Chapter 2:

Sasha…

Yes mother?

Save her.

Save who?

Lana…

"Why…?" Sasha whispered up to the leafy ceiling of his home his eyes slowly opening, the strange memory drifting away. "Why should I save her?" He sat up slowly picking up his hood and mask covering up his face and neck once more before pulling on his gloves. Sasha looked over at the girl still sleeping soundly in his usual sleeping spot. If he'd been selfish or hurtful he could have taken advantage of her during the night while she lay unconscious, but he didn't. Lana was still fully clothed and tucked in just as she had been when she'd blacked out.

Sasha felt so strange around this other girl. She was seemed to really enjoy talking quite a bit, which amused and agitated him at the same time. Sasha sighed bringing a hand up to his neck, gently massaging the mussels of his throat. Lana just didn't get that it hurt him so very much to talk. Even though it had been many years since he'd wandered into the forest and received the nearly fatal wound to his throat.

He heard a groan and glanced back over at Lana. She rolled over facing him her eyes slowly opening "What did you do to me…?" She muttered her whole body groggy and tired.

"I gave you a sleeping potion." Sasha said standing up.

Lana growled and tried to sit up but failed, falling back down on to the furs beneath her. "I'm going to kill you once I can move again" she said through gritted teeth.

Sasha tilted his head to one side watching her "Why?" "You made me go unconscious… you could have done things to me while I was asleep" She growled again. "Well I assure you I did no such thing."

Lana growled sitting up very slowly leaning her back against the tree trunk behind her. She closed her eyes focusing on getting her strength back. She heard Sasha move. "Don't come near me" she grumbled opening one eye. She saw him now kneeling in front of her, his eyes, behind that mask full of genuine concern.

"I'm sorry that you feel I've betrayed you" he said before standing up again walking towards the entrance to his home. "I need you to stay here while I'm gone." He said picking up his bow and quiver of arrows.

"Where are you going?"

"Hunting." Sasha looked back at her his head tilted to one side. "Promise you wont leave?"

"Why should I stay?"

"Because I cant protect you if you're running off through these woods alone"

"I'm not afraid of death"

"I can promise you that death is one thing you'll be begging for if you're caught alone here."

Lana glared at him "Like what?"

Sasha shook his head "Like what happened to me... Just promise you'll stay here where its safe?"

"Fine…" she growled watching him leave her alone among the clustered trees.