I stormed into Rolan's cave angrily, carrying a sleeping Flame in my arms. Her breaths came in rapid pants. I set her down on the same bed I had awoken on and turned to face Rolan who had his gaze on Flame. "What did they do to her?" I screamed, tears threatening to explode. He placed his hands on my shoulders firmly, "She's fine Nara, its a tradition!" his voice soft. Every part of me was dying to believe his words but Flame's heavy breathing awoke anger in me, a side that wanted to break that tradition...to keep her safe. I looked at her tail, the ends burnt...she must be in so much pain. Rolan rubbed his thumb across my cheek wiping my tears, "What kind of tradition is that? It hurts her!" I growled pushing Rolan away, "Even us witches protect our family...and you let them..." my voice fell, tears rolling down my cheek. I watched her uneven breathing and rushed to her side, it was barely a day I had been with her and yet I couldn't bare seeing her like that but him...Rolan, he willingly let her get hurt. Rolan sat across me, his gaze lowered, "She's a fire being Nara, this is her power." I looked up at him disgusted. "Explain EVERYTHING!" my voice hateful. "Flame was cursed to serve the Solitaires. Every night they have a tradition of lighting the bon fire and discussing important things..."

  "Then use stones or your so called Solitaire charm power!" I yelled.

  "You think I didn't tell them that huh? You think I like seeing my baby like this?" he yelled back pointing at Flame, "They use her curse as an excuse to misuse her powers, and she...she..." he broke into tears. I placed my hand on his, guilt creeping in. "I love her, she's the only memory of my family Nara," he took a breath before pulling his hand away, "She's not just a pet, she's my childhood, my parents, my...let it be, its no use explaining to you..." We sat in silence watching Flame, her eyes slowly fluttering open, she gave a low growl placing her paw on Rolan's lap. He smiled at her weakly and caressed her head. She rose slowly crawling into my lap and nuzzling into my stomach before falling asleep again. "I love her too Rolan..." my voice a whisper.

  He looked at me bewildered, "She's special...and yes I do understand your pain...I lost my parents when I was an infant and then my sister..." I couldn't continue further.

  "Same boat huh"

  "What happened to them?"

  "In the cross fire against the witches, they were slain..."

  I looked at the night sky, the strange way the stars arranged themselves around the big moon who seemed to be watching everything, I walked toward the window like thing, closing my eyes to enjoy the soft breeze. I let all the memories flood my mind until I felt a strong pair of arms around my waist. I gasped startled, Rolan burying his head in the cranny of my neck, "I-I I'm sorry." he whispered loud enough for only me to hear. His breath tickled my skin, I tried hard not to melt into his touch. "Rolan..." I said matching his tone, "let me go."

  His grip only got tighter. "Not now Nara..." he said, his grip getting possessive as his lips brushed against my shoulder. I tilted my head a little giving him more access, we stayed like that for a few moments enjoying the breeze.

  The door flung open, a voice screamed causing Rolan to pull away. "What the hell?" Ms. Weird screamed. I looked at Rolan aghast. "I-I ca-can..." he stuttered. The girl glowered at me, "What huh?" I asked with more audacity than I intended, "You are acting like I was kissing him...look I don't know what your relation with him but I can tell he doesn't like you." Rolan looked at me half amused half impressed. She snapped her fingers at me, looking angrily into my eyes, "He's my boyfriend!" she said. Rolan who stood behind her, shook his head and mouthed something I didn't quite catch. "Oh yeah? Then why is he not with you right now? Why was I in his embrace?" I asked. She made a face before turning to face Rolan who was smiling at me. She pointed her finger at him, "Who is she Rolan?" she asked haughtily. He walked toward me and took my hand, "My girlfriend!". Both me and her gasped in horror. Flame began to stir up, she watched us. She made a soft sound turning our attention to her. I picked her up and pressed a few kisses on her forehead. Ms. Weird looked at me disgusted while Rolan came rushing to my side taking Flame into his arms, cuddling her. He whispered something in her ear and set her down. She looked at the weird woman, her tail slowly burning up. "GET OUT ISSABELLE!" Rolan yelled. Without thinking much she rushed out of the cave, Flame threw a ball of fire in her direction. I watched stunned as Rolan caressed her fur. He looked up at me, his gaze gentle, beckoning me to sit next to him.

