My stomached growled violently. Kai and Yuhan looked back at me and I shrugged.

"You told me you weren't hungry," Kai said with an irritated tone.

"Well my stomach decided otherwise sorry."

Kai rolled his eyes and sighed,"well we can't stop yet for the day, grab some nuts from my pouch and eat as you walk." He turned his backpack to me and I opened it up. I grabbed a leather pouch filled with almonds and snacked on them.

We continued on our way, and I felt my knees giving out. Yuhan began whistling his favorite tune he whistled all the time. It was a little song from his home town, he told me it was what kept him going these days.

"Well this is boring, how about a game," Yuhan broke the awkward silence. Kai glared at him and sped up ahead.

"What kind of game?" I questioned.

He smiled with enthusiasm, "I'm so glad you asked. Let's see," he tapped his chin with his finger. All of a sudden, his fist came down and onto the palm of his other hand, "let's play eye spy!"

"No," Kai growled from ahead, overhearing our conversation.

"Why not? It'll be fun! Do you even know what fun is mister serious," I caught up with him and shoved him teasingly.

"Whatever, but I'm not playing childish games with you two."

I rolled my eyes and Yuhan came up beside me. His face beamed and he wrapped his arm around me. Kai glanced over, and then quickly turned away. I ignored him, he's always so protective of me.

"You start Yuhan."

He nodded, "Alright, I spy something.... grouchy and stubborn."

I giggled and Kai glared at us. "Its supposed to be a color, but you're too dense to know that," Kai seemed pissed off.

"Alright, I will start." I cut into their argument I knew was brewing. "Okay, I spy.... something....purple!"

Yuhan had a dumbstruck look on his face. He looked around and shrugged.

"I have no idea Scarlett."

"Its Kai's eyes, Yuhan. I thought that was a easy one."

Yuhan shrugged, "never really looked deeply into Kai's eyes to check the color, unlike you," Yuhan teased. a deep blush sank into my face and Yuhan smiled. "Anyway it's my turn, I spy... Burning.... Kai look there's a fire over there."

Kai's head shot up in the direction of the smoke. His face became stressed and he turned towards me.

"I'm going to check it out, stay here Scarlett, Yuhan come with me," Kai ran off with Yuhan and I stood there with this strange feeling in the pit of my stomach.

They didn't come back for a while and the sickening feeling grew. I hid in the forest so that I wasn't out in the open. I played around with a thread hanging off my shirt, as a distraction. I decided to take a look at my wound.

It looked about the same. It's spread a little, but with all the herbs I've been using, the process should be slowed, and hopefully heal with luck.

That's it I have to go see what's going on.

I stood up from beside the tree I was leaning against and cautiously navigated through the woods. It felt like each step was a crash of thunder. I wasn't scared though, nothing could compare...

Suddenly, I heard the low echo of voices. I creeped up behind a tree for cover. The shadow of figures passed by me and kept walking to my right. Something urged me to follow them, but logically they were the only people we have seen for miles and had to be the source for the fire. I followed behind quietly, taking short, quiet breaths.

I followed then back to their camp. A whole army made an encampment. I spotted the small fire pit, which was the source of the fire. I turned in a different direction and got a good look at the men. My heart flipped in my chest.

The men were normal for the most part, other than their slightly rotting flesh. They were some kind of walking dead solider army, all in the uniform from the castle.

I don't like what's going on here not one bit.

One solider ran up to another with badges on his upper chest. I'm assuming he is the captain of the militia. "What is it cadet?"

"We have no success tracking the earth magician. We've covered the span if three towns and most rumors told us she was located in this town, but when we sent in people to search there no sign of the magician."

He sighed, "alright, keep gathering as much information as you can. How about the princess? Any sign of her."

He shook his head glumly. "I'm afraid not sir. We have search parties out right now looking for her from the direction the men came to us, but they might have wrapped around when arriving to confuse us. We will find her eventually, she won't leave her friends here."

He nodded, "and the prisoners refuse to speak."

"Yes, we've tried everything to make then tell us of her location, but they haven't said a word. I'm surprised how stubborn they are."

