The forest flashed past them in an indistinguishable blur as they galloped onwards once more. Raven's features settled into a grim expression of determination, a new drive to leave behind the eerie forest. If it wasn't for the ever so slight thinning of the trees, she could have sworn they were riding in circles. Endless, never ending circles.

She tried not to look around her. She tried not to stare at the straggly, gnarled trees twisted and knotted into jagged, unnatural shapes, the thick covering of leaves above them, the dark shadows flitting through the undergrowth.

The trees gradually began to grow further apart, becoming more natural, solid shapes as they bolted onwards. The sound of Brooke's sudden cry sounded from up ahead, "We're out! We're out of the forest!" she yelled joyously.

Raven's eyes lit up as she craned her neck to get a look. But Storm skidded to a halt as the forest abruptly finished, leading onto dry, barren land as far as the eye could see. She narrowed her eyes in confusement. "Come on Storm," she coaxed, but the horse refused to budge, standing stubbornly just before the desert's edge.

She leaped to the ground and took hold of the stallion's reins. "Come on Storm," she repeated softly in the big horse's ear, guiding gently him across the line, "It'll be okay."

She remained wary as they set off again at a steady trot. Slowly they edged into the barren nothingness, drawing closer and closer to the mainlands. The thick mist no longer swirled around their legs and the bright daylight was a stark relief to the gloomy forest, yet they couldn't relax.

The thick quiet was overwhelming, not a word was muttered to interrupt the silence. Only empty wastelands surrounded them now, not a breath of life drifted their way. The harsh sunlight reflecting off the desert forced them to squint as they journeyed on.

But why had they been chosen to go on this quest? The thought wouldn't leave Raven's head, constantly tugging at the corners of her mind. Why not the king's royal soldiers? Why a bunch of untrained teenagers? The guard's mocking voice echoed through her head, imprinted in her memory. 'You an' a couple of others have bin selected for yer skills.'

"I see something up ahead, ride carefully!" Samuel's voice broke into her thoughts and her head snapped up. She narrowed her eyes. The shapes jutting up from the horizon gradually grew more distinct as they neared.

"Looks like a village..." She murmured.

"It must be the one we're supposed to stop at before going into the mainlands!" Jack exclaimed suddenly, "Last time we checked the map we were heading straight towards it. If we haven't strayed from our path this should be it."

"But it-it... it's smoking..." Brooke said quietly, her voice quavering, "Villages in deserts don't use fires."

Raven stiffened as she too saw the smoke. Images of her dream crowded back into her mind, choking her thoughts. As they galloped closer, they all felt the wave of heat radiating from the village.

"Fire," Noah muttered as they slowed to a stop in front of the charred gate. "We go in, search for survivors then get back to our task, agreed?"

When nobody made a sound they swung themselves off of their horses and tied them to the gate. The six split up and began to span across the blackened grass.

Raven took the right side, trekking carefully through the debris. She kept her chin up, her eyes traveling around the devastated village. She forced her nightmare away again as she stepped into scorched hut after scorched hut, calling softly into the gloom.

She couldn't keep the picture of her family hunched in the smoke from her mind. The image was burned there; she could see the figures clearly in front of her. She wanted to go to them, she needed to go them. No. She was needed here.

She shook her head again to clear the memory but she could still see her sister, hunched alone, crying softly in the ashes. She blinked several times. Still there. Her eyes suddenly widened in realization, "Hello?" she called softly into the shadows.

The figure jumped, sending embers flying. It rose unsteadily to its feet and turned around to face her. "You've already burnt down my village and killed my people," the girl spat shakily, "What more do you want?!"

"I'm not here to harm you!" Raven murmured softly. She raised her right hand in front of her, palm up; the sacred symbol of peace. "Whoever did this has gone; I only want to help you."

The girl shook her head, wrapping her torn coat more tightly around her thin frame. Her dull eyes watched Raven intently, laced with suspicion.

"I'm not here to harm you," Raven repeated. "Me and my companions were sent on a quest to convince Time not to stop ticking, we were supposed to stop here to regather supplies before venturing into the mainlands. But..." She gestured helplessly around her.

The small girl nodded slightly, her tear-stained face still brimming with unease. Raven moved out of the doorway and the girl took a quivering step forwards.

The sun shone brightly upon her as she peered out of the dim hut, illuminating her figure fully. Her dark arms were covered in ash and her plaited hair was singed at the ends. She didn't look up, her sullen face gazing downward, unblinkingly to her bare feet.

***

"Surely we can't take her with us though! It will be too dangerous!"

"Yeah, but where else is there for her to go?!" Raven retorted. She glared at Tessa stubbornly; she wasn't going to give in. "She comes with us. If we pass another town before we reach the mainlands we can leave her there, otherwise she's coming."

Tessa spun irritably on her heel, crossing her arms, she stalked back to the gate.

Raven clenched her fists and turned back to the ashen-faced girl. "It's okay," she whispered, "You can travel with us for a while. What's your name?"

"N-Nala."

Raven smiled. "Come on then, Nala."

She led the way to where the others waiting on their horses and scrambled onto Storm's back, helping Nala up behind her.

The seemingly endless plain flashed past them as they broke into a gallop, speeding onwards, she could feel Nala's small hands clinging tightly to her waist as they raced ahead of the group.

Nobody uttered a word as they rode into the waning sunlight. The tense silence hung thick in the air, gnawing at their minds. No creature disturbed the sand here, no shadow scuttled underfoot.

Raven stared determinedly ahead as they journeyed onwards, Jack, Samuel, Noah, and Brooke bringing up the rear, Tessa hanging slightly behind.

Only when the sun had almost dipped completely beneath the horizon did another shape appear far in the distance, a sharp, jutting silhouette. This time she smelt the acrid smoke before she saw it.