“Wow, your hair is so beautiful. Were you born with it? Or did you color it?” Noah asked the young girl. A slight reddish color tinted her cheeks at his words.

“How nice of you to think so! But, I think we both know only royals can change their hair color.”

“You're not a royal?” Noah asked with wide eyes.

Giggling, the girl said, “I wouldn't be here if I were!”

“Haha, you never know. The princess could have snuck away from the palace to see what living like a commoner is like, just like in stories.”

“Or the prince. Maybe you snuck away from the palace.” Noah waved his hand back and forth in front of him to refuse the assumption.

“Nah, I could never be a prince. It'd be way too much work for a laid back guy like me.”

Who calls themselves laid back? Aren't you supposed to let someone else say it? Enya scoffed to herself, walking towards the forest's entrance.

“Enya?”

Damn. I was so close. Enya looked over her shoulder to see Noah staring at her. The girl glanced between the two.

“Do you know her?” she asked Noah.

“No, not really. We met just a few days ago,” Noah said simply. Enya stepped towards the entrance. “Wait! Let's go back together.”

“No, thanks.”

“Why not?” Noah asked, walking up to Enya. Enya glanced at the girl, who glared at her. Noticing Enya's gaze, Noah gasped, “Oops!” He turned to look at the girl. “I hope to see you again,” he said with a smile, waving.

“Tch,” Enya sounded, irritated at how happy he could be. Bright people like him were the worst.

As Enya averted her gaze from his ugly face, three men wandering the marketplace caught her eye. Their stern gazes scanned the commoners, as well as every nook and cranny. Enya whipped her head around. She marched into the forest's entrance, Noah following closely behind.

“Why are you walking so fast?” he asked. Enya kept quiet, glancing behind her every few steps.

The men neared the old man's stall. Enya darted behind a tree trunk and pulled Noah to stand before her. His mouth fell agape before his lips came to rest in a smirk.

“I didn't know you felt that way about me,” he said in a teasing tone. Enya glared up at him.

“Shut up, will you? There were a few guys that looked suspicious. I didn't want us to get chased like last time. I saved you.” Noah stared at her, dubious.

“Sure...”

Enya groaned, Why did I have to get stuck with him? His beast would have been better company. Enya waited a few moments before looking past the tree trunk. The men were gone.

Without looking at him, Enya walked away from Noah, further into the forest.

“What's her problem?” she could hear Noah mumble under his breath.

What's yours?

A loud, high-pitched whistle echoed through the forest. Enya knew Noah must have called his beast. She kept walking, but after a few moments, footsteps crunched from behind her. Enya glanced behind her to see Noah and Belia walking after her, trying to be stealthy.

“What are you doing?” Enya asked.

“Well, we wanted to make sure you were okay,” Noah said, averting his gaze. Enya sighed, crossing her arms across her chest.

“Oh, really?”

“Yeah, of course,” Noah stammered, unable to meet her eyes. Belia looked at him through narrowed eyes. She couldn't believe him either.

“What's the real reason you're following me?”

“I... I just don't understand you. You came to live in the forest, but you still go to marketplaces. You seem like the type to want to be alone, but then, why would you go somewhere were there are a lot of people?”

“You live in the forest, too. Why do you go?” Noah's eyes peeked over at Enya, but only for a second. His left hand reached out to rub his upper, right arm.

“To socialize. I might live in the forest, but it's not because I want to.”

Then, why? Enya wondered. She wanted to ask him, but what if Noah didn't want to talk about it? It's his business. Noah will tell her if he wants to. “I take it you came to this marketplace to avoid getting caught, then?” Noah nodded.

“Yeah. I don't know why those guys chased us last time, but I refuse to get caught for something I didn't do.” Enya lowered her gaze.

“I don't intend to get caught either. I'm going to live. I'm going to do what is right.” Noah stared at her in confusion. He opened his mouth, but Enya spoke before he could say anything, “I needed shoes. That's the reason I went to the marketplace.”

At a rustle in the bushes, Enya and Noah spun around and stood on guard. The noise came from the direction of the marketplace. Belia stepped forward until she stood next to Noah. A low growl erupted from her throat as a paw dug its claws into the dirt.

A girl crawled through the bushes, huffing and panting. Lime-green hair hid her face. Her clothes were torn. Noah ran up to her, a look of worry painted across him.