We ride for a good while. Only stopping once I am convinced that we have truly lost them. I discover a small stream that leads to a small pond off the path. It seems like no one comes here so it is the best place to rest. I slide of Bruce just as Lupa hops down. By now, it is midday. I feel exhausted from the last 24 hours and I head over to a tree. The area that surrounds the pond is peaceful. Just like the creek back at the farm. I relax against the tree slowly sitting down. Lupa comes over and sits across from me. I pause not wanting to ask her this. “.. Could you make a fire? We need one because we aren’t traveling until I get some rest.” Lupa nods and rushes into the forest happy. I see Bruce lie down. He must be exhausted just like me. I wait for Lupa to come back before I ultimately passing out.

I hear chains in the background as I awake from my slumber. I am in that church again. I start to panic and make a run for the door as a priest opens it. I look at his face and it is just darkness. He grabs me by the hair and hits my head off a wall. He begins to drag me down the corridor. I notice other rooms with children within them. We get to the whipping room where another child is being dragged out of. I thrash about trying to escape his grasp. However, he is too strong and ties me down to the stone slap with my back facing up. I cry out for anyone to help me. To stop this madness. Then the whipping begins. The pain. The agony. I try not to give them what they want. To look weak for them. They go to whip me again but this time I don’t feel anything. I feel someone petting my head. For the first time in forever, I am not scared. I hear someone call my name from somewhere.

I awake from my dream feeling confused. It is nighttime now and there is a small fire. Lupa is petting my head while my head lays on her lap. I frown and try to sit up. Lupa was looking out into the forest. So, she didn’t notice me wake up. She looks at me. “Are you okay?”

“I am.. fine.” I say out of habit. My back doesn’t ache like usual from that dream. Lupa sighs and offers me some food. Some apples and what looks like some dried meat. I take it and eat it slowly still thinking about the dream.

“So, where to next?” Lupa says after I finish my apple. I pause giving her a look.

“Yea. About that. I need to know what you mean. Your other form keeps saying weird stuff.” Lupa pauses and makes a thinking face.

“… I am sorry. I don’t always see what my other form sees. The Sister gifts are mysterious sometimes.” Lupa finally says after a while. I huff a little.

“Fine. Bring out the other form then.” Lupa frowns slightly.

“I am only suppose take that out when…” She stops talking for a second. I give her a look to continue. “… when you are in danger..” She looks embarrassed by this. I look confused.

“Why? If you say the “Sister” told you, I don’t want to hear it.” Lupa doesn’t say anything. Why did this have to happen to me? I scoot away from Lupa to add fuel to the fire. I need a new plan now. I can’t stay in the Green Belt anymore. By this time tomorrow, everyone should know about the two of us. The only thing we can do is… leave the Green Belt. The closest place to the Green Belt is the Northern Mountains. I pause and look at Lupa. “Have you been planning this the entire time?”

“What do you mean?” She looks confused.

“Do not give me that. I am wanted women. The only safe place I can be is in the Northern Mountains. That is where Crag’s Keep must be. Wow. I am such an idiot.” I stand up and go to leave. Lupa quickly stops me from leaving.

“… I don’t know what you mean.” She seems sad again is about to cry. I shoulder past her angry about being tricked. As I get near the pond, I get grabbed. I struggle trying to break free. “Lupa. Let go. Now.” I feel her shake her head no against me. I try to pry off her hands. I twist myself around and Lupa let's go flying into the water.

She sinks like a rock to the bottom of the pond. I pause hating myself more. I dive into the water. A few seconds later I drag her onto dry land. She is unconscious but breathing. I sigh laying down next to her. I could have just left her. That would have been one less thorn in my side, but something tells me that I can’t lose her. What am I thinking? I have barely known this monster for more than four days. I grab my head thinking I must be losing my mind.

“Zona Everlast. You are lucky that you are important.” I hear Lupa say in her other forms voice. I realize that this is the second time she used my last name. Only people a few people know it. I frown a lot and look at her. She is standing now. The hood I made for her down, so I can see the crimson hair.

“I want answers now. Crag’s Keep? Saving the world? How do you know my last name? That sounds like complete bull…” I start to angry as I say this but Lupa cuts me off.

“Listen child. I am in no mood to deal with you. You want answers? Here they are. The world is ending. Only you. Yes, only you can stop this from happening. You will go to Crag’s Keep and stop the world from ending. If it was my decision, I would have never chosen you. I would have chosen someone who is actually worth something.” She says this is as if I am beneath her. I am worthless, but I am not beneath a monster.

“Exactly. Then why choose me you monster freak.” Lupa glares at me.

“Again, you are lucky Zona Everlast. The only reason you aren’t dead because you matter. You were chosen by the Brothers.” I pause and start shaking. I try to push her away, but she grabs my hand.

“Liar! Do you know what that evil organization did to me? You are one of them. Aren’t you. Are you ready to finish this? Because I am not a little kid anymore.” I punch her across the face with my free hand. For a split second, I almost see sadness in her eyes.

“I do know what those priests did to you. If they would have known the truth long ago, then they would have never done those things. It was decided before you were born. I am sorry.” She lets go of my hand. I have so many emotions going through me right now I do not know what to do.

“Why me?” Is the only thing that I can say. She looks at me in the eyes.

“Because I did not want the world to end again. I am tired of the world ending over and over.” I look confused at her. She looks at me shaking her head. “Fool. Lupa told you shapeshifters were chosen by me. They would be my heralds.” Something inside my head clicks and I almost don’t believe what I am about to say.

“Wait… What?” Lupa rolls her eyes as the color fades from her hair.

“I have a lot riding on you Zona Everlast. You better save the world.” Lupa blinks a couple of times. She looks at me getting sad again. “… Please don’t leave..”

At this current moment, I am done with everything. I walk back over to the camp. “Stand guard Lupa.” I say in a cold tone. All I want to do is crawl up in a ball and sleep forever. I lie down and try to sleep. I keep trying to wrap all this information in my head. I fall asleep soon after getting a massive headache.