As the sun rose, Huo Lohse could see that Pahaad was nestled in a small mountain basin completely surrounded by tall mountain peaks.

“Lolo?”

“Shanti!” Lolo stood up to greet her friend. She indicated the sleeping people near the fire, and hushed her. "We had a long night. Let's move away to talk."

Shanti led Lolo to a corner of the garden and hugged her. “You got my map? You look tired, and you’ve lost a lot of weight. Was that everyone back there?”

“Yes, and yes. The rest of the trainees chose to go home after the first week.”

“They gave you a choice?” Shanti asked.

Lolo nodded.

“Then why in the world did you stay?!”

“We stayed to try to gather information. Were you aware that the Dragon Tribe is preparing to start a war?”

Shanti bit her lip.

“You knew?!” Lolo asked.

“We’ve suspected for a while now, but without any real evidence. The military has been… changing. It’s hard to explain. But they are training differently. They care less about maintaining order and more about their battle drills. It’s been going on for a couple of years now, but the intensity has ramped up significantly in the last six months or so.”

“I heard that someone in your village was tortured under suspicions of being a spy,” Lolo said.

Shanti nodded. “That was about five months ago. I don’t know what they thought she knew, or who they thought she was talking to. Frankly, she hasn’t been able to open up to tell us much about the experience.”

“I’d like to talk to her if possible.” Lolo said.

“What for?”

“The guards in the cave run their mouths a lot. It’s possible that even though she wasn’t a spy, she heard something, and maybe someone that has also experienced the cave will be able to get through to her.”

“You’ve been to the cave?!” Shanti looked horrified.

Lolo nodded. “Twice.”

“I thought that you being a part of the exchange, being the Wolf Tribe princess, would protect you at least a little....”

“It might have. I think I probably got off easy.”

“Did they torture you?”

Lolo smiled unconvincingly. “I’m ok, Shanti.”

Shanti searched Huo Lohse’s face suspiciously for a chink in her armor.

“We have a lot to talk to you about. First and foremost, we need to talk to your father about the safety of your village. Sattal will likely punish anyone who helps us.”

“Wait. Was Sattal in charge of your training?”

“Only the last week and a half, why?”

“Let me guess.... He’s the one that sent you to the cave.”

“What makes you say that?”

“In case you haven't already noticed, Sattal is cruel, Lolo. After he graduated from the exchange, he was almost immediately promoted to the rank of captain. That, combined with his birthright as the crown prince, has given him impunity. He uses his status and soldiers to threaten and bully people. Of all the people I know of that frequent the camp, Sattal seems the most likely to send a visiting princess to the cave.”

Huo Lohse nodded but didn’t confirm or deny her suspicions. “What do you know about the Dragon General or the other captains?”

“The Dragon General is something of an enigma. He wields more power than most people realize, and he uses his captains to do his dirty work. As a result, not much is directly attributed to him. My understanding is that he keeps a council of captains. We’re not sure exactly how many there are. Each captain is responsible for a portion of the army, and the soldiers tend to be loyal to their captains. Sattal’s men are mostly assassins and trained military specialists. I’m not sure why he’s been granted the best soldiers, but Sattal’s cruelty and arrogance seem to be a good match for them. We’ve learned to avoid Sattal and his army. As for the other captains, I really don’t know much about them.”

"Do you know where a lieutenant falls in the command structure?"

"I know that they generally report to a captain, sometimes two captains as a sort of liaison. Lieutenants are often given the more routine command assignments that the captains themselves don't want to do."

"Are you familiar with a Lieutenant Beraham?"

"Yes. He's assigned to the training camp full time, and runs the registration room. Otherwise, his job is to weed out 'weaklings' from the training program in the first week or two before the instruction changes hands to a more capable teacher."

"That figures," Lolo said. "He's good at his job then. Do you know anything about Tamkhee's assignment as a captain?"

"No. Whatever his assignment is, it doesn’t bring him to the training camp, so we don't see him."

"He's not assigned to the training camp?"

"No, why?"

"He was our primary instructor for the summer. If he's not assigned to the camp, then who is? Sattal?"

