BluePantom15: Hey everyone! Hope your all having a great summer! Well, what's left of it anyways. Sorry this is out so late. I've been going everywhere lately. But that doesn't matter. What matters is chapter five is finally done! Hope you all enjoy the read! Please tell me what you think after! Again I apologize in advance for any spelling/grammar errors you may find while reading.

A HUGE thank you to: Celeste K. Raven, Trey. Just Trey, AbbeyLeeTee, and TheGood-TheBad-TheUgly-TheNew for reviewing. You guys are the embodiment of epicness! XD

Disclaimer: If I owned anything, my life wouldn't revolve around the internet. So sadly, I do not.

Chapter 5

Don't breathe, don't breathe, don't breathe.

I replayed the same message in my head over and over again. If I made a single sound, I was dead. I couldn't hold out much longer. After all even an alien could only go without oxygen for so long. The temptation to let out a huge brief was becoming stronger, as the seconds ticked by. Just a little longer. I could do this.

I could hear them getting closer. Searching, scouring, until they found me.

And when they finally managed to grab hold of me, that would be the end. There would be no emotional funeral, no relatives to mourn my passing. Heck there wouldn't even be a coffin to bury my bloodied corpse. I'd probably just be thrown in a pit and left somewhere to decompose. The thought of it made my skin crawl.

I raked my brain. Come on, think, there has to be some way of get out of this.

Then I hit me. Well it didn't actually hit me, but it might as well have. I spun around, facing the cold metal rim of the large tube I was hiding behind. Slowly, I silently flicked at it with my finger nail. A small vibration of sound filled my ears, just as I had suspected.

I stood up and decided to start moving. It wasn't going to do me any good to wait here and pray they wouldn't find me. Quickly I ran to the next tube closest to me, ducking behind it. Smirking, I picked up the small pebbles that lay at my feet.

I was glad the mogs decided not to clean up this area. We were underground and there was dirt everywhere. Normally I hated getting dirty, but I was thanking God for it now. It was time to play a little mind game with these morons.

I hope this works.

I quickly took one of the pebbles, and aimed it at a test tube way on the other side of the room. Then I threw it with all the strength I could muster. Swiftly, I grabbed another pebble and threw it at yet another test tube on the opposite side of the one I had just hit. Soon I was hitting them all over the place, and the floor quickly became filled with noise.

The mogs were practically throwing their heads back and forth, trying to figure out where to look. It was confusing the crap out of them, which is exactly what I was hoping for. All I had to do was keep redirecting their attention to different places, as I moved closer to the exit.

The loud echoes the pebbles contact made were a perfect cover for my footsteps. I was so glad that these guys were sensitive to noise as the constant banging continued to rattle their hearing. I was running out of rocks; I needed to hurry. I was so close to the exit now, moving from test tube to test tube as the mogs continued to desperately search the entire floor.

I was really starting to enjoy how completely unnecessarily massive this place was. Even if they managed to spot me, it would take them a while to get to where I was.

I could see the ladder now, and I quickly grabbed unto it, pulling myself up.

"There he is!" I heard one of the two mogs shout, which was followed by the sound of heavy marching. I spun my head round, to get a look at their location. To my horror they were a lot closer to me then I had originally predicted. I had to move and fast. I practically scrambled up the last few steps, throwing myself out of the basement, and unto the ground level floor.

I whipped around, running for the wardrobe, practically begging I would make it in time. As much as I would hate to admit it, I would never be able to take them both on, not mogs of that immense caliber.

Not without Henri at least.

I gripped the edges of the cool wood, pushing it forward. I gritted my teeth at the weight, but kept going. I could now see of the mogs heads poking out of the hole, trying to get out, as I desperately attempted to drive them downwards. I had the hole almost completely covered, but the mog kept pushing it back, like a bulldozer that was trying to run me over.

It took every ounce of my energy just to hold my position, and I was losing my footing every second that flew past me. There was no way I was going to lose here. Not like this. Not alone, and especially not when Henri still needed me.

Letting out the closest thing I could to a battle cry, which basically sounded like seagull trying to sing, I pushed the wardrobe right over the mogs head, crushing it between the floor boards. Blood splattered everywhere, as the mogs head was ripped off. It took almost everything I had not to gag at the sight, as I watched what remained of its head roll across the hard wood. Well, at least one of them was out.

However, I don't think the other one was pleased with my heroics. But then again, no self respecting villain ever was.

