It wasn't long when the three of us had fully got rid of our tracks and continued heading West.

We walked silently without saying a word to each other. I liked it that way, without a sound to annoy me and the only thing that was comforting was the forest birds and leaves against the gentle breeze. When I glanced down at the little brat his mouth was completely zipped shut but his cheeks were red as if he was holding his breath.

"You want to ask something go ahead. I'm all ears" I said coldly, turning my gaze away and back at the forest. I sensed his head turn my way and his mouth quickly opening into an o however before he could say anything I interrupted him.

"Listen kid, I have only little patience and a few brain cells left" I said giving him a side look and the little thief straightened up his posture, his expression changed into curiosity. "Thanks to some people and a certain fox" I said as I gave Homura a peeved look and he returned with confused eyes and a response that made my eye twitched.

"Huh?" the fox responded lazily. I composed myself with a irritated smile.

The orange fur ball glanced me up and down as if he was analysing a mere slave "What? Did something bite you in the ass or something? or am I that pretty that your eyes can't avoid my perfect body" his tail twirled in the air.

"So perfect I might just skin it and sell it for a good price at the market" I grumbled quitely. 'or maybe a I can make a scarf out of it for winter'

"Did you say something?" the two boys said in sync.

"No. What is there to say?" I dead panned, crossing my hands in annoyance.

"Well you were going to say something before" Jackal said skipping over a rock, his cloak flying in the air as he did. If it wasn't for the cloak I had thought the brat was some small kid for his age but closely looking at him, he looked rather taller than the average 12 year old.

"What was it?" the little thief asked, cocking the side of his head to look at me while his hands clasped together behind his back.

"Oh I forgot about that for a moment" I said bluntly, itching the side of my cheek wishing he hadn't brought that up so I wouldn't have to speak. "Anyway" I shrugged my shoulders up. "Since I willingly cherish the last remaining brain cells I have left inside my skull. The number of question is limited to 5" I spoke watching Jackals face drop to a frown.

Homura snorted out loud. "What an unlucky human cub"

"That's no fair. How am I supposed to learn anything if I have a limit of 5 questions" he complained, his cheeks coming to pout.

I swirled a glance at the forest, tapping the end of my chin in a thinking manner "Your right. We should make it 3 instead"

Jackal gave me an annoyed expression, brows frowning down as his silver eyes examined my face "Your so cruel big sis Artemis. Can't you make it six instead?" Jackal mumbled quietly so in fear I would get angry.

"You know Artemis, A human cub won't learn if he doesn't ask question." Homura said suddenly starting to take his side which caught me off guard. "Everything needs to be asked to be learnt or their better off not knowing at all"

I frowned. That means drowning in Jackals hundreds of questions. What a troublesome thing. However Homura had a point there, the little brat wouldn't go anywhere if he doesn't questions that confuses him however I didn't learn by asking questions but to watch and learn from the people around, picking up anything that was important.

I glanced down at the troubled boy walking beside me, his silver eyes trailing the ground. Jackal is stupid and doesn't have the mind to do what I used to do.

"Jackal"

"Yes" he replied with innocent silver eyes that looked at me with those curious thoughts of his.

"10 questions" I held out my hands in wide open palms. Jackals silver eyes lit up and a wide grin crossed his face "10 questions a day and no more"

He nodded his head quickly. I narrowed my eyes at him, scanning him thoroughly for any ideas that might start going through his head. "And that doesn't conclude on you saving your remaining questions for the next day to add them to your next 10" I wagged my finger.

"That's no fair" he said, a look of disappointment crossed his face. "That's unreasonable"

"Sorry kid, I lived by not asking questions and analysing my surroundings" I shook my head, hands coming to cross "And that's part of your training too." The mention of training made him zip and stare at me in awe and interest.

"There might be a situation where your stuck and unable to question me. That's why you must learn to analyse and search for clues instead of relying on me to answer them for you" I explained and the little brat listened obediently.