"No. Sattal kind of just comes and goes as he pleases. He likes to torment new cadets, so we see him periodically, but he's not assigned to the camp. As for Tamkhee, I haven't seen him since the Wolf Tribe exchange. The training camp is usually run by a series of lieutenants that scout out the new soldiers and send talent reports back to their captains. A cadet can get recruited directly by a captain based on the recommendations of a lieutenant."

"Recruited? Do captains compete for new soldiers then?" This was a strange concept to Huo Lohse.

"In essence. It's supposed to encourage them to be good leaders. But it really encourages bribery and elitism."

"What happens to cadets that aren't recruited?"

"I don't know,” Shanti said, shaking her head.

Huo Lohse pondered this information and changed the subject. "Shanti, I was serious about talking to your father about the safety of your village."

Shanti nodded. "I'll arrange a meeting.”

“Is there another way out of the Dragon Tribe besides the main pass?”

“Yes, though most people don't know about it,” Shanti said. “It’s an old pass that takes you north through these mountains. It actually exits into Wolf Tribe territory.”

“I didn’t realize that Pahaad was so close to the Wolf Tribe.”

“Well, this northern mountain range marks the border between the Dragon and Wolf Tribes.”

“I suppose you’re right. That kind of makes us neighbors!”

***

“That looks infected, Lolo,” Shanti said, pointing at the wound on her collarbone. “Frankly, it’s amazing that more of these cuts aren’t infected.” Lolo was sitting on Shanti’s bed in her underwear while Shanti scanned her body for injuries. There were plenty to find, especially on her back and shoulders. “I see you took another beating this year,” Shanti commented after observing the cuts and bruising on her back. “These look like they're less than two weeks old.”

Lolo nodded in confirmation.

“From the cave?”

Again, Lolo nodded. “That was the first time.”

“What about these?” Shanti asked about the marks down the right side of her neck.

“Second time.”

“The cut too?”

Lolo nodded.

Something about Shanti’s expression changed as she inspected Lolo’s neck more closely. “How did you get these?”

“Hot rocks.”

Shanti gave her a funny look. “These aren’t burns, Lolo.”

Lolo saw a different type of concern in Shanti’s eyes and quickly looked at her toes.

Shanti took a seat on the bed. “Want me to guess what really happened?”

“Please, Shanti, don’t.” Lolo pulled her hair back over her right shoulder to cover the bruising. “I’d really rather not talk about it.”

“I understand.”

“You know?” Huo Lohse’s voice cracked.

Shanti nodded. “I’ve seen it before. Do I need to check you for injuries anywhere else?”

Lolo knew what Shanti meant and shook her head.

Shanti wrapped Lolo in a hug. “Ok. Then let’s bandage the rest of these.”

Lolo was trying not to cry again. “Please, don’t tell anyone.”

“You haven’t told the others?”

“Only Fortus knows. He was there.”

Shanti let go of Lolo to look her in the eyes. “They made him watch?!” Lolo didn’t have to answer for Shanti to understand, and Shanti pulled her friend back into a hug as Lolo started to cry.

“Fortus,” Shanti called, “it’s your turn.”

“Can’t Jadu do it?”

“Are you injured anywhere I shouldn’t look?”

Fortus rolled his eyes and shook his head.

“Then come on. You’re the only one left.”

Grudgingly, Fortus complied and entered Shanti’s room.

“Take your shirt off and sit down on the bed,” Shanti ordered while she sorted out her medical supplies on a table across the room.

Fortus thought about protesting, but he ultimately decided he’d better just get the exam over with.

“Any wounds on your legs?” Shanti asked as she turned around.

“Nothing worth having you look at. Just a bruise or two.”

Fortus had plenty of other bruises concealed by his shirt and an occasional cut. Shanti was quick to identify the handful of bruises Takleeph had inflicted with the metal pipe. “You’re lucky you don’t have any broken ribs. I’m guessing you got these in the cave with Lolo?”

Fortus stiffened. “She told you?”

Shanti stopped inspecting bruises to look Fortus in the face. “I recognized the bruising pattern on her neck and asked her who else knew.”

“But she didn’t tell you?”

“No. But I know that you were there.”

Fortus buried his face in his hands.

