Midday had begun to pass and the sunlight becoming cooler. There were still a good few hours before it turned dark as the travelers walked down the dirt road.

Carvahall road his horse at the front of the caravan. Tamil wasn't far behind, making sure he was still in front of everyone but refused to ride next to Carvahall.

Tamil didn't hate Carvahall, he only hated the situation. On any regular situation, he would ignore him completely, but Tamil's pride was still hurt by sharing leadership with a Faholgan soldier. It didn't matter if Carvahall was a captain in an army, he barely knows anyone in the group.

Voltrick rode his horse behind the carriage, making it a personal goal to avoid everyone. He preferred it this way. He knew no one else who wanted to talk to him anyways. Everyone was still edgy around him, even Debalora at times. He couldn't blame them, though.

Debalora drove the carriage the entire trip. She would have liked to have ridden one of the horses. Riding a horse gave more freedom of flexibility and control. But she was fine with driving the carriage.

"Do you have a first name?" Tamil lowly asked, his scowl hidden under his hood. "Or is Carvahall actually your name?" Tamil wasn't trying to make a conversation, he merely wanted to find out more about him. Plus, he hated saying the name Carvahall. It sounded too much like a last name.

"My name is actually Viggo." Carvahall stated, only turning back slightly to glance at Tamil. "Everyone calls me Carvahall because Draco calls all his men by their last name."

Johnson, who rode just before the carriage, arched a brow as his ears perked up to the conversation at the front of the caravan. This entire trip has been one awkward silence between everyone with only a few scattered conversations between Brandon, Gordan, and Debalora. Carvahall would mention something to Tamil or Debalora every once in a while, but he mainly kept to himself. But the current topic quickly grabbed Johnson's interest.

"Viggo, eh?" Tamil questioned with an arched brow. "Interesting name."

"One could say the same about yours, Tamil" Debalora added with a smirk.

"There is nothing wrong with my name." Tamil irritably said. He hated anyone saying anything about his name. His early years within the ministry proved even enslaved children can be cruel.

"Heh, no." Debalora chuckled. "We all love your name, Tamil." She teased. The entire time they've traveled, everyone has been uptight with one another. They needed at least some humor, even if she was the only one being humored.

"I just don't like people nagging at my name." Tamil stated as he glared forward. "I had enough of that as a child." he added, but spoke more as a mumbled whisper to himself.

"You're alright, Tamil." Debalora said with a smile.

Carvahall looked back to Tamil again and asked, "Do you have a last name?"

"I don't need one."

"Hmm... I honestly haven't heard of someone without a last name. But its not my place to question it." Carvahall finished and turned forward again.

Gordan and Brandon remained inside the carriage. Both windows were open, allowing them to hear if anyone were to speak to them or if they wanted to lean out of the window to see outside the carriage better.

Gordan had been working on his studies the entire trip, reading his books and writing on his parchment. He really only spoke to Brandon the entire time, but mainly kept to himself as he studied.

One particular note in his book had stumped him in particular. Endowed or Blessed Individuals of a Higher Power Questioning it, he angled his head and arm out of the carriage window to ask Debalora. He made sure to hold the book outside in his hand to be able to refer to it as he spoke to Debalora. "Debalora?"

Debalora quirked an eyebrow and looked to the side of the carriage briefly. "yes?"

"How did you aquire your power? ...You did aquire it, right? Or were you born with it?"

Debalora's brow lowered briefly, but answered. "I was endowed with it... Why do you ask?"

Gordan suddenly felt embarrassed. He never really shared his studies with anyone accept Brandon.. and that was still rare. It felt awkward for someone to ask. "More curiosity, really. ...In my book, it only briefly mentions those with your... 'kind of power'. I'd like to know more about it."

Debalora felt a bit out of place to be questioned about her power. Especially around those who were within the beliefs of the ministry's hate toward magic. Mainly Tamil, who has protested magic users the most. Aidan wasn't entirely against it, but he had his moments. "Well, ...I was endowed by the go'..." Debalora stopped as she noticed Tamil glance back toward her. Normally, she wouldn't feel so awkward about it, but ever since Denzel called her a witch she felt awkard to talk about around those from the ministry. "We'll talk about it in the next town... and if memory hasn't failed me, I'd say we're pretty close."

Carvahall overheard and looked back to Debalora. "How so? Have you traveled this area before?"

Debalora smiled warmly. "Yes... I lived my childhood there."

