Apparently people like this story, even though I don't get reviews -.- SO I'm going to update. I read through the last chapter and realized at one point it says 'we thought it was a girl with puberty issues' I meant 'a boy with puberty issues.' sorry. Mah Mistake =S But here's the chapter.

I woke up the next morning, the first of everyone, as always. Or so I thought. When I walked out of my tent, to take Cam off his watch of the boys, so he could sleep for an hour. I stood outside the tent and heard whispering coming from inside.

"...escape..."

"How?"

"...got... plan..."

I went and opened the door and the tent, with my hands on my hips, and one eyebrow raised. They had all stopped and their mouths were opened, in mid sentence. Christian had an oh-shit-we're-sooooo-busted look on his face, which made me smirk.

"Do you really?" I asked with mild interest. I was smirking fully now.

"Well shit." Christian swore, all his friends looking away, not able to meet my eyes.

"You realize that this isn't one of those Pirates of the Caribbean movies where Orlando Bloom or Johnny Depp's character is captured by the newest bad guy and he has to make a super great plan to escape before they kill him. This is the real world, where the only reason you're under guard is because we don't want you to kill us. We're not going to hurt you, if you don't hurt us." I explained, almost laughing at my reference to Pirates.

Dake, Justen and Dylan were all sniggering, obviously enjoying Christian being made fun of. I turned on them and shook my head.

"I'm talking to you guys too."

They immediately stopped laughing and Christian snorted.

"I'd honestly let you guys go free if I knew what you'd do. If I were alone, or just with my friends, like you, I'd let you guys join the camp, and go 'round free. But, I can't do that in good conscience when all of us have all of our family to protect. I need to know that I can trust you. I hope you understand." I finished, getting up and turning to go.

"Wait. Syrr, can I talk to you alone?" Christian asked.

I nodded. We stepped outside and I saw Cam sitting at the fire. I called him over to watch the guy's tent, and I started walking around the camp with Christian.

"What's up?" I asked, looking out into the forest. The trees were fully green now and the flowers were in full bloom. It was mid-may, and it was pretty depressing, how long it's been, and how nothing's gone back to normal yet.

"Well, I was thinking about what you said yesterday, about you all having family, and how we don't... and how you just said that you are protecting your family, as if all of the people in your camp are your family, not just your sisters." he paused, and looked over at me. "That's how the four of us are, we're brothers, in the closest sense other than blood. I know how you feel... I was out of line-"

"No Christian, I was out of line, acting as if you guys didn't care about each other. Even if you're not family doesn't mean you're not looking out for each other. I'm sorry." I appoligized, feeling funny about it.

"I would've said the same thing if I had been in your place Syrr." he answered. We walked in silence for about ten minutes, just circling the camp, me with holding my bow, and the quiver strapped on my back. Christian was in the same thing he'd been wearing yesterday, some jeans and dark green t-shirt, that matched his eyes.

"Syrr?" he said my name, as if it was a question just on it's own.

"Mm?"

"The reason I wanted to talk to you was because... well... I was wondering if we could join your... group thing. I mean, I know what you said before, that you can't trust us, not with all of your family at stake, I'm just asking you to think about it." He asked, looking down at the ground. He turned and headed back to the boy's tent, and got back in, leaving me standing beside my tent.

I turned and entered it, and saw that the three girls weren't in the tent. Their stuff was gone too, they were packing up their things, and getting their horses ready. I rolled up my stuff and carried them over to where Harry, Stormy, Pearl and Shadow were tethered, and went back to take down the tent. Ry, Cam and Tynk came over to help me take down the tent. I told them about what Christian had asked, on behalf of Dake, Dylan and Justen and asked their opinions.

"We need to make sure that they wont hurt anybody." Cam said, his face a mask of concern.

"I think that it's a good idea, I mean, they'll add to the overall protection of everyone and they seem pretty trustworthy..." Tynk said.

"I agree, it's just, we need to find a way to make sure that we can trust them, you know? A fail safe way to get their loyalty, you know?" Ry said, thinking.

"Yeah but how..." Cam thought.

"For now we'll just have to hope that they'll be honest I guess." I said.

The others nodded, and I went and had the same conversation with Elli, Letta and Ty what they thought, and came out with the same nature of responses.

When everything was finally ready to go, I called the boys over. I took four horses, Chester for Dake, Wesley for Justen, Salut for Dylan and Kari for Christian. They all took the horses with confused looks before I shook my head at them and explained.

"These are the thing that you're going to be riding called horses. You know, what people used before cars." I explained, making them sound stupid.

"Of course, you'd know all about riding wouldn't you Syrr?" Christian asked, inferring something that had nothing to do with equines. He had the biggest smirk on his face, all traces of the mature person I'd seen earlier not showing through.

