Gladio caught (Y/n) as she lost consciousness. Because of the dark, he couldn't see how tattered and bloodied her body was. Carefully, he scooped her up into his arms and carried her to the haven. Once he was able to see the current state of her body, his eyes widened in horror. A deep gash trailed from her abdomen to just below her armpit. Blood seeped from the wound alongside the small cuts that littered her arms and face.

"Oh, gods, what happened to her?" Iris gasped as Gladio carried the Horseman into the tent. Her question went unanswered. Ignis rushed inside, kneeling down beside the injured girl. He grabbed a couple of potions from their stash and quickly administered them to (Y/n) without questioning why her wounds weren't healing on their own accord.

Gladio watched as the wounds healed. However, his attention was drawn to her chest when it ceased rising and falling. He placed his finger under her nose, eyes widening when realizing she was no longer breathing. "Iggy," he called out in worry.

The strategist also noticed the Horseman ceased breathing and pressed two of his fingers against her wrist. "She's no pulse," he informed the shield.

"Any idea what to do, Iggy?" The brute asked.

"I'm afraid not. Though, I am not concerned and neither should you. (Y/n) is immortal."

"She's dead, Iggy," he hissed. "And where does it say immortals can't die? What if she-"

"Wait," Ignis interrupted, his fingers still pressed against the girl's wrist. He felt the pulse that was once gone slowly return. "Her pulse has returned."

Gladio looked away from the advisor and back down at the Horseman. Peering at her face, he was slightly startled when War's (e/c) eyes flew open and she flew up into a sitting position. She inhaled sharply, causing a coughing fit. He placed a hand on her back, supporting her and rubbing soothing circles to calm her. "Easy there."

After the coughing fit subsided, she looked around the tent. "Where are we?"

"Kellebram Haven in Malmalam Thicket," Ignis answered.

"What happened to you?" Gladio asked.

"That damned dullahan..." War answered. "We fought for days all over the place. I hoped it would lead me to its head, but it did nothing of the sort. It managed to get the better of me and escape..."

"Is it the source of your wounds?" The advisor questioned.

"Yeah. Wounds inflicted by monsters from the Inner Sanctum take longer to heal."

"You do realize you were dead, right?" Gladio retorts.

"Of course I do. This isn't the first nor the last time it'll happen." (Y/n) then noticed the blood on the shield's bare chest and on the floor of the tent. "Sorry about the blood."

"Nah, don't worry 'bout it."

"For now, you should rest," Ignis advised. "Leave the cleanup to me." He left the tent, leaving Gladio and (Y/n) behind.

"So, how're you feeling?" The brute inquired.

"Tired, but fine," she sighed.

Suddenly, the flap to the tent opened and three figures entered. Noctis, Prompto, and Iris sat around War.

"Hey, the wounds have healed!" Iris chanted.

"B-But look at all the blood..." Prompto shuddered.

"You still look a little pale," Noctis commented, eyes focused on (Y/n).

"I did bleed to death," she said. "But I'm back now."

The Horseman told the three what she told Gladio and Ignis. In order to change the subject, Noctis told her what happened in her absence. She listened intently to every detail, intrigued by what all they did in just two days.

Eventually, Ignis returned to clean up the blood. Gladio helped the advisor while (Y/n) scrubbed the blood off her body.

When every drop was gone, she apologized a second time as Noctis, Prompto, Ignis, and Iris left the tent. Gladio patted her on the back to reassure her a second time. The moment she tried to stand, he stopped her. "Whoa, there. Where do you think you're going, firecracker?"

"Somewhere I can rest," she remarked, getting to her feet.

"No need. There's enough room in this tent for six people."

"Oh, no way. This tent isn't-"

Gladio grabbed her hand and pulled her back down. He pushed her against the floor of the tent, pinning her wrists on either side of her head as he hovered above her. "Just shut up and sleep."

She glared at him, but she didn't fight against him. "Fine... Could you get off of me? It's hard to sleep with a large, burly man pinning me down."

He chortled. "Right. Sorry." He released her and sat a little ways away. "You better stay there, though. If I find your ass wanderin' around, I'll be using you as a body pillow."

"If you dare even try to use me in such a manner, I'll burn you."

Hearing her comeback, he laughed once again. "Yeah, you're fine. Now go to sleep."

She stuck her tongue out at him like a child before crawling up on her side and turning her back to him. Within minutes, she was fast asleep.

<--------------<<<<<

By the time morning rolled around and everyone was awake, they had a brief breakfast and packed up the equipment. With everyone ready to leave Malmalam Thicket, they departed and continued their journey to Cape Caem.

(Y/n) rode Ares and lagged behind the Regalia a little. Her mind was preoccupied with her long, grueling fight with the dullahan. She scolded herself for letting it escape without a trace. Not only that, she failed in locating the head.

Focusing on the road, she shook her head and ridded herself of the memories of her battle with the dullahan. She caught up with the Regalia just as they crossed a grand bridge. Even with the wind whistling in her ears, she could hear Iris' excitement. With the group deciding to stop at Spelcray Haven for a short while, Ignis brings the car to a stop by some stairs on the other side of the bridge. War dismounted Ares, telling him to wait by the car.

