The supplies they bought were proving more useful than even Barret had imagined. The tools they picked up were invaluable in crafting bows and arrows for the hunters, as well as spears for guards. The tents gave them shelter when a storm passed overhead, moving east with them. Though it was cold and wet, it made moving easier, as the land was covered in a dull shadow, and the mud erased their footsteps. Though they did not move entirely unseen, the few travelers they encountered as they passed farms and dirt paths didn't seem to care too much. Most simply stared in wonder and disbelief as the hundred Ishtaer moved together. It had been a week, and although they had three weeks to go, Barret was astonished how fast they made progress across the land. Looking at the map, he pointed to forest just east of a long river. "We're about here. You two go north, you come with me south. We'll come back here at sunset." Picking up the bow, he and the other three hunters went their separate ways. Barret was usually among the hunters, but there were actually about a dozen Ishtaer who were more than capable trackers. They did not need to all go out, but Barret usually sent out four or five to go hunting for food.

The ground was still muddy, despite the storm being three days past, and tracking the herd of deer was easy. Barret and Folst went south along the river, and not long after found their quarry. A herd of nineteen deer had lain down on the rocky bank. Together, the hunters raised their bows. Barret knew he was a decent hunter, but Folst's bright green scales did not blend in with the surrounding brush, which annoyed Barret to no end. But that didn't matter as a pair of soft twangs rang out, and their arrows pierced a pair of hides. The herd bolted as the two injured deer struggled to move. Barret's arrow had hit the front leg of his target, crippling the poor thing as it cried out in pain, while Folst had felled his target with a single arrow to the chest. Barret sprang from the underbrush and drew his knife, putting the poor deer out of it's misery. "You missed your mark. Something on your mind?"

With a heavy sigh, Barret pulled his arrow from the hide, cleaning it off. "Just anxious. I'm ready to be home, ready to tell my friends what I've done. I want to see them again so badly. If it was just Haelith, Raine, and myself, we would have been back by now. But we have you all now. And as much as my heart aches for my friends, I have sworn to myself that I will see you to Edinmire. I will make sure everyone gets there. I didn't ask for anyone to follow me, but this is my Fate, and I will make sure this is not anyone else's end. We've already had to make one pyre. I don't want to see another for a long time."

"I never knew it was such a burden to be a leader."

"Neither did I. Again, I never asked for this, but I will see it through to the end." As they carried their catch back, Barret's mind swirled with many thoughts of the future. He knew he needed to talk with Haelith about their plans for after they were married, and he also needed to talk about the actual wedding with her. He thought about his friends, about Trace and Flora, hoping they were still alive. Raine had told them Edinmire was attacked, but that was more than a month ago at this point. He thought back to Eris, wishing he could have done more. He hardly noticed that they were already back to camp.

"Wow, haven't seen you staring like that in a long time." Raine smirked as she walked over. "Lot on your mind?"

"Far too much. Belsh, mind getting this tonight? I need to take a walk." The lynx smiled as he walked over, taking the deer on his shoulders. No longer carrying the weight, Barret turned to the forest once more. "I'll be back later. Save me a cut of that, will you?"

"I'll let Haelith know-"

"No." Barret cut Raine off suddenly. Sighing, he let his body sag down, the weight bearing down on him very clear. "I need some time truly alone. I love her, but there's things I have to work through on my own." With that, he walked out of the camp. The shadows had begun to grow long in the evening sun, and the sky was filled with an orange and red glow. The clouds to the east lit the sky like fire, illuminating the world with an eerie twilight beneath them. As Barret wandered to the edge of the forest, he sat down next to a large oak. Sighing, he simply rested.

I can't do this alone. I was always strong enough before, but now I feel useless. Why do they look to me so much? I haven't proved myself for them. I've done nothing, and yet they follow me like children follow their parents. I don't want to lead them. I wish someone else would. But everyone here is picking up the pieces of broken lives. Some don't even have that. So why do they turn to me?

The sun dipped below the horizon, blanketing the world in darkness. Trace. I miss him. I wonder if he would recognize the man I've become since I left. Flora might kill me when we get back, but I knew this wouldn't be the last time I see them. I should have said goodbye. Zen will be happy when I get back, and Natani will be too. Keith might kill me after Flora when he finds out I let everyone down. I hope they're alright. If they got hurt…

Barret shook his head, pushing the dark thought away as the stars began to glow overhead. I'm sorry. I wish I could have done more. I wish I could have saved you. I wish I told you everything the moment we were together. Then things might be different. You might still be here. I'm sorry Eris. You didn't fail me. I failed you. I'm sorry. I hope you have found rest with mom and dad. I hope they can forgive you like I have. I hope they can see that you laid your life down for us. I'll see you again, someday. I'll go to the halls of our ancestors, and we'll see each other again. I know it.