I rolled my eyes and mounted Pearl, Shadow coming up to nuzzle my knee. I reached down and stroked his dark nose, smiling at him. Harry and Stormy were both standing close to Pearl, and not just because their reins were attached to hers. I looked around at everyone and nodded to the others. They all boxed the boys in, leaving them no way to get out of the circle. Ty'd though of that.

I kicked Pearl to go and we started trotting through the forest, back down the path we'd come in. I led the horses out onto the road and kept heading for Richmond.

"So, where do you guys think we should go, you know, for when we need to settle in for the winter? We need to travel faster for sure, and get to someplace warmer than ottawa but where?" I asked the others.

"I was in Oregon, Portland and it was warmer in the winters there than it is here." Dake said.

"And it'll also probably take about a year to get there. We don't have the time for that. We need to get somewhere warmer within 5 or 6 months." I said, sighing. How was I actually supposed to know how long it would take us to get anywhere?

"Well what if we were to just try making our way down south?" Christian started. "If we just went from town to town, until we had to stop, then that'd be pretty good, you know? We'd get fairly far south, and then it'd warmer. If we got at least out of New York, then we'd be warmer."

I nodded. "Right. What if we were to make our way southwest, since the great lakes are sort of in our way, and then we'd end up in a city for the winter, just like Christian said." I took out a compas and slowed Pearl, getting her to stand still, so I could see which way we were going. We were going between SW and S so eventually we'd have to turn ourselves a little, so we were just going SW but for now this was good. Thankfully we hadn't been going North. That would've been super counter productive.

"Forwards we go I guess then Syrr." Tynk said, looking over my shoulder at the compass from Lance's back.

"Forwards we go." I agreed.

I was riding behind Syrr, with Ry beside me, and I was off in my own world, not really paying attention to the changing landscape, or any of the others, when I heard a rustling, that turned into a crashing, that turned into a person tripping out of the woods beside us, bloody, and limping. It was a woman, who looked like she was in her forties, and she was sobbing uncontrollably. Her arms were crossed and she looked like she was holding a pile of rags. Blood was dripping down her dirt-covered forehead, and her dark, curly hair stuck to her mocha-coloured skin.

She ran towards us and Syrr's horse reared slighty, and then she calmed her, stroking her neck. I rode up beside her.

"What're we going to do?" I whispered.

"I'll ask her about what happened." she answered quietly. Then scar on her face making her look even more grim than normal.

"What's your name?" Syrr called to the woman.

Syrr, we don't exactly have time for pleasantries if the person who hurt this lady is nearby.

"Louisah. Louisah Elstone." she said, trying to stop her sobs. "Please you need to help us."

There was a squeal from her direction, and the bundle of rags moved. It was a baby. I couldn't see much, but it looked like the baby was unharmed. Louisah approached us cautiously, and shoved the baby into Syrr's arms.

"Please, you need to take care of my granddaughter. My daughter was killed by them! Please! Don't let her die!" Louisah turned to the place in the woods where she'd exited and I heard some crashing. Her eyes glazed over in fear and she approached the opening.

"The men of the New Age are coming. You must ride away, now, if you are to get away without any notice." Louisah urged.

"But-" Syrr started.

"Go."

Syrr kicked pearl to go and she started to canter, gaining speed quickly. We raced away, and I turned around, getting one last sight of Louisah, before we turned a corner. Then there was a blood curdling scream, and silence. I then knew, that Louisah Elstone, was dead.

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

Riding one-handed isn't as easy as it seems, especially not when you've got a baby in your arms. When we'd cantered for about twenty minutes I slowed us down to a walk and dropped my reins, relying on Pearl to listen to my leg signals. I took the rags away from the baby girl's face. She looked just like her grandmother, with brown eyes and dark skin, and frissy hair. She giggled up at me, and waved her arms around, looking as if her grandmother hadn't just been murdered.

"She never even told us your name." I whispered.

"What're you going to name her?" Ry asked, riding up beside me.

"I think I'll call her Harmony." I answered, as Harmony smiled. "Harmony Louisah Elstone."

"I like it." Tynk said, coming up beside me.

I looked down at this girl, who looked like she was around a year old. I looked around the blanket-that really looked more like a pile of rags-, looking at the tag. It said 'Baby girl, March 23rd, 2011' meaning, the march of last year. So little Harmony was about 18 months, give or take a few.

"How're we going to feed her properly?" I asked, after riding a few minutes in silence.

"Well we just cut her food really small. If the people from the Middle Ages could do it, so can we, especially with all the newer technology we have, that still works." Cam said.

I nodded, adding that to the list of mental notes that were slowly becoming too numerous to remember. I needed some paper, and a pen, just to write things down. It'd be nice to be able to remember something when it was needed, instead of just remembering them later, when it was too late anyways. I hate being the one who needs to remember everything, the one who needs to solve all the problems, the one who doesn't have anybody to lean on, because of it. The one who needs to stay strong, no matter what.

