Sylvia gazed around the small room quietly. Jana was asleep in the kitchen, her face down on the table deep in a drunken stupor. The rest of the house had been silent for hours, with everyone else in bed. Which meant that now was her chance!

As carefully as she could Sylvia snuck past the drunk woman and out the kitchen door. She looked around for a patrol guard but saw none. Then she bolted out of the gate and off towards the forest, racing to avoid being detected by any wandering servants. She knew this whole venture was risky, crazy even. Especially since Jana had been so kind as to lessen her burdensome punishments, but as soon as she was free of the shackles Sylvia's mind could not help but contemplated how best to check on Keil! What if he had been waiting for her to return all this time? Or what if he needed help finding his way back home? She simply wanted to know if he was okay. She could not forget about him, she could not abandon him. She just had to return one last time!

Eventually Sylvia reached where the small burrow was situated. She neared the shelter slowly, kneeling down to look inside. "Keil?" She whispered.

No reply came. She crawled in further and felt around the floor, looking for any sign of Keil, but there was nothing. Not even a dim warmth from where he had lain for so many days. Sylvia let out a disappointed sigh, the realization hitting her heart hard. She knew he was a just a stranger she had found out in the woods, but she felt so accustomed to his presence that his disappearance was devastating. It had been nice to have something to look forward to each day after her work. But now Keil was gone. For good. Just like she knew he would be...

Sylvia cried silently for a moment. It had been plain stupid for her to come out here, looking for someone who was sure to be long gone! She was just so sick of herself and her own pathetic tears. She should have known better than to get her hopes up about such silly things. Dreams and hopes were not for slave girls. Not for her, now or ever.

******

Keil gazed up at the moon that night with awe. The skies were so clear and beautiful this time of year. He was glad they could be appreciated even on the land below. Finna was off a little ways foraging for food amongst the small forest creatures, though she often ended up playing with them and making a loud ruckus through the grass and leaves instead. He chuckled at her playfulness, but then his mind drifted back to Sylvia. He wondered what she was doing right now. Did she really have no regrets about leaving him out here for good? Even after she had done so much for him? Why? Why save him only to abandon him later?

Keil shook his head with a grumble. He just didn't understand. He didn't understand Sylvia, or her people, or this strange land. Truly, they were all so different from his own. Not that he really wanted to know. These primitive land dwellers were nothing of consequence in the end.

Finna suddenly let out a whinny purr, clawing at a nearby tree trunk in a sad way. Keil laughed, knowing she had probably gone and let a meal escape by accident.

"Come on girl, we must go," He commanded softly.

The dragon growled grumpily as she came back towards him, looking disappointed. He patted her snout with a chuckle. "That is what you get for playing with your food!"

She let out a snort as he mounted the saddle on her back. Then they headed back to the burrow for the night. First thing in the morning they would depart and make their journey back home. It would not take long to reach the mountains to the north, and from there he could search for signs of his home.

Just then, Finna let out another curious purr, sniffing the air with interest. Keil gazed around the area warily, searching for her point of focus. That's when he saw her. Yes, that woman, the one he could not seem to stop thinking about.

"Stop!" He suddenly commanded.

The dragon obeyed and came to a silent halt. Keil just sat there, watching the familiar blonde-haired figure with astonishment and shock.

Sylvia! She had come back!

He smiled with relief and carefully dismounted Finna. He sat the dragon down quietly, despite her intense whines. Then he very cautiously approached the burrow from behind, following Sylvia up until she entered the small shelter.

"Keil?" He heard her whisper.

Keil felt his heart beat anxiously in his chest, both confused and thrilled by her return and concerned inquiry. Though he immediately noticed Sylvia's shoulders slump with disappointment. He watched her with fascination, wondering what had caused such a sudden change in mood and atmosphere. Was it because of his absence? Because he was not there?

"Sylvia?" He called out softly.

******

Sylvia jumped with shock and swung around to the voice that had called her. Keil was behind her, his face bright in the moonlight of the burrow's entrance. He was fully dressed and moving around quite well it seemed. She smiled with relief at his presence, ever glad to see he was alive and well. No one would know by looking at him that he had been bed ridden for weeks unable to move.

"Keil, I am so glad you are alright! I am... glad you did not leave yet..." She confessed.

Even in the dark Sylvia could see Keil giving a small grin in return.

"Suga yates ne ore?" (What took so long?) He inquired with a light chuckle.

She recognized his words, remembering them from the last time she had been late to see him. Sylvia blushed with warm relief and glued her eyes to the floor, too embarrassed to face him completely with a tear stained face.

"I'm sorry I was too busy to come any sooner," She said quietly.

Keil looked at her for a moment, examining her expression with scrutiny from the shadows.

"Here, I brought some food!" Sylvia announced, hoping to distract his probing gaze.

She pulled out a few pieces of bread and handed them to him, though he held up his hands in refusal. He pulled out a sack from his back and revealed a full pouch of what smelled like dried meats.

"Y-You got that? All by yourself?" She asked.

He grinned even wider and nodded with pride, and Sylvia felt her smile waver. Keil really was doing just fine without her...

"Suga me ne?" (What is wrong?) He asked with worry, noticing her change in expression.

Sylvia smiled weakly and shook her head, feeling so very stupid yet again. There was no need for her presence. Keil was all healed and didn't need her help anymore, so what reason did she have to stay any longer?

"No need to worry. Actually, I should probably be going now."

She crawled passed him and out of the burrow, heading back home to her own pitiful life. What else was there for her to do here?

"Sylvia? Suga me ne?" (Sylvia? What is wrong?) Keil asked with worry.

Sylvia shook her head and kept walking, making no reply. At times like this she was actually glad that they did not speak the same language! Even if she tried to explain things to him he would not understand, and she was grateful. It was better for them both this way.

"Suga me ne!?" (What is wrong!?) He said, coming up behind her now.

Sylvia turned and quickly pushed him away. "Just go away! Leave me alone!" She said with false harshness.

Keil suddenly grabbed her arm, looking angry and confused. "Sylvia!" He snapped.

"LET GO!" She demanded, trying to pull herself free.

He squeezed her arm tightly and glared deep into her eyes, the red of his irises glowing in the silver moonlight. Sylvia tried to yank her arm away, but he pulled back, causing her back to seize up in pain. She let out a shocked gasp and fell into his arms. She had forgotten how much the raw wounds of a lashing could feel even days later!

"Sylvia?" Keil said with alarm, realizing she was in pain.

She attempted to pull away and run off again, but he grabbed both of her wrists in restraint.

"Sylvia, suga me ne?" (Sylvia, what is wrong?) He demanded with furious frustration.

Sylvia made no reply as he examined her from head to toe with extreme scrutiny. She felt worry and embarrassment rising as she fought for a release he wasn't allowing. Keil gave her one more glance over, seeming all too aware of her humiliating state. Then something in his face changed, with his expression looking fierce and determined. Then Sylvia watched helplessly as, in one fell swoop, he yanked her close and crushed his lips against hers.