Night had truly fallen, and the full moon cast a pale glow on the world. Barret stood up, his joints stiff. He hadn't realized just how long he sat there. Stretching his arms, legs, and back, they cracked loudly, and he began to turn to go back, when something caught his eye: a cluster of lights on the ground in the distance. This would not have been strange usually, they were in a populated area of the world after all, but there was not a town on the map. Pulling the spyglass out of his bag, he looked at the cluster, but frustratingly couldn't make anything out in the dark. The lights covered a significant area, but whatever it was was at least not moving closer. Frowning, he turned away, heading back to camp. When he got back, there were few people awake still, though he was pleased to see that there was indeed a plate set aside for him on the edge of a fire, keeping the tender meat warm. Happily, he devoured the charred meat, and went to lay next to Haelith, who was snoring gently. He would think more on it in the morning.

…

He was up before dawn like usual. Unlike usual, he was alone in the tent. A gentle smell of coffee reached his nostrils, and soft footsteps told him someone was approaching. He sat up as the tent flap opened, and he saw Haelith come in with two cups of coffee. "This is different. It's usually me that brings you coffee."

"I know you were up late, and I got to sleep early. So, here I am!" He couldn't help but smile with her, her smile brought him joy like he couldn't explain. "Did you figure out everything you needed to last night?"

He didn't answer right away, as he took a sip of the coffee. It was still very hot, but the liquid spread warmth through his whole body. "Most things. I was actually planning to head out again this morning. I saw something strange. A cluster of lights, like there was a village in the distance, but the closest settlement is Durlon. I want to go see what it was. If it's a cluster of traveling merchants, it could be our chance to get the last few things we were looking for. A wagon or proper sledge would really help keep us moving. Heck, if we find that, we could take most of our camp with us when we pack up."

"I'll make sure to have something on the fire for you when you get back." She leaned over and kissed him quickly as she left the tent. "Don't be long!" He sat for a few more minutes, finishing his coffee, before throwing on his cloak and setting out. The return trip was easy enough, it was practically a straight shot. But when he crested the hill he had sat on the night before, his heart stopped.

Before him, stretched out like a map, lay not a village or settlement, but a great host of tents and banners and men. Barret's heart raced as he pulled out the spyglass once more, and he got a very clear look at them in the early morning sun. Armor gleaming in the dawn, pikes and halberds, crossbows and spears, swords and shields, and above them all hung standards of white with bright blue emblems: these were Templars. Some hundred cavalry armed with lances and clad in heavy plate mail patrolled the edges, and within their midst were muscular workhorses pulling carts laden with planks, wheels, gears, metal plates, and carved stones. He watched for several minutes that seemed to last hours as a heavy drum reached his ears, and the thousands began to march in unison. His heart pounded faster than the beating drums as he sprinted back through the forest.

His mind raced, as fear mixed with determination caused his blood to pump, chasing away the last bits of exhaustion from the night. They were going east, which meant the camp would be found within hours. They would send scouts, they would send soldiers, they would be attacked, and they might be killed. His feet barely touched the ground, the claws digging into the dirt, not even caring that he left tracks. As he rushed into the camp, he drew the eyes of everyone as he panted "We need to move now! Get those tents packed up!"

"Barret? What's going on?" Raine asked as she stood up from the fire she was tending.

"Templars! There's an army on the road behind us, and they're headed east! We have to go, now!" Panic and whispers suddenly filled the camp as he said this, their fears suddenly all too real.

"Do they know where we are?" a woman asked as she turned away from the fire.

"I don't think so. But if we don't move, they'll be able to easily see us."

"How many were there?" Raine asked as she rushed over to her bag.

"Thousands. I'd guess ten thousand strong, but I couldn't tell. They have cavalry and siege weapons mixed in with their infantry. Knights, lancers, war casters, everything."

"We need to get to Edinmire! My dad told me that the Templars were readying for another assault of the city, and that's probably it! We have to get back and warn everyone!"

"We're still weeks away." Adira said, frowning. "We can't sprint all the way back, we'd end up dead."

"If we don't get moving, we'll be trapped." Barret said loudly. "We either get in front of them and move faster than they do, reach Edinmire first and warn them about the coming attack. Or, we let them move in front of us, and hope that Edinmire doesn't get destroyed, and that we don't get found when they retreat. If they get in front of us, we are pinned between a hostile army and the entirety of human territory. We have to move." Silence fell on the camp. His logic was sound, but the thought of racing against the Templars paralyzed them with fear.

"If you think that is what is best, then lead on." Anriea stepped forward, eyes drawn to her as she spoke. "Where you lead, we will follow."