Yes, I am back and badder then ever. I would really like to thank my VERY first reviewers, TriquetraBD and sunfiresoftball, and of course my cuz .. So thanks SO MUCH! Finally! ;D Stay tuned my three and only reviewers.

SPOV

We began the search party for Hunter the very next day. We gathered all of Kithic and had them take different sections of the woods. We put everyone in pairs so that they wouldn't get lost in the big place. Bree went with Robbie and I was with Raven, so Morgan ended up being stuck with Cal. The first thought I had was, this can't be good, because Cal was very convincing.

CPOV

This was excellent. Everything was working out as I planned. I got to be with Morgan on the search party for Hunter, in which nobody would ever find him as I made sure Morgan and I got the part where Hunter was being held – I would have to distract her somehow so she wouldn't see the place.

In all, it was all working out perfectly. I heard a message in my head from Sky as we took off. 'Cal, don't you dare do anything to Morgan,' she warned me. I rolled my eyes. 'I won't,' I promised back. Goddess, Sky was harsh.

Morgan and I set off through the woods, headed towards where Hunter was being held. But Morgan didn't know that and Sky didn't know that. Nobody knew that. For all they knew, I didn't know that either. But I would distract Morgan somehow. Eventually I would make her believe me, even if I wasn't telling the truth.

As we walked, I started talking about Wicca. Morgan listened to me, probably only for the reason that she had much to learn and had to get a move on things. Then I started talking about murin beatha dans. Morgan looked at me, gazing with a confused expression on her face.

"I already know about muirn beatha dans," she said abruptly. "Hunter told me everything."

"Yeah," I said with one of my convincing grins. "I figured. How were you guys going? You know before…" I trailed off. She knew what I was talking about anyway.

"I don't know," she said honestly. "Sometimes I wish he would just have a little fun once and I while. He's so self-righteous, you know?" I nodded.

"Yeah," I agreed. "I never understood that. It never made sense to me. I mean, the point of magick is to be one with nature, but how can you when you never open yourself up?" Morgan nodded in agreement. She really seemed to forget right then what Hunter says about me. This subject could really work! I decided to see what I could do with it.

"If you want, you can always hang out with me instead," I said casually, keeping it simple. "I could take you to a movie sometime."

Morgan looked shocked. "Cal," she gasped. "Just because Hunter is gone at the moment doesn't mean he won't come back."

"Well, I meant as friends," I said quickly. "Just to get to know each other better." Morgan hesitated.

"I suppose," she said at last. "As long as it's just as friends."

"Of course," I promised with another charismatic grin I had practiced for so long. And then I realized that we were dangerously close to where Courtney was waiting.

MPOV

I was glad I could finally get to know Cal. Hunter had put me on a tight leash with him. I didn't think he was that dangerous. He was actually a bit handsome. Wait – was I actually saying that? I couldn't do that to Hunter!

Cal seemed to sense a change in my expression, because he said quickly, "Uh…Morgan," I looked at him curiously. "There's…something I have to tell you about Hunter." Surprised, I followed Cal to the side of the forest, under the trees and off the narrow path we had been following. Cal looked around, as if he were about to tell me a huge secret.

"Hunter is absolutely obsessed with Woodbanes," he said quietly. "I mean, seriously. He says he's out to avenge his brother and redeem himself, but for some reason he thinks he has to do that by going after Woodbanes. Don't ask me why." I was startled into laughter.

"You're kidding," I said. "I've done a mind meld with him before. That's not true." Cal just shrugged.

"I didn't make this up," he said. "It's not my fault you don't believe me, Morgan. But then– Hunter's very charismatic."

"What are you talking about?" I demanded. Cal sighed.

"I just thought I'd warn you, Morgan," he said. "It's only a matter of time before he goes after you–you are Woodbane after all. First it's me, and then it's you. Right now he's probably scheming." I shook my head.

"Cal, that is just…" I couldn't find words to describe it. Cal kept walking. I hustled after him.

"I just thought I'd warn you," Cal repeated quietly. "Morgan, remember, I'll always be here when you start to have doubts."

You do know where this is going, don't you? No? Well, I must be thinking of me then. ;D