AN: I did not write this, but the person who did doesn't want to be credited, so I can't tell you who did write this.

I watched him rather gleefully, I've no idea why, but it just made me happy inside to watch him.

"Reka?" He asked.

It took me a moment to respond, I was a little lost in thought. "Huh?" I finally got around to asking.

"Where are we going again?" I was used to... well, dimwitted questions from him. He lost his memory in some sort of experiment. I wish I knew more, but it's hard to ask him if he doesn't really know himself.

"We just have to protect that caravan to Madcori, it's only a few leagues away, and the terrain is pretty fair, only a few rocks to worry about. It really is a nice deal being paid 500 fol for such a short distance..." The four of us were mercenaries, Luka, Divinna, and Maneki and I. This was our current job, we do caravans rather frequently, they were easy money. After answering his question, I lost myself in thoughts again. There was Luka, he can be a bit simple at times, but he's really sweet, and has a great heart. He had brown spiky hair, and wore leather armor, he's fairly proficient with a broadsword; I concluded he must have been some sort of warrior before he lost his memory. He also took on the role of leader, since he ran into the other three of us at different times and in respective ways dragged us into his mercenary band. Then there was Divinna, affectionately called the blue knight. She was a knight of Ivalla turned renegade, she never really told any of us why. She wore lovely blue armor, and had medium length blue hair. A master of the sword and shield, she must have been a leader of sorts before joining us. I don't know much about her, since she only recently joined us. Then Maneki, he used to be a thief, so he's good with a dagger. He's the quiet sort, he doesn't really talk unless he needs to say something, he had long silvery grayish hair and wore a poncho-like robe so not to impose on his movements. And then there's me. I was a girl from the village of Illia when I met Luka. I'm not really a soldier or anything, but I'm good enough with a bow, and I guess he must enjoy my company because he insisted that I leave home to follow him along his quest. I was also the first of the three he got to join him. To this day I'm not really sure why I follow him. I guess I can't pry myself from him.

"Reka?"

"...oh!?" I lost myself in thought again; I turned my head left to right wondering who just called for me. "Yeah?" I asked still turning my head.

It was Maneki, I should have known from the monotonic voice, but I wasn't really paying attention. "Keep your bow up, this rocky valley is a mating grounds for drove-birds."

"They're just vultures, I responded, they don't really present us any threat."

"They're known for stealing Kukre eggs, the caravan driver informed me some of the cargo consists of them; and we may not get paid in full if any of the cargo is missing."

"All right, all right, if you're afraid of being pecked I'll look out for you," I teased. He wasn't really amused. I took the bow off my back and strung it and grabbed a spare arrow. I didn't really expect to find any droves, but I didn't want to look like I was ignoring him.

"How much longer?" Luka asked cheerfully.

"About 10 leagues." I answered happily. Like I said, something about that guy simply brings out the best in me.

A new voice sounded over our conversation, "Keep an eye on the road ahead, I know it's rocky but this is the quickest route between Trandall and Madcori. Just let me know if there are any avoidable obstacles." It was the caravan driver, a thinning brown haired man with a beard.

"Of course." Divinna responded.

Trandall and Madcori are at war I thought to myself. It's no wonder he's willing to risk a bit of cargo over roughish terrain and drove-birds, I thought, since that would be far preferred than being pillaged and killed. This rocky valley, a canyon route that nearly dissected both cities we were following was seldom traveled anyway, so in the end it was the safest passage. The war is also why we're being paid 500 fol to go about fifty leagues. No one but Divinna really had any connection to the war. Since Ivalla is an ally of Trandall, but for whatever reason, she isn't affiliated anymore and has just a neutral position as the rest of us. That aroused a question that I've asked her in person many times, I decided to make for conversation and relive the tired exchange.

"So... Just why aren't you with Ivalla anymore Divinna?" I asked expecting a 'maybe later' as usual.

"I was betrayed." She said quietly. "My commander used me as a scapegoat for her actions. I was discharged and exiled."

I was still taken aback that she answered. After regaining composure I asked her "... what did she do?"

"She slaughtered Madcori civilians." She said solemnly. After a bit of thought, I realized why she wasn't really open about her past, and decided to give her space, after, of course, briefly ending the conversation trying to alleviate her. Unfortunately, the only comforting words I could find were "I'm sorry..."

"Why would she do that?" Luka asked innocently. I grinned to myself. So much for that idea.

"She's always been a violent person; I never enjoyed serving for her."

"No... but why would she slaughter civilians?"

"I don't know Luka." She answered solemnly as ever.

"When we're done with the Caravan, let's go to Ivalla to clear your name!" He shouted enthusiastically. I loved his heart of gold; it would take a great deal of effort to obscure it even for a moment.

