Here we go, Chapter 7! When I first started writing this, it was just a weird idea that I didn't think would go anywhere. I really appreciate all the feedback and support you guys are giving me.

Thank! I hope you enjoy!

When Zelos arrived back at the inn, he was careful. Quiet. He knew that Kratos was probably awake, sitting in the darkness of their room, like a spider in its web, just waiting…

"Hello, Chosen."
To give him a damn heart attack.

"Geez!" Zelos reached over and clicked on the light. Kratos was sitting in a chair several feet away from the beds. A lump of blankets he assumed was Lloyd was in the left bed; the right was empty. "What the hell?!"

"Be quiet." Kratos' voice was soft, but firm and commanding. "Or do you want to have to explain to Lloyd where you've been "

"Heh. That is true." Zelos flopped down on the empty bed. "So. Did you have some fun bonding time?"

"Have you ever heard the phrase, 'play foolish games, win foolish prizes?'" Kratos asked.

"I can't say I have."

Kratos stood up and started to walk toward Lloyd's bed. "…My wife used to say it."

Zelos watched him as he gently brushed his gloved hand against the spikes of brown hair that poked out from under the blankets. It was a surprisingly affectionate gesture. "Oh, yeah? You calling me a fool?"

Kratos abruptly turned to him. Any gentleness he had was gone now, replaced by a fierce protectiveness. "Yes. Yes, I am." Kratos leaned over the bed, towering over Zelos. "I don't know who you're playing these games with—Yuan or Yggdrasill—but I'll make myself clear. If anything happens to Lloyd, you will not live long enough to see any prize, foolish or otherwise."

Zelos put his arms behind his head, a plastic grin on his face. "Overprotective, are we?"

"Call it what you will."

Zelos' eyes tracked the man as he turned and walked away. Nothing more was said; there was nothing more to say. Kratos sat back in the chair and kept his dark eyes trained on his son. Zelos rolled on his side and fell into an uneasy sleep.

Lloyd was woken up in the morning by a very loud, very exuberant roommate shouting in his ear.

"Time to wake up!" Zelos was grinning from ear to ear. "My wonderful hunnies await!"

"Ugh." Lloyd stretched and rubbed his eyes. "What time is it?"

"Around ten. Pretty late, but the lovely Professor and the old man insisted that you needed some extra sleep." Zelos winked at him from across the room. "Let's, uh, let's pretend you woke up naturally, huh?"

"Yeah. Whatever." Lloyd slid out of his bed. "Hey…where is Kratos anyway?"

"Hmm? Oh, he probably went to go glare outside." Zelos made a distasteful face. "Not very friendly, is he?"

"He's…" Lloyd hesitated. He didn't really know how to explain it. Finally, he settled on, "Kratos just…doesn't like to talk. He's okay when you get to know him."

"Ha. I'll take your word for it." Zelos shrugged. "They're probably hanging around in the city. I got tired for waiting for your sleepy butt to get out of bed."

Lloyd shrugged his jacket on and quickly snapped on his suspenders. He got dressed quickly, already anxious to get the day started and their next steps planned out.

When he and Zelos were ready to go, they trooped out into Sybak to search for their friends. It didn't take them long to find the group, who were hovering near the market stalls, browsing the shop's wares.

"About time!" Genis called when he saw them. "We thought you might never wake up."

"Shut it, Genis!" Lloyd hesitated, then turned to Colette. "Still no change?"

"No," Kratos confirmed. "She's the same."

"So now what?" Zelos asked. He didn't acknowledge Kratos as he passed him. "What's our next move?"

"I've been thinking about that." Raine rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "The Imperial Research Academy has done extensive experimentation on the Exspheres and Cruxis Crystals. However, they have done no human testing. Their ability to help us is severely limited."

"So?" Lloyd frowned. "What does that mean? We can't just give up!"

"We won't," Raine said firmly. "But we need to consider the next logical step. Who else has a higher knowledge of how these objects work?"

"Hmm." Kratos nodded in understanding. "The only people who truly understand the nature of Exspheres, Cruxis Crystals, and Key Crests are…well, the ones who made them. Dwarves."

"Exactly. I was thinking, perhaps we could ask Dirk for help," Raine suggested. Lloyd's eyes lit up. "He is the only dwarf that I've ever met."

"Yeah! Dad'll know what to do!"

"But Dirk is in Sylvarant," Genis interjected. "And the Rheairds are out of fuel, remember?"

