Prologue

So I finally have a moment to actually think about what happened to me the past few weeks and when I do, I realize how much has happened to me. Right now we are heading over to the local market, avoiding wild animals and anything else that wants to kill us, but other wise living a free life. But now I’m getting ahead of myself. Perhaps I should back it up. Revisit my past from about 5 weeks ago. It all started in my tent…

1

“Dad, tell me the story again.” I begged. I just loved the story of my parents forbidden love.

“No.” he would usually say then walk out of the tent to gamble with  the other men in our tribe. But tomorrow is a big day for me. It’s my birthday but not just any birthday. Its the day I turn 14 and is finally accepted into the tribe as one of there own as a woman.

“Well.” he began. “I met your mother Delilah a long time ago. This was when I was chief of my own Barbarian clan. See a long drought had settled in our land and we were planning to raid our enemies camp, the Savvy tribe. They are evil beings, and care about no one but themselves and harm Mother Earth by digging holes in the ground and stealing her resources and using them for fire when she provides plenty of wood. They go against the laws of nature and raise animals as their own pets only to slaughter them for their own gain instead of earning there food by going out and hunt. And instead of sleeping under the stars, the sleep in closed compacted rooms in tall towers with cold air bowing from mysterious boxes. But back to the point. Their camp was set up at the only oasis for miles around and we hoped to take it for ourselves. So one night, we snuck up on them and call our cries of attack. We charge in and burned down their unusual towers and I myself ran into one small tent that was placed on the edge of their camp. Inside was your mother. I was about to bring my ax down on her until I looked into her eyes and fell in love. We were victorious on capturing the oasis but one of our own was captured as well. In return for him back we agreed to give them some water every month. As for your mother an I, we kept seeing each other in secret. I was still suspicious and looked for the slightest signs of her betraying me. But she never did. She would never ask for a little more water or a little more food. Then one day she told me she was to bore a child. At first I was horrified and imagined what would happen to me if the rest of the my tribe found me with a child. But after a few months I grew to love you even before you were born. One day she came to me and was panicking over her tribe growing angry over her rounding stomach. I quickly told her to blame it on anyone in her community. She was reluctant but did it anyway and the unlucky man was casted out of the Savvy tribe. With one obstacle crossed we were content again. But someone from one of our tribes must have seen us together and rallied up a mob. The night before they plotted to kill us, you were born. But we were still in trouble. They came and we fought. Next thing you know your mother shoves you into my arms and scream at me to run. She turned to face her own people and I ran. I never saw her again.” His eyes were watered with tears and he brushed them aside quickly and continued.

“I knew I couldn’t stay with tribe so I left and watered the desert alone for many of days. I have only a few skins of milk, food, and the most wonderful child in the world. With a mother form a clan of high intellect and a father from a clan to brute strength, I knew you would be the greatest being of all time.”

It was true. As much as I’d hate to admit it I was smarter than all of the adults and elders of the tribe. I could quickly form a good strategy when I was practicing hunting or fighting and had the muscle to to it.

“One day I had finally entered this very valley and was surrounded by these people you live with today. They took us in and acknowledged us. We’ve been here ever since.”

He finished his tale and then tucked my in my fur blanketed bed. He pulled the deer skin a little higher so it reached my chin and kissed my forehead. As hardcore and tough we Barbarian tribes may be, we deeply cared for our own people so no, it wasn’t weird that a parent would tuck their child to bed. Dad left my tent and I went to sleep with dreams of my mother.

I woke up and the first thing I thought of was the ceremony we were to have in honor of me changing from child to woman. I hopped out of my tent after I but some suitable clothes on-a thin wool shirt and deer skin skirt with my heir pulled back with string. I ran over to were all of the clan horses were tied and rubbed Blaze, my horse, till he was as shiny as can be. Then I grabbed a bow and arrows and went hunting for my own dinner but only came back with a mole. (By the way, mole is disgusting) After I had eaten a rabbit instead from the tribes meat basket, I ran back to my tent to dress into a a formal gown required to wear during the ceremony. It was a simple cotton dress with bear fur sewn into the collar and a leopard skin draped across my shoulder. If your wondering were we would get all of this cotton and wool from is at the market place. It is the only place were Savvies and Barbarians would mingle without fighting. No war was aloud to take place there and many goods from farms were produced. See? It’s not like were Neanderthals. Anyway I added turquoise beads to my neck and tied my hair into a wide bun on the back of my head. I looked at myself in a small mirror. Not bad. It could be worse I guess. I looked like all of the other women in our clan when they turned 14. Except one major thing threw me apart from everyone else. My hair. No one person in any Barbarian clan that I’v seen has not had black hair. My hair was blond. Of course it is darker now from living out in the sun my entire life but it was still clearly blond. My father came in my tent and smiled at me when he saw how I looked.

“Are you ready for this, Claire?” he whispered. I nodded and he held his arm out to me.

I took it and we walked out the the center of the the camp where all of the clan was sitting on the ground. They separated to form one long aisle and Dad guided me down it until we were at a small hole filled with water in it. It had been dug up days ago and they had finally reached water and became a watering hole. Years from now it will grow big enough until it is a lake or a large pond where I will return to the day I wed. It is traditional for something like this to happen every 14th birthday. The chief of our Barbarian tribe spoke.

“Today is the day were one of our own children will be transformed into a woman of our tribe.” applause. “After the ceremony, she will also be engaged to my own son, Drake.”

More applause. And yes it’s true. It was planned years ago before I even formally meet him. He was very handsome and one of the strongest in the tribe and yes, I had a small crush on him, but he wasn’t the brightest one of us. But it was not my decision to make. The chief spoke again and rambled on about how fine of a wife I would be for his son and mentioned with strain that I am one the the strongest of the tribe, clearly remembering the time I beat him in an arm wresting match. Once he was through with his speech, he filled a cup with water from the pool of water in front of me. He handed it to me and I drank it all in one gulp. Right when I set the cup back down the entire tribe cheered and clapped. Then they were silent when Drake walked up next to me. I turned and faced him smiled. He smiled back but Drake still had a blank look in his eyes as if he had no idea what he was doing. He knelt on the ground and I knelt next to him. Drake grabbed my both of my hands and and held them in his own. Then together we plunged our hands in the water as required to do so to bind the two together. Now we were bound together and nothing could break it unless the pond is dried or filled in. We stood back up and everyone clapped and cheered again, louder than before. Dad came up to me with tears in his eyes and hugged me. I didn’t want to let go but was forced to as the sun began to set and a feast began around a large fire. There was dancing and singing and tellings of tales about heroic people of the Barbarian tribes. The food was good and the events fun, but I retired back to my tent early any way. It’s been a long day for me. I collapsed into the furs and slept.

