Aidan stepped off his horse onto the damp grass, holding the reins as he guided them down a narrow forest path. The sun had long ago set over the horizon, the moon giving him light as it peeked through the trees. He had left that very day when he heard Voltrick had left. The doctor...Aidan had subdued him when the old cat arrived as Aidan was leaving. His body was left on the floor unconscious and Aidan had ran. The farther he got away, the less likely the others would find him.

But this didn't concern them. Everything revolved around Voltrick and Fyren. At least that was what he came to understand in the short time. Was this entire war an exaggerated ploy to get at Voltrick? Had it been thought out that far? No man could do that, not even a genius. However, it seemed that fate was on Fyren's side...because those were exactly the results. The war had affected them greatly, and Voltrick ran off to retaliate against the core cause.

Aidan wanted to stop him. It was a lost fight, not when Fyren had so many pawns under his control. Voltrick only had his talons and strength. The odds of Voltrick actually causing real harm were...Aidan grimaced to himself to the thought. Picturing it in his mind, it really was idiotic. But it wasn't really Voltrick's decision...Fyren had sent the perfect bait. Used him as bait! That made Aidan angry. Using Voltrick's friendship to Aidan as an advantage. That was low.

His hand around the reins tightened as Aidan's knees fell under him suddenly, holding himself up with the strength of the horse. Aidan blinked out of his thoughts, staring at the dark ground as he panted gently. He had to pay attention. It was so easy to forget how weak his body was, even when his heart wanted to do so much. Aidan's eyes winced as he forced his legs to walk again. Thinking about Voltrick helped him move...to strive to be stronger. In honesty, he admired the tiger, like a role model. He always wondered where all that emotion came from when Voltrick gets upset or where he summons such feats of strength.

But Aidan knew the gentler core of Voltrick. The one that didn't want to fight for no cause, who would rather spend days in calm. It had taken so long for Aidan to finally reach that part, to see it, if only for a few moments. Others might see Voltrick as an obstacle, someone who was to be beaten until subdued. But knowing who Voltrick really was...Aidan couldn't allow others to hurt him.

He would....

Aidan paused as the road opened to a wide valley, pointed northbound to where they had to travel. Looking across the distance, Aidan lowered his brow thoughtfully as the wind whistled past him.

...would he die for Voltrick?