“Fortus, we’ve been sparring partners for a few years now. You can’t fool me. I know this is eating you up inside.”

His head popped up. “What are you suggesting?” He seemed angry.

“She made you promise not to tell, didn’t she?”

His eyes narrowed at her, but he nodded cautiously.

“But I already know. Do you need to talk about it?”

Fortus stood up to get in Shanti’s face and growl at her. “Are you asking because you are concerned about me? Or do you just want to hear all of the sick details?"

Shanti had never seen him behave like this. “You’ve changed.”

“What do you mean?”

“You’re actually protecting her,” she said with a smile.

“I’m not protecting anyone.” Fortus turned away to grab his shirt.

“Yes, you are. Last year, you’d have simply said ‘no’, or that you didn’t want to talk about it. Instead, you are posturing, deflecting the question, trying to intimidate me into backing off... should I continue?”

Fortus pulled his shirt on in a huff.

“Is this because of the assault, or is there more to it?”

“Cut the riddles, Shanti. Just say what you’re getting at.”

“Fine. Why are you protecting her?”

Fortus didn’t answer.

“Are you in love with her?”

“No.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. We’re just friends, Shanti.”

“You told me that lions don’t have friends-- that you’re all too busy finding ways to take advantage of each other.”

“I’ve made an exception for Lolo.”

“Why? What makes her so special?” Shanti dug.

“Are you jealous?” Fortus tried to bait her.

“No. Just trying to understand how someone as aloof as you could come to make that kind of exception.” Shanti would not be distracted. “So spill. Why does Huo Lohse Lang get the honor of being your first and only friend?”

“Because I trust her.” Fortus surprised himself by this statement. “She’s an idiot.”

“Did you just say that you trust her?!” Shanti was flabbergasted.

“She would never try to take advantage of anyone. She has proven time and time again that she would rather be cruelly punished than stand by and let someone else get hurt.”

“Is that what happened in the cave?”

He glared at her.

“They used you to get to her, didn’t they? I was wondering why she didn’t have defensive wounds.”

Fortus took a step closer to Shanti so they were practically nose-to-nose. “You want to know what happened? Fine. Two days ago, she was sent to the cave for protecting Ulana, she was sedated for protecting herself, she got herself assaulted to protect me, and she refused to tell anyone about it to protect them. She doesn’t have defensive wounds because she couldn’t fight back, but even if she had been able to, I’m not certain that she would have. Huo Lohse Lang is an idiot, and because of that, I trust her with my life. She’s the only person I know that would refuse my protection, but it is precisely for that reason that I will protect her.”

“There,” Shanti smiled. “Was that really so hard?”

***

“Village Leader Bhuje,” Huo Lohse took the lead and addressed Shanti and Jadu’s father, “thank you for meeting with us.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet some of my children’s friends. You must be Huo Lohse Lang from the Wolf Tribe.”

“Yes, sir. And this is Standig, Fortus, Ulana, and Durfein.” Lolo pointed her friends out, and Prata Bhuje nodded to them. “Thank you for your hospitality.”

“What can I do for you? Shanti tells me that you have something urgent to discuss.”

“Unfortunately, yes. As I’m sure you are aware, we’ve just escaped the dragon military training camp.”

“Yes.”

“We are concerned that our escape may put you and your village in jeopardy. Captain Sattal Ajigar will take our flight personally and will likely seek vengeance on anyone who he suspects of helping us.”

“I see,” Prata Bhuje frowned. “What are you suggesting then?”

“If I may,” Standig stepped forward and Lolo stepped back, “come with us.”

“Excuse me?”

“We understand that your relationship with the rest of the Dragon Tribe is strained. Sattal will likely use this incident as an excuse to punish all of you. Come with us. Leave the Dragon Tribe. I know that what I’m proposing is radical, but my brother would welcome your village to the Bear Tribe. We need more doctors, and we can offer you protection and a similarly mountainous landscape for you to resettle in.”

Prata was left speechless as was Shanti.

“Leave Pahaad?” Jadu summed up from the corner.

Standig nodded.