Lloyd's eyes flickered to the Academy nearby. "Maybe one of the scientists knows how to get them working again."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Zelos held up both his hands. "Wait just a minute! I'm here to keep tabs on you guys! I can't just let you go back to Sylvarant."

All the eyes turned to him. Lloyd shrugged and said, "Well, just come with us, oh compassionate Chosen one."

Zelos made a disgusted noise in his throat. "Are you serious?"

Kratos humphed and folded his arms. "I thought you wanted to save the Chosen."

"Right," Raine agreed. "You said you'd do anything to help a pretty girl."

"It can stay just between us," Genis said cheerfully. "We'll be back before anyone even notices! You'll keep quiet about it, right?"

"Ugh…how am I supposed to snitch after hearing something like that?" Zelos slumped his shoulders in defeat. "Fine."

"So it's settled!" Lloyd clapped his hands together. "All we need now is fuel."

There was the rattle of iron armor. At first, they thought it was simply a set of guards passing; however, they abruptly grabbed Lloyd and Zelos, pinning their arms to their sides.

Another set of guards grabbed the rest of the group.

"Chosen. We heard what you just said." Zelos grimaced as the guards jostled him. "We hereby declare you and your companions traitors, who are attempting to destroy Tethe'alla!"

"Good timing, Mr. Papal Knight," Zelos said. "Why don't I think that was a coincidence?"

"It's by the Pope's orders. To catch you plotting against the throne."

"That's rich." Zelos rolled his eyes. "Me plotting against the throne? Sounds like someone's projecting."

"Enough. Restrain them and take a sample. Don't touch the girl."

The guards made quick work of handcuffing them all. After they were all incapacitated, the guards pulled out a small silver syringe. Lloyd flinched as they pricked the group with needles. "Hey! What are you doing?"

"Blood testing, it appears," Kratos grunted. The guards took a sample from him as well.

"It's because of the caste system here," Zelos explained. "All criminals go through it. Some half-elves look just like normal humans or elves."

Kratos' eyes flickered to Raine and Genis. The guards suddenly gripped the two of them tighter. "S-sir! We found a match!"

"Genis? Professor? What is he talking about?" Lloyd squinted in their direction. "Are you two…?"

Genis looked away, ashamed, but Raine held her head up defiantly. "…There's no use hiding it now, I suppose."

"Raine!" Genis looked at her, but she ignored him.

"Yes, Genis and I are half-elves." She sighed. "This whole time…we've been lying to you."

"These filthy half-breeds have been engaging in shameless caste deception." The guards began to handcuff both Genis and Raine. He certainly wasn't gentle with them, snapping the metal tightly around their wrists.

"What did you call them?!" Lloyd made a noise in his throat that sounded suspiciously like a growl. "The Professor and Genis are good people! Who cares if they're half-elves?"

"Look, maybe in Sylvarant, things are different," Zelos explained, "But here, half-elves are the lowest caste."

"All half-elves guilty of a crime are executed, with no exception." The guard snorted out of his nose at Lloyd's shocked face.

"That's crazy!"

The Papal Knight ignored him. "We'll need to escort the half-elves away first. They need extra guards, so we'll all have to take them." He eyed the rest of the group. "As for the Chosen…it's not as if he can run away without being found. Everyone knows his face. Just…lock them up in the Academy or something until we can call for reinforcements."

"Wait. Wait!" Lloyd struggled against the guards as they started to drag him away. "Genis! Professor!"

Genis and Raine were turned away, frog marched by the guards around them. Genis had the faint sparkle of tears trailing down his face. Raine's face was a stoic, blank one, but her hands were shaking as the guards led her out of the city. The people around them—scholars and tourists—were gasping in shock and watching them. There were hushed whispers and accusatory eyes.

The rest of the group was handcuffed and hustled into the Academy by two guards. They pushed the group into the basement, where several young researchers were working. Young, half-elven researchers.

"Hmph." One of them, a young woman with dark green hair and glasses, was giving them an accusatory look. "Criminals. If you had the good fortune to be born human, you shouldn't throw it away like that."

"We didn't do anything," Lloyd argued.

"Well…you were trying to go back to Sylvarant," Zelos pointed out.

"Sh-shut up," Lloyd said, blushing.

The woman was ignoring their bickering, however, her eyes suddenly transfixed on Presea. She moved forward with her hand outstretched. "…Are you…?"

"Get away." Presea turned away, her back to the researcher. "Get away."

"I knew it! You're Presea." The woman pulled back. "What are you doing here?"

"Wait, you know Presea?" Lloyd asked.

