I know it has been a very long time since I've written. I've just been dealing with too much emotional stress, school stress, and any other stress you can think of. So here's a chapter. I use a bunch of breaks I know... I don't remember what's really going on so I just did stuff I guess... I'm hoping to pick up a fairly regular update schedule again, since I'm done with school for a bit... But now I need a job and crap... Thanks for waiting...

It was too cold for a decent nights sleep. Despite the fact that Lon'qu and I had enough firewood to make a pyromaniac happy, between the wind and snow soaking our clothing there was just no escape from the deathly chill. One of the few things keeping me from dying of worry that night was the fact that Ptera was getting better. She didn't seem to be in any obvious pain, and moved around enough that I wasn't worried about her freezing over. I was feeling better also after my earlier tumble. My body ached, but it had dulled slightly. The only thing that still bothered me was my face. If I made certain facial expressions, or even yawned, the cuts would open up and start bleeding again. Each time they did, Lon'qu would fuss over me. I wasn't exactly complaining, but something did seem off putting about a man who I thought had such a stick up his ass to lave attention on me.

Morning brought danger.

Eventually, Lon'qu, Ptera and I must've finally all dozed off. Meaning, the fire that not only kept us warm but drove away predators went out. I received a rude awakening of Lon'qu shaking me awake and frantically looking all around us.

"Get up Sane, we have to get out of here."

He pulled me to my feet and forced me to stand. Even though I was still disoriented I could make out at least eight large dogs that were circled around us. They had their fangs bared and were crouched in an aggressive pose.

"Lon'qu, are those wolves?"

"Yes, I have the feeling we're in their territory. Most animals around here wouldn't dare go near a wyvern unless it's home or young was threatened."

I looked at the wolves surrounding us.

'I don't see a way out.'

"How do you plan on escaping?"

Lon'qu jerked his head over to the ridge.

"You survived a fall once. Twice shouldn't be a problem."

I frowned.

"You can't be serious?"

The wolves started moving closer.

"You have a better idea?"

I was about to vocalize what I thought to be a better idea, when one of the wolves surrounding us was suddenly struck with a flying axe. The wolf next to it was also struck down and a war cry rang through the air.

"What the hell?" I said in disbelief.

From nowhere, four wyverns carrying Feroxi warriors appeared and landed practically on top of the remaining wolves. It scared them off and they ran away as to not meet the same fate as their brethren.

"Sane, Lon'qu! We've found you!"

The Feroxi warriors dismounted their wyverns and crowded around us.

"You guys were missing all night! We tried finding you, but when we didn't we had to retreat further down the mountain! What the hell happened?"

It took a minute to explain the events of the past several hours, I of course left out my discomfort at snuggling Lon'qu while Ptera observed, but soon everyone knew what was going on.

"So wait, you actually found the herbs?"

I nodded.

"But with neither Lon'qu nor I having a flyable wyvern... Plus I can't just leave Ptera here..."

Lon'qu frowned.

"Sane, I know you're not going to want to hear this, but we might have to leave Ptera behind. At least for now."

I looked at him in shock.

"How could you say that? Her wing is all buggered! If we leave her here she might die!"

He nodded once.

"I know this Sane, but what's more important: Saving Emmeryn or saving a wyvern? If Ptera can't fend for herself, then maybe..."

I held up a hand to stop Lon'qu.

"I know... You don't have to explain it... Let me go say goodbye to her then..."

I looked over at one of the Feroxi warriors.

"One of you guys can give me a ride back, yeah?"

They nodded their heads.

"Thanks."

I walked over to Ptera, who when the wolves had shown up crouched and froze in a defensive position. As I approached her, she dipped her head and I could tell just from looking into her eyes that she knew what I was going to say.

"Hey girl..." I said quietly.

Ptera leaned her head over to me and gently headbutted me.

"Hey... I'm going to have to go now Ptera. There's someone who's very sick, and I need to take these herbs to her or she could die. And... I can't..."

Ptera placed her chin on top of my head. I take the gesture to mean I should just shut up so I stop talking. I reach up and give the side of her face a reassuring pat.

"You stay safe girl..." I said sadly.

Once I was brought back to Regna Ferox, Basilio had one of his best horses waiting for me. He said that it should get me to Ylisstol as night was falling. Lon'qu would be riding with me on another horse. I didn't stop to think about the fact I had no experience riding horses, the only thing that was on my mind was getting to Emmeryn as fast as I could.