"That's a good thing to teach the human brat too" Homura said with a purr.

"Limit my questions and learn to analyse my surrounding to find the answer to my question. Noted" he said enthusiastically, fisting his left hand and his silver eyes lighting with fire filled with determination. I rolled my eyes and continued on walking.

"Your going to be a pain in the ass" I huffed annoyed, pinching the bridge of my nose.

"And tail" Homura added with a grumble as he followed beside me.

"Can I ask my first question" Jackal raised a hand in the air like a student asking their teacher a question.

"Yes but you got 10 remember. Choose your questions wisely"

Jackal wrinkled his nose, placing an index finger under his nostril into a thing manner, making those annoying thinking sounds people do.

"Can you understand fox language?" Jackal asked pointing to Homura. I wasn't surprised that the little thief was going to ask such question. I wasn't going to lie to the kid about my secret ability to communicate with the animals and dragons since after all he will be accompanying me on this quest.

But I will definitely not be telling him that my soul comes from a different world and that I had accidently possessed someone else's body and is trying to find my way home. That's something I will never tell the kid.

I stared aimlessly at the ground feeling my guts churn in the thought of the secret. I wasn't sure with myself if my biggest secret would be secret from Jackal forever there might be a day where it would slip out and even if it did I wonder what he will say.

Oh well not like I care anyway.

"Hello? Big sis Artemis, you still there?" my train of thoughts was interrupted by the voice of the boy.

I glanced sideways to Jackal, "There are many mysterious things occuring in the world, kid and there are things that you can't explain." I explained, my eyes watching the sun begin to go down, painting the sky in warm colours.

Jackal listened carefully, his silver eyes twinkling with wonder. "So can you?" he sounded a little too excited as if he was hoping my answer was a yes.

I continued to look at him without a single expression expressed on my face before blinking away and bringing my attention to the forest. "Yeah" I answered bluntly.

"Cool" He beamed enthusiastically, bringing his fist to his face. I blinked blankly not responding to his comment but Homura as always has a something to say for everything.

"A human having the ability to talk to animals is not cool, you know what a nightmare that is? If Artemis didn't understand me she would have treated me like a treasure instead of an animal companion" He whined, twirling his paw around as a gesture.

I had the urge to step on his tail and watch him wail in despair but I felt to nice today... Actually I didn't have the patience to listen to him shout and yell at me later.

Honestly I would do it at a time when I have the mood for it.

Jackal had swift past me to walk beside Homura, his eyes analysing Homura in awe and excitement. He couldn't help but grin. "What did he say?" the little brat looked up at me as he asked the question, the amusement was evident in his voice.

"He said how awesome of a person I am and how uncool and annoying you are" I lied bluntly, as I stared blankly at him. Jackal face dropped in a deadpan and his mouth twitched with annoyance. He didn't seem to take it as the truth even though it wasn't.

"that's very believable" he said.

"EXCUSE ME!" Homura yapped loudly that the creatures of the forests would have heard from miles away. "I SAID NO SUCH THING. YOU PESKY LYING HUMAN!"

My nose wrinkled up, looking the other way and cocking my head to the side trying to avoid the sound waves from bursting through my ears.

"FROM EVERY FIBRE OF MY BODY, I WILL NEVER PRAISE YOU! EVER!"

I sneered at nothing, cleaning my ear with my pinky. 'Gee no need to shout about it. I was only joking around'

Jackal was snickering quietly as if he knew what Homura was shouting about.

"Are you done?" I asked. Homura growled at me baring his teeth at me then to raise his snout in the air and walk faster away from us.

"I think you just hurt his feelings" said Jackal, titling his head to the side.

"That's ok, he will come back whenever he is done sulking" I explained, scratching the back of my head. The kid didn't say anything and it was quite again. I looked around and the light has become dim as the sun began to set, fleeing from the sky for the day.

'It's already beginning to get dark' I thought. I had an uneasy feeling about the dark nights in forests in this fantasy world. Only God knows what's lurking in these parts of Ventus' forests.

