With no horse to help them, Evyn and Taerlyn had to take turns carrying or dragging Shadow and Roan as far from the cliff as they could manage.  Adrian carefully picked his way alongside when he wasn't tired enough to hitch a ride on a shoulder.  They stopped only when they'd gotten as far as they could go while still remaining within the safety of the tree line, to protect them from any wandering spies that may be roaming the valley on the other side.  By the time the sky grew completely dark and both of Evyn's shoulders were devastatingly sore, he had begun to seriously worry about whether or not his companions would ever wake up.  They were limp, motionless, and their heartbeats were frighteningly slow.  It had taken him literal minutes to find a pulse on either.
        Taerlyn busied herself with getting the beds laid out and other various camp-related chores.  It kept her from getting nervous--it kept her from thinking.  No thinking, no worrying.  She'd accomplish that for as long as the universe would allow.
        Evyn took care of the fire, but that was about it.  His sister was so intent upon doing everything else that he simply let her.  She even got the wood for him, branch by branch.  It was a good thing, though; he didn't much feel like doing anything, anyway.  He sat across from the two motionless bodies, side by side--the little dragon laying down for a nap next to him--and stared longingly into the fire, prepared to wait for days if he had to.  When he had to add another log, he began to wonder if that was really how long it would take.
        Luckily, something certainly smiled down on him.  Starting out as a hum that echoed in the back of his skull, he heard the energy of the blue fire seconds before he saw it slowly shimmer over them.  It looked to be a bit weaker than what he'd seen of it before, not appearing as flame but merely a glow, then dissipating.
        Painfully slowly, Roan's hand rose to rest on his forehead.  He murmured something completely inaudible, feeling a bit like he'd been struck in the head multiple times.  That feeling thankfully passed as his heartbeat picked up, but there was still a dizzy twinge.
        "Is this what a hangover feels like?" Shadow's voice was thick and dulled with sleep.  She didn't even want to move for fear all of the blood vessels in her head would explode at the same time.
        Evyn allowed himself a deep breath of relief.  At least they were conscious.  As Shadow's hand reached up blindly, her eyes still closed, he gently grasped it and offered resistance so she could lift herself up.
        The act of sitting elicited a groan, but her head had already started to clear of the pounding.  It took several seconds to figure out that the sudden shortness of breath and tension in her chest was because of Taerlyn's sudden, latching hug.  "You're not helping, dear."  She was lucid enough to joke.
        "Sorry."  The girl giggled nervously, letting go.
        Finally opening her eyes, Shadow was glad to find that her pupils had no pain or problems adjusting to the firelight.  She looked over to Roan, who was still laying down with his eyes to the stars--the open map of the sky.  He was certain he knew this place, that he'd been here a number of times.  In fact, he could almost... feel it.  Something sprang into his mind, and he spoke it unintentionally.  "This was a good place to stop."
        "Why's that?" Evyn asked, taking a look around.  It didn't exactly look like the safest place, but he thought it was their best bet for the situation.
        "Aunger can't spy on us here.  Something to do with... poisoned underground water."  He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to remember anything else, but no more would come to him.  Maybe he'd never been told anything more in the first place.  To hell with it, though.  They were safe for a little while, and that was nice.  Regardless of the price that had been paid...
        "So close..." Shadow whispered sadly, indulging in the same thought process.  Had they just hurried a little faster, Sandy may have made it to the other side  If she had just done something differently, maybe.  If they'd just paid more attention...
        Adrian's head bolted up, having just awoken to the voices.  He yipped loudly and excitedly, causing both of the newly woken companions to groan in misery; Evyn and Taerlyn grinned at one another, grateful for the amusement.  While Shadow was not as grateful for the short-lived but intense pounding of her head, she was glad to see their newest addition was safe.  He bolted into her lap as though she'd called his name and lay down like a cat that was ready to have attention paid to it.
        "They say pets are therapeutic."  She commented jokingly, stroking the smooth scales of his back.  "Let's see if that's true."
        Roan delicately reached out to take a turn, but found himself too far away in his laying position.  As he dropped his hand back to the ground, he felt Shadow take it and lend him aid to sit himself up as Evyn had done with her.
        Supporting the back of his head with an irrational fear of it rolling off his shoulders (or exploding), he slowly took her up on that offer.  It hurt to sit up, as he thought it would.  But thankfully his head was clearing, little by little.
        "So... how are you?" Evyn summed up a million questions in one simple form.
        Their almost mentally fit leader stared at him for a number of seconds before she felt she was able to accurately respond.  "Okay."
        Taerlyn giggled under her breath.  She looked over to Roan, rubbing his eyes with his palms and attempting to clear his vision fully.  She was almost timid at first, still a bit unsure of him.  But, she'd make the effort, anyway.  "And you, Roan?"
        "Mrf."  Was his initial answer.  Dropping his hands and blinking, he took a deep breath and reconsidered.  "Better.  Thanks."
        Evyn stretched his legs in front of him, only then realizing that they hurt.  They had that annoying tingly sleep feeling to them, only it wasn't going away.  "Seeing as how you two are alright. then," he announced, "I've got to stretch my legs."
        "Me, too."  Taerlyn admitted.
        Shadow nodded, continuing to stroke the half awake dragon on her lap.  "We'll stay here and recover a bit more."
        The siblings smiled and gave small waves, off to explore a little.  It's not like they'd be that far away, but... well, they'd like to have believed what Roan said about their safety.  They did, to a point--obviously so if they were going to take a short walk.  They might not be in immediate danger, but there was always the chance.  Just in case, of course, Evyn took the pummel with them.
        The remaining two watched them go.  After they were out of sight, Shadow quietly, tactfully began, "Let me ask you something."
        "Yes?" Roan was genuinely curious about where this was going.  The tone of her voice was so damn serious...
        "The day after the stream... while the birds were cooking... what were you doing?"  There was a slightly devious glint to her voice at the end of that question.  He'd been gone far too long, and had been far too dry to have just taken a dip and come back...
        He laughed.  And laughed.  And laughed a little more.  "Bathing."
        She loved his laugh--his real laugh.  It wasn't all that different from anyone else's, maybe, but... there was just something about it in particular.  Boy was she getting weird.  "And then?" she pushed, just wondering what he'd say.