But that's what you chose, and that's how it stays.

We ended up stopping, and cutting up some food, and putting it in little containers, to keep for later for Harmony. We set off again, in silence mostly, sometimes broken with a small joke or comment.

"Stop your horses, now! And keep your hands away from your weapons! Do it now!" A man's voice called, from the woods. I Held the baby close to my body, protecting her from harm. My bow was hopefully hidden from view, and it had one arrows strung on it.

"Even you SCarface!" the man called.

Jerk.

"Show yourself!" I called, putting my weapons out in front of me.

The man stepped out of the woods. He was barely a man, about twenty years old, maybe. He had golden brown hair and slightly tanned skin. He had a bit of stubble on his face and stood at about 6 feet. He was fairly muscular and was holding a bow that had an arrow nocked and ready. He looked like he meant buisness. Out of the woods also stepped a few others. A girl with long, wavy blond hair, about eight years old, with an attitude of completely superiority. She was holding a scary looking dagger.

There was also a boy at around twelve years old, with short black hair, and olive skin. He had a longer looking weapon, almost like a sword. He looked very grim. There were also two twins, about the same age as the leader, both holding a bow as well. They had curly blonde hair, and were both about 5'11''.

"Wow. You guys sure look threatening." I said, walking my horse slowly towards them.

"Stop where you are!" the brunet warned. I stopped Pearl and waited, making sure Harmony couldn't see them, and wouldn't notice that anything was wrong.

"What's your story this time?" I asked. I had decided to stop bothering with the name thing. I'd rather not know who killed me.

"There's been numerous times like this?" he asked, smirking. So he wasn't a complete psychopath, he had a sense of humor.

"Yupp." I popped the 'p'. "And I'd rather not recommence it. And think about it, you can only imagine what we've been through, just as we can only do the same with you. I'm sure we can work something out." I smiled prettily.

He snorted. "Not a chance beautiful, I've got something better for you guys." He grinned and motionned for his guys to come over. At that time Harmony chose to squeal, and then begin crying.

I bounced her up and down, and tried not to show my fright. "Shhh... come on Har now's not the time sweetheart. Syrr's here for you sweetie, I promise we'll be okay, we promised Louisah. Please sweetie. Shhhhhh it's okay..."

The leader cocked an eyebrow, but kept his weapon at the ready.

"Oh for goodness' sake, can I please just get her something to eat? She's only a baby." I pleaded.

"Nate, come on." the little eight year old girl said to the brunet -Nate- while pulling at his sleeve. "Nate it's a little baby. Please?"

"Fine, but go slowly." Nate said, holding his bow tightly, it's arrow trained on me.

"Shhh Har we're going to get you something to eat now sweetheart shhh..." I bounced her in my arms, while I tried to open my saddle pack with one hand. I grabbed some of the food we cut up earlier for Harmony, and grabbed a spoon. "There you go Har, mmmm you like that right?"

She munched on it quietly, and I wiped the tears off her face. She smiled a little and I heard a sigh, and looked up to see the little blonde girl making the 'awww' face. I could definitely use that to my advantage, seeing as she seemed to be related to Nate.

"You want to see her?" I asked, smiling. The little girl nodded, smiling shyly and walked over, slowly. Nate tried to stop her but she was already here, and Harmony did the best thing she could've, and cooed at her, and then giggled.

"What's her name?" she was almost glowing, at the sight of somebody younger than her.

"Harmony, and I'm Syrr, what's your name?" I asked her, holding Harmony up, so that she was the center of attention.

"My name is Serenity, and that's my brother Nate, and the twins are Mark and Jeremy. And he's Leo." She pointed each of them out. She then pursed her lips and walked back to them.

I smiled and re-mounted Pearl. "Are you sure we can't work something out?" I asked.

"I'm sure. And I've got the perfect thing for you." Nate grinned, but it didn't seem as charming as it would've, without the Bow and arrows. He walked forwards and grabbed my hand, pulling me down to his eye level. "Have you ever nannied before Syrr?" he whispered.

My eyes widened. "Are you-"

"My sister seems to have taken a liking to you, which doesn't happen often, so, if you..." he paused, coming really close, his hot breath on my ear. I shivered, wanting so badly to yank my arm away, but not daring to jar Harmony any more than I did when I was pulled down. "behave... then I'll let you and your friends live. Got it?"

When I said I didn't like my job, I didn't mean that I wanted to lose it like this...

"Got it." I nodded.

"Good. Ren?" he called over to her. "Come and get on this horse here." He pointed to Stormy.

"Stormy's too advanced for her." I said. "She should probably ride Pearl." I got down and mounted Stormy. That wasn't entirely true. Yes, Stormy was too advance for her, but so was Pearl. But, Stormy is faster than Pearl, and could beat her easily if it came down to that.

