I looked at the scene stretched out before my eyes. Soil dry and cracked, not one living thing as far as my eyes could reach. Nothing stood between myself and the buildings in the distance but hot, arid, wasteland. I was not quite ten, and my brother ever present at my side barely six. I had come to this place every day since we stopped traveling for the season. An expanse so vast and empty I couldn't quite comprehend it. This was the first time I had ever felt alone and insignificant.

    I once asked my father about the buildings in the distance, he said, "Son, long ago there were more of us, many more, and they left us their legacy. There once were rivers of water, and buildings on every corner that served meat from a cow, with sliced potatoes fried in oil. Everyone had someplace they thought they needed to be. They rode around in their rovers from place to place buying one form of food or another, before going to a job. Imagine that? Doing one thing, in one place all the time, it's crazy right? Well they would take the paved paths from here to the buildings in the distance every single day. When they were done doing whatever they did, they would come back the same way. That was before the sickness, a long, long time ago.”

    I had heard the story of the end many times, but I always loved hearing about the rivers and food on every corner; it made me feel better when all we had was mart to eat. I had seen the books with images of the buildings and the people, even their rovers. My favorite images were of the buildings that served cow. I didn't know what cow tasted like but it had to be good, why else would they build so many temples to it? Father had taught me to read some of the words long before I knew what they meant. I had even begun to collect things from the old world every time we went to the buildings, which wasn't often. When my brother Jam was old enough I taught him the words as my father had taught me.

    Jam and I had to find food while father hunted. We would go to the wet holes in the path and catch marts to eat if we couldn't find any other food. They look harmless enough, furry, small, pointy nose and long tail but they have very sharp teeth. Jam got really sick when one bit him, but that was a long time ago.

    I was getting close to ten años and I knew I would be getting my name soon. I would ask my father every day, "When do I get my name?" and I would point to the mark on his face. Our family name was a black heart with a slight curve and a single tear drop. Every member of our family was inked if we reached our tenth año. My father had a way of tracking the days of the year by watching the sky.

    Every day he would pray to Helios for warmth and food and mark his position on a piece of parchment. We were nomads, which meant we traveled to where the food and water was, mostly by foot and on well traveled paths with other families. I lived in a tent for my entire life up to that point; just my father, my brother, and myself. My mother had died shortly after Jam was born, father never told me about her death, only her life. He insisted that was far more important.

    Our tent looked like many others but it always smelled slightly different, not a bad smell but a distinctive one, it smelled like home to me. I once found it long after Helios had lost his battle with Selena simply by that smell. Inside, father had to have everything just the way he wanted it. All of the items stacked neatly so at a glance he could tell what was missing.

    One day when my brother and I were out gathering food we came home to find a strange man sitting with my father under our tent. I pushed my brother behind me and approached, when my father caught sight of us he waved us in wildly.

I heard the man talking, "You poor nomad bastards, why do you even bother with the rituals? It's not like they'll ever have a chance of mating beyond their status. Every few years I still end up riding out to the ass of the world for a pittance. You should save your food and cut them like the farmers do,”

I had seen the farmers on our travels, they were disfigured by a dull blade in a crude attempt to ink their faces. Farmers would stay near any source of water for an entire season and plant anything that would grow. Once the fields had gone fallow or the water dried up they would move on. They grew food to trade but never seemed to grow enough.

"I paid you, show my boy some respect," He said in a hushed tone and then called over to me, "Lion, today is your tenth año, today you get your name,”

    I walked into the tent struggling not to squeal with delight. My hand draped over the handle of the dagger which forever clung at my side. My chest swelled and I kept my eyes straight ahead, I could not be more proud. The man spoke again this time more officially, "Lion, son of William, who is the son of Jacob, who was the son of..,” He paused trying to recall the next in our lineage and he turned to my father, "Who is your grand patriarch?"

"I don't know, it was never told to me," He said, and the man simply shook his head before turning back to me.

He continued, "...ah, yes Lion Heart son of William do you intend to honor your name and wear it as your father before you, and his father before him?"

"Yes sir scribe, it is my honor," The words of ritual had been burned into my mind for as long as I could remember. The same words I had practiced with Jam hundreds of times.

"Kneel," He commanded and I obeyed.

    The man opened a bag and took out a small metal tin and a candle, he lit the candle and adjusted a metal cooking surface over the flame. He then went back into his bag and dug out three black tablets and placed them in the tin. The small tablets slowly began to dissolve into a thin black liquid.

My father slapped the man in the shoulder and said, "Remember I paid for a new point.”

    The man nodded and wrung his hands as if he got caught trying to get away with something. He reached into the bag and pulled out a feather, and then a container of metal pieces. The scribe ran his fingers through the tin and began to sort through the pieces until he found the one he wanted. He pressed the tip onto the feather, and then the point into the flame of the candle. Once the tip glowed slightly he placed it into the black substance where it sizzled, sending a cold shiver down my spine. With one hand he steadied my face and pressed the hot point into my right cheek causing me to wince.

"Easy boy, if you want this done right you're going to have to be still," The man said and then tightened his grip on my chin.

I struggled to keep my balance as he repeated the procedure again and again. The point sizzling like meat on a rack each time he placed it in the pan after the flame. Soon he wiped my cheek with his thumb and stood back to look at his handy work.

"There, just like your fathers," He said, and I saw my father beam with pride as he spoke.

"Gratis, sir scribe,” I said completing the ceremony and stepping back to my feet.

    This was one of the proudest days of my life. I knew some day when I mated I would wear my mates family name on my left cheek, and she would wear mine on hers. It was the way things had been for as long as anyone could remember. You would not be considered as a potential mate without a family name. I didn't touch it and a few days later when it had healed I poured a glass of water and looked at the reflection for over an hour. It looked just like my fathers, and I was proud to wear it.

    The cold season was coming and we needed to move to where it was warmer, and where we could gather more food. We packed up our belongings on the mule and followed my father south. We walked until our feet bled and then rested for a day before doing it again. It took several days to walk around the buildings. My father wouldn't walk through because he told us people would just take what we had, and we were better off going around. When we reached the other side we found other groups doing the same as we were.

    We traveled with them for a while, and we met another family, the man's mate had her name on her right cheek. Which I came to learn was Stag, her mates family name was a symbol that I wasn't familiar with but it was crudely carved into each of their faces. All but the youngest, a girl about the same age as I was had her name in ink.

    I asked my father one night after the meal and he whispered so no one else could hear, "Sometimes poor farmers find something worth trading, and decide to ink their children who are coming of age so they can be mated to a higher status family,”

"Why is status so important? Shouldn't I mate with someone I care for?" I asked.

"Your grand patriarch felt that way, he mated with a farm girl he loved, and he was forced from his family into the wasteland," He explained, and then said, "Helios tests us our whole lives and if we pass the tests we are accepted into his light and warmth forever. Mating for love is noble, but the trick is to mate for status and love.”

