Rebecca~

I wake up later that night. Everyone is asleep, and I almost laugh at their carelessness. The Dark Tribe could be hot on our heels, and yet they don't even think of posting a night watch!

My leg feels much, much better, and I stand up. Using the wall for support, I make my way across the room, looking at everyone. We're all in bad shape.

Then I realize, and it hits me like a bolt of lightening- Isabel isn't here. I don't know why she isn't here, probably some sort of argument, but when a rather spoiled brat of a princess runs away in a theif's town, she doesn't last long.

Grabbing a cloak and a canelike piece of wood, I make my way out on the street. I know the ways of theives- I've been with them before, many times, befriended some and they taught me the rules of the wild. Rule number one: never show off power except for defense. If you do, all the people who want a pretty penny will sneak up for ransom. 

It takes me a while, seeing as I have a crippled leg. Finally, I find her. Her back is to me, sitting on a rooftop and staring into space.

How in the world am I going to get up there?!

As soon as I ask the question, I have the answer. The building, of course. There must be a trapdoor somewhere that leads to the roof.

I look up at this building, which is by far the most rotten on that sidewalk.

I gulp and take a deep breath.

***

It takes me a good ten minutes or so to finally get myself onto the roof, after climbing four stories of rotting, creaking steps and hoisting myself through the rather skinny trapdoor. I find myself standing right behind Isabel, I put my hand on her shoulder and start to talk, while thinking how theatrical the position must be.

"They really do love you, you know," I murmur. "They're just worried is all. I'm worried. They're worried. You're probably worried too."

She gives a curt nod.

"They didn't mean to offend you, whatever they said. And, no offense, but you're not going to last out here."

"How do you know?!" Isabel's standing up too now. "You don't know anything about me! Just because we were captured together doesn't mean we're suddenly BFFs! It doesn't mean you can understand me! No one understands me because no one bothers to learn about me!"

Suddenly she's crumpled again, and I can tell she's crying. Drat. I am not the best person at comforting. I'm good at the snappy comebacks.

"You're right," I say. "But that's because we haven't known each other for very long. We're only as strong as our weakest link, Isabel. If you want to go, so be it. But just let it be known- and this I can assure you- that in the morning, when everyone awakes and finds you missing, there will not be one smile, and probably many tears, until you are found."

With that I turn, and make my way back to the trapdoor.

Skye~

I wake before everyone else, so I decide to take a walk. I slip past Alexys and notice Isabel wasn't in her bed. Shaking Magma, I ask her where Isabel went. She gives me directions to where she last saw her. Climbing the ladder, I see some water on the roof.

That's funny, I think. I'm pretty sure it didn't rain last night. I look closer and see the droplets spell a message. (Which I am not going to repeat here because I don't want to type it all on my kindle.)

I run back to the place where we had stayed the night.

Frantic, I shook everyone awake. Once they had all woken up, I told them about the message Isabel had left.

"Guys," I said, "Isabel left us. She left a message up on a rooftop. Come on, I'll show you." 

We hurry towards the place were the message was. I show the others.

"Why did she leave us?" Asks Aqua.

"No idea," I reply. "It says she wants to avenge Zayele. I guess that's why."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

I'm stopping here because I'm on my kindle and its really hard to type. 

lsabel~

l've been swimming for an hour, maybe two. l can't tell in the dark, underground tunnel. l have no idea where it leads, or how long it is. 

It's cold. My skin feels numb. The current is getting stronger, pulling me forward, faster and faster. l'm starting to think that just jumping in a random river and running away from my friends wasn't such a good idea after all.

You can't go back. They really aren't your friends anymore. You're starting a new life.  The water plays with my hair, tangling it and whipping it about. l stretch out a hand and run my fingers over the mossy stones. 

The current is becoming dangerously fast. There is nothing to hang on to. l have to go with it.  The water pushes past me, eager to get somewhere. There is light, and suddenly l am airborne. The water crashes down into a waterfall and l am falling, falling......

l dive into the water, the roaring, thrashing, water. This isn't the tame, calm water that l'm used to. This is a monster. l swim to the shore and drag myself out. Around me are just a lot of trees, and mountains in the distance. l don't know where l am.

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

Night has come. l see no trace of another person, or a settlement. My clothes are wet, and l'm sitting in a tree, watching the stars come out, one by one.

Get used to it, says the tougher, un-princessy part of me. You've chosen this life for yourself. Learn how to survive. You aren't doing anyone any good.

True. l need a fire. Magma would've made one- l gulp back tears. They are gone. They aren't important. Get over it.