I AM SO SORRY. This update took longer than I thought it would. And we ended on a cliffhanger and i really did not mean to leave you guys hanging for that long. Life got in the way, I've been so busy. This chapter isn't very long, but I have the next chapter mapped out and I hope to have done very soon (even though i said that last time,sorry) If it takes too long, feel free review or message me and ask me to hurry up. ANYWAY OKAY TO THE STORY

Alyss heard the first branch crack, and felt her heart drop as the tree shuddered from Will's falling body. She heard him cry out in pain.

"Will!"

Will fell through the last of the branches and landed on the ground. Alyss gasped, and ran over to him. He was struggling to breathe, and she panicked at the sight of him gasping for breath.

Panic rose in his chest, and he closed his eyes, trying to force air back into his body. Alyss held his face in her hands. "Breathe for me, Will. Breathe."

She spoke in a low voice, slowly and calmly. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest, but the two years spent training in the Diplomatic Corps helped her to keep a level head in stressful situations,

Will's wide eyes focused on Alyss' gray ones, and her calm composure eased his panic.

"Breathe with me." Alyss inhaled deeply, then exhaled. Will tried to do so as well. He took in one painful breath, then another. After a few minutes of Will just breathing in sync with Alyss, she spoke gently. "Are you hurt anywhere?"

Will started to sit up, shaking his head. But as he put weight on his arm, a sharp pain drove itself through his shoulder.

His face scrunched up and he groaned in pain, falling back to the ground. He grabbed his throbbing shoulder and held back the tears that had suddenly appeared in his eyes.

Alyss grabbed one of his hands and hushed him as she removed his other hand from his shoulder. She gingerly touched the top and sides, noting whenever Will would wince in pain. As she pulled her hand away from his back, she gasped. Her hand was spotted with blood, and she could see the red liquid starting to seep through the back of his tunic.

"Oh, Will. I wish I… I don't have anything to help this…" Alyss said apologetically.

More used to the pain, Will managed to get out, "I have a first aid kit in my saddlebag."

Alyss went over to the saddle and found the first aid kit. She brought it and a water canteen back, opening the first aid kit.

Will propped himself to a sitting position, more slowly this time, and felt his shoulder throb. Something was very wrong there, he thought.

Alyss wet a rag from the kit and began wiping off the many scratches all over Will's face, arms, and legs. Will hadn't even noticed them until Alyss had begun cleaning them. Once most of the visible blood from the smaller scratches was gone, she grabbed the container of salve. She opened it up, and began to place it on his scratches. A familiar and unwelcome smell filled the air, and Will recoiled. His eyes went wide, and his breathing picked up.

"What? What's wrong?" Alyss asked.

"I don't need that salve, Alyss. Don't use it," he said, struggling to calm down.

"Of course you need it? Those scratches will get infected-"

"PLEASE, Alyss. Please, don't use it."

Every part of her wanted to argue, to try to convince him to use the salve. But the panic in Will's eyes put her off. She closed the container and put it away.

The aromatic smell of warmweed immediately began to dissipate, and Will calmed. He slumped, then gasped in pain as his shoulder reacted. His hand went instinctively to cover it, and when he pulled his hand back, it was covered in red.

Alyss noticed. "Your shoulder, Will. I need to look at it more closely. That's a lot of blood."

Will froze. He couldn't let her see. She couldn't see the scars. He shook his head. "No. Let's just get back to the cabin."

"In a minute, just let me wrap your shoulder."

Fear overcame common sense and Will clumsily climbed to his feet, walking towards where Tug stood nearby.

"Will, please stop." Alyss reached out for Will, careful to grab his uninjured arm. "What's wrong? Tell me, please."

Will felt his anger rising with each word Alyss spoke. "Alyss," he started gruffly, ready to take all his anger out on her. Then he looked up into her eyes, and he paused.

Her gray eyes, normally bright and mischievous, were filled with tears. He stood there for several seconds, considering and regretting how he was treating her. But still, he couldn't tell her.

"Alyss. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." He held her hand, and in a quiet voice, he said, "You're right. Something is wrong. But I can't tell you, not yet. I need you to respect that and leave it be for now. Please."

His eyes met hers, and her eyes met his. She nodded her understanding.

"Okay. I'll drop it. For now."

Will relaxed a little, but in doing so, he realized just how much he hurt. Everywhere. He swayed in his spot.

Alyss put out a hand to steady him. "We should get back to the cabin."

Thank you guys so much for reading and sticking with me! Please review and watch out for the next chapter where i bring in a certain character we all love... love yall so much, see ya soon 3