"Did you love mother?" I asked.

"I still do. One of many times I fell to my knees and thanked Helios for his generosity, and the day he took her from me was the day I cursed him for his jealousy," He said and a tear escaped from his eye and plummeted from his cheek to the dry ground.

"Do you miss her?" I asked as I climbed into my bed.

"Everyday Lion, every single day," He said and pulled the buck skin blanket over me so I would be warm.

    There was one problem traveling with other nomads, it was difficult to hold on to anything. Mothers, Fathers, kids just old enough to walk would steal anything not tied down. If you were a heavy sleeper, they would take anything tied down as well. I woke to find the youngest farmer girl sliding my buck skin blanket off of me. I didn't let on that I was awake. I gripped the blanket from the inside before rolling onto my back, trapping some of it under me. The little girl grunted as she pulled on it until finally she grew bolder and walked over to the side of the bed, and tried to lift me off the blanket.

I slid my dagger across my chest and raised it up quickly under her chin, "What do you think you're doing farmer?" I asked and immediately she screamed and ran out of the tent leaving her baby made of straw behind as she fled.

Jam woke up and rubbed his eyes before asking, "What happened?"

"The little farmer girl tried to steal my blanket," I replied with pride.

"Who, Justice?" He asked.

"I don't know, the young named farmer girl, is Justice her name?" I asked getting out of the bed.

"Yes, Justice Bell, daughter of Renault," He said correcting me.

"Renault farmer," I corrected him. "They don't even have enough to ink their children," I said pressing him further while practicing with my dagger.

"Why do you hate them?" Jam asked sitting up on his bed.

"I don't hate them, but I will never mate below my status. I will mate above my status and stop wandering from place to place looking for food and living on marts," I replied and thrust the dagger into the side of the tent.

My father walked back in, "Easy there boy, the tent is not your enemy. I saw the little girl run out of here, did you have something to do with that?"

"Yes father, she was trying to steal my blanket while I was under it," I said hanging my head.

"No she wasn't, she asked if she could come in to get you to help gather food," He said as a smile crept across her face, "I think she likes you.”

"Father she is the daughter of a poor farmer, I would never mate with her.”

"Your mother was the daughter of a poor farmer, and you turned out fine," He said.

"That is not the life I want for me or my mate father, someday I will be a nobleman, and my mate a proper match," I said beaming.

"A proper match? Son, a proper match would be another nomad, you want to reach for the stars," He said.

"What is wrong with that?" I asked.

"Nothing, but if you mate solely for status Helios will curse you by giving you everything you ever wanted," He replied.

"That doesn't sound like much of a curse father.”

"When you are miserable with your mate, your entire life becomes a prison," He said, his wise words began to echo in my ears. Then he added, "You have plenty of time to worry about a mate later, you just got your name take it one step at a time.”

"Yes father," I replied.

"Look after your brother," He said and stepped back outside.

    Jam and I got dressed and brought our spears out of the tent where Justice was waiting, she had a net and a spear and waited for us at the tent stake. The imaginary line that encircled a tent representing what the nomads owned.

"I wasn't stealing nothing," She said defensively.

"Anything," I corrected her.

"Anything what?" She asked perplexed.

"You weren't stealing anything,” I corrected her again.

"That's what I said,” She said looking at me.

"Fine, let's go. Jam don't fall behind this time,” I said looking over my shoulder at the young boy kicking rocks through the dirt already beginning to lag behind. As we walked I would look back to check on Jam and as I did the small encampment began to shrink into the background.

"Imagine if we found a river?" Jam said as we walked through the wasteland toward a stand of dead trees.

"What's a river?" The little girl struggled to pronounce the word.

"River, it's running fresh water, more than you could drink in a lifetime," I said turning over a rock looking for bugs.

"No such thing, everyone knows water comes from the sky. When Helios has seen us suffer enough he cries, and his tears quench our thirst," The little girl said indignantly.

Jam fell right into her argument, "There is too such a thing. I've seen them in the old books. Father showed us the pictures of a place called Nigeria falls, where there is so much water that people used to go just to watch it.”

"Niagara," I said correcting him.

"Oh, right Niagara Falls," He repeated.

"Do you ever get tired of correcting people?" Justice asked.

"No, I don't. Father says it's important to speak the words correctly, and to teach others. Those who came before did wondrous things. If we ever hope to be more than we are we need to emulate them in every way,” I parroted my father's words.

"What's em-ul-ate mean?" Justice asked.

"Emulate means to act like, to do the same things,” I said.

"I don't want to em-ul-ate them,” She said.

"Why not? They built the buildings, and the great paths, they even went to Selena,” I asked kicking over a piece of dried wood.

"They all died,” She answered flatly and walked ahead looking smug.

We walked in silence for a while looking deep into the dense dead forest. Finally stepping down into a shallow bowl in the center of it. We had seen these before my father called them ponds. If you dug down in the center you could find drinking water, but someone had already dug a deep hole in the middle and it was completely dry. We pressed on through the wasteland and found nothing at all.

"We should head back, we're not going to find anything,” I said pushing a fallen tree branch to the side.

"We didn't find anything, we can't stop looking now,” Justice protested.

"There isn't anything to find, everything here died a long time ago,” I said.

"Well you do what you want, but I'm going to keep looking,” She insisted and continued to walk.

"Fine.”

"Lion, we can't just leave her here,” Jam insisted.

"Why not?" I asked walking back toward the camp.

"Helios will punish us for not watching out for her.”

"Helios could care less about you or I, so why would he give a mules apple for the little farmer girl?" I asked.

"Father will care,” He insisted.

"No, father put me in charge of you, not her.”

"Fine, then you watch out for me,” He said and turned back the other way.

"Jam, Jam get back here,” I demanded but ultimately followed my younger brother back through the brush.

When I caught up with him we were on the other side of a clearing in the trees and as I stepped out of the brush a spear landed a marts tail away from my feet.

"Oh I'm sorry, I thought you were a bunny,” Justice called out from a distance.

"Good thing I wasn't or you would have missed. You've never even seen a bunny, let alone caught one,” I said mocking her.

"Have too,” She protested walking closer.

"Oh yeah, what's it look like?" I prodded.

"It looks like... well if you don't know I'm not going to tell you,” She replied pulling the sharpened stick from the ground.

"That's what I thought, now let's go. There isn't anything here for us, we have to go back to camp,” I said taking my brother by his shoulder and leading him back to the path.

"What's the point you'll only come right back here, I think you need me to show you the way back,” Justice replied and pranced out in front.

"This way your highness,” I said indicating the turn she should have made.

"I knew that. I was just testing you,” She said and then walked back down the dry path through the trees.

It took us a while before we returned. Helios had moved from his place in the sky above us, until he was behind us. Once we drew closer we could hear shouting and loud noises. Justice rushed ahead to see but I grabbed her by the shoulder and pushed her down on the ground behind a wall made of stones.

