"Ugh...can you please get off me?" Jurie asked in a strained voice.

Blushing Rami rolled off Jurie and reached out a hand to help her get up. Instead he pulled too hard and she crashed into his toned body. Jurie's groan of pain stopped mid-sound when she felt Rami's arms around her waist.

"Sorry are you okay?" Rami whispered into her neck. "Did I hurt you?"

Jurie shook her head as they pulled apart and continued along the path back to the camp site. Their dark silhouette's were barely visible in the black night sky.

"So Jurie that was a nice plan that you came up with."

"Eh. It wasn't too bad I guess." Jurie replied. "But thanks."

Their conversation faded away. It wasn't long until they saw the pale glow that came from the fire of the camp and both quickened their pace, eager to see what had happened while they had been gone. When they reached the quad that was alight with fire lanterns Rami saw that the army were now discussing the best strategies amongst themselves. Captain Montero was walking around, giving them some feedback and suggestions until his eyes found Jurie's. He hurried over.

"Jurie where did you go? I was looking around for you everywhere!" Giovanni exclaimed.

"Yeah you were totally looking around for her everywhere. That's totally why you're still in a pristine uniform. If you actually had been your clothes would be painted with dirt and grass stains. And if you were looking you would have found us easily." Rami bit out.

They both turned to look at Jurie for her opinion only to find her wondering around the armies and drawing out more effective ways to complete to fulfil their strategies.

She really was good at strategies. They both thought before making their own rounds. The meal bell rang and all the soldiers rushed to the dining tent where the cooks had readied all the food, letting Jurie through as she went to collect her portion of food. However the same could not be said about the way they treated Giovanni, Rami and Derek. It seemed that the armies's gentlemenliness extended only to Jurie.

Taking a seat Jurie tucked into her food with the soldiers surrounding her asking her about how she managed to come with all her strategies and plans. Giovanni and Rami scowled at the lack of space for them on Jurie's table before trudging desolately to their own table where they sat and played with their food. Hoping to get a whiff of what their Little Shadow Princess was telling the army. Jurie shared stories of her missions and how she went about completing them before getting up and placing her bowl into the washing bucket, rinsing it and returned to the training centre to train herself, with the army behind her, wishing to observe how she trained herself.

Pulling out her katana, spikes, shuriken, yumi and bo-hiya (bow and arrow) and wakizashi she began to go through her planned training session. Throwing her spikes and shuriken at the target and never failing to hit the bullseye. She moved onto her bow and arrow and watched as the arrow shot through the whole target. Then onto her katana...

~~~~

Rami decided to stay away from the crowd of soldiers watching Jurie train. Instead he went to the stables. The salty yet grassy smell of the stable mingled with the subtle smell of dung. Some found the smell over powering. But the young Arab lived and breathed in it.

Every time the emotions became too much, he immersed himself completely in riding. Being at one with the horse. It's where he felt completely like who he was. Without the arrogance shielding him from a relapse, there was nothing to worry about. He felt happy. Extremely happy. Euphoric even.

Growling interrupted his thoughts and he realised that that over grown cat Yuki was also in the stables. But she looked so pitiful tied up and muzzled in a stall meant for domestic animal, not a wild beautiful creature like her. Jurie would have been quite upset if she saw her tiger like this. Rami took out his dagger from his boot.

Yuki growled thinking he was to kill her. But shock filled her golden eyes when Rami opened the stable door and started cutting away her ropes. Finally he undid the muzzle. Yuki turned to him sharply as if she was to rip his face of but instead she licked his face an ran off to the practice arena where Jurie was situated. For once he was glad the soldiers had no weapons with them at the moment.

Rami wiped off the saliva from his face but none the less he felt happy. At least he earned the respect of one being. A tiger none the less.

He strode forward, admiring the magnificent horse's. But he had eyes for only one. A black stallion that took orders from no one. A wild beautiful creature. A creature like Yuki, who wanted nothing more than freedom.

But once he reached Bucephalus. He was met by snort of anger. Bucephalus turned around so that his posterior was in Rami's face. He swished his tail and snorted angrily once again.

"What's wrong old boy?" Asked Rami Soothingly.

Bucephalus whinnied in response and stamped his hooves. Rami realised it was because he hadn't spent much time with his animal companion.

"If this is about Jurie..." Started Rami. The horse stamped his foot angrily as if saying This is exactly what it is.

Rami sighed "Well I'm sorry...I've been quite busy"

Bucephalus whinnied in what seemed to Rami a sarcastic tone.

Rami smiled. "Well guess what?" Bucephalus's ears perked up. Rami's smile widened. "It's just you and me tonight. Just like old times."

~~~~

Jurie's eyes widened as she saw the flash of orange, black and white. Then a pair of golden eyes glinted from the mass of bodies. The army turned around and all jumped back in fright as Yuki made her way towards Jurie. One of the brave soldiers stepped in front of her and in a shaky voice said:

"No! You can't have her!" 

Jurie laughed. "Its fine guys she's harmless. At least to me." She continued to watch as Yuki quietly padded towards her. "Yuki aitagatta!" (I missed you Yuki)

The tiger lept towards Jurie nuzzling its head into Jurie's neck and purred softly as Jurie petted her. 

The scene was so sweet that the soldiers deflated at the cuteness.

~~~~

The wind swept past him. The night's icy fingers running down his body in an almost sensual way. But the air that filled his throat mixed with adrenaline. He didn't want to leave. He wanted to ride the whole night.

He was at one with Bucephalus. He was at one with the wind and stars and the night sky.

No he was the night, the wind the stars and the trees.

He wasn't going to leave not now.

He was going to ride until day break.

After all the mission didn't start until midday.

~~~~

Hey guys! How was it?

To make up for our tardiness we decided to write this chapter. :)

What do you think of Rami and Jurie's relationship so far? What about the relationship between their animal friends? What did Rami mean when he talked about a relapse?

Please answer in the comments below.

Until next time. Adios!