Carvahall's brow raised as if interested. "Oh, really?" He questioned and looked forward again with perked ears. Maybe we'll find someone familiar to allow us a place to stay. Or maybe a little more can be learned about Debalora, herself. Viggo knew Debalora was with Antonis, there was no doubt about it. But, like any other man, he couldn't help but be interested. He wouldn't interfere, it wasn't his place.

Gordan arched a brow with a frown. He wanted to know more from Debalora. He wouldn't voice his frustrations, he merely assured himself that he was going to ask Debalora again.

As Gordan began to pull himself back into the carriage, one of the wheels hit and ran over a large stone. The bump in the carriage caused Gordan to lose his grip on the book and dropped it to the ground.

"Debalora!" Gordan began to panic and looked back to see the book back down the road. "Stop the carriage!" That book was one of his only possessions and it carried all of his studies. Without it, he couldn't study the most important spells and information he needed to complete his goal.

"What? Why?" Debalora questioned as she looked back to Gordan frustratedly. "This isn't because I didn't say..."

Gordan quickly interrupted. "No, I dropped my book!" The tiger shouted. "I have to go back and get it. Please, stop the carriage!"

"Alright, alright..." Debalora quickly said as she slowly pulled on the horse's ropes to come to slow down.

Losing his patience, Gordan moved his parchment aside and was about to open the door while the carriage was taking its sweet time stopping. But before he could get out of the carriage, Gordan turned his head to see the book being held before him. Looking up at the person who retrieved it, an eyebrow arched and an ear folded back.

Voltrick, riding his horse behind the carriage, had retrieved the book and silently held it infront of Gordan to take. A stern look was on his face as he looked at Gordan, expecting some kind of negative response even though he retrieved the book. But Voltrick didn't return the book to gain any favor from Gordan, he knew that was already a lost cause, he merely wanted to help.

Gordan, at first, didnt know how to react. But soon lowered his brow and took the book. "Thanks..." He said lowly before silently pulling himself and the book back inside the carriage.

"Are we alright to go?" Debalora inquired, still keeping the horses from walking forward.

Voltrick's usual scowl returned with an arched brow as he looked up to Debalora briefly. "Yeah.." his voice lowly rumbled and turned his gaze forward, eyes narrowed.

A concerned look was on Debalora's features before she turned forward and whipped the reigns to move the horses forward again.

Voltrick kept his horse halted until the carriage passed him completely, an irritated look on his face. After allowing the carriage to pass him, he gave his horse a soft kick to begin walking forward.

As Voltrick's horse came nearer, Aidan tilted his head back to see Voltrick approaching after the little 'incident'. He was aware of some of the difficulties the father and son were dealing with...granted past occurrences when Voltrick was still brainwashed, but Aidan still felt concerned over them.

"He's smart..." Aidan said quietly he slowed to Voltrick's pace, looking forward as he used a hushed tone for only them to hear. "I've noticed he likes to stick his nose in any book he sees."

Voltrick's gaze remained forward, brows lowered frustratedly. A long moment passed before he turned his head slightly toward Aidan, using the same, quiet tone as Aidan did to keep it between themselves.

"...He's always been that way... From what I remember. Always reading and learning. Its... been so long since..." A frustrated groan escaped as he turned his head forward again. He was ashamed about Gordan, but whenever he was about to mention 'that' night, the night he last saw his family... he couldn't bring himself to talk about it. Especially with Gordan nearby.

"Have you ever been in this area before, Viggo?" Debalora raised her voice to allow Carvahall to hear. She was mainly trying to break the awkward silence and start a friendly conversation.

Viggo quirked a curious brow and looked back to Debalora briefly. "Once, very briefly. I really only remember where the town is. Nothing about it or who lives there."

Debalora gave a half smile, mainly to herself. "Its a wonderful place. Its nice to go back there every so often. A lot of relatives live there and friends as well."

Aidan looked at Voltrick, seeing the tiger keep his head straight forcefully, keeping things to himself again. He lowered his eyes, turning them away as he strode quietly thinking to himself.

After a long moment, Aidan spoke softly again. "Voltrick." he began, slowing his horse almost to a stop. "...If I'm...getting in the way of you and Gordan...then I won't..." he tightened his lips, not wanting to continue any more than he should. He knew Voltrick was always worried about him ever since the Ministry...and it wasn't hard to see that Voltrick's priority wasn't with his son. But family was more important, Aidan rationalized, never having one himself like the rest of the Ministry.