"Of course," Kratos breathed. "Human experimentation. Raine's hunch was correct. The Academy gave Presea her Exsphere."

"Not…exactly." The woman shifted, then sighed. "It wasn't the Academy's research."

"Interesting." Zelos rubbed his chin. "How does a half-elf lead their own research? I thought the half-elves in the Imperial Research Academy were never allowed to leave their labs."

"What? That's insane!" Lloyd opened his mouth to say something else, but Kratos shook his head at the boy.

"Let's focus on the issue at hand. What experiments were you and your team doing on Presea?"

"…" She looked away. "We were trying to create a Cruxis Crystal in her body. We could allow an Exsphere to feed on a human body and—"

"And create a Cruxis Crystal," Kratos breathed. "That's…"

"That's the same way the Desians made Exspheres!" Lloyd gave her a disgusted look. "How can you treat people that way?!"

"Me?" The woman glared at him, furious and indignant. "I could ask you the same thing! How can you treat half-elves the way you do?"
"I treat them the same way I do anyone else!" Lloyd shot back. "They're exactly the same."

The half-elf didn't have the chance to argue back, because a familiar voice echoed through the room.

"He's not from Tethe'alla."

"Sheena?" Lloyd glanced around as a cloud of smoke appeared. Sheena and Corrine both stepped out. "Hey! How did you—?!"

"I'll explain later." Sheena moved quickly, undoing the cuffs around her friends' wrists. "Genis and Raine are being taken to Meltokio. We can still catch up and save them."

"Are you planning on leaving?" The scientist asked.

"Are you planning on stopping us?" Sheena challenged.

There was a moment of silence, before Kratos said, "We are going to save our half-elven friends. Do you truly intend to try to stop us?"

"…I won't be tricked," she said stubbornly. "There's no way humans and half-elves can get along."

Lloyd frowned, annoyed. "Look, we don't have time to argue about it. If you don't let us go, then we'll just have to fight you and bust out."

"Well…" Kate hesitated. "Fine. I'll make you a deal. Bring your friends back here after you've rescued them. If you do that…then I'll release Presea from her experiment."

Kratos' eyes widened. "You can do that?" he asked harshly. The others all turned to look at him. "Reverse the effects, you mean?"

Kate nodded. "Yes. I know of a way. After all…it was my research."

"Lloyd, do you know what this means?" Zelos turned to the teenager.

"Um…not really?"

"It means," Kratos explained patiently, "that the Chosen's affliction may have the same solution. If Presea can be released from her state…"

"Then Colette can, too!" Lloyd snapped his fingers. "I get it."

"Took us a while," Sheena grumbled. "Raine must have the patience of a saint."

"Then we can help both of my lovely girls," Zelos gushed. Neither of said girls gave him any notice.

Kate walked over to the bookshelf nearby. "Here. There's a secret passage to get out. You can go through there."

As they started through the door, Zelos stopped for a moment.

"Kate. By whose order was the experiment on Presea carried out?"

"Huh?" Lloyd glanced back. "Why do you care?"

Zelos ignored him. "Well? Who?"

"…" Kate turned away. "I can't say."

Zelos snorted derisively. "The Pope, then."

"Let's hurry," Kratos said firmly. Lloyd thanked Kate and they left, sneaking out into Sybak and after their friends.

When they were taken out of Sybak, the Sage siblings were chained up. The guards put shackles on their ankles, so that they could still walk, but not run. Raine noticed that the guards were shooting the two of them strange looks; they almost seemed...afraid of the siblings.

They were marched towards the Tethe'alla Bridge in silence. Raine glanced down at her brother and sighed.

This had been exactly what she had spent many years trying to avoid. She had lied, easily and flawlessly, to protect the two of them. They had arrived in a world of prosperity, only to find that prosperity only eligible for humans.

Not that she was surprised.

"Raine," Genis hissed, his head still down. "What are we going to do?"

Raine shifted in her chains. "Let my brother go," she ordered the guard. "He had nothing to do with this. He's just a child, I led him into it."

"Raine!" Genis cried.

"Silence, half-elves!" The guard turned around. "You have both been involved in treasonous acts. You will face the same punishment."

"But he didn't do anything," Raine argued. "He begged us to stay home! He is innocent."

"Hey!" Genis said, but Raine talked over him. "She's lying! I'm just as guilty as she is."

"Genis, stop! There's no reason to lie for me!"

"Enough!" Another guard from behind them cut their voices off. "It is not your place to claim innocence. You are traitors to Tethe'alla, filthy half-elves who want to see our world crumble." Raine sighed as he prodded them forward. "Now move."