I woke in the middle of the night and walked out to see that every one else had gone back to their tents. I walked over to the water and looked at my reflection shining of the water from the light of the half-full moon. I should have been in a happy mood. I was a woman now, I was now considered a high person in value, I was engaged with the      soon-to-be-chief. But I didn’t feel good. Maybe I was sick. I felt my own forehead and concluded that I was not sick at all. But I still felt uncomfortable. I didn’t feel right in my own skin. I had a sudden and dire urge to get as far away from here as possible. Without even thinking I stood and ran from the camp an didn’t stop until I was long gone from the camp.

“What’s wrong with?” I muttered to myself taking deep breaths to slow my heart.

But I felt better. I felt cleaner and happier away from my own tribe than with them. But I had to go back. I couldn’t stay out here forever. So I slowly trudged back in the direction I came from and entered the camp just as the sun shined over the horizon and people started to stir. Again that bad feeling came back and I craved to run out of camp again. Every chance I got, I ran out and took my time to come back. If someone was about to go hunting, I went instead, If wood was needed, I would volunteer to go gather it. At night I went out and slept away from the camp on a cozy rock I found. Every day was like this for an entire week. But as stupid as Barbarians are, they still noticed, especially my dad.

“What’s wrong Claire?” he finally asked one day.

“Nothing. Why?” I lied.

“Claire. You know you can’t lie to me and expect to get away with it. Now what’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing really. just been going out for some fresh air. I haven’t been feeling so good lately. That’s all.” It wasn’t technically a lie. Dad put his hand on my forehead to check is I was sick.

“No, your healthy. Claire. You can tell me anything and I can tell your not telling me something. Come on. Spit it out.” He glared at me until I finally broke.

“Ok fine. I haven’t been feeling well like I told you but every time I leave the camp, I feel so much better and suddenly feel sick again right when I step back into camp.”

“So your saying that you want to leave?” Dad asked.

“No not at all. Well yes. Sort of. I don’t know.” Dad looked at me for a second and brought me into a hug.

“Sweetie, I’v never seen you so helpless. It hurts me.” There was a lot of worry in his voice and it almost brought me to tears. (and trust me when I say that I never cry)

“I’ll be fine Dad. I think its just a phase. It’ll pass in a a few days.” I said but he shook his head.

“No, you need to leave.” I looked at him and wondered if I had heard correctly.

“What?” I asked

“I said you need to leave.” I could hear the strain in his voice as he forced the words out.

“But-”

“Claire,” he cut me off, “all great being in history have felt the same way you are feeling right now. They made journeys and adventured through the entire land to find a meaning for their existence. They are of the very few how are born to be great and Claire, I think your one of them.” his words hit me so hard that I staggered a bit and Dad had to but his hand on my shoulder to steady me.

“I know it hurts you to hear me say these things and trust me, It kills me to say them. but this is for your own good. If your stay I’m afraid that you actually will become sick. I’ll go pack everything you will for a week longs trip. By then you will find someone to help you or you will find your adventure you were destined to follow.” He left but I grabbed his arm and he looked at me.

“But what if your wrong, Dad? What I’m not suppose to leave?”

“You are. And if not then make your way back home. Always know that I will be here with open arms.”

He left me there with just my own thoughts as he prepared my things for the journey of a life time.

I was atop Blaze with 4 sacs full of cloths, food, and other supplies I would most likely need, tied to his saddle. Ordinary horses would have tired out very quickly under the weight but Barbarian horses were not ordinary, especially Blaze. Not only was he strong and quick like all the other but he was very intelligent. Hw was a bright red chestnut with a firry red mane and tail unlike all of the other midnight black horses. He and I were one and the same, and this was the exact reason he was mine.

“Good luck, Claire.” my dad said.

I was at the edge of the camp and a few other close members of our tribe was there too to say good bye. I could tell that the chief did not approve but he made no move to stop me. I gently squeezed Blaze on his sides and he trotted ahead. I looked back just in time to see my home disappear over the hilltop.

I made my way south toward the thick if the trees being lead by nothing by instinct. I did feel much better the farther away I was from the camp but I deeply missed everyone I loved. The trees became thicker and thicker and I finally had to get off of Blaze and lead him through the tangle of branches and twigs. I heard a rustle in the woods to my right. Blaze pricked his ears and looked in the same direction I was. I dropped Blazes reins, trusting him not to leave until I come back. I picked my way through the trees and hardly made a sound. I came into a small clearing and hanging from a tree was a cage with a small bird in it. It was wildly fluttering around in the cage and practically screaming with chirps. It was cruel and wrong. I made my way to the cage and found the small vine that shut the door close. I twisted it open and set the bird free. It flew away so quickly that I didn’t see where it went. I felt better and was about to meet Blaze again when a man walked into the clearing. I froze and looked at him. He was dressed in a jumpsuit made of this elastic kind of material. I’v seen them at the market place but they went for a lot of money and no one could afford such a thing. Besides, they looked awkward and unusual. He saw me and pointed a gun at me. Well I’m not sure if it was a gun. It looked like a silver pistol with a ring around the top of the handle and smaller one at the very tip. It looked intimidating but I didn’t feel threatened. He looked as if he was about to call for help so I made a step forward to him to stop him. He saw the small movement and shot me. A bolt of lightning shot from the gun and hit me square in the chest. There was a loud crack and I collapsed. I shuttered with the lightning running through my body and breathed heavily. Alarmed by the noise, the rest of the team came into the clearing. One of them was maybe my age with brown hair that was brushed aside from his face. He had perfect features and deep brown eyes that widened when he saw me crumpled to the ground.

“What the hell!” he shouted at my shooter. The man suddenly looked confused at the gun.

“I don’t get it sir, the shock should have killed her. Maybe it wasn’t charged right?” he scratched his head and the boy threw his hands in the air.

“You shot a helpless girl and your worrying about the gun?!?” He screamed again. Then he made a move to help me and I quickly stood up to not appear helpless. He stared at me and stumbled back. Then he looked at the guns.

“Maybe it wasn’t charge right.” he muttered.

There was a silence and everyone sort of looked around. Then I bolted into the trees and made it some way until one man electrocuted me again with the gun. I once again crumbled onto the ground but this time it didn’t hurt as much.

“O MY FREAKING WORD!!!!!! WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM!?!?!” the boy yelled even louder.

“Sir, were are required to shot even without your orders.”

“O yeah? And why is that?” he asked

“Because she is a Barbarian, sir.”

He looked at me with surprise as if he really didn’t notice what I was wearing. I stood up and every man in the clearing looked at me with amazement and started checking their guns as well. Then the boys eyes widened slightly with care in his eyes. He shook his head and said to his men.

“Ok so she is. But we need her alive. No more shooting. We need to set a good impression.”

“But it doesn’t seem to effect her. Besides, she’s probably so stupid that she doesn’t even know who we are.”

