Julianna laughed sleepily, and unconciousness took over blissfully.

Jason slowly slipped into a pleasureful sleep.

Anne trudged back to camp, and sat by the fire, crossing her arms and sighing.

Caylene bounded out of the forest, light purple wildflowers stuck everywhere in her hair. She ran up to Anne, and sat next to her on the log. "Hi." she greeted cheerfully.

Anne smiled, "Hey there."

"What's on your mind?" the child asked, swinging her legs back and forth.

Anne sighed, "Nothing Caylene, just feeling a little lonely... well... I was." She smiled, looking at the little girl.

Caylene smiled brightly. "But why? Marie's alive." she said happily, like nothing in the world could bring this child down from her mood.

Anne smiled, "You're right, but we never seem to have time to spend together."

Lyxian approached, and sat down besides Anne, "You must be little Caylene." She smiled.

The little girl waved her hand happily. "Hi." she said, happy to have someone else to talk to. "Anne?"

"Yes Caylene?" Anne asked.

Lyxian smiled, and turned to the fire.

"What does love feel like?" she asked, furrowing her white eyebrows.

Anne sighed, "That is a difficult question to answer." Anne smiled, "I think that it's different for every one. For me its this feeling, a feeling of total peace when Marie is around. A feeling of attraction, of affection." Anne sighed again, her eyes glazing over. "But! There are many kinds of love Caylene. Like the love for a pet, or a friend, or for your parents."

She shook her head. "No. I want to feel love someday. Not the kind I feel for my mother, or my dad. But who would love this?" she whispered, and changed slowly into a hybrid.

Anne shrugged, "I don't know. Your mom fell in love with Jason, and he is like that." She smiled, "Marie loves me, and im a hybrid. Heck, Kal loves Sarah and she is a hybrid. You will find some one Caylene, but right now you are far too young. You should enjoy your childhood before worrying about love." She sighed.

Caylene nodded. "Why don't people like me. Back in Feradine. Why were they scared? No kids wanted to play, no one talked to me."

"Those people are what I call stuck up. Snobs. If you arn't like them they dislike you. Me and Sarah refused to dress like them, with the dresses and corsets and they looked down upon us like we where trash." Anne said, stretching, "But I didn't care, I didn't like them, they where stuck up, and hated different people, and im not going to change for them, and you shouldn't either."

((HAPPY NEW YEAR))

Caylene stared at her, wide eyed, moved by her words. She nodded fervently.

((Happy New Year!! X3))

Anne nodded, and laid back into the grass, squirming around.

Lyxian laughed at Anne's actions. "You really do act like a fox."

Julianna awoke quietly, and dressed herself. She walked into the forest silently, grateful for the moonlight glowing on her skin, giving her a sense of security.

Lyxian sighed, and curled up in the grass. She listened to the sounds of everyone snoring in their tents. She suddenly felt very alone.

Kal opened his eyes slightly. He had not moved all day from his position on the log. The opening of his eyes was the most he'd moved at all. He had remained there, clutching Nanine, deep in thought.

Sarah sighed, she was curled up in her tent. Kal had not returned and she was worried.

Julianna turned her head, and spotted Kal. He was in a tiny little opening of the woods, so small it barely covered three steps. The moonlight poured through the trees and landed on his skin, and gleaming of his sword. He looked so majestic, so strong. So alone. Julianna walked silently over, and knelt by him, ducking her head so she could look at his face. "Hey." she greeted quietly.

"Leave me." he murmered. "I do not want you to see me like this."

She smirked. "You should really know me better by now don't you think?" she whispered, and sat down beside him. "I know what's troubling you. But you shouldn't worry." she murmered, resting her hand on his back.

He sighed, and sat up, bones aching. "I have, the most difficult decision. I can go, and rule over Feradine, or stay here." he murmered. "I desperately want to stay here Julianna." he whispered, taking her hand for comfort, she was the steady one in the pack, the glue that held everyone together, the one he could vent to. "But what is right is going back. I do not know even if I'll be a good at it."

She turned his head to look at her. "You will be, a great king. I know it. The best this world will ever see."

What pushed his next action Kal would never know. He didn't know if it was gratefulness to her kindness. If it was just an impulse. If he had gone a little mad from doing absolutely nothing all day. Or if it was something deeper within. But it happened nonetheless. Kal cupped Julianna's chin, and gently pulled her lips to his.

Julianna's eyes widened in shock, but her mind betrayed her and dulled completely. Ever so slightly, she put pressure back on his lips, then pulled away, touching her mouth in utter dumbfoundedness at what she'd just done.

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