The next morning, though I pray that we get up and go on like nothing happened, Elle and them aren't like Xalale.

They prod at me and Olivos- but mainly me- the entire morning as we trudge through the woods. Though the overcast clouds start to break up by noon their relentless question don't.

At first, Olivos and I remain quiet on the matter, not really saying much on it, but I could sense him beginning to buckle, especially when Elle asked him with her curious, big brown eyes staring innocently at him. He knew, though he probably didn't understand, that I didn't want him to share what went down last night, so he tries to remain silent.

We make it until about noon before we stop for a break- that's when Sephora and Coxen dig their feet into the dirt.

It's almost a mini-standoff, seeing who would relent first. Olivos fidgets next to Elle, his face a blotchy red that it becomes when he's torn, while Elle looks at me quizzically. Though I was able to withstand spiritual attack from malice spirits, the intent stares from Coxen and Sephora are making me squirm; the two of them together does not make for a good defense to stand up against.

"Why are you hiding things?" Sephora starts, completely baffled. "We're your friends, we want your honesty."

I shrug, stuck between a rock and a hard place. "Honestly, why does it matter? You guys wandered off during the night and we went and brought you back."

"But why were we near that cliff? Why can't we remember anything?" Coxen argues.

"Because you must have been sleepwalking."

They give me exasperated looks that I, again, shrug at.

"Mallory," Elle softly speaks up. "Whatever you tell us, we won't be angry about."

"Yes, you will," I think to myself. "None of you wanted to come into these woods in the first place and if you found out you were almost killed then you would start questioning my judgment and then I'd have a mutiny on my hands. So no."

Instead of saying everything that's on my mind, I simply blink in silence at them, getting up to start walking again.

"We better continue. I have a feeling we're almost out of here."

With that, the discussion comes to a messy, unsolved end.

It's starting to become an unsettling occurrence for me to shut them down whenever they question something, sense their disappointment and confusion when I evade or ignore it, then pretend it never happened- this is not a cycle I want to get into with them.

On the bright side, it seems we're getting close to exiting these woods and getting back on track. It hasn't been two full days, so that's making me feel like I made the right move by cutting through these woods even with the "magical" activity and tense moments.

Finally, at long last, we pass a sign that marks the end of Wicurin Woods and the beginning of Vigodia with an additional note about Kleora Forest.

"See," I say triumphantly. "Nothing bad happened to us. Those woods are just a bunch of nonsense."

They just mumble their agreements, clearly a bit on the cold shoulder side to me.

By the time we get on the main road towards the location we need, I'm bringing up the topic of finding Kleora Forest when I'm interrupted by a glowing in my chest area.

"Dammit, this cat and mouse game is getting old."

It's the first time it's glowed in a long time so I haven't reached full swing panic mode yet. This changes our plans of settling down anytime soon though.

So we press on, passing a small village with an even smaller inn in exchange for distance from Xalale, who knows where we are. We do pause to ask for directions for getting to Kleora Forest, thanking the helpful villagers as we start up again.

Though Sephora and them are giving me the goody-two-shoes cold shoulder (it is a thing), Clifford has no problem talking my ear off, as usual. He also tries to pull in Olivos, who's also sharing some of the treatment with me, but my ears are the main target for his outlandish tales.

"-never reaching the end. It was really fun but really scary at the same time."

He pauses briefly to take a breath but I interject, knowing I won't get another chance to let my ears rest if I let him prattle on again.

"Hey, Clifford, want to play a game?"

The interesting tinge in my voice grabs his attention.

"Really? What is it?" He asks, his eyes expanding in anticipation.

"It's called the observation game," I explain, trying to feign awe. "You have to study everything you can for five minutes then tell me everything you saw in as much detail as possible. I'll do the same thing and at the end, Olivos will decide who remembered and studied more."

Even though it's one of the lamest games I've come up with just to get him to stop running his motor of a mouth for a bit, it gets him excited like a game of tag would. We start and a peaceful silence soon follows.

"Finally."

