Jackal crawled on all his four limbs, making his way tiredly to the nearshore of the lake and the water splashing as he stamped his hands down. Streams of water dripped down his hair, trickling down his forehead before returning back to the water. His clothes drenched in cold water that made him shiver the moment he had hit the cool air of Ventus.

The thief coughed out the excess water out from his lungs, breathing in and out heavily as he catches his breath and then to slumped on his back on the hard pebbles of the ground. His hands and legs spread wide open, and his gaze stared up at the clear blue sky that spread wide over the horizon like a blanket, watching the littlest fluffy clouds move slowly to the east while the birds swoop past them.

"I think I swallowed a tiny fish" Jackal mumbled and placed a hand over his stomach, feeling it rise up and down. "I could feel it swimming inside of me" he breathed dryly, face sucked in as he eyes filled with horror just by the thought of a living thing swimming inside of him, building a home as it eats away whatever Jackal consumes, forever.

For the rest of his life.

Even maybe lay eggs and then he will have hundreds of fishes living inside of him. He shivered at the thought of that.

Homura had plopped himself on the pebble floor, beside the kid; his orange fur had turned darker than his original bright orange colour that resembled the flaming embers because of the water that drenched him from tail to snout.

Jackal heard him whimper and growl, not understanding a thing the fox was saying but agreed to whatever it was, but his attention shifted to the sound of footsteps against the pebbles. He identified the sounds as big sis Artemis' high heeled boots that sounded so exotic to him.

He didn't have the strength to get up and only cocked his head back a little to see Artemis standing in front of him. Her posture straight and a hand on the side of her hip while her icy blue eyes that always looked like a winter wonderland resided in those eyes and whenever he stared deeply into them, he felt like he was suddenly locked in endless cold.

She gazed down at him.

Her long silver-white hair flowed gently behind her, and her odd looking dark teal cloak waved like the waves of the calm sea in the same direction of the thousands strands of silver-white.

An eyebrow raised as big sis Artemis began to speak "Did you guys enjoy your bath?" she questioned with a slight sarcasm.

Her expression teased them.

Jackal frowned; his lips twisted to a pout. He didn't know if he was supposed to save Homura from drowning or that he needed a bath or maybe Big Sis Artemis was just messing with him.

He didn't know.

Homura barked at her angrily, yapping and howling which Jackal still didn't understand.

Artemis like always was unfazed by Homura, always avoiding her gaze away from him. It something Jackal had picked up from Artemis' behaviour. The Isvandy would always have the same expressionless and dull expression on her face and her gaze would be away to the side when she knows that she is in the wrong or that someone is exposing her fault before answering with a sarcasm response.

Or when someone does something that she finds stupid or they say something that she finds stupid, Artemis will always look side to side before answering something sarcastic.

Even if he knows his stupid, it's something he figured when being with Artemis for a while. It something he seen her do that showed a habit of behaviour.

"Don't blame me for your foolishness. I tried to save you from the crumbling cliff and yet atlas I had arrived too late to grab a hold of you" Artemis said with dramatic voice she plays whenever she lies to piss off Homura, shaking her head as if she was guilty for actually being late to save him resulting in Homura to snarl bitterly.

Jackal didn't know if she was lying to piss off Homura or just trying to get out of the problem so she wouldn't be blamed for something she did and wouldn't have to own up for it.

It made him wonder if Artemis was really someone, he could trust for anything, and what kind of person she would be if a huge responsibility was to fall on her shoulders. Would she come up with snarky lies to run away from it?

Big Sis Artemis definitely didn't seem like the sort to own up for anything.

"Any who" she crossed her arms, tilting her head to a round circle as if she was looking around herself. "Dry yourselves up before any of you dimwits catch cold and meet me by the campfire. I'll prepare lunch" she ordered, gesturing her thumb back.

Jackal heaved a sigh, listening to the pebbles being stepped on by Artemis as it faded away.

As he laid there in exhaustion and the sun beaming down at him, warming his cool cheeks, and drying the water away as he let himself catch a break before getting up, he listened. For the first time in his life, he came to realise the enchanting sounds of his surroundings.

