The group had managed to find the stream again early the next morning and continued to follow it. No one spoke about the events that happened in the last night. Ray did his best to cheer the group up with talks about how they'd soon make their way to the next town, and how soon it would all be over and they could all go home. His little speeches didn't seem to help much, and the dragon finally gave up as the group walked on in silence.

They stopped during the afternoon for another meal of fish. No words were exchanged then either. Once or twice Jason glanced over at Lucy, but she never looked back. The windian avoided most anything that had to do with Jason. She was still mourning over the loss of her brother. Whether or not she still blamed Jason, no one could really say. Doing their best to keep to the deceased windian's schedule, the group left lunch quickly and continued down the stream. The water had been gradually growing shallower and smaller as the group followed it, and by now its size had shrunk enough to where one could trudge through it about knee deep or less. We're getting closer to the end of it, Ray thought, and he prayed to Landon that what was at the end of it would be what the group was looking for. A town, just let there be a town out here. I'm not sure how much more of this we can take.

The day wore on and still no sign of civilization. The group stopped again later in the evening for another break from walking and more food from the creek. It was starting to look like another night would be spent out in the woods.

"Tomorrow we'll find a town," Ray kept reassuring the group as they settled down for their camp. "Mr. Faston said it was only three to four days to the next town..."

"Mr. Faston was also a zombie." Jason muttered. Janet bit back a comment about Menolly.

He's had enough, she thought to herself as she gazed at Jason. She couldn't help but start to feel bad for the windian. It must be hard enough for him right now anyway, what with Lucy blaming him for Brandon's death and all...

Ray watched as Jason started up the campfire for the night. "We'll find something." The dragon's words were reassurance to no one. "There's got to be a town out here somewhere."

"We'll see tomorrow." Jason shrugged as he stared into the fire. "I'll stay up tonight... make sure this thing doesn't go out."

Well, at least there's no fucking birds. The silence of the forest around him wasn't much of a comfort as Jason stared into the flames, listening to the random popping and crackling of the fire. Next time I hear anything whistle or chitter like that, I swear I'll kill somebody. The windian sighed to himself and glanced over to where Lucy was sleeping beside Ray. The words she had spoken to him last night were still fresh in his memory. I'm sorry Lucy... He would have told her that out loud if he had thought it would help, but he knew it was futile. Lucy didn't blame Jason for her brother's death, that's what Ray had said. Lucy was only upset about it when she yelled at Jason. But it's not for Lucy's sake that I'd beg for her forgiveness... Jason wasn't sure whether or not she really blamed him. All he knew was that he blamed himself. I could have helped him... I could have stayed, sent him off instead. I could have done something... but he hadn't. He had run. It seemed like that was all he was good for, running. Jason was about to slip into another fit of self-blame and pity when a noise from the woods caught his attention. Straining his ears to hear, the windian held his breath as he waited for the sound to repeat.

"...Jason..."

"Oh my fucking god..." Jason's eyes went wide as he recognized Brandon's voice.

"Jason..." The voice called out again, sounding a bit closer.

"Brandon?" Jason stood up suddenly and looked around. Oh my god, is he still alive?

"Jason? Where are you?"

"Brandon..." The windian repeated the name again quietly to himself. If he is out there... he's probably in a world of trouble. He thought back to the blood in the clearing. I can't believe he survived that... SHIT! I've got to find the guy! Jason took one glance at his sleeping traveling companions. "Sorry guys, I've gotta run, but I'll be back shortly." Grabbing his crossbow from where it rested on the ground, Jason raced off into the night in search for Brandon.

"Brandon?" Jason had his hands cupped around his mouth as he called out. "Where are you?"

"Jason!" The cry came from somewhere to the right of him. "I'm over here!"

"Just stay there! I'll come get you!" Jason took off in the direction of the voice, following it as he heard it calling out his name.

"Jason? Jason! I'm over here!"

"I'm coming! Just wait!" You're insane, Burnhart. My god, how can this fucking guy be alive right now? I've got to find him. He continued to race through the woods for what felt like minutes.

"Jason?"

That's funny... I've been running for a while now and still it sounds like he's far away. "Brandon? Stay were you are, okay?"

"Jason? I'm over here!"