The voices were clearer now as they tossed things from the tents, "Nothing in here but junk, these damn farmers and nomads why do we even bother?"

"You never know when something good will show up,” Another man said, and I poked my head above the wall to see him caressing the face of the farmers older daughter. One man was sitting on horseback holding the other two horses leads while the men searched the camp. I could barely make out what they were saying but I listened intently.

"You would soil your stick in that lake? When you finish you'll have to scrub the dirt ring off,” The men shouted prodding each other.

Justice whispered quietly, "What are they talking about?"

"I don't know, keep quiet,” I whispered back.

"There isn't anything here, kill them all,” The first man said.

I heard my father say, "Please sir, take what you want but don't hurt us. We've done nothing to you.”

"You're alive, breathing my air, drinking my water, eating my food, I'd say that's something,” The man replied.

"Please, we'll leave right now,” Renault said.

"You'll come back, you always do.”

The man on horseback became annoyed, "Come on Simon, I want to get back.”

"Shut your mouth, this is my favorite part. This is when they plead for their worthless lives.”

I went to scream but I remembered my father's words, to protect my brother. There were five men and we wouldn't stand a chance. If I were to protect my brother I would have to stay quiet. I burned the image of the man's face into my mind. I could see his family name emblazoned on his face in a blood red color, it was in the shape of a flower.

The man walked over to the farmer and said, "Go on, beg for it, beg for your life.”

The farmer knelt tall and said nothing.

"Maybe Helios will protect you,” The man mocked and he slashed the farmers throat with a long curved blade. Justice heard her mother scream and she screamed for a moment until I covered her mouth and wrestled her to the ground. "Guess not,” He concluded.

"How about you, are you going to plead for your life, maybe even offer yourself to me to save yourself,” Simon asked the oldest daughter.

"Yes sir, please. Anything you want, just let me live,” She pleaded.

He took a big deep breath and said, "Mmm I love the smell of fear, just like fresh fruit or the smell after it rains,” He pulled the blade and went to plunge it into her when Justice's mother barreled into him knocking him off his feet.

"Run, go!" She screamed.

The man rolled over and stuck the blood soaked blade into the soft flesh of her neck and ended her life right there. The oldest and middle daughters tried to escape, but the other men who had been circling the camp on horseback ran them down and killed them where they stood. Finally I heard one of them say, "Simon, let's go this isn't worth our time,”

"Oh fine, you don't know how to have fun anymore,” He said, before walking back to my father. "How about you, do you know how to have fun?"

"Helios will protect me, in this life or the next. You will meet your fate, that I promise you. You are nothing more than a blemish on society's backside and you will pay,” My father raged against the man.

"Sounds about right Simon,” One of the men on horseback joked.

    Simon walked around back of my father and grabbed a handful of his hair and lifted his head. "Helios doesn't even know you're alive, and won't care if you're dead,” He replied. In one quick jab he stabbed my father in the chest. I felt my heart sink, I had never felt so helpless and alone until that moment. I wanted nothing more than to kill each of them right then and there. I prayed for Helios to strike them down, to slay them slowly and painfully, but that was not to be. I watched in horror as they climbed back on to their horses.

It was all over, they rode off back toward the buildings like scolded children. Jam and I ran to our father. He was gasping for breath, his face stained in his own blood, as he coughed and gasped it would run from his lips. His eyes grew wide out of fear and at the same time pity.

"Father what can we do?" I asked watching him press on his bloody chest wound.

The man coughed as he spoke, "My boys, I want you to live as best you can, and always protect one another for the rest of your lives.”

"Don't talk like that father, we're too young. Tell me how to help you,” I demanded, my eyes betraying me as they began to leak.

"You watch your brother, that's the only way you can help me now,” He said and began shaking violently.

"Father...Father!" I screamed as the man ceased shaking and slipped away in front of us.

    Jam began to weep as we sat there staring at his body. The man looked smaller somehow, as if Helios taking his spirit somehow made him shorter, less imposing. Justice was frozen with fear as she stood at the wall, her face completely absent of color as she stared through the camp. She had changed as well, as if her spirit escaped when her families had.

"Jam, I need you to break down the tent and load the mule, we need to leave,” I said to him while closing our father's eyes.

"What do you mean, what about father?" He asked.

"There is nothing more we can do for him, he is with mother and Helios now,” I replied and pulled his legs out from under our fathers body in order to bury him.

"Where will we go?"

"Do as I say, and pack the mule,” I demanded.

    I walked over to the wall and began pulling stones out of it, to carry them back and stack them on his body. Each time I would tell Justice that she had to pack her own camp, but she just stared with mouth slacked open. I made four more trips before finally stopping to take a breath and I tried once more to connect with her.

"Justice, you need to pack your camp and go,” I said firmly. She said nothing, so I reached out and slapped her face as hard as I could sending her sprawling across the barren soil.

    She began to cry and scrambled back to her feet and charged at me attacking with her fists clenched, "Why did you hit me?" she sobbed.

"Because you need to pack your camp and move, now. Those men might come back, other men might come, but we can't stay,” I said while holding her flailing wrists.

"And go where? With you? You'll die just as quickly as I will, just not here. If I stay I might be picked up to mate..,” She began but was cut off.

"...or you might just as easily be slaughtered for the clothes you wear, or worse sold into slavery,” I said pushing her to the ground, "You have no status, no family, no trade of any kind. Come with us, stay here to die, or go your own way, those are your choices."

    I picked up another load of rocks and walked back to the body and stacked more rocks on top until I had to cover his face. "May Helios protect you in your travels father,” I spoke the words of the final ritual and placed the last stone over his face.

    I walked back and helped Jam to lift the tent up on top of the mule and tie it down. We had done it hundreds of times but father was always there to check the knots. This time I pulled on the lines and nodded my approval.  We packed up the rest of our gear into packs and left Fathers clothes by his grave.

    Justice ran down the small path to where her family lay slain, and began to weep uncontrollably once more and wail to Helios for help and guidance. I began to guide the mule away from the stone where he had been tied.

"Wait, where are you going?" Justice asked, her tears drying up quickly on her face.

"I told you we are leaving, now," I said to her and pushed the mule forward.

"You can't leave me here, I'll die.”

"You may, but so will we, at least that's what you just told me. May Helios protect you,” I said and walked out in front of the mule.

"Yes you will,” She said and sat down in the loose soil and began to sob again.

"Jam lead the mule back,” I said and let go of his lead to walk back over to the girl laying on the ground.

"Come with us, the three of us have a better chance of surviving together, pack your mules with only what you need, nothing more,” I said.

"Well I guess I will go with you,” She said getting to her feet before adding, "If for no other reason than to protect you.”