“I know you you are. You are low-life, self-centered, ignorant, Savvy troops. That’s what you are.” I said. They looked at me with surprise either from the fact that I spoke or that I used such creative vocabulary.

“See? This is why we need to make a good impression.”

The boy turned and picked a purple flower and handed it to me as a sign of peace and I could feel a plan forming in my mind. I took it.

“Your right.” I said, “My name is Sophia.” I lied. I held out my hand and smiled my sweetest smile. He was off balance for a second and recovered.

“O  uhh my name is uhh… umm…”

“Ryan.” one of his troops spoke up.

“Yes yes that’s it.”

He reached out and took my out-stretched hand. I grasped it hard and flipped him over me and he landed on his stomach. I knelt on both of his hands that were held behind his back, used one of my hands to grab a fistful of his hair and pull it up so his face wasn’t in the ground, and used my other hand to grab my knife and hold it against the back of his neck. I all happened so fast that the Ryan’s troops didn’t know what happened until they saw him on the ground.

“Drop your weapons or he gets it.” I said with my teeth clenched tight. The troops looked at Ryan and he nodded.

“Do it.” he said and they all dropped the guns and held their hands behind their heads.

Ryan suddenly slipped one of his hands out form under my knee, grabbed my hand holding the knife and rolled out from under me. He then twisted by arm painfully behind my back and pinned the other onto the ground. It was so clever and unexpected and something that didn’t require much strength but mostly strategy. None of the Barbarians in my tribe was smart enough to figure that out. I’m going to have to be more carful around the Savvy tribe. Ryan’s troops picked their guns again and aimed them at me again. Ryan got off my back and let me up but tied my hands behind my back.

“Your good.” He whispered in my ear. We turned and headed in a direction, probably toward his camp.

“Wait. My horse.” I said.

Ryan nodded and we headed in the forest led by me to fetch Blaze. Ryan had his own horse as well and let me ride Blaze. But he tied my hands to the saddle and tied Blaze to his own horse. Then we were on our way.

We wove our way through the trees and the trees made a sudden stop and opened to a large lake with the strange towers my dad always talked about sitting some ways from its shore. There were 6 towers in all each with 3 layers. Ryan and I hopped off our horses and one troop lead them away to a separate low building that must have been the stables. I was reluctant to let Blaze go but eventually untied my bags of of his saddle at let him go. Ryan brought me to the one closest and lead me into a small room and I instantly felt claustrophobic. It felt like the room was squeezing me and the air was way colder than the normal air temperature outside. There was a door way with no handles to open it but with instead a button on the side of it. One of the troops pressed it and in a few seconds, a dinging noise came and the doors opened to an even smaller, compacted space. I was pushed inside and everyone else seemed to pile in. The doors closed and I almost threw up when the entire room started to move upward. I clutched the rails that lined the rooms and crouched down with on hand on my stomach. Ryan made a move to comfort me but I started at him long and hard to where his face reddened and he stopped in his tracks. After what felt like a decade, the room stopped moving and the doors opened again to a completely different room.

“Witchery.” I whispered. The moving room must have teleported us to this new room.

One of the guards snickered. “No. Technology. Ever heard of such a thing?” The man scowled at me and earned a well deserved glare from Ryan.

We walked into the room and I saw a man in a chair with a glowing red bracelet around his wrist looking out of a window but acknowledged our presents by waving his hand in the air, motioning us to sit down even if there was no where to sit except this one chair. Ryan was about to sit in it until he thought better of it and told me to sit in it instead. I looked at him again and he quickly sat down while I leaned against the wall in the corner, as far away from them as possible.  After an awkward silence, the man finally turned around and faced Ryan.

“Ahh your finally back, Ryan. What took you so long. Did you find any good ground to clear and build?”

“Uhh, no sir, not really. But we did find…”

“What?!? You didn’t find ground? Then what were you doing this whole time?”

“That’s what I’m trying to tell you Mr. Steve see we found a girl…”

“A girl?” the man interrupted again.

“Yes a girl and she calls herself Sophia. This girl is supposedly a Barbarian.”

“Woman.” I said and Mr.Steve looked at me with shock and didn’t even know I was there till I spoke up. He cleared his throat.

“I’m sorry what did you say?” he asked me.

“You keep calling me a girl. I’m a woman now since one week ago.” they looked confused but didn’t dig further into the subject.

“Anyway. Umm Ryan? Why don’t you explain how you came to meet Sophia.”

So Ryan told him everything from the moment her heard the crack to lightning to the point wear we made our way back to the Savvy camp. The man listened and didn’t interrupt once. I guess my presents made him feel uncomfortable. Ryan ended his story and and Mr.Steve leaned back in the chair and thought for a moment.

“She is an obvious threat seeing that she was both wandering near our territory and she assaulted you Ryan. She must be kept in our prison until we know what to do to her.”

“What?! No! This is our chance to bring peace between the 2 clans! They already think we’er horrible! This is our chance to change their opinion on us!” Ryan disagreed. Mr.Steve thought about this and nodded.

“You just might be right. Okay fine. She will stay as our guest and you will show her the ropes. But if one person gets the slightest scratch because of her, she will be sentenced to death I guarantee it.”

Ryan nodded and grinned in my direction. Then they discussed other maters I wasn’t interested in. Finally Ryan stood up and guided me back into the moving room. It wasn’t so bad the second time but I still felt a little queasy. We walked out of the building and into another. This room had a few other people in it and when I walked in, everyone was quiet and stared at me. We walked over to a counter where a woman in her middle-ages sat in a chair behind.

“Hey, we need a guest bracelet for Sophia right here.”

“Ahh so this dunce will be a guest with us now will she?” she said wickedly.

My anger flared up and it took every ounce of self control to not kill her. But even still I shook with anger. I glared at her and she regretted she said anything. It seems like I have that effect on people. She quickly scrambled to get the bracelet and handed it to me. It clicked together and glowed yellow on my wrist. I was surprised at first but calmed my self down when Ryan put on his own that glowed blue.

“Why are they different colors?” I asked him. His eyes light up when I talked to him.

“O umm each color stands for a different rank. Like yellow means guest, green mean citizen, blue means a person of high rank, and red mean the boss.”

I nodded and didn’t say anything else. The lady then handed me a key and we left. Ryan told me that his room was the the tower all the way to the right and my room would be right next to his. We entered the tower and everyone once again stared at me.

“Finally! Your back!” a voice said. A girl my age pushed her way through the crowd of people and kissed Ryan. Ryan quickly pulled away and his face was red.

“Not now Alanna. Later.” he said with a frown. Alanna then noticed me and her jaw dropped in disgust.

“What is a Barbarian doing here?”

“She is our guest ok?”