Unfortunately, just as Clifford gets out of my hair, a new problem emerges. Up ahead on the path that the villagers sent us on, a huge wall stands like the face of a smooth cliff. At first, we start to feel defeated but Elle quickly points out a steep path that seems to lead to the top of the cliff where we need. It's a rocky incline that looks like it requires a tremendous amount of effort to walk safely up.

"Perhaps it better we rest before exerting the remainder of our energy on this task," Sephora suggests.

We all agree to take a break before attempting to hike up the narrow, tedious path, but I know Clifford is getting to the end of his five minutes and he'll probably have a lot to spew at me in the following time. So, to save myself a headache before attempting that hill I make up an excuse to go use the bathroom in the great outdoors, slipping out to go do my business.

Turns out I really did have to go. I feel much better after having relieved myself, but just as I'm about to wander back to my group, voices nearby startle me. Lately, though, I've been hearing a lot of voices, so at first, I believe they're just in my head but as I creep closer to the road I'm near I can tell the voices are coming from down the road, my way. Since it's of no importance to me who's coming and going on this deserted road, I start to turn back to return to my friends when the voices that were once murmuring in conversation suddenly cry out.

"Hey!"

Startled, but mostly confused, I look back at the group. That's when my heart sinks as I realize who it was that called me.

"She's the same bitch from the tavern!" One of them growls, exchanging charged looks with the others.

"Seriously!? Now?"

We lock eyes for a millisecond before they start charging towards me, prompting me to start hauling it back to the others. Halfway there, though, I grow a brain cell or two and think better than to lead them straight toward my friends- they had no part in this, therefore they shouldn't be subject to the threat of these thugs.

Turning sharply to my right, I begin weaving through the tall, stocky trees that populate the forest.

I don't even risk a glance back, I wouldn't dare.

After my little tavern showdown, I'm sure they didn't take me besting their leader- who is notably absent among them (probably still healing from the fight that could barely be labeled as such)- too well. They hit a stroke of luck catching out here by myself, a perfect target for revenge. Like ravaged wolves on the hunt, they gain on me, I can feel it. The safest bet for me is to lose them, but that would be quite the feat with all of them chasing me down.

I make all sorts of crazy, convoluted turns as I run through the forest. I'm not too majorly concerned about being able to trace my steps- my mind is more occupied trying to stay alive at the moment.

Just as my stamina begins to fail and my pursuers begin to get the upper hand on me, I spot something in the close distance ahead. It's almost like the crag Sephora and them almost walked off but it's not as sharp of a drop and a creek runs below it. If I can only swerve just in time to get them to lose their footing and fall I would be home free. It's going to be a challenge though, or so I thought.

These guys aren't as sharp-witted or observant as Xalale, they're definitely more single-minded on one task at a time, that means that when taking a sharp turn with them just in arms reach of me, their reflexes are delayed and in they tumble, the whole heap of them.

Taking only a brief moment of relief, I start heading back towards the others, praying I haven't spun myself around too many times. Thankfully, I come up on the road where I was before, meaning I'm close by. With that reassurance, I return to a leisurely stroll to catch my breath as well as not alarm the others with my jagged breathing.

But, you know what the universe thinks I'm missing? A heart attack. So, being so gracious to me, just as I'm steering away from the area close to the road, I happen to look up and lo and behold, what do I see coming from down the road? Take a freakin' guess.

If I thought my eyes were deceiving me, the glowing aurora emitting from my chest tells me otherwise, causing my body to seize up, my breath hitching.

"Don't notice me, don't notice me, please don't-"

Why do I even bother?

Like a deer in headlights, I'm paralyzed as his eyes expertly find their way to me immediately. Since he has the full advantage- it's like he knows it- he starts towards me flanked by two other riders.

Without another thought or hesitation, I'm off. Since they have horses, I have to race even faster than I did for those brutes.

"New side note: do not travel near roads."

My body isn't the type to do all this running- this is the kind of running that leads to heart failure in people like me- but I'd run a thousand miles to keep from him.

Unlike before, when my mind wasn't as frazzled, I knew to lead the threat away from the others. This time, I'm bringing it right to their door.

