The rain stopped.

It happened so suddenly that Cross almost didn't notice. It wasn't the lack of cold water slapping against his skin that he noticed first. It was the silence. The sudden and overwhelming silence that filled up that space once taken by the incessant tap tap tap of the raindrops against the leaves.

It was jarring and unsettling.

If Misa noticed, and Cross had no doubt she did, she did not say anything. Cross felt no great urge to speak on that matter either and he remained silent.

The days continued to slip by, one after another. Some days they would train, and Misa would hurt him, though not nearly as bad as she had the first day. Others they would do nothing more than sit together on a branch, watching the animals down below move around among the slowly drying forest floor.

During those times, with the softest rays of sunlight seeping through the foliage and cascading down on Misa, Cross could not help but marvel at his own ineptitude. Even though she was right beside him, so close he could reach out and touch her, he still had trouble believing she was real. How could he have forgotten someone so beautiful, so ethereal?

To his credit, he reasoned that the poisoning may have had something to do with his missing memories.

The days stretched into weeks and they continued as they were, ignoring the question that loomed heavier than any storm cloud. In the end, it was Cross who broke the silence.

"The rain stopped," he said, glancing at the elf as they ate. She paused, a berry halfway to her mouth. Her eyes, sharp as ever, flicked to his for only a moment before she nodded and continued to eat. The silence she left in her wake was too much for Cross to bear and he spoke again. "I didn't think it ever was going to stop."

"No storm lasts forever. All things come to pass in time," Misa replied after a few minutes of silence.

"Mmmmm," Cross nodded and popped a berry into his mouth. It was bitter and made his lips purse. He had a feeling Misa liked to see his expression when he ate them because she added them to almost every meal. Though with the impassive expression that rarely left her face, he could never be quite sure.

"You will leave soon," Misa said as they finished eating. She was not asking him.

"Yeah, I guess I will," Cross glanced down to pouch that was securely locked to his hip. Jiana's request was still safely tucked away inside. He was late. Far later than he should be. Lexi was probably irate. Well, more irate than she normally was.

"Today.”

Cross looked up sharply. His mouth opened and closed a few times but he could find only one word. “Today?”

“Today.” Misa nodded. "This storm has passed, but that does not mean another will not come."

"Ah, yeah. I guess you're right," Cross couldn't argue with that. Misa was, if nothing else, practical. Still, as he looked around the tree, he felt something hold him down.

His eyes fell on Misa.

"Misa…" Cross started but quickly trailed off. He wasn't quite sure what he wanted to say. The thought of suddenly leaving her to the forest, to spend her days alone, it left a cold feeling in the pit of his stomach. But there was nothing he could do. Misa was the guardian of the forest, a task that she had long devoted her life to. He was a courier and had a task of his own to complete.

Separate lives that could only intersect for these brief moments.

"You will return through here, on your way back," Misa said, breaking into his silent thoughts. Again, she was not asking.

"I will.”

"Then it is time." Misa stood up. With reluctance Cross stood as well and followed after her.

xXx

The forest floor was little more than mud, but Misa didn't seem to mind the feeling against her bare feet as she led Cross along a path only known to her. The silence between them wasn't uncomfortable, but it still left Cross wanting to say something. He, however, failed to produce anything intelligible to say and he remained silent.

"This is as far as I take you," Misa said as she came to a slow stop and turned to look at Cross.

He peered passed her and through the tree line. Just beyond he could see the plains of Verla. A gust of cold air washed over his body as he took a step forward and he shivered.

"Winter is close.”

Cross nodded. "Yeah."

"I am glad you came here," Misa turned to him and tilted her head up to look him in the eye. “I was glad to see you.”

"Yeah, me too." A smile tugged on the corner of Cross's mouth. "I'll see you soon, then, Misa.”

"Take care, Cross. There are dangers in the plains," Misa said as Cross began to move passed her.

"With all the training you've put me through I don't think this can be any more dangerous," Cross called. He didn't expect a reply from Misa and when he glanced over his shoulder, he wasn't surprised to see that she had already faded back into the forest and out of his sight. He let out a heavy sigh and nodded to himself. "Right, then."

xXx

The village was not far from the forest, but still it took Cross the better part of the day to walk there. It was a child who first spotted him, calling out in a language that Cross was not familiar with. In a matter of minutes, multiple members of the village had come out to see him. A few watched him a wary eye, but the majority simply seemed curious. One rather bold child even ran up and poked him in the side before running away, shrieking to his friends.

Their antics left Cross with a bemused smile.

"Welcome," a frail old woman broke from the group and shuffled towards Cross. Her walking stick tapped lightly against the ground with each step. "You come, why?"

Her accent was thick, but Cross was still able to understand her Gori. He carefully removed the request Jiana had given him and held it up. "Medicine."

"Dragon?"

"Dragon," Cross answered with a small dip of his head.

The old woman nodded before she turned back to the group and waved them away. They dispersed quickly and she bid Cross to follow her back to her hut. The door was already open and a strong scent of smoke and herb stemmed from the dwelling. Cross fought not to cough as it settled in his lungs and made his head light. The old woman noticed his discomfort. She laughed and said something that he could not understand.

