Two days had passed since the encounter with Connor and since then,Arlette could not stop thinking of him. The 19 years old sat by the park, the charcoal on her tiny hand as she admired the latest work. It was his face...she could remember it exactly, every detail, the way his hood shadowed his eyes...the pad of her middle finger touched the side of the drawing's jaw gently, a shy smile formed on her face, disappearing as fast as it appeared.

"Why am I doing this?" she asked herself, stopping her movements to stare at the picture. Arlette chewed her lower lip, standing up with a saddened face. It was almost 5 in the afternoon, after spending half of the day there, it was time to go. Nathaniel was busy sleeping atop of the carriage, the hat on his face as he snored in the distance. Arlette was about to move, when she saw Adrik.

The black cat was flicking his slim tail from side to side atop of a building, staring down at her with interest-almost mirth- in his golden eyes"Adrik!" she smiled, furrowing her eyebrows when the feline leaped out of the building into an alley.

The little voice on her head screamed again

'Do not follow him!'

But did she listened?

Of course not.

Arlette saw the black cat waiting her, resting on his back paws with his yellow irises glinting because of the sunrays. Adrik was picked up by the young woman, purring in delight as she caressed his ears, but soon leaped out of her arms "Adrik?What's wrong?" she asked, her eyebrows furrowing in her forehead as the black cat started to walk towards the end of the alley.

A feminine hand tucked a strand of crimsom hair behind her ear, swallowing dryly before giving a step forward. She was well aware of what she'd find, it was a dark alley for God's sake! Arlette felt her insides turn cold when she noticed that she walked a good distance from the city as a tall pine tree, surrounded by other smaller ones, appeared on her view. Did Adrik wanted her to enter that forest?Apparently so. Clenching her hands onto fists and carefully stepping into the dark forest, dodging any branches, leaves and small animals that appeared on her way. The end of her dress ended stuck on one of the tree's roots, making the girl tear it away with a distinct ripping sound "Aw, my favorite dress..." Adrik didn't liked that she had stopped walking and meowed loudly in warning.

The small feline stopped his journey by climbing a flat rock, curling himself under the warm sun. The girl furrowed her eyebrows, before lowering her gaze to a fallen deer whose body was hidden behind a large log"Oh poor thing..." she breathed, covering her mouth in disgust as the animal came fully into view. It's insides were being eaten by vultures, the smell belonging to those huge birds made her nose burn and a nauseous feeling appear on her stomach. A tumbled steps back and Arlette fell on her butt, widening her eyes. Why did Adrik wanted her to come to this place!?

"What are you doing here?"

The girl screamed, suddenly being yanked up with a hand covering her mouth. She whimpered, moving her eyeballs to the side, trying to see her captor. She stopped struggling by the moment she noticed it was Connor "When I remove my hand,don't scream." his last words were threatening, making Arlette nod quickly.

"T-This is the second time you cover my mouth." she said, blushing a slight bit as the heat from his hand remained on her lips. Her tongue peered out from within her mouth, grazing against the soft surface, tasting a salty, yet earthy flavor which remained dusted against her lips.

"What are you doing here?"

"A-Adrik brought me here."

Connor scrunched his eyebrows in confusion- even if she couldn't see it because of the hood-, did someone brought that clumsy girl here? "The cat." she pointed meekly at the black cat who was lazily sprawled on the flat rock, feline eyes slinted mischievously at Connor as his throat vibrated on a long purr. The Assassin looked at the cat with his eyes narrowed "...you need to go." Adrik was harshly picked up, meowing and clawing the air as Connor threw him on Arlette's arms "What?Why?"

"There are bears around."hands on his hips as she continued staring "You can't stay, go back."

"I-I don't know if I can,I don't remember which way brought me here."

Connor groaned, running his hand over his head before sighing in exhasperation"Okay, I'll help you out of here." he turned to face her "But don't come back again!" Arlette nodded mutely, holding Adrik close to her chest as she followed the hooded man. The journey back to the small dirt road was quiet, he wasn't a guy that talked much...or maybe he was just worried by the large animals that'd probably show up if they talked way too loud "Here we are."

"Yeah..." she was a bit disappointed,but a smile was seen on her face "Thank you and um, I'm sorry..about that." Adrik purred, rubbing his head below her chin, wanting the attention for himself "Hm...wait, before I leave...is there...is there any way I can see you again?"

Connor looked at her, his deep brown eyes shooting bullets on her small frame "I don't think it'd be a good idea." his deep voice turned serious. It was almost a warning. It would not be a good idea if Arlette decided to befriend him. The young redhead bit her lower lip nervously. She wanted to know more about this hooded man who appeared out of nowhere in her life,who he was, what he was ... she wanted to know him better.

Those white robes were unusual, especially for Arlette. Maybe he was a special soldier, maybe he was a spy. His father said that the spy activities were of great importance in the war."What's the matter?" she asked, taking a step forward "I just want to know you better..." There was a short pause, Connor continued watching her with eyes hidden under the hood.

Arlette tucked a lock of hair behind her left ear, "Look." the girl began, her cheeks were lightly red color,making her small line of freckles stand out, "I know this sounds...strange...but I really,really want to know you." with her small hand resting upon her cheek, the girl with the bonfire hair simply looked to the side "But I think I can understand."

Connor observed as she tucked her hand under the black cat once more, sending him a shy smile before walking down the dirty road. He felt he had to go after her, saying that they could see each other... but he had a mission to do. An Assassin does not have time for this kind of distraction. However, Connor kept staring at her from the distance before calling her name out loud.

Her head whipped around in surprise, blinking when he was nowhere to be found. Connor had just disappeared into the woods. Arlette looked down disappointedly, the black cat on her arms mewled, tapping his paw against her chin to cheer the poor girl up "Oh Adrik...what's wrong with me?" she asked, the black feline played with the tiny bow that closed her corset "Meow."

"I think I'm losing my mind now." she chuckled "I'm talking to a cat."

Adrik seemed he had a smile on his face as he kept playing with the tiny bow, his yellow irises moving towards the woods with interest,before purring loudly against Arlette's chest.