The crunching of snow was heard as Matthew ran away from the group. He couldn't take anymore of Amiti denouncing him like that, so he headed for the tent. Once Matthew got inside of the tent, he saw Sveta in a corner crying.

"Sveta..." mumbled Matthew. "Is there anything I can do to comfort you?"

"Yes..." said Sveta. "I would like for you to talk to me."

Matthew sat down next to Sveta, then asked, "Are you still sad about Volechek?"

"I am. But that isn't why I'm crying."

"It's not? What is making you cry then?"

"The fighting between our friends is."

Matthew hugged Sveta. "I headed over here after I heard Amiti saying that he was jealous of me for being with you."

"Deep down inside, it isn't you who he's jealous of."

"If he isn't jealous of me, then that means you're saying Amiti is jealous of you."

"Exactly."

"How do you know that Amiti has a thing for me?"

"When we had our first conversation, I looked into Amiti's soul and saw that he had feelings for you. However, I noticed that he was suppressing them with ideals of marrying a princess out of tradition. I didn't tell anybody else about it, because sexuality is something very intimate to a person and I thought that he would accept the fact that he's gay sooner or later."

"So, can't you just go up to him and tell him all that? It would make things a lot easier."

"It isn't as easy as you make it."

"Why not?"

"You remember that I saw into your soul that time as well."
"What does that have to do with Amiti?"

"I noticed that you were secretly disappointed when Karis made Amiti wear a shirt."

"I just thought that wearing a shirt would make him uncomfortable."

"Matthew, during the other times I used Spirit Sense on you, I saw that you have had intense feelings for Tyrell, Amiti, and Eoleo."

"What about you, Sveta?"

"You have feelings for me as well. Now, think about the feelings you had about those three guys I mentioned."

"I feel really awkward when I am beside them, and I sometimes get hot."

"That sounds like infatuation. I noticed that you have been pushing these feelings aside."

"Maybe your Spirit Sense isn't one hundred percent accurate."

"I think that maybe you are denying something," a squeaky voice stated.

"Karis? What are you doing here?"

"Remember? I'm worried about Sveta as well."

"What all did you hear?"

"I heard all about Sveta discussing your sexuality and that you possibly like men."

"But I like Sveta."

"It's alright Matthew. I'm a lesbian and I accept myself for who I am."

"Is that the term for gay females?" Sveta asked.

"Basically, yes. You're comfortable with that, aren't you?"

"Of course I am. I knew that you were gay from the first time I saw your soul, and I have trusted you since the very beginning."

"See? It is perfectly fine to not be straight."

"But Sveta is a nice person," said Matthew. " And besides, I'm worried about becoming too much like my dad."

"Is this what this is all about?"

"Which dad?" Sveta asked.

"You know that I have two dads?"

"Honestly, when she can get a good idea of the sexuality of other people from the first time she meets them, I would expect for you to be less surprised when you find out she knows you have two fathers," Karis said.

"I just know that Isaac and Garet are both Warriors of Vale and that they are gay," stated Sveta. "I didn't dive into that subject much when looking into Matthew. I would be fine with you telling me about them."

"Alright," Matthew stated. "My parents started their journey across Weyard together. They didn't know that they were gay at that time. When they reunited with my mother, my biological dad thought that he was in love with her. It was later when he found out his feelings for my second father were stronger than the ones he had for my mom. Because of that, my mother agreed to make me for my two dads."

"I see. Isn't your biological father Isaac?"

"Yes, you're correct. I have the same hair color, the same eye color, the same fighting style, the same element affiliation, and the same tendency he had early in his journey to not talk much to most people. I think my first dad grew a beard, so that he would look different from me."

"Why are you so worried about turning out like him? I would think he would have to be great enough in order to be a Warrior of Vale."

"I'm worried, because I don't like my second father."

"What don't you like about him?"

"He has very low expectations for me and my brother figure, Tyrell. When I attempted to use Move to push aside a pillar, my second dad stopped me in order to "teach" me how to use Move. What's worse is that my first dad insisted on letting my second go through with it. I am sort of worried that if I like men, I would end up with an idiot for a husband who "teaches" our children stuff they already know and that I wouldn't mind."

"There are gay and bisexual men who wouldn't have their kids go through torture like that," Karis said. "You just have to find the right one for you."

"I think Amiti would be a good man for you," stated Sveta. "He's loyal to you and he tries to do the right thing most of the time."

"Tyrell said he wouldn't forgive Amiti until he starts to be honest with the feelings he has for you, so it would be a good idea for you to help him with accepting who he is."

"How would I do that though?" asked Matthew. "In front of a large group of people, I can only nod and shake my head. I can't do all of this with just yes and no questions."

"The two of you can bathe together in the hot spring while I watch."

"Why would the two of us need to be watched?"

"Well... it's to make sure that not too many people come over."

"I don't think that I can muster up the courage to talk if Karis is watching as well."

Karis said, "Don't be silly Matthew. I'm a lesbian, so of course I'm not interested."

"I don't think that it will be easy," stated a high-pitched voice.

"Tyrell, what are you doing here?"

"I overheard the conversation the three of you were having."

"What will make it hard?" Sveta wondered.

"Himi threw a snowball at him and I slugged him in the stomach. After Himi hit him with another snowball, he ran off."

Matthew looked angry.

"Why are you looking at me like that? Amiti was being mean to you and I couldn't stand it."

"Punching someone because they were being rude doesn't make things better. It only spreads hatred..."

"What else could I of done to protect Matthew then?"

"You could of gotten Sveta and have her use Spirit Sense on Amiti," stated Karis. "You agree with that, don't you Matthew?"

Matthew responded with a nod, then pointed out the exit of the tent.

"Worried about Amiti?"

Matthew nodded again, then raised two fingers.

"Two fingers? Does that mean you want two of us on your search team, or just one?"

One finger was raised from Matthew's hand.

"I can see why Matthew doesn't want to travel with a big group at the moment," Sveta commented. "Even I think he looks a bit silly going mute from being around three other people."

Karis , "He used to be silent when there were only two people with him. This is an improvement from when our journey started."

Matthew turned his head away to hide his embarrassment.

Tyrell asked "Are you going to take Sveta, because she can track down his scent and has excellent hearing?"

A nod came from Matthew.

"I'll need something of his in order to get his scent," Sveta informed the group.

Karis said, "I don't think that's necessary. Tyrell punched Amiti, so it is possible that Sveta can get the scent by sniffing the back of Tyrell's hand.

"It is worth a try," Tyrell said as he raised his hand up to Sveta.

Sveta sniffed Tyrell's hand, then stated, "It is mixed with Tyrell's scent, but I think I was able to get Amiti's scent."

"Ready to test it out?"

"I am. Follow me Matthew."

"Don't worry," Karis told Matthew. "We'll tell the rest that you and Sveta are looking for Amiti."

Matthew nodded, then headed out after Sveta. The sky is now very dark. Once he caught up, Sveta grabbed his hand. In a second, Matthew could see two trails. One that leads back to the tent and another that heads into the wilderness.

"We should be heading towards the trail that leads down these cliffs, right?" Matthew guessed.

Matthew received a nod from Sveta, then the two of them heard a heavy rumble.

"We should hurry," Matthew told Sveta.

"I'll go as fast as I can."

With their hands joined Matthew and Sveta followed the trail, despite the unsteady terrain.

It will probably take me a few days to create the next chapter, so please wait until then.