Ryan brought me to the moving room that Ryan called an ‘elevator’ and told the troops to go to their rooms and wash up. Then Alanna push in the elevator and stood right in between Ryan and I. She clearly didn’t like me for some reason but to be honest, I didn’t like her either. In fact there wasn’t a single person here I did like besides Mr.Steve and Ryan. The elevator opened to many hallways lined with doors. Ryan took a right and stopped in front of a door labeled 316.

“This’ll be your room.”

“Her room is right next to yours!” Alanna screamed.

“Yes now I’m going to bed. Good night. And you should get some rest, Sophia.” He said to me and walked into the room next to mine. Alanna sent me an evil look and walked in after him despite to ‘leave me alone will ya!’ look on his face.Then I sat facing the challenge against the door.

I took my key and struggled to figure out how it worked but. As smart as I may be, I was still having a difficult time figuring these kind of things out. I noticed how the groves in the hole on the door resembled the dents in the key. It fit perfectly and slid in a clockwork direction. I heard a click and opened the door to a small room with strange objects in it. There was what I identified as a bed but it was pushed of the ground with legs and when I sat in it, it bent under my weight and I first thought it was going to break. On it was not animal skin but soft cotton that was smooth to the touch. Next to it was a small table with a vase on it and a fabric shad over it. There was a knob at the base of it and I turned, curious to see what tit did. I brightly light up and I laughed at the brilliance of the thing. After moving rooms and glowing bracelets, nothing surprised me. It was obvious that these people could figure out all of the uses of a basic tool. I walked around the room and learned all of the fascinating things in it. There was a door that lead to a smaller room with a 3 bowls in it. One had 2 other knobs on it when they were turned, water shot out of a bent pole that hug over the bowl. The water then would disappear down a hole at the bottom of the bowl. The second bowl was like the first but with a big tankard behind it and only one handle I pushed it down and all of the water in the bowl was drained and replaced. The third was big enough for me to lay down in and had the same bent hole that was over the first bowl but was bigger and had a large flat head with holes in it. below it were yet even more knobs. I earned myself a good cold rain of water from the head with holes in it. They all fascinated me. I did see these things at the market place but never wandered to far from our group to see what they did. I heard a knock at the door and opened it to Ryan. He grinned at me and walked right in.

“So what do you think?” He asked me

“what are those things that sit in the other room?” I asked him. He gave me a confused look and I pointed at the bowls. He laughed which kind of made me feel like an idiot.

“Thats the toilet. And sink and shower.”

He explained what the sink and shower did but then was kind of awkward when he tried to explain what the toilet did but he managed to make me understand that its where you ‘go’. Ryan then explained the lamp, cabinets, fan, and lights.

“Do you not have these things at your home?”

“No. We live with the things Mother Nature gives to us. We do not steal from her.” There was and awkward silence between us until I changed the subject much to his relief.

“So are you engaged to Alanna?” I asked.

“What? No of course not. We’er just dating. You do know that I’m only 15 right?”

“Dating?” I asked.

“You don’t know what dating is? Do your people get engaged instead?”

“Yes. In fact I’m…” I paused for a moment and for some reason didn’t feel it necessary to tell him that I’m engaged.

“I’m the friend of someone who is engaged.”

“How old is she?”

“16.”

“What! You people are engaged at that young of an age!?!”

“Yes. Now explain to me what dating is.”

“Dating is well. It’s when you see someone. I mean its when you meet up with someone you like and you know…talk.”

“I like my dad and we meet up to talk. Is that dating?”

“No, I mean. It’s hard to explain. Like when you date someone you become involved in there personal life. You would know that person so well that you would know what she is about to say before she even says it. Dating is when you like a person so much that you want to spend all of your time with her. It’s when you know what that person it is thinking or feeling when there’re trying their hardest to hind it. Dating can also mean that you love someone.”

“That’s absurd. How can someone know what another is going to say without them saying it?”

“I don’t know thats the funny thing about love.”

I was familiar with that term. Love. Such a small word that holds so much meaning. I loved only a few people in my life. My dad is one of them and so is Marcus, an elder in the tribe that taught me how to speak, built things, and fight. I also loved this one boy. His name was Blake. I was 10 in age and he was my only friend in the tribe. I had secretly hoped we would be engaged but it was already settled that I would be Drakes. But still I loved Blake and on day on an autumns day, he kissed me. I could remember it like it was yesterday. There leaves in his hair, dirt on his face, and I most likely looked the same. It was unexpected but I savored every second of it. Afterward we were inseparable. But one day, he left to go hunt with other boys in the camp. They came back without him. They were all trembling and told how a pack of wolves were surrounding them. It was Blake who sacrificed himself to save the the others. I felt like I was going to die that day but eventually recovered and went back to my usual routine and did everything I could to not think about Blake.

“So you love Alanna?” I asked.

“Well no.” He said awkwardly

“Then why are you dating her?”

“It’s complicated. I like her but I’m not to the point that I love her.”

“Well she seems to love you. And she doesn’t seem to like me at all.”

“She’s like that. Give her some time. She’ll come around.”

Another knock came from the door and I opened it. Alanna stood in the doorway with a raging temper. She stomped right up to Ryan and stuck her nose in his face.

“What are you doing in Sophia’s room, Ryan!!!” she screamed at him.

“I’m helping her settle in and answer any questions she has. I’m supposed to show her around. Remember?”

“She is fine. Now go back to your room! It isn’t right for me to find you hanging out with another girl when you already have a girlfriend!”

“Alanna, we already went through this. I’m going to have other friends and some are going to be girls. your going to have to face that fact. Now I’m going to my room and you are to okay?” he said

They had caused so much ruckus that people from other rooms poked their sleepy heads out to see what was going on. Once they saw that it was just Ryan and Alanna fighting, they closed their doors and went back to bed.

“Fine.” Alanna finally said after a long hard stare from Ryan. “For you.” she added and kissed him. He sort of had to pull her away from him to get her out of the door. He shut it and sighed.

“Sorry about that.” He said. I shrugged.

“What’s a girlfriend.” I asked. Ryan laughed and started to explain.

When I woke the next day, the sun had already risen and Ryan was banging on the door.

“Come on! Wake up! Rise and shine! Today’s a new day!”

I got out of bed and stomped over to the door and opened it. Ryan stood there with his hand risen in the air as he was about to knock again. I shoved my nose in his face and his eyes widened with the shock of me being so close.

“Shut up.” I simply said.

“Your beautiful.” He breathed in a very low voice. I shook my head and wondered if I had heard right.

“What?” I asked.

“Nothing. Just thinking aloud. Come on or we’ll be late for breakfast.” He quickly said.

I dressed in cloths that Ryan gave me: a loose cotton shirt and jeans. They fit perfectly though the jeans were a bit tight and I wasn’t used to wearing these kind of things. Ryan looked at me grinned wildly at me.

“You look hot. Now lets go.”

