“Thanks. Did you steal these?” Nyx huffs like they were offended but do not answer the question. Rue sighs before changing their clothes. They take their old ones and light them on fire. Nyx looks at them quizzingly, probably asking what kind of inventor they drag around but Rue ignored them. Instead, they free Rose of the robs by tying her arms and legs together.

Rue picks her up and starts walking back. Looking closer, Rue notices that Rose is most likely even younger than them. Good luck to her therapist.

“Why are you looking like that, mate?” Nyx asks getting close to Rues face. Though there seems to be genuine concern in their expression.

“Why do you keep saying mate?” Nyx shrugs not letting the previous topic go.

“I have a sibling. Nothing is similar between Rose and him, only the hair length. When I first saw her, I just thought it was him due to the bad lighting. Pretty dumb since he is far away from here right now.” Rue furrows their eyes wondering if their brother has cut his hair or perhaps let it grow out since they last saw him.

However, knowing their brother he probably kept it at the exact same length as always. Rue snorts.

“He is such a fucking dork.”

“Can you stop swearing for like five seconds.”

“Can you shut up for like five seconds.”

Rue just finished climbing back into the room with Rose on their back. They dump her on the bed before grabbing their messenger bag and leaving the room but not before checking the clock. It’s 6 am. No wonder while it didn’t take long to take care of the enemies Rue ended up getting lost in the forest.

“Wake up.” Rue opens the door to the guest room harshly hitting someone in the process they don’t pay enough attention to notice who exactly but mumble a sorry. They leave and get the carriage and their horses ready. Five minutes the hero’s party is outside looking anything but ready.

“I’m too old for this.” The calm one complaints. Suddenly the gentle one zeros in on Rue.

“I think I forgot something. Would you mind helping me look Rue?” He claims looking at Rue expectantly. While they doubt that the gentle one actually forgot something they still agree to come along. Their curiosity winning. Inside the house they enter the guest room where all the pillows and blankets are neatly stacked on the single bed in the room.

“Did something happen?” He asks and his voice is filled with so much concern that it threw Rue for a loop.

“No nothing happened. Why?” In response the gentle one only points to their neck. Rue reaches out and touches the aera only to hiss. When did they get hurt? Did one of the enemies cut them? The gentle one sighs.

“I won’t ask what happened you can tell me that when you are ready but let me at least bandage it so that it doesn’t get infected, please?” Rue nods. The gentle one smiles and gets some supplies. He first applies some weird salve and then wraps a bandage around their neck. The cut probably wasn’t even that deep or dramatic, but Rue decides to keep their mouth shut. Mostly.

“You don’t have to worry about it. I’m fine.” The gentle one slowly lays a hand on Rues shoulder like they were a cornered animal.

“You don’t have to pretend like you are fine. I get that you are the hero and want to appear strong, but you are more than some nameless hero reincarnation. You have a name, hobbies, likes and dislikes and all of those matter. You don’t have to be reduced to the ‘chosen one’. You have as much a right to ask for help as any of us.” He finishes his little speech like being another faceless one in the crowds wasn’t Rues plan.

“You belong. None of us decided to be here but we are so we have to stick together. You, Mira, Liora, Aylin and I are all a family now.” Rue raises an eyebrow. A family? They sigh. It can’t hurt. Cael gives her a bright but gentle smile which Rue returns.

They leave the house and join the others when out of nowhere a girl appears besides them. Rue recognizes her as Rose, but the others are obviously clueless on who this is. Her gaze is fixed on Rue. She obviously has not yet gotten over the events which transpired quite yet.

“Thank you.” Rose sincerely thanks Rue before hugging them. Rue stiffens and doesn’t return the hug instead looking at Cael for help who just shrugs. Once Rue was let go, they walked away flicking the necklace. Rose runs away.

“Who was that?” Cael asks Rue.

“How should I know.” They reply calmly and walk to the carriage.

“So, a stranger just came to thank and hug you for no reason?” If the tone Aylin used didn’t make it clear enough then her disbelieving face was enough to inform Rue that their lie was not brought. Instead of answering they shrug.

“We don’t have all day we should keep moving.”

“What about Mrs. and Mr. Rays daughter? We can’t not help her! Who knows what’s happening to her!” Mira was gesturing wildly desperate to get the others to not abandon the girl in need of help. The problem is that there was no one who needed help anymore.

“There are competent people in this village who can help and if not then I’m sure that they can request help.” Rue tried to explain.

“How could you be so cruel?! Aren’t you supposed to be a hero. Yet you abandon people who need you. Need us! Without a second though.” Clutching her own arm, she turns to walk away towards the forest. She was angry and borderline screaming. Rue couldn’t even refute her statement. Though she was wrong about something Rue was never supposed to be any kind of hero and they will not pretend to be no matter what others believe.

“Stop. You cannot help her alone. Besides, we must keep moving. The sleeping one will kill a lot of people if we don’t act fast. Those people are guaranteed to die this girl still has time.” A lot of it considering she isn’t in any danger. Mira stops not quite seeing Rues’ point but at the same time understanding it. Suddenly Aylin intervened. Reaching out she grabbed Miras arm and lead her back to the carriage.

“They are right. We have to look at the bigger picture. We can’t save every cat we see stuck in a tree.” Mira looked outraged at Aylin comparing the current situation to that but complies and enters the carriage. At least she sees a losing battle.

The carriage ride is even quieter. Cael suddenly sighs loudly and with how quiet it is he might as well have dropped a bomb. But instead of him it was Liora who started talking first.

“May I ask what happened to you neck?” She gestures her hand towards Rues neck but doesn’t make contact. Though the others tried to be subtle it was obvious that they were listening intently to their conversation. Well, all but Aylin tried to be sneaky she instead was blatantly staring. Her eyes boring into Rues very soul.

“I accidently got hurt while I was taking a walk last night.” Not really a lie, instead they simply left some minor details out.

“Oh, my you need to be more careful. You know I never heard you leave despite the stairs being quite loud.” Rue couldn’t tell how sincere Liora was being.

“I took a short-cut.” Now all of them were staring at Rue with raised eyebrows.

“There was only one exit and the only way to reach it from upstairs is if you take the stairs. So pray tell what shortcut you took?” Raising an eyebrow Aylin was still suspicious. Rue shrugs again.