I watch in silence as Amina quickly and efficiently breaks down the small tent and folds it until it’s even smaller than my sleeping bag. After our discussion earlier I think I’ve finally convinced her that I really don’t know anything about the amulet, but I could be wrong. She did grill me on everything about myself and my parents before finally telling me her name and packing up her belongings, making sure to tell me not to go anywhere.

The sun is beginning to set for the second time since that fateful night I was chased through the woods. It’s hard for me to believe what happened. Four days ago I was setting out for the market excited just to be leaving home for two days on my own, now I don’t know if I’ll ever even be able to go home again. From the way Amina made it sound going back while the men who attacked me are still after me would bring nothing but trouble for my mom. The best thing to do right now is to go with her. She can help me avoid the men searching for me and hopefully tell me a little more about what’s going on.

I reach into my jacket pocket and rub my fingers along the smooth surface of the amulet. Why Amina let me keep it is beyond me. When I tried to give it to her earlier all she did was give me a strange look and tell me to hold on to it for now. Her constant glances back at me while packing make me think that maybe she’s testing me. Trying to see if I try and run off with it. I get the impression she’s not very trusting of people.

She finishes packing the tent away in her bag and slings in over her shoulder. Turning and walking towards me she stops a few feet from me and speaks to me for the first time in at least an hour, since she started packing, “We need to head south. To Wirdel for now, from there we can find someone to take us towards the coast.” She stops and looks at me expectantly. When I merely stare at her she nods her head slightly at me, indicating for me to move first. “Are you going to lead the way or…?” She asks, raising her brows questioningly.

“What? Why am I? You’re…” I sputter out confused.

She rolls her eyes, “You’re from around here. You know the way better than I do.”

I look down and rub my neck awkwardly, shifting my feet, “I’ve never been that far.” I finally say, barely more than a whisper.

“What?!”

“I’ve never been farther than Isthmus” I mutter.

“You’ve lived here your whole life and never even gone that far!” A mixture between disbelief and anger fills her voice. When I don’t say anything in response she sighs and pushes past me. “Come on. We should try and get as far away from here as possible while it’s dark out. We don’t know how far out they’re searching but we want to be sure we’re clear of them before morning.

Silently I fall in line a few steps behind her. We walk in silence through the snow, using the reflection of the nearly full moon’s light off the snow to guide us. After about an hour, the open expanse of the road becomes visible on our right. We use this to guide us as we continue on beside it. At one point I look back to see not only the mountain I call home looming behind us but also the Isthmus Valley. The reality of my situation finally sets in. I may never come back here. I may never see my mother again. I had already thought about all this… but something about seeing the place I’ve always called home slowly shrink in the distance makes it feel real.

I don’t realize I’ve stopped moving until I feel a tug on my shoulder. I turn back around to look at Amina, a girl a barely know and yet am now forced to rely on. She jerks her head back, silently telling me we need to continue. I nod in understanding and we continue on our way just as before.