The miles were long. The scare with Kip appeared to be over but it lingered in their minds. Whatever it was… they needed to move quickly. An early pregnancy was not something they had considered. Tobias felt like an idiot. He should have prepared for everything. Just… surviving everything immediately before them had been the most pressing matter for months. The day was indeed hot and they had a long trek before they reached the next town.

However, he held onto the one that got them through each day -- they could both move.

“There’s no pain,” Kip said. The sound of her voice said otherwise. Tobias knew how Kip sounded when she was sick. This was worse.

They walked at an even pace, her arm flung over his shoulder, moving in tandem with one another. Tobias hoped for a traveling merchant but he couldn’t waver his strength for that chance.

Getting back to Tat was not an option right now. Besides, they would pass through some towns. There were Herbalists and caretakers in the Scarred villages. Just not exactly the medicine or care they would need.

Kip halted and took a deep breath. “I think I’m okay now.”

“Kip.” Tobias took her hands.

“Moving like this is slower.” She gritted her teeth. “We can’t stop for long either.” She started to walk and Tobias hurried to catch right up next to her. “We’ve made it this far,” she said, looking into his eyes. “I’ve been through worse. We’ve been through worse. So let’s hurry to the next town.”

Tobias smiled. His heart pained him but he trusted in Kip’s strength. “Okay,” they both picked up the pace. The clouds kept coming in and giving them small reprieves in the shade. The cobblestone road was reassuring, as it meant civilization couldn’t be too far away. “I’m here if you need help.”

They were silent. Only the sounds of their heavy breaths could be heard. That and the sounds of the leaves rustling in the wind leaving them behind as they ventured into the wide open valley of the Scarred Lands.

Tobias was impressed by the resolution deep within Kip’s heart. Ever since they were kids he had known her as the girl with the sword. Always wielding a weapon. Always venturing into danger and doing what she desired.

And now, despite the pain and fear, she was moving. He didn’t know if she was truly okay or if she was toughing it out but it didn’t matter. Forward was the only option, the only direction. Wooden signs, some grown over with weeds, knocked down, or splotched with brown and white mushrooms guided their way. A small village by the name of Gnosh was the closest village to them.

They didn’t survive for nothing, he reminded himself. They didn’t make it this far for nothing.

They kept a steady pace. Jogging in quick bursts. Walking with long strides. Tobias checked on her often. Kip looked awful. Sweat poured down her face and her hair clung to her skin. Multiple times she stopped, grimacing and groaning in pain, but then she would move again, hand on her belly, moving as best she could.

Now, Tobias had her arm around his shoulders again, helping her along.

“Every step we get closer,” he kept saying. “Never forget that. Never forget that.”

Tobias thought back on that beautiful moment turned ugly. The Nadian Monarchs surrounding them… such a blessed moment. And then they all fled when that force of energy emerged from Kip’s body. The only explanation Tobias could conjure up was that their child was, in fact, Gifted. Cursed to the people of the Kingdom. That reality terrified him. The danger their child would be in had instantly doubled.

These huge, strange, mysterious powers within such a small body. How would they affect Kip?

Tobias couldn’t think. He was tired. Pushing himself. Helping Kip along.

They rested. Ran.

Walked. Rested.

For miles.

Kip was crying. Moving as much as she could. She was squeezing Tobias’ hand as the pain resurfaced and she was struggling to move. There was only so much Tobias could motivate from within her -- eventually it came down to a person’s physical limitations.

Over this hill… there had to be the village of Gnosh. There had to be. Step after step, Kip found some strength, faltered, sobbed and growled out her desire to keep moving.

And then.

Civilization. That was Gnosh, right below them. There were so many buildings, so many people.

“I’m going to shout, Kip. I’m going to get help. I’ll be back I promise.” He helped her sit down on the hill and he rushed forward, waving his arms. “HEY! Someone help! Please!”

Some people stopped and looked, either placing baskets down or lowering their gardening tools. Eventually, two strangers who were blurry figures in the distance, looked to each other and hurried toward Tobias.