        "You want me to say I was jerking off while thinking of you?"
        He'd asked it so devastatingly cleanly, without pause, without the least bit of fear of exposure or pretense that she was actually struck dumb.  That alone made them both start laughing again.  It was all the answer she'd needed.  "And who said romance was dead?" she finally got out when she caught her breath.
        "Hey, not me."  He grinned, scooting closer.  The pain of moments ago and the loss of a companion brought on an odd energy; melancholic, but playful.  Perhaps it was just the desperation to forget for a little while.  He looked up at those twinkling stars they'd all found comfort in at some point or another along the way, but he couldn't help but feel utterly responsible for Sandy's death.  It was true that he was no longer under the control of Aunger, but the idea that he was to blame wouldn't leave him.  Aunger's minions had taken her, minions that he had once lived among, and he and Shadow combined had not been able to help.  The many "what ifs" and "if onlys" rushed him, and he could barely contain a weak groan.
        Right next to him, a sleepy dragon in her lap, Shadow felt his helplessness.  She, too, felt so incredibly guilty; something she had never really encountered in her life.  It was sickening.  She thought back to a good piece of advice she'd picked up along the way; guilt was just a load of bricks, and all you had to do was put them down.  Somehow that proved remarkably impossible.  Lost in her thoughts, she discovered rather suddenly that she was flat on the ground, looking into the depths of laughing black eyes.
        Roan grinned down, having pounced and then sat on top of her.  At least they could try their damnedest to lighten the mood a little bit.
        Little Adrian, having sensed either the intentions or the motion, had jumped from her lap just in time to avoid the whole tangle.  He watched the exchange with curiosity--from a safe distance.
        She let herself grin back thankfully.  "We're a bunch of idiots."
        "I know."  He answered almost seriously.  He leaned in just a bit closer, his hair lightly brushing against her neck, lips just a heartbeat from hers.  He paused there, right there, for several long seconds, just gazing at her and letting her wonder what his next move was to be.  "Wanna wrestle?" he grinned wider.
        She found herself unable to respond with anything other than a puzzled, almost terrified look.  She had hoped very badly that he didn't have the Earth meaning behind that question, but was a little too stunned to ask.
        He laughed at her reaction.  "No, not like that."
        She tried not to sigh too loudly with relief.  "Uh... well, why not?"  It certainly wasn't that she didn't trust him, but he'd just about scared her into a full heart attack, complete with a loud explosion and blood gushing from the mouth.  Granted she had neither shame nor morals, but... still.  She glanced over to where she could just see the faint color of Taerlyn's dress through the trees, making sure she knew where the siblings were so they wouldn't get into the fray.  "So... how do we start?"
        "Like... this!" Roan suggested, quickly grabbing both of her wrists and pinning them to the ground above her head.
        "Not like that," huh? she didn't quite want to say out loud.  "That's not very smart."  She grinned, then lifted her legs, circled them swiftly around his middle and used a great deal of strength to fling him off.  She laughed, lunged off of the ground and took to a full run.
        The siblings looked up from their walk at the sudden bursts of sound and saw Shadow running like a cheetah, Roan almost on her heels, and Adrian leaping into the air and barking with excitement by the fire.  They stared at each other for a long time, amazed and confused.  Looking back, they witnessed Roan making a quick leap for Shadow and going right over her as she dropped to the ground and changed directions.  Had either sibling ever had house cats, they'd have seen such spasmatic activity before.
        "It takes a lot to bring them down, huh?" Taerlyn tried to joke.
        Evyn stared at them for another minute, Roan having finally caught his prey with a loud "Ooomph!" and in the process of trying to pin her down again.  Turning back to his sister, he responded, "They know how to keep themselves busy, anyway."
        "Is the big bad warrior girl ticklish?!" they heard clearly.  At that particular sentiment, they found themselves walking over with an eagerness to be entertained.
        "That will bring about consequences!" Shadow squeaked.
        "Dire, I'm sure."  Roan growled playfully, squeezing both of her wrists in one hand, his body looming over her.  He glanced back at the siblings that had run up behind him.
        "We're here to hold her down!" Ter informed with an almost evil giggle.
        "Yeah, it'll take fifty more of you."  Shadow challenged playfully.  "Besides... I'm not ticklish."
        Roan's grin widened and became remarkably vicious, so much so that Shadow suddenly found it a little hard to swallow.  "Then what was that squeak?"
        "Pain?" she responded quickly, hopefully.
        "Hm."  He commented, the expression never leaving his face.  "In the interest of all of us, why don't I check that theory..." he then proceeded to prod softly at the left side of her ribs.
        She bit her lip, and hard.  She hadn't been tickled in years, and she'd forgotten not only what it felt like, but how to react to it.  Unfortunately for her, it all came running back with a forced giggle and a completely uncontrollable squirm.
        Evyn and Taerlyn just stared in wonder.  The great Shadow was ticklish.  She was among the mortals, after all.  Not only mortal was she, but she was ticklish.  Had either of them dared, they would gladly have confirmed this for themselves... but they both wanted all of their limbs in tact.
        "That looks like being ticklish to me."  Roan announced with a twinge of pride.
        "Wrong you are, sir."  Shadow grinned back with a hint of unexpected evil.  "I'm going to get up now.  If you're hurt, it your fault for not letting go."
        Evyn was the first to back up and get out of the way, Taerlyn right after him.  Roan's grin turned lightly from wicked to highly amused as he sat back, both wrists still in his hand, and placed one leg solidly over both of hers just below the knees.
        "You bastard."  She smiled venomously.  Before he had the chance to react to that particular expression, she threw her body to the side and used her elbows to roll and steady herself on all fours as she slid all the way underneath him.  Feeling his weight settle on her back, she was about to sit and drop him off of her when she felt his legs squeeze her sides.  Realizing that plan of action had been thwarted, she mumbled, "Damn."
        "Should we really be watching this?" Taerlyn half joked.
        Shadow hadn't even realized what this looked like...  "Well... in fact, I don't think you should be."  She responded comically.  As Roan released her wrists and shifted to get off of her and apologize profusely, she continued her original plan anyway.  This time it just involved sweeping her leg out to trip him.  Unfortunately she hadn't really thought that one all the way out, and he landed crosswise on top of her, knocking her flat.