“I anticipate that Sattal and his men will arrive to look for us within the next twenty-four hours,” Fortus said. “They will know by now that we are gone, and it’s only a matter of time before they suspect Pahaad.”

“Village Leader,” Lolo stepped forward again, “please? Consider Standig’s proposal. Consider the freedom he offers you. The Bear Tribe leader is kind and generous. You would be well treated. I know it’s hard to leave your home, but I don’t know how else we can protect you.”

Prata exchanged glances with his children. “Shanti, Jadu, call an urgent village meeting. We need to discuss this with everyone.”

Within the hour, the entire village had assembled in a courtyard adjacent to the aromatic garden. Lolo counted eighty-seven villagers total, including the Bhuje family.

“Everyone, these are the exchange trainees that my daughter invited to Pahaad. As you know, they came here to escape the military. They have reasonably assumed that coming here will bring consequences to our village. I’ve called this meeting to discuss our options,” Prata informed the crowd.

“What options?” a grizzled old man near the front of the group asked.

“I was coming to that, Ziddee,” Prata said. “This young man is Standig Tragen, the Bear Tribe leader’s brother. He has proposed that we leave the Dragon Tribe and resettle amongst his tribe. Of course, the alternative choice is to stay here and take our lumps from Captain Ajigar and his men.”

There was a sudden buzz of whispered conversations at the reference to Sattal. Somewhere toward the back of the group, a woman started crying. The villagers turned to look at her.

“If Sataaya is any indication of what ‘taking our lumps’ means, I vote we leave,” a middle-aged woman spoke up.

“Who’s Sataaya?” Lolo leaned over to ask Shanti while the villagers continued to discuss the issue at hand.

“She is the woman that was tortured a few months back,” Shanti replied in a whisper and pointed to the crying woman.

Huo Lohse recognized the panic in Sataaya’s cries and wanted so desperately to commiserate with her, let her know that she wasn’t alone. “Shanti, would it be ok if I went to talk to Sataaya?”

“You mean right now?”

Lolo nodded.

“It might be a little awkward,” Shanti said, “but there aren’t any rules against that.”

Lolo didn’t mind the awkwardness. She left the group at the front to enter the crowd. Lolo knelt down in front of a broken and disheveled twenty-something-year-old woman sitting on a chair. Sataaya was surprised to see a new face in front of her and stopped crying. Huo Lohse took one of Sataaya’s hands in hers, and Sataaya got off her chair to kneel down in front of Lolo. She inspected the injuries on Lolo’s neck, the cut on her head, the sincerity in her eyes. She hugged Lolo firmly, and the two of them let their tears drip onto each other’s shoulders, releasing their shared pain, unaware of the silence that had settled around them as everyone watched their exchange.

Prata addressed the crowd again. “Does anyone oppose leaving the village?” With the two women still embracing each other, no one could object. “Pack essentials only. We should leave as soon as possible.”

A very somber village left the courtyard, leaving Huo Lohse and Sataaya together.

“They hurt you too?” Sataaya eventually asked.

“Yes,” Lolo confirmed. “What did they do to you?”

“They tortured me, like I was a spy,” Sataaya shuddered. It was obvious that the torture had left her terrorized and unhinged.

Huo Lohse brushed the hair out of Sataaya’s face. “What did they think you knew?”

“They kept asking me about a war.”

“But what war?” Lolo asked.

“That’s what I said! But they wanted to know what I knew about their secret plans,” Sataaya whispered the last two words and giggled like a school girl telling a great secret.

“What did they tell you?”

“Praise to the Dragon General! He will lead us into a new era. Just a few years they said. Just until the general prepares his army.”

“Prepares his army?”

“His secret army.” Again, Sataaya giggled at the word ‘secret’.

“What kind of secret army?”

“'Don’t know! The soldiers don’t know. They are toys.”

“Where were you when they captured you?” Lolo asked.

Sataaya suddenly looked terrified and her eyes focused on a point over Lolo's shoulder. “I’m just lost! I’m here to make the man all better! They asked me to come.”

“Who? Who are you helping?”

“He’s old. Sick. Might not make it. He needs a drink! You think I’m wandering on purpose, but I’ve never been here before.” Sataaya had started trembling and shaking her head, her hands curled up against her temples as though she were trying to block out the memories.