Thank the Gods. The Goddesses. Whoever. Tobias thanked them all. A woman and a man rushed, the woman lifted her long dress as she ran, the man catching up to her very quickly. Tobias gestured for them to follow. He was so grateful that these people seemed so trusting.

“What’s the matter?” An elderly woman ran up to his side and Tobias was shocked she could move so fast. And then he realized she wasn’t elderly at all. It was just the skin. What looked like wrinkles were actually deep-set scars and discolored patches of skin. This woman must have been in her forties at the very least.

“Kip! My wife! Is pregnant!” Tobias nearly stopped in his tracks. It was the first time he had called Kip his wife to another person. Using their real names. It made him smile. And suddenly, he repeated it in glee, despite the circumstances, having a moment of happiness among the chaos. “My wife is pregnant!” He exclaimed.

But this was no time for relief or happiness. This was urgent.

“Something is wrong with her. She needs an herbalist. An Alchemist if you have one.”

The three reached Kip who couldn’t stand on her own any longer.

“Tobias…” she said desperately.

“It’s okay!” Tobias knelt down and looked up at the woman.

She tightened her fists and moved to the side of Kip with the man, looking at Tobias sternly. “The Red Alchemist,” she smiled wide. “He left not too long ago. Took the main road going North.” Tobias whipped his head around, then back to the woman. “You can catch him if you hurry! We will take her to my house and into bed.”

She and the man helped Kip up and Tobias nodded. “What’s their name?”

“His name is J’san. You can’t miss his red cloak. And my name is Pyria -- tell him we’ve brought him to my house.”

The woman helped Kip, who was sweating and barely able to stand on her own. Tobias walked alongside them, wanting to make sure Kip got where she had to safely.

“Tobias,” Kip heaved. She smiled weakly at him. “I’ll be fine. Maybe pregnancy is just this hellish.” She wobbled and the others helped her.

“We’ll take care of her,” said the tall man, who smiled kindly at Tobias.

“Hurry!” Pyria said. “We have an herbalist in town but they can only do so much!”

Tobias, wide-eyed, looked at Kip. “I love you Kip. I’ll be back.” He held her gaze for a moment, not wanting to leave her. He couldn’t, not with her in such pain… but he had to trust in these people of Gnosh. He turned and ran down the main road.

Tobias had always been fast. But now, he was running for something he had never run for before. It had always been for survival, to fight the odds, to prove they could keep on living. Some of that was still true in this case. But now… he was running for hope. Hope was right around the corner.

He pushed his body to the absolute limit, his sheathed sword bouncing against his leg. He felt weak at first, from all the traveling, but he didn’t stop. Breathing hard, slamming foot after foot onto the dirt path. Dust kicked up. He worked his arms and was out of Gnosh within seconds.

As he went down the cobblestone path he screamed for the Alchemist’s name. The power of his voice echoed for what sounded like miles.

Kip held onto the woman tightly. What was this… was it the baby? Perhaps. It was such an intense pain, as if something was biting her deep inside. It came again and again and she cried out, nearly falling to her knees.

But if Tobias could move like that, so could she. This woman and these people couldn’t move her on their own. She needed to help herself as well. Shakily, she gritted her teeth and walked.

“My house is this way. We can set you up in bed. Your husband will return with the Alchemist, I know he will.” She struggled with Kip and Kip did her best to push herself harder. Just to the house, that’s all, and then she could rest for a bit. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a man run that fast in my life,” Pyria said.

Kip laughed and it sent a pain through her torso. Still, she smiled. It was nice to hear it from someone else. Husband. Made it feel real. “I know he will too. Yeah. He’ll fight for as long as it takes.” She breathed steadily, but her racing heart and inner jabs of fire distracted her from focused breath. She could feel nothing but pressure. Cramps. Heat. The sky was clouding over, though and it looked like rain.

The house was small but welcoming in the distance. Women and men all around them walked alongside, making sure they could jump in and help if needed. The entire village was gorgeous -- quite large for a village. Lines of homes, resting just on the side of a large patch of trees that seemed to lead into a forest.

Though, being suddenly alone among all of these people, Kip frowned. A fear of death struck her. The thought of dying among strangers on a cloudy day, without Tobias, without seeing her child, saddened her. Her heart raced and she clutched onto Pyria.