    I rolled my eyes and began breaking down the tent as she packed the two mules. It didn't take long until we had everything worth taking packed up, I walked the mules over to Jam and we waited as she said her goodbyes. She prayed to Helios once more for guidance and then walked over to take the lead of the two mules and we began walking south. We talked about the places we had been and made other meaningless conversation but I was sure each of us had one thing on our minds, and that was vengeance.

    The journey south was difficult, we walked all day and rested at night, it didn't take us long before we stopped unpacking her tent and the three of us stayed together in our tent. On the second day of walking all of our water had been exhausted, and we were getting sick. The mules needed water and we were completely dry. I saw something in the distance and at first I thought it was dry eyes, a disease people get when they haven't had water and they start to see things. As we got closer I could tell it was a family, a group of nomads heading toward the buildings. A mule pulled a cart of things, I assumed were for trading. I pulled the dagger out slowly and held it down by my side the steel glinted in the sun causing them to stop on the path.

"We don't want any trouble,” An old woman said leading her group with the aid of a walking stick. She was very interesting in that she had her family name on her right cheek and two names on the left, meaning she had been mated twice. This was rare because those of status rarely took one for a mate who had already belonged to another.

"We feel the same way, we would like to trade if you have any food or water,” I said after stopping the mules.

A man stepped forward, he was younger but of the same family, "What do you offer?"

"That depends on how much food and water you can spare,” I said before adding, "We have blankets, bedding, and if you have enough to trade a mule.”

Justice turned quickly to look at me, "What mule, not one of mine.”

I ignored her as the other family got really excited, "A mule, is it healthy? With a strong back?" The same young man asked looking over.

"It could use some water, but what do you have to trade?" I asked.

"We have three jugs of water,” He said and then added, "Nothing more.”

"Sorry, no deal. A mule is worth five jugs and a large side of fresh meat,” I said as a counter offer.

"Five jugs and meat, you must be joking, where is your father or mother I'll deal with them,” The man said.

"You'll deal with me, or not at all, five jugs and a side of fresh meat,” I said.

"That's too much, four jugs and no meat,” He said shaking his head.

"Five Jugs, the side of meat and I will add two blankets,” I said, and stood firm.

"No..,” He began but was cut off by the old woman.

"Deal,” She said with a smile.

"Matriarch, I could have done better,” The man protested.

"Nonsense, Helios will smile on us for making a fair trade,” She said silencing the young man.

"Send one forward for the inspection of the goods,” She said.

"Jam go and check the goods like father taught us,” I said taking the lead from him.

    Jam went forward cautiously as the man unloaded five clay jugs of water and took a sharp knife to a stag and sliced off a piece. He took the fresh meat in his hands and sniffed it a few times before holding his clenched fist out and pounding his chest signifying the deal was good.

    I walked over to the mule that brought up the rear and I quickly unpacked it leaving only the blankets when Justice rushed up, "What are you doing, if you want to trade a mule you trade yours, not mine.”

"Look, we don't have any food or water, these mules will not live much longer without water and this is the best option we have right now," I explained.

"These are all I have left of my family, I can't trade them,” She said pleading with her eyes.

"No, you are all you have left of your family, these are just things. You need to take care of you and survive for your family,” I said grasping her arm.

The man spoke up once more, "Are you ready?"

"Yes, we are,” Justice replied and stepped out of the way.

    I walked the mule to the front of the pack and said, "Send one forward for the inspection of the goods,”

    The man walked over and looked over the mule then once he was satisfied he pressed his fist to his chest to signify a good trade. The old woman being the eldest member attending spoke, "The trade is acceptable and fair, may Helios's love shine down upon you.”

"And on you,” Each member of the trade said in unison.

    The man cut the side of meat off with the sharp knife and wrapped it in cloth before handing it to us. We met in the middle and made the final exchange, once we loaded up our goods we said our goodbyes and began traveling again. As soon as we were out of sight of the cart we stopped and shared the water with the mules, each of us drank carefully not to spill a drop and once we were all satisfied we continued on. We followed the great path through the dusty wasteland until we saw a camp at the side of the road, the small fire glowing in the distance.

Jam was the first to speak in what seemed like hours, "Look nomads, we can camp with them.”

"No, think about what happened earlier today, it's probably safer if we get off the great path,” I said.

"Lion's right, we have to worry about ourselves now,” Justice added.

    We led the mules off the road and down a slight path into some decaying wooded area. As we walked along I heard a hissing sound on the side of the path. Before I could say anything the mules bolted, pulling their leads away from Justice and Jam and ran through the dense tree growth. I quickly located the source of the hissing. A large serpent lay coiled on a rock. In one decisive move I cleaved it's head from its body with my dagger. The body continued to writhe on the ground as I grabbed it and then proceeded to chase after the two mules. Justice and Jam had nearly caught up with them when they ran into a wooden box and knocked it over causing it to splinter and fall to the ground. Something glinted in the setting light, and it stopped me in my tracks. A metal pipe stuck out of the ground under the box but around the pipe was a small puddle of water.

"Jam, you need to see this,” I said.

The young boy grabbed the lead that had snagged on the tree root and pulled on the mule turning him around. Justice's mule stopped on its own after that, and the two of them followed Jam back over to me.

"Water?" Jam asked puzzled.

I bent down to taste the puddle on the tip of my tongue like my father had shown me. "Yes, fresh water. Helios has shown us the way.”

The two of us dug around the pipe as Justice looked on watching us, soon we had unearthed a healthy basin of fresh water. We refilled the jug we had been drinking from and two more of our others and the basin filled back up once again.

"We will camp here, Jam unpack the tent,” I said. He nodded and began to unpack the mule. I turned to Justice and said, "Gather some of the wood, and I will dig us a pit for the fire.”

"Why don't you gather the wood and I'll dig?" She asked before adding, "You're not my mate, and I do not have to listen to you.”

"Oh I doubt that were we mated it would make a difference. Fine I will go find the wood and you dig,” I replied, standing up to brush the dirt from my hands and clothing.

"What are you saying, I will make an amazing mate some day,” She protested and began to scoop dirt away next to the basin.

"Not here, over there, we don't want to taint the water with the fire,” I said shaking my head.

I walked back through the woods and found many of the trees were still alive, it was more difficult to find firewood than ever before. I knew that if the wood was still alive it would smoke too much and cause travelers to try to find the source. I walked the twisted path back almost to the road where I found the dead wood we would need. I loaded up my arms carefully with several large pieces and carefully walked the distance back to the camp. When I returned Justice had a fair fire pit dug and lined with stones, we placed some of the dried leaves and twigs from the surroundings down as a base and then added a few large pieces of wood. I began striking the flints together until the sparks ignited the dried leaves and began to burn. Soon the fire was ready to be cooked on, and Jam brought over the cooking rack to be placed on the fire.

"Justice, can you cook?" I asked.

"Of course I can,” She insisted.