In his mind, families brought comfort and love...dependence to one another. That was what he envisioned. To see Voltrick and Gordan the way they were, not only was it heartbreaking, but it made Aidan feel hopeless for the future to see it.

Voltrick noticed Aidan slowing his pace and turned with an arched brow; slowing his own horse. The tiger's ears folded back frustratedly before looking back toward the carriage, which was slowly moving farther away.

"You're not getting in the way.." his raspy voice said, turning back to Aidan. "I..." A short growled grunt was emitted before looking forward again. "I just don't know what to do. ..I've done so much to him. There isn't anything I can do to make it better."

Voltrick didn't know why he was being so open with Aidan. On a usual day, he wouldn't have even said this much to Aidan. But since Aidan has been so quiet the entire trip and after what happened with the muggers... For him to talk to Voltrick like this, he felt he could be more open.

---

"If you you like it there so much, why don't you live there?" Tamil finally questioned. "Why only visit on the rare occassion?"

Debalora took a deep breath and slowly exhaled before responded. "Long story short... I'm reunited with bad memories." Her ears folded back. "Its a wonderful place... but things of the past were too great to constantly be reminded of it."

Aidan looked up to Voltrick, this time with a more bold gaze, "I am getting in the way. I've seen the way Gordan looks at me. He might think you care more for me than him...the way you are with me." His head lowered, avoiding eye contact with Voltrick as he said these things.

"He's been hard on you...and you've done things to him...but eventually, he'll need someone to be there." he paused, "...Like you were there for me." his voice barely said, shyly looking the opposite direction of Voltrick to keep an embarrassed expression from being seen.

Voltrick arched a brow and looked back to Aidan as he spoke more seriously. As he listened, both ears folded back.

Debalora almost said the exact same thing the night Voltrick tried to apologize to Gordan. 'He needs his father... and you need him' But what does Voltrick have to do?! He tried to apologize to him, even falling to his knees infront of Gordan.

A more sorrowful look appeared on Voltrick's face as he turned forward his gaze forward. "Gordan has turned away everything I've done... How am I supposed to talk to him if he can barely even say 'thanks' just now?"

---

Tamil turned forward with a lowered brow, but after a short moment looked back to Debalora. "What happened?"

Viggo's features turned serious as he narrowed his gaze further. An unfriendly scent reached his nostrils and caused him to be alert. "Tamil... Do you smell that?"

Both Tamil and Debalora looked forward toward Viggo, trying to catch the same scent Viggo did. Tamil's features scrunched in anger with a sneer. "Yes, I smell it..."

"Decay, smoke, ..burnt flesh.." Viggo stated quietly as he kept his gaze forward.

Debalora's breaths hastened as she widened her eyes to the realization. "Not there... please, not there..." Debalora gave a harsh whip of the horse's reigns and sent the horses in a sudden gallop forward. The carriage was tugged harshly, but loudly charged forward.

Both Tamil and Viggo watched Debalora in surprise before Viggo shouted out. "Debalora, wait!! We don't know what's out there!!" But Debalora was already several yards ahead.

Brandon cried out in surprise as the carriage jerked quickly, the inertia sending him out of his seat. His shoulder hit the floorboards of the carriage, pushing himself up to look through the window, seeing a frightened expression on his mother's face.

"Mother! What's wrong?!" He called through the open space of the window, holding onto it's frame for support.

Aidan quickly noticed Debalora charging ahead with the carriage, kicking the side of his horse to chase after her, passing Viggo and Tamil. He didn't hear the conversation they were having, but her irregular speed was troubling enough. As he rode, a strong scent was caught and tears came to his eyes from it. It was a horrible smell, causing his stomach to cave in.

"Mrs. Pardia!" he shouted, coming near her side from the left. Seeing her features cause his worry to rise. "Please! Slow down!" he said, noticing the carriage wheels taking a beating over the rocks on the road. She was going too fast.

Viggo was quick to kick his horse after Aidan galloped by. His horse whined and stood on its hind legs before charging forward. Tamil was right behind him.

Voltrick's features scrunched up as if infuriated, he knew that smell all to well. And like Debalora, he's been to that town too. Voltrick gave a loud, sharp growl and charged forward.

Johnson was the last to send his horse forward, not entirely sure what was happening. He assumed it was because of the smell, but he would rather be running in a different direction.

