Kelsie pulled the leaves across the entrance to her hideout. Looking at her time, she had fourteen hours left. Closing her eyes, she steadied her breathing, allowing her senses to take in everything around her, noise, taste, smell and feel.

According to the map, it didn't matter which way she went; she would still end up at Jezebel's House. However, she suspected whatever waited for her on each path may be slightly different. Everything was to be seen as a test. Something her mother would say to her, life is for the living, but everything should be seen as a test. Silently berating herself for allowing emotion to claim her attention, she shook her head, swallowing hard.

It was hard to speak to Zander as she had. She longed for him to be with her and give her the confidence she needed to get through this, but Jezebel had made it plain that she was to go through this alone or forfeit her rule and lose her people. She could do without ruling but not the people, her family, friends, and brethren. For them, she would face whatever was on the journey.

A sudden cry on the path alerted her presence of the hunters. According to the commotion, the wire had been found. Shifting into the shadows, she waited, pulling up the hood of the long-sleeved cloak she found draped over her backpack when she woke. It draped over her head, dipping between her eyes, protecting her from detection.

"She was here," she heard a rough voice, "take the injured back to the camp," he coughed hard before continuing, "we'll keep watch."

Kelsie waited with her heart in her mouth; it pounded at every pulse point at the sound of feet scuffing the sand outside her hiding place. Drawing her dagger, she waited. Instinct screamed these men were waiting for her, to capture her, and heavens knew what else they had in mind to please themselves at her expense. She could not allow that to happen. Emotion clogged her throat, twisting in her chest. Finally, the feet moved away, and silence fell. Kelsie sheathed her dagger before easing to the trail's edge, expecting to see eyes staring at her. Nothing was on the path either way. Waiting a moment more, she eased out, keeping to the shadows where the ground was hard and moved quickly between the trees lining the path. The map had indicated a waterfall up ahead that she needed to cross. Careful of more traps, Kelsie moved forward. Breathing in, she steadied her panting, shaking her head to clear it. She left the shadows, moving to the rocks where the river ran, falling down a steep rock face to a pool at the bottom before continuing, carefully looking over the edge; Kelsie sucked in a breath. Moving to the top of the waterfall where rocks protruded from the water, Kelsie scanned the horizon, sunrise. It would make it easier to make her way, but it would also make it easier to be hunted.

Checking the banks of the river, she did not see any other way to get across except the branches of the trees, which she was not permitted to use. Folding her map and flashlight into a waterproof bag, she moved the backpack onto both shoulders before easing her way toward the first rock. Kelsie felt panic rise; she could slip and fall to her death or drown or be attacked while vulnerable. None of those options inspired her to take on this dangerous task. She longed to hear Zander tell her she could do it, tease her into determination and fearlessness. She sighed; with him, she was fearless, but he was not here and courage needed to be found without him, on her own. Breathing in, she blew the breath out through her lips.

"Come on, Kelsie," she whispered, "you can do this. On the other side, you'll be closer to Jezebel's House."

Squaring her shoulders and accepting that no matter what she did or didn't do, there was a possibility of death. The motion of the Order is forward. Forward she would go. Selecting a rock, she started making her way across.

Above the river, Zander watched as Kelsie started across. It was wide enough to make it dangerous, and if caught in the middle, she would be exposed and vulnerable. He could see so many scenarios where she could fall, injure herself or die. Scanning the surrounding areas, he watched her gingerly hop from one rock to the next. Sucking in his breath when she fought to keep her balance, only releasing it when she stood on two feet. The sun rose over the water, turning the water into a sparkling beauty. Kelsie landed on a large flat rock in the middle, crouching while she drank some water. She seemed to be aware of her surrounding, but he wondered how she felt. Was rest required? Did she doubt herself? A sound from the path snapped his eyes to the position it came from. Kelsie heard it as well. Putting away her water, she increased the speed of moving from rock to rock, stretching Zander's already frayed nerves. She moved to the last rock before the bank when an arrow whizzed past her head; as she crouched to re-tie her shoe, she met the cold eyes of a large man in worn pants and a brown shirt surrounded by ten other men. Each armed with hunting gear, eyeing Kelsie's curves lecherously.

"We own this land," he said, "you are trespassing."

"Who are you?" Kelsie called, carefully hopping onto the bank, "I'm on the way to my home. On my land."

"There is no house where you're going to," the man blustered, "you're a liar."

"Ah, then you are the liar," Kelsie said, "for my house is here."

Zander moved to the trees on the other side of the bank as Kelsie took off at a run in the direction of a steep hill. The men began to follow her faster than Kelsie had crossed the river, their long legs moving them toward the other side. Zander kept pace with Kelsie, making sure she did not hurt herself. Without much sleep for the past two days, he knew they would need to rest soon. At the top of the hill, Kelsie stopped looking around. Pulling out Jezebel's map, she found her direction and ran. Zander dropped to the ground, following her as quickly as possible to the next grove of trees before following her from higher ground. He could see the men following Kelsie's path, shouting obscenities and threatening types of injury and harm. Kelsie looked back for a moment losing her footing and stumbled. Quickly gaining her feet, she kept going. Zander could see her chest working hard and needing a place to hide. She paused at the top of a ridge, catching her breath and grinning at the view. Zander waited for Kelsie to drop down the other side before landing quietly. Striding to the top of the rise, taking in a large meadow full of blooming flowers, a house stood tucked away against a grove of trees, neglected but visible. Looking down, Zander noticed a disc shape on the floor. Picking it up, he flipped it over, seeing the time blinking back at him, twelve hours, less than half a day. Kelsie must have dropped this unknowingly. Pocketing it, he pulled up his hood, kept to the early morning's shadow and followed Kelsie as closely as he dared.