He said it playfully but I knew from that moment on that he liked me. I didn’t care but it made me uncomfortable. We took the elevator down stairs and entered the room on the first floor. In the corner of the room was another door. Through it was a room full of tables and chairs with people already sitting with bowls of food in front of them. I entered the room and silence spread throughout the entire room. We walked our way through and I felt the stares of the groups of people. One shouted insults at me so I feigned attack and he recoiled in fright. I didn’t do it to be funny rather as a warning but laughter bursted from some people lips. Even Ryan was laughing a little. After everyone was done laughing, they continued to chat amongst themselves and ignored me as if humor was my ticket into acceptance. We walked to a counter that had food spread out on top of it. Ryan grabbed a plate and began to pile on food. I mimicked him and got the exact same thing. He noticed but didn’t say anything. There was an empty table at the far side of the room and I made a bee line to it abandoning Ryan in the process. I sat down and when Ryan caught up, he sat right next to me. It was a little to close for comfort so I scooted over a little and began to eat. As soon as I took a bite, I spit it back out.

“What is this??” I asked.

“Oatmeal.” he said.

“Why would you eat this stuff?” I said in disgust.

There were other foods on my plate that I didn’t recognize but I saw fruit and some eggs so I stuck to eating that. I heard the door open and looked back to see Alanna enter.

“Crap.” Ryan muttered and he quickly stood to sit at the opposite side of the table before Alanna could see him sitting next to me. He clearly didn’t want to make a scene.

“I’m beginning to think your right about her hating you, Sophia.”

“Claire. My real name is Claire.”

I saw no harm in telling them my real name now that I’m and honored guest. I would be leaving soon anyway. Even though we weren’t even sitting close to each other, just being at the same table made Alanna mad. She piled food on her plate without even looking at what she got then rushed over to the table and practically sat on Ryan’s lap. Ryan cleared his throat and sort of slid farther away from Alanna but it seemed as if every time he did, she would only scoot closer.

“Well today I was supposed to show you around but I’ll be out in the woods today so I’ll have John show you around. Is that alright with you?” Ryan said to me.

“Yeah I guess. But do I really have to say here? Can’t I go out in the woods for a little while?”

“With me?” He asked his eyes widening a little. Alanna sneered.

“No. By myself. I want to be out alone for a while.” Ryan’s face fell.

“No you can’t. Mr.Steve would be mad if you ran off and din’t come back. Look, theres John now.”

Ryan waved over to a boy with curled dirty-blond hair like mine and a lot of freckles on his face. When he grinned, dimples showed up on his cheeks.

“What up?” John said as he sat down next to me. “So this is the mighty Barbarian?”

“Yes it is.” I answered and for some reason liked this boy. (Not in that way)

“Ok. So aren’t Barbarians like tough and all and can like kill people with all limbs tied behind their backs?”

“Depends on the situation but yes I guess we could.”

“Awesome. Okay so lets say that your sitting in a chair and some homicidal maniac tries to kill you with a hammer from behind, what do you do?”

“Well homicidal manics are very loud so it would be easy to hear then coming from behind you. Your first priority is to protect your head. For you Savvy people, its your most important feature. Duck to the right and roll over on the ground and stay low. I would recommend you find something that won’t require much body strength like a a small knife or even a stick would do just fine. Since the maniac is probably set on killing you than he would be slow and clumsy. He will blow two strikes at you and will be set off balance. Get behind him and a good blow to the back of his head should do the trick. Maniacs’ brains are already screwed up.”

“O my god. That is so smart. I would expect Barbarians to say, ‘I would whack them on the head‘ and be done with the conversation. You actually have a good strategy. In fact its better than the strategy I came up with. Duck, run, and leave it to the authorities.”

“I know right? Maybe Barbarians are not only strong but smart too.” Ryan commented. But I shook my head.

“No. There’re all pretty stupid.” I admitted. “I’m the only one I think.”

“How come?” John asked. I didn’t really want to tell them the story of my parents. Especially since Alanna was still there.

“I have no idea.” I answered instead. John shrugged.

“Good enough of an answer for me.”

John continued to ask what I would do in situations and continued to answer them but stopped putting much thought into them after the 5th (or was it 6th?) question. We picked up our food and threw them away in the trash cans. Ryan and John were chatting when they walked out of the room. I was about to walk out after them but Alanna grabbed my hand and held me back.

“You better stay away from Ryan. Stop your flirting and leave already will you?” She said it so wickedly that it almost came out as a hiss.

“Such pretty eyes you have.” I couldn’t help myself. “I would hate to see them blackened.” With that I walked away and out of the room where she stood with a white face.

John showed me around once Ryan left into the woods. He showed me where the school was but it was summer vacation so all of the class rooms were empty. Barbarians didn’t have school. We thought that knowing how to fight with multiple weapons were more important so that was our school. John also showed me the exercising room, (though no one was there) the game room, and finally the lake. Some were out there fishing with fishing lines and laughing merrily at each other. Others were cheering their friends on when they got a bite. John grabbed a fishing pole of his own and tossed another to me. He expertly casted the string out and I tried to mimic him but forgot to press the button that was under the reel. The hook would have clipped John in the face if he hadn’t ducked in time. He laughed sheepishly and put both of our poles down.

“Maybe we could do this some other time.” He said and we walked back in the game room.

We walked past a gaming area and Alanna was there with a few friends laughing but right when she saw me her smile disappeared and a scowl replaced her use-to-be cheerful look.

“Whoa. You must be treading on her territory.” John commented.

“What are you talking about?” I asked

“O like you don’t know. She’s been complaining about it non-stop how you’ve been trying to get in between her and Ryan.” I stopped dead in my tracks and faced John.

“What?”

“Yeah. Last night she came down and told everyone how you have it out for her and how you were begging for him to stay and talk to you last night. Then this morning she talked about how you wanted to go with Ryan in the woods.”

My jaw dropped. It was the complete opposite. I didn’t want to go in the forests with Ryan. (no offense intended) Is she just making this stuff up or is this how she’s seeing it?

“Whoa whoa whoa. You got it all wrong. Ryan came to me last night only to see if I was settling in. I wanted to go in the forest alone, not with him.”

“I knew it! Alanna is always making stuff up like that. She is like terrified that someone will take her precious Ryan away. So are you saying that you have no feelings to Ryan?” he quickly changed the subject.

“No not really.”

“O well in that case I was wondering if you wanted to go out some time.” he asked with complete confidence.

“Wait like as a date?” I asked feeling a little uncomfortable.

“yea, as a date.”

“O uhh. No.” I said. I have never been in that kind of situation so I knew of no other way of rejecting him. I didn’t really want to hurt his feelings or anything. I wan’t that mean. I half expected him to get mad but he just shrugged his shoulders.

“Alright then suit yourself.”

‘Your not mad?”

