Elin

That night, Noah woke up to a dull throb in his chest, like something was pulling at his insides. He looked around, Alexis curled up catlike, Markus with his back against a tree. Cain...

Cain was gone.

He forced down the panic that rose within him. Instead, he got up, slowly, so as to not disturb them, and wandered around.

He learned to trust the link he had with Cain, having proved its accuracy before.

Sure enough, he found him, weaving between trees like he was searching for something.

"Cain," he called out. "Are you leaving?"

He turned towards him, eyes cold. 'You shouldn't be here.'

"Hey, we're supposed to do this together okay? Whatever it is, we can help." His eyes pleaded with him softly.

'Just turn back, Noah.'

"No."

He crossed his arms. "You're going to stop me?" He challenged.

"Maybe I will." Noah summoned the whip a little too close to himself, the tip biting into his thigh.

"Owww!" He groaned. "No, wait." He swung it. This time, the tip landed a few feet away from Cain.

'Yeah, I'm shaking.' He turned to leave.

"Don't go! Please!" Noah called the whip back, taking a step forward at the same time. It hit him across the face, knocking him out.

Cain smacked his forehead.

'Idiot.' He walked over to him, picking him up off the ground and headed back.

"Where were you?" Markus asked as they re-entered camp. He looked at the unconscious boy in his arms.

Cain passed him off to Markus, signing what had happened.

'He hit himself in the face and passed out.'

Markus wasn't pleased with the answer but he knew not to prod. "Just get some sleep. It's my turn now."

Cain nodded, not making eye contact. He curled up under his blanket.

'What just happened?'

***

Noah woke up screaming Cain's name, jarring the warlock who choked on his bread.

"Oh, hi."

He looked around, Markus and Alexis were not to be seen.

'They're out gathering or something... I wasn't listening.'

He stared at his hands, hoping to avoid conversation.

"What happened last night?" Noah missed the cue, making him sigh.

'Forget it.'

"Cain," he tapped his knee, making him look at him. "You can tell me."

He wrung his hands, turning away.

'I thought if I was alone, Elin would-' He broke off, nodding.

'What if Damien was right and Elin thinks I'm a traitor?' He tried to shrug it off, failing, considering his audience was Noah 'soft boy' Weylyn.

"No," he asserted. "No way. You chose Elin for a reason so now you have to trust them." He had no idea where the words were coming from but he wasn't just gonna keep quiet.

"Do you need a hug?"

'Please don't.'

"Sorry." He smiled, delighted to see the warlock's face lighten.

"We're back, nerds!" Alexis announced, followed by a skittish Markus.

"Lot of spiders in the forest, huh?" He commented, barely containing his panic.

Cain nodded like it was an afterthought.

"Cool, yeah." He muttered. Alexis tickled the back of his neck, making him freak out. "Hey!"

While she laughed, Noah felt like someone was watching them. He glanced at Cain, whose left eye had changed colour.

Before anyone could react, they felt the ground give way, disappearing like the time they entered the sanctuary.

This time, they were unprepared, crash landing in an undignified heap.

"Everyone okay?" Markus quickly gathered himself, counting heads.

Six.

The sanctuary was nearly identical to the last, stone walls and floors lit by torchlight.

Standing across the room was a middle-aged man and a younger brunet.

The latter smiled shakily. "Ryuu.." they whispered.

Cain let out a breathy laugh, relief mixed with joy.

'Elin.'