The sudden howls of wolves could be heard in the midst of the wind that came whooshing past. That didn't scare me but the other unfamiliar screeches of growls that came after sent a shiver down my spine.

Jackal jumped from his spot and his eyes shook from horror. "H-hey b-big sis." his voice trembled. I could tell Jackal wasn't use to sleeping in forests in the night as he was used to the safety of the empire away from creatures or monsters that ravished humans lurking in the forests.

The screeches suddenly brought the memories of the giant tree monster, Mortes. It's horrid looking hands that would grasp you from the ground then to shred you apart and that trunk skull like head that sucks the living soul out of you brought a tremendous terror to my core.

I shook the image away so I wouldn't scare myself more.

My eyes averted around at the outlines of the forest trees, the forest flowers began to glow creating a light pathway and the wind continued to howl "Let's keep moving" I suggested.

Jackal nodded his head in agreement without any hesitation.

"I don't plan on being anyone's dinner" I spoke softly. I took a step forward when immediately Homura leaped in front startling Jackal into a squeal except for me who only stood their unfazed with the matter.

The thief stumbled to the ground as he plopped himself on the cool grass, his hand over his beating heart while he tried to calm his breathing.

"What happened to him?" Homura questioned, his amber eyes starting to lit up an amber glow in the dark.

"I saw my whole life flash before my eyes" Jackal mumbled in horror, his breathing becoming steady again.

Homura blinked for a second before rolling his eyes at him and turning back his attention on me. "I found human land not far from here" Homura explained. The outline of his body was visible under the rays of the moon that shone down from above us. I didn't realise it before but he actually pretty under the moon.

Reminds me of the ghost fox from the forest of Viridis.

"Where?"

"Over there" Homura pointed his paw towards the left. My icy blue eyes followed the direction of his paw. It wasn't very far but I could see dim orange lights that started to turn on from within the trees. "We could stay there for tonight before we head out in the morning. Best choice then staying out here not like it would bother me or anything since I am fox of the forest and your..." he analysed me up and down with a sneer across his lips "Whatever human you are"

I didn't say anything further but to roll my eyes and cross my hands against my chest. "Your so crude" I said before stepping back into a walk towards the direction of the village, ignoring Jackal who was dusting off the back of his pants then to follow me like a baby duck.

'I guess another night in an inn it is'

"Where are we headed off to this time? What did Homura say?" Jackal ran to my side with his dozens of questions.

Giving him a cold side glance "That's 2 questions. You sure you want them to be answered?" I held a peace sign. Jackal thought for a moment, gazing his attention to the ground then back at me.

"Limit your questions and analyse your surroundings" he said with a click of a finger with a grin.

I rose an eyebrow a little impressed with him. He was a quick learner, thank god. "Not bad" Jackal's grin widened ear to ear, that was high praise indeed from me and the only way of praise he will be getting from me at all.

As we got closer to the light, the soft sounds of people could be heard and the smell of roasting meat lingered in the air.

"A Village" Jackal beamed. "So that's where we were going" he said softly under his breath.

"Pew, they are burning good meat away" Homura gagged in response.

Jackal however had a different response, sniffing the air and his mouth began to water "Smells nice" he softly said. I in the end had nothing to say to the roasted meat smell lingering in the air.

With roll of my eye I head my towards the village. "Keep moving noobs, we-" the sudden gust of wind had made me stop and what came made me freeze in my own tracks. My throat went dry as I slowly turned around.

A soft whisper of a woman's voice carried by the wind towards me had said my name "Artemis" . I felt my body become tense up as I slowly reached to my blade.

"He is coming." There it was again, the womans whispering voice in the wind that sounded like a tune of flute. The uneasiness built up in the back of my mind as I tried to keep my self steady.

'Who's coming? '

"They are coming" with those words a blustery cold wind blew at me and I sheltered myself, my haori flapped violently against the wind.

"Big sis?"