It felt like everything fell apart so quickly. Gaius had fallen into a pattern with the other Shepherds; training with Lon'qu, chatting with Lissa, Robin and the others and there was a comfortable reliability in that, even with the life and death battles between those moments. It wasn't as though Gaius were deaf to everything going on around him; he caught the stress in Chrom's face sometimes in passing. When Emmeryn's capture and Plegia's plans for her came to light that look worsened by a tenfold. All the comfortable atmosphere between them snapped in that moment.

The whole army coiled up and tensed. This meant moving into Plegian territory and rushing in. Any and all training needed to be brought to the table and played here. At least that was the thinking going in.

No matter how much preparation they could have had or even if they were stronger still things would not have changed. This hopeless, crushing feeling wracked everyone once Emmeryn fell. There was a brief pause where time felt as though it had stopped as they realized what had been done. Escape was imminent with the odds weighed against them, but there was no shortage of frustrated, illogical ideas swirling around the group.

Gaius heard the worst of the mutters and frustrations, the desperate and hurt expressions over some of the Shepherds' faces. Something about it brought on a discomfort that wormed all the way down to his core. This army that had been unstoppable, these people who bonded and fought together were now trapped in a hasty, ugly retreat. The blow knocked everyone down, he knew that, but he also knew he wasn't the one hit the hardest. That in mind, he kept his head up and did his best to help with the retreat. No one would fall behind if he could stop it and the duty kept him struggling the whole way there.

By the time they started to reach the outskirts the rain was falling in heavy drops, soaking most of the ground into a muddy slick. This plus the already hurting morale made the escape that much more difficult, but they were assured Ferox's help would be just around the corner. But that was where they were stopped.

A sizable chunk of Plegia's military stood between them and their goal. Hastily, Robin was put to working out an instant plan for the team. Orders were passed out in a rush: Robin and Chrom would move with a company to take out the leader, the rest would cover them. They only had a few minutes, but Chrom approached Lon'qu nearby. Gaius didn't quite catch the conversation over the sound of the rain; however, he could tell it was pretty serious. He saw the swordsman nod and Chrom ran to take off with Robin. Lissa at Lon'qu's side yelled after him, but the prince only flinched for a moment before carrying on.

Gaius moved in closer to try and help, but Maribelle and her horse reached the princess much faster.

"Lissa, my dear, I will not let anything befall your brother. I promise you that. Please listen to him for now and we can discuss it later," the young lady said firmly, a thick resolve coating her voice. She was drenched just as much as the rest of them; her usually curled hair heavy with the weight of the rain, but she rode her horse with a straight and proud back as always. There was something about the look in her eyes that exuded confidence.

Lissa looked to want to argue, holding it back even. She soon nodded her head, biting her lip. "Okay, I believe in you, Maribelle. I'll stay safe."

Maribelle smiled gently and turned her horse to face the way Chrom had left. "I will not let you down. Now, see you soon!" With that called over her shoulder she took off, the horse picking up pace safely as she got farther off.

Gaius started to take off after her, but a shout of his name stopped him. That girl charged in on her own again, she was going to get herself killed in a battle like this. He let out a groan and glanced back to see Lon'qu looking directly at him.

"What do you think you're doing? Robin's orders were for you to stay back with us and cover them. Do you want to get the rest of us killed?" Lon'qu barked, already looking ready to draw his blade on him.

"No, but-!"

He wasn't even allowed to finish, Lon'qu jumped right in again. "Then do your job and follow the path they need us on."

"Need? I'm not needed here, they got you Mr. Master Swordsman! Why don't you go shove off and keep being the best on your own?!" Gaius snapped back, itching to deck him already.

Lon'qu stepped forward, that regular look of disapproval and disgust mixed together on his face. "If I were the best we wouldn't be here right now. You're starting to sound like a damned fool!"

Gaius moved an inch to close some of the distance between them but stopped suddenly.

"Guys! Stop, please!" Lissa shouted as much as her voice could carry. She held her staff clutched close to her chest, her body shivering a little. She looked like it hurt just to be there and the strain over her features was crushing to look at.

Immediately Gaius and Lon'qu stopped, cooling off from their argument. There were bigger issues at hand here for now.

"We should be supporting the other side...Let's get moving," Lon'qu muttered slowly, his pace a bit slow. He waits up for Lissa to join, but he starts forward with her with no regard to Gaius left standing there alone.

Gaius watched the pair for a moment, feeling like he was sinking into the mud. Lon'qu was probably right, no matter how much he didn't want to admit that. It was a selfish, stupid thing, but he wasn't thinking straight.

This stand wouldn't be the last one. There were more chances; there had to be. He took a deep breath and ran to catch up with the other two. They hadn't gotten very far as they couldn't move too quickly with this footing. Wisely, Gaius kept his trap shut and moved along with them that way. He kepr his focus fixed on their surroundings and watched for what might be out there in the rain.

