- Callum's Point of View -

It took her a minute to shake my hand and once she did a huge grin lit her face.

"So you're trying to catch frogs, huh?" She laughed.

After she said it I realized how childish it sounded.

"Um, yeaahhhh. Sort of immature, I know."

I didn't think it was possible, but her grin got even larger and her water blue eyes lit up. She started to laugh and it was such a happy laugh that everyone else started to smile.

"There's a difference between being immature and just having fun." She laughed.

Then she walked to the pond and said, "You have to get them to trust you."

She lowered her hand to the water and almost immediately a frog walked right into her hand.

"How did you do that?" Joe asked.

"I-I'm not actually sure."

Then I heard a scurrying sound and Dax came out of a bush, licking his paw.

"There you are." Em said, smiling.

Dax quickly climbed onto her shoulder and Em said, "Rowan, meet Dax. He's use to getting strange glances."

Rowan laughed and scratched the back of Dax' neck.

"Hey Dax!"

"It took me a while to get use to her having a rodent on her shoulder all the time." Sam laughed. 

"Well, I love ferrets. I think they're fascinating." Rowan smiled.

"Would you like to hold him?"

"Would I? What sort of question is that?"

Em handed her the little creature and he immediately found a comfortable spot on her shoulder.

"You never let me hold him." I tried to sound hurt.

"Yes I do."

"When I beg you."

"Yeah, but that's because I love to see your reaction." Em laughed.

"Samantha, I think it's time for us to go." Joe said.

"Yeah, you're probably right. Bye. Nice to meet you, Rowan. Hope to see you again sometime."

Then they walked off, back to the wagon and drove off.

"Aren't they the perfect match?" I said, laughing.

"Callum? Remember, they're only friends."

Then we all burst into laughter.

"Hey, do you guys want to got to the woods?" Em suggested.

"Uh...Well...The woods?" Rowan asked.

I got the feeling that she wasn't entirely fond of the forest.

"Yeah. Why? Do you not like the woods?" I asked.

"No, it's not that...It's just...Well...Why not? Let's go."

I had a feeling that she didn't really want to, but didn't want us to worry over it. I wanted to ask her about it, but I didn't. It probably wasn't a matter she felt comfortable with discussing.

.................................................................................

- Rowan's Point of View -

Nope, not a bit. Still had that shaggy head of sandy blonde hair, still had those alive and bright, blue eyes, still had that friendly attitude. He was no different. Except for the fact that he was a head or so taller then me now.

We rode to the forest and I had to admit, it did look very beautiful in the late afternoon sunlight. Beams of light shot through the gaps in the trees and the dirt under foot almost made me want to take off my shoes and go barefoot. But one who goes barefoot in the forest isn't very smart. I was still uneasy though. I loved the forest, but it was who was in it, that bothered me.

"See, this isn't so bad." Callum said out loud.

"What do you mean?" I asked, but I knew what he meant.

"You know exactly what I mean."

I looked at him for a minute, wondering if I should keep up my act or not, but he had just the ghost of a smile on his face and new the game was up.

"How do you do that?" I finally asked, smiling curiously.

"I da'no. I can just...Tell." He shrugged.

"Don't worry, he can do it to me to. I've seriously contemplated wearing a mask everywhere." Linn laughed.

"Dax come back here."

Dax had run off after some small critter and Linn went after him down the trail and out of sight.

"Where did she find him?" I asked.

"I'm not sure. Something about giving away her position during a hunting trip...Or something like that."

"She hunts?"

"Of course! Once you get to know her you'll realize how strange she really is." He laughed.

"Well that's good. I like to hunt to, so we should get along just fine."

"Oh Em get's along with anyone who's friendly. Especially now that she's...Now that she got...Well she's good with people now." He hurriedly finished off.

I wanted to ask him what he meant but I was cut off by a loud scream.

"Oh no, not again!" I said to myself.

We wasted no time in sprinting down the path, but I already new what I'd see. We turned the corner and standing there, surrounded by over a dozen men, was Linn, one of them holding an ugly jagged dagger to her throat.

"Let her go, Fletcher. This has nothing to do with them." I said, trying to reason with him.

"Wrong! It's their fault they're with you...I have a we proposition for you."

I rolled my eyes at him and said, "I'm not making any deal with you."

"Really? Well I'm not sure if your brother here can make the same promise."

- OH MY GOSH, I'M SO SORRY FOR TAKING SO LONG! I literally, could not get on long enough to finish the chapter. And this one isn't even very long, but it was such a good ending I couldn't resist. I hope you liked it and will forgive me for taking so long. Thanks :D - Anna

- Oh, I almost forgot, I just wanted to dedicate this chapter to KnittingStoryteller, since she hit it right on the button. I mean, usually I wouldn't do this, but you were practically reading my thoughts. Thanks for everything :) -