Gruff blew into his hands, providing a minuscule amount of warmth. He squinted as the morning sun pierced through the trees and a rabbit zipped by. Gruff motioned for his bow when he remembered that he hadn’t brought it.

“What’s got you so jumpy this morning?” Ma asked.

“Why did Marcia have to go to the village?” Gruff pouted.

Dropping a load of berries in her basket, she wiped her hands on her pants, then rubbed the top of the young boy's head. “There is no other blacksmith nearby. And even if there was, that particular smith is very good at his job. I’m unsure if I would trust anyone else with my sword.”

“I don’t like it when you guys go to the village. It’s better if we go to the Shaman’s village.”

“No way am I going over there each time I need my sword sharpened. Plus, no offense to the Shaman blacksmith, but he isn’t half as good as Soa Pel’s smith.”

“There’s better blacksmiths in the world. Why did you have to choose the Northern Nation of all places?”

Ma smiled, tussling Gruff’s hair she said, “If we hadn’t come here, we never would’ve met you.”

“That’s true I guess.” Gruff let out a long sigh. “But between me and Jonah, well, we aren’t really welcome here in the North.”

Popping a few berries off a nearby branch and dropping them into a basket Ma stayed silent for a long while before looking up at the sky. “Maybe, you’re right. How about we leave after this mission.”

“Do you mean it? We can leave?”

“Why not?”

“Where can we go. I hear that the Eastern Nation is run entirely by creatures, so Marcia and I will be accepted there. But the Southern Nation is run by magicians and Guardians.” Gruff’s eyes sparkled.

“We can go wherever, but we’ll probably start in the Western Nation.”

“Come on! We’ve been there like a million times. Can’t we go somewhere new?”

“Be patient, we will travel around before finding somewhere to stay. Right after we deliver this orb to the Water Dragon’s Palace.”

Suddenly, a rustling caught both Gruff’s and Ma’s attention. Gruff pulled his knife from his waist as the rabbit returned. Swiftly, he swung the blade down, decapitating the creature.

“Looks like we’re having rabbit stew instead of cricket stew tonight.”

“Thankfully.”

Ma appreciatively smacked Gruff’s back, knocking the air out of him. “Why don’t you take it home while I gather a few more berries?”

Gruff snatched up the rabbit and sprang to his feet. “Doesn’t this beat Jonah’s biggest rabbit catch?”

Ma smiled softly. “I believe you are right.”

“I can’t wait to rub it in his face!” Gruff rushed off with the giant rabbit in tow.

“That boy just can’t wait to get back at Jonah…”

Just then, another rustle sounded in the woods. Ma quickly ducked behind a large thicket, escaping from view just before a lean, tall man floated through the clearing, his eyes glued to the mountain. As usual, he moved with an ethereal form, as if he wasn’t real.

Ma moved slowly backward towards a tree, not once taking her eyes off him. Gradually, his head turned in her direction, and her heart skipped a beat. When…

Crack! Ma's breath caught in her throat. The man’s blood-red eyes focused on her. He opened his mouth, and the same deep voice that haunted her dreams said, “I trust you won’t get in my way this time.”

The red-eyed man walked off, and Ma fell to the ground. He looked exactly like he had the last time she’d seen him. “We need to get to those monsters before he does.”