“Hey, it’s okay.” Others opened the door for them and they entered inside where it was a bit cooler. Pyria gave orders to others to gather water and fetch the herbalist. “It’s just a pregnancy. Scary. Painful, yeah. But that’s all it is. You will make it through this.”

Kip nodded. She herself said -- they had come this far. She had dealt with the pains and miseries of pregnancy for months. What was another day? And she had to think of their blessings… of the mysterious woman who protected them once before. Kip prayed to the stranger Goddess for safety. She prayed that, if these were her final moments, that she could at least see her baby and Tobias one last time.

Tobias wanted to cry but didn’t have the time or energy to do so. He was heaving and grunting. Cramps built up in his body but he breathed and clenched his fists through them. Trickles of rain felt nice but he feared that it would slow him down if it picked up. He shouted as he sprinted.

“J’SAN!!” Frantic breaths. Swallowing. More wails for the stranger’s name. “J’SAN! PLEASE HELP US!”

Tobias had never screamed so loud in his life. His throat was instantly aflame and stinging. He had been running for a while now. That Alchemist had made good distance. The fear of having missed him entirely raged through Tobias’ body -- every step took him further away from Kip.

A hill rose up in the distance. He slipped on a wet portion of dirt and caught himself on his hands. “No,” he growled to himself, picking himself right back up, his hands covered in dirt and suffering a couple cuts from the rocks. He wouldn’t stop moving.

And, much to his relief, as he climbed the hill, a red-hooded figure was down on the other side. The man was turned around, looking up at him. Tobias continued running. The man seemed to be on guard, of course, so Tobias slowed and halted before him and --

-- this was a teenager. Large blue eyes looked up at him, the young Alchemist a few feet shorter. . Tobias had no idea the village’s Alchemist was someone so young. It struck fear in his heart for the quality of care these Gnoshian people had.

Tobias shook his head. No, this was their only hope right now. Any chance was a chance.

“What’s the matter?” the Alchemist named J’san lowered his hood. “Who are you?”

“Please,” Tobias inhaled deeply and spoke as well as he could. “My wife. My best friend.” He grabbed the boy’s cloak. Tears fell from Tobias’ eyes. “She’s pregnant. In pain. We don’t know if something’s wrong. Please help us! We can’t do it alone.” Not with those strange powers emanating from within her. An Alchemist was exactly what they needed.

Tobias had heard stories of what Alchemists had done to the Gifted. But he had to ignore those rumors now. This was all they had.

J’san’s eyes became hard and he nodded. “Of course,” he said. “Back in Gnosh?”

“Uh--a woman! Named Pyria. She has her.”

J’san smiled. “Don’t worry. I will take care of her.” He grabbed Tobias’ arm and Tobias realized he was still grasping hold of J’san’s robes.

“Ah -- thank you. Sorry.”

“I’ve delivered many babies in these parts,” J’san said. “Come on, let’s go.” He hurried off. Tobias was going to run too but couldn’t keep up. His legs were weak and he definitely couldn’t run as fast as him right now.

“Go!” Tobias said waving his hand, J’san looking back at him. “Don’t slow down for me. Please just -- just make sure she’s safe!”

“You can count on me!” J’san ran up over the hill.

Thunder boomed in the distance.

Tobias dropped to his knees and took a moment to let himself regain some strength, even if it was for a moment.

Tobias closed his eyes and prayed to the woman who helped them before.

“I’m sorry if I’ve been a sinner. I’m sorry if I’ve done wrong. But please… help Kip. Let her be safe.” Now the tears came in full. He felt awful not being able to help.

But then, that moment of happiness struck him again. Maybe… just once, maybe this would end up alright.

“We’re having a baby,” he whispered to himself through the tears. She would do it. She was strong and healthy. After all this time. For what felt like years of hiding and running, they were finally going to say hello to the member of their family that had been on their way for so long. They were finally going to be a family. After collecting their papers from Tat, they could start a new life in the Republic.

Tobias smiled and turned his head up to the sprinkling rain.

Something struck him in the back.