Jason could hear the voice calling out from somewhere in front of him. "Keep calling my name! I'll follow your voice!" He shouted into the darkness as he ran. The voice obligated, calling out to him as Jason ran towards it. Fuck... I'm still not getting any closer. "Brandon? Where are you? Brando- SHIT!" Jason's foot came down in mid-run and contacted with nothing but air. Before he was even sure what was happening, the windian tumbled over the small bluff and fell into the darkness below him. He landed hard on a pebbly surface, groaning as he chin smacked a large rock, causing his teeth to snap together suddenly. "Shit..." The windian moaned as he pushed himself up and rubbed his bruised jaw. He looked around with a sigh. "Now where the fuck am I..."

Brandon's voice had vanished. "Great, Burnhart." Jason muttered to himself out loud. "It was another fucking demon. Now you're out here, in the middle of the woods at night, you have no fucking idea where you are, and you just followed some fucking demon's voice straight off a cliff. What else is going to happen?" He stood up and brushed himself off. "But on the plus side, there's no fucking birds."

Another sound did catch his attention however. It was the sound of running water. Jason cast a Continual Light spell and examined his surroundings in the dull glow of the flame. Well, on the plus side, I'm at the stream. The windian walked over to the running water and examined it. It was shallower then the stream had been when they followed it earlier in the day, but he could tell it was the same creek. I'll just follow this back, he thought to himself. We camped near the creek, I'll follow it and it'll take me back to camp. Jason started walking back along the stream, glancing around at the dark woods that towered over him. There were no birds, but once again he found himself with the unmistakable sense that he was being watched. This is fucked up, Burnhart. You can't even tell if you're paranoid or not anymore. Jason did his best to shrug off the feeling and kept walking. What's that we've always said about having a fire going? Demons won't come into the light of a traveler's fire... as long as I have this spell going, I should be fine.

The windian's fireball flickered out.

Jason stopped in his tracks and stared at his empty hand in disbelief. "What the fuck..." He attempted to cast the spell again. The flame only burned for a few seconds before it too faded out. Jason could feel the hair on the back of his neck stand on end as he looked at the woods around him. Continual Light spells never went out on their own. Strong winds weren't even enough to put the spell out. Only the spell caster's own will of dispelling the fireball was enough to put it out. Unless there's another spell caster around who wants me to be in the dark... Magic like that could also be dispelled by others if they had enough magical power to manipulate someone else's spell and cause it to go out. But there's nothing that's that fucking strong...

Nothing except a demon.

Keep moving, Burnhart. You'll make it to the camp again eventually. The windian started up again, moving quickly as he followed along the stream. The snap of something behind him caused him to start up into a quick jog, and he refused to look over his shoulder at what could be following him.

It's not Ray this time, Burnhart. The dragon would have said something by now. Now Jason could hear the sound of splashing as something started up the stream behind him. The windian shouted out a quick haste spell and took off running.

You're running again, Burnhart. Fuck it if I'm going to let some demon catch me now! I'll run, hell yea I'll run! The splashing behind him quickened as the creature in the water started running behind him.

Off the trail, Burnhart. Maybe you'll lose it in the woods. It was a stupid idea, Jason admitted that to himself, but right then it seemed like a wonderful idea. Turning quickly into the woods the windian started his mad dash through the foliage and around trees. Behind him he could hear the sound of splashing dying off, then a loud grunt and the sound of something pursuing him through the forest.

SHIT! Move boy, MOVE! Jason charged through the forest, his heartbeat pounded throughout his body, his breath quickened, his legs began to give out and still the creature behind him followed. Jason took another sharp turn into thicker underbrush and continued his mad dash. Gradually the sound of the chaser faded away, and Jason slowed himself to a stop, doubling over as he worked to catch his breath. If I get back to Windia, I'm trying out for track.

Then another sound caught his attention and Jason looked up. Wherever his mad dash had brought him in the forest, he wasn't there alone. Not more then a couple yards ahead of him Jason could make out the silvery form of a female figure. Long silver hair, and wearing a dress that fell to the tips of her feet, the woman had her back to Jason, and she seemed to be humming to herself as she swayed in the breeze of the forest. Jason stared at her in wonder.

"What the fuck..." He regretted the words the moment they left his mouth. The figure heard him and turned, giving Jason a good look at the figure's face. Or lack there of.

Between the hairline of the creature and the figure's neck, there was nothing save a swirling mass of darkness. "Oh shit..." Jason stood up slowly and began to back away from the being. The figure didn't move. It just stood there, holding Jason in its faceless gaze. The windian took a few uneasy steps backwards as he stared at the figure. He didn't get very far. The back of his foot hit something solid behind him, and a moan sounded up in the darkness. The windian barely had time to react before he felt something collide into the back of his head, and then everything went black.