had to get myself out.
I glanced around, and, seeing that everyone was asleep, rolled over and heaved myself up. I had to bite my lip to keep myself from yelping in pain. The bloodstone glowed, and I felt myself enter my canine form. This was the only way I had surpassed my father, as he couldn't shape-shift. Even then, it was thanks to my aunt that I could take this form at all.

I limped out of the hut, and carefully avoiding Higure, I made my way to a hill nearby. It pained me to climb even the gentle slope, but I forced myself to make it with only a whimper. When I reached the top, I transformed back into my humanoid form. I lay down underneath the single tree at the top, and then stared up at the clear, starry sky.

In that moment, it was like something touched me. As much as I tried to act tough and calm about this whole thing, I finally broke down. I was homesick, and lonely. Surrounded by people I didn't know, being told of this 'prophecy' that I barely believed, fighting for something I just wanted to avoid inside. The only reason I had accepted was because I was vulnerable, and I didn't want anyone angry with me.

"Why is this happening to me?" I asked myself aloud. "I'm no warrior, just a pretender. And now because of my mistake, I can't even go home! Why…" Angry tears gathered in my eyes. Then, a voice spoke behind me.
"Because," it said, "You're doing what's right." I turned my head around, surprised. Ryou stood behind me. I was baffled, for I hadn't heard a sound of her approaching. She sat down next to me and placed a hand on my shoulder. "Reina, if you want to visit home before we leave, all you have to do is say so."

"No!" I shook my head violently. "I can't!" She looked at me and raised an eyebrow. I turned away so she couldn't see the pain in my eyes. "Never mind, you wouldn't understand." She looked at me hard.
"Oh, wouldn't I?" she asked. I turned back to look at her. She so calm, all the time, no matter what, it seemed. I looked up at the stars once more.
"I disobeyed my father," I said quietly. "That's why I got hurt. I wasn't careful, or honest. I took advantage of a friend, and got myself into danger." I closed my eyes. "I don't think they'd forgive me…" To my great surprise, Ryou gave a quiet laugh.
"We all make mistakes, Reina," she said. "Every single one of us. Despite whether or not others forgive us, what truly makes the difference, is being able to forgive yourself." I stared at her for a while. Then I slowly shook my head.

"I can't believe this…" I mumbled. Ryou tilted her head, as if to say 'Believe what?' I laughed softly. "I'm being given advice by someone who's even younger then I am!" Ryou growled at this, and I couldn't help smiling. Maybe
I could get used to them after all…

"NO!" I screamed. Higure was practically dragging me down the path that I had desperately wanted to avoid. "NO, WE CAN'T GO THIS WAY!" Higure ignored me and continued dragging me by the ankles. I continued screaming and digging my claws into the dirt.

"What's up with her?" I heard Yuki ask Ryou, who just shrugged her shoulders. I hadn't told any of them why I didn't want to go this way, so I was stuck being dragged by the ankles. If Higure had had any decency, she might have considered that being dragged was painful. But, of course, she didn't think it through. Stupid Higure…

"Oh, just put her down, koinu." Cho said. "She's still in bad shape…" Thank the gods for Cho...but may Higure burn in hell. She dropped me then and there. I yelped with pain, and was momentarily stunned. But as Cho came to help me up I shoved her away.

"No!" I said. "No, I can't do this! I-I just can't!" I took off running. I could hear them calling after me, and the sounds of a short pursuit. Even after the sounds died away I kept running. I only stopped when my body could take no more, and I collapsed.

Horrible pain racked my body once more. I propped myself up against a tree, and put hand to my side. I felt something wet, and realized with a shock that my wounds had reopened. I cursed myself for being such an idiot. Of course my wounds would reopen from a dash like that. I hadn't given them enough time to heal yet.

I sniffed the air, trying to figure out exactly where I was. I realized that I had looped around and was now in front of the group. As I looked around, I noticed that I recognized the surroundings. I turned and headed out to a hilltop I knew so well. It overlooked my home village, and I used to spend hours up on it watching the clouds go by or stargazing. The short walk seemed to take forever, and the whole time it took al her power to keep walking and keep quiet. When I got there, my stomach twisted into a knot.

Below me, I could see the entrance to the village, and the road leading into it. I watched with horror as my friends got closer and closer to it. They had moved faster then I thought they would. I realized that they probably planned to ask my mother or father for help in finding me. And that was the last thing I wanted…

As they entered the village I turned around angrily. What did they know? Nothing! They didn't know how I felt about anything, and why should a have told them? It wasn't like they really cared about me anyways. They just needed me for their stupid prophecy quest. I was a pawn in their eyes nothing more.

My mind filled with rage as I thought back to one night one a hill, with that dragon girl, Ryou. My eyes burned with unshed tears as I figured out that she must have been putting me on. How could I have been so stupid? Forgiving myself means nothing, because if others don't forgive you, what's the point? There is none…

The night was long and hard. I tried to sleep, but at the same time, I knew I couldn't. I would have been safe up in the trees, but with my wounds I couldn't make it up any of them. So I spent the night on the forest floor, jumping at every sound.

When dawn finally came, I was even more exhausted then the day before. But I forced myself on, not daring to stop long enough to allow the group to catch me. I went as fast as I could, which, despite my efforts, wasn't very fast. I finally had to stop at mid-day, when my efforts had strained me to my limit. I leaned heavily on a tree, panting heavily.
I put my hand to my side, and winced. I had made sure to be going slower, but my wounds still weren't completely sealed. To make things worse, not only did I have no fresh bandages, I didn't have any healing skills anyways. I slowly let myself sink to the ground.

The physical pain, the mental pain, it was all too much. Here I was, out here all alone, injured. I was the perfect easy prey for any passer-by demon. Thoughts raced through my mind. What had I been thinking? Now, because of the idiot way I had been acting, I was probably going to die out here. Oh why, why hadn't I given Ryou's advice a chance?
Suddenly, the sound of a twig snap broke through my thoughts. I looked up and squealed, cowering back in shock. Higure stood over me, her ice blue eyes blazing triumph. I took all the energy I had and pushed myself forward with a yell. I heard Higure yelp as my claws raked her face. I spun on my heel and broke into yet another mad dash.

My feet pounded the ground as I ran with all my might. I heard the voice of Cho call out near me. I whimpered as I realized that they were fully pursuing me this time. I heard a roar near my left, and I ducked in instinct. I felt the wind swish over my head, and I looked up to see a silver dragon dart past me. I realized who it was.

'Ryou…' I thought as I ran. 'I'm sorry…' I leaped over Yuki as she charged me head on. I darted left and right, heading towards an old hollow I used to hide in when I was in trouble. I took a sharp turn, and darted into a hole in the bottom of a tree trunk. I crouched tightly into it and kept still.

I held my breath and tried to keep calm as I heard the sound of their footsteps approach. I didn't move until the sound of their feet left my range of hearing. I finally began climbing out of the hollow and chuckled to myself. I had out smarted them all. Then I felt something block my way, and I looked foreword.

Whatever was blocking my way was big. It was alive. And, my stomach jumped into my throat, it was wearing red. I slowly looked all the way up into the face of the one blocking my way. The face…of my father.