“No. I didn’t expect it work anyway. I mean your not even going to be staying now are you?”

“Well yea I guess. I have other places to go. People to see.” (no I don’t)

Then we just walked in silence but small talk started up again as if nothing had happened. When John and I were walking down the hallway I managed to slip through a back door abandoning John. I found the stables and couldn’t wait to see Blaze. The door opened without a sound and I saw many horses all dull colors which made Blaze stand out even more. There was no one there except a girl only 7 years old at the most. She had fiery red hair and a soft, still baby-ish face. Her hand was out-stretched to my horse and he liked it affectionally. I walked up to them and she noticed me and fell backwards on her back with her hand in front of her face as she expected me to strike her.

“I’m sorry, miss! I didn’t know she was your horse! I won’t do it again I promise!” she was nearly in tears and I held my hand to her but that only made her scamper further away.

“No no. It’s okay. I’m not going to hurt you. I was just coming to see my horse. You can still pet him if you want.” I tried to comfort her and she brought her hand down a little.

“Really?”

“Yeah of course. I may be a Barbarian but that doesn’t mean I kill for no reason.”

“Really? But mama said that Barbarians and violent people who enslave children who do bad things.”

“No we don’t enslave children. And you didn’t do anything wrong.”

“I gave her an apple.” It finally made sense. That’s why Blaze like her so much. She was giving her apples. I smiled at her.

“She likes then doesn’t she?”

“O yea! A lot. She tickles my lad when ever she eats them.” She was smiling again.

“What’s your name?”

“Lucy.”

“Well Lucy would you like to take a ride?”

“On her?” she pointed at Blaze and I nodded.

“I would but I’m not sure if mama would approve it.”

“Were only going around the lake. And I promise I won’t abduct you.”

She looked unsure but gave me a slight nod so I saddled Blaze up and help her get on. I swung on after her and she had a smile full of delight. I walked Blaze out of the stables and we trotted out to the edge of the lake. People who were fishing noticed us and saw me with Lucy. They must have believed that I was taking her hostage and running because people ran in and out of the towers franticly pointing at us. I noticed John ran out and quickly got on his own horse and galloped up to us.

“What are you doing!!” He yelled at us.

“Taking a ride. Is that a problem?”

“Everyone thinks your stealing Lucy!! You have to come back now and explain everything.”

“are we in trouble?” Lucy asked me.

“No your not. But I am. Why can’t you just ride with us and they’ll know that nothing is wrong. I’m taking her for a ride. That’s it.” John looked at me for a second.

“Fine.”

He waved back to the crowd of people and then them the okay sign. Everyone dispersed and went back to their original occupations. We rode around the lake a few times and Lucy and I chatted while John laid back to give us some space. We finally went back into the stables and Lucy helped my rub down Blaze.

“Are you going to Karaoke Night?” she asked me at one point.

“To what?” I asked.

“Karaoke. Its were people get up and sing and have a good time. It only happens once a month. You should go.” John explained. I shrugged.

“I guess. There’s nothing else I’m allowed to do anyways.”

“That’s the spirit.” He said. Lucy ran off and John and I went our separate ways. I went up to my room and was about to open it when I figured out it was locked. And I had left my key in the room. I banged my hand on the door. and slid down to the ground and waited for Ryan to get back and help me. I must’ve nodded of at some point. I can’t believe I’ve been reduced to sleeping in hallways.

“Claire? Claire!” a familiar voice called out to me.

I woke up and saw Ryan kneeling next  to me with both hands on my shoulders and his face a little to close to mine. I yawned and stretched out my arms to give a reason for Ryan to back up. Then he grabbed my arm and pulled my up to my feet. Once again his face was only inches from mine. He was smart I had to give him that. I backed away and pointed at the door.

“I left the key in the room and the door is locked.” I explained.

“Well you don’t need to go in there now right? Karaoke is about to start. Look I have some clothes you could wear.”

I wanted to question why he has girl’s clothes but the thought completely slipped my mind when he brought out a dress. I wasn’t ugly, in fact it was the complete opposite. It was a beautiful blue dress that had layers of thin cotton strips as the skirt of the dress. The top half had simple straps and I amazingly had a need to put it on and show it off. That’s never happened!!! He gave it to me and I ran into Ryan’s bathroom (smelled strongly of deodorant) and dressed into it. I looked at myself for a pure 5 minutes shocked by the transformation I had went through. O. My. God. I don’t even know myself. I finally walked out of the room to Ryan who was sitting on the edged of the bed already dressed in a casual cloths; shirt, pants, and jacket. It all came together to look like a more fashionable version of their school uniform. (John showed me it during the tour) He’s jaw dropped and he stared at me for the same amount of time I did. Yes we were both amazed.

“Wow Claire. You look… incredible. Total understatement. You look hot and stuff.” He rambled on over his words and he fell silent. He took and step close to me and touched my arm, his face incredibly close to mine with his lips almost touching my ear.

“Ryan,” I whispered staring at the ground.

“Yea?” I looked at him in the eyes with difficulty.

“It won’t work.” I said and walked out of his room. I turned back around to look at him through the door way.

“I’m sorry.” I said and quickly left down the hall.

Quick and painless. Thats how I wanted it to be and to stay. I thought everything would be fine but my chest started to constrict and my breaths were quicker and sharp. I had to lean against the wall to support my own weight. I didn’t really understand. I thought I had no feelings for Ryan. But the problem was, when I had heard what had happened to Blake, I had felt horrible. Like I killed half of myself. I had lost a loved one and this was only to be expected but right now I felt the same way I did back then. So does this mean I like Ryan?

I managed to stand up after banging my head against the wall a few times and found my way to the auditorium. There were already people outside of the door hanging out and chatting. A few stopped and stared at what I was wearing and I began to wish I didn’t have it on. I walked in and saw Lucy sitting on a woman’s lap who was obviously her mother. She had the same red hair and same small pointed nose that crinkled a little when she laughed. Lucy saw me and waved over to me. Her mom didn’t look happy about it seeing that I was a Barbarian and I almost took her kid, but Lucy must have convinced her to let me have a chance and said nothing when I sat next the Lucy in a booth.

“You look pretty.” Lucy said and I laughed at her feeling a little better from the Ryan scene.

“Thanks but I wish I wouldn’t cause so much commotion.”

“So your the girl Lucy talked so much about.” Her mother budded in at least trying to be nice.

“Yes I guess I am.”

“And you are a Barbarian?”

“Mom!” Lucy cried giving her ‘the look’.

“No it’s fine. I am a Barbarian but I don’t break bones for no good reason. I see nothing wrong with your daughter. In fact, she is a bright girl and I am glad I met her.”

“We’ll see.” She said still unsure about me.