Even though I had the head start, they have the premium advantage of horses, fast ones at that, so they're hot on my trail as I arrive back where the others laze. Coxen is the first to note my rushed return.

"Mal, what's wrong? Who's chasing you?" He asks, already drawing out his sword.

I'm surprised I can wheeze out decipherable words as I keep going toward the steep incline.

"Run, now!"

They're not as swift to follow my lead, but the moment one of them spots Xalale they're right behind me trying to scramble up the tedious hill. All except for Clifford, of course, the one to mess me up even more (he's like an extra "screw you" from the universe).

"Axel!"

While the others continue to haphazardly travel up the hill, I have to return to snatched him by the arm, dragging the protesting child to the path.

"But I wanna-"

"Now's not the time, Clifford."

After pushing him up the hill, he starts to listen and stealthily, like little kids can, makes his way up the hill.

Littered with jagged rocks lined on either side and thistles clawing at your heels, this incline proves to be a beast for the best of us, but no matter how crippling the cramp in my side is, I force myself to preserve.

This steep, narrow path reminds me of when I had to claw my way up Sagegate Mountain that one time. Honestly, it was even harder going down than heading up, but I'm hoping we don't have to travel back down this slope. It's not as rough as Sagegate was, but it's no walk in the park either.

The one advantage this hill gives us is that it's too steep and narrow for the horses to travel up, so Xalale and his men are forced to go on foot after us. The challenge doesn't deter him, though, it appears. Risking a glance back, I'm alarmed to find that he's making progress at a tremendous rate- it's like I'm the only one struggling with climbing this thing!

"Keep going, keep going, keep going."

Another difference between Sagegate and here is the ground- and it's making things all the harder. On the mountain, the ground, though steeper, was solid. The ground here on this hill is loose, crumbling underfoot easily.

"Mallory."

Though his voice slows me, I don't stop, I don't even glance back at him. It startles me how close his voice sounds.

"Just keep going."

Suddenly, though, I hear new voices that ring familiar to me.

"There she is!"

Peering over the edge, I look down at the band of brutes I thought I'd shook off my tail at that crag but apparently only made more pissed. I move away from the edge so I won't be seen- also because the realization of how high we are frightens me. The wolvish brutes immediately race off to find a way to get to me, bloodthirsty just in their movements.

"Great. Two groups of people who don't like me at the moment."

Remembering the presence gaining ground on me at the moment, I pick back up on my unsteady climb higher.

I've lost sight of the others ahead of me, except Clifford but even he seems miles away. No matter how hard I push, I feel that my energy is fading. Realizing this, I know I now have to rely on my rusty brain to conjure up a solution to my current woes. If I can't outrun them I'm going to have to fight. But let's be real, dumb luck was on my side that one time only, this time I have people trained since they could hold a sword hunting me down- they can do legit sword fighting.

There's only one option I can think of but that one option means the destruction of two worlds.

"Adapt rather than compete."

Recalling those words, it echoes through my mind as I glance back at the one who spoke them to me.

Returning my gaze to the path before me, it takes only a minute to formulate a plan. Is it feasible? I don't know. Will it work? I hope so. What am I going to do if it doesn't? Not be surprised but probably panic.

With that in mind, I urge myself on further so I can put as much distance between me and Xalale as possible. Once I achieve that, I draw out the elegant sword that gleams with lethality in the light and move off to the side where the earthen wall is. Since we're ascending a hill, there's a wall of earth on our left-hand side, it's not very tall but it will be enough to accomplish my task, hopefully.

For this to work efficiently, though, I have to pace myself.

A little ways behind Xalale and his men are the brutish wolves that each have equally hostile snarls stitched on their faces. As much as my heart is pounding itself to death against my ribcage, I have to wait a little longer, even as Xalale gets closer.

