'I'll make it' Mel tried to convince herself. Being true, she felt nervous and insecure, not to mention afraid. She had no idea where she was going, how she was going to survive and what would happen even if the remote possibility of succeeding in the mission.

The sky outside was blue, and she had already dressed up in her outdoor dress. A small rucksack filled with her meager belongings was lying near the door. She had packed up her clothes, some food, a few bottles of water and most important, the small pile of gold she had gathered over the last year. Little of her daily use things would stay in the flat, which she owned, being a student.

She sighed and locked up the room. The best possible start would be to meet Stella at the gates. The rest was mostly luck and maybe a bit of help.

Thais was exactly like the day she had first entered the city. The same people, houses, trees and roads. The city had given her a lot. It had not only increased her standard of living to a level never before, but it had given her the desire to live. Never before had she felt so vital.

Edward. She couldn't possibly tell him she was leaving, least anyone else she could think of. Lydia would be pleased, probably, seeing her out of the way. It was careless, not to mention treacherous on her part, especially after she had just discovered his biggest secret. Edward-

'Are you crazy?' someone yelled in her ear.

'What?' Mel turned, slightly dazed.

'You'll make it about five miles before your feet start bruising, maybe ten before you are attacked by a pack of wolves. Badly injured, you'll go fifteen when you are attacked by robbers and you'll be dead before you can crawl your way back to Thais, regretting you ever set out!'

It was Edward, Mel saw dazedly. She tried to fathom how he had come to know everything, just before she saw Stella looking at her nervously.

'You!' Mel yelled at her, completely ignoring Edward's protests. 'I told you to keep quiet!'

'I really...' Stella said in a small voice.

'Don't say you're sorry!' she yelled, advancing on her. 'You are completely untrustworthy! How could you ever tell someone when I trusted you enough to let you know in the first place!'

Stella backed off as Edward blocked Mel.

'Listen to me, Mel!' he protested over the shouting. 'You have no plan. Accept it!'

Mel stopping shouting, still angry. Edward had hit a painful nerve.

'Let me in on this' he said. 'You know yourself that you are no fighter. You really need me. Besides, you can't go far walking!'

They didn't speak for a moment. Mel shot a murderous glance at Stella. Edward was, unfortunately, right - something she hated. She turned away from him. This was not happening.

'Alright' she said turning again, stammering towards the end. She had meant to reject his offer.

'Good!' he said, relaxing. 'So now tell me where we are going and why'

'We're going to Naylith' she said, cursing herself. 'You don't need to know why'

'Mel...' He looked at her, eyebrows raised. 'Are you sure you have to go to Naylith?'

'Absolutely. Why?'

'I'm not sure you're going to walk to Naylith so easily' He seemed to laughing slightly.

'I'm sure' Mel said firmly.

'Then tell me why you want to go there'

'Let me rephrase that' she said glaring at him. 'You don't want to know why!'

He looked at her carefully. She looked extremely serious. Slowly, he nodded, his face still having the slight smile that irritated Mel.

'I surely don't want to miss this now. Okay then!' he clapped. 'Here's the plan. We can each take a bag of food and three bottles of water for one. We can refill on our way, so it wouldn't want us slowed by weight. I'll be meeting my parents about this and ask them to lend me three horses. Now, can you ride?'

'Yes' Mel said, slightly disconnected. It was true. No one could complete a year under Gray without learning almost everything.

'Can you?' he said, turning to Stella.

'No, I never did' she said meekly. Edward frowned.

'That could be an issue. Are you sure you want to come?'

'She comes!' Mel said automatically, still hating her. Stella smiled like a child and hugged her. Edward scratched his head.

'Okay, then you'll have to ride behind me, though that makes one less bag of food. I'll take another horse with us behind, though...'

'We'll ride together' Mel said stiffly. 'I've ridden like that before'

'Okay...' he said, looking at her warily. 'Then I guess I should talk to my parents now. Maybe you can come too! Mel, I think you must tell professor Gray too'

She nodded. Gray was someone who deserved to know this.

'Maybe I'll do that first' she said. 'Then we can go and meet your parents together'

'I'd really like to know the reason, though' he said, the smile returning. 'I can see no reason for you to suddenly work this all out in one night'

'Maybe, when the time is right...' she said vaguely.

Edward shook his head in despair.