"Great, you can cook while I bring back more firewood,” I said standing up as she tried to think up a reason not to do what I had asked.

When I arrived back with another armful of wood I saw the flesh smoking and it smelled horrible. I rushed over to the meat and saw she had thrown the whole side on the grill and was cooking it with the pelt still on.

"What are you doing?" I asked taking the meat from the rack and placing it on a board we used for cutting.

"I'm cooking, what does it look like?" She asked in a harsh tone. .

"It looks like you're destroying a perfectly good skin, and alerting people where they can find us,” I replied.

"It's not my fault I think the meat is bad. Jam got a bad deal,” She said shaking her head.

Jam ran forward in fear thinking he had made a bad deal and looked on as I sliced the charred flesh from the meat and seasoned it with a few herbs we had found on our travels. I then cut the meat into strips and placed them on the rack. The smell of charred flesh and burnt hair was soon replaced with a delicious delicate smell of cooked meat.

"I found these behind the tent Lion, they are very good,” Jam said passing a bowl full of berries to me.

Justice shook her head, "You can't eat those they are poisonous.”

    I took a handful and popped them in my mouth and began to eat them, "No they're not, they are good, try some,” I said passing the bowl to Justice who turned up her nose. "Helios be praised, for a farmer girl, you are sure squeamish about things.”

    I picked the meat off the rack and we all ate well, so well we could hardly move. As soon the fire had gone down enough we went to bed. Something outside of the tent moved through the fallen leaves and Justice climbed under the blanket between Jam and I and we all slept that way through the rest of the night.

    When I awoke the following day I slipped out of the tent leaving the other two to dream of more peaceful times, while I greeted the day Helios had provided. In the bright light that now bathed our surroundings I could see that the grove of trees we had found ourselves in was not dead as everything else in the wasteland. I walked down the path we had taken the day before and around halfway the trees went from green and vibrant to dead and rotting. The dark intertwined branches obscured any life from the road, the little patch of paradise was completely hidden. I walked back into the wood and gathered some some fuel for the morning fire, while looking around for other serpents and other small animals that might be good to eat. When I didn't find anything and my arms were full of firewood I made my way back toward the tent.

    The stones in the fire pit had kept the embers warm so it was simple matter of putting down a few dried leaves and blowing gently on it to light the fire once more. I cleaned the serpent that had caused all of this and began cooking it for our first meal of the day. As I did Jam stretched and stepped out of the tent.

"Lion, I had horrible visions all night, about father, and the Bells, and this morning when I woke and you weren't there..,” He paused and began to cry. He rushed over to me spreading his arms as he did.

"Jam, I'm always nearby you know that, father asked me to look after you and I always will, but you need to be brave. Don't let Helios catch you crying. Helios hates the weak, which is why he punished the world. Remember what father taught us and we will be fine.”

"I know,” He said trying to force himself to stop crying, "I just miss him so much.”

"So do I,” I said and let him go, "Jam the mules need to be watered and fed, there are some grasses on the other side of the tent just make sure you check it for anything poisonous to them first.”

Justice slipped out of the tent and went to relieve herself behind a tree. The smell of the cooking serpent drew her over to me once she had finished. "What is that, it smells so good.”

"It's the serpent from yesterday, here have some,” I said and she turned up her nose, "This is first meal, so if you're hungry I suggest you eat.”

She thought about it for a while before finally taking a piece and eating it. Her face turned from disgusted to pleased in a few short breaths and finally she said, "It's as good as it smells, you are truly blessed with the ability to make anything edible and even good.”

"Helios may have blessed my father's teaching ability, he was a great provider,” I said eating my section of the serpent.

Justice looked around at the greenery I had noticed earlier and said, "I haven't seen trees like this in a long time. So full of life it's amazing. When do we have to leave?"

"I don't know, I don't think we have to leave. We have good water, and some food. The great path in and out of the buildings, so we could trade water for prepared meats through the cold season. Anywhere else we go will be a risk of not finding food or water, so why not stay here where one of those things is provided for us," I mused while pushing the uncooked bits of food around the cooking rack.

"Stay here? I thought you were nomads, aren't you always going somewhere?" She asked with amusement.

"You're a farmer aren't you supposed to do... I don't know, anything?" My anger got the better of me and I tried to hurt her.

"Get me some seeds and I'll farm when the weather turns warmer again,” She said brushing off the barbs with ease.

Jam came back and I handed him his section of the serpent to which he eagerly ate the meat and said, "There is a good amount of grass for the mules a little further down, when are we leaving?"

Justice spoke up, "We're not, the nomad is broken, he wants to stay here.”

"Good, I was tired of walking,” Jam said with a smile.

"To make this work we're all going to have to work together. I think we should set up your tent across on the other side of the great path that way we can trade water for food,” I said.

"Why are we setting up my tent?" Justice asked.

"We don't want anyone knowing we're here, they would just come and take what they want. "I said and turned to Jam, "Pack her mule with her tent and the blue and red flags, I will help you set it up, and we will take it down before the dark. Her and I will take turns watching for travelers."

"Flags?" Justice asked.

"Yes, they go on the tie down rope closest to the path, blue goes on top, red on the bottom. Trading water, blue, for food, red,” I explained.

"That's clever,” She remarked.

    We took the early hours to set up the tent and build a small fire. Justice took two of the jugs into the tent and waited. I spent the early hours covering the path that led from the great path with tree branches and bushes. It took time to be sure it didn't look like I had covered it up, and that it appeared natural. I hid the small path we would actually use behind one of the large trees. From the great path it looked like a wall of dead brush.

    I went on collecting wood for the fires and as I began to cross the great path a cart and a mule approached in the distance. I was able to make out a large family which made me nervous as they came into view. I made Justice aware that people were coming and as she stepped from the tent the family stopped.

The eldest man riding on the cart asked, "Trade water for food?"

"Yes, that's correct, two jugs of water for cured meat,” I said.

"How much cured meat?" The man asked.

"A side,” I said.

"Two jugs for a side? Don't be silly boy. We will trade a salted leg of bear for your two jugs of water,” He said climbing down from the cart and walking towards us. I had seen this tactic before in my father's trades. When the patriarch or the eldest living member of the family approaches without being invited, it is often used for intimidation to make a better deal.

"Hold your ground, we have no deal,” I said firmly, and pulled my dagger from its sheath.

"Easy boy, I want to make a trade, but a side for two jugs is just not going to happen,” The man said stopping in his tracks.

"As it is bear, I will accept half and then a quarter more,” I said back to him, still holding firm.

The man squinted and studied me, "What is your family name boy?"

"Heart sir,” I said answering as I had been taught.

"Are you the son of William?" He asked again.

"I am sir,” I answered.