  "You the first person who loves Flame just as much as I do," he said tucking a strand of hair behind my hair, "I'm a bit jealous." I laughed. "Will you take me home?" He nodded slightly disappointed. After what happened with the old man earlier, I don't think its a good idea to stay for long. Rolan took a quick glance at the scar across my wrist , I smiled at him. "Quite the observer," I teased. He rubbed a thumb across before meeting my gaze again. "So you the chosen one?" his voice carried a strange animosity. I nodded quietly. That same awkward silence filled the room again. Flame licked his hand hoping to get a word out of him. He placed his hand dramatically on his forehead. "I'll drop you off tomorrow morning." he finally said. He headed out of the cave leaving me alone with Flame. I sat next to her playing a few games. "Is he always such a grump?" Flame looked at me, nodding in agreement. We both made fun of Rolan in his absence. I stood up, "Yes Nara," I said imitating Rolan's voice, "You are a witch!" I laughed and Flame squealed. I continued imitating him until my eye caught sight of a figure. I turned, Rolan was leaning against the cave's entrance smirking at me. "Cute babe!" he said flirtatiously. I swallowed hard, my face flushed. He took slow steps toward me, I gripped the sides of my dress meeting his gaze shyly. Rolan was turning out to be a real Romeo. "So you've been mocking me huh?" he asked, his voice husky, "You've been a bad girl." He didn't seem to have a head injury so definitely he was in his senses. "Now you must be punished," he said bringing his face inches away from mine. I closed my eyes waiting for him to kiss me but he pulled away and burst out laughing instead. "Nara, you really need to learn self defense. Don't be this submissive!"

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  I studied his face for a few seconds, he was smiling from ear to ear. I followed him outside, in front of me was a big wood. "So I will teach you how to throw a punch," he said excitedly, "Firstly, close your fist like this" he balled his fist. I copied his action. I punched the wood so hard my knuckles started to bleed. Rolan rushed to me taking my hand, "I'm so sorry Nara, this is all my fault...I shouldn't have forced you to do this," a tear falling onto my fist. "No Rolan..." I said wiping his tears. I felt special for once, he was scared of me getting hurt, nobody ever cared this much for me. He forced me to the river nearby. He washed my bleeding fist, my blood turning the river red. Rolan rolled up his sleeve, at that moment I caught sight of his mark. It was on his wrist, black and dominant, glowing every time the moonlight shone on it. Mine also let out a glow, a volt higher then Rolan's. "Hey Rolan, what's a TaireWitch?" His face paled, he looked at me speechless, his eyes dark. "Nara I can't tell you even if I want...it's a forbidden topic here." he said curtly. "Why?" I only got silence as a response. He continued treating my wound. I winced as he rubbed some peculiar ointment from the reeds on it. His gaze softened, "Peace lies in not knowing," his tone carried a myriad of emotions. I took a deep breath trying to control my frustration. "Fine!" I said at last, "You could at least tell me who cursed Flame and how she ended up with you right? Or is that also forbidden?" I snorted. His expression turned cold and indifferent. "Like they care that much to forbid it." he mused. "Flame was a part of the legendary ember foxes family, one of the most most powerful animal clan in the whole of Diagona. Both Witches and Solitaires wanted them, so a war broke out killing most of the warriors, my parents as well..." his voice became low, he held my hand and cried. I rubbed his back with my free hand. "It ruined the peace of both villages angering the foxes which made them burn half of North Seas. Due to high power use most of them died, only Flame's family was left, the strongest members. Selvise being the eldest member of amongst both clans punished them only to serve the Solitaires for the damage that was caused." He took a deep breath wiping his tears with the back of his hand. "But it wasn't their fault..." I said. "Nobody cares Nara. After the announcement of all those who died, a fox was sent to the houses where there was a death. And I got little Flame." He smiled slightly, his gaze falling on Flame who was playing in the water. "It was just a strategy to get the foxes...Selvise knew she couldn't win fairly so she burnt what the foxes spared." I cupped his face, stroking his cheek gently with my thumb. Without thinking much, I kissed his forehead, instantly regretting it as he looked up at me. He didn't say much, just pulled me into a hug. His tears dropping onto my shoulder.

  We walked back to the cave in silence apart from Flame's strange growls. She was paying for others mistakes much like me and probably Rolan too. The sun slowly rising in the crimson sky kissed by shades of red. Reality it hard as I watched the sun, I had to go back home today. I smiled weakly recollecting all the moments with Rolan and Flame. "Do you really have to go?" Rolan asked, I could tell he wasn't to keen about my departure. I nodded, trying to avoid his gaze. I knew I wouldn't be able to lie looking into his big eyes. He took a deep breath opening his mouth to say something but no words came out. "I'll try to visit...if I get a chance," I said in a daze, "How did I get here anyway?" He turned to look at me, "Flame found you unconscious on the north eastern mountain and I brought you here thinking you were a Solitaire," he pointed at my mark "which is strange..." We both laughed trying to hide how uncomfortable this was getting. "How did Flame end up like that? Like all ghostish?" I asked watching Flame play with a moth that entered the cave accidentally. "After she was sent to me, I hated her, blaming her for what happened to my parents, using my Solitaire powers, I trapped her in this state...all spirit but no body..." he said lowering his gaze, "after I stated to get attached to her and realised it was Selvise, I tried healing her but she ended up like that...a shadow animal."

  "Is there no way to help her at all?"

  "There is, but it requires the blood of Selvise and one other member of the Injed family"

  I looked at the walls of the cave trying to avoid Rolan, I knew he'd need my help but as far as I know all Injed witches were dead. This was getting more and more messier by each passing moment.