“Hey, Sataaya, I’m sorry. I asked too many questions.”

Sataaya calmed down and looked at Lolo. “They hurt you. Are you a spy?”

“They didn’t think I was a spy. They hurt me because I tried to help someone else.”

“They like hurting people,” Sataaya contemplated. “Like a game. You are a toy.”

“That’s right. That’s how they think.”

“But they are the toys,” Sataaya added knowingly.

“What makes you say that?”

“They are the Dragon General’s toys, of course. All toys. Toy soldiers. Marching. Yes, sir. No, sir. Salute!” Sataaya broke into a fit of giggles.

As Sataaya's thoughts devolved into increasingly bizarre ramblings, Huo Lohse knew that she wouldn’t get any more answers out of her, but she’d already gotten out quite a lot. The Dragon General was preparing a secret army of some sort, and the war wouldn’t start until he was finished in a few years.

“Toy soldiers, march! All little toy soldiers….”

The village was ready to leave within a couple of hours. The trainees helped by carrying whatever they could. Many tears were shed as the villagers left their homes, but eighty-seven villagers plus the five trainees made their way north, across the basin and up the side of another mountain. As they peaked the mountain in front of them, they turned to get a last glimpse of Pahaad.

The climb down into the Wolf Tribe was steep and treacherous. This small mountain pass was never intended for the very old, the very young, or people carrying the last of their possessions with them. Their descent took several hours, reaching the base of the mountain around sunset, but once in the valley below, they were safely in Wolf Tribe territory.

“Look!” Fortus pointed back up the mountain.

Everyone turned to see a tower of smoke rising into the otherwise clear sky.

“Pahaad,” Ulana realized. “It’s burning.”

They travelled into the forest in front of them for another hour and a half until dusk. No one said much, but everyone was thinking about how close they had come to being destroyed along with the village. They made camp, and everyone grouped up in their families to get fires started and set up beds.

The five trainees assembled together around a small fire with the Bhuje family. Despite her limited rest the previous two nights, Huo Lohse couldn’t relax enough to fall asleep. Instead, she found herself just staring into the crackling fire.

“Aren’t you tired?” Standig asked after waking up chilled on the grassy ground.

“Go back to sleep, Standig,” Lolo smiled at him.

He didn’t buy it and instead collected his blanket to wrap over his shoulders while he moved to sit next to her. “Can’t sleep?”

Lolo just shrugged.

“Nightmares again?”

She shook her head. “Can’t get to sleep in the first place.”

“You have to be exhausted. I know you were up keeping watch last night.”

“That might be part of the problem, actually. I’m a little too tired, and a lot happened this last week. It’s all a bit overwhelming, and I can't get my mind to shut off.”

Standig frowned at her. “Anything I can do to help?”

“I don’t think so.”

“We could try meditating? Taking the time to clear your mind and connect with your animal spirit a little might help, and we haven’t exactly had the time we’d hoped to practice this summer.”

“I’m not sure I’m up for meditating right now,” Lolo admitted wearily.

“Just offering. If you’d like to give it a try, I’m willing.”

“Thanks, Standig.”

Standig joined Lolo in staring at the fire. “Hey, Lolo?”

“Hmm?”

“Are you worried about the war?”

“Yeah. Aren’t you?”

“I can’t really imagine a war, to be honest. It just seems too... I dunno... far-fetched?”

“It’s true. It doesn’t seem real.”

“A lot of things are going to change.”

“What do you mean? What kinds of things?”

“Well, the training exchange, for one. After this year’s experience, after we report our findings, I’d imagine that a lot of parents are going to choose to keep their kids closer to home, especially those from the smaller tribes.”

“I hadn’t thought about that.” Lolo stopped to consider the implications. “Hey, Standig, do you think the Dragon Tribe is strong enough to win against the other four main tribes and all of the smaller tribes?”

“I don’t know. I don’t know how big the Dragon Tribe really is, how big their military is. I’d imagine that they plan to pick us off one by one where possible, maybe starting with the smaller tribes before attacking any of the main tribes, weaken us before we have a chance to unite against them.”

