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“It’s not really a long-term solution,” Angurus says, pulling me to his chest. I’m not as short as Kara but I do like how much taller he is, so I can rest my head against his chest. I can hear his heart beating and I feel my own slow down.

“I know, but we have to dosomething,” I say, looking up at him. His eyes find mine and his furrowed brow goes slack.

“I promised to find a cure, and even if I have to go to the ends of Protheka to find it, I will help your sister,” he vows. It’s moments like this that remind me exactly why I fell in love with him.

“Thank you,” I say, my voice cracking. “Thank you Angurus.”

“I would do anything for you, my love, my mate,” he cups my cheek and gives me a kiss, settling the whirring in my stomach.

We eat an early dinner and I head back out for the village to check up on Kara and see if she’s feeling any better.

As I arrive in the village, though, I catch a hooded figure sneaking around amongst the huts. “Halt!” I order, reaching for the dagger that Angurus gifted me for protection. “Who goes there?”

The figure slips between the huts and I give chase, determined to catch up and reveal the culprit skulking around the camp.

“Stop!” I grab their hood, pulling it back to reveal…

“Kara?”

“I’m sorry, Kelly!” she says, pulling her cloak back from my fingers.

“Were you leaving?” My voice breaks.

“I can’t stay. You know that and I know that. It’s no longer safe!” Kara protests, twisting her fingers into the material of her cloak. “I’m a danger to the others and to myself. I broke Amelia’s nose, Kelly! What if I break someone’s limbs next, or worse! I slaughtered those mine workers. If they were to ever find out the truth, they would banish me.”

I know she’s right. It still doesn’t make it hurt any less to see her leaving. “What are you going to do?” I ask, tears blurring my vision.

“I’m going to seek the dragon Mordis,” she says, clenching her fists. “I have to find a cure. I won’t live like this but I’m not going to give into my fate either.”

I’ve always assumed that Kara was the weak one of the two of us. That she was the one who needed looking after, needed protection. That she needed me more than I needed her.

But now, as I watch her standing in front of me, for the first time I realize I need her more right now.

“I don’t want you to go!” I start sobbing, pulling her towards me so I can wrap my arms around her.

“I don’t want to go either,” Kara is weeping now as well. I feel her tears dampening my blouse. “But I’ll return, I promise,” she says, pulling away to look me in the eyes.

“Yes,” I agree. “We will reunite once the cure is found.”

We hug each other, reluctant to part but eventually Kara has to go as the sky is getting darker. I watch her leave, cloak pulled up over her head, and I’m rooted to the spot.

Someday the two of us will find each other once more.

The End