He smiled brightly and began to walk across, "I am John Archer, this is my family. Your father and I have traded many times. Where is he? I would like a word,”

"Hold your ground sir, my father is dead, slain by his enemies. I have been taken in by the Bells. The trade is half and a quarter again for two jugs of water,” I demanded

The man stopped in the center of the great path and the smile slipped away from his face , "Half, and that is my final offer,”

"Half, for the water, not the jug,” I countered.

"Done,” He replied.

"I will inspect,” I said which I knew was not normal, the one negotiating never inspected personally, but I was nervous about what might await if I sent Justice.

"As will I,” The man replied, which really put me on edge, a patriarch never inspected.

I walked past him on the crossing, my dagger still in hand and made my way to the cart where a younger man showed the salted meat to me. It had no growths, or marks of rotting so I turned and pounded my chest signifying a fair trade.

Justice brought out the two jugs of water and he sniffed at the contents of the clay jug before dipping his finger in to taste it. He signaled back in a similar way.

"May I have one of my sons bring over the jugs to make the transfer, I'm getting older and the body doesn't want to walk very far anymore,” The man said and instantly I grew aware of my surroundings. I could feel the eyes on me from the cart, I could see the wind tossing the leaves gently, I could smell the danger. I had seen this before, and I knew this was going to end badly if I didn't act quickly.

"You may sir, but I'll require your youngest boy to kneel before my blade for my protection and that of my family,” I ordered and stepped away from the cart.

The man's expression changed twice, first from a look of disgust and scheming to one of appreciation and respect. He knew I had him, his only options remaining were to risk an all out war with whomever may be in the tent, to cancel the deal, or to do what he did which was to agree to the terms and finish the deal as it had been agreed on.

"Daniel kneel for the blade,” He said and the youngest boy knelt down on the great path and watched as I put my dagger on his shoulder.

The patriarch’s son grabbed two jugs from the cart and ran over to the man watching me every step of the way. They made the transfer and the young man began walking back holding the jugs. Once on the cart he placed the two wrapped pieces of meat at my feet and stepped away. As the old man walked back he stepped over to me, once more breaking the ritual.

"You played this far better than your father would have, he'd be very proud of you,” He said in a way that was both a compliment and an open handed slap. Insinuating that my father would not have done the same was an insult, but not one I wanted to challenge on.

"Sir please take the cart past the tent and the boy will be released in accordance of the ritual.”

     He nodded and climbed back up on the mule cart gently snapping the reigns, moving the cart forward slowly. Once it passed the tent I released the boy, who quickly chased after the cart. I picked up the meat and began to walk back to the tent when I heard the old man say, "May Selena watch over you.”

    The words made the blood boil in my veins. I wanted to chase the cart and slit his throat, those who worship the goddess Selena were lower than mule apples. I could do or say nothing that would cause them to turn around. I swallowed my hatred and walked back to the tent, where Justice waited with a nervous smile.

"That was too close,” She said taking the meat from me.

"I know, but it worked. Go give the meat to Jam and refill the jugs in case another family comes by,” I said tending to the small fire.

"Why me?" She asked.

"What are you going to do if they decide to come back?" I asked her.

"I don't know, stab them with my spear?" She asked.

"That's why you, get going,” I said firmly.

    Once she left I began to play with my dagger and imagine I was called on to defend us against the old man. I clumsily dropped the blade several times as I worked out my moves. The dagger felt good in my hands as tossed it into the air and caught it by the handle. I imagined I was fighting the men who killed my father and I would thrust my sword into each one then kick them off the way I had seen in the arena's that my father took us to throughout the wasteland. Men would fight and die in gory, combat for the thrill of the masses but it was always a spectacle.

    Justice came back while I was in the middle of a brutal fight. I swung the dagger like a sword and drove the tip into one of the rotted logs I had brought for the fire. I imagined it was Simon, the man who mocked each of the Bells before he killed them.

"My hero, that log was looking at me all day and I couldn't stand it anymore,” She said sarcastically while placing the jugs of water back inside the tent.

"It was my pleasure,” I said and struggled to pull the blade from the log.

    No one came down the road for the rest of the day so we packed the tent up and brought it back down the secret trail we made that led around the blocked path. This was the way we spent most days. Justice and I would spar with weapons made of wood, while Jam would forage food and other things we needed. Both Justice and I became very adept at the staffs we made from young straight trees in the wood, and would fight for most of the day.

    The days grew shorter as the cold season approached. With our trading skills we managed to put away a sizable amount of cured meats and vegetables. We would make trades for various things and most went smoothly, but some didn't. We lost two of our jugs of water when one man called our bluff by pulling his sword in the middle of the deal. He grabbed Justice by the throat and insisted I bring the jugs to him. I had no choice but to comply and after that point we began trading for weapons.

    A short time after the incident a man came through with a cart. He had many different flags streaming from all over the cart as it rumbled down the great path. As he approached he saw me standing there and said, "Do you have water? "

"For the right trade, yes,” I replied.

"What's the right trade?

"Weapons, I'd like a good pair of swords,”

"For you? You're only a child,”

"Then move along, it's obvious you don't need the water,” I replied.

"Wait, hold on. I've got a pair of swords, they are good quality steel, with a woven wrapped handle,” He explained. He jumped down off the cart and found the box of swords. The handle had steel bands tightly wrapped around it in a way that made a comfortable grip. It wasn't an ancient weapon, I was sure it was made recently by a blacksmith somewhere but it looked very effective. The second one, looked very similar but had a guard around the knuckles. The two blades were long and slender and looked very sharp. "I'd need ten jugs for these.”

"I'm sorry, I just don't have that much,” I replied.

"How many do you have?" He asked.

"Five, that's all I have,”

"I can give you one for five,”

"No I need them both, I'll just wait for the next traveler,” I replied and walked away.

"Wait, alright, I'll do five,” He said.

I smiled to Justice who had a look of panic that quickly flashed back to her trading face, which had no expression. I turned back to face the man, "I need to keep the jugs as well,”

"That's fine I have plenty of jugs, not enough water."

    I went to inspect the blades and as far as I could tell, they were made by a master at his craft. They were well balanced but heavy. The cutting edge was sharp but not thin, and the handle was rugged and well built. It was a great trade and ten jugs of water would have been a fair trade. We made the exchange and he went on his way toward the buildings.

"Now that was a good trade,” Justice said.

"Not as good for him, but great for us."

When I handed her the blade she said, "It's heavier than it looks. How am I supposed to swing this more than once?"

"I'm sure you'll grow into it,” I replied wrestling with my own blade trying to look like I had held one before. She nodded in agreement and began practicing with it.

    The cold season came and travelers became scarce but we managed to get enough food to survive. The three of us spent many of the cold days building a permanent home out of the trees and mud we had available to us. It was a lot of work for one small room, but it kept us warm and dry on the rare days Helios chose to grace us with his tears. We lived this existence for two full años, in that time we managed to accomplish many great things.