I could hear it scratching and clawing at the wardrobe, as its nails made the most horrendous screeching noises that I had ever heard. Pretty soon it was going to rip the thing to pieces, and I was pretty sure I didn't want to be around when that occurred. I made a rush for the door to the shed, bursting it open. As I ran out into the cold, a felt a tinge of relief run down my spine. Slamming the door shut behind me, I sprinted into the bushes near by trying to figure out a way to locate Henri. It wasn't as if I could just call out his name and expect his longitude and latitude coordinates to fall from the sky. Not that I'd be able to figure them out anyway.

Panic began to override my senses. I was tired, hungry and completely lost. And even as I stood here with my legs shaking, another mog threatened to break loose and come after me once more. I needed to find some sort of cover, or I would never lose that beast.

Even now I could feel my eyelids drifting downwards, wanting to close, wanting to stay closed. But this was no time for sleep, no matter how tired I was.

However, even as the protests filled my mind, I felt my body lowering itself to the ground. I felt the cold hard soil touch my cheek. The ground was not as comfortable as it had seemed moments ago. It was dry, fruitless, and uninviting. It held nothing for me.

So I decided to stand once more, forcing my feet to slowly move forward unto an uncertain road. Spitting out the dirt in my mouth, I girded my teeth together, and ran (into a tree, but I rather skip that part.)

Shaking my head, I started once more. I could feel my feet practically bleeding at this point. It stung like nothing else, but it was nowhere near the amount of pain I would feel if that mog caught me. I had to find Henri. It was my fault we were in this stupid scenario, so I wanted to see him at least one more time before my inevitable doom.

Trees, rocks, trees, rocks, more trees.

Gosh, sometimes you had to marvel at how boring the earth was.

Then, I could hear footsteps. I knew who's they were immediately.

It looks like he had caught up to me.

I didn't think it would happen so soon.

Mogs weren't the faster of creatures. But I suppose their massive strides made up for that distance. What was even worse was the fact that they have practically perfect eyesight in the dark. Whereas I had to squint just to see what was in front of me.

Shelter, shelter, shelter! My brained screamed at me. And if you listened closely my legs were screaming the same thing. Quickening my pace, I moved through the trees like as if I were intangible. I guess after running through this forest for so long, you got used to dodging inexplicably large objects.

I couldn't let that bulk of stupid find me now.

I was in no shape to try and fight it off, even if I wanted to.

Then for the first time in what seemed like forever (The equivalent of how long Pokémon has been airing on T.V) I spotted sanctuary.

It was a slim formation of rocks, which I knew held a small opening, leading into what was most likely a cave. I could probably just manage to squeeze through it, but that meant the mog had no chance. I found myself practically diving into the small gap, the victory dance music already beginning to play in my head.

I was free.

Suddenly a gigantic slimy hand came down on my shoulder.

I sighed.

Of course.

Well shit.

I was thrown backwards, my spin screamed out in pain as it came in contact with the wood of a large tree. I heard a sickening crack, and it took everything I had not to spill tears right then and there. I fell to the ground, in agonizing defeat. It hurt. The sheering pain hurt. I couldn't move. I couldn't think. I didn't even know what part of my body I had broken. All I knew at this point was that I was a mess, and that he was massive.

Refusing to look up at the beast, my eyes began to focus on the slit in the rock wall. I needed to get over there somehow. If I didn't manage that then all I had been through up till this now would be rendered pointless. If not for myself, I had to at least do it for Henri.

The thing was practically breathing down my neck at this point, drooling all over my cloths. I wanted so very much to gag at that moment but held back. Slowly, I titled my head upwards, finding myself looking directly in those piercing red eyes that looked all too much like a river of blood.

For just a split second, I found myself trembling. I was scared. I was frightened out of my mind, and my body wouldn't co-operate.

Calm down.

Take a breath.

"What's the matter brat? You pissing your pants? How pathetic." The mog practically screeched. "You look like a frightened little kitty."

"Funny, cause your voice sounds like a dying cat." I spat, not knowing what had possessed me to further aggravate the thing that was already contemplating ways to kill me.

Suddenly I felt its huge bulky fist plunge into my stomach. My mouth cracked open, wanting to cough up blood. My lungs felt as if they were going to combust from the burning heat that was building up in my body. I let out a quiet sob, as my head fell downwards to stare at the ground once more. I'll be honest; staring at dirt was getting increasingly boring.

"What, that's all you got boy? Need your stuffed animal to go nappy bye now?" It mocked me.

Wait, stuffed animal? Did it mean...