Jackal listened carefully to the churning of the waterfalls that splashed so loudly, the crashing of the gentle waves against the shore, the twinkling bells of the leaves that danced with the laughing wind. It brought a sense of beauty to his mind as he began to think to himself.

He wondered what Artemis was doing, traveling around Alphyria. Was she looking for something? Or did she just travel and explore to do something in her life? He didn't want to ask her because Artemis seemed she wouldn't tell him and would just give him some lame lie.

Furthermore, he didn't want to annoy Big Sis Artemis to the point she would re-considered her decision and kick him out of her group.

The image of him wondering the woods in the dark with wolves or monster that would tear him from limb to limb, terrified him.

He was definitely not going to get on Artemis' nerves.

Finally getting a minute rest he rose up in a sitting position, looking down at his soaking state, his brown top stuck on to his skin, clinging to him like a child, his cloak felt heavy as it was pulling him down and his socks was soggy and so were his boots. Jackals brows came down and he sighed deeply. 'As much as I don't mind taking a bath, I'm not overly fond of getting wet with my clothes on'

His attention shifted to the annoyed fox that was growling deeply to himself before Homura shook himself dry, the water droplets flying at Jackal like flying particles. The boy quickly sheltered himself with his hands. "Hey! Homura" Jackal complained.

Homura's amber eyes glanced sideways at him; eyes that looked the falls of autumn trapped in glass orbs that stared at him with nothing but the same dull expression as Artemis. He raised a paw and placed it on Jackal's shoulder and said something in his fox language.

The little thief didn't understand what the fox was saying and only raised an eyebrow, cocking his head to the side and replying with "What?"

The fox that understood him, stared blankly at him before marching away, following Artemis. His aura leaking annoyance.

Jackal's cheeks puffed up into a pout, frustrated that he couldn't understand what Homura was saying. Annoyed that he was wet and hungry. A cool air blew past him, and he shivered, goosebumps rising up his skin.

"All the gods hate me" Jackal muttered under his breath, crossing his arms, and huffing in displeasure. "Stupid Gods" he mumbled as he stood up, his boots making a squishy sound as the water squeezed out when he placed pressure on them to stand up.

He stood there on the pebble ground, eyes staring down at his wet boots. He was like a stone statue, standing there blinking and staring. Bending his knees down, Jackal began to bob up and down, with a blank yet satisfied expression. The little thief listened to the weird squeezing and squishy sounds his boots made as he continued to bob up and down squeezing down the heels of his feet against the inside soles of his brown boots.

He was a child fascinated by the simplest yet dumbest things.

"Jackal! What the fuck are you doing?!"

Jackal jumped out of his skin when the shouts of Artemis startled him.

"Get over here already before you catch a cold and die!" she demanded, her voice booming loudly.

"Coming!" Jackal replied with shout, regarding his squishy boots and beginning to a jolt, running his way to Homura and Artemis. His boots continued to make those squishy noises with every step.

When he had made his way to the other two, he was freezing. Teeth softly clattering and his fingertips were cold like ice shards that would hang down the roof tops in winter nights.

He may be clean now but his was freezing and trembling none stop.

"If your gonna stand there like an idiot might as well freeze to death." Artemis said dryly not even giving any eye contact while she stacked sticks together to form a cone like shape.

"I-I d-don't h-ha-ve a-any s-sp-spare c-cl-clothes" Jackal stuttered in a shiver. Rubbing his shoulders for any warmth.

Artemis stopped what she was doing, glanced at him sideways. her eye twitched indicating the sudden realisation that dawned on her, making her annoyed. It was probably the feeling of annoyance that she should have thought of through before kicking him down the cliff and into the water.

Artemis racked through her hair, making the frustrated expression while standing up. "Take your clothes off except for your pants and hang them to dry. I'll start the fire as quick as I can to get you warmed up" She explained.

