Her voice was a whisper in the storm, and for a few seconds Lon'qu wasn't sure it was real. Suddenly, he looked up, and he was staring into the glossy eyes of an alive Florina.

Immediately he stood and looked away, trying to hide his red cheeks and the streams from his eyes. "You nearly got us killed," he said coldly.

Florina sat up and cocked her head at him. Maybe he hadn't been crying for her, after all. He was just the same old emotionless man. So silently she stood, unsuccessfully brushed off her dress, and sighed. "I'm sorry."

He continued on silently, kidding himself into thinking his wet cheeks were from the rain. He was trying to push the thoughts away, the intrusive ones of Ke'ri. Stranded on an island and struggling for survival, she was the last thing he needed on his mind. Behind him, uneven footfalls fell into place. "You look very hurt," Florina said, but she was ignored.

Meanwhile, Florina was trying to piece together all that had happened. She remembered defending the swordmaster from what would have been a fatal blow, then waking up to him crying around a circle of dead bodies. He had been crying, there was no doubt in her mind. The question was why? Just what had merited such a reaction from the man? He must have finished the entire battle himself, but with his injuries? It just wasn't possible...

Silent, torturous hours ticked on, and soon Lon'qu collapsed to the ground. His breathing was unlevel and his vision was blurred. He was in so much pain he thought he might faint, but he had to hold on. If he fainted, he'd be leaving his life in Florina's hands. There was no saying what other bandits or mercenaries were about, and they'd be able to overpower the fragile girl easily. If he passed out now, he was as good as dead. But his injuries were proving too much, and he was seriously doubting he'd ever see Regna Ferox again.

Florina stopped beside him, grateful for the rest. She had her own wounds, and though not as severe as Lon'qu's they still brought pain with every step. She took a seat on a stone and examined her companion. "Um, are you alright?"

"Does it look like I'm alright." It was not a question. Lon'qu's voice was forced and raspy, and he tried to concentrate on a bright flower a little distance away. It was fading into and out of focus, and he was having too hard a time holding on. He was starting to feel dizzy.

Florina could see it, could see the defeat in his eyes. She didn't know what to do to help, either. Any promise she would make-it's going to be okay; we're going to make it; you're going to get back home-would have been empty. She had little faith in any of those things. Instead, the miserable duo had to stay there for what could have been hours. When they finally got up again, the rain was just starting to light up. The sun was low in the sky; it was late afternoon. Still both exhausted, they had no choice but to keep going.

Pretty soon, they were stopped once again. Lon'qu was halted immediately as a blur ran before him and held a sword to his throat. "Don't move," she growled.

This stopped the both of them, who knew they were done for, now. They had little energy for fighting; this was where they would be ended.

The woman threatening Lon'qu was silent for a moment, then looked him in the eyes. Her own green orbs were cold, and she looked behind her. A man suddenly appeared, pulling some creature by rope. "Hurry up," the woman snarled.

"You tell that to this thing!" the man bit back. "Damn overpriced horse won't go."

The woman turned back to Lon'qu. She looked over Florina and, seeing no immediate threat, disregarded her. "This was supposed to be an empty route," she told him. "We can't let anyone see us with her. Sorry, but it's just not your day. We're going to have to kill you."

Just then a creature stamped through the clearing, its eyes wide in panic. A horse was being pulled by the man, and it was clear the mare did not want to go. Rope was tying her mouth shut and every couple seconds she let out an angry puff of air from her nostrils. The rope around her chest and shoulders was keeping her reluctantly following the man pulling her.

"Stop!" Florina ran ahead, but the woman was on her in seconds, Lon'qu abandoned. "No," Florina cried. "You're hurting her! You're not supposed to tie a horse like that! She's bleeding, let me help her!" But the woman only smacked her over the head with her sword. Florina quieted, but the horse had heard her. The mare watched and charged ahead at the woman, nearly making her lose her balance.

Now fully out in the clearing, Lon'qu and Florina could see the horse wasn't a horse, but a pegasus. Her long and elegant wings, unlike the rest of her, were calm, tucked neatly against her body. She looked at Florina and tried to whinny.

"Shut it," the woman snarled. She turned to the man. "Get a hold on the thing!"

"I'm trying!" he insisted. "I don't even think it's worth it. Stealing her was easy, but getting her to come with us is a whole other story. I can hardly keep my-oh." His fingers slipped as the pegasus started pulling again, and he desperately grabbed at the rope, just barely catching it. "We can't deal with these two if this damn horse is going to give us this many problems. Let's go!"

"They know our faces," the woman reminded, glaring at Florina and Lon'qu. "We'll be done for. We need to end them."

"We will not say a word." Lon'qu's head hung low as he spoke. His voice was a mere whisper, a shameful plea.

"Yes we will!" All eyes turned to Florina, whose face was reddening in anger. "How dare you treat such a beautiful and innocent creature so poorly! You ought to be ashamed of yourselves! There is no way I'll keep this to myself. And to steal her from someone who probably loved her very much, how dare you!"

Lon'qu glared at Florina. "Don't be a fool," he barked. "Between my life and that of this pegasus, I'd let the beast die in a heartbeat."

"You're a monster." Florina looked to the pegasus, whose gentle eyes were staring back at her. "She looks like Huey," she mused, and her voice was filled with a soft nostalgia.

The woman was getting angry. She swirled her sword in her hands before raising it to Florina's throat. "I wonder how many people you'll be able to tell from hell," she snarled. "D'you think they'd hear you?" She slid her sword slowly across her skin, and specs of scarlet bubbled along the line. "I know just how to quiet you."

But just as she swiftly moved to swipe her sword across the girl's body the man lost control of the pegasus. The beast charged at the woman, who hadn't been expecting the blow at all. With the wind knocked out of her, she fell to the ground.

"Stella?" The man ran to her side, only to be charged by the pegasus as well. He scrambled to get up and race towards his fallen ally. "Just let us go, please."

The pegasus looked ready to charge again, but Florina gave a low whistle. She approached the pegasus and patted her neck. "It's okay," she murmured, calming the beast. They watched the man pick up the woman and stumble away, tripping several times before they were out of sight.

Florina gently pat the pegasus, a smile on her face. "You did great," she was saying. "And you're so pretty. I'm so sorry those mean people took you from your home. Do you know how to get back? You look really taken care of."

Lon'qu watched the girl, watched as a steady stream of blood trickled from her throat. Bloodied, dirtied, and exhausted, he couldn't help but note she looked... peaceful. He'd never seen her speak so many words before, and it wasn't even to a human. But now was no time for that. Lon'qu grunted and turned away. They had little time to deal with a pegasus. They had to get out of here.

Florina noticed Lon'qu starting away. "She knows where to go," she said quietly. "She can lead us."

"You would take directions from a horse?"

Florina rested a fist on either hip. "She's a pegasus," she muttered. "Besides. Do you have a better idea?"

But he didn't. Lon'qu glanced at her with angered eyes before sighing. What choice did he have? "Fine," he muttered. "Go."