I strained my neck to move up. Just as expected in the hands of the repulsive monster was my cute, slightly messed up pink bunny. It made me smile. It reminded me of Henri, and they way he could never distinguish which colours were suitable too which gender on earth. Through I didn't quite understand why a guy who likes pink is considered odd, I don't think I could personally pull off the bright colour.

The blatant contrast between its light shade and the mog's pure black skin made me wonder why I hadn't noticed it sooner. The mog's filthy hands seemed to tighten their grip on its broken ear, practically crushing it. I'm not exactly sure why but I felt a small wave of sadness pass over me.

"Any last words, freak?" The mog shouted, as if I wouldn't be able to hear him if he did anything less than scream his lungs out.

This guy was calling me a freak.

His mother must have been too poor to ever purchase him a mirror.

I'd hate to see his family's portrait.

"Yeah, I have some last words. In honor of the teens of the twenty-first century, I'd just like to say... What were the words..? Oh yeah, Bite me." I spat, literally, in his eye. The beast staggered backwards, trying to wipe the sticky substance from his face, as I attempted to stand.

I could feel it now, the pain as it crawled up my left arm. It was broken. There was no doubt about it. I must have unconsciously put it behind me when I had hit that tree. But that wasn't going to stop me now. I had to get the heck out of here. Dragging my legs forward, which was all I could do at this point, I headed towards the nearby rock formation.

The mog had already regained stability, and was headed towards me. It's huge figure creating a giant shadow that surrounded my meek looking form.

Keep going.

You're almost there.

Move!

I then did the stupidest thing I could have possibly done in this situation.

I jumped.

Like some kind of crazy person, I attempted to dive into the crack. And to my absolute amazement, it worked. I had just barely made it, as my body managed to squish itself inside. I was almost expecting someone to shout 'touchdown'! I blame Henri for never coming up with better activities for me to do at home than watching American football. The only problem was that now I was on lying on the floor, and I was quite tall. My legs were just slightly sticking out of the crack, and that's all the mog needed.

It grabbed my foot like it was butter, and yanked on it. I howled out in pain, as I felt my ankle dislocate itself from its socket. I managed to whip my upper body around, and begin rapidly hitting at the mog's hand with my fists. It was dragging my body out little by little, as I attempted to hang onto the rocks with one hand, and punch the things arm with my other. My left arm screamed in protest, the pain was so intense I felt like I was going to faint.

"Let go!" I screamed at the mog, as if I actually expected it to listen to the command. It didn't. Instead I felt it tighten its grip and pull even harder. I couldn't hold on anymore, and I felt my body being dragged across the dirt. I was almost fully out of the cave, when I felt a pair of strong arms wrap themselves around my upper body. I yelled out in surprise, but I couldn't turn my head around to get a look at who it was.

For now I would just have to trust them.

I once again grabbed onto the damp rocks, pulling backwards with the shadowed figure. I kicked out, hitting the mog in the face, forcing it to use its other hand to grab onto me. But unfortunately for it, it was carrying the stuffed animal in its other hand, occupying it. Then I did something stupid again. I lunged forward, and with my right arm, and grabbed the pink bunny. The figure behind me gasped in shock, their hold wavering for a split second.

Now maybe it was the pain driving me to insanity. Maybe it was because it was the only thing left of my time on Lorien. Or maybe it was the fact that deep inside I knew that Henri might be dead, and this was the only thing left of him I had.

But I wanted that pink bunny back.

I practically ripped it from the mog's sweaty palm, which turned out to be not so bright of an idea, since he pulled back.

I couldn't believe it.

I was playing tug of war in the middle of a forest at night, with a mog, over a pink bunny. Somehow I never pictured this scenario coming. Nevertheless, I kept tugging at it. With all of my remaining strength, and I meant it this time, I heaved backwards at full force, falling onto my savor. I has finally broken free. But my hears were accompanied by a unpleasant sound.

The sound of fabric being torn.

I stumbled completely into the cave out of the mog's reach. This was a good thing of course, but now I had to deal with the person I was now so rudely sleeping on.

"Ouch..." I heard the figure mumble, as they tried to sit up. "You know, you're getting way too big for this."

"Henri!" I practically squeaked, grinning like an absolute moron. Now there is one thing you have to understand: I do not do hugs. I am a full grown teen, and had an image to uphold after all. I do not do hugs.

So why was I throwing my arms around Henri like a stupid giddy child?

"I missed you too, but could you get off me? I think you're about to crush my spleen." He huffed, in slight pain.

