I pick up the girl and we quickly head back to Aleem. I tell Lupa to go get Alistar as we make our way out of the market. Lupa takes off as I head to my destination. As I make my way to the cart, I study the little girl for a second. She has clear tan skin and blonde hair. She is covered and dust and dirt and her rags are barely covering her. As I get to the cart, I hear Aleem snoring. “Aleem! Wake up.” I hear Aleem wake up and poke his head out the back of the cart.

“I wasn’t… What’s with the girl?” I shrug putting on the ground next to the cart.

“I don’t know. She needs our help.” Aleem pauses confused for a second and I give him a look. “She needs food and water.” He searches around for a little bit and comes out with some bread and water. I kneel down next to her and gently wake her. She opens her light blue eyes and looks scared. She quickly tries to back away but I stop her. “It’s okay. We aren’t going to hurt you.” She looks at me for a second and then looks at Aleem. She gets up and goes to Aleem grabbing onto his robes. Aleem is taken back and I look at her slightly confused. Aleem looks at me and looks like he has no idea what to do. I sigh coming over to him. She hides her face from me as I hand him the food and water. “Make sure she drinks and eats this.” I step back and she looks up at Aleem. I hear Aleem gulp and force a wary smile.

“Here. Eat and drink this.” She pauses and studies the items for a second. She slowly reaches up and takes the food and drink. She quickly eats and drinks the items. She looks back up at Aleem.

“... Thank you…” Her voice is soft and innocent. Aleem looks at me and then back down at her.

“So.. I have to go back to work. You can go to Zona..” She slowly looks at me and I can see fear come across her face. I frown and Aleem pauses slowly studying her. “What’s wrong?” The little girl grips his robe as she faces him.

“She has dark flames around her.” I pause confused as I see Aleem’s face become confused.

“What do you mean?” She is visually scared of me. Aleem thinks for a second before a slow smile coming over his face. I look at him getting annoyed.

“What is she talking about Aleem?” Aleem looks at me.

“I think we found the Lamb. The Lamb has these weird abilities that allow her to see things. Things no one else can see.” He goes to get back in the cart but stops when she starts to whimper slightly. He pauses and looks at me, “Show her that you aren’t bad.” He bends down and talks to her for a second. She looks over at me and shakes her head no. I sigh bending down to her height.

“I promise I am not bad.” I force a smile trying to create a small flower in my hand. She looks at it for a second before it goes out. I frown slightly as I hear Lupa and Alistar appear from the cart. The girl looks at Alistar and Lupa. She frowns and hides against Aleem again. Lupa walks over me.

“What’s wrong Zona?” I stand up looking at her.

“The girl thinks..” I pause noticing Lupa bending down next to the girl. She puts on a large smile and holds her hand out to her.

“Hey. My name is Lupa. What’s your name?” Alistar looks a little winded from the run here. The little girl pops her head out slightly and barely says.

“Anna..” Lupa smiles happy as she takes her hand.

“It’s nice to meet you Anna.” Anna slowly lets go of Aleem with her other hand. Aleem quickly goes into the cart. Anna looks at Alistar and me for a second before getting close to Lupa. Lupa looks excited and really happy. I frown for a second. What does she mean black flames? A few thoughts start to creep into my mind but I push them out. Alistar puts all of his supplies he got in the cart. Lupa looks at me, “Can we stop for the day?” I nod.

“Yes. If Aleem is right, the Lion should be somewhat close. It’s only a matter of time before we finish this.” Anna holds onto Lupa’s hand as Lupa heads to a nearby opening used for camping. Alistar climbs into the cart to drive it to where Lupa is going. As I go to follow, I feel a sharp pain in my gut and a brief flash of black fills my eyes. It’s over in a second and I look around to see what happened. Nothing is changed. I am fine. Nothing is wrong with me. I follow the cart and get ready to set up camp.

Once we get to the opening, we notice a few other people already in camps. After Lupa gives everyone a once over, she determines everything is safe. Alistar and me start to set up camp as Lupa keeps Anna happy. Every once in a while, I will notice Anna staring at someone or something. I go over to Aleem as he steps out of the cart.

