A/N: I totally meant to update, like, last week, but I got Pokémon X and I only just got off my long week of obsessive playing (reached Victory Road, so that's good enough for now). Anyways. I'm updating. I need something normal (playing on a strange DS, getting randomly kicked by a horse – not my fault – getting a new hair cut – lost two inches, sadly – and new glasses. It's been a weird week). So. The chapter many of you have been wanting. Enjoy!
No author's note after, so review this, please! Or just fav and alert, but I think you'll want to review.

Cora: Firelight, Moonlight, Soul Light

We climbed out of the tunnel and onto the top of the Weaver's Needle just as the sky was turning purple in one direction and orange in the other. The moment we were all out the hole in the ground vanished, as if it had never been.

The four of us moved away, going as far as we could before it became too risky in the half-light. I didn't know about the others, but I was seriously on edge. With all the people and creatures trying to manipulate me and the aura that acted like a warning flare . . . I was honestly amazed I still had all my limbs attached.

We made our camp for the night in a place that was kind of partly hidden by some larger more upright rocks. We, oddly, found usable dry pieces of wood scattered around, which made me think that maybe the crazy old ourae didn't really want us dead.

We lit the fire and ate dinner and discussed where we were going the next day and what we would do when we arrived at the ceremony or whatever the Darkest Dawn were having. Percy and Annabeth tried to get me to say what it could be, so I refused to speak. Honestly, I had no idea.

And then it was too dark for anything and time to sleep. I volunteered for first watch. Percy, obviously, disagreed. It took a while but I wore him down – actually more like I ignored him . . . same thing in the end.

Percy dropped off to sleep within a few minutes, the crackling of the fire masking that weird snore he sometimes has. Annabeth continued scratching in the dirt until it was all blurred and a there was a rather big dirt pile. She muttered something in frustration and lay down next to Percy.

I pulled my knees up to my chest and wrapped my arms around them, staring into the fire. It reminded me a bit of my hair, except there was no blue like the sea in those flames.

I thought Hunter would go to sleep. He didn't. Instead he sat beside me, not saying a word. I thought he was taking everything very calmly, having to rely solely on my hasty translations.

Odd emotions rolled inside me. Something had changed, that I knew, and yet I didn't know what. I wanted to know. And tomorrow . . . tomorrow this quest might be over or merely starting . . . it all depended . . . and we – I – had to battle the Darkest Dawn . . . them with their lies and deceit and ways that made my blood run cold.

I shivered. I was facing the unknown. Worse, I was facing the unknown involving them. The people who had managed to capture me. The people who were evil. Whose name which . . . who . . . who . . .

Something – some wild animal – screamed out there in the night. I jerked upright, looking around wildly as my heart pounded and breathing grew fast. Nothing. It was nothing. And yet – and yet –

"Cora?" His voice was very soft. "Are you all right?"

My gaze flicked between Hunter and the unknown darkness. He looked so worried, and – and out there . . .

"I'm scared," I blurted out, shocked that I had actually said those words, but I couldn't stop. "Oh gods, Hunter, I'm scared." I turned back to the fire and curled into a tight ball. "Those men are evil and terrifying and . . . and all I want to do is run away but I can't. They – they could do anything and – and – I'm scared."

Hunter moved closer, placing a hand, very gently, on my shoulder. "Everyone feels scared. You'll be fine."

"Not me," I managed. "I never really did. Those men . . . how they make me feel . . ." I felt tears brimming up behind my eyes. "When I think about them . . . I – I can't think straight. I get petrified and then I'm useless . . . Hunter, I'm scared."

He didn't say or do anything I noticed, but he must of because my heart calmed and the panic closing in on my mind receded a little.

I took a deep breath. "There's more," I said in a small voice. "Something you should know, just in case . . . I just want someone to know, so I don't go crazy." I hesitated, unsure if I should really be doing this.

"You can tell me, Cora," Hunter said. "It doesn't matter what it is, I'll still . . . you can tell me."

I gave a slight nod, never letting my eyes stray from the fire. Hunter moved away a little. "There's . . . this voice," I told him, my voice fumbling over the words, "in my head. Except it's not me, it's some – some goddess or something, contacting me. She comes sometimes, with advice, and usually it's not helpful. I've been hearing her ever since I woke up at Half-Blood Hill. This whole time I've had a voice in my head, and I hate it."

Silence fell. Hunter was probably thinking me a nut job and regretting ever becoming my friend. More time passed.

"I'm sorry," I said miserably. "I'm sorry I –"

"Cora stop." I fell silent and looked at Hunter. His tone was different from anything I'd heard before. "You just told me two things that I know you would never tell anyone else and I'm – I guess you say honored, in a way, that you trust me that much." He took a breath. "Now it's my turn. There's something I need to tell you."

He fidgeted where he sat, uncomfortable.

I twisted to face him completely. "What? Hunter, what is it?"

"Do you remember," he said, his voice very quiet, "what I said when I saw your Soul Key?"

I blinked, trying to think back to that event. "I don't . . ." My tongue fell silent as Hunter reached very carefully under his shirt and pulled out a long gold chain at the end of which hung a circular pendent.

For a moment I couldn't breathe. It was just like mine, except his was full of engravings. Dealings with his past. He had a Soul Key; something that only belonged to great heroes and godlings. What did that make him? What did that make me?

Instinctively I reached out to touch it, drawing back when I remembered how it hurt when he touched mine. With the softest of expressions and sweetest of smiles, Hunter took my hand, placed his pendent in my palm, and closed my fingers around it.

I was shocked. I looked into his eyes, his odd speckled eyes, and something changed in me. I reached under my shirt and took out my own Soul Key. It was still bare, save for something just beginning to get engraved. I didn't know what.

Looking back up at Hunter, I slipped my own pendent into his hand, holding it closed with my own.

The most wonderful feeling washed over me. Better than eating Ambrosia and Nectar, better than the best thing anyone could ever think of. I felt like I was full of warmth and happiness, like I could do anything and everything, like everything was perfect in the world and would never be wrong again. I didn't want this to end.

At some point, though, our hands let go of each other's Soul Key of their own accord. The feeling drained out of me. I felt a little empty, though much better than I had before. I suddenly couldn't meet Hunter's eyes, too nervous to discover what I'd see there.

After a minute or two, I said, rather breathlessly, "We should probably get some sleep."

"Mm." Hunter fiddled with something in his hands. "But before we do . . . you've given me two secrets, and I've only given you one."

"Oh, Hunter, don't be silly –"

"Please."

I closed my mouth and waited for him to continue.

"Good. Now close your eyes."

I looked at him suspiciously. A smile pulled at him mouth. "I thought you trusted me."

There was no arguing there. I made some sort of sound in response and closed my eyes, waiting patiently and wondering.

The next thing I knew Hunter's lips were touching mine.

My eyes flew open for a split second only to flutter shut again. It was hard to fight every urge that rose up. Hunter was kissing me. Hunter was kissing me! It was the best thing in my life, and I never wanted it to end.

He drew back and ended it, at some point. I wanted him to keep going. It took me a moment to open my eyes and look at him. He had a beautiful expression on, with his eyes unguarded, and I couldn't make myself look away. He brushed back a lock of my hair and tucked it behind my ear, fingers trailing along my cheek and lingering there.

And then he smile, turned away from me, and lay down. I didn't move. To stunned and happy to do anything.

I'm not sure how long I sat there. Eventually I lay down, my heart beating an odd rhythm, and closed my eyes to fall asleep to good dreams.