Embarrassed, I got up immediately and backed up a few steps. Now I could hear the mog outside, scratching and clawing at the slit in the rocks, trying to dig its way in. It was no use, however, and I could hear the utter aggravation in its growls. This caused me to move forward once again, trying to get as far away from the opening as I could. I had to drag my ankle behind me, as I took a few steps.

This however, caused me to bump into Henri once more. Now that I was closer to him, I gave him a quick once over. His pants were covered in dirt, his shirt was ripped in several different places, and there was undoubtedly a large scratch across his right cheek that was bleeding slightly from the corner. All in all, he looked like he had just gotten into a street fight. But then again I suppose there wasn't much of a difference between a street fight, and a forest fight. The setting didn't matter if you still got beat up.

"I-" I was cut off.

"You're an idiot." He scoffed.

Didn't see that one coming.

"I thought I told you to wait, and stay hidden! Do you ever listen to anything I tell you?"

I was guessing that "no" was not the answer he was looking for.

"I couldn't help it! Some of them went down into the basement, and found me. I had to get away!" I said defensively.

Just then I heard a loud cry of anger, and heavy footsteps walking away. I guess the mog was getting sick of the scenery as well. No doubt he was going to try and find back up. When I was sure the creature was gone, I started again.

"Look, I was just trying to-"But I was cut off again, as Henri raised a hand to silence me.

This actually gave me time to glance around at the area I was in. Just I as I had suspected, we were in a cave of some sort. It wasn't as dark as I had expected, which was even more peculiar as it was night time. Even if there was another opening to the cave nearby, no light would be seeping in at this time. So why was it slightly brighter? I shook my head, really not wanting to think right now. The pain was still numbing my senses, and my heart was beating faster than it should.

I was realized that is was a lot more roomy then I had expected as well. It fact it was quite large. There seemed to be at least three meters of width between the walls, and the ceiling was at least four meters high. Weird...

"It doesn't matter now. What's important is getting the hell out of here." Henri said, moving deeper into the cave, as I limped behind him. He seemed to notice this and wiped around immediately causing me to yelp, and stumble back a little.

"What wrong with your leg?" He asked, not gently exactly, but in a softer tone.

"I, umm, well..." I don't know why, but I could seem to get the words out. Even now, I felt my pride get the better of me. I didn't want to hold him back because I was dumb enough to get injured. I didn't want weakness to show.

"Show me." He said completely monotone.

"It's nothing, let's just keep going." I insisted moving passed him, trying my best to hide the limping.

I felt his hand grab my shoulder with a relentless grip.

"John, show me." He said darkly. He only ever used my fake name when he was extremely angry or serious about something.

My eyes, wavered for a moment, while my brain tried to decide whether or not to obey him. It obviously decided not to, as I felt myself step forward again. At this point, everything I did was on impulse.

Suddenly I felt an arm around my waist and before I could process what was happening, I had been lifted into the air. I struggled of course for dominance, but failed dramatically. My body was now nothing but a large limp. All my energy had vaporized along with my dignity.

I felt myself being slowly let down to the ground, and now I was sitting against the cave wall, my legs out in front of me. Henri quickly grabbed my foot, and began examining it, which included taking of my shoe and sock.

My foot was an extremely ugly shade of purple, and I could see the veins clearly sticking out. I grimaced, as Henri ran his figure over the damaged skin.

"It's dislocated." He stated. "I'll need to push it back in."

Then without warning he took my foot with both hands and pushed the ankle back in place. I yelled out into the cave, shutting my eyes. I could see white dots everywhere now, as I tried to cope with the pain. I didn't know how much my nerves could take anymore.

When I finally opened my eyes I could see Henri ripping his shit, tearing the fabric.

Fabric...

Startled, I looked down that my right hand. My eyes widened. The pink bunny lay there, torn. Stuffing was coming out of its side, and its head was just barely holding on by the stitches. It was ruined. I blinked away a impending tear. I don't know why it made me so sad. But it did.

No. Actually deep down I knew exactly why it made me so disappointed.

It was because it was yet another thing that the mogs had taken away from me.

I felt Henri's cold hands once again take hold of my foot. Using the torn part of the shirt, he rapped it around my ankle. I was grateful for the support, and silently thanked him. He received the message quite clearly and nodded, as if to say 'You're welcome'.

"You're arm is broken as well, isn't it?" Henri asked suddenly, catching me off guard. Man, sometimes it felt like he knew everything.

"Yes." I muttered. There was no point in denying it now.

