Liam stares up at me in silence as I inject some antibiotics into his bloodstream.

"You were the one dancing on my chest..." he says weakly. "I guess I should say thank you...?"

"For using your chest as the dance floor?" I look down at him as I dump the used needle into the tray with the rest of the rubbish I used to clean out his arm and take out the IV. I then shove all the supplements at Moon, who was going to be spoon feeding the slightly warmed up rice porridge with the consistency of glue and a few wild mushrooms and an egg thrown in.

"For saving me..." It seemed he felt he needed to clarify.

"Moon made an offer I couldn't turn down." I step back and let Moon through with the food and the tablets.

"I can imagine," He winces as he tries to sit up, "She can be persuasive -whoa!-" throwing an arm out as he loses strength and balance. I catch it and help Moon support him to get him sitting up. "Thanks...Sorry..."

"Shut up and tell me if it's too hot for you to eat," Moon hushes him while offering the spoon filled with the gruel.

"I can't do both," he chuckles but is cut off when she jams the spoon in his mouth. "Ok, easy. It's warm enough."

"Good."

I turn to the feeling of someone tugging on the hem of my shirt and look down to see Poppy with my serving of food. I nodded a thank you before she scurries away again. I even noticed that she's snuck a few more fillings and even an extra egg into my share. I hide a smile as I sit down and eat it without question. I had a funny feeling she's taken the extra egg from her share but I was too hungry and selfish to argue back her kind gesture.

After finishing the bowl, I place it down on the ground before getting back up. "Well, if that's everything, then I'm gonna go back to my room."

Moon nods, "Thanks, Luke."

As I was heading to the hallway for the stairs, I notice Echo and a small boy with a piercing gaze heading through the door.

"Echo?" Moon seemed surprised to see the pair.

The small boy was a stark contrast to Echo. His black hair fell like a wet mop about his face and had dark olive skin from being out in the sun a lot. But it was his piercing, almost unnatural green emerald eyes that were ludicrously enchanting. When his eyes fell on me, I imminently thought of a hawk. I hazard a guess that this is 'Shadow'.

I internally sigh and stop, turning around to see what was going on, my curiosity winning in the internal contest that was waging on in my head.

Echo smiles at Liam, "Good to see your blood inside your body for a change, Liam."

"Hello to you too," he grins, completely unaffected by her.

"Anyway, forest group..." Echo seemed to have switched gears in her head. "They were definitely surprised when we said 'hello'. It seems we bumped into their 'city raiding' party just before they were about to move out. Anywho, their leader is a bit...jumpy. He's staying away from any major roads and cities like a hunted rabbit...it looks like they have some sort of shadow dogging this group and by the sounds of it, for a really long time. ...Sorry for the wordplay, Shady. But I guess it fits," she chuckles, nudging him with her elbow.

The boy rolls his eyes, "Ok, you're done, let me continue. I know their leader. His name's Ghost."

...I'm not sure if I should find this naming thing amusing or tiring.

"We were part of a bigger tribe...but things happened and we all kinda went different ways. It doesn't really matter." His eyes shifted over to me, obviously not comfortable to divulge any more information on his past with the elephant-shaped stranger in the room. Everyone has their secrets. Though considering I've been here for a while now, you'd think they'd let up a little. But that being said, this is first time Shadow and I have been in the same room... "The point is, he is open to talks with you, Moon. For now. It's probably a good idea to meet with him in the forest, not in the city, while he's still hanging around. If Ghost is anything like I remember...once he's made his mind up, he won't change it."

"Yeah, they look like they are just looking for some supplies before going back into the forest and probably set up their own little tribe away from everything to ignore the rest of the world. He really wants to hide," Echo follows up. "Looks like Pyros won't be our only concern anymore."

"We don't need to help him," Shadow said back.

"Why not? He's your friend, right?"

"Maybe...if who's following him who I think it is...we don't want them catching us out. They're worse than Pyros."

Moon stares at him in blank shock, "You mean-"

"Yeah, it's them," He shoots back, quickly cutting her off and blinked in surprise before mumbling an apology. The conversation died in silence and I knew I was the reason why.

I sigh heavily, "Look. I'll leave, I have better things to do." As much as this conversation is interesting, I think that if I pushed any further, I would be stepping over the line that I especially made to keep out of this crazy tribal business.

Liam surprised me when he chirped up, "Shadow's sister is missing and we think it has something to do with his last tribe."