        Evyn coughed, making a straining effort not to laugh.  "We'll, uh... be over there.  If you need us."
        "I might..." she groaned, finding Roan purposely making himself weigh as much as possible.  If she was going to be that way... 

        The siblings relaxed by the fire as the two "warriors" set about trying to best one another.  There wasn't any real competition there, but it was fun to watch anyway.  Well, Evyn sure thought so.
        It wasn't really as... hard to watch as he thought it should be, maybe.  He wondered why that was.  He ought to have been a raging bundle of... well, jealousy, perhaps--that Roan got a chance to be so close to her.  It wasn't even about the accidental sexual innuendo; though of course that should have added to the rage he simply didn't feel for some reason.
        Maybe it was realizing Roan's actions were no longer out of cruelty.  Or maybe that Shadow hadn't meant to suggest anything.  Or... perhaps it was something that brought as much comfort as it did uneasiness.  He turned to his sister, realizing she'd been watching him in his thought process.  "They belong together, don't they?" he whispered in wonder.
        Ter giggled.  "Two peas in a goat's blood soup."
        His face brightened.  "We've been around each other too long."
        "Too long to ever recover, anyway."  She admitted quite honestly, reaching out to gingerly pet the little dragon that had wandered over to sit beside them.  He was a sweet thing once she'd been assured he wouldn't snap her fingers off. 

        "Not much for romance, are you?" Shadow joked as his body began to get very heavy.
        "Romance?" Roan mocked, keeping his weight steady.  "You mean foreplay?"
        She sighed sarcastically, catching his amused gaze.  "No, not foreplay.  And if that's what this is, then I think we better find a more private location."
        He chuckled, all too willing to push her as far to the edge of her comfort zone as she would allow him.  There was only so much he could leave behind.  "Late-blooming slut, are you?"
        The words were so sudden and shocking that she laughed at them.  The tone of his voice hadn't left her with the impression that the words were accusatory, or even serious.  Hell, he knew she could kick his ass, anyway.  "Later than now, if that's what you're getting at."
        "No."  He admitted quietly, almost comfortingly.  In a gesture of reassurance, he slipped off of her back to lay by her side.  "Don't... be concerned about that."
        Able to breathe again, she had the absolutely perfect chance to whip him right back for the little comment he'd made seconds before.  "Not much for foreplay either?"
        He grunted humorously, grasping her shoulder and rolling her over into his arms.  Still so odd; so alien the thought, the feeling, that a simple touch could be so... healing.  "I can't say I'm well versed in either practice."
        "No kidding."  She teased, rolling even further to rest her head on his shoulder.  And still the need to be close to him was foreign.  Good, fantastic, but... eternally strange.  The very thought of wanting to touch, and be touched, was so... weird.  Everything fell away, into that comfort, and it really made her understand what a dangerous thing love could be.  Blindness, wickedness; she made a mental note to watch herself.  Wonderful a thing though this was, she could not lose herself to it.  There was a job to do and others to look out for.  That thought, and the sudden knowledge that they were--Wonder of fucking wonders--cuddling caused her to jerk up from his touch.
        But he was ready for it, instinctually.  Quickly but without force, he caught her shoulder before she could pull away and pressed her head back to his own shoulder.  Seriously, he let himself wonder aloud, "Is there a difference?  Between romance and foreplay?"
        Her eyes widened a little at his question, and she thought her answer out carefully.  "I'd say yes.  But what do I know?"
        He regarded her response silently, gazing again at the stars above them.  All of the experiences in his life that he'd had with anything close to this, to what they had right then and there, had turned out badly to put it extremely politely.  Sometimes anguish, sometimes agony... but it had never been a good thing.  Romance, foreplay, love--just fucking words.  It was almost awkward to consider them... anything else.  Especially in the context of his life.
        A loud squeaking sound interrupted everyone's thought process.  It had sounded like the hinges on some great and giant door in the very fabric of the universe, but looking to where the sound had come from, there was only a baby dragon with his eyes halfway shut.
        Taerlyn had pulled away from the creature and against her equally startled brother when it made that noise--but now she realized what it had been.  "I think it was just a yawn."  She called over.  "I hope."  She added, to herself.
        Shadow smiled briefly. Tired dragons are loud dragons.  Gotchya.  "I guess we ought to get some rest anyway.  You're sure we're... safe?"
        With one more reassuring gaze at the surroundings, he nodded and slowly sat up with her.  "I remember this place.  It's been a while, but... I remember it."  Another thing altogether passed in his eyes, but it was too quick to pick up on.  "We're safe until we pass through the other side of the valley, I think."  He indicated the area ahead of them with a lazy sweep of his hand; realizing dully that he was more tired than he thought. 

        Really, now--was he just fucking insane?
        Well, obviously, he grinned to himself, picking his way back to camp in the misty first light of dawn.  He'd remembered a lot more than he'd initially thought, only it was far better this time around.  Now he could enjoy it; and now it meant the meeting of a challenge.  He still wasn't one to let something like that go; coming from friend or foe made no difference.  He'd heard enough stories--the fact that most came from torture sessions was pressed to the absolute back of his consciousness.  It made the whole thing a lot less pleasant.
        He was very careful to be silent, sitting beside Shadow as she slept.  Watching her closely, he realized he had a mild advantage, as he'd caught her just at the end of a dream cycle.  Slowly he laid the rose from the valley across her open palm, letting the strong but pleasant scent of the petals do their work.  Himself, he had dreamt of something only moments before, and wondered...
        He watched her stir from her sleep slowly, stretching to lay on her back, eyelids fluttering.  When she saw the glimmering black eyes above her, she almost started and kicked poor little Adrian right off of her feet (his sleeping position proving how cat-like he really was, she supposed).  A slightly suspicious twinkle in those eyes caught her mind in such a way that prevented any reaction at all.  Even with all of the odd experiences her mind had suffered in the past few days, this seemed yet a little stranger.
        He grinned at her response.  "I almost didn't mean to wake you."  He whispered.