---

Debalora refused to respond to anyone at this point and would only watch forward and whip the reigns harder to force the horses into a faster gallop. She knew the carriage could only handle so much, but she had to get to town, nothing else mattered! She had to assure herself that scent wasn't coming from the town. It had to be from something else!

Brandon felt an unsettling jerk from underneath the carriage, sending him on his rear from his place against the window. Holding himself there, a worried gaze rose to Gordan, who was clutching the window frame tightly with a hard expression.

"Debalora!" he shouted once more, seeing that she was unresponsive, eyes set forward madly. Aidan turned his head forward to see where they were headed down the road, after five gallops a clearing broke out before them to where a town was. ..Or should have been.

A large cloud of smoke hovered over the town, the smell getting stronger the more they hurried in. Nearly all the buildings were burnt from what Aidan could tell from his distance. Widened eyes set forward as he saw the destruction, no coherent thought passing his mind.

Debalora hurried the horses as fast as she could until the carriage entered the clearing. As she saw what lied before her, she aggressively pulled back the horse's ropes and pressed her foot against the break of the carriage; never taking her eyes away from the ruins of the destruction.

Short, heavy breaths were taken as her face quickly tightened. Her lower lip trembled as she turned her head away in disbelief, tear filled eyes tightly closing. "No.. This cannot be, not here.." could be barely heard between her loud sniffs.

Gordan gripped onto the window frame as hard as he could, the fur at the back of his neck standing on end. Even though the carriage had stopped, he still held onto dear life. He knew the carriage would charge forward again without warning.. and he wasn't going to be knocked around again.

Viggo and Tamil quickly entered the clearing a short moment after the carriage screeched to a stop.

Viggo's eyes were widened as he first looked up to the blackened sky. He slowly lowered his gaze to the destroyed town infront of him and stopped his horse next to Aidan's.

Tamil's mouth parted unbelievingly as he walked his horse to the right side of the carriage. At first he had a look of surprise.. but soon his face tightened as anger rose up within him. He knew exactly what happened... and who was responsible.

Brandon's chest rose and fell as his breaths labored, fingertips gripping the wood of the floor. He never wanted to do such a thing again. Carefully, he stood, taking hold of the window frame near his mother and peered out ahead. There he saw a burning town, a nauseating smell seeping into the carriage.

Aidan glanced to Viggo, his eyes sullen and a strange frown along his lips. It seemed as though he were calm, but as though he heard a sad story. His boots gave a light tap to the horse's side, beckoning the horse to continue at a more leisurely pace. His eyes were set on the town, inside knowing Antonis and Murdoc were here. It wouldn't surprise him if they were...

Viggo's brow raised as he saw Aidan's expression. He was sure everyone felt the exact same way... or worse. There was nothing to say at this moment. Nothing comforting, nothing optimistic or hopeful. Nothing could be said. He was as shocked as anyone else, how could he say anything?

After Aidan moved his horse forward and Tamil soon following, Viggo looked over toward Debalora and directed his horse to move towards the front of the carriage. She said she had grew up here... knew many people. Relatives and friends alike. And if this was the ministry's doing, which he was sure it was, no one was left alive. "Debalora... I'm sorry.." he said as comfortingly as possible. He couldn't know how she felt, this amount of loss was unimaginable to him. He knew she was going to need as much as she could...

Debalora sniffed loudly and opened her eyes as she turned her head forward. Tear soaked, red eyes glared forward angerily. Someone had to survive. The town was large enough with surrounding farms, there had to be someone! And Debalora had to save them!

Debalora gave a strong whip of the horse's reigns to quickly move forward. It wouldn't be as hard as before, but she made sure the horses were at a fast paced trot.

Gordan, gripped the window frame harder when he felt the carriage jerk forward. It was considerably slower, but with Debalora driving now... he didn't trust any speed.

Brandon's expression saddened as he didn't hear his mother speak to anyone, glancing at Carvahall before Debalora reined the horses. The carriage gave a disobedient jerk forward until they moved at a steady pace.

Later, Aidan was the first to arrive in town, glancing to the ground right and left to see scattered ashes and large black clumps. He got off his horse, holding the rein as he slowly walked along the town road, looking at the utter destruction of life and a silence so eerie. Only the crackling fire and the stomping hooves from the group were heard.

He began to proceed deeper into the town, never minding the group he separated from, they would disperse anyway. Finding the town square, he tied his horse onto a fence, patting it's neck reassuringly. As he turned around, he saw bodies lying on the dirt, most face down near the buildings they must have been inside. Aidan imagined the soldiers pulling out the inhabitants by the hair or neck, forcing them on the ground, taking out their daggers...and...