"You know you're not the boss of me Nate. Or should I say Nathaniel?" she put her hands on her hips in defiance, her lip curled up. She flipped her hair and stood still where she was.

I reached down quickly and grabbed her, making sure that Har wasn't harmed in the process. I grabbed an arrow and put it to Serenity's neck. "Drop your weapons, over there. Do it now or she dies!" I shouted. I really didn't want to kill Serenity. I really didn't, but bluffing always works. Most of the time.

Nate looked sourly at me, his blue eyes shooting daggers as he complied, with the rest of his crew. They all walked over to where they'd been standing, weaponless, and I nodded to Ry and Tynk, wh both ran to get the weapons without needing to be told what they needed to do.

"Oh how the tables have turned." Nate spat out.

I smiled slightly. "So, now what I need to do, is something really unpleasant." I let that hang in the air for a few seconds, and then bent down to whisper to Serenity.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-

"What's she saying Ry?" I bent over to whisper to Elli.

"I don't know... whisper whisper whisper..." she giggled. Her blonde curls bounced slightly.

I rolled my eyes and smiled, it was nice that she hadn't lost her sense of humor yet. Syrr definitely isn't the same. She's gotten more mature. As if she gained ten years in two weeks. It's sad really. But one person had to. And for all that I am, I pride myself in never being self-centered, but I thank God that it wasn't me who had to give up the rest of my childhood for this.

Syrr lifted her head again and spoke to Nathaniel. "I will give you one chance to surrender to us. If you refuse, then we will take Serenity and be on our way. I also would like to extend a welcome hand to any individual in your party that would like to come with us, then they may come, with or without you. Whatever you wish."

"No. I will not come." he refused. "And Ren isn't going. She's staying with her flesh and blood. This is kidnapping!"

"Sweetheart, it's time for a newsflash- noone is running by the same rules anymore." she said sweetly.

I kicked Daisy to move forwards and stopped her beside Pearl. "What are you doing? Separating families!" I whispered frantically.

"Just go with it, I know what I'm doing." she said, her eyes begging me to wait and see what happened at the end. I sighed, resigned and sat back in my saddle, nodding at her to continue, as if she needed my permission to go on.

"I'm staying with Syrr Nate. I don't want to be scared anymore, I don't want to attack people anymore. I just want to be happy, and have a family, and be safe." Serenity said, her eyes tearful.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-

The little black haired boy- well not that little I guess, seeing as he was about Jessalyn's age- stepped forwards, and came forward until he stopped six feet away from me. "I want to join too." he said quietly. I silently noted that this was the first time this boy has spoken.

I smiled at him. "'Course you can bud." I realized I was still holding the arrow to Serenity's neck, and took it away, but kept it in view of Nate.

"Leo!" Nate cried angrily.

Leo shrugged. "I feel same as Ren. I want to feel secure, not like a criminal for hunting down people to do what we want them to."

Mark and Jeremy both came forwards too. When Nate glared at both of them, they just shrugged as well. "Leo and Ren are right. The world don't need no more bad guys." Jeremy said.

"So, you guys are all choosing her over me?" Nate looked defeated. They all nodded at him and his shoulders sagged hugely. "Well then I guess I'm in too." I smiled and dismounted, helping Serenity down as well. I still had Harmony in my arms so I gave her to Ry, and walked over to Nate.

"I'm sorry Nate, that things didn't go the way you planned." I put a hand on his shoulder and he looked up at me. "But Jeremy is right. This world really doesn't need any more bad guys."

"Are there really bad guys though? Or are there just the people who use what they've got, and the people who abuse it?" Nate asked nobody in particular.

I smiled. "You're wise, for someone who isn't using his brain much." I joked.

He smiled a little. "You're not going to be able to trust me for awhile are you?"

"We'll see." I turned and walked back to Pearl. I mounted her and rode back to where Lucy was sitting contentedly on Abby. "Do you think Serenity could have either Strawberry or Tinkerbell?" I asked.

After a short pause she nodded and gave Serenity Tinkerbell, who smiled brightly, and took the offered horse. One thing with all this adding of people, is the fact that we're losing food, fast.

Symba barked, and then Jazz, who was standing beside Ry's horse on a leash, barked back. Then Max started barking, and then Spot started meowling, and it was really quite upsetting.

"Holy sh-" Nate started but a raised eyebrow and a glare from me shut him up. "You keep dogs?"

"That seems to surprise alot of people." Elli said to him.

"Whatever. Where are we going?" he asked.

"South." Christian answered, a little hostilely.

"I know just the place." Nate grinned.

So it's finished! It's taken me alot longer than I planned but it's up! So, for those few who actually read this, I hope you like it! And please review, please. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. But if you're going to flame, save it. Thanks!