"Mina, you need to forget about him. You can't just mope around forever." Carole said, watching with one eyebrow raised as I gently stroked Solar's neck.

"I know that, Carole. He saved me and I let him go. He could be anywhere now." I sighed, resting my forehead against Solar's who let out a snort.

"That isn't your fault, Mina. Dack's a grown man and you have nothing to feel guilty for. If he decides to leave then so be it." Carole pointed out and I turned my head, reaching for Solar's reins. As I began to lead my horse outside Carole watched, shaking her head before she followed. "Now where are you going?" She asked as I pulled myself onto Solar's back, lightly tapping her side with my boot.

"For a ride. Maybe that'll clear my head." I replied as Solar broke into a cantar, letting me lead her back into the forest.

Maybe then I can forget all about that thief.

Solar raced through the forest, her hooves kicking up dirt as I held on tight to her reins. We quickly raced past the spot I'd fallen only days earlier and I smiled briefly until I remembered I was supposed to forget about him and the smile died, replaced with a hollow feeling in the pit of my stomach. Oblivious to my discomfort, Solar raced on coming to a halt when I gently tugged on her reins.

Skidding to a halt she snorted, watching on curious when I jumped from her back. My boots left an impression when I landed, my footsteps delicate as I wandered towards a nearby flowerbush. "Huh, never even noticed this before." I muttered, taking a moment to check it out. "Purple flowers. They're really pretty." I whispered, my fingers curling around one before I knelt. Taking a quick sniff I coughed, inhaling a noseful of pollen that had me sneezing uncontrollably.

In seconds my eyes watered, leaving my eyesight blurred. Unable to see I stumbled with my arms out in front of me only coming to a halt when I bumped into something solid, making me stumble until I felt someone gripping my shoulders. "Hey, easy. Didn't think I would run into you again." A familar voice told me, holding me upright as I rubbed at my watery eyes.

"Huh who said that?" I muttered, my vision clearing enough to make out a pair of hazel eyes staring at me. "Is that you, Dack?"

"How many other handsome thieves do you see?" Dack asked as I rubbed at my eyes, trying to clear them. "Mina, your eyes are all red." He commented, laughing when I snorted.

"Stupid pollen's in my nose and eyes." I grumbled, reaching towards my eyes until Dack grabbed my hand with his red one. "Dack, why did you stop me?"

"Maybe because you'll blind yourself further? That pollen's pretty painful if you get it in your eyes and besides you did enhale a noseful..." He trailed off when my eyes glowed blue, his grip tightening on my hand until the glow faded. Unable to help it I let out a yelp, my vision blurred as Dack stood over me.

"Oww. It really hurts, Dack." I whimpered, eyes stinging until I closed them.

"I know, Mina. But if you rub your eyes it'll hurt more. I'll bring you back to your house and then we should get a healer." Dack told me and I nodded slightly, feeling his hands grip my own. Guilding me Dack led me back to Solar's side and after a struggle he managed to help me onto her saddle. Once he climbed up behind me he gripped her reins in one hand, his branded hand wrapped securily around my waist before he urged Solar into a canter.

Temporarely blinded, at least I hoped so anyway, I relied on Dack to get all three of us safely back to my home. For once Dack hadn't lied to me and a few minutes later Solar slowed to a halt, Dack's grip on my waist tightening slightly when I nearly slipped from the saddle. "Stay there." Dack ordered, a slight smile on his face when I sniffed at his request. Or so he thought but I was really trying to dislodge some of the pollen from my nose.

Hearing his boots hit the ground near Solar's hooves I turned my head slightly trying to locate him only to yelp as both his arms wrapped around my waist. "Dack, warn me next time!" I cried out as he lifted me onto the ground, his chuckle making me blush.

After making me promise not to move he grabbed Solar's reins leading her towards the stables a short distance away. But when he returned he found me wandering around with my arms outstretched in front of me and he stopped in his tracks, watching with an amused smile as I stumbled over my own boots.

"What did I say about waiting here?" Dack laughed, his hand grasping mine. This time when I tried to open my eyes I found them stuck fast and I started to hyperventilate, heart beating wildly. "Just take a deep breath, Mina. I'll get you to that healer...if I knew where one was." Dack said and I coughed, fighting the urge to rub my stinging eyes.

"Take me home and then find Carole. She can help me." I replied and Dack nodded, gently guilding me towards the village.