Sharp and heavy. Piercing his flesh. Tobias lost air and flopped onto his stomach. The only thing he could hear was a loud whistle as the thing that entered him removed itself. All thoughts vanished from his mind, exploding into pure pain in his back and chest.

Tobias finally caught his breath and turned onto his side, taking in as much air as he could, working his lungs. What… what was that? No. No, he had to get up and move, there was no time for whatever this was.

He got up to a crouch and looked behind him, seeing a group of four people approaching. They ranged in size and shape. One of them held out their arm and a bird circled round and landed on it. A Hawk. Tobias could see as they got closer, now standing about a dozen feet away, blood dripped from its beak. He groaned and forced himself up onto his feet, the pains from breathing far too intense. Mixed with his exhaustion he truly felt like he would die.

“Hi there,” shouted the man with the Hawk. “Looks like we finally found you.” He rolled his shoulders. “A faint scent for our Hawk friend here, but just enough it seems.”

“Yes! Yes!” shouted a woman to his right. “Let’s just kill him. Okay? Can we just kill him?”

“He has a sword… it’s mine,” licked the lips of the largest man of the party.

A fourth, who looked no older than ten remained silent, his eyes fixed steadily on Tobias.

Tobias stared at them. They had a Hawk… a faint scent. The potion he and Kip had been drinking… from all the sweat and now the rain, had it…?

N--

No…

They were from Shieldhome. After all this time… the fortress-home still had people looking for him and Kip. His heart became heavy. After all this time… they were still hunted. They were still in danger.

They had come so far. But now was it all over?

Was it hopeless from the very beginning?

“Who… who are you?” Tobias managed to say, getting to his feet. He already knew why they were here. But they didn’t seem to be Knights of any kind he recognized. They weren’t even armed. But they had a Hawk. And they probably had more in a dormant state in their pockets. The warmth of the blood slowly weighed upon his tunic. It was a deep stab but probably nothing too serious. For now, anyway. Why didn’t they just kill him? Were they the type to make their targets suffer? Did they want to bring them into Shieldhome to be tortured first to pay for their sins?

“Well,” the one who was seemingly the leader of the group spoke up again, “My name’s Kill.” His grin was disgusting. It sent a vile feeling throughout Tobias. “We’ve spent a long time trying to find you. Seems like our proximity to each other was just enough so our Hawk could track you down. Lucky us.”

“You’ve been avoiding Hawk detection somehow, haven’t you?” The young boy spoke up. He didn’t look like the rest. The rest appeared dirty and aggressive. A hint of desperation on them. This kid, however, had a calm demeanor. True inquisitiveness in his voice. “Probably Alchemy of some kind. Dampen the scent of your blood.”

Tobias spat. “So. You’re here to kill me then?”

The man named Kill shrugged and stepped forward. “Yeah,” he said nonchalantly. “But before we do, there’s another right? A woman. With a sinful little monster in her belly, like us.”

Tobias clenched his teeth. He had no idea what that was supposed to mean. Did the Church hire some sinful births to do their dirty work? He glared at the man and brought his hand to the hilt of his sword. “She’s dead,” he said. It hurt him to say. He hoped speaking the words aloud would not make it become a reality. “So you’ve won in purging Nadi of those sinners. Now there’s just me.”

Kill chuckled and pushed his hair back. “Ah. I don’t believe you.” He sighed and looked down, kicking his boots in the dirt. He shoved his hands in his pockets and the Hawk’s mechanical wings went to work, the creature repositioning itself up onto Kill’s shoulder. “Listen. We’ve been through some real shit trying to find you both. Well, I guess you three. Delays. Near-death. Getting lost. And,” he smirked and leaned forward, bringing his hand to the side of his mouth, feigning a whisper, “Between you and me, traveling for months with these people isn’t exactly a fun time. Being out of our cold cells has been nice. But we can’t be out here forever.” He stood up straight again and tapped his head. “Eventually they’ll blow our brains into bits. Don’t want to take too long. So let’s hurry this up and have you tell us where the others are.”

“Your Hawks can’t find them because they’re dead.” Tobias held his gaze. “I buried her miles away. Both her and my baby.” He drew his sword. “There’s only me.”