Today was chilly, so I was happy to be wearing this dress, but it was really starting to annoy me because I kept tripping on the hem. As soon as we got back, I ran into the tent, grabbed my backpack, ran back out and went up into my favorite tree.

I sat on a branch and started writing in my notebook. Either no one knew I was up here or they didn't want to talk to me because they knew I wanted to be left alone. I hadn't seen Tristan since I left the castle, which was a few hours ago.

The sun was starting to set and I was starting to doze while watching everyone down below.

I yawned.

I was also starting to get hungry. I didn't want to climb down because I didn't feel like it, but I finally did because I didn't want to fall out of the tree went I fell asleep. I was still in my dress, but I wanted it off. So, I went into Princes tent and tried to get it off. I couldn't.

"AH! Stupid dress!" I yelled. I stomped out of the tent, stopped, looked for Dustfinger and stomped over to him when I finally found him. He was sitting by the fire on a log next to Prince. I knelt behind him, grabbed his hand and put it on my back. He just stared at me.

"Undo this stupid dress! I hate it! And it won't come off!" I yelled at him.

He turned around and undid it. Even though I was really mad, I still felt my face heat up when I felt his fingers brush my back as he undid my buttons. When he was done, I stood up and ran into the tent, threw off the dress and put on a pair of short pajama shorts, a tank-top and a T-shirt. I walked back out, barefoot, and walked over to sit next to Dustfinger. I just stared at the fire without saying a word.

I wonder what my mom is doing. I zoned out. But I snapped out of it when someone poked my cheek. I jumped and looked at who did it to see Farid.

"Oh. . . Hi, Farid. . . What's up?"

He cocked his head to one side to stare at me.

"What's wrong? Your acting strange."

"I'm fine, just tired. What are you doing?" I ask him. He got right up in my face and studied me.

"Are you tired?" He ask me.

I just nodded with a weak smile, even though I would be yelling at him right now for not listening to me since I just told him that.

"I am. . . Why?"

"Because, I didn't see when Dustfinger brought you back." I leaned forward and laid my forehead on his shoulder. I yawned. I heard Farid talking, but I didn't know what he was saying because, then, I fell asleep.

I hate people. Mostly when they wake me up when I was asleep and in a good dream, too.

"Lexi. . . Wake up! We have to go! There's a lot of bandits attacking the camp!" A voice told me. My eyes snapped open and I shot up straight. I looked sleepily at Farid.

"Huh?"

Farid grabbed my arm, pulling me, trying to get me up." Come on! Dustfinger told me to get you away from here!" He whispered. I looked up at him with shock.

"Are you playing with me? If you are, then let me sleep." Farid shook his head.

"I am not playing. . . It's true. Now, come on!" He whispered. I finally listened to him.

I let him lead me outside and saw what he told me was happening. I was scared. I clung to him as much as I could. But when Farid was guiding me somewhere to hide, I saw a glimpse of white hair. I froze, making Farid stop since I was holding onto him. Then, something popped into my head.

"Dustfinger. . ." I whispered.

"What?"

"Dustfinger. . . Dustfinger! I gotta find him! Dustfinger! I need you!" I yelled.

I went running into the crowd of people, leaving Farid all alone. I pushed through people, just in my T-shirt and short shorts. I was getting really worried about him. If I didn't find him soon, I was going to start crying.

Then, I saw fire above everyone's heads.

"Dustfinger! Dustfinger, say my name if you hear me!"

"Alexia Sanada! What are you doing?! I thought I told Farid to get you out of here!" He yelled at me as he stood behind me with his arms around me so I would be safe. Fire whooshed up in front of me and blasted the bad guy's back because it scared them.

I giggled.

"How can you laugh at a time like this?"

I looked up at Dustfinger.

"For one; The look on they're faces was funny. Two; The fire was awesome and three; That was not a 'Laugh'. That was a giggle." I told him. When I looked back out at everyone, I saw another glimpse of white hair. I broke out of Dustfinger's embrace and started running towards the white hair.

"Lexi! Where do you think your going?!" Dustfinger tried to grab me, but I dodged him. I went running.

If not Dustfinger, then who? Tristan was taking the price that I owe him for bringing me here, and I think he might still be mad at me for yelling at him for kissing me. He knows how much I love Dustfinger, but he's not going after him, then who? I was following him. But I stopped when I felt someone grab my wrist.

I twisted around to stare up at the face of a man with tanned skin, brown eyes and black hair. There was also a long, pale scar running along his left cheekbone.

He grinned down at me.

"Well, well, well. . . Aren't you a cute one. I could think of a lot of thing's to do with you."

I was scared. This man was one of the bandits. But someone stabbed him. I wanted to scream out, but I couldn't, when the man fell to the ground, motionless, I looked up at who stabbed him to see The Black Prince. When I saw who it was, I was so happy.

"Are you alright? Did he do anything to you?"

"No. . . But, have you seen Tristan, anywhere?"

He shook his head.

"Lexi. . . You should forget about him and go find Farid so you can hide."

I shook my head.

"I can't. . . I need to find Tristan before he does something real bed." I told him. He just shook his head and pushed me toward the woods. I pouted and started walking. I hadn't seen Tristan for awhile, so maybe it wasn't him. When I was behind the tents, I froze.

What if it wasn't Dustfinger that Tristan was going after?

I started running.

"Farid? Farid! Farid, where are you?!" I screamed. I hate running, but I was running as fast as I could right now.

Why didn't I think about it sooner? If Tristan kills Farid, I won't only hate Tristan, I will also hate myself for not thinking sooner and for wanting to come here in the first place, risking his and Dustfinger's life in the first place.

Why is it that I would cry for the oddest reasons, but when it comes to the worst time, I can't cry