As Reio flew around an area he felt the group might have been, a flicker of light, as if something were being reflected, caught his eye. Puzzlement filled his mind until he focused more closely on it. That's them! Reio exclaimed as he saw a silver Gryphon lying on some rocks with a panther and an Atavian girl.

Quickly, he adjusted the angle of his feathers and turned around in a dive towards the ground. Sulliah, he yelled. Sulliah, I've spotted them!

Sulliah stopped on a large branch and held out her arm as Reio landed on it. "Where are they? And who is around?" Sulliah asked.

In a clearing just ahead, he answered. And it's just the girl, Gryphon and the panther. I didn't see the Zatavian or Batavian among them, but-

"But they might be within the forest…" Sulliah finished. "Then we'd better stay within the forest around the clearing, too. Since Yohei didn't transport us here, we don't have his magic on us so they shouldn't notice us at all."

Reio nodded. I'll scope out the area more.

"No!" Sulliah insisted. "You're not going ahead because the Gryphon knows magic. Plus it can fly, so you can't get away safely."

The Atavian can fly, too. It's no different, Reio stated.

"Yes, it is. The Gryphon is more skilled at flying, more so than you!" Sulliah said, forcing herself to look Reio in the eye. "If I lose you, Reio, I'm as good as dead."

Reio looked down and away from Sulliah, feeling her pain. I know, Sulliah. Just like if I lose you I'm as good as dead.

"Then, please don't fly too far ahead." Sulliah said as she leaned in and kissed Reio on top of his feathered head.

Draven grinned under his helmet as he watched Reio and Sulliah. Such idiots, he thought. I'd be damned if I let one person, or my people, keep me from living my life as I please.

Draven watched as Sulliah and Reio leave. Silently, he followed Sulliah, hiding himself within the shadows of the forest. I don't see why Yohei really wishes to keep the elves when he controls the celves. They're stronger and more battle worthy then Sulliah and her race.

As Reio and Sulliah came closer to the clearing, Sulliah quickly pressed her body against a tree to conceal herself when she heard someone coming. To her surprise, she saw NightStar, Crystal, and Troia race past the tree she was in. What the hell? Reio, they didn't see you did they?

No, Reio stated from above. I was behind you when they passed. I'm gonna follow them, maybe we can find out where they're hiding.

Sulliah grimaced. I guess so, but be careful. Finding them isn't more important than your life.

Reio nodded as best as he could. I will. And don't worry. I'll stay far enough behind them so they won't notice me.

"I don't get it," Sulliah said to herself as she leaned against the tree. "They were running as if they noticed us, but, if they didn't see Reio or me, then why were they running as if they had? It couldn't be some spell. If it was, then they would have noticed Reio when he first spotted them…"
Reio? Be extra careful. I'm going back to the clearing. Maybe I can find what made them panic as they did. Sulliah looked up at the sky watching as Reio circled over, signaling that he understood.

Sulliah then jumped through the trees, quickly coming upon the clearing. "Well," she said as she looked around, "the clearing was closer than I thought."

She noticed that it was a very beautiful sight. Although, it would probably be more beautiful if the castle and most of the west wasn't covered in shadows. Sulliah quickly turned around when she heard a twig snap. In less then a second, she had her bow in hand and an arrow set and pulled back, ready to fly.

"Now, now. No need to attack me, Sulliah," said a dark voice. "We're on the same side."

Sulliah cursed as she lowered her bow. "Damn you, Draven! Did Yohei send you with his magic?"

Draven chuckled, as he remained hidden in the woods. "Yes, he did. He sent me to keep an eye on you and your 'pet.'"

"Damn it, Draven!" Sulliah shouted in anger. "Thanks to your following us, the others noticed you and ran off when we got close!"

"Calm down, Sulliah. You called this upon yourself, you know."

Puzzlement fell over Sulliah's face as Draven continued. "If you and Reio would stop talking about betraying Yohei, then I wouldn't have to follow you." Draven laughed as a thought came to mine. "Keep this up, Sulliah, and you, Reio, and your people will die. Yohei knows what he's looking for now. And all he needs is that and the girl."

"What is it Yohei's doing?" Sulliah asked.

"With the girl? Hell if I know. Maybe he just wants her."

"No," Sulliah said as she walked towards the woods. "Why exactly is Yohei collecting certain objects?"

"Oh, come on, Sulliah!" Draven laughed. "You must be the dumbest person in the Zokugun. Surely you've heard of the Ariadne?" Draven laughed, and then disappeared. His voice echoed until it faded into silence.

Sulliah stood there, taking in all that Draven had said, memories of the past and dreams of warning hitting her hard. "Why didn't I pay better attention to everyone?" she whispered to herself.

Sulliah heard feathers ruffle as Reio came down and landed on her shoulder. If it weren't for the tough leather covering it, Sulliah would have to feel every one of Reio's talons sink into her skin. Oh, how she longed to be in his embrace instead of protecting herself from his touch. 'One of these days Yohei will pay, I swear it,' Sulliah promised herself. Even if I have to die and have my spirit haunt him.

Reio looked at Sulliah questionably. Sulliah? Reio asked, knowing better then to disturb her when she's in deep thought.

Sulliah looked over at Reio and grinned the best she could. "Did you find them?"

Reio lowered his head in shame. I was right behind them, they never noticed me, but then they just disappeared.

"It's okay, Reio," Sulliah said as she reached up and scratched his neck. "We'll have to wait a long time before we can track them down."

Reio looked up at Sulliah as she looked down, forcing herself to not look in his eye. Why do we have to wait? The trail is fresh, we can follow them now.

Sulliah shook her head. "No, we can't. They're protected by some kind of magic. The tracks will disappear remember? Also, we could end up fighting all five of them or have them run again. I now know why they ran when we came close," Sulliah said in a low growl.

Why?

"Draven was sent to follow us and Yohei used his magic to transport him here, and they sensed Yohei's magic on him."

But why was he sent to follow us? Reio asked puzzled.

Sulliah sighed, still looking down. "Some how Yohei ever head us talking about wanting to get away from him. I guess he was watching us just as much as the girl with Kyattsuai."