Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Author's Note: I am still working on getting back to my rhythm; it's a lot harder than I anticipated. Thank you for being patient.

Departing

Z had been sitting and listening for about an hour.

Nothing.

It was quiet.

Perfect.

She stood up and slowly left her room. Looking around again, she saw that no one was there. Slowly she made her way to her sister's arm and went inside. Syd was sleeping still, which wasn't a surprise. Syd slept through the night all the time…unless she was sick.

Sitting down on her sisters' bed she slowly shook her awake, "Syd. Syd, wake up!"

Syd slowly rubbed her eyes, "Z? What? Are…Is it morning?"

"No, be quiet."

Syd sat up, "What? What's going on?"

Z had left Syd out of her plans; her sister would never be able to keep it from Sky if she knew. She would have given it away and that wouldn't be a good idea. Sky probably would have done something to stop them. "We're leaving Syd."

"What? Why? We're safe here. No one knows we're here."

"Sky does. And if he figures out who we are, he'll go right to Father."

"Maybe…but you…"

"I figured it out. I have a map."

"How did you get a map?"

"I found it and copied it."

"But Z…well I like it here. It's nice and quiet."

Z stiffened, "Do you like it here because of Sky?"

Her sister's mouth dropped open and then she shook her head, "No. Don't be silly."

"Look Syd, I think it'll be best if we take off again. If you want we can leave a note alright?" A note Z was going to write so Sky wouldn't have any idea which direction they were heading in.

"But Sky…he gets up early. He'll hear us anyways."

"No, he got back really late. He'll be asleep for hours." Z stood up and put her hands on her hips, "So are you coming or not?"

"I'm coming."

"Good. Get dressed, I'll get some food together for us."

Syd nodded and moved the covers off her. Z waited until Syd's feet were both on the floor. Satisfied Z left Syd's room and went downstairs. She and Syd didn't have anything with them so packing wasn't an issue. She was putting some bread and cheese together for them as well as some of the already salted meat. She did feel bad about taking his food, but she wasn't taking a lot. Besides considering everything she was sure that he wouldn't mind a little loss of food for the loss of her and Syd. He had made it quite obvious many times over that he was annoyed with them. Now he was getting rid of them.

Well…not so much as he getting rid of them, but them leaving and then he didn't need to worry about them. Not that he did. Z was just fine taking care of her and Syd. She really didn't need Sky.

Alright so she did need him when that creature had attacked, but…that was different. Z wouldn't have gone in those woods if she had known that was what they were. Now that she had a map she would make sure that they stayed clear of that.

She found some parchment and was about to start writing the note when Syd came downstairs, "You ready?"

"Yes. All ready."

"Good. There's the food."

"Do you think we should? I mean it is his food."

"I'm sure that he'll be fine as long as we're gone."

Syd frowned but didn't press the matter. However she spoke again, "What about horses?"

"We can walk for a while; it's not going to kill us."

"I know."

Z rolled her eyes at Syd's annoyed expression. Syd and Z used to walk all over the castle grounds, she knew that Syd would be fine with walking. It was still fun to tease her. Shaking her head she quickly wrote the note. Looking down she read it again,

Sky,

We've decided to leave. We know where we're going now. We greatly appreciate the lodging and the food. We took some for the road, but not a lot. We'll manage. Don't worry about following us.

Z and Syd

Z nodded at the note. It sounded fine enough. She knew her Father wouldn't exactly approve, but he wouldn't disapprove either. Either way, it was written and there was no going back.

The brunette put it on the table and looked at her younger sister, "Let's go."

Syd nodded and the two quietly left the cottage.

As soon as she shut the door Syd spoke again, "So which way do we want to go?"

"Well Father lives," Z paused looking at the map, turning it around a few times until it matched up to the way they were, "there." She pointed southwest. "Jack lives there," she pointed to the north. "So I think we should head west."

"Do we know where we're going yet?"

"Away from here. Away from our home. Away from Jack."

Syd frowned.

"What?"

She shrugged, "Nothing."

"If it was really nothing you wouldn't have frowned to begin with. Tell me what's wrong."

"It's just…why? Why do we have to go far away?"

"Alright, do you want to marry that…Prince…who knows what his name is. I mean you don't even know what his name is. Is that who you want to marry?"

"Well…no. But, I'm going to miss Father."

Z pursed her lips, she hadn't really thought about it. She was going to miss her Father just like Syd was, but what else could they do? "I promise that we will see him again, let's just…wait a little bit longer alright?"

"Alright."

"Good, let's get going."

Z and Syd turned to the west to begin their journey. They hadn't gone half the yard when they heard horses. They looked at each other and turned slowly.

"Good. You two are up."

Z felt her mouth drop open at the sight of Sky with three horses. Quickly she recovered herself, "What are you doing here?"

He looked at her and raised an eyebrow, "I haven't asked you that question the entire time you've been here and yet here you are asking me that question."

"Shouldn't you be asleep? You were out late."

"I don't think you're in a position to tell me about my habits."

"Your habits?"

"When did you get three horses?" Syd's voice interrupted the two of them and they both looked over at her before turning back to each other.

"I got them last night. I figured they would be helpful for when we travel."

"We?" Z really hoped he wasn't going to say that he was going with them.

"You, Syd and myself, obviously."

"You have got to be joking. Why should you come with us? You can stay here and go on with your life."

"I'm coming because someone needs to watch out for you."

"I'm not a little kid." Z was starting to lose her temper.

Syd stepped forward, "Thank you Sky. Come on Z, let's use those horses. And I think it'll be great if he comes along."

"Of course you do."

The man looked at Syd before turning his gaze back to Z, "This is non negotiable. Remember that."

"Fine."

He nodded and gave the reigns for the horses to Syd and Z and then the three got on the horses and headed to the west.