"T-Tha-th-ank y-you" he said, turning around and beginning to walk, searching for place where he could hang half his clothes to dry, somewhere he could keep an eye on it so no naked man would stumble through the forest to find clothes hanged down from a tree and steal them leaving Jackal half naked and to die from the spring season.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It wasn't long when Jackal returned with only his soaking and water dripping pants. He still hugged himself, shivering cold and his teeth clattering together. It was clear to see the goosebumps all over his hands and that his lips had gone completely blue.

"Took you long enough" Artemis said, dusting her hands.

"It was hard to take off my clothes" he said, remembering how fell backwards trying to take of his shirt that was completely glued on his skin.

Artemis raised an eyebrow as began to examine his skinny figure. Jackal wasn't the chubby type of kid with such a nice figure.

His rib cages sometimes could be seen due to the lack of food he would get during winter times and the days he would go by without food; he knew that. His skin wasn't soft either. It was rough and the dryness of his skin was visible to the eyes.

What could he do about it?

Nothing really.

What happened after, surprised the little boy. Jackal stood their watching Artemis take off her dark teal cloak revealing her full clothing she wore under it. Her robe like top was sleeveless showing her soft porcelain arms. There was that black material wrapped around her waist while her skirt had these armour looking plates hanging down the sides of her hips.

Artemis threw her cloak at him, and Jackal caught it with a surprised flinch. "Wear it." she ordered bluntly, "It will keep you warm".

Jackal lips began to tremble and his widened warmly, silver eyes glittering. "Your actually allowing me to wear your expensive looking cloak to a filthy peasant boy like me" he said tearfully. "Thank you" he looked at her with huge puppy eyes.

Artemis pulled a face, looking at him dumbfounded. "What are you crying for?" she breathed in stupefied, hands shrugged down while her mouth wide opened shaped into an 'o'.

"No one has ever offered to lend me their expensive clothing before" he sniffed back.

Artemis eye twitched in how stupid the kid looked "Don't you dare rub your snotty face on it" she barked, pointing her finger at him as her hot temper burst out like a volcano.

Jackal wasn't even fazed by Artemis sudden wrath and continued to stare down at the cloak with big puppy eyes "I don't want to put it on in fear I might ruin it" he said softly, eying the expensive looking material that felt so warm in his hands.

"If you don't want it, give it back"

Jackal hugged the cloak so suddenly, brows frowning down into a knot as he shook his head "No. I'll wear it" he quickly insisted.

Artemis rolled her eyes, turning around and walking back to the campfire that sizzled violently. "It's called a Haori by the way not a cloak".

Jackal titled his head to side in confusion and then gazed down at the so called Haori.

"Haori?" he mumbled questionably.

The air breeze made him shiver again and the shiver ran up his spine as he squeaked softly. He quickly zipped his hand into the long sleeve and wore the Haori.

It was warm.

Really warm.

It was like all his ice cubed muscle began to melt under the warm material. A small smile appeared on his face.

Artemis may be cold and rude sometimes; however, she could be nice at some points.

But in her own unusual way.

Jackal sat on a large stone, wearing Artemis' dark teal cloak that he came to learn to called a Haori. A very odd word that he had a trouble pronouncing but it didn't matter, Artemis was odd herself anyway, so it didn't surprise him as much but made him question where she thought up of that name for this unusual cloak that had wide sleeves that seemingly was unnecessary.

So, Jackal sat in front of the blazing fire in his drenched pants and Artemis' Haori that smelled like fresh roses and tint of fire smoke, but it was warm, really warm that didn't make him feel the cold anymore.

Artemis had skewed some fish she caught while he was probably taking his clothes off, and she had dug the sticks inside the ground, surrounded by the pebbles to keep the sticks from falling.

The smell of mouth-watering cooked fish wafted past his nose making his stomach rumble. He patted his belly as if he was calming an angry animal.

"Your so weird" Artemis said, her mouth agape as she stared at him strangely.

Jackal looked up, a sudden innocent smile formed through his lips, and he rubbed the back of his head so childishly, giggling sheepishly.

Artemis blinked away and back to her book; eyes darting left to right while she read whatever was written in the book of hers.

Maybe the map she always looks through, every hour.

Jackal watched carefully, examining her expression that had not one single emotion imprinted on her face.

