The bright sunlight which sat beautifully in the sky, shone on Bellona who was resting under a tree, staring at Elpida fast approaching her from afar.

A weak smile appeared on her face looking at Bellona who gazed back at her.

"Hey" She called in a cheery voice, while sitting next to the tree.

"What's wrong?" Elpida asked, noticing immediately the worried expression which appeared on the face of Bellona.

"Nothing" She replied immediately.

Sighing in a low voice, Elpida grabbed a stick and broke it in two, drawing figures on the sand with it. She rose her head up to gaze at Bellona, and after what seemed to be a while, she began speaking.

"We grew up together Bellona, you should know better than to tell lies to me"

"I can feel the sadness radiating from you. Tell me what's wrong" Elpida said to her.

The young lady remaining quiet, swallowing hard as she stared at the figures which Elpida drew on the sand.

"I'm bothered about the dream" She uttered in a low voice.

Her eyes stared intently at the figures Elpida outlined on the sand, and in a low voice, she spoke.

"Who could the traitor be?"

Her eyes suddenly fell on Sima and Sonora who were giving fruits to the horses, and conversing with each other.

"Do you think it could be one of them" She asked.

Elpida turned her gaze to the direction which she looked at, and at the sight of Sima and Sonora, she began speaking.

"I do not know" She responded.

They both remained silent for a moment, staring onwards, until Elpida held Bellona firmly on the shoulders and began speaking.

"Do not say a word about your dream to anyone!" She uttered immediately, resting her gaze fully on her.

"No one's to be trusted, not even me" She said in a low voice.

"I'm scared" Bellona responded.

"I'm scared of what's to come" She added.

Elpida without saying a word, linked her fingers in Bellona's, resting her head on her shoulders and staying close to her.

"Thank you" Bellona whispered.

"What for?" Elpida asked her.

"For being family to me" She replied.

"You've been by my side always. I'm glad to have found you, Elpida" She said softly.

Orion who was coming out from the other side of the trees, found them conversing.

He watched the girls as they spoke to each other in low voices. Not wanting them to notice his presence, he decided to turn away, but stopped in his tracks immediately.

"You're the only family I've got right now. The only one I trust" He heard Bellona say to Elpida.

"I'm glad you feel that way, Bellona. But, do not trust me. I'm no better than the rest" Elpida uttered softly.

"I trust you cause you're more than a friend, Elpida" Bellona responded.

"You're all I've got in this world"

"No parents, no relatives, but you"

Orion suddenly gained full interest, hearing the speak about her life.

"I'm sorry about them" Elpida uttered.

The gaze of Orion for once turned calm, as he watched tears gather up in the eyes of Bellona.

In as much as he wanted to go over and hold her till she felt much better, he couldn't. He couldn't bring himself to stare directly into her eyes.

"What happened to them?" He heard Elpida say.

"You never mentioned a word of it to any of us" She added.

"Aunt Jaelynn told me mother passed on while birthing me" Bellona uttered.

"I was passed on to her right before mother breathed her last"

"And my father, I know nothing about him. I was told he was a soldier whom mom fell in love with"

"That's all there is" She said.

Elpida stared into her eyes, watching with intent.

She pulled her in for a hug, stroking her hair softly.

"We are in this together" She whispered.