"How Jiana?" she asked as she puttered around the hut, picking up various bottles and potions, holding each one up to her eye for a long time before putting it back down again. Nothing was labeled "Not come? Sick?"

"She is well," Cross assured.

"Child?" She turned on him and narrowed her wrinkled eyes. "Yes, child. Have eyes."

Cross smiled at that. Considering he was adopted, he wasn't entirely sure how that was possible, but he didn't feel like explaining that to the old woman. He wasn't sure he had the necessary vocabulary either.

"Here." She produced a small vial filled with light blue liquid. She gave it a gentle shake before pressing it into Cross's hand.

"Thank you," Cross said with a small nod, he put the vial in his pouch and started to step back when she grabbed his hand.

"You stay," she said.

Cross waved his hand. "I need to return.”

"They come. Night. Not safe." She held him with a firm grasp and looked out the window where the sun was already hanging low in the sky. She spoke for a long time before taking in a deep breath and starting over in a language Cross could understand. "You stay. Morning leave."

Cross's brow furrowed but Misa’s warning echoed in his head, along with a soft pulse against his temple. Letting out a very soft sigh, he gave a slight nod.

She relaxed and released his hand before stepping out of the hut. After she barked out a few short, sharp orders, Cross soon found himself with a place to stay during the fast approaching night. It was a small room that had been built onto the side of a hut. It didn't look like a particularly comfortable place to sleep, but Cross thanked the old woman, and the owner of the home, nevertheless.

"Come. Eat," she said after making sure he understood where he would be sleeping.

Cross allowed himself to be led to the center of the village where a great fire was already roaring. A massive, bubbling cauldron was hanging over the fire. Smaller children held out sticks speared through various small rodents and lizards over the flame, biting into them when the skin had grown crisp. The large, communal style dinner seemed to be the norm as soon a bowl was given to Cross without prompting by a bashful girl who blushed and scampered away almost as soon as Cross made eye contact with her.

"Thanks for the food," Cross sighed as he sat down on a large wooden bench that had been set up near the fire. "Right, then."

He had just started to eat when someone sat down next to him. Cross slowly turned his head when another villager slid up and onto the bench on his other side.

The first one was a male, roughly his age. He had a scar that ran down the length of his cheek that would have given him a rather rough look, had it not been for his extremely curious blue eyes. He gave Cross a wide smile and spoke. Cross frowned and shook his head, pointing at his ears.

The man tried again.

Cross shook his head.

One more time.

Cross began to shake his head but caught himself. Some of the words sounded familiar. He closed his eyes and listened.

"You….. dragon…..far….?"

He was speaking Romiatii. Cross was far from fluent but he did his best to respond.

"I am of the Sleeping Dragon guild," Cross nodded his head. He guessed that the old lady had told them where he was from. How many times had Jiana come here before him? He would have to ask when he returned home.

He said another word that Cross couldn't understand. Cross shook his head and the boy frowned and began to speak again, but the girl, who was seated to the other side of Cross, reached passed him and slapped the boy on the head. He winced and glared at her. She spoke quickly and gave him another slap on the head.

"Apology," the boy said before slapping himself on the chest. "Tion!" he reached out and tapped Cross on the chest and gave him a questioning look.

"Tion?" Cross furrowed his brow.

"Tion!" Another slap on the chest. He tapped Cross again.

"Oh. Your name is Tion," Cross nodded and slapped himself on the chest. "Cross!"

Tion smiled. "Cross!

"Tion," Cross held out his hand. Tion stared it for a moment before realization spread over his face. He reached out and proudly shook Cross's hand.

Cross turned as he felt the girl tap his shoulder. She had eyes the same color and shape as Tian. He guessed they were probably brother and sister. "Shur!"

"Tian and Shur." Cross laughed softly. "Nice to meet both of you."

They smiled at him and Shur shifted closer, drawing his attention. She reached out and tugged on the sleeve of his tunic.

"Fa'arl?" she said, looking at him expectantly.

"Fa'arl?" Cross repeated as she moved her hands up his arm.

"Fa'arl," Tian scrunched up his face. "Fa'arl….um….um… Er….."

"Er?" Cross looked between the sibling.

"Er…Ert?" Tian tried. "Forest?"

"Fa'arl," Shur said with a pout. "Fa'arl!"

"Fa'arl...Ert…forest" Cross was sure those first two words were not Gorin words or Romiatii. Forest? Could he mean? Cross looked at Tian. "Elf?"

"Elf!" Tian nodded. "Clothes. Elf!"

Shur began to chatter. The words tumbled out so fast that it seemed that even Tian was having trouble following. Finally, he turned to Cross.

"Shur… Shur says… elf friend?" he said slowly.

"Friend." Cross nodded.

Shur chattered again as Tian translated back to her before speaking to Cross. "Elf. Danger."

Cross sat up straighter. "What?"

Tian understood through the tone alone. "Danger."

"Danger. How?" Cross said. He felt a pressure begin to build in his temple.

"Danger…. Shur says…" Tian struggled to find the words in the unfamiliar language. "They…man…man…men…men came?"

Cross pushed off from the bench, his hands curling into fists. "What men?"