The world hated them. Even after all those lies, all those secrets…that fact never changed.

As Lloyd was leading the way to the Tethe'alla Bridge, he suddenly felt a familiar hand on his shoulder.

"Lloyd," Kratos began. He glanced around. Sheena was currently arguing with Zelos over something silly he had said. Neither of them were listening to the two swordsman. "Are you sure about this?"

Lloyd shot Kratos a glare. "Sure about what?"

"About rescuing them. After all," he said hesitantly, "they are half-elves."

"So what?"

Kratos snorted. "So? The Desians are half-elves, as well."

Lloyd was silent. Finally, he said, "The Professor and Genis aren't Desians. They're…not the same." He looked up at Kratos. "You told me once, on the regeneration journey, that blind hatred breeds more hatred. Did you really mean that?"

Kratos gave a swift nod. "I did."

Lloyd nodded back and clenched his fist. "Then you understand. It doesn't matter what their race is, they're my friends, and I'm going to help them!"

Kratos almost smiled, as if Lloyd had passed some hidden test. "Good. Then let's hurry on."

Lloyd stared at him. "Kratos, you're so weird."

"Hmph. Maybe I am." He glanced back at Sheena and Zelos. "We need to hurry. The bridge is a drawbridge, correct?"

Sheena nodded. "Yeah. If they raise the bridge, we'll never reach them in time."

"Well, we better hustle." Zelos pointed ahead. "Because I have bad news."

The guards had reached the other side of the bridge. As they watched, the bridge began to lift. They started to run.

"We won't make it!" Sheena panted.

"Then we'll just have to jump it!" Lloyd shouted. "Come on!"

"Whoa, whoa, wait!" Zelos grabbed Lloyd's shoulder and yanked him back. "Are you kidding? We'll die if we fall from here!"

"And if we abandon them, they'll die too!" Lloyd broke his grip and started to run.

"Lloyd!" Kratos shouted, trying to call him back. The boy ignored him, so Kratos ran after him. He heard the girls behind him follow, and Zelos sighed before trailing behind them. "Lloyd, stop!" Lloyd took a running leap off the edge of the bridge, and Kratos followed suit. "Lloyd!"

He watched as it hit his son, his eyes widening in fear as the realization came over him that he wasn't going to make it across the gap. "Ahhh!"

"Lloyd!" Kratos almost brought his wings out, the consequences be damned, before he heard Sheena's voice behind him.

"Undine, help!"

The powerful feeling of mana swirled around them and pushed them up into the air, over to the other side of the bridge. Kratos sighed in relief as he landed, softly and safely, next to Lloyd.

"That was the most reckless thing you've ever done," he began, but Lloyd ignored him to turn to Sheena.

"Thanks, Sheena!"

"Whew, yeah, I thought I was a goner." Zelos grinned. "Good thing my voluptuous babe saved us!"

"I'm just glad I made a pact with Undine," Sheena sighed. "Also, not your babe!"

Presea interrupted them, her soft voice almost drowned out by the nearby armor of the Papal Knights. "Excuse me. Professor Sage and Genis are…"

"Right!" Lloyd turned to face the Knights, then hesitated when he saw Kratos' stern glare. "Yell at me later, okay? Right now, we have to save them." He rounded on the Papal Knights for a fight.

It was quick: the Knights, for all their bluster, were mediocre fighters compared to the party. As the last Knight fell, Lloyd ran to the Sage siblings. "Genis! Professor! Are you guys alright?"

Sheena ran to undo the chains on Genis, while Lloyd started picking the lock on Raine's. "Lloyd! Everyone!" The half-elven boy tossed his binds aside and ran them, grinning. "You guys saved us!"

"You…came for us. You rescued us." Raine swallowed. "I can't believe it."

"Of course we rescued you! You're our friends!" Lloyd folded his arms. "We weren't just going to leave you guys behind."

"But…" Genis' eye widened. "We're half-elves!"

"So?" Lloyd shrugged. "What's that got to do with anything?"

"What of the Tethe'alla side of our group?" Raine asked. "Do you mind if we continue on the journey?"

"I'm from Mizuho," Sheena explained. "I'm…a little bit of an outsider, too. I can't really say I'm going to discriminate against you guys."

"I just want to go home," Presea said softly.

"Huh. Well, I can't say I'm really kosher with this," Zelos began. "I've been taught all my life that half-elves are filthy, evil creatures. But, then again, everyone has treated me differently, just because of my birth. We're a little bit alike, I suppose, so…I can keep an open mind."

