And maybe you forgot that a happy ending is even a possibility.

Smoke billowed into the air. A giant bonfire was constructed in the middle of the camp. The rocky ground, both gray and red surrounded the campsite with a steep outcrop to the north. There was sparse vegetation, only little clusters of grass managed to grow out of the rocks beneath. Tents with any manner of symbolic picture stitched into them surrounded the bonfire. Supplies were in good measure, so the 243 remaining Rowans had full bellies and managed wounds. There was a somber respect for the Iridescent Mountain that laid in front of them. It was always within the periphery of their vision. The crackling warmth of the bonfire, however, warmed both their bodies and spirits as soldiers would walk by. The occasional shouting of the name Thorinozaioka could be heard from the tent with the Rowan flag above it, and the entire encampment sneered at Corgeas demeanor as their collective spirit tried to keep itself afloat.

My friends had finally met up with the Rowan force. Regan was tending to my wounds as I lay inside a tent near the outskirts. I had a towel covering my eyes and ice wrapped around my shoulder and shins. I had minor bandages around my arms, but I was in stable enough condition to carry on a conversation.

Yes, but the synergy of the Rowan culture could make up for a great deficit of soldiers on the ground I pressed.

Oh please, Acot Regan huffed, Giving you the benefit of the doubt, lets say that Rowan synergy makes up for the fact that the Crystalline Palace is hunkered down atop the Iridescent Mountain. You have 243 soldiers-

243 warm soldiers I interjected

243 warm soldiers, you hopeless idiot. She rolled her eyes as she completed another bandage rotation on my leg, but there are 500 soldiers protecting the keep on top of a giant mountain.

Taking a page out of the Rowan playbook, I took a pause. With no words circulating, I reached up and took the rag off my face and looked at Regan for a moment. She was a sight for sore eyes. Her straight, black hair flowed down over her lightly tanned poncho with tribal patterns on it. One of the first things she must have done at camp was become assimilated into the culture. Her green eyes gave her a cat-like visage. Her pale skin was complimented by her button nose. With my rapid heart beating away like a drum, a sudden move would change my gentle medic into the seasoned cutthroat who's seen more than her fair share of adventure.

Your eyes are green. I said, being the absolute soul thief that I am.

And you sparked your hands raw. She quipped back before looking down at the leg she had just finished wrapping. As she moved over to my next leg, I sat up, getting to my butt with my knees up. I looked down, but turned my eyes forward to ask her.

Do you think a mountain is enough to scare cursed soldiers, Regan? I asked, my hearts wings began to catch wind. Regans eyes popped as she quickly regained her composure and pushed me down on my iced shoulder, giving me a sharp pain. I let out a wince as I fell back down.

Do you think yourself a Rowan? she retorted Curse or no curse, when we find ourselves on top of the mountain, that keep will overlook us. Its so incredibly immature to believe that- I grabbed the arm she was using to press down on my shoulder as she talked. She quickly pulled her hand back and looked down. She put her fingertips on my stomach that had been exposed by a displaced blanket.

You forgot your own mortality, Acot.

And maybe you forgot that a happy ending is even a possibility. I said that and paused. The world paused. I went against every no in my head as I sat up again. Whatever sunlight found its way into the tent made Regan look absolutely radiant.

Regan reached out for my shoulder again as I caught her wrist. She attempted to pull it back but I resisted. I took her hand, outstretched it and cupped it against my bare chest. Her resistance subsided as she first looked down and then up at my face.

Would you fight until you lost your soul, Acot? Regan quivered

Regan I sighed I would lose my soul if I stopped fighting. I would not sit in today forever. Its not that I even could. I- Regan My words lost their traction. Im not a grandiose soldier. Im an adventurer who believes in the dawn. I believe that we can come out on the other side breathing.

I put my hand on her face. I rubbed it down her cheek as she caught my hand. She put it in her lap as she put her head down.

At what cost? She finally said.

At the cost of the night. I whispered. I grabbed the back of her head and brought her in for a kiss. At first, it was just a kiss, but then we went in again and again. It became passionate as we began to make out. Our hands lurched around each other searching for the right place to grab and to squeeze. I took off her tanned linens to reveal the underwear underneath. We looked at each other for a second, both heads down turned. We put our heads together at an appreciable force, but we both just closed our eyes and continued kissing. I pushed her over onto my mat as my arms towered in front of her head as she grabbed onto the back of mine.