"Well I wish to see the water magician in my tent later today, I'm going to try and see if we scan make a responsible offer, but if not... bring him to the separate tent."

"Yes sire," he gave a quick bow and ran off.

I turned back behind the tree and clutched myself. I felt so helpless. I was alone and had to rescue two people. I know what I have to do.... but I promised I would never use my powers....

But Kai... being tortured for me.

I have to....

I have to save Yuhan and Kai.

I hid in the cover of the bushes. I was realizing earlier that the people aren't alive themselves, so my powers would have no effect on them, but that doesn't mean it has no affect on the other living things surrounding them.

Two soldiers wandered into my view, with serious demeanors. They must be on patrol. I steadied my breath and focused my energy into the roots below the soil. The energy built up my breathing quickened.

I let the energy outwards and the roots of the trees near them shot out of the ground and wrapped around the
soldiers. The vines covered their mouths from yelling and their bodies became immobile.

I worked quickly stripping them of uniform and putting in on myself. I gagged a few times at their repulsive smell. This was the extent of Madden's powers, bringing back the dead.... I mean I knew he was capable of it, just never thought he would do something so horrid, but I have to remember it's not really him.

Once I got into uniform, I tied my hair up and tucked into the cap and smeared mud over my face. The nervous feeling in my stomach swelled, as I pushed down the urge to cry out for Kai. I forced myself to be calmand made sure my throwing knives were at hand.

I casually walked into camp, pressing my hands against my thighs to keep from shaking. I used my powers to sense Yuhan and Kai's life forces. As soon as I sensed it, the warm sensation of life relaxed me slightly. I hastily made my way towards them.

"Hey you," someone called from behind me. My heart stopped and I slowly turned around.

"Where are you supposed to be right now?"

I gulped, "watching... the prisoners, sir," I put on the manly voice I could pull off.

He gave me a suspicious look searching me up and down. "I thought Cadet Yule was on that job."

"He is, I was coming to give him a break."

The man nodded, "alright, then."

I spun around and wandered off. I felt him staring at my back as I walked, but ignored it tying to look as natural as possible.

I finally reached the tent. That Yule guy was standing outside the tent with full focus on something ahead of him. I stepped up to him and he gave me a confused glance.

"I'm here to bring the magician to the general, he wishes to see him."

He lowered his eyebrows, " how come Hanish didn't come and get him."

My heart thumped, but I pushed it back and collected my thoughts. " Hanish got sick, bit of a hangover. Took one too many sips."

Yule bit his lip to keep from laughing. "alright, I see. Go ahead," he handed me a key ring filled with keys.

I turned to go in, but stopped myself. "Oh, and if anyone asks about Hanish coming, you think you could cover for him. Tell them he got the prisoner. I would hate to see him get trouble."

"Yeah, yeah, sure thing."

I pushed the flap up and creeped inside. There lay Yuhan chained to a pole with cuts across his face and a few small bruises. I couldn't help him with the guard standing outside. Resisting the urge to hug and heal him, I kicked him with my foot a bit with my leg.

He moaned a slowly raised his head. His eyes met mine, but he didn't recognize me. He stared at me with such malevolence. I'd never seen his bad side before.

"Sending some little kid to come fetch me huh?"

Please see my face Yuhan. Recognize me. "I'm not some little kid... shithead. Get up, I'm taking you to the general."

He glared at me, "don't you have to unchain me from the pole first."

He got me there, "um... yeah, I'll do that." I walked behind him and began unlocking his bindings. However. just as I went to whisper to him it was me, he slammed back shoving his elbow into my gut.

I bit my lip as hard as I could to keep from crying out and getting the guard's attention. Blood began sweeping from my lip and the wretched pain was unbearable.

"Oops." he said ill-humored.

I steadied my rage and continued Unbinding him. "You got some anger issues there. Luckily, I'm forgiving."

"I'm only angry when you separate me from my team, then torture me and my friend to get answers how to find the princess. That's when I'm angry."

"Well you need to get your anger in check and be a bit more aware of your surroundings."

He fury heightened,"what the hell is that supposed to mean?!?"

"Nothing, nothing at all."