AN: We're back! As promised, regular updates are continuing. I had a lot of fun writing the dialogue for the second part of this chapter. Leave me a comment if you like!

Chapter 3

When Shanlai was nudged awake, her first thought was to grab her weapon. Her second thought was she had gone blind.

"Your watch, Schala," came Joren's voice from above her.

Shanlai sat up carefully. Her eyes strained uselessly in the dark. It was disconcerting, to say the least.

"Watch," Shanlai muttered. "If only I could."

Shanlai heard Joren's huff of breath. A smile crossed her own face for a moment, but it was gone just as quickly.

"Joren?" The question had passed her lips before she could stop it.

"Yes?"

There was no good way to ask her question, but she couldn't back out now. Knowing Joren, he would sit silently, patiently, for an hour waiting for her to get it off her chest. "Do you think we'll make it out of here?"

"Of course." His confidence was reassuring but not infectious.

"How do you know?"

"Such pessimism is not like you, Schala. What's wrong?"

Shanlai paused. Words normally came easily to her, far too easily if her mother was to be believed, but the dark seemed to swallow her words as much as her sight.

"There are caves near my home, like this but not. I used to love exploring them. But I always made sure I knew where I came from. Mom always told me…" Her voice trailed off. Joren still waited.

"One time I went much farther in than normal. I was sure I could find something interesting in there. I had to make especially sure of my marks. It was twisting, and it looked like there were other, older signs at some of the intersections. Then, I turned a corner, and in an alcove, there was a body."

Joren's hand found hers and gave her a squeeze. Shanlai squeezed back.

"I freaked out. Screamed, nearly took off running. I remembered to look for my signs just in time. When I got back, I told my parents. I ended up leading them and a few others back. It was our tanner's cousin. He had meant to come visit a couple months before, but we had never heard. Fell through a hole, got lost in the caves. Probably died from dehydration. He got close in the end, but. Well, close doesn't matter; it's still a miss."

Joren surprised Shanlai and pulled her into a hug. "Let's not mention Master Boray's wisdom. This was supposed to be a vacation from him." Joren brought his beak next to Shanlai's ear. "Listen, Schala. We're going to make it out of here. Hell, you'll find the way out somehow and talk my ear off about it for a decade. We have supplies, and Sonya at least has a good head on her." His head pulled back. She suspected he'd be looking her in the eye if either of them could see. "We'll get out of here, Schala."

"What if we run out of light?"

"Ah, Schala, you are a light in this dark world."

Shanlai punched Joren's arm. He only chuckled.

"If all else fails, I'm pretty sure if Yolanda vibrates any faster, she'll cause a fire. That'll give us light for a little while."

Shanlai ran a hand over her head. "Get some sleep. It'll be a long day tomorrow."

Somehow, she could feel his nod before he climbed into his bedroll.

"And Joren?"

"Yes, Schala?"

"Thanks."

***

“It's quiet."

“There are birds chirping."

“Not what I meant, Yolanda."

“Something unusual?" Sonya asked.

“Well, yeah," Shanlai said. “We've been traveling for three days now."

“And?"

“Nothing's attacked us."

“You say that like it's a bad thing." Joren looked up from the tracks he was investigating.

“It's unusual."

“You know, many people go their entire lives without getting attacked." Sonya's voice was a little too patient to be neutral. “These lands are at peace, and there's not much in way of monsters or bandits here."

“But Sonya, this is us. There were the hill bandits in summer training two years ago, that mugger in Irka, dire wolves in--"

“You've made your point. Maybe the gods are having mercy on a poor old woman and postponing your punishment a little further."

“Punishment? What could I have possibly done--"

“The hill bandits in summer training, the mugger in Irka, the dire wolves--"

“When you dumped wine over Master Boray," Joren chimed in helpfully.

“You fell on Tyrion when he was carrying that tea tray!" Yolanda seemed to want to contribute more than anything.

“First of all, the hill bandits, mugger, and dire wolves were handled with no permanent injuries. Secondly--"

“Permanent injuries?" Yolanda cut in. “Were there non--"

“Secondly," Shanlai spoke over her, “The tea tray was Timothy's fault. I was fine until he tossed the rock."

“And the wine?" Joren's eyes sparkled in a way that would be pleasant if it weren't for the obvious joy he took in poking fun at her.

Shanlai gave her best predatory smile. “Worth it."

“I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that," Sonya said drily. “Joren?"

“Good chance of lunch this way."

“Then let's get going. And keep the noise to a minimum."

It seemed to Shanlai that last comment was aimed mostly at her. It also struck her as unfair.

The game trail proved easy enough to follow, though it wasn't the best walking path. Roots and brambles crossed at several points, and it was narrow. It took some time, but they came across the deer Joren had tracked. Sonya proved her skill with a bow, and the deer was slain with a single arrow.

“All right, let's get this handled and then back to the road," Sonya said.

They gathered around the deer. For a moment, everything was fine. Then, something gave, and for a moment Shanlai was eight years old again, falling through a surface she had been sure would hold her. Her last thought before hitting the long, rocky slope into the cave was I can't believe this happens a day after talking about it. I need to stop tempting fate.

***