“So what do you mean she can see things that no one else can see?” Aleem shrugs and opens one of his books as he hands me the rest.

“It could be magic, emotions, anything really. She is the only person that can do this. There is no documentation describing her abilities. All we know is that she can see the unseen.” I frown thinking it over for a little bit. He pauses for a second, “Her comment means nothing Zona. Want to know what she said to me?” I pause for a second and slowly nod. “She said that I looked like dust. That weird marking was around me and that I was made out of dust.” I pause a little shocked for a second.

“That doesn’t make any sense though?” He laughs slightly and nods.

“It does make sense. I am thousands of years old Zona. I would have died a long time ago if it wasn’t for magic.” I slowly understand and look at Lupa with Anna.

“I have a bad feeling about this Aleem. Something is coming. I can.. feel it.” Aleem pauses and grabs my shoulder.

“I know. Whatever happens Zona, the world will be saved. I have faith in you.” I become shocked at what he says.

“Aleem..” He smiles taking the books from me and going over to the fire. I stand for a second and head over to Alistar. Alistar is packing a few bags making sure we will be ready for travel in the morning. “Hey Alistar.” He pauses and looks at me.

“Yea? What’s up?”

“Aleem asked me this question and I was wondering what are you going to do after this?” Alistar pauses for a second and looks over at Lupa for a second.

“I was thinking of maybe starting a school. Teaching you magic was actually really nice.”

“What about Lupa?” He pauses for a second and goes back to packing.

“Lupa will always choose you over anything else Zona. I was just be foolish earlier.” I pause and I feel my cheeks get a little warm. “I will warn you though. I wouldn’t wait to tell her something if I was you. She is willing to give her life up for you. When will that day come.” I pause frowning for a second.

“You’re right Alistar. Thank you.” I head over to Lupa as Alistar heads to the campfire. I get to Lupa and see that a few other children have joined her and Anna. It looks like they are playing a game of tag. I slightly laugh watching all the little children try to catch Lupa. Lupa spots me for a second and runs over to me. “Zoona. Want to play tag with us?” I pause for a second and smile happy. I shake my head no.

“Not right now Lupa. I will in a little bit.” Lupa pauses for a second but goes to play with the children. I walk over to the nearby forest. I find a tree watching the children and sit next to it. I try to relax counting slowly in my head. I reply one of the training sessions in my head with Titus. I close my eyes trying to focus on my inner fire. “Just breath in and out.”

“.. What are you doing?” I open one of my eyes to see Anna sitting next to me. She stares at me with curiosity behind her eyes. I am taken back slightly by this.

“Um.. trying to relax..” She doesn’t say anything but continues to stare. I go to close my eyes again.

“I know you aren’t bad.” I open my eyes confused looking at her.

“.. you do?” She nods having her hair sway with the motion.

“The doggy told me that you saved me.” I look at her more confused.

“Doggy.. What you mean Lupa?” She nods pointing to Lupa. Lupa is searching for the children as they changed their game to hide and seek. “Well good.” Anna looks at me for a second before standing up.

“Can you come play with us?” I think for a moment before standing up go to play with them. By the time we get over there, they changed the game back to tag. We begin to play tag with all the little children. Anna takes a break going back over to the camp. We play for a few hours and slowly the children head back to their parents. Lupa looks beyond happy as we both walk to Anna.

“That was great!” Lupa says jumping around me. I laugh for a second watching her.

“Yea it was Lupa.. Hey I got a question..” Lupa perks up and looks at me.

“So what happens after we save the world?” It’s a question that has been building up for a little bit. Lupa thinks as she starts to look more relaxed and calm.

“What do you mean? I am going to stay with you.” I feel my heart flutter in my chest.

“Really?” She nods happily. I smile happily holding Lupa’s hand. We get to Anna as we sit down next to her. Alistar passes out soup he made as Aleem dumps his bag out on the ground. I look over at him confused. “Aleem? What are you looking for?” He looks at me.

“I am looking for a book on the Lion. I swear I had it I just don’t know where it is.” As Aleem stands up to go check in the cart, I see both Lupa and Anna pause. Lupa’s hair goes dark red and Anna screams as a giant fireball comes into view.