Hey, back again! Here's the next chapter of my story. Still no hot moment between my two favourite characters, it'll be in the next chapter. I hope you'll like it.

I still don't own Cara and Kahlan.

Kahlan was woken by a smell that was unknown to her. The first rays of the sun hadn't even appeared yet. But it will not be long and they would have to get up soon. The brunette smiled when she noticed that Cara was cooking. This was not going to please Zedd. However, the smell wasn't unpleasant.

"What is it? It smells good"
"It was a dish that was served sometimes in my temple. I managed to convince the cook to teach me." Cara said with a sadistic smile.
"I don't want to know more..."
"It's surprising that the Mother Confessor is interested by this."
"I'm curious to know what it tastes. Do you have some for me?"
"I don't have enough ingredients to remake other. But you can eat it if you want." Cara said, handing her her bowl.
"No keep it. But I don't give up Cara." Kahlan said with a smile. "By the way I wanted to thank you for last night, it was pleasant and very efficient."

'No! Don't think anything! But it's hard to not think about "things" when she's smiling that way... It doesn't matter in what way she's smiling, she 's not mine so I have to stop thinking' But she couldn't make it anymore... 'Are you talking about the few minutes we shared or the next hour when I had my hands on your face Mother Confessor?' A part of her sincerely regretted not having kissed her. Just one kiss to taste her. But the other part told her she had been right.

"It's nothing." Cara said, looking away to end her thoughts while Kahlan sat close to her (maybe a little too close) and put a hand on her arm.
"Cara what's up? You've been strange lately."
"Strange? What do you mean?"
"You are more distant than usual, even more aggressive in fights... so what's up?"
"Nothing"
"You're lying"
"How could you know, you can't read Mord'Sith."
"You should not worry about this" Kahlan said quietly.
"What are you talking about?"
"You think you're getting weird, you're not the same and I guess you hold it against us for that"
"This is absurd. I haven't changed." Cara lied.
"Of course you had! And I must admit I really like what you've become Cara. Look what you did last night, you would never have done it several months earlier!"
"I've already told you that you need rest to face the banelings. Your condition affects us all, including me."
Kahlan gently placed her head on Cara's Shoulder.
"Cara ... stop doing that!" Kahlan whispered "Why continue to hide yourself behind this personality that is not yours anymore?"
"I'm not hiding." Cara replied weakly. After a long silence she continued. "It's just I... I feel lost. I think I'm becoming like everyone."
"You will never be like anyone"
"You don't understand. I am lost in all those "things" and it scares me..."
"What are you afraid of? Being someone that you shouldn't be? No longer be able to do your one and only duty? To feel emotions that you'd forgotten?" Kahlan replied in a tone far more exasperated than she would have wanted.

Cara moved away abruptly. She told her what bothered her and she reacted excessively. Cara couldn't believe it. If there was one person she could talk (to whom she allowed herself to talk), it was Kahlan. At last it was what she thought before. But apparently she was wrong, there was no one. How could she blame her for not knowing how to react? All of this was so new. Sometimes she felt that this was the first time she thought. Before her mind was peaceful. But now everything became confused in her head because of this. Before it was quiet, now it was loud. 'And how could it disturb her if I'm afraid to face it? So that's it? Having a friend? It does not change much in the end. Maybe I was just imagining things about friendship. It was so much easier before' She just wanted to hear comforting words from her. 'This is absurd Mord'Sith do not need comfort'. Except that Cara had given up for a long time to fight against Kahlan's words. They quickly destroyed all the fortresses that Cara built for so long. Kahlan knew how to deal with her. Well, until now.

"I'll wake the others" Cara said coldly.
"Wait..."

Cara ignored her and walked away. Then everything returned to normal: Zedd wondered what was going to eat for breakfast, Richard sharpened his sword while Kahlan approached him. Cara felt like she was living the same day over and over again. And right now, it annoyed her even if she doesn't know why. In fact, yes she knew why. And it had nothing to do with the constant morning renewal. It was Kahlan. Still and always Kahlan. However, she didn't know why her reaction annoyed her so much.

"I'm going to hunt. And yes, wizard, I wont be long." Cara said, anticipating the Zedd's wish.
"Thank you Cara." Zedd was happy just thinking about his breakfast. Richard looked at Kahlan.
"Is she alright?"
"I tried to talk to her but you know her; she's fine, she can take care of herself and we don't have to worry about her..."
"That's her all over!"
"Exactly. But I think I have made things worse by asking her the question."
Kahlan didn't lie because she was ashamed of her and her reaction but because she knew Cara didn't want others to be aware of what she was going through.
"Too bad, I felt that her mood was better yesterday. But hey, as long as she brings food..."
"Zedd! Don't say that. You know she's more than someone who just brings you food." Kahlan said almost upset.
"Hey, I was just kidding..."
"I never thought that one day Kahlan Amnell, the Mother Confessor, would defend Cara's honor." "This is not the first time and if I remember correctly the first time it was because of you!"
"So it doesn't count." Richard said, kissing her cheek. "There is no shame in wanting to defend her. She's one of us now."
Kahlan blushed slightly without knowing why. Just as she didn't know why she felt the need to defend her.
"Sorry to interrupt your romantic moment but I have a delivery for cooks."
"Back already?" Kahlan said with a smile.
"If I'm here it is that it must be the case."
Cara hadn't launched a single glance. Kahlan's smile faded when she realized how her relationship with Cara had deteriorated. Richard noticed the tension between the two women but didn't say a word about it.
"We should hurry, time is running..."
"Yes, we know it Lord Rahl. The world is getting worse. You say it every morning."
"Look around you. It is obvious that we don't have much time."
"We all know you're right Richard, but we mustn't neglect the rest. And even less our stomachs!"
"Especially yours, wizard" Cara said to mock him.
"The magic exhausts me quickly and I have to feed myself a lot."
"That must be it."
Zedd, Richard and Kahlan began to cook breakfast while Cara was packing up their stuff.
"Bye the way wizard, I have something else for you." Cara said, throwing him an apple. But Zedd's reflexes weren't as good as before so he used magic to stop it in the air. "And no need to thank me, it was on my way"
Richard smiled.
"Since when do you worry about Zedd's belly?"
"I don't care for his stomach but for my ears that's all!"
"Oh, your ears... of course."
"So, will you be ready soon?" Cara had to change the subject. 'Otherwise they will imagine things. Stupid things like friendship or something like that.'
"She's right, we must hurry." "We can at least finish our plates, right?"