"It has everything to do with them but they left without a trace and I haven't heard any news about anything until now." Shadow's eyes narrow in frustration and I see so much hurt etching across his face. It's not an emotion you'd want to see in someone. Especially someone this small.

"Then it's all the more reason why Moon needs to meet with this 'Ghost', right?" Echo answers back.

"It's my problem."

"And you're our family. It's our problem. Excuse the cliché, but I'm more than willing to help. Right Moon?"

Moon stands up and stops in front of the now quiet Shadow who was staring intently at the ground. She places her hands on his shoulders and leans up into his face "I promised that I would help you, Shadow."

"I know...but..." His lip slightly trembles as he bites out his words, "I don't want them to hurt you as well. They are cruel and...it's...so...so -I'm so scared of what they could do to you. All of you."

"Well I don't know about you, but I'm gonna still try anyway." Echo responded nonchalantly. "That's Dark Sol's motto."

They have a motto now? I let out a breath, subconsciously folding my arms while I ponder on this. "This exchange of information you have obviously got set up...How long did this 'Ghost' give you to meet?"

Echo wonders over to me, leaning on my shoulder "He gave us till tomorrow afternoon and to make sure we're not followed. He only wants Moon and Shadow to only come back. He'll have someone waiting outside the forest to escort them. Blah blah blah. He's very cute but demanding and dictating."

I scoff "...I don't think it's a good idea to completely go according to his plans."

"Then what do you suggest?" Moon looked at me intently.

I shrug, "I'm not saying you don't go. It's obviously something you yourself need to do but I don't think it's a good idea to forget that you made contact first. Don't just go along with what this 'Ghost' plans out all of a sudden. You are the bigger force so make sure that you dictate some of the terms as well."

"Such as, Doctor Pretty Kitty?" Echo bats her eyelashes at me in a comical way.

I give her a dead glare but decided to ignore her on so many levels, "Bring more than just you and Shadow for a start. It's stupid to think that the leader of another party would basically go in alone with a single kid as back up based on good faith that Ghost and Shadow were from the same tribe."

"I think so too," Shadow agrees readily.

"Then hmm maybe...River...Reaper...?"

Another stupid name. "Anyway, I'm going back to my room if that's it." I turn away from them and begin heading back.

"You too, Luke."

I stop and turn back, "Say what?"

"You come along as well," she enunciates slowly like I've gone stupid. I think I just did.

"Sorry, nope," I make to walk away. "I'm here because of Liam's injury, nothing else. Speaking of which, wouldn't that be taking me away from him?"

"I could use your insight."

"You'll manage without me."

"You might find something useful from them." Echo chirps at my back.

"Such as?"

"You came from the south, right? Well, they're from the north. Complete opposite."

"Thank you, Captain Obvious."

"Aw we have pet names now!"

This girl is infuriating.

"Anyway, I noticed that you don't have maps from their area, maybe they do."

"Then you go and ask for them."

"Nope. See, I would if you were part of Dark Sol but since you're a lone wolf, you can go ask yourself like the big bad wolf-kitty that you are."

I wanted to growl at her.

"You might find something useful and since we won't know what to ask, you can go."

"Uh huh...and what about Liam?"

"Meifeng and I will watch him like a hawk," she smiles her creepy innocent smile while patting Liam on the head.

"And now I feel uncomfortable," Liam mumbles before looking up at me. "It's only for a few hours, right?"

"A lot can happen in a few hours," I stare him down. Everyone is ganging up on me. I let out a breath and soften my gaze, "Look. You already have enough trouble trusting me to begin with. Why would you want me in on this?"

Moon comes over to me, her voice quiet so that only I can hear her, "I'm not as strong as everyone makes me out to be. I could use your help in at least appearing that I am in front of this 'Ghost' since I will be away from my own territory without my entire group to back me up. I can see that you think that I'm a vulnerable and weak leader -you might be right- but that makes it more and more of a reason for me to ask you to help." She seems to be more than willing to play the bleeding heart card on me and is scarily more observant than I gave her credit for. But I don't think she's weak. In fact, I'd say she's the opposite, a bedrock that they are so used to leaning on, despite her being so unsure on how to lead them.

"Would you stop guilt tripping me into things?' I grumble back.

"Sorry."

I shut my eyes, weighing up everything before a sigh of resignation come out, "Fine. But if I think that this is a waste of time, I'm walking out."

"That's all I need."

"Then give me back my knife and I'll agree...for now."

She genuinely smiles at me. "It's a deal."