A sudden noise caused Aidan to turn around quickly, his hand instinctively reaching for his sheathed dagger. He kept still, body tense as the sound continued, this time closer. Before Aidan could do anything, a figure revealed itself, a hand holding the wall of the building they were walking around from the corner, stopping to stare at Aidan.

Aidan blinked, seeing the man almost painted with black spots from head to legs.

"Antonis..!" Aidan said in surprise, his body calming itself as he walked up to the general. The dog nodded slightly, a tired look in his eyes.

"So the others are here as well?" he asked, bringing the back of his wrist to wipe away sweat from his brow.

Aidan nodded, glancing just behind him. "I went ahead..." his eyes rose up to Antonis, "...Debalora is...I think you should go see her."

"I will." Antonis answered with a sigh.

The cat looked behind Antonis, then to the area, "...Where's Murdoc?"

Antonis turned his head to his left. "I think he's still at the stable just on the outskirt of town." he looked back to Aidan about to speak before he caught sight of someone running up to them.

"Hey!" Brandon called, stopping next to Aidan until his hands pressed against his knees, panting heavily. Catching his breath, he looked up to see Antonis and Aidan staring at him. "Hello." he said to Antonis, "Please, I thought Aidan could help, but I think it's best if you go, Antonis." he explained, straightening himself up. "Mother isn't...I think you should help her."

Antonis furrowed his brow to this news, nodding his head gravely. "Of course. Go with Aidan, Brandon. Keep close to one another." he instructed before Antonis began to walk where Brandon had come from, keeping a hastened pace as he sought the others, especially Debalora.

Aidan watched the general leave before his eyes settled on Brandon. "I...I hope you don't mind..."

"It's fine...it's best to stay with someone than alone, especially here." Brandon answered, moving his hands to rub his arms. This was very new to him...to see such a thing. It helped to talk instead of reflecting on what could have happened here.

Aidan saw the expression on the young mouse's face, lifting his hand to grab hold of Brandon's. "Come on...Let's find Murdoc. He's somewhere around here." he suggested, pulling Brandon along as he walked to the direction Antonis had pointed to.

Debalora had rushed into the nearest home within the town after stopping the carriage. She didn't even care to make sure the horses were taken care of, all that mattered was that she finds the survivors. There has to be survivors, someone had to survive this! She couldn't have arrived to late, SHE had to save them! She has always been there to save them! Anyone!

Loud crashes could be heard within the home. Debalora madly threw broken wood and burnt furniture out of her way. With every piece of broken ceiling or busted door, there was that hope she would find someone underneath it. As she continued with no survivors, every movement, everything she searched was another failure.

Debalora took heavy, panted breaths as she quickly surveyed the house; her gaze darting widely around each room. Another house was nearby, there had to be someone in there!

The next house was more destroyed than the last. Broken glass covered the fire stained floors and broken furniture. Smoke still emanated from the roof as the dying fires of the blaze dwindled into sparks and ashes all along the house.

Debalora ran inside, disregarding the condition of the house. She found the living room first and automatically started digging through the debris and throwing broken wood pieces out of her way. Still failing to find any survivors, she rushed toward the next room. Only to find the door was barricaded by the bricks of the chimney blocking her way.

Tears had now streamed down her cheeks and her vision blurred by sadness. Debalora's teeth grit infuriatingly and yelled out her frustrations as she threw herself toward the bricks blocking her way. Driven by her pain, she dug in and throw bricks around the room behind herself. The bricks increasingly slowed her pace, she had to get through. Someone could be on the other side!

After inhaling and exhaling heavily through grit teeth, Debalora's eyes quickly turned white and held her hand forward. A quick white blast disintegrated the brick in the center and threw a majority of the bricks around the room.

Once the doorway was cleared, Debalora ran inside. What she found tore at her very soul and caused the emptiness within her to fill with endless sorrow. A hand clamped over her mouth as she wept loudly. Loud gasps could be heard as she tried to breath through her own cries, her body barely handling the grief flowing through her.

A woman, holding her infant, had managed to barricade the door from the soldiers. But she couldn't escape the fires. Both her and the infant in her arms suffered from terrible burns over their entire bodies. The woman held the infant to tightly, but both of them lifeless.

Debalora fell to her knees in anguish. She didn't come in time. She should have came sooner, she could have saved them! She saves everyone!