It was cold outside, a winter breeze blowing through the autumn leaves which were already almost half on the ground. Kaden wrapped her sweater closer around her arms, and goosebumps rose on her skin. She shivered, and smiled. This was a new day, cold or not, and she was going on yet another adventure. She was just a little bit excited. Hahaha, understatement of the year. Kaden thought. I am very excited, I'm just trying to hide my excitement.

She walked up to her father who was standing with her to say goodbye and to tell the men with her what to do. She looked at all of the knights with their mounts, and counted. There were only about four of them. She thought there would be more, but maybe Jonathan just didn't want to draw attention to just a simple country girl. It wasn't like she was some kind of royalty that needed twenty men for protection. She laughed to herself again.

"There will be more of them meeting you on the way." Kaden gave her father a look of confusion. "You didn't think I'd let my daughter go with four men, a squire, and a few handmaids, did you?"

"Well, I thought you weren't trying to draw attention." She smiled at him.

"You'll be meeting them about halfway. They've been in Goldenlake with the citizens, trying to figure things out, but it hasn't been that helpful. It'll take you about five days to get to where they'll be."

"Alright." Kaden took a deep breath. "Why are you sending me again? I'm not any different than a couple of knights."

"You are, Kaden. And, it's five knights. But, you solved that mystery last year, with the Wolf, and you did a very good job of it. I am very proud of you."

"Don't get all sentimental on me." She smiled and hugged her father. "I'll go get my pack." She walked over to her horse, Moonflower, and attached her pack to her strawberry gelding. She stroked her nose.

"You ready to go?" Damek said beside her. He had his horse with him, and he was smiling ear to ear.

"Of course I am. Are you?" She said, jumping onto Moonflower. Damek did the same.

"Definately." They rode towards the group of knights, and Jonathan walked towards Kaden.

"This is Bis, and he's the leader. So, if you need anything, ask him." Bis nodded his head, and introduced the rest of the group: Perie, Odus, and Jan. Kaden nodded to each of them, and introduced Damek and herself. "Be safe, and try to come back with something useful for me, alright?"

"Yes, sir." She said, smiled, and rode away. Looking behind her, the King blew a kiss, and she laughed.

"Wow, so that was the King?" Damek said, riding beside her.

"Haven't you ever met him before?" Kaden asked.

"Of course I have, but not when he's acting like a normal human being. He's royalty, for Gods sake. I've never seen royalty act that comfortable."

"Well, you haven't seen much, have you?" Kaden laughed. "I'm sorry, but, it's just that you haven't really been around royalty that much, have you?"

"No, I haven't." Damek frowned. "Of course I haven't. I'm not as brave and heroic as you." He said jokingly, but Kaden hit him. "Ow!"

"Baby." Kaden teased.

"Hey, I am not a baby." Damek said defensively.

"That shouldn't have hurt." Kaden said. "Besides, you're becoming a knight soon."

"Don't worry. We'll toughen him up." Bis said cheerfully. Damek looked frightened for a second, and Kaden laughed. He glared at her.

"Good on you. He needs to be toughened. He's too soft." Kaden told the men and got another glare from Damek.

"You're going to pay for this." Damek whispered in her ear. She just laughed even more. "What?"

"Well, how am I supposed to take you seriously? I could beat you any day." Damek cocked one eyebrow, and grinned.

"Are you betting on that?" He asked.

"Maybe."

"Do you want to bet on that?" He asked again.

"Are you ready to handle it?" Kaden recoiled.

"Handle what?"

"Gods, Damek. You're such a dolt." Kaden laughed again.

"I'm hearing fighting back there. There should not be fighting." Bis said.

"He's too much of a baby to challenge me."
"I am not! I challenged you first." Damek defended himself.

"But you're not ready to beat me. Admit it. I'm better than you." Kaden smiled, and rode ahead. "Come on. Race me?"

"You're on!" Damek kicked his horse into a gallop, and they rode on ahead.

"Don't get too far, children!!" Bis yelled. "Ahhh, they're not going to listen to me, are they?" He asked.

"Don't think so, Bis." Odus replied.

"Let's go get them, then." Jan started to ride ahead, the others on his heels.

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They had set up camp a little further into the forest, with heavy bedrolls set up and a firepit already made. Jan and Odus had gone to get food, while Perie was caring for the horses. Bis had been getting the supplies out to make them supper, and Kaden and Damek were left to do what Bis bid them to.

"Firewood." Bis muttered.

"That's all that's left to do?" Kaden asked.

"Hurry. It's getting dark." The sky had already turned an indigo, and stars were appearing here and there. The moon wasn't fully in the sky, but it was a dark orange. It was a beautiful sight.

Kaden started walking into the woods, finding a spot with a good amount of fallen trees. She picked out the pieces that weren't rotten, and kept walking.

"Damek, hurry up." He was staring at the sky, admiring the view. "Damek!" He was startled out of his trance, and caught up to Kaden, who was already behind another tree, and picking up more firewood. "Here, take this." She handed him the firewood she had already collected.

"Look at the stars, Kaden." He said, randomly.

"I already did. They're beautiful." She said, distracted.

"Did you see the moon?"

"Orange. Very unusual for winter." She kept walking, and he had to run to keep up.

"Kaden, is there something bothering you?" Damek asked, and when he got no answer, he put the firewood down, and walked over to Kaden. She looked up at him, and he lifted her chin so she would look him in the eyes. "Kaden, what's wrong?"

"There's nothing wrong." She said. "Now, help me get this firewood back to Bis."

"Kaden."

"What?" She said, staring at him. He moved in to kiss her, and she moved in to kiss him back, but they were interrupted by Jan and Odus. They had two wild chickens with them, and were chatting about something Kaden couldn't quite hear. Kaden blushed, and was glad it was getting even darker out.

Kaden shook her head. "We should bring this back..."

"Yes, we should." Damek said, and picked up the wood he had set on the ground.

When they got back to camp, Perie was helping Odus pluck the chickens and skin them. Jan was making a roasting stick to put the chickens on.

"Where's Bis?" Damek asked.

"He's getting water at the water hole." Odus replied. Damek shrugged and put his firewood down. He took the firewood from Kaden and set it in the same place, and then started to make a fire.

"I'll go get him." Kaden said. When no one protested, she started walking down to the spot where she thought was the water hole.

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A/N: So, another boring chapter, with nothing in particular exciting happening, but, it all needs to be done! The leaving, and the traveling. They still have another four days of traveling to do. So, I think some of that needs to be written, despite how boring it is. I am enjoying it, though.

I hope you're enjoying it as much as I am. Anyways, REVIEW. I haven't even gotten reviews for the fifth chapter yet. HURRY AND REVIEW!

Love you all. 3.