More people piled into the room and found empty seats next to their friends and started laughing. Some wrote their names down in a book along with a song they want to sing whenever their turn was up. I noticed Ryan when he walked in and felt sick to my stomach. He had a sullen expression and was completely out of it. He trudged over to one of two seats that were connected together by a small table. Alanna was trailing him sending evil glares at any girl who laid eyes on him and sat in the second seat. She jabbered on not even mindful that he wasn’t listening to her. The lights went dim and a spot light shined on a single girl on stage. People came up, sang, and sat down while their friends told them how great they were even if they didn’t do well at all. Then Alanna was up and singing and she was good. No not good, great. She sang a song a quick up beat song about she and a guy being perfect for each other. Near the end of the song she walked off the stage with the stick that made their voices project all through out the room. (Don’t know what it was) She sat on Ryan’s lap and right when the song ended she kissed him causing laughing and whistling throughout the crowd. A twang of jealously rang through me and I had to grind my teeth and clutch the seat to stop myself from stomping over there and slapping that sassy grin off of Alanna’s face.

“Claire? What’s wrong?” Lucy asked me. I cleared my face quickly and smiled at her.

“Nothing. Just dazing off.” I lied.

She looked unsure but didn’t say anything. I looked at Ryan one more time before turning away to talk to John in the neighboring booth. Then there was a loud rustling noise and I turned to see Alanna once again on the stage.

“Hello? Hellooo. Is this thing on? O ok. Um well I would just like to invite our guest Sophia to the stage. I think that someone of her  should come and take the stage!!”

Everyone cheered and I stood up to make my way to the door. I am not going up there. But people stood up to stop me. They pushed me to the stage and my first instinct was to fight back.

“no no. Remember. You are in no position to fight now are you?”

I glared at her and was forced to step on stage. She handed me the stick thing and motioned for an upbeat song to play, something I wouldn’t be able to sing. The light was so bright that I couldn’t see anything in the crowd except for a t.v. that said the lyrics. A beat began and I could see everyone clapping to the rhythm but right when it was my turn to sing, I froze. Everyone realized how I wouldn’t sing and started to yell at me to sing. I saw a movement to my right and saw Alanna smiling sweetly only as a cover up to hid her smug look that clearly showed in her eyes. It made me mad and I started to sing the lyrics on the t.v. Some looked surprised and listened while the song picked up and became faster and faster. I couldn’t tell if I was singing well or not, I was just to busy reading and singing them. Alanna’s smiled left and she was frowning till I saw her leave the room. It made me smile so much that I almost didn’t notice the song had ended right when I was about to sing the chorus again. The feeling of horror of being on stage returned and I ran of and out of the room. I didn’t stop till I was safe back in front of my room. But it was still locked. I banged my head against the door in sort of a rhythm until it really started to hurt and finally sat down in the hallway once agin when I heard the ding of the elevator. I looked up and expected to see Ryan walk down the hallway but instead it was Lucy.

“What are you doing on the floor?” She asked when she saw me.

“Nothing. Just admiring its lovely shine.” I joked. “I left my key in the room and the door is locked.”

“So? The key is just in case of emergencies. All you need to do is this.”

She reached down and grabbed my bracelet. It fit perfectly in the circle around the key hole and glowed brightly for a second. Then you could hear the usual click and I opened its door taking the bracelet back and putting it on my wrist. Then it dawned me that Ryan could have showed me that easy. He just wanted an excuse for me to enter his room and wear the dress.

“Thanks Lucy.”

“Your welcome. And by the way, why didn’t you run out of the auditorium?”

“Well I didn’t want to be around people any more. I wanted to be by my self for a while. Some people just can’t take being around me and sometimes I feel like I cant be around them.”  I said and something in the sentence made her frown.

“So you didn’t want me around? I’m bugging you?”

“No, no. That’s not what I meant. I just don’t want to be around a lot of people.”

“No. I’m bugging you and you don’t want me around! You think I’m annoying like everyone else thinks and want me to leave you alone!”

She turned with watered eyes and ran down the hallway. I thought of chasing after her but knew it was no use. I collapsed in my bed and scowled at myself for being so inconsiderate. Then a thought struck me. I really am a Barbarian. I cause pain to everyone around me. My only purpose is to hurt.

In the morning I got up, ate breakfast by myself, and stayed in my room for the rest of the long day only leaving it to visit Blaze. No one came to talk to me except John every once and a while but I think he understand that I wanted to be alone for a while so usually kept his distance. This went on for a few days until a knock came from the door. With out me even telling him it was unlocked Ryan barged in and slammed the door shut behind him.

“What is your problem?” He yelled at me.

“What are you talking about?” not really yelling, just glad that he was talking to me even if it did come in the form of yelling.

“You know what I’m talking about! You turn me down and your the one who acts like their insides are turned out!”

“So you missed me?” I asked changing the subject. He sighed and ran his hand through his hair causing it to stand up.

“Yes ok? I missed you. Why can’t you tell that I like you?”

“Why can’t you tell that I like you?”

“Because you never… Whoa what?” He yelled as he just understood what I said.

“Yes I know you like me and yes, I like you but I’m telling you for the sake of both of us. It won’t work.” It was a lot harder saying it again and I don’t think I could have done it a 3rd time.

“Why? Why can’t it work between us.”

“Well for starters you should know that I won’t be staying forever. I will leave eventually.”

“But you don’t have to. You can stay here as a permanent citizen. You don’t have to go.”

“No, Ryan, I can’t. Every day I stay hear I become more and more restless. I can’t stay here. In fact, I’ll probably be gone in less than 2 days.”

“But you still can’t leave!!”

“Yes I can.”

“No you can’t! Mr. Steve won’t let you.”

“I don’t care what Mr. Steve thinks. He can’t stop me ok? End of discussion.”

I nodded my head in the direction of the door and he knew it was useless to argue with me. He left in silence and I realized what I had just done. Guess I’m leaving.

Of all the people I could’ve ran into on my way out, it had to be Mr. Steve. I had slept the night, packed my things on the morning after breakfast, and was about to head off on Blaze. But no of course not. Things just don’t work that way. With about 3 bags full of personal belongings and another 3 bags of food and water I swiped from the kitchen (sorry kitchen) I had headed out to the barn and ran right into Mr. Steve.

“Sophia?”

“Claire.” I mumbled but he didn’t hear.

“What are you doing with all of your bags?”

“It’s been a nice stay but I really have to get going now.”

“Now you can’t do that. I really think you should reconsider.”

“No I really have to leave. So many things to do and so little time.” He gave me a disapproving look.

“We can’t let you do that. You know to much. I’m afraid we’ll have to hold you as our prisoner instead now that you want to leave.” He twisted his glowing red bracelet and spoke into it.

“I’m gonna need some guards out here in fount of building 3, behind the stables.”

“Understood.” The bracelet said back.