        With the raising of an eyebrow, she was left pondering what he was up to for only long enough to discover what the hell had been tickling her palm--certainly not expecting the answer.  The quips about romance, they were just jokes... and this in itself was ungodly cliché where she was from, but... that didn't detract from the sentiment or the rose.  She sat up slowly, gazing into a blood red so deep it was almost painful to look at, each petal darkening outward at their tips with a black almost too perfect for nature.  "It's... beautiful..." she whispered in awe.  It was utterly true; she'd never been much for flowers.  Pretty, yes, but they'd only made her sneeze in the summer.  This one was... something else.  The green in the stem and leaves were dark emerald with what appeared in the dawn to be highlights of gold, both colors blending gorgeously with that reddest of red of the flower itself.  She'd never seen a flower so... breathtaking.
        "Now come with me."  He suggested quietly, a mysterious smile across his face.  "It's not far."
        She looked at him with only the slightest hesitation, trying to convince herself that everything was going to be okay.  It seemed ridiculous, of course, but... just giving into whatever may happen still wasn't entirely her preference.  Especially considering the strange occurrences of late.  Still... there was that look in his eye that would not let go of her curiosity.  She was sure her trust in him would probably be her undoing... but she was never one to let that stop her, was she?  Gently, she tugged her feet out from under the sleeping dragon and took Roan's outstretched hand.
        Triumphant in that trust, he lead her quietly away from camp and out to the small valley.  Just past the trees, the land slid downward in a series of natural rock steps, creating a waterfall effect for the ivy that had grown there for centuries.  Beautiful though it was, it made it a little hard to find their footing--but they were careful.
        Coming to the bottom, it appeared at first to be little more than overgrown vines that had actually built upon themselves over time to weave astoundingly tall walls in one corner.  But of course, Roan had remembered more than that.  He carefully lead her through the "door" he'd cut so that her already abused shirt wouldn't get any more tatters.  It was within the walls of vines that the paradise of roses grew.
        Her heart skipped a beat--it was unbelievable.  In the middle of a small, natural room, lit only by the filtered sunlight of criss-crossing vines, was a massive congregation of the those otherworldly roses.  The gold light of morning added to the surreal effect, giving everything a misty glow.
        "This is the only place they grow."  He whispered, leading her a little more inside.  There were raised sandstone steps around the bed of roses so that the vines couldn't overgrow them.  The stones made the perfect place to sit and enjoy the view, so he invited her to do so.
        "You've seen this before?" she asked softly, still in awe.  How a land often so harsh could have so much inexpressible beauty...
        "Yes."  He answered quietly, eyes gleaming with something that resembled mischief.  "I didn't remember until I dreamt about it, though.  It woke me up."
        "Ah."  She couldn't help but smile, those eyes like a spell over her.  Dangerous, but damn... she honestly didn't mind.
        "I'm afraid Aunger based all of his uniforms on this rose..." He sighed, diverting his eyes only long enough to glance at the rose closest to him.
        "I can see why."  She commented, running the palm of her hand lightly over the petals of the flower he'd brought back to her.  It was soft and delicate, but with a sense of power; of fury and imagination that coursed through it even stronger.
        "He was upset that he had no power over them."  He laughed softly, almost dishonestly.
        "So he found his own little way to gain power over them."  She finished, wishing him to be rid of the memories as much as he wanted to drop them.  She had the distinct feeling that she would not get along with this Aunger fellow...
        He smiled at that, somehow knowing her intention.  How very peculiar of her to give a fuck.  Though he understood that he could easily say the same of her.  The second-guessing, the uncertainty, the nervousness--it all bled away when he met her eyes again.  Here and now, there was no time for romance.  It just wasn't right, wasn't to be indulged in while they were still on this journey.  But he had had a dream... and she had made her own challenge of him the night before, even if she didn't really realize it.  He needed this for himself as much as he got the feeling she did, as well.  The fire in her eyes drove him, as it always did.
        Gently, he took the rose from her fingertips, watching her eyes the entire time.  There was a bit of jittery uncertainty, but... she didn't move away.  Her fingers didn't flex to grasp the stem as it was lifted from her hand.  His heart was racing--he couldn't believe it.  He certainly couldn't believe he was doing this...  "Trust me."
        Just days prior she'd probably have slit his throat at that suggestion.  This time... the barest inclination of her head was a nod, and she didn't pull away when he pressed the stem of the rose to her lips.  It was the strangest form of instinct that drove her to open them--each tiny thorn burning savagely for a moment before falling away into a cool, almost pleasant sort of buzz.  Her eyes never left his--pools of black that held light, that reflected light--as he pulled the stem away and similarly let the thorns make small cuts in the tender insides of his own lips.
        Cliché no longer, she'd have thought had she been capable.  It was like a whole new instinct had opened through a floodgate, and she needed no suggestion.  The thorns left his lips brilliantly garnet with the stain of fresh blood, and she was after it like a predatory animal.  This kiss, this bonding of blood...
        It was an experience she enjoyed to the fullest.  She felt the warmth flooding her mouth, down her throat, and shivered.  The very idea that color could have a taste rushed through her mind before the metallic twinge itself overcame all thought.  She felt no wound, no pain as she fell into the kiss like a hole in the world.
        He felt he could hardly breathe, the sacred ties of the blood in his mouth; against his tongue was the taste was life, her life, their life.  Not even the moment on One Tree Hill was as open, as exposing as... everything utterly surrendered.  It was no longer just a dream, just an odd and hopeful fantasy.  Bound by blood and rose, this was... this was fucking sacred.
        The blood turned and returned, coursed until it was forced to a halt.  The wounds healed without the help of blue fire, a last twinge of the coolness that the thorns had caused dimmed until it was merely a kiss, just them.  Only when both were breathless did they pull away, sated.
        "Did you dream that too?" she wanted to know.
        "Yes."  He admitted, placing both hands on either side of her neck out of curiousity--wonder of wonders, her pulse was racing as much as his.
        "To touch is to heal..." came to mind in an instant.  She used to shy away from things like this; all it would take was a person to get within three feet of her to have her cringing back or defensive.  And suddenly, she just had to ask, "Is this romance or foreplay?"
        He grinned, letting his hands fall lightly to her waist.  "I don't know really.  I just... I needed to."  Loss of pride, loss of power, loss itself seemed no longer an issue anymore.  A little sappy romance, though...  "I love you, Shadow."
        This time there was no hesitation.  "I love you too, Roan."  This may be the only sappiness they get to experience... for a long time, if not ever.  What the hell, really.
