This chapter is pretty much inspired by the song Cry for You by September. "You'll never see me again, no matter what you do."

Finally, another chapter! It's longer than all the rest, so I hope you guys enjoy it!

And thank you to my reviewers and my 'Alerters' and everyone who's read this story /cough/ all 223 of you /cough, cough/. x]

Enjoy!

"Are you sure you want to do this?"

I nodded my head. I had never been so sure of anything in my entire life.

"Well then, Alastrina will be accompanying you," said Agatha, the elderly maid, as she finished packing some food into a brown leather pack.

Alastrina and I both did a double take.

"Pardon me?" She said, and by the tone in her voice I could tell she was near hysterics.

Only a few seconds after I rang the bell for her Agatha had appeared at the door, asking me if I knew that there was a footprint imprinted on the outside of the door. I told her about how I had been taken from my village and how I planned to escape, and she rushed down stairs and when she came back up she had Alastrina with her.

She was much smaller than me, fifteen to my seventeen, and seemed barely capable of holding a knife or a sword, much less being out in the wilderness without a dozen escorts. She had long wavy honey blond hair, skin like porcelain, blue eyes and freckles. And she had this bewildered way of looking up at you that made you want to hug her. … Or maybe that was just me.

"I don't want Lykaios going out alone… Anyways, you've always said you wanted to travel."

I cocked my head to the side, inspecting Agatha. I could practically hear what she was thinking. I don't want you to stay here… There's nothing for you here.

I looked to Alastrina as she tried to argue and be as polite as possible as to not offend me. She was too pretty to stay at a place like this without being hassled day in and day out. I could see why Agatha wanted her to go with me. No grandmother would want to watch her grandchild grow up in a place like this.

"But Yia Yia…" Alastrina looked back at me guiltily, "I don't want to go with her!"

Agatha and I exchanged a look over her head. I shrugged my shoulders and tapped my foot. We were losing time.

Agatha looked back down at her granddaughter and sighed, eyes turning cold. "You have no say in the matter." And then she sniffed in a way that said 'and that's the end of that conversation.'

Alastrina grew silent and folded her hands over her chest.

Agatha brought the two packs over to me and put one on my front and one on my back, then covered me in a cloth similar to the one she was wearing. "If you bend over and walk slowly they won't be able to tell you from me," she winked and pulled the cloth over my face.

"Where will you be?" I asked, adjusting the packs to make it look like I had a stomach and a hunch. "After you leave, where will you be?"

Agatha smiled and ran a hand through her gray hair, patting it back in the bun it was in. "I might disappear for a while until the storm had blown over."

"There's going to be a storm tonight?" Alastrina asked quietly.

I turned to look at her, "I think she meant all the trouble that's going to be going on here when they figure out I'm gone."

I looked back to Agatha just in time to see something flash in her eyes, "exactly right, dear."

There was a moment of silence, and I could tell I was standing in the middle of something. "I'll just, um, I'll just be waiting outside the door…" I said awkwardly, and walked out of the room.

I stood with my back to the wall and scuffed my feet on the ground. I could hear them mumbling inside the room, probably saying goodbye. I started to think about my family, about how I never got to say goodbye to them, but then I diminished the thought. Not now, I can't think about this right now.

I heard the door creak and looked up to see Alastrina wiping her eyes. She closed the door behind her and I gave her a small smile. She smiled back halfheartedly and her gaze dropped to the floor. I sighed and pulled the cloth down around my face. "Let's get this over with."

X

We were halfway down stairs when Alastrina grabbed my arm and wrapped it around hers. I looked at her questioningly and she patted my hand. "An old woman always needs help walking down stairs."

I nodded, forming an O with my mouth, and began to hunch over. We stepped out into the main part of the inn and I looked around, looking for him. At a table in the far corner I saw Euripholes and Eusebio drinking and laughing as Eusebio told a joke, and closer to the wall was Galen. I almost stopped dead. She was watching me, a curious glint in her eyes. She had her feet up on the table and her chair tilted back against the wall with her arms crossed over her chest. I looked away from her, feeling guilty about leaving her, and tilted my head up towards Alastrina as if I were talking to her.

She took my hint and patted my hand affectionately and steered me towards a swinging door. Once we were through I stood up, stretching out a kink in my back. Alastrina left me for a moment to go to a closet and pick out two cloaks. She threw one to me and I tugged off the packs and wrapped it around me. I followed her out another door and into the night. The wind was picking up and my legs turned to gooseflesh. I wrapped the cloak tighter around me and walked with Alastrina into, what smelled like, their stables.

As we walked I looked around at the animals. They had two cows, a pig and about twelve piglets, a mule, and then, as we came to the far end of the stable, I saw three horses. Two of them were giant black stallions and one was a strawberry brown mare.

"They're brothers," Alastrina said, walking into one of the boxes.

She motioned for me to do the same and I slipped in next to her. "This is Adrastos," she pointed to one of the brothers who was nuzzling her palm and then pointed to the other one who was standing off to the side, watching us with big eyes, "and that's Leodinas, you can ride him."

I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye. "He's not going to bite me, is he?"

