"Argh!"

The young boy grunted, clutching his tomach tight.

He fell to the ground, gasping for breath while digging his nails into his neck, choking.

Bellona who realized what was going on, hurried over, pulling him closer to herself and placing her Palms over his head.

"Stay with us. We're close to Sedona" She muttered to him, but he shook his head uncontrollably, tears slipping out his eyes, while his mouth opened and closed repeatedly.

He was trying so hard to speak, yet couldn't bring himself to.

Moving closer to the boy, Orion was quick to notice the veins which popped up on his neck and how white his eyes had turned.

"He's not gonna make it. We have to get going" He muttered in a low voice.

"What?!" Bellona exclaimed.

"From the look of things, he's been poisoned by Amrythian roots. And if I'm not wrong, he's gonna be dead before the sun sets"

"And how do you know this?" Bellona questioned.

"Amrythian root is common in Brilthor for killing prisoners"

"Father and I used it once to capture and kill our prey"

"Who could have poisoned his food?" Aiden asked.

"Lady Alvina" Nerida responded softly.

They all turned to look at her as she explained how Alvina poisoned kids who disobeyed her, selling some to Cedric's army for a thousand gold or more.

"That's barbaric" Bellona stated.

"We have to get him to Sedona quick. We might find a healer there" She added.

"We can't take him with us. He's gonna be dead weight" Orion uttered immediately.

"So what do you reckon we do, leave him here?" She asked.

"That's exactly what we're gonna do. We've got a journey ahead of us, one which we haven't even began. Any time wasted will be a huge loss for every single one of us"

"I'm not gonna let you leave the boy here all alone"

"Why can't you do something once without arguing?!" Orion clenched his teeth.

He was furious that they had to go on and on about the boy. He was more concerned about the dangers that could befall them all, if they wasted any more time out there.

"You're the one who has chosen to be strong-headed and have everything done your way. Have a heart for once and know that this boy is but a child. He's got a life ahead of him" Bellona yelled

"A life that will soon be ended!" Orion retorted.

He moved closer to her while yelling at the top of his voice.

"It's not in my power to change that, neither is it in yours. You're gonna put us all in trouble if you stay here arguing about this!"

"Both of you, stop it" Pavlos stepped in.

"Quarrels won't lead us anywhere, for once let us all be in accordance with each other"

They were suddenly interrupted by the loud coughs of the boy, sprawled on the ground.

He spat a thick lump of saliva coated with blood.

They all rushed over to his aid, trying to get him up, but he couldn't.

His eyes soon rolled to the back, leaving only the sclera in view.

In a second, his body had turned still, while blood dripped out his nose.

Staring at the lifeless body in front of them, Pavlos spoke.

"He's gone"

Bellona shut her eyes and turned away, unable to bear the sight in front of her.

She moved far away, as tears threatened to pour out her eyes.

"You can decide to stay here, or continue the journey. Your choice" She heard Orion say.

Her gaze fell on him immediately, noticing the pain which rested in his eyes.

Grabbing the rest of the kids, he turned around and then led them away.

"We have to keep going" Elpida uttered softly to Bellona, while watching Orion move far out of sight.

"Everything will be fine" Elpida assured her, stroking her cheeks and pulling her head closer to her chest.