The group made their way down the stairwell and towards the bank of the river. It was strangely quiet as they reached the waterway. Iris admired the calm waters while Prompto took a few pictures of the scenery. Noctis was slightly irritated they stopped before reaching the haven since he was eager to fish. Ignis, deciding to please the prince, decided to head to the haven with him. Gladio, Prompto, Iris, and (Y/n) remained by the river.

The Horseman crossed her arms, tilting her head as she gazed at the surface of the crystalline water. She delved into deep thought until being ripped from her mind by hearing Gladio ask, "What's goin' on in that head of yours now?"

"I'm wondering if I should contact Pestilence. She's an expert in medicinal remedies," she responded.

"Why? You sick?"

She glowered at him. "No, I'm not. I want to see if she can make something for you. The nightmare woke you up again and you didn't even try to go back to sleep. I thought Pestilence could make some kinda concoction that would help you sleep."

He smiled faintly. "I appreciate the concern, firecracker, but I'll be fine."

She faced him entirely, jabbing a finger into his chest with every word she spoke. "If you were fine, this nightmare would've vanished a while ago. Mind you, this nightmare is about me! It's freaking me out how much you're learning about me from a damn nightmare!"

He grabbed her wrist and lowered her hand to stop her from poking him any further. "Are you more worried about me or what I'll figure out?"

She paused for a brief second before replying. "Both, actually. You know how I died, but you haven't learned what kind of monster Gaius made me. That's what I want to keep hidden. If you learned the truth, you'd hate me and never wish to see me again."

"And what makes you think I'd hate you?" He pried. "If you tell me now, we both won't have to worry about the nightmare telling me instead."

"I..."

Suddenly, War's body tensed as she sensed a familiar threatening presence. Turning back around to face the river, her (e/c) eyes scanned the shallows near the bank. Beneath the surface surged a large flock of black silhouettes. Before the Horseman could warn the others, the pack of bunyips emerged from the river. Iris and Prompto screamed in fright at the monsters. One leapt at the short-haired girl, targeting her legs.

However, (Y/n) acted quickly and summoned a dagger. She threw it and impaled the bunyip before it could sink its teeth into Iris' leg. It hissed, setting its sight on War. Due to her attention being focused on the one bunyip, she failed to notice the one that was still hidden in the water. It emerged from the river and sunk its teeth into her ankle. Once it had a secure grip on her ankle, it used all its strength to knock her down and drag her body towards the river.

War cried out in pain as the bunyip dragged her body with ease towards the water. Prompto, who'd been shooting the monsters, tried to aim at the one latched onto the Horseman. A single bullet managed to stun it, but it kept its jaw secured around the girl's ankle.

Iris backed away from the bunyips while Gladio moved quickly towards the redhead. He grabbed her hands and was able to prevent the bunyip from dragging her any further. Realizing it couldn't go anywhere due to the shield's interference, the monster yanked harder on the girl's ankle. She gritted her teeth in pain. Knowing it wouldn't be letting go anytime soon, she stared into Gladio's amber eyes. "Let me go, Gladio."

"No way in hell," he growled.

"If you think this thing will get the better of me, you're horribly mistaken. Now let me go."

He glared at her, but it softened when seeing the determination in her (e/c) eyes. "If you're not finished with these damned things in one minute, I'm handlin' them myself."

A small chortle fell from her lips. "Deal."

Hesitantly, Gladio releases her and watches the bunyip drag her into the river. The other monsters ceased attacking Iris and Prompto to leap into the water. The three watched with baited breaths as the once clear water turned black. They couldn't see anything and the shield cautiously approached the water's edge. The sound of splashing was all they could hear.

Iris peered past her brother and shrieked in fear when the decapitated head of one of the bunyips floated to the surface. One by one, more heads appeared. Gladio backed away from the river, pushing Iris behind him when there was one final, grand splash before everything fell silent. Following the silence, the bodies of the bunyips rose to the surface. Gradually, the heads and bodies of the monsters disintegrated into nothingness. The only thing that remained was the black blood which still tainted the waters of the river.

A few seconds ticked by and there was no movement from the water. Prompto worriedly approaches the river's bank and looks around. "Where's (Y/n)?"

"I-I don't know," Iris muttered. "Gladdy, what do we do?"

"Just give 'er a moment," the brute replied.

A couple seconds after he said that, the Horseman emerged from the blackened water. The sword she had in hand vanished as she sighed heavily. "Damn those things to Hell..." She wrung our her crimson locks. "Is everyone okay?"

"We're fine," Iris said. "How about you?"

"I'm okay."

"How's the ankle?" Galdio asked.

"Healed like nothing ever happened."

Just then, Noctis and Ignis returned. They were both out of breath due to running all the way back to the river. "What...happened?" The prince managed to ask between pants.

"The pack of bunyips made an appearance," (Y/n) stated. "But they're no longer an issue. They're all dead."