"I'm grateful Luka, I really am, but it's not really worth it. I don't think we can anyway."

"Of course we can! I'll make sure of it!" I couldn't help but smile. "You agree right Reka?"

Again, not expecting to be addressed, it took me a moment to respond, but it was hardly noticeable, after only a brief hiatus I answered, "Of course Luka, it's the least we can do. Never hurts to try right?"

"Luka, I really-" Divinna started.

"Then it's settled! After this we'll head to Ivalla and try to clear your name!"

"You're aware that we are traveling north, and Ivalla is south of Trendall right?" Maneki was right; we would have to pass multiple battle zones to get there.

"Maneki's right," Divinna started, she really wasn't the type to accept favors and was grateful for the argument on her behalf.

"And?" Luka interjected, "Divinna is beyond worth it, I'm sure she would do the same for any of us."

"If you're willing to, I will follow you." Maneki answered emotionlessly.

"Then we're in agreement!" Luka shouted excitedly.

"Well, everyone but Divinna." I giggled.

"He's not going to be talked out of it." Divinna stated half-depressed, "I guess I have no choice." She let fly a rare, but sincere smile.

"Um... everyone..."

"Huh?" two or three of us asked in unison.

"I think I see something up ahead." It was the caravan driver, and he sounded a little worried.

"Reka has the best eyes of us," Divinna said frankly, "do you see anything Reka?"

I was slightly flattered, but she wasn't really wrong, I underwent a bit of exercise to sharpen my eyes when my father taught me to hunt in Illia. I tried hard to make out the shadowy image ahead of us. "It's... a group of people on either edge of the canyon, I'm not really sure who yet, but we're too far away to tell."

"Can they see us?" Maneki asked.

"I think so," I responded, "I think they have a better view into the valley than we have out of it; the sun is to their backs and they have the high ground, so I wouldn't be surprised"

"Be on your guard then," Divinna ordered, "they may be raiders."

"Right!" I said while raising the bow I was starting to relax. Just then I heard a noise from behind us. I turned quickly to see what it was but it was too late. Arrows started flying from all directions. It was Trandall and Ivalla soldiers. They must've been tipped off about the caravan to Madcori.

Before there was a chance to realize the potential damage dealt, everyone split up looking for cover. I saw Maneki slip into the caravan, since it probably provided the best cover in all directions, but I didn't see anyone else. I hid behind a rock formation, it left the north exposed, but the raiders from the south were much closer. When I turned to try to make sense of the situation, I saw the Blue Knight charge to meet the Ivallan raiders to the north. I then saw the leader of the Ivallan raiders, it was a sadistic looking female Knight in silvery blue armor, Divinna had taught us that silver was the color of a commander. The leader of the Ivallan soldiers must've been her former commander! I then turned to see what was going on to the south. I saw that the caravan driver had been shot with an arrow, and the caravan had been stopped. I saw Maneki trying to dodge incoming arrows and do what fighting he could, and I saw Luka fighting with the short-sword wielding Trandallans. Using the cover of the rocks, I started to fire at the Trandallans. We were far outnumbered, and we all knew we didn't stand a chance. It was just the trance of battle that had overcome all of us. I had nearly forgotten the Ivallans behind me, until an arrow struck the rock that shielded my southern front; I turned quickly to return fire now that I had a more immediate threat, until I heard a painful scream. I turned back to the Trandallan front and saw Luka's leather armor pierced by an arrow. My heart stopped. Was he going to make it?! He ignored the arrow, and kept fighting. I ignored the Ivallans behind me and tried to give him cover fire. He and Maneki continued to fight off the coming Trandallans, who luckily, were less in number. After many arrows, knife slashes, and sword swings, their numbers began to dwindle. I tried to remember Divinna, but I thought Luka was a more immediate problem.

A southbound arrow from the Ivallans then pierced Luka's back. I turned and saw that Divinna had already fallen, and that arrows continued flying in both directions. We were properly flanked, and the Trandallan league had executed the ambush brilliantly. I lost track of Maneki, he must have either hidden himself again or fled, but I saw arrows both southbound and northbound continue to puncture Luka. I began to cry.

I leaped from behind my rock and cradled his dying body. "Luka..." I tried to speak.

"Hey... Reka." He smiled. How!!? How could he!? How could he be smiling at a time like this... had he even forgotten what death was?

"Luka... please... don't die." I cried.

"Reka... I..." he started, "can you tell me what love is again?"

I began to cry more than I thought possible. "Love is... I don't... love is when you care about someone so much it..." he started to fade, "I... I LOVE you Luka!" I shrieked.

He smiled one last time, "I..." his hand fell limp to the ground and his sword clattered against the rocks.

I did all that I could. I cradled his lifeless body and waited for the arrows to take my own life.