In only a few seconds troops ran out from everywhere and surrounded me. I saw Ryan walk out with them but no in the ridiculous jumpsuits the others wore. What did you do? he mouthed to me. I shrugged my shoulders.

“Ryan, she is yours to take to the dungeons.” Mr.Steve said but Ryan didn’t move.

“No.” He said and Mr. Steve looked at him with surprise.

“What?”

“No. I won’t do it.” Mr. Steve narrowed his eyes.

“Troops. Take Ryan to the dungeon as well.”

Right at that point, the troops’ focus was on someone else and I took the chance to back-kick the man behind me right in the jaw. He drooped like a stone and I wrapped my legs around the neck of the man next to him when I spun high in the air. He was twisted in the air and landed hard on his back as I did but hurt me way less than it hurt him. A man suddenly was charging at me from behind and I pulled my legs still wrapped around the unconscious man up and catapulted him through the air and into the running man. It took away most of my strength but I wouldn’t need it. All of the other men had ran as soon as they saw what I did the first 3 men. I stood and whistled. A loud banging noise came from the stables and Blaze came charging out. I grabbed my bags but right when I was about to pull myself onto the saddle I had put on him earlier, I heard the click of a gun behind me. Mr. Steve had pointed a small revolver at my back. I had seen them at markets and what they could do and trust when I say it’s not pretty.

“I should have never let you stay with us. I should’ve known you were just a spy from the beginning. I should’ve shoot you right when you stepped foot on our territory. But it’s ok. Because now I can make it up by killing you right now.”

He aimed it at my heart and put a little bit of pressure on the trigger right when Ryan slammed into him from the side causing him to shoot in the air. I threw myself on Blaze and he knew to run. I looked back to see Ryan and Mr. Steve fighting over the gun until they disappeared in the thick of the trees never to be seen again.

I pushed thoughts of Lucy, John, and Ryan out of my head by staying as busy as possible. Whenever I was riding, I scanned the terrain so closely that my eyes hurt. Right when I hopped off of Blaze, I instantly set up camp with a fire and cooked myself food that I had killed along the way or food from the Savvy camp. But I tried not to think much about it. The trees began to thin out and the ground grew dry and sandy until I was positive that I was entering the desert which meant I was head south west. I made many rookie mistakes while in the wilderness and mentally slapped myself for becoming so domesticated at the Savvy camp with all of its luxuries like hot water, food cooked for you, and no duties at all. It made me soft and didn’t help me at all when it came down to what really matters. Like survival. I wandered in the dry desert slowly dehydrating but alive. I thought of turning back around but it was just a passing thought. I don’t know what kept me going but I felt determined to head deeper into the desert. Most of my water went to Blaze because I knew that if he was down than I would surly be dead and there was no turning back now. The days seemed to be longer and hotter and the nights shorter and colder. I ended up leaning against Blaze’s warm body for warmth during the nights. It’s been 5 days out in the desert and there were no sights of water and my water skins ran out so I was reduced down to drinking some of the cactus water where ever I find it but gave the majority of it to Blaze. Finally I dropped down on the ground and sat there for who knows how long. I was going in and out of consciousness and one time I actually thought I saw Ryan running toward me. The hallucinations began kicking in and I saw Ryan with water, splashing it on my face. I could see him tying his horse to mine and setting up a camp here and there franticly trying to stay alive. He would push me up on my horse and lead us in some direction and once tried to call my name. I thought of it all as just a dream or figments of my imagination but one day my eyes just snapped open and everything was clear. I felt a little thirsty but nothing to bad. My horse was standing out like a sore thumb in the middle of a dry, tan background…alive. There was a burning fire made of wood from who knows where. I looked around but no one was in sight and I knew that Ryan couldn’t possibly have followed me out here. Yet I still had a small hope in my heart that maybe he was the one who had rescued me. The sun was just setting and the air was getting chilly when a loud thudding sound came from behind me. There in the the distance I could just make out a man riding on his horse at full speed straight toward us. I looked up and smiled wildly thinking that it was Ryan but I told me self that I could be anyone so I hopped on Blaze and rode out to meet him. As I got closer I realized that he was wearing a towel wrapped around his head to cover his skin from the sun and I couldn’t see if it was Ryan or not. Finally we both stopped and stared at each other once we were so close that our horses were standing side by side.

“What do you want.” I asked after a moment.

“I wa tu coe fwif fu.” His voice was muffle by the wrap and he ripped it off to revel his very familiar face.

“I want to come with you.” He repeated. I looked at him and bubbled with the joy of him being here but it was quickly extinguished by the fact that he is leaving his whole future behind him.

“You can’t come.” I said with difficulty. I seem to be turning him down a lot.

“Yes I can and I am. It is my choice not yours. Your stuck with me whether you like it or not.”

“You are leaving behind your life, Ryan! I can’t let you do that.”

“Claire, don’t you understand that you are my life? Right when you left I felt like I’v been run over by a stampeding heard of cattle. Besides, I was supposed to be sent to the dungeons anyway remember?”

“Yeah but what about Alanna?”

“I’m sure she will figure out it’s over.”

“But-”

“No more excuses, Claire, you’r stuck with me. Deal with it.”

I hate admitting he was right so I turned Blaze around and galloped back towards camp and heard Ryan struggling to keep up with Blaze’s speed. I feed Blaze water when we got to camp and prodded at the fire a little. It started to get really cold and Ryan reeled out of his bag 2 thick blankets and food and water.

“Where did the wood come form?”

“I brought some from the forest but this is the last of it. I’m out.”

“How long was it since you found me? And how did you find me?”

“I found you 3 days ago and you left chopped up cacti behind. Now what are oyu doing in the desert anyway.”

“I don’t know.”

“You don’t know? You come out here and almost die of dehydration and you say you don’t know why you did it? Were you trying to die?!?”

“No. I just felt like I should be heading out here. I felt the same way when I was heading toward your tribe.”

“What were you doing out in the woods anyway?”

I told him my story from the point when I was feeling sick to my stomach whenever I was in the Barbarian camp. He didn’t interrupt besides small questions like who is this and where I was. He understood every thing except when I told him about the bird in the cage.

“What bird?”

“There was a bird in a cage in the clearing where we meet and I set it free right before one of your men walked out. Didn’t you see the empty cage?”

“No I didn’t. And when I think about it, there wasn’t one there at all. Once when I was out scouting, I went back to the clearing and looked around closely. There was no cage.”

“But I know that it was there.”

“Maybe it fell out of the tree and broke into branches so it looked like everything else lying on the ground.”

“Or someone came back to take it down.”

“No that’s impossible. I was there in the clearing only hours before you showed up. There was no cage or bird. Unless…”

“Unless someone knew I was coming. And right when I left, they took it down.” We stared at each other with worried looks.

“Come on. We should get some sleep.” I said. We huddled against our horses and I slept.