It was these questions he wanted to ask her but he was too frightened to ask in case she will get mad and defensive about it neither did he want to pry into her personal life that she didn't even speak of.

But he did want to know,

Who is Artemis?

Is she from a noble family but decided to run away?

Where did she learn to fight like that? her graceful twirls of her weapons, the way she appeared out of nowhere and then to disappear again, the way she walked so silently as if she was ghost.

He wanted to know it all, but knowing Big Sis Artemis, she was not going to reveal anything to him not even a hint however Jackal was going to learn how to do them all and that excited the little thief that it brought a small smile and hope in his glittering eyes.

Jackal continued to ponder over more questions as he watched her silently.

What is going through her head right now?

Why is Edmond, Mr Turkey chasing after her?

As the question to mind he had accidently blurted a question out that took the Isvandy to shock.

"Were you engaged to Mr Turkey?" instantly he shut his mouth when Artemis cold eyes glared at him from a side glance. The glare had sent a terror through his soul as if it just froze it with just a single glance.

The fox had let out a howl, falling on his back as he continued to howl as if he was laughing to death.

Her cold eyes immediately disappeared to be taken over by the bored reflected of her icy blue eyes. Her nose wrinkled in disgust "Brat, what kind of stupid thoughts is going through your empty brain-dead head?"

"Are you? or were you?" he questioned again.

"I never was." She shut her book with a slam and shoved it back to her brown satchel.

"It is ok if I ask why he is tracking you down?" Jackal asked, gulping down a pit of salvia. He knew he was wasting one of his questions, but it may be worth it to understand who Artemis a bit better.

The Isvandy blinked blankly at him "You do realise you're using one of 10 questions, right?"

"Yeah, that's ok." he shrugged. "I can ask more questions tomorrow".

Artemis was silent, her eyes gazed at the crackling fire as the sparking fire of the embers floated up before disappearing away into the air. She sat on the stone and seemed as if she was pondering over her thoughts.

The atmosphere was silent between them, not even Homura said anything as just laid there on his four limbs, staring with his amber eyes as if was watching a play in front of him.

Without an answer Artemis stood up from the stone she sat one, dusting down her skirt before turning to face him. Her eyes glanced at him, bored and unfazed. She didn't show any expression and it made him wonder if he had asked something sensitive.

"Brat, there will be a time when you find the answer to your questions about me but today isn't the day" she explained.

Jackal didn't reply, tugging the Haori closer to him. The little thief wasn't surprised with the answer given by Artemis, and he didn't pry on it. Whatever it was she will tell him one day.

Hopefully.

"But for now, let's get you into shape to fight"

Jackal glanced up to see a soft, yet devilish grin cross her face and her bare arms crossed against her chest.

Jackal's eyes beamed wide, and a wide grin reached his ears.

Today was going to be his first day training and he was over the moon. He jolted up so quickly that startled the orange fox. The Haori he wore was big on him and it looked as if he was wrapped around in a blanket as it reached his ankles.

"I'll train my hardest"

With a raise of an eyebrow, Artemis spoke, her soft devilish grin still cross her face "I'll train until all her limbs fall off"

Jackals reaction widened, the colour drained from his face and his sudden regret began to from on his face as he stared with horror at the Isvandy.

"What!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~Taivas, Ventus~

"I'm not going to my kingdom with you looking...." The red-haired prince of the neighbouring kingdom paused mid-way his sentence and eyed the silver haired prince of Ventus up and down, his face wrinkling in disgust, his hands crossed against his chest as he leaned against Cyrus, the mighty blazing red Regius dragon whose scaled shimmered under the sun.

"...like a worn-out rat" Lykos' red eyes frowned down.

Neil sweat dropped and his eye twitched at how annoyed he became. Whatever he wears to go anywhere, Lykos has always got something to say about it and Neil doesn't know if what he will ever wears will please this stubborn hot-tempered prince.

"Why is it so hard for you to compliment something nice and agree with how I dress?" Neil said bluntly, brushing his hair to the side and then to button his cuffs on the hems of his sleeves.

