Kirigan stepped around to his desk, sitting back in the chair. in his hand were reports from his guards and he read over them silently. He was hoping to have heard from his tracking team on Mal and Baghra but so far he hadn't heard anything since the last report. Every day he was growing more and more frustrated that they hadn't caught the duo yet. If they didn't catch up with them soon, Baghra and Mal would have more of a chance of finding the stag which Kirigan was desperate for.

At this point, Kirigan wanted nothing more than the tracker in chains at his mercy. He has caused enough trouble and not only that but he was still holding Alina back even by not being here. If Alina could give him up, it would make things much easier. He was no match for her, he would never understand her… not like Kirigan did. He had to admit the tracker was good and the way Alina described him, he knew this would be a challenge. Not only has he tried to deceived Kirigan by running off with Baghra and finding his stag, but he had also murdered his Grisha. as much as Kirigan didn't want to send his people out in fear more would die, he needed them in order to find the stag and arrest Mal.

Baghra was certainly a liability and he had just about enough of her. She was useful up until she betrayed him by running off with the tracker. She had done her job and she was no longer needed. He couldn't risk her manipulating Alina if they somehow got into contact with her and neither the tracker. Kirigan was certain on one thing in that he needed Alina to himself. He didn't dare let anyone get close to her unless he authorised it. His Grisha and guards were fine but anyone else, it was a clear no. So far the only people he needed to worry about was Mal and Baghra. But luckily Alina was nowhere near them.

Kirigan looked up for a moment and thought to himself. Perhaps there was some sort of clue in the letters they had said that would lead him to Mal. Alina and Mal knew each other very well and therefore they may be some hidden message inside that would make it easier to find.

Kirigan reached down into the bottom draw to pull out the box of letters but froze. The box was not there. It had always been in that bottom draw and he rarely moved things about in his office. He furrowed his brows and opened the draw above, hoping he had just misplaced it. It was not there either. All the draws clanged open as he ripped them out, his eyes searching desperately for the box. Panic started to wash over him. Kirigan was a tidy and organised man. He kept his office neat and tidy and he was the only one to be in here. He rarely misplaced things and if he did, he always found them.

He stood from the desk, searching rapidly around the office for the box. In any other situation he wouldn't be panicking but right now he was. Only he knew where he kept the letters and it was important they were kept there. He didn't want them in the wrong hands. Kirigan searched high and low in his office for the box but reached no luck. Kirigan stood in the middle of his office, his chest heaving as he took deep breaths.

There was no way he would have moved the box from that spot. It was clear to him someone had taken it… but who. The only other people to know about the letters were Genya and Ivan but he believed neither of them would take them. They didn't know where he was keeping them. And then a thought came to him.

Surely not… she couldn't have

Kirigan stormed out his office, stomping down the hallways and rounding corners quickly. As he came down one of the hallways, he spotted Genya walking down and he called her. They met halfway and Genya gave Kirigan a concerned look, sensing something wasn't right.

"Is Alina in her room?" Kirigan asked and Genya shook her head which made him look confused.

"No, I thought she was with you… she said you and her were going riding early this morning" Genya said quietly and Kirigan froze again. Without a word, he quickly dashed past Genya, making his way to Alina's room with Genya in tow.

The guards standing by her door gave Kirigan a smile and one started to greet him good morning but they couldn't finish as Kirigan yanked the door open, stepping inside immediately.

"Alina" he called out, his eyes gazing around the room. The bed was empty and the room was silent. He entered further in and checked the bathroom but she was not there. Genya slipped inside and was just as shocked to see Alina nowhere.

"Where is she?" Genya asked and Kirigan glared forward, stomping to the guards who shrunk back a little when Kirigan towered over them.

"Miss Starkov, where is she?" he demanded and the guards looked at each other with confusion, stuttering as they spoke.

"I-I th-thought she was in her room" one said quietly.

"Well she isn't, did she leave?" Kirigan gritted angrily, stepping closer to them and the guards stepped back to create some room between them and the very clearly pissed of general.

"No, we've been here all night" they said, shaking their heads and Kirigan growled under his breath, eyes hard and turned to Genya.

"The letters, I had them in my office and now they aren't there" Kirigan said and Genya looked to the empty bed before turning slowly back to him.

"You don't think…" she didn't need to finish her sentence, Kirigan already had a feeling of what might have happened.

"I don't know, but we need to find her quickly, she could be in danger, someone may have snuck in here and kidnapped her… we don't know" Kirigan sighed at the end and stormed back to his office.

…

Alina had been walking all night and her feet were now sore and aching. The ground was particularly even and walking on slippery leaves and rocks made the soles of her feet feel like she had been walking on spikes. Her hair was damp and stuck to her face, her eyes tired and bloodshot and the foggy mist made it difficult to see. She was cold and wet and she had thought during the night how she wished she could be back in that plush, warm bed of hers… but then she remembered why she was out here.

Once she had reached far enough, Alina had stopped running and made a fast paced walk into the forest. She had travelled all through it and she had no idea where she was now. She defiantly wasn't in Os Alta anymore.

Alina clutched the box against her chest, holding it protectively and she searched for a place to sit down and rest. Not only were her feet aching but she was desperately thirsty and a little hungry. Being in the middle of the woods would make it difficult to find something to eat that wouldn't potentially kill her or poison. As for the drink, her only option was to find a small stream.

There was a log up ahead and Alina sighed in relief. Finally a place where she could sit and think to herself properly. She powered over to the log but as she did, her foot got caught in a vine. She lurched forward, smacking down into the wet leaves and her arm fell onto something sharp, cutting it open with a large gash. Blood poured down her arm and to her fingers, staining the brown leaves red. The blood stained her kefta and Alina hissed in pain. She clutched her arm to herself and squeezed it to stop the bleeding.

If only I was a healer right now

Just as things were starting to look good they had to turn worse. Alina managed to stand up and she quickly walked to the log, holding her arm close to her. The metal box rested on her lap and Alina swallowed nervously. This was it… everything she had wanted to see and hear since she got here as inside this tiny metal box… and she was finally going to be able to see it. Alina flicked open the box and pulled out a piece of paper, preparing herself for what she was going to read.

Hey so I hope you like it, what do you think will happen next, let me know in the reviews.