Never have my palms been so slick with sweat. It is battle against myself not to act already. The moment I gauge that they're exactly where I need them to be, I strike swiftly. Driving the sword into the wall, I ram it in with extra force, trying to get the soil to crumble like I know it wants to. At first, only a web of cracks results from the action, so I reclaim my sword and try it again resulting in an even finer web of cracks spreading. I need more though. Switching from hacking to jabbing the wall, I put my all into each blunt strike.

Finally, just as Xalale is making his final stretch toward me, I hear the cracking I was looking for. Sending another jab into the wall, I hear a different voice call out to me from behind.

"Mallory!"

Allowing myself to be distracted for a second, I snap my head in the direction of where Coxen, who called out for me, Elle and the others are approaching me. Though it's touching that they came back for me, I know it's not safe for them to come any closer, so holding up my hand, I yell at them to stay put.

Obeying, they halt but don't retreating- most likely not understanding my plan.

I barely have the time to collect myself or give the wall one more blow of the sword before I'm startled by a voice right in front of me.

"Mallory."

"Dammit!"

My reflexes kick in and hastily I give the wall one more jab. Finally, it gives way, doing what I hoped for it to do.

It's like an avalanche of rock and dirt tumbling down the steep path towards at my assailants. If falling chunks of rock and dirt didn't deter them I don't know what would.

At this point, I expect the chase to be over.

What I wasn't expecting was for Xalale, in his frenzied reflexes, to grab the front of my dress and pull me down with him in the avalanche. Since we were at the top of the collapse we don't get swept away with the rocky dirt, but Xalale lost his balance meaning I lost mine with him and this hill is very unforgiving when it comes to tripping up.

If Jack and Jill had a doozy of a time falling down a hill, we're having a hell of a time trying to stop our momentum and find some kind of footing (it's almost worse than being chased down a hill of falling rock). The world is a dizzying disaster of color as my vision fails to correct itself with each bump I hit- which is an overwhelming amount since I seem to hit every rock and snag along the way without being able to dodge anything.

As luck would have it, Xalale is the first to stop his tumble down while I keep rolling until I feel the ground disappear from under me, my body tipping over the edge.

My heart leaps out of my chest as I scramble to cling onto something to keep from falling over the edge- we're still high enough up that this fall could be fatal. I grasp wildly, trying to keep a firm grip, my nails breaking off during my struggle. After a fight for my life against nature, I end up hanging off the side of the cliff, my feet not creating enough friction from the edge of the cliff to push myself back up. In fact, the more I try to scrap and claw my way up the looser my grip becomes- my sweat-slick hands don't help matters either.

I don't want to scream but I can't help it as I feel my grip slipping and gravity fighting against me. Just when I beginning to fear the worse, a firm hand takes hold of my forearm and I start to be dragged up.

At this point, I don't care if it's Hitler pulling me up back onto the solid ground, I simply allow Xalale to take my hand and pull me up. My feet finally get the friction they need so I'm able to drag myself onto the ground again, my breathing labored and my body still in shock.

As I'm collecting myself from my near death experience, trouble rears its bothersome head again and I don't realize my mistake of lingering too long until Xalale has my wrist tightly gripped in his grasp, preventing me from fleeing.

"Mallory," His tone is cautionary, like an authority figure warning one to make the smart choice. "The stone."

"Is it too late to jump off the cliff?"

Trying to squirm out of his grip to no avail, I refuse to let myself be defeated so easily. In the face of my defiance, he seizes my other wrist, making me utterly defenseless.

"Just give me the stone," He repeats, his tone more worn.

I stop fighting long enough to look him in the eyes daringly.

"You know where it is, go get it yourself."

I know he won't once he realizes where it is exactly on me, but he continues to hold me there until I comply.

I don't know where the others are but I could sure use an ex machina right about now.

"No more games, Mallory. Just hand over the stone."

Out of nowhere, an idea pops into my head and I strain against him, gritting my teeth, making my voice as helpless as can be.

"You're hurting me, Xalale, let go."

Though he was holding onto me with some force I didn't feel my wrist were going to snap in two like I'm feigning. But the abrupt manner in which he quickly loosens his grip on me makes it seem like he believed he was genuinely hurting me. Thankfully, I was hoping for that response and seize the opportunity to yank my hands free from him, already drawing out my sword to point at him.