Unfortunately, the world seemed to have other plans and a commotion forced us to stop. Lon'qu and I came upon a woman surrounded by a group of vicious looking men. I nearly laughed when among them I saw a fabulously familiar face.

There was a Berserker, two Fighters, two Myrmidons and two Barbarians.

"Seven of you against one lady?" I called. "It must be a slow day."

The twin, Vincent, Victor, whatever, glared at me.

"Who are you to talk to me like that? Do I need to separate your pretty little head from your shoulders?"

I pull out my tome.

"Why don't you try you big ugly brute!"

The woman rushed over to Lon'qu and I. When she got closer I was able to see her face and gasped in shock.

"Anna? Are you alright?"

She took up a defensive stance beside me.

"Have we met before?" She asked playfully.

"Oh, I'm sure in one time or another we might've."

Lon'qu stood on the other side of me.

"Six of them, three of us." He said. "Think we should go easy on them?"

I smirked.

"If we didn't have pressing matters to attend to, I might be up for it."

I flipped open the tome and stepped forward.

"So let's make this quick."

The battle was over quickly and after I spoke with Anna.

"Are you alright?"

Anna seemed to be nursing a hurt side, but appeared otherwise unharmed. She nodded and bowed her head ever so slightly.

"Fine thank you. It's a good thing you showed up when you did. I don't know how I would've fared without the assistance."

She looked at our horses.

"Traveling awfully light, what are you doing?"

I frowned.

"We're bringing medicine to Ylisstol."

Anna nodded.

"I've heard about the sickness going around. I've heard the Exalt has fallen very ill."

She looked again at the horses.

"Do you have enough room for one more person in this little convoy?"

I looked over at Lon'qu. He had a sullen look on his face, but didn't say anything.

'Having another person would slow us down, but I'm pretty sure this is going to be the only chance I get to recruit Anna...'

"We have the room but-"

Anna put up a hand to stop me.

"Don't explain yourself, I understand. Tell me, could I find you in Ylisstol?"

I nodded.

"Of course."

Anna smiled and began walking down the road that would eventually take her to Ylisstol.

"Maybe we'll cross paths there then!" She called over her shoulders.

When we arrived in Ylisstol, Lon'qu and I quickly made our way to the palace. There were only a few people on the streets, most of them were either in their homes to avoid being afflicted by whatever strange virus was going around, or because they already had it and didn't want to get anyone else sick. I could see a few people cautiously peeking out of their homes at Lon'qu and I. We were stopped at the palace gates by two soldiers carrying silver lances.

"Halt, none may enter the palace. Leave now."

I took a step forward.

"I am Sane, Tactician for the Shepherds. I'm here at order of Prince Chrom."

The two guards spoke briefly, and one stepped inside. A few moments later the guard returned and ushered Lon'qu and I inside the palace. We were taken into a small office type room and instructed to wait there. It was a nice enough room; five chairs, two bookshelves, a table with a bowl of tasty looking fruit and a potted plant.

"Did you see the people here Sane?" Lon'qu asked sadly.

"I don't think I've ever seen such sadness and worry."

I nodded sadly.

"I've never seen sickness before... Serious sickness you know..."

Chrom opened the door to the room and stepped in. A small gasp of shock escaped when I saw him. He was pale, dark circles under his eyes and it didn't look like he had done anything with his hair in days. He didn't smile when he saw me. He walked into the room and sat on one of the chairs in the room.

"Chrom?" I asked.

He made no response.

"Chrom..?"

I moved over to him and sat in an adjacent chair.

"Are you sick?"

Eventually, Chrom shook his head slowly. I held out the pouch holding the herbs.

"We've got it Chrom, this should heal Emmerynn."

He looked at the bag sadly.

"Thank you..."

My heart began sinking.

"Chrom... What's wrong?"

He looked at me. I could see tears welling in his eyes. Before I had a chance to ask what was wrong, Chrom began sobbing and threw his arms around me. I reacted on impulse and brought my arms around him in a comforting hug. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Lon'qu looking very awkward and shifting his weight back and forth.

"I'll wait outside." He said quietly, and left the room.

"Chrom? What's wrong? You can tell me."

Chrom's grip on me tightened, to the point where it was uncomfortable but I wasn't going to detach myself from him just yet.

"It's Emmerynn..." He said hoarsly.

"She's gone."

Oh shit, stuff happened. I'll leave you with your feels now.