"We'll have to get it into a sling if we manage to find any medical supplies. For now, try and hold it cradled to your chest. Don't let too much blood flow get to it, or it will swell more." He said in his 'I'm the expert of everything' voice that annoyed me so much. But I just simple nodded. At time like these it was better to just agree with him on everything. It was less emotionally frustrating that way. Even if I did argue, he always won in the end, so there really wasn't any point.

I looked down at the stuffed bunny once more. Then something unexpected happened. I spotted a small glitter of light coming from inside the stuffing. Puzzled, I began to poke it with my finger. My skin then came in contact with cold hard metal. I let my hand rap around the cool object, and slowly pulled it out.

It was... a key?

A small key with s strange design on it now rested in the palm of my hand. It was brilliant silver, with small specks of gold around the edges, as an outline. Two creatures, which looked like birds, were intertwined, with their wings sticking out. The bottom wing of each bird was touching one another, while the top wings were wrapped around the edge at the top of the key.

"What is it?" Henri questioned, trying to see what was in my hand. I turned it around so he could see.

"A key?" He asked.

"Yeah it was in the pink bunny." I said, pointing at its remains.

"In the bunny? I never put..." Henri trailed off obviously trying to remember something.

The only question now was what was it for? And more importantly, what did it open?

"What is this key for?" I asked, trying to start up a conversation again. Henri didn't respond at first, still lost in thought. Then he seemed to come back to himself, probably giving up on trying to recall anything.

"How would I kno-" Then Henri's eyes widened, to a point where they seemed they would fall out of their sockets.

"Oh my God."

"What?" I asked, "What is it?"

"If I'm right, then I know exactly what that key unlocks. And I know exactly why the mogs cleared out this place to find it." Henri breathed.

"What? What does it unlock?" I said, curiosity practically killing me at this point.

Henri looked around, as if he suspected someone might be watching us. I knew he was careful, but come on. Who would be running around in this cave for fun? I doubt anyone sane enough to understand what we were talking about anyway.

Just tell me already!

"A map." He whispered.

A map? Really, that was the unmentionable treasure. Well he had really deadpanned my dreams there. The way he was talking before, I thought that I was holding the key to Atlantis or something. But then again this was Henri. The man who marveled at the art of origami (folding paper). What interested him was clearly a lot different then what anyone else would consider cool.

" A map?" I repeated.

"Yes." He said simply.

"A map?" I said again, this time I could hear my voice echoing of the cave walls.

"Yes, I thought you heard me the first time. What are you having difficulty grasping?" He questioned.

I was tempted to say 'everything', but decided against it. Better not to piss of the guy who currently looked like he had just transformed back from being the hulk.

" A map of what?" I asked instead.

"Everything."

The one words puzzled me. Everything? That must be one seriously large piece of paper.

"What do you mean by everything?" I breathed.

"Everything. You, me, and the other five." Henri replied. Before I could question him further, he began to explain more clearly. "You see, before we left Lorien, It was decided that we should create a map with magically properties that could track the locations of every one of the nine and their protectors. In other words, it moves along with us, and always knows you're location. Kind of like a tracking device. At first this was simply a safety precaution. Earth was a new world to us, and we weren't sure what would happen. We needed to have some insurance if we ever managed to lose or get separated from one of the nine. It was to make sure we always knew where each of you were, and if you were endanger. We of course realized that this was a double edged sword. If the map remained in our possession we could use it was a means of insuring your safety. However if it fell into the mogs hands, we would practically send all of you to ruin."

"Then why didn't you put some sort of spell on it to make sure the mogs couldn't read it?" I asked, amazed at what I was hearing.

"Magic isn't as simple as that. We have powers, but they like anything in this universe are limited. We realized during the voyage to earth, that it was too dangerous to have after all, since in the hands of the mogs, it would kill us all. We decided that as soon as we reached earth, we would destroy it. So we placed it in a magic binding case, with only a single key as a way of opening it. My companions said they would hide the key, where no one would ever expect it. I'm guessing that is how they key ended up in your toy... But I had no knowledge or part in that matter. However, we never did get the chance to destroy it. As you well know, after we crashed we immediately had to run and hide. I guess we all assumed it went up in flames with the rest of the ship. We were carless." Henri took a breath.

"Wait a minute, are you telling me that this is what the mogs have been searching for all this time" I asked, pointing at the key.

Henri nodded. "Probably, I don't see what else here they could possibly want. Although how in the hell they managed to get a hold of this information is beyond me. This is bad, very bad. If they know that the map exists and gets their hand on it, you and the other five are finished. That is of course if it isn't already destroyed. Still the possibility is enough to be fearful. It's too great to ignore." Henri stated. He tried to hide it, but I could see him trembling slightly.