Huo Lohse nodded. “We should probably push our tribe leaders to create preemptive alliances. You know, the ‘in the event of an attack, we pledge to support and defend you’ kind of thing.”

“I’m sure we could establish that sort of alliance between our two tribes at least, and I’d imagine that many of the smaller tribes would be quick to make those sorts of alliances,” Standig agreed. Standig was getting sleepy again and laid back in the grass with his blanket wrapped around him. “Hey, Lolo, come lie down.”

“I’m not sleepy, Standig.”

“It doesn’t hurt to try, does it?”

She sighed. “Fine. I’ll try.” Lolo twisted her blanket around her body and laid down on the grass next to Standig. “Happy?”

Standig rolled onto his side to face her. “It would work better if you stopped talking.”

Lolo stuck her tongue out at him, making him chuckle.

“Pretend like we are meditating together. Close your eyes and try to match your breathing with mine.” He closed his eyes and started taking long, deep breaths.

Lolo huffed a little but gave Standig’s suggestion a try. As she focused on his breathing, she could feel her own body start to relax. Standig’s breathing slowed steadily, so did Huo Lohse’s. The morning light found the pair of friends curled up next to each other, fast asleep.

“Let’s break camp,” Prata Bhuje ordered.

Everyone dumped dirt over the remaining embers of their campfires and folded up the last few blankets. Standig finally found it necessary to prod Lolo awake.

“Lolo, we’re ready to get moving again.”

Lolo whimpered slightly and sat up, her face plastered with indents left by the grass she’d been resting on, her eyes heavy with the consequences of insomnia. “What’s the plan? Where are we heading?”

“I think the plan is to head northeast-ish, deeper into Wolf Tribe territory and then separate once we find the main road.”

The journey through the forest was slow-moving with so many people, but it only took them a couple of hours to reach the road. Following the road west would take Lolo home to Pack Hall. East led to a fork in the road where Standig and the Pahaad villagers would turn north toward the Bear Tribe, and Fortus, Ulana, and Durfein would continue east toward the tournament grounds and beyond to their individual tribes.

While the group took a few minutes to rest before continuing on their individual paths, Lolo found a collection of boulders to the side of the road to sit on and mentally prepare herself for the imminent goodbyes.

“Hey! Can I join you?” Durfein asked.

Lolo smiled at him. “Of course.”

Durfein stood in front of the boulder she was sitting on, his shoulders level with her knees. “What are you thinking about?”

“Nothing in particular. Just letting the cogs in my head spin.”

Durfein grinned. “That’s fair, I guess.”

“So, what are your plans Durfein?”

“Go home, help my parents prepare for a war that no one wants.”

“Will I see you at the Lion Tribe next year?”

Durfein’s face fell, and she knew the answer before he said anything. “No. I’m sorry, Lolo, but I’m going to be needed at home.”

Huo Lohse felt herself choke-up and had to look away to keep from crying. She was tired of crying.

“Hey, Lolo, it’s no big deal,” Durfein tried to comfort her.

“I know,” Lolo worked to find her smile again. “I’m just sad about it is all.”

“Come here,” Durfein extended his arms up to her to help her off the rock. She grabbed his shoulders and he pulled her down and into a hug. “You’re right. I don’t know when I will see you again, so I have some things I’d like to tell you before we say goodbye.”

Lolo sniffed a little and pulled away to look Durfein in the eyes. “Sure. What is it?”

“First, I want to thank you. You are the best friend I’ve ever had, always believing in me, encouraging me to be myself and develop my talents, as unconventional as they are. I can’t even begin to tell you how much that has meant to me.”

Huo Lohse smiled and hugged him again. “But you really are so talented. Thank you for sharing your talents with me.”

Durfein chuckled and peeled her arms off his waist, keeping hold of her hands. “There’s one more thing, Lolo.”

“What is it?”

“Well, I know the timing for this is just stupid…. But I wanted to tell-”

“There you two are!” Ulana said as she, Fortus, and Standig rounded the boulder behind Durfein.

Durfein shut his eyes and exhaled, his plans thwarted.

“Durfein, are you ready to head out?” Fortus asked. “Ulana and I assumed that we’d all walk together. Besides, we’ve got a lot of smaller tribes to report to along the way.”

