AN: Super sorry for the long wait and for such a short chapter. The back to school craziness was kind of throwing me off wack for a week and I literally slept for eighteen hours when I got home last Friday. So anyway, I'm starting something kind of new for this Fanficiton. At the end of each chapter I'll also add a poem of sorts. First one will be posted with this chapter. If you want to submit any poems about the series, just DM me and I'll add it EXACTLY AS YOU TYPED IT along with your name if you want me to add your name. If not just put "Anonymous" and that'll work too. Thanks guys for the patience!

Viola

"Yer mad at me."

Todd's voice floats in from the flap of a spackle tent I was sitting in. I sigh.

"No."

It was true. I wasn't mad at him. I was mad at whatever had made him forget me.

"Yes you are. I can tell."

I look up at him and my heart shudders. His hair is cut short, like when I first met him, and his blue eyes are full of sadness. He stands uncertain, his face scrunched up like he was trying to read me; like he knew me as well as he used to.

"How can you tell, Todd? Cause I'm not mad."

He looks at me for a moment and then glances down at his feet, "I just can tell." He sets his feet straight and looks me in the eye this time, "Lee sent me to come get you. Say's we're leaving for the ocean in a few and he wants you to make certain you've got yerself a horse."

For a moment I almost ask why I couldn't ride Angharrad and then remember that she was, after all Todd's horse and not mine. And I no longer had Acorn. I stand and brush past him. I hear him softly exhale and for a moment, it almost sounded like he said my name.

Todd

I follow Viola back outside. We were a stones throw away from the path to the top of the hilltop. The spot where the road to Haven began and zig zagged all the way down. Groups of men, women, and Spackle were milling about. They were the only few people left in town that hadn't already headed to the Ocean.

We part ways as she goes towards the stables and I towards Angharrad. My Noise swirls slowly with confushun at why I want to run after her and tell her that I was sorry. Sorry for what? I wanted to know.

Angharrad nips at me gently and I rub a hand absently through her mane. She had calmed down since our reunion. She no longer felt panicked when I disappeared, though she would constantly ask me if I was okay when I came back. Even now I heard the word Okay? shoot into the air. I murmur back to her, "I'm fine girl. Yer fine. Let's find Ben."

A Spackle near me hears Ben's name and immediately the askings go up. Within a minute the Spackle responds in our language. He is by the Convoy. He is waiting for you and your One in Particular to join him.

"I'm not his One in Particular."

I whirl around in surprise and see Viola sitting on a white and brown speckled horse. Angharrad greets the beast with a wholehearted Submit! But then moves forward to bump noses. The comment stings even though it was true. We weren't together in that way. Not at the moment at least.

The Spackle however doesn't seem to hear and turns away, continuing his talk with one of the city women.

Viola looks down at me and her voice is almost monotone, "Let's go. Lee said Ben's waiting."

I mount up and reply softly, "I know." But she's already turning away.

We ride in silence towards New Haven. Haven had been completely destroyed by the river, and not only was it gone, but it was no longer a valley. It was a lake. The backed up dam had caused the rivers to completely change course and the main bit of it had dumped right where hundreds of people used to live. Now we lived up past where the Answer's camp site had been; a few miles west of where the Convoy landed.

Ben told me all about the Convoy and the things I had missed in my sleep. Once things had settled down and the Spackle had decided not to kill all of us, there was a sudden rush to get things ready for the thousands of new people coming to New World. We had to cut trees by the hundreds, making room for expanshun while building what we needed. Setting up trade posts and treaty's with the Spackle was tricky as it had been in the beginning. Because all of Mayor Prentiss's loyal men died in the initial flood, the Spackle had nobody to demand punishment. They tried to protest against the remainder of Mistress Coyle's Answer, but that cry got shot down quickly. They were our best healers and honestly they weren't doing no harm to anyone anymore.

I'm pulled out of my speculashun as we approach the Convoy. It was slowly being taken apart for scrap metal that was being used for things like tools and houses. Viola tried explaining the wires and buttons on the inside but I just couldn't understand it.

Ben sees us coming and walks over, "There you are." He says, sounding relieved, "I was starting to worry Lee had forgotten you two."

Viola grins, "Lee may not have any eyes, but he has a brain."

Ben smiles up at her and then asks, "Are you two riding with Wilf or riding together?"

I look at Viola, hopeful that she would choose to ride alongside me. I did want to get to know her again. Truly.

But she says without pause, "I'll ride with Wilf."

She slides off her horse and goes to the waiting ox cart where Wilf is hooking up his oxen for the long trip. Ben approaches me.

"She ain't never going to talk to me right again is she?"

Ben frowns and tells me, "I'll talk to her. Have you remembered anything at all?"

I shake my head sadly, "No. It's like she's been erased, even though everything else is crystal clear."

Ben gives me a long look and finally says, "You'll remember her. If not, you'll simply reestablish that bond."

"Thanks." I mutter, but a tiny voice in my head is wondering if Viola will even allow me to reestablish the bond at all.

Todd-

Submistted by Fictionstar13

I am the circle

And the circle is me

Wipes away Todd's

Misery