Soon enough enemy soldiers came clear in his vision and he called it out, giving Lon'qu time to shove out of the way of an oncoming arrow. Being a bit faster, Gaius charged ahead and took out the offending archer with one quick and clean swipe of his blade. Before any of the archer's comrades could make a move, Lon'qu already jumped into the fray, expertly taking down one swordsman followed by another.

Muddied and drenched, but alive, they pressed on. This lifeless land didn't provide much in the way of cover so they had to rely more on their eyes and staying focused to get through. More enemies crossed their paths, but it seemed like enemy morale was low as well. Gaius tried to work out why when it seemed their side was winning. Thoughts were bunched up and he couldn't work them out. Not here like this when his focus was needed elsewhere.

Halfhearted exchanges were made each time blades were crossed, but as their route took them in closer to the enemy's base the less the enemy mentality seemed to matter. They were all just pressing on as well; fighting in an attempt to get this over with. It was probably the best that could be done on either side at this point.

Lon'qu seemed as steady as ever and it helped keep Lissa more calm as they pressed on. There were other allies covering other territory, but it didn't feel much like they were letting up any of the pressure from their point. Gaius had to wonder if Robin read the field wrong or he just had this much faith in them. Lissa would heal any wounds either of them received in battle and they would continue on, but the constant stream of rain and enemies with few breaks in between tested Gaius' strength. Battles went on sometimes, but this felt like it would never end.

That break in his focus was enough to give an enemy mage an opening and blast him with a burst of wind magic. The gust knocked Gaius up, throwing him back into the mud and skidding along the muck. He'd heard Lissa call out his name followed by Lon'qu telling her something, but he couldn't make it out. It took him a moment to get himself together. Fallen over on his back, rain spattering into his face, there was a brief second where he considered remaining. It was immediately tossed out as an axe nearly fell on his head.

He rolled out of the way despite the aches and forced himself to his feet, his blade out protectively in front of himself. The axeman made another lunge at him and this time Gaius dodged again to the side. The move gave him enough of an opening to run the enemy through and jolt back out of the way of another oncoming arrow.

Running again after already being exhausted didn't help with his current state, but he pushed himself anyway to make contact with the archer firing on them. Soon enough he stuck the attacker with his blade and goes on to catch up to the other two who had held their ground waiting for him. Lissa held out her staff to help cover for the wounds, but it didn't fix how worn out he felt. Gaius had a dozen complaints and held his tongue on them. He could push it a bit harder.

Lissa's worried look his way didn't help a lot with his confidence in being able to do this. Breaking his silence he worked out a few words between heavier breaths. "Not much farther to go. No problem." She didn't seem too sure, but at least she let it go. Lon'qu motioned for them to move on and she joined without any further fuss. Gaius followed shortly behind to keep an eye on their backs.

They could barely see the enemy keep in the distance now and all looked clear. There seemed to be figures and motion that way, but there was no being sure until they got closer. They started a course for that direction only to be stopped by a shout from Lissa. Flying overhead a wyvern-mounted soldier dived at them. Gaius and Lon'qu parted to jump in different directions out of the way of a low swinging axe as the wyvern darted by and back just out of reach.

He took one look at the enemy's motion and immediately worked out his next target: Lissa. Gaius threw his weight into his run, tearing through the mud as quick as he could to grab the princess and yank her out of the way of the second swinging blow. He was ready to turn and go on the offensive when he heard the beast hit the ground with a sick splash and a thud. Lon'qu must have taken the opportunity to attack while the soldier flew low. The swordsman glanced Gaius' way and rejoined them shortly, standing up straight.

At first Gaius couldn't work it out. They were comrades, but protecting Lissa was Lon'qu's duty and yet he left it completely in Gaius' hands in a situation that close. He wasn't sure if it was trust or that he simply had no choice. He sought an answer in Lon'qu's eyes, but the man let nothing on.

"We need to keep moving," was all he said, starting forward again. Lissa looked Gaius' way and nodded her head once. "Thanks," she murmured and continued on.

This time he did not wait to catch back up in formation with the others, sticking in position this time. There would be time to work things out later, he was more sure of that now.

A bit more slogging through the ravine and they found their comrades, along with plenty of Plegians who had surrendered. Many of the rest had fled in fact. Gaius overheard something about Plegian moral, but he honestly didn't have the energy to take it all in. With Lon'qu he reunited Lissa with her brother and made sure the two were alright before taking off for the wagons Feroxi allies had prepared for their escape.

Gaius took one more look Lon'qu's way before they parted to different wagons. There was something he wanted to say or felt he should, but he couldn't quite wrap his tongue around it. Finally, the swordsman simply shook his head. At that he turned and made his way onto a wagon just before it took off, effectively ending the conversation there.