"Zelos!" Lloyd turned around to snap at him, but Kratos shook his head.

"Prejudice is not a war won overnight." He folded his arms and sighed. "The Chosen says he will keep an open mind. That's the first step in having it changed."

"Whoa, look at the old man, defending me." Zelos gave him a wry smile. "Either way, I can see that Genis and Raine are good people, so I won't really treat them any differently than I would anyone else."

Raine nodded. "Alright, then." She glanced over at Sheena. "By the way…what are you doing here?"

"Ah, I have new orders from my chief." Sheena smiled lightly. "I am to observe your activities. I'm here to watch you guys!"

"Watch us do what?" Genis asked. "What are you supposed to report back?"

"Um…well…" Sheena blushed and turned away. "I don't really know. It's just that…"

"This is typical of Mizuho," Zelos interrupted. "They're trying to decide if they want to side the King or you guys."

"Well, it doesn't really matter," Lloyd said cheerfully. "Everyone's back together, so now we can move forward. We just need to get the Rheairds working and we can go to Sylvarant."

Kratos shifted on his feet. "If Sheena is joining us, then we have our solution." He turned toward the summoner. "If you make a pact with Volt, we will have the fuel required to get the Rheairds working again."

"V-Volt?" Sheena visibly flinched and Kratos cocked his head curiously. "I mean…why Volt? If we just need mana, can't we go to…I don't know, Gnome or something? Or we could use Undine!"

"Hmm…" Raine blinked and rubbed her chin. "Volt is the only summon spirit who could convert the mana into energy. I'm afraid no other summon spirit would do."

"Well, we don't have to go chasing after Volt yet," Zelos said breezily. "We should probably go get the Rheairds first. Volt's temple is all the way across the Grand Tethe'alla Bridge, we can't make it across there now."

"And how are you planning to pick up the Rheairds?" Lloyd questioned. "They're huge!"

"Ha. You have no faith in me. I happen to have a little trick up my sleeve, just for occasions like this." Zelos stretched his arms up. "Just trust me."

"Well…alright." Lloyd shrugged. "It's not like we really have any choice."

"Okay, then!" Zelos gestured dramatically as he started to walk away. "To the Fooji Mountains!"

The group stopped to set up camp as it got dark, about halfway to the Fooji Mountains. It was a routine, so familiar from the Regeneration Journey that the Sylvarant team was like a well-oiled machine. With a roaring campfire, dinner made, and the bedrolls set up to sleep, Kratos took a moment to himself. He snuck away while the group was chatting, walking through the darkness. There was whine behind him; Noishe had followed.

"Hmm. Noishe, you needn't be worried about me." He reached over to scratch behind the animal's ears. "I'm fine. I simply needed some time alone."

Another whine. Clearly, Noishe was not convinced.

"Very well. I suppose your companionship is appreciated."

The pair walked together in the moonlight. Kratos eventually stopped in a clearing and sighed. He could see Meltokio, its light shining through the night sky and blocking out the stars. Kratos just stood there, petting Noishe and thinking.

After a while, there was a noise behind him. Footsteps, and the sound of twigs cracking.

Kratos sighed without even turning around. "Lloyd. I told you not to stand behind me."

"Yeah, yeah, I know," Lloyd grumbled. "You always know it's me, anyway."

"Heh. That's true." Kratos turned to look at him. "What do you want?"

"You disappeared. We were worried about you."

Kratos glanced at Noishe. "Ah. You shouldn't be worried, I apparently have a guard dog." Said dog whined and rubbed against Kratos' hand.

"Geez, Noishe, show a little loyalty." Kratos almost laughed as Lloyd walked over and Noishe licked his face. "I even gave you extra dinner tonight."

Kratos watched as Lloyd wiped his face off with his sleeve. "It is getting late. We should head back."

"Yeah. You shouldn't go wondering off alone, though, you never know what might happen."

How ironic, Kratos thought. His son chastising him as if he were a misbehaving child. "I will be fine."

"Well, whatever." They started to walk back, Noishe in between them. "I was just…you know, worried that…" Lloyd fidgeted a bit, running his fingers through his hair nervously. "…You just seemed…"

Aha. "You were worried I had left," Kratos finished for him. "For good."

"…Yeah." They fell quiet again, the only sound their footsteps in the soft grass. Lloyd broke the silence again.

"Can I ask you something?" Lloyd looked up at him and Kratos nodded his assent. "You said you were friends with Yggdrasill and Yuan. The two of them are half-elves, right?"