"Guess this means our little side trip is canceled," Noctis said.

"This is all my fault..." Iris mumbled sorrowfully.

"We're not going to play the blame game because there isn't anyone to blame," War explained. "In the end, I benefited from this side trip. I, nor anybody else, will have to worry about those bunyips ever again."

"Well then, shall we return to the car?" Ignis inquired.

"Yeah," Noctis said.

The group returned to the Regalia and the awaiting Ares. They got back on the road and reached Cape Caem within the hour. (Y/n) separated from the group to take in the view near the clifftop. The gentle sea breeze blew through her scarlet tresses, bringing a quiet and gentle peace with it. The girl sighed contently, closing her eyes. Opening them, she basked in the beautiful scenery.

War didn't realize how long she was gone until she was approached by Gladio. Unlike before, she was unable to read his expression. Placing a hand on her hip, she gave him her full attention. "Guess it's my turn to ask. What's going on inside your head?"

"Getting my ass handed to me by Ravus was an eye-opener. I plan on making sure I never show weakness again," he said.

"And you've come up with an insane idea that could possibly get you killed. What is it, Gladio?"

"Come with me and you'll find out."

She blinked in surprise. "You want me to tag along?"

"Why wouldn't I? You know how to raise hell and keep my ass in line."

She shrugged her shoulders. "Why the hell not? It sounds fun. Have you told the others?"

"They know I'm leaving, but not why. I'll give them all the juicy details later," Gladio stated. "I've already contacted the marshal. Let's get going."

She folded her arms across her chest. "And how exactly are you planning on traveling around?"

He paused a brief second before asking, "Think you could give me a lift?"

"Depends. Where're we heading?"

"Taelpar Rest Area. Know the place?"

"Of course," she scoffed. "It's quite a ride. Think you can handle it?"

Gladio smirked lightly. "Only one way to find out."

The duo headed down to the roadside. There, (Y/n) whistled and summoned Ares. The fiery-maned horse was intrigued by Gladio and walked towards him with a small neigh. He sniffed the brute, familiarizing himself with his scent. Gladio was somewhat hesitant to pet the horse, but he placed his hand on his snout.

War watched closely as her steed analyzed the shield. She smirked in amusement when Ares neighed loudly, bobbing his head up and down while tapping one of his hooves on the ground which wound up startling Gladio. "That's his way of saying he approves," she explained.

He looked over at her. "So, does that mean...?"

"He'll give you a lift." She mounted Ares and gestured to behind her. "Hop on. The quicker you do, the quicker we leave."

Gladio climbed on to the horse's back and sat behind War. He wasn't sure what to do with his hands. "And exactly what am I supposed to hang on to?"

She rolled her eyes. "We're two grown-ass adults. Don't act like a school boy and be a man. Grab on to me unless you wanna make-out with the asphalt. I'm okay with either option."

Gladio guffawed at her response and placed his arms around her waist. He'd grown to enjoy her sarcastic comebacks and always loved to hear what colorful insult was coming next.

(Y/n) entangled her hands in Ares' mane and dug her heels into his side, urging him forward. The horse took off, leaving Cape Caem behind.

Ares carried the two across the Cleigne and Duscae regions. The horse didn't stop nor slow down until they reached their destination hours later-Taelpar Rest Area. They were on the outskirts of the rest area when they were attacked by a pack of voretooths.

Before (Y/n) could even dismount Ares, Gladio hopped off and summoned his greatsword. He handled the pack of beasts within seconds, leaving none for War to demolish. She climbed off the horse the moment he jammed his sword into the ground and sat down. The girl wondered if she should say something or remain silent. Deciding to speak, she squatted down in front of him. "So, you gonna tell me why we're here or continue to keep me in the dark?"

"My plan is-" Gladio was interrupted by his phone before he could answer her question. Pulling out his phone, he saw who was calling and picked up.

"Gladio?" The voice on the other end of the call asked.

"Yeah-who do you think it is?" The shield retorts.

"Catch you at a bad time?"

"Are you here yet?"

"Yeah, I'm at the Crow's Nest," the marshal replied.

"Good. Thanks for agreeing to meet with me," he replied.

"Sure."

"So... Are you ready to move out?"

"What about you?" Cor questioned. "Are you mentally prepared?"

Gladio is silent a moment before answering. "Of course. We'll be right over."

"We?" The marshal reiterated.

He looked at the Horseman with a faint smile. "Brought a friend for moral support. See you in a few, marshal." He hung up, putting his phone away.

(Y/n) stood up followed by the shield. She was familiar with the marshal and had met him a couple of times when she and her sisters visited Lucis to speak with the late King Regis. "Am I still going to have to wait?"

"Sorry 'bout that, firecracker. I'll explain everything once we meet with the marshal."

"You realize I'm not a patient person, right?" She purses her lips slightly.

"Trust me, I know." He patted her shoulder, urging her forward. "Now get moving or you'll only be waiting longer."

She groaned dramatically. "Fine, fine..."