That horrible feeling

Von returned to the campsite after eliminating the last thief, the heat generated by his body while using the flames had now almost evaporated all the blood, even those in his clothes.

As he approached he heard the cries of Summer and Jochen's calm and soothing voice trying desperately to appease his partner.

"You're okay, you're okay love" Jochen whispered into Summer's ears as he caressed her arms while hugging her tight, his eyes looked to Von for a second and he nodded slightly, he didn't need to say anything Von knew what he meant; thank you.

Slowly but surely Summer started to calm down, adrenaline slowing down and her body giving in to the exhaustion caused by the stress, her eyes started to flutter, and finally they closed and her breathing finally relaxed. Jochen's shoulders finally slumped and relaxed as well, he started sobbing softly.

"Why Von? Why now? Why now when we are supposed to be away from all the death and misery?" Jochen asked in succession quietly as to not disturb his soon-to-be wife

"She's okay... you're okay Jochen, that's all that matters" Von said as he crouched and placed a firm hand on Jochen's shoulder "Sleep, I'll keep watch just in case"

"I don't think I can sleep tonight" Jochen answered with a downcast look

"I guessed much, join me, I'll lit up the fire again" Von suggested as he offered his hand to his friend

"Thanks... for everything" Jochen replied as he grabbed Von's hand and stood up

The rest of the night was calm and eventless, the wind caressed the top of the pine trees and provided a nice cool feeling next to the roaring fire, the moon shone in all its splendor, no clouds daring to stand in its light. The owls and crickets provided a soothing melody in contrast to the clashing of metal and flesh that occurred just before.

In the end both Von and Jochen's tiredness from the battle overtook them, falling asleep next to the campfire. However sleep was restless for both as their battle senses couldn't turn off, being alert to any and every sound.

The sun now rose through the valleys and mountains and lit up the fields, and the lakes and the animals all rose from their slumber to start a new day, and so did Von. He was the first up, Jochen was now sleeping next to Summer, cuddling her. Von smiled at the image and proceeded to gather some more wood for the fire, then wake them up, eat breakfast and travel the few hours left to Jochen's family farm. He headed to look for wood, as he walked he thought about the events of the previous night. Von was angry at himself, despite having won he had to run before that, he realized for the first time how much his sword fighting skills lacked. He relied too much on his fire skills that when left without them or having them reduced by circumstance like yesterday, he could barely hold his own against two foes. Not only that but it took him to run away to think a strategy instead of thinking one in the spot.

He picked up some wood and headed back to camp, he would need to train, sharpen his skills again, he couldn't depend so much on his fire, because if he exhausted its energy then he was done for.

As he reached the camp, he saw that both Summer and Jochen were frantically moving around as if searching for something, Summer's gaze met Von's and relief was evident in her face as she grabbed Jochen's sleeve, his almost black eyes lit up when he saw his friend and savior. Von basking on this situation just chuckled slightly and smiled at them

"Looking for me?" He said

"You can't leave like that man" Jochen approached and punched his shoulder making Von drop the firewood

"¡Hey!.." He began

"He's right Von, we were scared that something might have happened" Summer said

"Sorry, sorry, I just wanted you both to have some more sleep while I gathered some wood for a fire" Von replied with a slight cringe, they were right, after everything that happened yesterday they would be more jumpy than usual

"It's okay, thanks, we are just more careful now," Jochen said, grasping Von's arm in assurance. "Let's just make breakfast and leave we aren't that far now"

After lighting the fire, Summer proceeded to make breakfast, sausages with some beans and a piece of bread they had bought in the capital market with Jochen's soldier salary. As they ate, Von asked how they were both feeling which they replied with an 'I don't know' from Summer and an 'alright I guess' from Jochen. Of course Summer would be the one most impacted since it was the first time it happened to them, but for Jochen he had been in war, he had fought and yet seeing his wife being taken away like that had shaken him to his core.

They lifted camp and set off for the last remainder of the way to Jochen's family farm, Jochen walked ahead of both Von and Summer talking almost nothing during the way there, Von talked to Summer trying to comfort her and assuring that she would be fine and that she would get past this. Despite how scared she had gotten, Summer was recovering slowly but surely, talking and being more comfortable as time grew by, but Jochen was still distant and instead of being with his wife and helping her he was just walking.

Being fed up Von sped up and yanked Jochen from his arm, turning him around to face him.

"Talk" Von said

"What?, What do you mean?" Jochen asked as he slipped his armed away from Von's grasp with strength "There is nothing to talk about, let's go we aren't that far"

"No, we aren't taking a single step until you say what you're thinking," Von said, grabbing Jochen's arm again, Summer had stopped behind them and just stared not knowing what to do, if to support her husband or her new friend who seemed to know something she didn't.

"Let go of me! What is your problem?!" Jochen now almost yelled as he yanked his arm once more away from Von and pushed him away

"I don't have any, what's your's" Von replied as he regained his footing after being pushed

"I don't know what the hell you're talking about Von, back off" Jochen demanded as he now took an almost fighting stance, Von realized this but didn't flinch

"Really? The Jochen I know doesn't leave his wife behind, the Jochen I know doesn't just walk and be silent, the Jochen I know was excited about this trip and now I don't see any of that" Von explained in anger as he got closer to Jochen "So talk!!" he yelled

Suddenly a fist connected to Von's face and he recoiled, almost falling to the ground, he quickly regained his footing but didn't retaliate

"Jochen!!" Summer gasped as she approached Von trying to help him, he lifted his hand as if telling her to stop which she did.

"That!!" Jochen said as some tears formed in his eyes "Exactly that Von!!"

"My wife was taken in front of me!! I was unable to do anything!! I was useless!! You had to save me, Again!!" he started yelling at Von as more tears formed in his eyes, his face now contorted showed dozens of emotions, anger, pain, anguish, guilt.

"I'm useless!! Miek needed me and I failed, my wife needed me and I failed" Jochen now collapsed on one knee

"So you felt it too" Von said as he walked towards him "That horrible feeling"

"yes.." Jochen whispered as he cleaned his eyes with his sleeve

"The difference Jochen, is that your failure was repaired, mine wasn't" Von said in a sad tone as he leaned closer "Markus is dead, but Summer isn't, and because she isn't it's your responsibility to make sure it stays that way, and walking away isn't how"

Jochen just lifted his eyes and looked at Von, he looked calm, but sad. He finally saw and felt what Von had felt that day at the cart.

"You keep her close, so close that nothing can get her, that is how you get rid of that feeling, you protect what you love at all costs, sometimes walking away is the way, but not this time, she needs you as much as you need her" Von finished explaining as he got up and grabbed Jochen lifting him up as well, "So I'll go in front and you stay with her"

"Okay" Jochen replied.

They finally got to the farm just a few hours later.