Alastrina looked up at me with one eyebrow up. "Of course not… Why would you think he would?"

I looked back into the horses eyes warily. "It's a bit… unsettling how he's watching me…"

Alastrina looked from me to Leodinas and sighed. She clucked a few times and he walked right up to me, breathing hot air in my face as he looked down at me. She took my hand and put it on his soft nose and he took a few deep breaths before stepping back and nudging my shoulder.

"See," she said, one hand on her hip and the other on Adrastos's back, "nothing to worry about."

I patted Leodinas a few times, watching his face. I guess not.

X

Before we were even out of Thebes it began to rain.

I hunched over on Leodinas's back, trying to make myself as small as possible to conserve warmth, and looked up at the sky, grumbling. "Thanks a lot, Zeus."

Lightning flew through the sky, and seconds after a booming thunderclap.

I kept my thoughts to myself after that.

Alastrina was a few paces behind me, quiet as a mouse besides the chattering of her teeth. I still felt bad for her having to come with me. It wasn't like I didn't appreciate the company, but the thought of not being able to get up and go on my own schedule and having to protect not just me and Leodinas but her and Adrastos. Not to mention I now had to hunt for two.

I looked back at her. The chattering of her teeth was beginning to interfere with my hearing.

"Alastrina!" I called over the storm.

She looked up at me and wiped at her nose.

I sighed and let my shoulders slump. We were going to have to stop and get dry or she would catch cold. "We're going to stop soon!" I yelled back to her, "as soon as were out of Thebes!" I wanted to put as much space between Darius and us as possible.

She nodded and went back to slouching on Adrastos. She practically curled up on his back as she bent over and wrapped her arms around his neck. The big horse snorted, nodding his head a little as another burst of light shot through the sky. It was interesting how unafraid they were. The rain didn't bother them, neither did the lightning or thunder. They were both big broad shouldered horses, something like warhorses, but extremely mild mannered.

I had woken up briefly on my trip into Thebes, just as we were passing in, and memorized the landmarks. A large boulder to the left side and a few rocks piled up like there was once a sign stuck into the ground. I kept my eyes peeled for them and finally, after another hour or two, we passed them.

Alastrina rode up next to me and pointed up ahead of us, "there's a large tree over there, off the trail. We can stop there."

I smiled; she was just about to burst off the saddle if we didn't stop.

I nodded and began leading Leodinas off the road. We reached the tree and Alastrina jumped off Adrastos and led him underneath the thick branches. I looked like it could keep us dry, but it was too close to the road. Anyone riding by would see us. My heart clenched. He might be able to see us.

I sat tall on Leodinas's back, standing up in the stirrups to try and get a better look around.

"What are you doing?" Alastrina asked, worry on her face.

"I'll be right back," I said, nudging Leodinas into a walk. "Stay here."

As I began to walk away I heard her mumble "not like I have a choice…" I smiled.

I had this feeling… this odd feeling that was pulling me further and further away from the road and into the woods. It was like I was being willed into looking for something, and then as light tore through the sky I saw it. About fifteen meters away from the tree, in a densely packed ring of trees, was a small hut.

I looked up at the sky though the rain and smiled. "No hard feelings about earlier, eh?"

The only response I got back was the rumble of thunder.

X

Alastrina was already asleep, one arm wrapped around Adrastos's hoof and the other tucked under her. At first I had tried to move her, scared the giant horse would step on her, but when I walked over to move her he snorted and me and gave a look that pretty much told me he had it covered. Over the course of an hour he had moved all other feet except the one Alastrina was holding on to, and so I decided to leave them.

Leodinas stood on the other side of his brother, head handing low and swaying a bit with the wind. I couldn't figure out whether he liked me or not, and though it irked me I was glad he decided to stay near Adrastos. I didn't want him falling on top of me or accidentally stepping on me.

I shook my head and smiled, looking up into the sky. If the storm kept up we might have to stay put for another day. I laid down on my side and put my head on one of the packs as a makeshift pillow and closed my eyes. Every few minutes I light came in through my eyelids and thunder boomed, and it turned into a sort of soothing lullaby as my thoughts faded away.

X

When I woke up the next morning I hear Alastrina humming. I turned around and sat up, prying my eyes open.

She turned to me with a half a loaf of bread and offered it to me. "Hungry?"

I nodded and took it, nearly dropping it due to my slow working fingers. Alastrina dropped a water skin next to me as well, and then walked out of the hut with a bit of a spring in her step.

I frowned at her morning cheeriness and tore off a piece of bread with my teeth, shivering as a cold wind swept through the room. I sat cross-legged; pulling the tiny tunic down around my legs as far as it would go and ate my breakfast in silence.

The horses were no longer in the hut and I guessed that Alastrina was out with them as they grazed. After I finished I stood up and stretched, then walked out of the hut to find them.

The sky was no longer dark with rainclouds, but was still covered. A small drizzle fell from the sky, and mist lingered around the hut. I walked around the back and, sure enough, saw Alastrina with the horses. She was brushing Adrastos, humming that song and moving her feet like she was dancing.

I let out a laugh and she turned towards me, face red and embarrassed. "I'm sorry," I said, composing myself, "you just…"

She smirked, "yeah, I know."

