"Alright, looks like we're done mapping this forest." Wilson said as he drew out the cliffside he and Willow were standing close too. The two were out on a scouting mission. They hadn't found anyone but it seemed wise to map out the area for future reference.

"Good, I don't think I can stand the sight of thick trees anymore." Willow tapped her foot, flicking her lighter off and on. "It's getting VERY tempting to set one of these suckers up in flames."

"How about we don't so we don't risk the chance of causing a mass forest fire?" Wilson put a hand on her shoulder. "I know it's been a long day for you, it has been for me too but if I promise you can make a big bonfire when we get back to the village will that help keep you from setting things ablaze?"

Willow hummed in thought before grinning, hugging him.

"A bonfire and snuggling with you and Delphi by it."

Wilson turned red in the face before chuckling, hugging her.

"Alright. I can guarantee that. We better start heading back now before dusk sets in. If we start now we should be able to get to the portal before night time."

Willow nodded, pulling away from him before running ahead.

"Race ya!"

Wilson laughed before following after her.

"Hey!"

Willow laughed, picking up her pace.

"Don't get cold feet now, Wildork!"

"Wasn't planning to!"

The two kept up their pace as they ran through the forest, not a care in the whole world and paying no mind to critters they passed by… or a cloaked figure that was following close behind them.

They soon slowed their pace, finding they were getting short of breath, forgetting how far the forest stretched.

"I… I'll still beat you to the portal when we get to the end of this forest. I swear it." Willow said, panting a little.

"Heh, we'll see." Wilson grinned, trying to catch his own breath.

They continued on, keeping close to each other… then they heard the snapping of branch.

Wilson perked up, readying his spear.

"Did you hear that?"

Willow narrowed her eyes, bringing her lighter out.

"Yeah. I did." She looked upward, trying to pinpoint where it was coming from.

I have a bad feeling about this. Wilson thought, keeping close to Willow.

"Lovely day for a walk, isn't it?" said a voice.

They whirled around, seeing the cloaked figure. The voice sounded male but they couldn't make out a face whatsoever.

Wilson and Willow kept their guards up, unsure what to make of the stranger.

"Who are you?" Wilson asked, narrowing his eyes.

The stranger shrugged.

"Just another person trying to get by in this Hellish place. What else would you need to know?"

"Yeah that's not suspicious." Willow growled. "A name would be preferable and taking off that stupid hood would be nice too."

"Oh no, this hood is not coming off. I'm trying to keep a low profile since I have people here who are not fond of me. Same goes for my name."

Yeah, that's not making me feel more comfortable.

Wilson kept closer to Willow, holding his spear up higher.

"What do you want with us then?"

The stranger grinned, showing his teeth had sharp canines.

"To see your death, oh dear Shadow Prince."

The stranger charged forward, a sword in hand, going straight for the kill. Wilson's spear was sliced in half in attempt to block the sword, thankfully missing him by an inch. Willow tackled the stranger away from Wilson, trying to get the sword out of his hand.

"Off me you wench!" The stranger said, throwing her, having her smack hard into a tree.

Willow cried out but quickly recovered, lunging forward again, moving to the side as the stranger sliced right at her. She shrieked a bit when it grazed her arm, growling as she once again went to tackle him.

"GIVE IT TO ME!"

"W-WILLOW DON'T!"

The stranger grinned sinisterly before knocking her back into a whole cluster of trees, hitting her with the blunt end of his sword, putting her into a daze.

"I guess if I want the prince dead, I'll have to get rid of his dog."

He produced a staff from his cloak that had a red gem tied to the end. Wilson's eyes widened in horror. He went in to tackle the stranger but it was too late. Flames flew from the gem and the trees around Willow were set ablaze in seconds.

Willow's scream was heard before the roar of the flames drowned her out entirely. Wilson was frozen in place, his blood having gone completely cold. His eyes shrunk at the sight before him.

The stranger turned to him.

"Now… to take care of you."

Wilson stared at the flames for another moment before his gazed turned on the stranger. His blood was no longer cold. It was starting to boil, rage filling his blue eyes as his pupils became slitted.

"How dare you…" He said, practically whispered as shadow flames came around him, changing his appearance to his shadow form. "HOW DARE YOU!"

He charged straight for the stranger, summoning a sword to his hand, going right for his throat.

The stranger backed away, deflecting his sword with his.

"Temper, temper, Prince." The stranger taunted. "It's not very proper for royalty to lash out like you are."

Wilson snarled as their swords clashed again, pressing his sword against his, trying to disarm him.

"It's a good thing then I'm not a proper royal then." He hissed. "Now… I'm going to make this as painful as I CAN!" Wilson let go of the sword with his right hand, throwing shadow flames at the strangers feet, forcing him to jump away from him.

"Tsk, tsk, playing dirty now?"

"JUST SHUT UP!" He screamed, charging, his eyes filled with rage, the flames dancing around them. Wilson didn't care how much danger they were in right now.

He just wanted her.