Lykos rose an eyebrow, staring at him at his friend as if was the dumbest person alive. "If you want me to walk beside you, burn my eyes with a branding iron so I wouldn't have to feel humiliated beside you and not see the horrid faces of that golden pig's pathetic subjects" Lykos mocked as he began to saddle himself on top of Cyrus.

"The journey to Lasair is long. I need to wear something comfortable and travel worth to wear" Neil explained.

Lykos didn't buy it and remarked more comments "Yet no one said to dress like a filthy beggar".

A vein throb appeared on the corner of Neil's temple and an annoyed smiled twisted the corner of his lips. "Must you be so difficult"

Lykos lifted his attention away from the crown prince who stood below his dragon making him seem more like peasant folk then he already looked and stared up, straight at nothing, his face blankly beginning to doubt his decisions making. "I'm having an eternal constipation of regrets. I might just go shit it all out before I set fly"

"I'm tempted to go dress like a filthy beggar just to piss you off even more" Neil said back.

Lykos glared at him, red eyes flaming in disgust. "Then I will burn your clothes and watch in amusement with how you scrambled butt naked down the streets" he shot back.

Another vein throb popped on the other side of his temple, closing his twitching eyes as he saddled onto his dragon. "You stubborn prat" Neil mumbled under his breath.

"Bald buffoon" Lykos shot back calmly, unfazed with Neil's names knowing he could come up with better ones.

"You Barrel of shit"

"Neil Volant!"

Neil immediately froze, jerking up as he completely shut his mouth.

"That is not how a crown prince of Ventus speaks to others" Arabella violet eyes gazed angrily at Neil, the disappointment on her look made Neil lower his head before sending a glare at Lykos who looked away as if he didn't know she was coming but that expression revealed it all.

He did that on purpose.

"Apologise to Lykos, this instant" she demanded that queen aura surrounded as she stood gracefully, her hands clasped together in front of her.

Neil who had no authority obeyed his mother, glancing at Lykos who shamefully waited for the apology that he didn't deserve.

"My apologies, his royal majesty of Drakon" Neil hissed, bowing his head in mockery with his hand resting against his chest in courtesy.

Lykos feeling victorious, smirked a little "I could listen to that all day".

Neil had realised now that Lykos riled him up knowing his mother was coming. Neil was fooled by Lykos.

"Mother is why big brother dressed like a beggar?" Ben had peaked his head out from behind Arabella, his violet eyes gazing up at his brother in wonder.

Lykos snorted out suddenly, snickering to himself while Neil sat on his Daenerys' saddle utterly stupefied.

"What is wrong with what I wear" Neil mumbled to himself, wiping down his face with both his hands in frustration. Already given up with everything.

"Your highness, Arabella" Lykos lowered his head in courtesy, showing his respectful greetings to his Godmother, the Empress of Ventus.

Arabella smiled politely nodding her head in return.

"Brother Lykos are you returning home already?"

"Forgive me Benjamin but I have urgent business in Drakon, and I must return to matters at hand" Lykos said.

Ben face dropped and turned sorrowful. He was saddened that Lykos was already leaving. "I see" his tone dismayed as he gazed down at his feet. "You will return to Taivas once you have finished with the urgent matter?"

Lykos smiled warmly at the little prince who resembled so much of his mother. His violet eyes that held so much curiosity and wonder that could never end and his smile that brought peace to whoever that received it.

Ben is the Sun of Ventus; without him it will be dark hollow empire.

He is grateful to Diana for saving his life.

"When have ever not returned?" Lykos asked.

A wide grin crossed Ben's face and he laughed "Never", the little prince answered with a beam of joy glittering in violet-purple eyes.

"Please look after eachother." Arabella said, her violet eyes closing to a prayer.

Cyrus and Daenerys let out a mighty roar that could have shaken the very heavens where the Gods resided before they spanned their wings wide and flew off followed by a group of royal knights and their dragons.

The mighty dragons wings beating like hurricanes as they soared through the sky.

Arabella brought her hands to together, closing her eyes once and prayed to the Gods.

"I pray to the mighty Weylin, protect my boys and their men from any harm, any danger that might encounter them."