“Durfein was telling me something important,” Lolo protested.

“It’s ok, Lolo. I’ll tell you some other time,” Durfein said, turning away to head out with Fortus and Ulana.

“But when is some other time? We were just talking about how we don’t know when we will next see each other.”

“But there will be a next time,” Durfein smiled a little sadly.

“Oh. Well, ok then. I guess this is goodbye?”

“Yeah. Goodbye, Lolo.”

“Goodbye, Durfein.... Ulana.... Fortus.” Lolo gave each of her friends a last hug in turn. “I’ll see you sometime soon. If not the exchange next year, then sometime….” she trailed off, feeling too melancholy to continue.

Her friends turned to follow the road east, and Standig stepped next to Lolo so they could watch Durfein, Ulana, and Fortus leave together.

“You guys aren't forgetting anything, right?” Ulana teased. “Didn’t leave anything behind?”

“Oh, shoot! I forgot my luggage,” Fortus responded with sarcasm.

Durfein stopped abruptly in the middle of the road.

“What’s wrong, Durfein? You didn’t forget anything for real, did you?” Ulana asked, confused.

“You know what,” Durfein said, “I don’t actually care if you guys all know.”

“Know what?” Fortus asked, but Durfein was already sprinting back down the road.

“Lolo!” Durfein called.

She had turned to walk with Standig back to the villagers and spun around to the sound of Durfein’s voice. “Wha-” She didn’t even see him. Durfein caught her cheek and pulled her into a kiss. When he released her, she was staring at him wide-eyed and stunned, her cheeks bright pink.

“That’s what I wanted to tell you,” Durfein smiled, relieved. He kissed her forehead, and took a few steps back along the road. “Bye, Lolo!”

Durfein was well out of earshot by the time she’d recovered enough to stammer out her own “goodbye.”

“Lolo?” Standig prodded her shoulder.

“Hm? What?” she floundered, coming out of her daze.

“'You ok?” Standig asked, trying not to laugh, eyebrows raised.

“I think so.”

“Did you know?”

“Know?”

“About Durfein?”

“Not a clue.” Lolo shook her head as much to clear it as to answer Standig’s question.

Standig chuckled. “Well, do you like him back?” he teased.

Without a good answer for him, Lolo resorted to elbowing Standig in the ribs.

“Is that a yes?”

“Stop, Standig! I don’t know, and you're confusing me.”

“So it’s a no?” Standig started laughing at Lolo’s expense.

“Cut it out! I said I don’t know!” She tried to punch his arm, but he dodged and took off running down the road, laughing harder still. “Standig, you jerk!” She chased after him.

Standig was laughing too hard to run very fast, and Lolo caught up with him. She jabbed him in the side, and Standig hunched down to protect his ribs from further assault, giving Lolo the opportunity to wrap an arm around his neck in a playful headlock. "Alright, alright, you win, Lolo!"

She released her hold on his neck and he straightened up, still grinning.

"You're so sensitive."

"Next time someone confesses their feelings for you, I'll be sure to harass you about it, so you can see how you like it!"

Standig rubbed his neck where Lolo's arm had been. "By the way, was that your first kiss?"

"First one that counts anyway. What about you? 'Ever kissed or been kissed by anyone?"

Standig shook his head. "Haven't had much opportunity for that sort of thing. I didn't even have friends until a couple of years ago. I've got to hand it to Durfein though; that was a gutsy move kissing you in front of everybody like that."

"Does he get extra points for 'gutsiness'?" Lolo asked, somewhere between annoyed and genuinely curious.

Standig started laughing again. "You tell me!"

She shrugged. "Honestly, I'm not sure how to feel about it. I really had no idea that he felt that way, so it was surprising and embarrassing and maybe a little flattering, but mostly, I just feel awkward now."

Standig and Huo Loshe returned to find the villagers ready to continue their journey.

"Do I get a hug?" Standig pouted playfully.

Lolo rolled her eyes and gave him his hug. "You know, you'd better not grow any more this year, or I'll barely be able to reach your waist."

Standig laughed. "I think you just need to grow with me."