    We began storing the seeds from the crops through the winter, something Justice showed us how to do. We had to plant the seeds in the ground at a certain point in order for them to grow to produce food. I used my father's parchment to mark the seasons and to plot the point when we could begin farming. We began getting better and better crops each season. It was a lot of hard work, clearing the grasses tilling the soil, planting and finally harvesting. This hard steady work kept us busy but, we never lost ourselves and I had never lost the hatred of the men who took my father from me.

    I had taken over for my father in marking the days, as well as the seasons on the parchment and as Helios had passed it was getting close to Jam's tenth año. Justice and I knew the schedule of the travelers and we knew of one scribe who could perform the ritual. Unfortunately for us, he would want a lot of water, and a lot of food, but we had no other options.

"Are you sure you want to do this, that is a lot of our supplies for so little ink,” Justice asked during one of our regular sparing matches.

"I'm sure, if nothing more than to honor our father, it's what we must do,” I said catching her off guard with the staff.

    She fell to the ground and immediately jumped back to her feet and attacked several times before taking a breath and saying, "You know you only have another year or two before you will need to find a mate,”

"I know, I will prepare myself when the time comes, besides you are in the same position I am,” I replied, then attacked which she defended easily.

"Your time is shorter than mine, you will need to build a fortune to be accepted by a mate of status, I simply need to find someone and accept,” She replied.

"We have the makings of a fine fortune already, we just need to keep working at it,” I said and caught her foot once more knocking her to the ground.

"oh, looks like we have a traveler,” I said and put the wooden staff I had been using aside for my sword. Justice jumped back to her feet and did the same.     We had gotten used to these meetings and were prepared when the person stopped. The person appeared to be a woman and she was clinging to a horse. Horses required more food and water than mules which made the animal out of place in the wasteland. The animal also meant wealth and status because only people with both could afford to keep one. The woman wore a cloak that completely covered her, all but some stray strands of her long blond hair that had escaped the hood. She hadn't stopped the horse, it had stopped on it's own; she was slumped over the mane and wasn't moving.

"What do you think, is it a trap?" Justice asked.

"Can't be a very good one, she's all alone, and I have you,” I replied and began walking forward toward the woman, "Are you alright lady?"

I received no answer and continued on, when I got to her the horse began to pull back but I managed to grab the lead before he got any further away. I reached for her leg and tugged gently on it, she moaned and made a feeble attempt to kick me. I led the horse to the other side of the great path and tied it to tent stake.

    Reaching up as high as I could I grabbed the cloak she was wearing and pulled her down off the horse. Justice helped me bring her into the tent and I removed the hood. She was beautiful, pale skin, with eyes the color of the oceans I had seen in books. She had long beautiful blond hair that was braided around her head like a crown. However, on her cheek the greatest shock of all, she wore the family name of my enemy, a flower emblazoned in red ink.

Justice brought her sword into the tent and saw the ink. I had described the mark hundreds of times and instantly she raised the sword and pressed the tip to the soft flesh of her neck. "That's the ink right? The mark of the family?" She asked.

"Yes, that is it,” I replied and swept the sword away with my arm.

"She deserves to die, let me end her now, I can do it,” She pleaded.

"No, she doesn't deserve to die. Obviously Helios put her on our path for a reason, we need to find out what it is,” I reasoned. "Bring me the water and bowl,” I said touching her dry lips with my finger.

    Justice complained bitterly but she had come to trust me and did as I asked. When she brought the bowl I held the girls head and slowly poured the water into her mouth. She coughed at first and then her eyes began to flutter, but she wasn't able to make a sound. I poured two bowls of water into her and we let her rest.

"Why are we wasting good water on her?" Justice asked.

"Because she was dying of water sickness,” I replied putting down the sword and picking up the wooden staff.

"Good, we should have killed her, and I would have a horse right now,” She proclaimed, picking up her staff.

"I'll make you a deal, spar until first blood, winner gets to decide what to do with her. The loser, you, will have to abide by the winners decision,” I said spinning the staff around my forearm and locking it under the crux of my arm.

She balled up her fist and pounded her chest, "That's a fair trade if I ever heard one.”

She attacked first as she always did, lunging with a swing at my face and brought the staff back across my feet. I jumped over the swinging staff easily. I was used to this move, it was what she had come to rely on every time she was upset. I swung my staff across at waist height and she blocked it, this battle of inches went on for what seemed like all day, until I finally had her exactly where I wanted her.

I swung the staff at her feet and yanked back on it knocking her to the ground into a bush, she leapt back to her feet and tried to come over the top with her staff when I said, "Hold, first blood.”

"What? You barely even touched me,” Justice protested.

"Yes, but you landed in a thistle plant and are bleeding,” I said pointing out the bubble of blood forming from two slight scratches on her forearm.

"In Selena's name, that's cheap,” She cursed and looked at me, "Are you really going to win that way? I never even saw the plant,”

"Yes, but I did, before we started, so yes I'm going to win that way,” I replied and walked back to the tent and looked in through the flap, the girl was still breathing, and seemed to be asleep.

Justice and I spared for a good part of the afternoon the way we spent most days, honing our skills when a voice came from inside the tent, "Where am I?"

I walked over to the tent to find the girl sitting up and covering her body with her cloak, "Hello, you must have run out of water, you had the sickness pretty bad. We gave you and your horse enough to continue on.”

"Why would you do that? I haven't anything for trade,” She questioned.

From outside the tent Justice slapped my shoulder hard, indicating she had heard what the girl said. "My name is Lion, what is your name?"

"Sir Lion, my name is April, where are we and what do you intend to do with me?" She asked.

"April of... what is your family name April?" I asked ignoring the other question.

"Thorn, may I ask yours sir Lion?" She asked nervously.

"Heart,” I answered simply then added, "Son of William,”

"I know some named Lionheart, their family ink is a griffin grasping a heart, it's very intricate, is there any relation?" She asked before looking around the tent.

"No, I don't think there is,” I said dryly. Such an intricate pattern meant wealth and power. I had neither.

"Where is your clan?" She asked.

"This is it, Justice, and I are all that is left,” I answered, "Why are you traveling alone?" I asked changing the subject back to her.

"I was to be mated for status, a match that would have brought my family wealth and power they desperately need. However, the man I was to be mated to had been mated twice before. A lecherous old man who some had said had killed his mates when they became less pleasing to his eye. I had no choice but to go through with it. When I did he said I was too young, and hadn't developed properly so he sent me home in disgrace,” She explained and began to sob.

Justice spoke up from outside the tent, "That doesn't explain why you are alone.”

"I could have waited for my brothers to come escort me home, but I needed time to think and I no longer felt welcome,” She said before adding, "It doesn't matter, my sister is older than I and more...developed," she said looking down at the flat expanse that was laid out before her, "We were both sent to be mated and I was the second choice.”

    We exchanged pleasantries until Justice signaled me that we had a trade approaching, I picked up my sword and stepped out into the light. Everything went simply and we traded one Jug for some fresh stag meat, once the traveler was on his way we both returned to the tent.