I walked up to Leodinas and put my hand out toward him. He lifted his head off the ground, chewing on some grass, and took a couple steps toward me, nuzzling my hand. I smiled and patted him on the jaw.

"Where are we headed?" Alastrina asked as she went back to brushing Adrastos.

I began running my hands through Leodinas's hair as he ate. "I was thinking of going back to my village… It's just by Idku, about a days ride away."

Alastrina 'hummed. "And then what?"

The question caught me off guard. "I'm not… I'm not really sure."

"Well," she said, giving Adrastos a good look over, "I guess we'll just start there." She turned to head back to the hut and I turned with her. "Better be on our way."

X

It was a bit after noon when Alastrina pulled Adrastos off the road and into a small clearing. We were making good time so I had suggested that we stop for lunch. The sky had cleared up and I could feel myself burning from riding in the sun. As we entered the clearing I realized with a little jump that this was where we stopped when I was with Galen and Darius. I was instantly on guard.

"Alastrina?" I called.

She jumped off Adrastos and looked back at me, "yes?"

I swung off Leodinas. "Do you know how to fight?"

She shrugged and dug through the pack she was carrying, throwing me an apple and a piece of bread and then pulling the same for herself. "Adequately. I'm a lot better as an archer though."

I cocked an eyebrow as I took a bite out of the apple. "Archery?"

She nodded, leaning across Adastros's back. "Since I was little."

"Well do you have a bow and arrow?" I was nearly beaming at the idea of her being able to fend for herself if something went wrong and I wasn't there for her.

She scratched the back of her head, "mot exactfly," she said around a mouthful of bread.

I felt my eyebrow raise again. "What do you mean not exactly?"

She looked at me with those big blue eyes and turned her back, looking through the pack once again. When she turned around she had a wooden slingshot in her hands.

My face fell. "You're joking me, right?"

She swung it around a bit, scuffing her feet on the ground. "It's not as weak as you think it is…"

I sighed and gave the rest of my apple to Leodinas. "Can you kill something with it?"

Her eyes grew wide. "Kill something? As in… people?"

I nearly rolled my eyes. "Yes, people. Could you kill somebody with that? Maim, hurt, blind, you know."

She stayed silent and watched me with innocent eyes.

"If you were attacked, right now, could you protect yourself with that slingshot?"

She blinked slowly and looked down at the piece of wood in her hands. "… I guess. With a well aimed shot and a big enough rock."

"I wish to hit him on the head with a very large rock." I mumbled.

"On occasion so do I." Galen whispered with a smile.

I blinked out of my vision. That was… odd. I blinked again and looked back to Alastrina. She was waiting for me to speak.

"Um, right," I mumbled, tucking the piece of bread into my belt. "I'm going to pretend to attack you…" I said, walking backwards. "I want you to hit me on either my arms," I pointed to my upper arm, "or my back. So close your eyes and when you think you hear me open them."

Alastrina cocked an eyebrow but leaned down and picked up a few rocks. She straightened up, rolled her shoulders and closed her eyes.

I looked around for a moment, trying to figure out how I was going to get around her without making noise. Then I had an idea.

I moved over towards Leodinas and began pushing him forward. He looked back at me for a second and then began walking forward, his hooves covering the noise my feet were making. Alastrina moved a bit to the side, listening to him walk. I got all the way behind her without her opening her eyes. After a few moments I decided she was never going to hear me, so I bent down and picked up a stick. I turned, ready to run, and snapped the stick in half.

Before I had even gotten four feet away I felt six sharp pinches on my back. I yelped and spun around.

Alastrina was standing there, biting her lips, trying to keep away the smile that was creeping onto her face.

"Did you shoot all of those at the same time?" I whined, rubbing my stinging back.

Still biting her lip she shook her head side to side, but then her shoulders started shaking and she nodded her head, laughing. "I'm sorry," she said though giggles, "you toldme to shoot…"

I rubbed my back, eyes narrowing at her. I felt the smile on my lips as I walked back towards Leodinas. "Yes, I know…"

X

The sky that night was eerily clear. It was sort of glossy and sparkly, and the wind continued to pick up. The full moon bathed everything in a white glow, making things seem peaceful.

We stopped in the woods just outside my village. I told Alastrina I didn't want to get too close, just in case, so we camped out under the stars.

I wrapped my arms around my knees and pulled them close to me.

I wonder where he is; if he was coming after me or not.

The wind picked up and I looked up at the moon, listening to the rustling of the leaves and Alastrina's slow breathing.

Probably not… I'm sure he has other things to worry about.

I thought back to what Galen told me the night I left. And then what Euripholes had said on the way to Thebes. He's not human. God child. He's trying to start a war. I clenched my fists. He destroyed my village. He killed my family, took me from my home. My eyes narrowed, what was he doing? Why a war?

And most importantly; why, if he had done all of these things to me, was I starting to miss him?

There's a name for that- Lykaios missing Darius. It's called Stockholm Syndrome. Although I don't believe she's been with him long enough to have it, but, oh well! -insert sneaky face here-

Anyways! Please review! I would appreciate it!

xOxO

FFCP