Now back at my house I sat on my couch, Dack standing over me as Carole exaimed my eyes.

"What did you do to yourself?" Carole asked, being as gentle as possible as she touched my eyes. Even then I let out a pained cry, gripping the couch tighter under me. "Sorry but you did get a eyeful." She pointed out, reaching into her pocket for a small bag. Producing a clean cloth she placed it on the table before she reached back inside, this time taking out a small jar

"I really don't need to be reminded." I complained, choosing to ignore Dack's chuckle as Carole opened the jar and the thief caught sight of the green mixure inside. "Man it stings so bad." I muttered, instantly letting out a cry when Carole's fingers came into contact with my eyes.

"You need to stay perfectly still, Mina. This will clear the pollen from your eyes." Carole told me when I shifted away from her hand, shaking my head at her. "Dack, give me a hand." She sighed as I started to rise from the couch, determined to wash the pollen from my eyes instead.

"Dack, let go of me!" I shouted, eyes leaking tears as he set both hands down on my shoulder nearly shoving me into the couch. "Why are you two hurting me?!" I snapped, my hands digging into the couch as Carole started to spread the paste between my eyelids.

Despite my continued attempts to free myself from Dack's grip and my painful cries Carole continued, the pain becoming so bad I bit down on my lips hard enough to leave teeth marks.

"There, I'm finished." Carole announced a few minutes later, a light click on the table as she set the jar down. "Mina, don't open your eyes for a day okay?"

"A day?!" I gasped, Dack's hands still resting on my shoulders as I sat there. "I have to stay blind for a day?"

"That's how long it'll take for the salve to work on clearing your eyes. Otherwise you might be left with permanent damage. Dack can take care of you until your eyes clear." Carole advised and I growled, hearing her boots scrape the floor as she rose. "I'll leave the salve with you, Dack. Reapply it in twelve hours and no sooner." She added, a smile curling her lips when Dack stared back at her.

Once Carole left I felt the couch shift and I turned my head slightly, my eyes still closed as Dack sat beside me. "I guess you're stuck with me, huh?" He joked just as I sneezed, a cloud of pollen nearly hitting him square in the face. "Hey, be careful!" He yelled, quickly moving away as I wiped at my itchy nose.

"Carole might have asked you to stay here and take care of me but that doesn't mean I want you here." I told Dack as he leant against the left armrest of the couch. Apparently not bothered by my outburst he just chuckled and I felt my cheeks heat up. "I'm being serious." I protested and Dack just smiled, sitting beside me.

"I don't believe that for a second, Mina. I overheard Nalia talking about how miserable you've been since I left." Dack answered and I growled, silently promising to get that selfish brat back...when I could see properly again. When I tried to rise I felt a hand on Dack's hand on my shoulder and I snorted, sitting back down with my arms crossed firmly against my chest.

"Why did she have to say anything? Anyway I was perfectly happy here until you showed your face." I told him but Dack just laughed at my weak attempt at getting him to leave. "Oh just shut up, thief."

"That's not all I am, Mina." Dack answered and I yelped as he blew into my ear, sending a strange but not unpleasant flutter through the lower region of my belly. "Would you like to find out more about me?" He asked and I sighed, about to roll my eyes until I remembered why I couldn't.

"You can stay until my eyes heal and no longer than that." I grumbled, trying to ignore how close Dack was to me and how much I had to rely on his help until I could see again.

Which he took advantage of an hour later when I decided to head for my room, intending on taking a shower to wash the remaining pollen from my body and also change into something cleaner. Unfortunately for me Dack took the promise he made to Carole a little too seriously and as I carefully made my way back to my room I found the thief at my heels.

"Excuse me but what do you think you're doing? Carole said to reapply the salve to my eyes in twelve hours not to follow me everywhere I go...especially not my bedroom or the bathroom." I protested, hoping he would get the message and give me some space.

"But you can't even see where you're going." Dack said, grabbing my arm when I stumbled. "By the way that's not the way to the bathroom." He added and I growled, trying in vain to shake him off.

"You can help me find a set of clothes to wear and lead me to the bathroom. But you're not following me inside because I am not having someone watching me when I take a shower." I finally agreed and he shrugged, tugging my arm. With a sigh I let him walk me towards what I hoped was my bedroom, my vision making everything blurry.