"Don't try anything," I warn him, starting to creep back a little.

He hardens his gaze and starts to reach for his own sword but I press the blade to his neck, a clear warning in my voice- this time it was me warning him to make the smart choice.

Suddenly, the hardness in his eyes melts away and he uses a tone I can't place my finger on, though it comes across bitterly deriding.

"What are you going to do?"

Oh, I see the game he's trying to play (for a man who hates games, he sure does play a lot them himself). He's trying to call my bluff like I did with him. Unfortunately for him, we already know I'm as serious as a heart attack about protecting this stone.

I let a slight, wry smile play on my face.

"Something I'll regret."

Though I can tell he's trying to appear more dominant in this exchange, his facade is lacking.

"I don't understand you," He finally says with some admittance.

The smile has died from my face. "I don't understand you either."

"Then what are we doing?" He questions with slight exasperation present.

"I don't know what you're doing but I'm trying to protect my world and this one."

He takes a small step forward, causing me to reflexively back up, my sword still at his neck.

"Are you?" He says with a cynical expression.

His response was unexpected, causing me to trip up some.

"Yes. What else would I be doing?"

Slipping back into a worn demeanor, his shoulder sag in a slight crestfallen manner as if some part of him just left his body. He studies at the ground for a moment before sighing heavily then looking at me once again, uncertainty now swimming in his eyes.

"I-" He falters, surprising me even further. Xalale never falters, rarely does.

Before he can feebly recover, he's interrupted.

"Mallory."

Looking back, I see my ex machina has arrived finally.

With sword ready in hand, Coxen approaches with eyes like glinting steel as he stares down at Xalale. With reinforcement at my back, I'm feeling more comfortable. Right now, I don't care what Xalale has to say. This quest is almost over, we can't waste time with ers and ums.

"Xalale," I press the blade with a bit more pressure against his neck. "Why don't you call this a lost, go home, rest, and leave this issue alone? Do something that will benefit the both of us."

He eyes me with askance, shifting his gaze from me, to the sword, to Coxen behind me, then back at me again. Just when I think he's going to put up a fight, he simply pushes the blade away then swiftly turns and begins to head down the hill. It's only once he's gone away that I realize I've been holding my breath all that time.

Watching him depart, it hasn't slipped my mind that even though we outnumber him he still has one major advantage on his side: his ability. Just one snap of his fingers and this stone could be his, no fight included. It boggles me all the more about what his true motives are.

As he puts me distance between us, never look I got back once, I feel an unmistakable wave of melancholy wash over me. Even as Coxen joins me by my side, I can't tear my eyes away as he gets farther and farther. Part of it is due to the fact that I still feel kind of guilty for the ruthless verbal onslaught I gave him before- I never got to apologize for that but I don't think I could have formed an acceptable apology for that, not in these circumstances.

I'm only pulled from my trance when Coxen places his hand on my shoulder.

"We shouldn't waste time now."

Nodding numbly, I linger for another second before turning to follow him up towards the others. We make it to the top of the hill where the ground is more solid and the path widens, continuing to lead us into the woods.

"Is the king gone?" Elle asks, shaken still.

Coxen nods wearily. "Yes, he's gone."

While she breathes a sigh of relief, Olivos starts up.

"Th-that was very swift thinking to send those rocks down on them."

"Yeah..." My voice betrays my sullen mood.

"Something the matter?" Sephora inquires.

For a moment, a strange part of me wants to explain how I'm feeling- they are my friends after all- I want to let out every thought bouncing around in my head, but instead, I straighten up, put on my game face and reply-

"We have to get to that fire. Come on."

Nobody says a thing about my shift in mood, instead just following along. Their thoughts, though, are so audible on there faces that I swear bubble text above their heads would have been more subtle. Even Clifford looked on with suspicion.

I ignore them, though, I ignore everything but the task before me. It's very hard to suppress the lingering traces of poignancy still so present in the corners of my mind, but for everyone's sakes, I must try.