Welcome back! Hope everyone enjoyed/is enjoying the Holidays! Can you believe it's almost 2019?! *Le GASP!* Where did the year go? I demand a do over! XD

All joking aside, I *really* enjoyed writing this chapter, so I hope you all like it. ^_^

I'd also like to point out that I have gone through and done some minor editing to ALL the chapters. Nothing major, I promise. None of the changes made affect the story in any significant way. It's just places where certain details didn't line up well, didn't make sense, random typos (because apparently I'm one of those crazies that likes to type at 3am), and places where I felt the words didn't flow well. _ Can you spot the differences? (Kidding! Kinda~) :P

Out of curiosity, what have you all liked the most so far in this story? Is there a certain part that you enjoyed the most? Questions about the story so far? Anything in the current chapters you feel should have gotten more attention/focus? Let me know! I hadn't expected to get so many responses to this story, but I'm really enjoying hearing from everyone!

Anyways, see you all next week~! *Hugs!*

Disclaimer: I do not own Akatsuki no Yona, its plot, nor its characters. I've simply thrown my own original character into the mix because I'm a curious creature and chased a plot bunny down a rabbit hole. I'm stuck. Please send rum.

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Light glinted off steel as it sliced through the cool night air. The moon, just a thin sliver, hung high over the cliffs above as a silhouette whirled around, dancing with shadows. The figure drew back, blocking. A quick pivot, followed by a horizontal slash. Spinning, thrusting, twisting. Advancing and retreating. Metal almost singing as it swung through the air. Sweat glistened on pale skin, trickling down a lightly muscled chest that heaved slightly from exertion. Tan fabric billowed and flowed loosely around toned legs as bare feet stepped skillfully across the ground. A low, masculine voice seemed to echo in the night, a ghost of a memory as it whispered on the wind.

'The sword is an extension of the body, the body an extension of the mind. Where the mind goes, so does th-'

"Mama... Papa..."

The small whisper startled him, almost dropping his sword when he tripped mid-step. Catching himself, he quickly sheathed his weapon as he approach the girl laying nearby. It had been two days and she still hadn't woken, though tonight she'd been increasingly restless. The nightmares plaguing her sleep had become more frequent, each seemingly more terrifying than the last. Mimicking the first night, he ran his fingers lightly over her head, attempting to soothe her before the terrors took over again. His fingers briefly moved from her head to the side of her face and ghosted over the soft skin, a small spark of relief flitting through him when he noticed the bruising there was fading quickly. He gazed at her softly, still humming and stroking his fingers through her hair, even as his thoughts wandered.

He'd slept longer than he'd intended during his nap today and woke to find it was almost dark. The fire hadn't quite gone out yet, thankfully, and once he'd had it going again he had quickly went through his usual dinner routine, still mildly annoyed he hadn't woken up sooner.

A small part of him had wanted to make up for the time he'd lost that afternoon and head out into the woods to do some more gathering, the dim light more than adequate for his superior vision.

The larger part, however, had been unwilling to leave her to face the demons that invaded her dreams. Not to mention the usually still figure had begun stirring slightly in her sleep, the first signs of movement he'd seen from her the entire time he'd been with her. Just the idea of her waking up alone, in the dark….

He'd quickly known he couldn't, wouldn't, be able to leave, nor would he be going back to sleep so soon. Sitting still had been out of the question as well, now that he was fully rested. He'd moved to stand, only to feel a light tug on his shirt and discover that, once again, she had entangled her fingers in his clothes.

'Oh well,' he'd thought, feeling both awkward and just a little bemused that she apparently found comfort in his presence.

The extra fabric probably would have hindered his movements anyway…

So he'd left the garment behind and quietly retrieved his sword. Walking off to the side a little ways, he'd proceeded to channel his energy into the katas that had been drilled into him for as long as he could remember, hoping to wear himself out a little so he'd be able to go back to bed and return to his usual routine.

This was the fourth time his training had been interrupted now.

Sighing softly, he decided he was done training for the night and put his sword away. Still no closer to sleep than when he'd started, he grabbed an oversized bowl out of the bag of dishes and headed to the cellar. He opened the meat sack, carefully emptying the cleaned entrails into the container for now before pulling the hides out of the sack, leaving only the meat behind. On his way out, he added a little more fuel to the fire as he passed by before he settled next to the girl once more. Furs piled nearby, he picked up the first skin and set to work scraping at the underside, removing the soft fats and fleshy bits while being careful to not pierce through the hide in the process. It was slow work, methodical. When he felt the first one was as clean as it would get, he rolled it up and set it aside before repeating the process with the next three hides. As he worked, his thoughts turned once more to the girl laying next to him.

It had been two whole days and, though he'd checked, he still hadn't seen anyone else in the area other than the villagers. He knew she wasn't from his village, so where had she come from? Where was her family? Surely someone would be looking for her? He hadn't seen any villages nearby during his scouting... Was she even from a village?

Not for the first time, he wondered just how far she had traveled in her attempt to escape the men who'd been tracking her.

Despite the temporary pale tint to her skin, she was actually lightly tanned and her tiny hands a bit calloused, evidence that she was used to work and being out in the sun. He was also more than just a little concerned about how easy it was for him to carry her around the last couple days. When he'd first found her, he'd noticed that she was very thin, but even so.. Looking at her right now, he realized that she actually appeared to be gaining weight, despite having only had the broth he'd been feeding her. It disturbed him to think that she'd probably had more to eat in the last couple days than she usually ate in a week. While food wasn't exactly abundant up here on the mountains, none of the villagers were nearly as thin as she was. They didn't always have much, but they almost never went hungry.

She would want to go back home, he was sure, but… maybe…

He shook his head, as if to dislodge the idea from his mind.

He couldn't just keep her here. It wasn't his right to decide what was best for her. Of course she'd want to go home. Just earlier tonight she'd spoken for the first time, only to call out for her parents in her sleep. He was sure she would wake up soon, now that she was starting to move around more. Once her ankle was better, he would have to escort her home. Her parents were probably worried, not knowing if their daughter was alive and well. That's what parents did, right?

He remembered when he'd come back from patrol one day, only to find the villagers frantic. Two of the children were missing and no one had seen either of them for a couple hours. He remembered the fear and helplessness on their faces, the tears the mothers wept. He remembered the fathers, jaws clenched angrily, but worried all the same as they tried to reassure their wives, and themselves, that the boys would be fine and that they'd be back soon. Everyone had been so distraught, it had taken them a few seconds longer than usual to realize he was there. He'd walked past them, into the caves, feeling as their fear turned to terror.

Here was The Monster, come to claim their children and feast on their bones.

It wasn't true, of course. Even when he'd found both boys, managed to assure them he was there to take them home, and brought them back, safe and sound, the villagers had turned him away. Not one person had thanked him, but that was fine. He hadn't done it expecting praise.

He'd stopped hoping for that a long time ago.

No, his reward was the relief on everyone's face, that split second when the boys entered everyone's view. The joy and love on everyone's faces. He didn't need to hear their gratitude. He'd seen it.

Right before they noticed him standing in the background, his quiet wistfulness somehow viewed as menacing in their eyes.

Rousing himself from the memory, he rolled the last hide up and added it to the finished pile, returning the them to their place in the cellar. He'd need to start the tanning process soon if he wanted to keep the fur intact, but he really needed to try to sleep again.

He would gather what he'd need tomorrow, he decided.

Letting out a large yawn, he eased his shirt back on before he settled down under his own blanket for the night. The last thing he saw was the sleeping girl in front of him as he closed his eyes.

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