The stranger laughed once again clashing swords with Wilson forcing him backwards.

"You can't stop me that easily Prince. You see… I know a lot about you. I know what hurts you."

"Silence."

"Maybe I'll find something else you're fond of hm? Make that vanish too!"

"SHUT UP!"

Wilson was trying everything in his power to get a blow in but the stranger kept blocking them with ease, still wearing the same taunting grin on his half covered face. This went on for what felt like forever.

The stranger stopped as he took note that the fire Willow had been consumed by was now out, the trees having fallen over, covering any traces of the woman.

"Well, seems her time was up and yours would be too but…I've come to the conclusion that maybe now isn't the best time to murder you." The stranger jumped away and up onto a burnt tree branch, grinning teasingly at Wilson. "I'll save THAT for another time."

Wilson snarled, jumping at the man, using shadow flames to get a boost into the air.

"NO! WE'RE SETTLING THIS NOW!"

The stranger shook his head before blasting Wilson in the chest with flames from his fire staff, sending the man back to the ground.

"I think you've got other things to worry about Prince. Including a funeral arrangement. But…" The stranger looked down at Wilson, seeing the man groan in agony at his burns before jumping down to him. He knelt to Wilson's level, allowing him to see his eyes a bit. They were an amber color and the scelaras were black instead of white. "Know this is only the beginning of something else, Wilson Percival Higgsbury."

He backed away before disappearing from sight in a burst of shadow flames.

Wilson groaned, bringing his arm around his chest, looking around him at the destroyed forest. His adrenaline rush was gone, the weight of what had just occurred settling in.

"No…" He whispered, his voice shaking. "No…" Against his body's protest, Wilson forced himself to his feet, walking shakily to where the fire had begun.

She can't be… She can't… I can't…

He started moving away burnt tree branches, digging through the rubble as fast he could, having to stop every few minutes to hold his injury before starting again.

No… No no no no no no. NO! NO!

He eventually came to a full stop, his injuries aggravating him too much. He fell to his knees, holding his chest, tears streaming down his face, biting his lip as his shoulders shook.

"Willow… No…" He threw his head back, screaming. "WILLOW!"

He fell to the ground, gripping at his shoulders, sobbing.

"Oh… Oh stars and atoms…"

The forest was quiet, the only sound he could hear was his own ragged breathing and sobs… Until another sound caught his attention.

Someone else making a sound of pain.

He quickly sat up, following the sound as best as he could.

"H-Hello?" He choked out. "Willow?"

"W-Wilson!" She called out to him. "Where are you!?"

Wilson picked up the pace. biting his lip to keep from crying out at the pain that shot up.

"I'm right here! Hang on I'm coming!"

Wilson scanned the ground, trying to pinpoint where she was.

"Wil…?"

He looked to the source, finding Willow caught under a huge pile of tree branches, completely covered in soot.

"Willow!" He hurried over, quickly getting the branches off her before examining her for any injuries, dusting the soot of her. "Where does it hurt the most? Do you have any serious burns?"

"My arm. Some parts of my head… I don't think I have any burns." She looked up at him, eyes widening in alarm. "Oh gosh, Wilson…"

Wilson kept his focus on her, his eyes widening in shock at her having no burns at all.

"How… How do you have no burns? You have scratches but no burns. Even your clothes are intact."

She shrugged a little, wincing. Wilson held her a bit tighter.

"Does it hurt to breathe at all?"

Willow shook her head slowly, confusion in her own eyes.

"I… I don't understand. That… That should've killed you. I mean, I'm glad it didn't but… but… OH I DON'T CARE!" Wilson hugged her close, crying out. "YOU'RE ALIVE! THAT'S ALL THAT MATTERS!"

Willow hugged him tightly, burying her face, sniffling a little. She was shaking like a leaf.

"I didn't know if I'd still be alive. Wilson, that was terrifying."

"I know… I… Oh stars and atoms, Willow, I thought I lost you!"

Willow kept close to him, crying a little, burying her face in shoulder a little.

"Wilson…"

Wilson held her closer, unable to help the tears that were getting out.

I almost lost her… I almost…

He nuzzled her gently before kissing her head, stroking her back. His shadow form finally faded off, his energy waning.

"Willow… I… I…"

Willow nuzzled him in return, bringing a hand up to cup his cheek.

"I'm gonna be okay. So are you."

He nodded, his shoulders slumping. His injuries were still getting to him. He didn't want to let her go though.

"S-Still.."

"Come on. We need to get you home."

Wilson nodded, Willow helping him stand, bringing an arm around him to help him walk.

"We… We need to figure out who that stranger was."

"We will after we get you treated." Willow helped him continue forward. "Now is not a good time to be forming a plan."

He chuckled tiredly.

"I think this is the first time you actually worried more about treatment besides the Deerclops incident."

"At that point you were already being a reckless dummy. My reckless dummy." Her gaze softened. "Let me worry about you."

"Only if I get to do the same."

"It's a deal."