        "I know."  He grinned, closing his eyes reflectively for a moment, the taste of her blood still thick in his throat.  "You didn't mind, did you?"
        "No."  She responded honestly.  "It was..."  To find a word for that proved nearly impossible; she fell back on the only one that could really fit, even if it was far too simplistic.  "Amazing..."
        "I... always tended to think... I was always taught to think of blood as something..." he began slowly, trying to gather his thought as he went along.
        "Sacred..." she finished for him, placing her hands on top of his. "Even though we've both lost quite a bit lately, huh?"
        It may have been meant as a joke, but he saw through it to what was underneath.  Odd thing this comfort... he wrapped his arms around her and felt her squeeze back before lightly prodding, "I saw your scars... after the wolf-thing and all of that..."
        "You should see the ones on the front..." she said in a joking fashion; but they came out just a touch quietly, bitterly.  "Old wounds that don't matter much anymore."
        "Mmm."  He agreed, thinking.  After a moment, he gently released her and wordlessly pulled off his shirt.  Too stunned to start laughing like a lunatic, she sat quietly in front of him--there was a wealth of scars raking in all directions across his chest, some going as far as down his biceps, most on his abdomen looking deep enough to kill.  "Childhood."  He said quietly.
        She only watched for a moment as though she expected something to occur.  She looked from one scar to another... and wondered.  Some were clearly from being pierced and others from graceless shredding of the skin, each one looking as though it had been viciously deliberate.  It took very little imagination to come up with an idea of who was responsible.  She broke the silence and the situation with a gentle grin.  "You want me to take off my shirt too?"
        He could not believe how glad he'd actually become for her.  The humor at that moment of all times was more welcomed than even her touch.  "Then that would be foreplay."  He teased, putting his shirt back on.
        "True.  Better not then.  They'll wonder where we are and stumble in and it'll be a great big mess."  She joked.
        "Just one thing I must ask..." he added quietly.
        The tone of voice was so... astoundingly serious after all of that, that she pulled even closer.  "Yes?"
        His eyes glistened lively.  What they'd just done was nothing compared to what he wished to ask of her.  And what she may answer...  "Just... don't leave me alone, Shadow.  Please."
        The words hurt.  They made her chest physically ache, her emotional core solidify for just a moment.  But, it... it wasn't all that unpleasant of a thing. That was scary.  It was a startling revelation, perhaps.  And in this moment of their last romantic contact for who knew how long, she threw her arms around him and swallowed the lump in her throat.  So this was that kind of emotion that drove two people together, regardless of circumstance; what some would call unhealthy, obsessive.  And it was scary--scary to realize that little fact, but more so to embrace it.  "I won't.  But don't you leave either... ever... or I'd..."
        "Fall."  He finished in a whisper, leaning into her and holding back.  The smell of the morning, the feel of the sunlight reaching further across the landscape, it was all so absolutely wonderful.  This was weird.  This was strange and wrong and awful... but it really wasn't.  It was really... all they'd needed. 

        Another day of travel, both weary and a little bit frightening.  Shadow started reciting lines from "Stone Cold Crazy" as she packed.  Though it would have made things go a little more smoothly, she hesitated to wake the siblings.  It was still pretty early, and Evyn had been mumbling and stirring as though he'd wake himself up at any moment anyway.  It'd be a nice surprise to have almost everything packed and ready to go.  She had some extra energy to work off, anyway.
        Adrian was up and running like a wild beast, though.  He'd been waiting for the two "lovebirds" to come back from the valley, head peeking out from underneath Shadow's blankets as they arrived.  He bounced from one of them to the other as they got the supplies in order, a natural curiosity consuming him as it did any young animal.  Just because he was unable to help didn't impede his desire to watch and learn.
        While rummaging through her backpack, Shadow's hand hit one of the infamous unlabeled cans.  She groaned quietly, almost in pain from the thought of what else may be laying in wait inside of the remaining metal prisons.  Sure her stomach was empty, but... was it worth it?
        "I've had worse."  Roan made a stunning attempt to cheer her up.
        While she appreciated the effort, she tasted the half-assed sentiment right away.  Taking the dented can at the very bottom, she stood up and took a stance that was remarkably like a baseball pitcher.  Logic drifted away entirely as she pulled her arm back and hurled the sucker into a nearby tree.  When the can suddenly came to a halt, burying half of itself inside of the tree, somehow everything started looking up.
        The siblings woke to the sharp sound of laughter rather than the peculiar woosh-THUMP-fsh of the actual act to which the laughing referred.  It was a much needed, in-the-moment sort of thing that they probably would have enjoyed more if they'd been awake to have seen it.
        Evyn sleepily rubbed his eyes, casting a glance to where the others were facing.  All he saw was a can embedded in a tree.  It took a number of seconds to realize firstly that it was not natural, and secondly that it had been somehow placed there by the wheezing people a few yards away.  Then his brain allowed a chuckle.  "Should we really be wasting... 'food'?"  He saw the flaw in his question instantly.
        "It's okay."  Taerlyn giggled with a yawn.  "The can didn't open."
        Again the culprit and her accomplice began laughing.  In fact, it didn't look like the can was affected in the least bit.  It retained exactly the same dent it had before she'd thrown it, otherwise remaining a cylinder.  While at first Adrian had been startled, he was then quite fascinated and began to climb the tree to get a better look.
        "Good morning."  Shadow greeted and apologized.  "Just one look at another can, it sort of..."
        "Oh, I think we understand."  Evyn lazily climbed out from under the blankets, on the verge of asking where Sandy was.  That thought caused a lead weight to fill his stomach, and he felt suddenly even less hungry than he had before.
        Adrian prodded the side of the can very gingerly with a single claw, inspecting it like a scientist on the verge of a great discovery.  The activity prompted Shadow to think out loud, "I wonder what he eats."
        "He has to eat whatever we have to eat."  Taerlyn stated more seriously than she really meant it.  Or, come to think of it...
        They heard a grinding metallic sound all of a sudden, causing them all to cast their eyes toward the creature in question.  Astoundingly, the sound had been his teeth against the tin--he had successfully bitten a tiny hole open at the top.  "I don't think he's a vegetarian."  Roan understated dryly.