"…Yes. We were friends in a time that was…much worse for half-elves."

"Wait, really?" Lloyd sounded so naïve in that moment, having never really faced prejudice before. "How much worse could it be?"

"Hmph. When I was young, half-elves were considered to be lower than animals. They were feral and beastly." He was quoting his own memories now, of people long ago. "I myself was ostracized for associating with them. That's how bad it was."

"Really?" Lloyd looked at him suspiciously. "Hey…how old are you anyway?"

Kratos stiffened. "Why do you ask?"

"You talk like that was a long time ago, but…you're in your twenties, aren't you?"

"I'm older than I look," Kratos conceded. "But it doesn't matter. The way that half-elves are treated hasn't changed much over history."

"It's sad," Lloyd remarked. "I mean, Cruxis, the Desians, the humans and the Pope…why do they all have to hate each other?"

"Hmph. You should go visit the elven village sometime. It's infuriating." Kratos rubbed Noishe's head and he whined. "Elves believe that half-elves are diluting and polluting their race. And unlike humans, they're very much set in their ways."

Lloyd was quiet for a moment. Then he said, "Do you think the world will ever be accepting?"

Kratos opened his mouth to say no, but he stopped. He walked here, next to Lloyd: raised by a dwarf and willing to leap off a bridge for his half-elven friends. If ever there was proof it could happen…here it was.

"As I said earlier," he finally replied. "Acceptance is not a going to happen immediately. It will take a thousand battles to turn the tide. It can happen, but…it will take work."

"Well, you know what my dad would say," Lloyd said with a grin. "Dwarven Vow #1: Let's all work together for a peaceful world."

"Heh. Well." Kratos sighed and looked up at the stars above. "Here's hoping."

Zelos had been put in charge of gathering firewood to stockpile, which was good, because he needed to clear his head.

There was something about these guys…something endearing, in a way that no one else was.

Zelos shook his head, as if he could shake the confusing thoughts away. It was simple: he just needed to decide who had the best odds. These guys certainly didn't.

Still…when he thought about betraying them, Zelos felt a knot in his stomach. And that damn trap that Yuan had given him was still in his pack, feeling heavier with every passing minute. He pulled it out and looked it over again, running his fingers along the smooth metal. He didn't even know how it worked; what if it hurt one of them? Geez, what if it killed one of them?

His head snapped up as he heard voices. Of course: the old man and the kid had wondered off for some more late-night chats. He huffed out a breath of air and quickly hid the trap back into his pack.

"…just saying, my dad is an awesome craftsman. He can make anything. He even made my clothes!"

"That's…Lloyd. I have no doubt that Dirk is good at crafting, but…"

"…But what? Wait…are you saying my clothes are ugly?!"

The two of them came into view and Zelos quickly plastered a wide grin to his face. "Heh. I won't speak for the old man, but I can speak for myself. Bud, you need to get some new clothes. Monochromatic is so last year."

Lloyd glared at him. "What? My clothes are awesome! Have you seen the suspenders?"

"Everyone has seen the suspenders." Zelos laughed as Lloyd's face turned red. "Hey, to each his own. I guess if you like walking around looking like a human tomato, that's fine."

"…Ew." Lloyd scrunched up his nose. "Well, I like them anyway. Zelos, what are you doing out here?"

He pointed to a small pile of twigs and branches. "Firewood. Just in case it dies down in the middle of the night."

"Do you need any help?" Lloyd asked.

Zelos shook his head. "Nah. Just about finished, anyway."

Kratos narrowed his eyes suspiciously, but Lloyd—so trusting—didn't even blink an eye. "Okay. Come on, Kratos, if we get back quick, maybe there will be some leftovers!"

Lloyd took off in the direction of camp. Kratos shot one last meaningful glare at Zelos. Zelos shrugged and muttered, "I'm behaving, dad, don't worry."

"…" Kratos started to walk after Lloyd, who was calling for him. Zelos watched his back disappear into the darkness before pulling Yuan's trap out of his pack again. His finger caught a piece of metal that seemed like it was attached to the inside parts. It was thinner than the outer metal and seemed more delicate. He wondered what its function was.

There was a sharp snap! and Zelos held the piece of metal in his hand, leaving a few wires now exposed. He wasn't sure what it did, but it seemed important. He tossed the broken part aside. "Oops."

He stuffed it back into his bag. In the back of his mind, a voice said what the hell are you doing. And the truth was…

Well, he didn't really know what the hell he was doing.