"That was there plan all along!" I exclaimed. "They were planning on taking the map, and once they knew our location they were going to send the mog army they've been manufacturing in the basement to go and slaughter us."

Henri nodded in agreement. It was a sound theory. And so mog like too.

"Then we have to find it first!" I said, staring fearlessly into Henri's eyes. "This is perfect. If the map still exists, we can get to it first."

"Are you mad? You actually plan to bring the key right to them! That's like asking them to murder you. No, we should just destroy the key. That way even if it still does exist the mogs will never get to it." Henri concluded, nodding at his own proposal in approval.

"No way!" I said, grabbing Henri's attention once more. "Don't you see? This is our chance! You always said that the six of us have to unite to save this world. If we could use the map to find the other five, then we win. No more running, no more hiding. We can face them head on together. Isn't that what we were sent here to do in the first place?"

"Yes, but you're not ready yet! You still have no control over you're abilities. You need more time before you're ready to face the mogs. All of you do. That's why I'm here to keep you safe, until you are ready. I won't let you throw your life away on a possibility." Henri clarified using that ever so famous 'I know what's best for you, so shut up' tone.

I huffed in annoyance. Why did he never listen to me?

"But what if it did work out? What if we could use it to find the others? Wouldn't that make our jobs a whole lot easier? And in any case if you don't want the mogs to have it why don't we just try and find it first? Then once we have the box we can destroy it if we have to. Either way it would be safer if we had it in our possession right? That way it clears out any possibility of them finding another way to open it. That is of course if the box still exists." I finished pleased with my speech.

Henri looked as if he were thinking it over. That was Henri alright. He had to ponder over something a million times before he made any kind of decision. Like this one time it took him a day to decide whether or not to allow me to have a cookie. A cookie of goodness sakes! All I remember was him mumbling something about sugar overdose. He also kept telling me to think about consequences or something like that. I stopped listening to him half way through.

"Fine, I guess it wouldn't hurt to see if we could find it." Henri finally spoke. "But nothing rash, and only when you're perfectly healed."

Yes! Score one for the blonde dude!

Henri could see me smirking in victory, and rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, celebrate while you still can. But where exactly do you plan to start looking?" He questioned.

I immediately knew the answer to that question. There was only one place to start.

"We're going to have to go back, to the crash site. To where it all began." I finished dramatically.

Henri sighed, already knowing what I had been going to say.

"Well if you manage to think up a way to get passed all of those rampaging mogs, be my guest. For now, let's just get some rest. We're going to need our strength if we want to escape this place." Henri stated.

There was no argument there. I was dead tired. Not to mention freezing. I lowered my upper body to the ground, setting my head on the stone cold floor. I gripped the key tighter in my hand, as if fearing I would lose it.

"Let me hang onto that for now." Henri said, reaching out his hand to take the key, and safely slipping it into one of his pockets.

Then he too laid himself on the ground next to me, so we were only about a foot apart. Then out of nowhere, he stuffed the pink bunny into my arms to hold unto. I smiled; closing my eyes. I clenched the bunny to my chest as if I never wished to part from it. It was soft and felt nice against my bare skin. It was a small relief to all the pain I had felt today. And I didn't want to let it go.

My body shivered from the damp air.

"John?"

I opened my eyes.

"Yeah?" I asked.

"Don't try and run away. I really don't feel like chasing you into a desert if this happens again."

It was my turn to roll my eyes.

Still I couldn't help but roll over to him ever so slightly. He was warm, and I was freezing. Henri seemed to understand this. Typical. He always understood everything. But I was thankful when he didn't speak, but simply used his arm to pull me closer.

We were very close to one another, but we weren't hugging.

After all, men don't hug.

But lying there with the small stuffed pink bunny to my chest, and my protector by my side, I felt like a child again.

And maybe it was okay for a child to hug.

Just this once.

BluePhantom15: Awww, isn't that cute? XD (jk) I really want to know what you guys thought! I love it when you review! It's the reason I keep on writing! So please leave a quick message. I don't care how short! Anything would make me overjoyed. So please take the time to review.

Oh, by the way. I am very curious as to how old you guys think I am. It'd be interesting to see how old I seem to you based on my writing. So try and guess my age! Leave your guess in a review. I want to see who can come the closest. (Pretty silly, but I am curious.)

Till next we read,

BluePhantom15