        Taerlyn unconsciously folded her hands tightly in her lap.  There had been a very sudden, very bad thought that crossed her mind regarding fingers and dragon jaws.  If those teeth were sharp enough to take a bite out of a can...
        Perhaps most people would have been more wary.  Perhaps most people would have waited behind for a little while, just a little freaked out that the tiny thing had that much destructive capacity to digits in general.  But Shadow was not most people, therefore she walked up to the little beast and carefully lifted him off the tree and onto her shoulder.  One tug at the can was not enough to dislodge it, so she used her knife to cut around it before sliding it out.  She was sure at that point that the trees were going to get their revenge on her someday.  Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow...
        "What is it?" Evyn didn't bother trying to sound anything resembling hopeful.
        She'd know that smell anywhere--there were very few things that could come close to matching it.  "Sauerkraut."  She answered monotone.  When met with blank faces, she added, "Pickled cabbage.  It's not... so bad.  Better with something, though."
        "Can't wait to see what we get to eat with it."  Evyn delivered that same, flat tone.
        What was a girl to do, really?  With a dragon on her shoulder looking down with something resembling morbid curiosity, Shadow strolled to her backpack, kneeled, and picked another can at random.  This time, Adrian sniffed the outside and let out a little cry of anticipation.
        "You better be right about this."  She stated quietly, then offered the choice to "big brother", since he was the official can opener.  While he appeared much less than thrilled, he ambled over to take her selections and find the necessary tool.
        Staring straight at the can he'd chirped at earlier, Adrian began to pull Shadow's hair back over him as though he were hiding.  Quite the odd feeling to have a dragon on one's shoulder, let alone brushing one's hair over itself.  She recalled that she once heard pet birds did the same thing.  So far a dragon seemed to be a combination between a bird, a cat and a dog.
        Can opened, Evyn's face didn't change.  At all.  He stared into the concoction inside, trying to figure out what it was.  "It... resembles meat... I think..."
        It only took her a sniff to realize what it was--Shadow announced somberly, "You wouldn't want to know either of the names it goes by, but it's not so bad."  "Manwich".  "Sloppy Joe".  I didn't realize how disgusting that really was until now.
        Everyone was completely willing to take her at her word about that one.  But eating the stuff would be quite an interesting experience without tableware. "It's people!" she had the sudden urge to shout, but decided wisely against it.  First, the joke wouldn't really work here and second... well, they'd believe it.  Hell, she believed it.
        Adrian still looked excited, though; he clearly had no understanding of their language.  Slowly, everyone sat together in a directional circle for what would be referred to as "breakfast".  A dying man might refuse this as his last meal, but they didn't have much of a choice.  They couldn't afford to waste what they had, and they had to eat something.
        Evyn got a little satisfaction out of handing the can of "meat-like stuff" to Shadow.  Her reaction was less than thrilled, but the dragon on her shoulder suddenly emerged from the hair and perked up, sitting on his haunches and holding on tightly with his front claws.  Seeing very few other ways to go about it, she simply tried the dumping-in-the-hand method.  She wished immediately afterward that she hadn't.  The stuff really wasn't that bad, but... the appearance and then the texture against her palm... she mumbled something sharp under her breath and passed the can along.  She had a feeling she wouldn't be able to eat much of this, and Adrian was welcome to left-overs.
        Now stuff like that, Roan had experience with.  That was far less of a good thing than he'd thought when he had first seen the contents of the can, however.  There were many reasons he had abandoned Aunger, and he realized now that food was one of them.  Still, the silent point was taken--no wastefulness.  He tipped the can, got a big glop of the stuff, and handed it off with a shiver.
        Taerlyn waited.  She watched the reactions of the other two carefully, looking for the stuff in their hands to start eating them, rather than the other way around.  When Shadow finally had the will to go first, it was... disturbing. One couldn't really bite, or slurp, or lick for that matter.  So she started giggling as she tried to figure out a way to consume it, grossing herself out just a bit.
        The youngest of the group was still far from convinced this was a good idea, but the truth was that her stomach hurt with hunger pains.  They all needed their strength, regardless of what they had to do to obtain it.  With a desperate grimace, she tried not to fling the stuff out of her hand as it filled, then passed the can over.
        Evyn realized that he did not want to be the last person to partake.  He wasn't certain why, but it just felt... not so great.  A look around at everyone else truly illustrated that; only Shadow had dared.  And even then, she was trying to keep herself from laughing just long enough to swallow.  That wasn't... such a bad sign... right?  Shit, not even Roan had made the attempt just yet.  Beggars can't be choosers, as the expression went.  He realized, feeling the glop on his hand, that they were not beggars, however...
        Understanding the purpose behind shot glasses--to get it down as fast as possible with the least need to taste the substance being consumed--Shadow finally took a chance and swallowed as much as she could in the fastest time possible.  After so long without eating, she felt her stomach surge and burn right afterward, but nothing else happened.  All eyes were on her, wide and startled.  Extending her other hand, she made a quick, slight come-hither movement with her fingers toward Evyn.
        A grin began to expand on his face.  He passed the can back to her with no problems at all, waiting to see what was yet to come.
        Keeping a straight face, she filled her hand back up, placed the can squarely on the ground in between them, and took another "shot".  "C'mon, people.  Give me a run for it."  She prodded playfully.
        Even Taerlyn reacted pleasantly to that invitation.  Hell, it was safer than one's traditional drinking game... hopefully.  At the same time she tilted her head back, Roan did the same.
        With a moment's hesitation, only enough to make sure no one was going to have the their share come back up, Evyn shook his head jokingly at Shadow.  She winked, and they tossed their heads back together.  None of the group but Roan had ever participated in an actual drinking game before, but this was close enough.  There was the unfortunate thing about remembering all of it when it was all over, though...
        "I'm still ahead."  Shadow teased, getting a smaller handful for the salivating dragon on her shoulder.  It wasn't really a competition, after all.  She wasn't going to keep the food away from him while everyone else got their chance to be grossed out.
        "What are we going to do about the cabbage, though?" Taerlyn was suddenly concerned.  It was coarsely shredded, she'd noticed--a little harder to swallow whole than this stuff.
