Vincent looked around him in consternation. He had managed to get away from the strange creatures and headed into the swamp, but now he was at an impasse. The direction he was supposed to go in was blocked. To go around might take him days of picking through the swamp. The heavy mist made it difficult at times to tell which direction the sun actually came from.

He raised his sword and swung it down viciously in anger. The sound of it whistling through the air was somewhat pleasing. The clang as it came down on the sharp prickers was loud. He looked over at them and was surprised to see how much damage he had done with just one cut. He looked at his sword in awe and then determination.

Again and again he hacked away at the tangle of briars. He hopped down off of Kracken and attacked them with renewed hope. The sweat built on his brow, but with only a few hours work he had created a passable hole in the thorns. He sagged against his horse in success. He was tired and sore, but it would save so much time.

He led the dear beast carefully though the archway, speaking softly to him as they went so the horse would not shy away into the dangerous cluster of briars at either side. When they emerged at the other side safely he sighed in relief and remounted. His gaze turned to the right direction and they continued picking their way forward.

Twice more he had to take out his sword and cut a path, each time tiring him out more and more, but his blade did not falter or dull. He whispered blessings to his father for giving him such a fine and sturdy gift. Without it and his map, he might have been lost. He wondered though how his dearest Alex might be faring.

She had no map. Just the directions he had shouted to her before they parted. Would she be alright? Would she make it to the other side? His heart ached and he could not help the urges to call out for her, in case she might be closer than he thought. Each time there was no reply. Each time his heart sank low into his stomach in dread.

He closed his eyes at night and dreamt of his darling's hair as it had blown in the breeze. He thought of the journey thus far, and blushed in remembrance of those first few days. He had never touched anyone so intimately before, and was rather surprised that he did not seem to mind touching Alex's... well. 

It was becoming quite clear in his mind that it did not seem to matter at all what sex his beloved might be. He just needed to get back to him. He desperately needed to hold him in his arms and assure himself that Alex was alright. He missed him terribly.

*

Alex was contemplating a rather tough decision. To the right was a narrow lane flanked with large briars. On the left was a wide lane with low hanging trees. If he went to the right, he would have to stay on Oliver and guide him very carefully so they didn't slip into the swamp. If he went left, he would probably have to dismount to go through.

Either way was a dangerous route. One because of the risk of falling in or being stabbed by the sharp thorns, and the other for the vulnerability of being on foot. The left hand route would take him back in the direction he needed to go anyways though, at least he was pretty sure that was the case. It was probably the best option.

He cautiously looked about for signs of any life, and once assured there were none, he dismounted. Oliver pranced restlessly and he patted the great beast on the nose before setting off. His horse seemed to instinctively know to bend down and trust his master to lead him forward through the trees. It was not until they were a good distance in that Alex noticed a problem.

The passage narrowed. He would have to be even more careful as the lane only allowed enough room for them to walk single file eventually. Oliver was impatient with him. He butted him from behind with his nose if he slowed too much. Alex was wary of every slight sound that came from about them. He gulped in nervousness as the long passage went on longer than he thought.

A cry and sudden flapping of a multitude of wings startled him as a murder of crows took of from the trees when they approached too closely. He looked up to watch their flight with a rapid beating heart. Oliver didn't like them at all and began to surge forward into the back of him. He tried to still the beast, but when it saw past to the close exit it thrust forward determinedly.

Alex cried out as the beast pushed him aside into the sharp undergrowth and squeezed passed in resolute obstinacy. He tried to hold onto the reins but he was not stronger than the horse and was trapped by his clothes and hair now in the branches. Oliver pulled away and trotted the final few meters to the clearing on the other side. Then he looked back at Alex as though surprised he had not followed.

"You mangy beast! You are not supposed to do that. Now look what you have done." Alex groused from his predicament. He tried pulling himself away from the thicket carefully. His trousers came free rather easily, since the lower branches snapped away with little difficulty. His tunic was a little harder to pry off, and he had to twist about a little to get some twigs to break off.

He heard a tear and groaned in frustration. When he went to hang his head, it got about an inch and pulled painfully on his hair. Alex's eyes flew open. Carefully reaching up, he felt around his head. He was ensnared on the branches tightly. Oh no! All that twisting about had made it all worse and the curls were firmly caught in them.

With shaking hands, he untied the leather that held it back from his face. It gave him an inch or two to work with. He tried picking away at the hair, pulling it carefully from the wooden snare. His hands fumbled at their task as he spoke a prayer to the skies above while he worked. Oliver stamped restlessly from beyond the opening and she glanced nervously in his direction.

"You damn chicken. See what you've done now. I'm caught." She sobbed the last in frustration. A low growl caught her ear. Her head whipped around to look back where they had come from. It was two of those beasts! No, wait, there was a third. Her heart thudded heavy in her chest as she saw them spy her standing in the passage.

Alex pulled desperately on her long, curly locks, wincing at the pain in his scalp. They were coming closer and they had spears! He drew his sword with one hand and yanked ineffectually at the caught strands with the other. A sob tore from her throat. He had no choice. Wavering would only get her killed. He looked up at the mass of branches.

Raising her sword carefully, she placed it against the taught silky strands. He closed his eyes and sawed furiously upward against the delicate mass of curls. As soon as he felt the release of his head, he turned for the entrance and ran. Crouching low to avoid any further problems, he came out to see his horse waiting patiently.

He grabbed the reins and vaulted quickly into the saddle, barely pausing to shout a command to the horse to go. Oliver seemed to know exactly where he was going as he took off along the next patch of solid ground with confidence. He looked back at the creatures standing in the mouth of the passage, spears raised and shouting after him.

They did not pursue though. He was far away in moments, the muddy track kicking up a bit of dust as they traveled along it. They only slowed when the ground softened enough to be dangerous and went at a walk until they could find more hardened ground to run on. As the sun set again, Alex stopped Oliver long enough to dismount and eat some rations from the bags.

A tear tracked down her cheek as she sat on the muddy ground. A shaking hand reached up to pull a stray curl forward to look at. It barely reached her nose. A great shuddering wracked her body and she collapsed down on herself in misery. She had tried so hard not to let this whole situation get to her. She had tried to deal with these flip-flopping feelings that completely dominated her thoughts.

A cry bubbled up from inside and escaped her throat as a strangled scream. Oliver looked startled down at his human and came close to nuzzle her in comfort. She pushed him half-heartedly away and continued to make noises like a wounded animal. Covering her head and sobbing into her lap as she finally let it all out.

"It was all I had left you stupid horse! I hate you!" She screamed at him. He put his ears back a bit but refused to leave her side. She laid down on the cold ground and shivered as the last of the tears and sobs ebbed from her body. What would happen if she just closed her eyes and gave up? Right here. Right now?

The image of her beloved Vincent flashed into her brain in that moment and she knew she could not. He would have to pick himself up and carry on. It was just hair. It would grow back eventually. She tried to breathe evenly and calmly so that she could bring herself to continue. He opened his eyes and stared up at the big lug of a horse that seemed to look down at her in concern.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean it." She said to him solemnly. He nickered gently and Alex tried to smile through his pain. He got up, dusted himself off, and got back in the saddle. "We will walk for a bit more, until we don't have light anymore. Alright?"

The horse followed his gentle command and walked until the sun disappeared on the horizon.