Reminder

Walking in dead silence had been more challenging than she'd ever imagined. Corvin's propensity to surliness and broodiness was grinding her nerves. Iris had no clue what she'd done to be at the receiving end.

" Will stop here for a rest." Corvin halted and plopped his sack on the ground with a loud thud, and began pulling out blankets. She caught Bivy, and another young boy in the corner of her eye, dawdling towards her. Iris closed her eyes, readying herself for yet another history lesson from Bivy. In an attempt to sidestep Bivy, " I'll go and try to find some wood, so we can make a fire " she offered fully aware that they were surrounded by nothing other than bare, ravaged lands.

Corvin stilled, quirked up a brow in question, and looked around. Most certainly, thinking she had lost her senses.

" There's nothing for soots." he stood up, towering over her, and for some reason, she felt small under his inquisitive gaze " But if you need to relieve yourself," Corvin cleared his through, uneasy at his own words "Take Kari with you." he finished pointing at a woman with mousy blond hair that busied herself tending to one of the wounded.

Iris nodded, without replying to Corvin and made her way towards the woman that he'd pointed. Either way, it worked in her favour and escaped Bivy in the nick of time.

" I'm truly sorry to bother you" Iris spoke to the woman that didn't bother to raise her to look at her as she was finishing dressing the wound.

" Ay," she replied, " What need of you have?" Iris frowned at the thick accent.

" I need to," Iris thought twice, before opening her mouth and looking around at the people sitting on the cold ground, all ears " to " Iris nervously chuckled, and Kari raised her head to look at her, furrowing her thick brows, pursed full lips, sharp piercing eyes " tinkle" Iris whispered, a little put off by Kari's crusty temper.

"Ay, and" Kari raised her fuzzy eyebrows, waiting for her to continue her thoughts " And Corvin said that, I should go with you " Iris stammered while Kari cracked up, amused above all else.

" Listen, wee lassy. You look like a grown woman, ay. I have much to do. What yee want? Hold yee hand?" Kari continued amused while Iris didn't dare to say anything further mostly because of the people around her, laughing, amused at Kari's larks.

When the giggles, snorts and snickers faded " No. I'll find my way." Iris said mortified as she moved her feet as fast she could, walking onto the plains as far away as she could. That was beyond embarrassing, she thought. However, Kari was right. What was she thinking? She'd been dragged across three different realms and did just fine. Now, she was galled with Corvin.

Iris glanced over her shoulder, she was far enough from the camp and halted her steps, trying to find a spot and realised that indeed, nature's calling was strong.

" Well, that's something you don't see every day" the voice of a man behind echoed in the dreary silence and Iris closes her eyes, exasperated. A moment of peace, to pee. That was all that she was asking for, wasn't it much? Or was it?

When she was done answering the nature call Iris stood up, readying herself to face the man that had followed her, for some unknown reason. As she turned around, greeted with a familiar sight, Nobos.

" You could've at least turned around" Iris glared, but Nobos seemed unbothered by her ruffled feathers.

Nobos sighed " Yes, I could've but I'll most likely get punished anyway. So, might as well make it worth it. I know why I'm here, so best get on with it" Nobos cut it short and pulled out his sword. Iris took a step back and pulled her sword, taking a fighting stance. If Nobos wanted a tiff, she would give him one just like last time.

Nobos sighed and raised his hands in resignation, " I'm here for the blood, termagant" Nobos rolled his dull, spent eyes at her, and took a step forward. In truth, she was expecting Ian to come to collect the blood.

" Oh!" her dismay was evident, her shoulder slumped, gaze forlorn and let out a heavy sigh, sheathing her sword.

" I thought, he would be the one to come" Iris mumbled as she stepped forward and reached her hand towards Nobos.

Nobos pulled a vial out of his shroud and took her hand in his cold hand " He can't. Ian should not have stepped into the realm of living in the first place" Nobos gashed the palm of her hand and placed the vial under it " Each time, Ian breaks the rules, creates an imbalance between realms. You should be familiar with this sort of thing. It's delicate and even the smallest action, can send a ripple through it and disrupt it." Nobos fisted her hand, to squeeze more blood " Ettrick's recklessness nearly turned Hollow to dust, Ian is not far behind but at least he is shown some restraint in his pursuit." He capped the vial and tucked it back in his cape " Thank you. Sometimes it is important to know when you've reached the end of a journey." Nobos said his parting words as he turned around, and stepped through the portal.

Iris opened her hand and looked at the cut in the palm of her hand. Was it over? Was this truly the end for them? Was it all just meaningless, foolish hope? Desperately clinging to the last thread of what once was. Iris swallowed a scream, and the tears threatened, pricking her eyes. Their time had ended, a lot faster than she'd hoped. With a heavy heart, desolate at the fruition that she and Ian were a lost cause. That fatidic day, the day when she lost everything. Another tragedy had come to pass. She halted her steps before entering the camp and took a deep breath. Crying, and wallowing in self-pity wouldn't do any good. It was done, no way to go back and change it all again. With unhurried steps, she walked through the camp under the curious and unrestrained attention of the people around her. It seemed that Bivy had done a good job of spreading the word. She halted her steps next to Corvin, who frowned and he appeared to have questions.

" Did you go to Ironstone and come back?" His tone was laced with sarcasm as he picked up a plate and handed it to her.

" No. I just walked farther than I should have" Iris answered brushing past his derisive undertone and taking the plate out of his hand, plopping herself on the hard, cold ground.

" I see. Eat. What happened to your hand?" Corvin asked and pulled her hand to have a look at the gash and looked up at her, scowling.

" I fell and cut my hand on a rock" Iris lied with a straight face, pulling her hand out of his, and tucking it under the plate. Corvin inhaled and cleared his throat but his gaze stayed on her, scrutinizing, searching for any sign that she was untruthful, but didn't press any further.

" Eat. Rest. Will set foot on the ground, shortly after" Corvin returned to his meal as he keenly scoured the horizon with his eyes. Hot and cold, a blend, one should not border unless they are on the brink of losing their sanity.