        "You'll be so buzzed after this it won't matter."  The "responsible big sister" joked.  Adrian was lapping hungrily at the last bits in her hand, obviously a little more accepting of canned food than the rest of them.  When he was satisfied, she grinned and wiped her palm on the sides of her jeans.  "Don't know what to think of dragon spit, though."
        And so the game continued for another few rounds until the can was almost empty.  Adrian was allowed the honors of cleaning the rest out, after Evyn had filed down the sharp edges with the side of his can opener.  Fully pulling the lid from the sauerkraut, he peered in carefully.  It sure as hell didn't look as bad as what they'd all just eaten.  It did smell a bit worse, though.
        "Round two."  Shadow announced.
        Adrian seemed less than excited about this one.  He kept his nose inside the empty can for a moment more as his companions each took another handful of stuff and set about looking at one another.
        Now this wasn't so bad, Roan assumed.  Sure it smelled a little like a few of the imprisonment cells he'd visited in his life, but only a little.  With a shrug, he "knocked it back".  It wasn't exactly a simple swallowing affair, he found quickly.  He'd expected it to be a lot more slimy than it actually was, so the texture came as an almost pleasant surprise.  Hell, it wasn't half bad.  It was just a tad strong, though.
        Shadow gave Evyn a prodding look, but he only looked back with eyes that said, "You first."  She really did enjoy sauerkraut, to a point. With something, as she stated earlier.  Eating it straight out of a can was a little... odd.  It was just a hell of a lot more... "tangy" without being drained and added to something else.  That last thought made her crack up again, nodding for Evyn to go.  He shouldn't be last to go this time, too.
        What an invitation.  It had a less than calming effect, but at that point he wasn't too worried.  He'd seen them both chew, which for some reason set him more at ease than if they hadn't.  Adrian didn't look very happy about Shadow's offered hand, however.  Head back, hand turned, he joined in.
        Taerlyn hadn't really planned on doing it that way at first.  She'd wanted to tentatively take a bit to see if she liked it first... but, on second thought, maybe the shot method was a better idea.  Not much time to think of like or dislike that way, and she'd get it down.  She didn't even have the time to look at the expression on her brother's face before she, too, joined in.
        Evyn shook his head, decisively not appreciating the food.  While it wasn't bad, it wasn't... good, either.  He looked at Shadow, somewhat slightly horrified that he'd be expected to eat more.  She only grinned back and set up for another round.
        Ter coughed after she'd swallowed.  Not that she hated it, but... she wasn't so fond of it.  It was kinda gross, but not bad.  What was rather revolting was how it seemed to make this squeaking sound against her teeth when she chewed.  That just wasn't right.
        Not much of a breakfast, but it was better than nothing.  By the end, Shadow had miraculously convinced Adrian to have a little, but the look on his face signified that he would have no more.  Water wasn't quite the drink any of them looked forward to given the tastes on their tongues, but they all knew they could use plenty of that, too. 

        Hydrated, fed, and well awake, it was time to move on.  Back into the valley (for two of them) and beyond, into places Roan had never seen.  The mere thought of things worse and more dangerous than what they'd already encountered were pressed aside in favor of anything else--even the thought of their greatest loss.  It wasn't the fact Sandy had carried all of the supplies; they just as easily managed between the four of them.  It was that she'd really been a part of the clique, so to speak.  Losing her was still a fresh wound.
        "We ought to have a service for her."  Taerlyn stated quietly as they began to walk.
        Shadow was silent with the thought for a moment.  She opened her mouth to speak but promptly shut it again.  Denial, it had clearly been denial--she was about to say that she wasn't entirely sure Sandy was actually dead.  But how stupid would that have been, really?  They all saw it happen, and it still stung.  It wasn't something any of them cared to believe, but it had happened.  She nodded, instead.  "How about... when we stop tonight, we'll... I don't know.  Build something.  Leave something there."
        It was an idea greeted with silence, but an agreeable silence.  There simply wasn't much more to say on the subject. 

        The valley really was a lovely little place, even without taking the roses into account.  Shadow would have liked to have shown Evyn and Taerlyn, but it honestly seemed almost... too personal.  Strange of her to think such a thing.  Logical, but strange just the same; it'd never been that way before.  Not that she ever wanted to shut them out, but... there was a completely insane fear in the back of her thoughts that suggested it was better to leave the memory of what happened in the room of roses there and alone, otherwise it could disappear.
        On the other side of the valley was a rather steep cliff side, with another waterfall of ivy cascading occasionally from the few places they'd found to grow.  Lovely though the sight was, there was a completely stone silence from the travelers.  At that point, they all had that feeling--there'd be no safety on the other side.  Once again it was fight for life, moment to moment, just going onward to... well, something or other.  The thought of looking over the top and seeing another field of death was all too prominent.
        But, Shadow was the leader.  Chosen and acknowledged.  She bit the insides of her cheeks and took the first grasp of a rock above her head.  Hell, if she could crawl out of that godawful hole in the ground, she could scale a freakin' wall.  Adrian riding on her shoulders and several supplies stuffed in her backpack, she started.
        The first selected handhold fell out at the touch of her fingertips, however.  That didn't really raise morale any.  The second one grasped held on, though.  But the first foothold fell right from under her.
        "This is going to be fun."  She stated with a general lack of truthfulness, going for yet another stone.  At least that one held her up.  Now for another handhold that wouldn't toss her back to the ground...  "With any luck, there will be a tree or something up there, and I still have some rope."
        Evyn cringed a little as another foothold fell away, causing her to scramble up a step faster than she was ready for.  Miraculously, she continued to hold on.  "Are you sure we shouldn't just backtrack and try to find another path...?"
        "No, actually."  She called down, getting another step up.  Hell, she was a third of the way there already.  Somehow that worried her more than anything, though.  "I'm not sure at all.  Seems the smarter choice, doesn't it?"
        Taerlyn couldn't help but smirk, amused by that response.  Her brother was a little too nervous for the joke to sink in, and actually turned to Roan as if he could do something about this.  The boy only shrugged; he'd quite literally had it beaten into him that he really had no control over her.  Not that he minded, of course.
