Yet another chapter. I'm a little worried about adding this one, so I hope this is all right with everyone reading. Give me your opinions, please. Meanwhile, on with the story.~~

So, after a long while, the three Ranger's finally set up camp. It was decided that they had to stay put for the time being as Aaron's condition was obviously not good. They'd found a good spot to camp, and began to use trees and other things to hide it. Aaron had a separate place from where they would be sleeping, and one person was assigned to keep watch for both the cavalrymen and Aaron.

They were being very careful and for good reason.

Well, Halt was feeling a bit guilty. They'd made this plan that was dangerous from the start. Now, with Aaron as he was, Halt couldn't help feeling a bit responsible because he was involved in forming the plan.

To be totally honest, it had been a hit to all three of them. Aaron was only a few years older then Will, so they'd taken well to each other. Well, the next closest in age to him was Gilan, who was nice enough, but it wasn't anything like having someone who was actually his own age around though.

Halt had taken a liking to him, as, and Halt couldn't deny this himself either, Aaron and the old Ranger were very similar. Aaron was very pleasant and friendly, don't be confused. But, the young boy was also smarter then someone his age should have been. He also had a contagious curiosity and interest in everything that simply couldn't be topped. His intent an just overall focus was something quite marvelous to see.

However, Gilan, for obvious reason, took this the hardest. Because of this, he was given the final watch for the night after Halt. After being roused from sleep, he focused on keeping watch for most of the time, only vaguely glancing at Aaron from time to time.

The boy was still the whole time, but seemed to be resting easily rather then hurt because the covers were pulled up to his neck. That got Gilan to smile a bit, and focus on watch again.

Soon the sun began to rise over the horizen, sending the world glowing golden and silver in the early morning mist. Gilan was focused on watch, and only noted in the back of his mind that this was a very beautiful morning, without the hints of rain that had been hanging around in the recent times. Slowly, the yellow light had turned to gold, dew sparkling in the grass and brush as well as on the trees. It was going to be a warm day.

A groan from behind made Gilan leap into the air at it's sudden interjection into the peace of the dawning , Gilan heard another small moan, the sound of wakefulness, and it wasn't coming from Halt or Will in the other sleeping space across the way. Slowly, Aaron began to get up, not even opening his eyes.

" Take it easy, Aaron, you're all right." Gilan got hit with a wave of relief and thanked whatever was out there watching over Aaron right now. However, he stopped, caught off guard at this next part.

Aaron's eyes fluttered open, first only seeing his own lap and hands, er, hand, rather, because the other was snugly set in a sling. It took him a minute to figure out what had happened, as it hadn't been the most pleasant of things to feel. Being unconscious for a long period of time did nothing for ones brain, so it took him some time to jump start his brain again. After a few moments he'd basically pieced together what had happened in his brain.

Glancing at the sling on his arm he began to take in his surroundings this time.

" Hey, Gilan," he said grinning tiredly at the staring Ranger, " didn't worry you too terribly much, did I?" he asked, then took note of the long staring that Gilan was giving him. " You alright, Gilan?" Then Aaron realized what was going on, and fumbled with the covers. " Listen, I can explain-!"

" Aaron! Are you up?" Will burst in now, having gotten up to make food and gather supplies for the campsite. He came in right in the middle of this strange little scene. Looking from one to the other, Will glanced rather dumbly from one to the other, noting the blushes that were so clear on both faces. Aaron finally attempted a smile at Will.

" Yeah, I'm up." he said, almost sadly, while Will gave a sigh of relief.

" How's the wounds that you've got?"

" Did you really just ask that question?" Aaron cocked an eyebrow at him, quizzically.

" What?"

" Painful, what the hell other way is there to describe an injury but painful?"

" Well, there's no need to be snippy about it."

" I'll make sure to ask you how your wounds are the next time you end up unconscious."Aaron promised, giving a sigh and laughing a bit at this. Suddenly, Gilan and Aaron's eyes caught each others' again, and their faces flushed again.

" What's going on with you two?" he asked, finally annoyed that he was out of the loop in this entire situation. Looking up once at Will, Aaron sighed, finally resolved.

Then the blanket was lowered, and then Will knew why this was such an awkward situation. That and why the two kept turning red. Aaron frowned at them.

" You don't have to keep looking at them, you know?" Aaron said, flushed greatly while crossing his, or rather, her arms. Will turned right around then, while Gilan handled this a bit more maturely, and pulled the covers up around Aaron's shoulders. " Don't be such prudes, there's nothing to see, my breast are bandaged to my chest for crying out loud. There's nothing to see even if you really were that interested."

" Aaron-" Halt walked in just then too, and Aaron let out a loud, frustrated shout.

" Tell the whole world why don't you, God?!" Aaron snapped to the sky." Hand me my shirt before these two die of embarrassment." pointing, Halt grabbed the shirt and handed it to Aaron, who had to get help from Halt to pull it on with the sling and such on.

" Just let me explain this to you guys before you say anything. It's really not what you think."

" So you haven't been telling a lie about the fact that you weren't a boy this entire time?" Gilan inquired, half laughing to himself about it. He spoke somewhat miserably, knowing that he'd been lied to again by Aaron. This definitely topped the list though.

" Please, don't be like that." Aaron answered, giving a rueful laugh. " You want me to say it? Yes, I am, in fact, a G-I-R-L. I'm a girl." Reaching out, Aaron touched Gilan's hand, that was still in reach, turning him to face herself. A sad smile passed her face as she looked Gilan in the eyes.

" But everybody things I'm a boy. I dress like a boy on purpose." Thoughtfully she added. " I'm kind of only a girl in private. Everything else I'm a guy."

" But this whole time, you've been . . ." Will let his voice trail when Aaron turned a glare of hot fury towards him and a frown creased her lips.

" Don't say it like that," Aaron's voice was tense for a moment, then finally released into a sigh of failure. Shaking her head she went on, " I'm still Aaron, even by name. Nothing is different or changed, expect I've wounded your trust and you're all hurting my feelings."

Earnestly, she looked back and forth between the three Rangers with her. Who'd been with her for what felt like so long, and through so much. Her gaze fell particularly on Gilan, whom had become especially close to her despite her constant lies and cruelty.

She wouldn't admit this for a long time, but he'd added a sort of spark to her life that'd been hollow since she left her Master all those hundreds of miles away.

Aaron was almost sure, despite her Master's assurance back at that very fateful moment, that they may never meet again. In fact, she'd felt it in her sinking heart when he sent her away, that they'd never meet. She'd told him this, but he'd only smiled and told her she was a fool. Then he'd ushered her away to fend for herself with his message. Alone, except for dear Rurin. That black stallion had kept her alive for so long, she owed her life to him.

" If you don't believe me, it's okay, but I'm sorry."~~~~~

Yep, I'm really nervous about this chapter. Send in your reviews, please. This chapter has me extremely worried right now. Read and Review.