Dumbfounded and tired, Gaius couldn't figure out what to do with himself. He helped some of the others get ready to escape and kept waiting to leave himself. He could stand to keep covering their backs for a bit longer after all. Before long just about everyone was loaded up onto the last wagon and Gaius still found himself outside it. A soft voice from his right caught his attention and snapped him out of his stupor.

"Excuse me...I appreciate your help, but this it. You should go ahead and get on board," she said a bit sheepishly. Gaius looked her way finally, finding a slight young woman, one he hadn't yet met. The rain had soaked her as much as anyone else, but he was sure she probably looked much more lively usually. When he made eye contact she turned her gaze away and continued on a bit louder this time.

"Well, I mean that you and I should both. Well you and me and Basilio anyway. We've got everyone else out safely," the pink haired woman explained.

"Yeah, right. Sorry 'bout that," Gaius muttered and climbed into the back of the wagon, the young lady joining him shortly. She fidgeted a bit in her seat, looking a bit stressful before Basilio finally joined them last. The once-Khan picked himself a seat and hunkered down with a big sigh. Once the wagons were finally off the nervous girl calmed a bit and let out a sigh of her own.

Gaius watched out of the back of the wagon as the ravine slowly became distant behind them. Over the sound of the hooves out front and the rattle of the wagons along the path his thoughts scattered. It felt like he was losing them out the back of the wagon, letting them tumble to the path and be lost. Maybe it didn't matter at the end. Whatever he could have said wouldn't have changed what Lon'qu did. Maybe it was best just to let it go for now. He survived this at least.

It was one more day he got to live and try again.

He was content to take the ride home quiet, but in this company it wasn't happening just yet. Eventually Basilio spoke up first.

"Olivia, good job showing up when you did. Couldn't have time it better," he said with a kinder expression the young lady's way. Gaius always found him to be kind of loud and little bit terrifying with how big he was, but now that he was here like this his opinion of him changed a bit.

"Oh no, I could most certainly have timed it better. And it was really everyone else working so hard. I just helped a little," Olivia replied modestly, her cheeks already burning a bright red.

He tried not to eavesdrop, but they were in the same vehicle, it was hard to avoid. He did learn the girl's name though. Now that he thought about it, she probably thought he was a bumbling clod with the way he'd answered her earlier. Probably would be best to keep saying nothing. That was his plan until Basilio addressed him.

"And you too, the muddy one."

Gaius looked down at himself, only now noticing what a mess he was from getting knocked around. On top of being soaked a good mess of that was mud slicked over his clothes and boots. He wasn't sure how he could be much muddier than anyone else here though. They were all probably a wreck.

"No problem. Wasn't like there was a rush; most of those guys didn't look interested in fighting much more anyway," he replied shortly.

"Those ones didn't. I wonder if that's going to be the case with the rest of those Plegians too. The way their king acts, wouldn't be surprised if they all turned on him," Basilio worked out, keeping the thought going.

"I hope they do stop, whatever happens at the end," Olivia replied quietly. She looked a bit uneasy about the subject, but at least was comfortable enough with the much bigger man.

Gaius thought on things for a moment, wondering if he really should keep his mouth shut or not. "Either way, we'll be alright. Chrom and all them'll stop it," he said after a moment, returning his gaze out the back of the wagon again.

He could feel Olivia's eyes on him now that he'd looked away, but he kept his gaze away. It seemed like it made her nervous.

"Chrom, everyone and yourself as well, right?" she asked gently. At that he couldn't help looking at her, a bit surprised.

"Yeah, yeah I guess I'll be there too, huh?" he said, feeling a bit stupid now that he did.

It's slight, but Olivia chuckles before turning redder. "I'm sorry, you just seem so out of it. You have to be so tired. I'll try not to laugh next time...You should take it easy."

He gave Olivia an odd smile, a bit crooked, yet grateful for the break. He wasn't going to be much more eloquent than that right then. That didn't become quite so clear until she pointed it out.

"We can keep an eye on the trail, don't worry about it," Basilio offered as well, making himself comfortable a bit further there in the wagon. Olivia nodded to show she would be helping as well. It was slow, but Gaius felt himself smiling a bit more easily.

"You got it covered then," he replied with a little more care for his words. There was supposed to be a "thank you" or something in there. Somehow it didn't happen. He couldn't really figure out why. The scrambled mess that was his thoughts settled down and he felt himself rest more heavily into the side of the wagon.

They still had to make it back to Ferox, but it didn't seem to far away now. Once they were there it was time to start all over. Whatever their losses were, it didn't stop here.

The strategy wasn't his to make, but he did have a place in that plan.