        So what was driving her to climb like a moron?  Even she wondered, finding another couple of rocks fall from under her.  In truth, the answer was simple, enough: because it was "right".  Dumb answer, stupid response... she thought to herself, nearly slipping.  She couldn't deny or explain this... steady thrum, however.  It was a very weird feeling in her muscles that seemed to spread into her very thoughts themselves, as if... she really must go this way, and quickly.  It made her exceptionally uncomfortable, as it only suggested the horrific things that may be awaiting her at the top.  She didn't feel it was something she really needed to express to her nervous comrades.
        When at last the edge of the cliff was in sight, she paused for just a moment.  It would be a bit of a mad dash to get up and over the slightly overhanging ledge, and she didn't need for anything to go wrong.  Certainly she could heal herself, or even get a bit of help in that department... but that didn't mean she enjoyed the pain on the way there.  Broken bones sounded ever so unpleasant.  That thrumming really had a hand in things, though; she hadn't even realized she'd made it to the top until she was pulling herself to her feet.  And--Holy shit--there was a large dead tree stump just a few feet away.  She tested the strength with a kick, then another just to be sure.
        Waiting at the bottom were three bundles of nerves.  They'd seen her dash over, but right afterward they'd lost sight.  The seconds that passed in silence were starting to tap at raw nerves.  When at last a rope fell from over the top, there was a breath of relief.  Granted the rope wasn't long enough to reach all the way down, but no one would have to do too much climbing to get to it.  Every little bit helped, so the saying went.
        And so the group looked at one another, trying to decide who should be the next to go.  Taerlyn was the lightest, and perhaps the best and safest choice.  Though, if something were to happen "up there"...  But, Shadow could damn well take care of herself.  Taerlyn was a hair's breadth away from completely healed, and she had that bow as defense.  They used to have a bunk bed, Evyn reasoned, and she could climb that without problem.  Sure this was a little different, but...
        And so it was silently agreed upon.  Ter walked (only a little hesitant) to the face of the wall and peered up at where she could grasp onto the rope.  Only far enough to give her stomach a serious twist--lovely, especially after "breakfast".
        "I'll give you a boost."  Her brother offered.
        "Yes, that might be best."  She agreed, still looking up.  An extra few feet would definitely help to get her to safety faster.
        Shadow waited at the top, looking after the rope and the landscape in general.  There was something out there, over the rocky landscape just slightly out of their way.  It was more or less in the same direction they were headed, though a little bit off to the side.  She squinted and stared--until, with a dull thud, she realized it looked quite a bit like one of those fairy tale towers that princesses were always getting locked up in.  In fact, when she shaded her eyes from the sunlight and concentrated on the lines and shadows, that's pretty much exactly what it looked like.
        The rope suddenly going taunt at her ankles broke the sense of dread, and she peered over the ledge to be sure things were going well.  It was Taerlyn with a good grasp on the line, finding footing slowly and carefully.  There were very few slips thanks to Shadow having gone first and dislodged so many loose ones.  Maybe Ter wasn't big on upper body strength, but she could sure as hell climb when she put her mind to it.
        Nearly bumping her head on the overhang was a bit of a harrowing experience, though.  She peered up at the ledge, wondering exactly what her next move would be, when a hand was offered from above.  Cautiously she took it, knowing one wrong jerk would probably send them both back down.  That wouldn't be good.
        Shadow pulled her up carefully and away from the ledge, indicating that she sit on the stump the other end of the rope was attached to and take a rest.  Seeing to it "little sis" was taken care of, she peered over and called down, "Next!"
        The boys looked at one another, neither very intent upon obeying just yet.  But they weren't really thrilled about staying where they were, either, so... "You first."  Roan invited.
        "You sure?"  Evyn had absolutely no idea why he was asking that question.
        The brunette nodded sincerely.  "Besides, I'm not sure you could give me a boost, anyway."  He even went so far as a good-natured tease.
        Well, he certainly couldn't deny that.  Not that Roan looked heavy, but he did have more muscle.  That, plus the supplies he'd be hauling up...  And even after all of what he'd been through, Evyn was still a little... less than particularly strong.
        Meanwhile, back at the top...  "We're going to go see what that is, aren't we?" Taerlyn questioned halfheartedly, staring the same direction.
        Shadow hadn't even been aware she'd been gazing at that "tower" until it was mentioned.  It seemed that even Adrian was completely unaware until it was spoken of; he, too began peering out at the object in the distance.  "Well... I'm curious."  She didn't bother to mention the thrumming that had driven her up and over the cliff side, that was currently beating with the rhythm of her own heart when she turned the direction of the tower.  If she turned away, it calmed a little.  But turned toward the structure again... it was giving her the creeps.  The idea there was only a trapped princess in that place was fading by the second.
        "Um..." Evyn called from underneath.
        "Sorry."  Shadow apologized for zoning out as she reached down to help.  With her arm and Taerlyn pulling on the rope, he was up and over in no time--and completely unwilling to stand close to the edge ever again.
        "One more time!" Roan heard from above.  No stranger to climbing, it didn't take him long to get there.  Though, with those extra muscles he boasted about, he almost lost his footing more than once.  It was no matter once he reached the top, of course.  But there was entirely different matter at hand to contend with.
        "Do you know what that is?" Shadow indicated the tower the other three had been staring at.
        He regarded the sight with squinted eyes.  It took a moment to register the location rather than the structure, but he was pretty certain about what it would turn out to be.  He barely remembered it, but the memory did come.  "One of Aunger's towers."  He answered softly.  "A place he... 'puts' things.  I don't have any idea what's in there, though."
        Everyone looked to their "great and powerful leader" who had spotted the thing in the first place.  "Yeah."  She responded.  "I guess we better go investigate."
        Even Roan had a look of nervousness at the prospect.  He knew what kinds of things were stored in other places.  The thought of going through seeing some of that again... well, unpleasant to say the least.
        Shadow took a very deep breath, knowing she could well be leading her friends--her fucking family--into disaster.  It was off course, but not by much.  It did call to her, but in an unfamiliar way.  Maybe it wasn't right to ask this, then...
        But Taerlyn was busying herself with undoing the knot in the rope so she could coil it up again.  Evyn patiently took up what supplies he could, and waited.  Hey, they'd gotten this far.  Who knew... there might be food in that tower.  It was a nice thought, anyway.
        "Just looking for punishment, aren't you?" Shadow joked, directing at no one in particular.