Kahlan watched the scene with a smile. She loved that time when they squabbled themselves. It was in these moments she felt 'at home'. Those three were her home. A year ago she had a hard time accepting to integrate someone else. Cara was an intruder to her before. But if this "intruder" had to leave now, she wont stand it. Besides, she wouldn't even let Cara go.
They left the camp under a sun that barely lit. But that doesn't bother them. They were used to this now and their eyes were completely able to adapt itself. Richard was leading the group, as always, while Cara was further back than usual. Kahlan knew she was for something. She felt so stupid. But she never wanted to use that tone! But by telling her that the feelings weren't bad things, she became impatient. 'Impatient?' Kahlan slowed during that word echoed in her head. 'I've got no reason to be impatient. I expect nothing from her. I mean, it's not as if we were together'

"Already tired Kahlan?"
In a few seconds, Cara will have caught up Kahlan.
"I..." she recovered her mind. "No I was just thinking"
"And what were you thinking? Let me guess: you were thinking about my stupidity for wanting to deal with emotions?"
"No, it was about something Richard told me." Kahlan lied.
"Then go to him. Me, I'm doing better without you."
"Cara we can't keep going on like this."
"Exactly! So you join them, or it's me."
"All right, if you insist."

While Zedd and Richard were discussing the way to go, the two women didn't say a word. They approached increasingly more. They knew it because of the compass which shone more every day. A group of banelings attacked them. 'It's not too early! I was affraid they'd forgotten us' Cara thought, taking her Agiels out. She felt this so familiar pain going through her. Every baneling was killed by Cara. Richard, Kahlan or Zedd could have kill one maybe two banelings but they all understood Cara needed to fight.

"They were fewer this time." Cara said disappointed, killing the last one.
"You didn't have to do all this. You're not alone. See how you're breathless now."
'Of course I'm alone'
"You were too slow, it's not my fault."
"Shhh... shut up." whispered Kahlan. "Do you hear that?"
"It looks like someone's crying. We should check what's going on"

Further in a forest they found the child who uttered theses tears. He was scared to see them. And even more startled to see Richard's sword and Kahlan's daggers (but he didn't know what was an Agiel). He took his courage in both hands and said he did not want to go back "there". Kahlan came to him softly.

"You have nothing to fear from us. What happened to you? And what place are you talking about?"
"I was somewhere with other children where we work all the time. If we did things right, we were sent to the army to learn how to fight."
"What kind of work was it?"
"Those who are lucky serve the soldiers. They have a place to sleep. But other work in mines, fields or forests. From sunrise to sunset.
"It's horrible to do that to children."
"Maybe but it makes them stronger"
"Cara!"
"What? look at him he has a rather well-developed musculature for a kid of his age!"
"You talk exactly like them."
"No matter how, you must become strong to face this world."
"Are you convincing me to be thankful?"
"Why not?"
"Cara stop it now. And it's an order!"
"As you wish..."
"What's your name boy?" Richard asked.
"Chad"
"Well Chad, we're going to go back there and stop all of this."
Cara looked at Richard.
"You can't be serious! Do you remember the Stone of Tears? Your quest?"
"But we can't leave him like that! He's just a child Cara."
Cara rolled her eyes. "All right..." she said annoyed.
"We can't waste more time, we should go."
"No, I'll go alone. You can't ignore the importance of your quest. Our lives are in your hands. By saving this child you could kill everyone. You'll help him and what? He's going to live few weeks before the Keeper destroy the world. Don't worry I'll be back soon."
They didn't answer. What could they say, she was right.
"They are very strong. A woman can't defeat them."
Cara looked daggers at the boy.
"I will advice you to refrain from making such comments. Have you any idea of who I am? Of what I am?"
"I know at least that you are a monster!"
"Okay, enough!" Kahlan said. "Richard, Cara's right, we mustn't forget the scale of your quest. But you won't go alone."
"Why? Because I'm just a defenseless woman? I can take care of myself you know!" Cara said angrily.
"I've never said you were a defenseless woman and I'm perfectly aware of the fact that you can take care of yourself! But I'm sure Chad will run away at the first opportunity"
"He's just a child, it's not hard to keep an eye on him."
"Oh Cara don't worry, I'll let you kill them all."
She couldn't help but smile. But that smile quickly vanished.
"Kahlan's right, it's better if she comes with you."
"I won't go anywhere if that monster comes!"
"Who said you had the choice?"
"You either Cara, you don't have the choice. Now we have to go"
Richard came near Kahlan and kissed her. "Be careful you two."
"I promise nothing's going to happen to us." Kahlan said "Word of the Mother Confessor?"
"No, word of the one you love"
"We don't have time for this!" Cara said, leaving.

Kahlan followed her with Chad. This was her chance to put things right between her and Cara. But something was bothering her. Why did she said 'the one you love' instead of 'the one who loves you?'.

Hope you had great time reading this. I think the next chapter is gonna be longer than that.