Not much to say, read on...

Marshall dodged past a dead tree, red dust billowing up behind him. He could feel and hear faintly the others running just behind, making their own way through the dead brush. He flicked his eyes over the landscape ahead, red gaze zeroing in on anything that looked even slightly humanoid.

His blue bass sat snug on his back, barely jostling as he ran. Nightmare suddenly came into view, her spiked hair pushed back in the strong breeze. "Oye! How long are we going to keep this up? We've been up and at it since Midday, night fall is soon!"

Tony caught up also, red eyes flashing, "She's right dude. We're tough, but I don't think we can take on the Sunggs. Not all at once."

Marshall kept his eyes ahead, "We are and we will keep going. We need to find her before then. Sunggs or no Sunggs." Nephiria suddenly appeared in front of him, white orbs cutting him with their gaze. He slammed on brakes, coming to a sliding stop before hitting her. She crossed her arms, tilting her head, "So, you are going to jeopardize our safety? Dude, if we die, she is definitely going to die. Going off head first into danger for her isn't helping anyone."

Marshall narrowed his eyes, snarling. "If she is out there, and we don't find her before night fall, she will be dead, regardless of our safety. I told you, you didn't have to come."

Nephiria frowned, looking away, "You didn't give me much choice."

Marshall quickly looked at the ground, remembering their kiss back at the armory. After getting over the shock he had gently pushed her away. Unsure, he had told her to let him think before anything else happened. His main priority was Fionna after all. The words made Nephiria hiss and she had stood and whirled around throwing back a tense "Fine" over her shoulder. They hadn't talked since.

When they had all regrouped, Nightmare and Tony had shared a glance, noticing the tension in the air between the two. "Did something happen while we were looking for those arrows?" Tony had prodded. Nephiria's only answer was to break his arm. It had healed within five minutes, but he still complained that it hurt.

Marshall sighed, pulled back out of his memories by the sound of someone clearing their throat. Nightmare came between him and Nephiria. "Look, I don't know what happened back there, but get over it, both of you. We need to have clear heads out here if we are going to figure out where little miss mortal is."

She turned to Marshall, "Do you think she might have found a guide of something?"

Marshall nodded, "It's a possibility. She has a knack for talking to strangers." He rolled his eyes, remembering that he was once one of those strangers.

Nightmare crossed her arms, looking thoughtful, "Then she might be heading for the castle by now. That is, if she isn't lying in a ditch with her throat slit, or slowly dying of hunger and or thirst, or being eaten by her 'guide' by now…"

Marshall glared at her. "Thanks, I hadn't already thought of that."

"Well, if she has a guide, then they would probably take her up from the main road, right? It comes through most of the 'inhabited lands' after all," Tony said, joining the conversation.

Nephiria groaned, "But what if she was spat out in the 'uninhabited lands', huh? Then she has no guide, is probably hurt, and has nothing to eat. Besides," she glanced at Marshall, worry in her white gaze, "Bethimul is hunting her down too. He must have already made mind contact. She might not even be conscious right now."

Marshall flexed his hands, a low growl resounding in his throat. "We need to find her. NOW."

Nightmare and Tony groaned together. "It is almost night," Tony said, gesturing to the fading light, "we have no clue where she is, or if she is alive," he gestured to himself, "and I am starving!" Nightmare mumbled agreement. Nephiria nodded too.

Marshall glared at all of them. "Fine," he spat, "go home and wait until morning. I'm still going out to find Fionna. Thanks so much for your help!"

He started running again before anyone could say another word. His mind was racing. How could they just abandon him like this? How could they abandon Fionna! Didn't they understand how important she was to him? That's fine he thought angrily I can do this by myself. I don't need them.

Marshall kept running, searching for signs of Fionna that he anticipated he would find. But there was nothing but fire and heat and death. Hopelessness started to take hold of Marshall Lee as the darkness shrouded the land in an almost palpable curtain. He stopped to catch his breath, picking up sounds of the creatures that were already slinking out in the inky blackness.

"Please, Fionna, be safe." Marshall muttered.

"I'm sure she'll be fine."

Marshall jumped at the voice beside him. He looked to his left and found Nephiria's white orb eyes peering back at him, calm and reassuring. To his right he saw the red eyes of the twins. All that time he had thought that they had left, but they were there right beside him.

He opened his mouth to apologize, but Nightmare clapped him on the back. "You suck, we are awesome, we know Marshy. We decided to head for the main road. If she's smart, or if her guide is smart, they will probably be somewhere along it. Hopefully, if we cover enough ground, we will be able to find her in no time."

Tony shoved his sister forward, smiling at Marshall, "Now come on. Let's find your girl before something else does."

They took off down the ridge, Nephiria trailing afterwards, barely visible in the darkness. Marshall smirked, chasing after them. We're coming, Fi, just hold on a little longer.

:D I swear, it's like I disappeared! Review please ^-^ and thanks to everyone still clinging to the hope that I will one day update and finish this story XD you are truly loyal!

Jay Asher iz out, PEACE!