"What is your name?" April asked Justice as she put the wrapped meat down.

"Justice, of the Bells. Daughter of Jacob and Sky, farmers who were proud of farming..,” She said her voice rising as she grew more angry.

I stopped her by placing my hand on her shoulder, "Why don't you go and keep an eye on path,” I said softly.

"A pleasure Lady Justice,” April remarked.

"I'm no Lady, simply Justice,” She said and then stormed out of the tent.

"Did I say something wrong sir Lion?" She asked politely as she had been trained to do since birth.

"Just Lion, and no you didn't do anything wrong,” I replied and caught her staring at the package of meat we had put aside after the trade. "Are you hungry?" I asked. She nodded softly. "I'll throw a few pieces on the fire for you and you can eat up before you go.”

"No, no please, allow me to cook. I have nothing to offer for the trade at least I can prepare the meal,” She pleaded.

"Alright, that's good,” I replied and handed her the smaller of the two packages.

She stepped out into the light and covered her face with the hood of her cloak and began to cook. Justice pulled me aside and said, "First our water and now our food?"

"Are you forgetting your first blood bet?" I asked.

"No, I didn't kill her, see she's right there, alive and cooking,” She joked pointing at the cloaked girl .

"That's not what I said, I said first blood decides her fate, and you agreed to it,” I replied.

"How far will that go?" She asked impatiently.

"As far as I want it to, that's the deal I made,” I replied and walked back toward the fire.

"I fell in a thicket, it's a hollow victory,” She shouted over at me.

"Victory is never hollow, it's always victory,” I said smiling back at her.

    Once April had finished preparing the food we each sat down with what was left of the water and ate the meal. Justice was the first to comment, "Lion is a much better cook.”

"Thanks Justice,” I replied and continued eating.

    April began to sob and ran back into the tent, both Justice and I looked at one another stunned unsure of what had happened. One of the many things father taught my brother and I was never leave food because you don't know when you will get your next meal. Justice may have had other ideas, but she shrugged and continued eating as well. When we had finished the food and cleaned up around the fire I went back into the tent to find the girl sobbing into the blanket.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Nothing. it's just, I don't have any place to go. If I go home I'll be a failure, and an outcast. I wish you had just let me die,” She said and began sobbing back into the blanket.

"I'm sure they'll welcome you home with open arms, you're family, they have to love you. Plus it's only nature and time. Give it a few cycles you'll be exploding out of that cloak and any man will be lucky to get you as a mate,” I said trying to reassure her but only making her cry more. I called outside of the tent, "Justice, I could use a little help, say something to make her stop crying.”

"Stop crying, you're losing all of the water we gave you... apparently as a gift,” She said.

The girl broke into a crying jag and began wailing and sobbing loudly, "Thanks Justice, that really helped,” I said, my words empty of truth.

"It's what my father said to me when I cried. She's been pampered too long, and Helios doesn't suffer fools or weakness,” Justice said through the tent.

April stood up and her face changed instantly, she became very angry. "I'm neither a fool nor weak, and you'll remember that,” She grabbed the closest thing, which was my training staff and walked out of the tent. I followed her out just as she attacked Justice who rolled easily out of the way toward her own staff.

"April, put it down. She will hurt you,” I said, watching the two circle each other eyes locked in combat.

"Let her go Lion, she wanted it and she's going to get it, may Helios protect her,” Justice replied and attacked with her usual sweep attack which caught the girl off guard taking out her feet and sending her sprawling across the ground. As justice brought the staff down on top of the girl she rolled to the side and kicked up at Justices knee knocking her over.

"Selena watches over me,” She exclaimed and attacked once again with mixed results. She struck first but Justice came back around with her staff, and hit her twice in the stomach knocking the wind out of her. As the girl doubled over in pain Justice drove her knee into the girls chest knocking her on her back.

"That is what worshipers of Selena get,” She said spitting on the ground, and rubbing her chin from where the staff had struck her. When she looked at her fingers she saw the slight trickle of her own blood on them and grabbed the girl struggling to find her breath by the cloak and lifted her with the staff around her neck. "Say it, say, May Helios protect me,” She pulled back hard on the staff.

"Justice, enough,” I commanded.

"No, not until she says the words,” Justice grunted pulling the staff in tighter, "Say it,”

April struggled to break free, she slapped wildly at Justice's face but to no avail. Justice had become a skilled warrior in our sparring sessions, in fact we both had. I picked up the dropped staff and attacked, slapping her backside with the hard wooden staff causing her to break her hold on April.

"Lion, this is not your fight, it's between me and her, Helios and Selena,” She said turning to face me with the staff.

"Let the gods fight for themselves. It was between you and her and you won, but that wasn't enough, so now you can face me,” I replied and attacked.

    She was already slow and her technique had been corrupted by her anger. I didn't want to hurt her so I pulled back every time I made contact which only made her angrier. She attacked at full force, which I defended until the staff broken in half and the force came down on my shoulder driving me down to the ground.

"May Helios protect me,” I screamed and she stopped.

"Why..,” She asked confused.

"That's what you wanted to hear, I said it," I said

She began looking back and forth at both of us stumbling and stuttering out her words and then she dropped the staff and began to cry before she jumped on me wrapping her arms around me. "I could never hurt you, you're my family.”

"Well you're hurting me now, I think you broke my shoulder blade,” I said holding her with my other arm.

"I'm so sorry,” She said weeping. "What do you need me to do?"

I smiled at her dirty tear stained face and said, "Well to start you can get off of me.”

We both laughed and as she got up April walked over to the both of us without saying a word she reached under her cloak and pulled a jeweled dagger and the two of us froze in our tracks until she plunged the dagger into the bottom of her cloak and began to cut the fabric. Once the initial shock wore off I stood up as she finished cutting a narrow strip all the way across.

"You need to lift this up so we can tie it off,” She said helping me lift my arm so she could wrap the fabric around it and tie it around my neck . "There, now tell me where it hurts,” She said pressing on my shoulder until I winced, "Oh, right there. Well if you keep your arm like this for a full cycle you should be fine.”

"Thank you April, Helio... you have a real gift, there aren't many healers around anymore,” I said to her.

"I'm not a healer, but I had many older brothers and I have seen this before,” She answered before turning to Justice, "I'm sorry I attacked you, I'll be leaving now, so you won't have to worry about it happening again."

"Wait..,” Justice began, "you don't have to go, I mean if you have no place to go you are welcomed to stay here with us. I'm going to need help with him for a full cycle at least,” She said running her toe through the dirt.

"I would be very grateful if I could stay,” She replied.

"Good, it's settled then, you two wrap up the tent and we'll take her back with us,” I said walking over to the fire and putting it out with some dirt.

"Back? You don't live here?" She asked as Justice began breaking down the tent.