Zamanthia's POV

The sunlight warmed my face as I opened my eyes, squinting them to adjust to the light. When my vision cleared, a young purple eyed zeti, with cyan blue hair, and red and black skin was in my face, greeting me with a warm smile. I smiled back and sat up, rubbing my eyes to see more clearly. My friend plopped down next to me and he inquired "You sleep well?"

"Yeah, but I'm going back to sleep."

His eyebrows furrowed, he stared into my sky blue eyes, and argued "But Master Zik is going to teach us something new today, and he wants ALL of us to be there."

I laid back down in a relaxing manner, with a big grin on my face "I know, I know, but I would rather enjoy the morning air then learn. Why don't you take break?"

He let out a sigh and asked "Why do you prefer laying around doing nothing instead of learning something new."

I tilted my head to look up at him, and gave him a mischievous smile"Lay down and you'll find out."

He rolled his eyes, but reluctantly did what I requested. "Now what?" He asked with hint of annoyance in his voice.

"Now you shut your trap and relax."

"...That's it? Then this is doing-"

"Just do it." I blurted out, cutting him off.

He breathed out and closed his eyes, his breathing went from fast to slow as a few minutes passed. I waited for a while until I looked over and snapped him out of whatever he was thinking.

"So, do you know now?"

He gave me a quizzical look "what was I supposed to learn from laying down and doing nothing?"

I frowned at this. He still didn't get understand the concept. I sat upright again and looked at him with an annoyed expression. "I'm trying to teach you how to relax."

He got up with a jerk. "How is that more important then a new technique?"

I sighed loudly, but then I began to gazed at the beautiful blue sky, watching as the clouds floated to the west, studying how the fresh grass frolicked in the wind, and listened to the sweet sounds of the birds. I stood up, stretched my arms, and sat back down, once again facing my stubborn friend. "Relaxing IS important because it clears your mind of troubled thoughts and helps you think of more important things in life. When you quiet your mind and focus on what matters most, then you are more aware, and you able to make ideas and stuff. But you can't do that if you have so much on your mind and become so worried about it."

He looked at me with a new found sense of understanding, he then began to speak "That reminds me, can I ask you something?"

"Ask away."

He shifted his body to be in front of me "I was wondering, if you ever had the chance to leave...would you?"

My eyes widened with disbelief. "I would never leave my home, because I have a friend that needs me here."

His head swerved to face me, his eyes filled with suspicion. "What friend?"

I slightly chuckled and my eyes met his "It's you silly. We are friends right?"

His eyes brightened as he replied "Always will be friends."

I smiled widely as I stood up, him doing the same as we faced each other. I outstretched my hand to him "In that case, I promise never to leave your side and that we'll always be friends, in return you do the same. Shake on it if you promise Zavok."

He glanced at my hand, smiling softly as his hand met mine. "I promise I will never leave your side and that I will always be your friend...Zamanthia."

I felt my eyes began to tear up as I awakened. I hesitantly flickered my eyes open to find myself in a different place. I didn't see any blue sky with big clouds, neither did I spot any fresh grass of any sort. The only thing I saw was tall trees that covered the sky above from the ground and leaves scattered around.

It was only a memory, I thought to myself as I lifted my body from the earth. A memory from a long time ago, one that haunts me. I do not know why, but I have been having that memory replay over and over again for the past few days, and it's disturbing to see it unforgotten, as if it happened only yesterday. The events that played out yesterday came back to me, causing me to stay on high alert. I jumped behind the tree and slowly poked my head out in the open, attempting to survey my surroundings and look for my targets. I spotted their sleeping forms in the undergrowth and began to approach the campsite.

I carefully stepped over a nearby hedge and entered the camp. Zom, as always, snored quite loudly, which made it easier for me sneak in. The cloak I wore billowed in the chilly wind and I snatched it and wrapped the cloak around my body to keep myself from making a sound. It just had to be a cold morning today? I asked my self as I waited for the chilly wind to cease.

When the wind subsided, I heard a small yet distinctive shiver behind me. I whipped around and my gaze fell to the ground. Zavok laid on the ground without any cover or blanket to give him warmth. I felt a slight pang of pity for the once prideful Zeti. He must have given the last blanket to the others, I thought to myself as I knelt down to look at his face. His appearance changed from the last time I saw him. They all changed. Only now were they learning the cost of their mistakes, and now they suffer poverty. My eyes dimmed and I felt myself frown. I slowly took off my cloak, letting my long silver hair flow down my back, and placed it on his shivering form.

I rose to my feet and walked to the former campfire. I searched through my pouch and pulled out a bag of apples, placing it next to the burnt wood. Before I went back into the embrace of the dark forest, I turned to look at my former comrades one more time, then disappeared into the trees. Yes, they all I have changed eversince I left, but I too had changed. For the better or for worst, I did not know, but I knew one thing that wouldn't. Even if Zavok forgot our promise, I will not forget. No matter what.