Merrill nodded at her comment about the surge. 

[b]”Its not a surprise.  I would imagine that magic expenditure of that sort would be draining, let alone using that sort of energy when you are not that practiced in it.”[/b]

Standing up after catching his breath, he lead them slowly away from the track, Merrill went into the undergrowth for a little bit.  The rain continued to fall now, and he could feel the damp of his clothes pressed against his skin.  It was, most decidedly, an unpleasant sensation.  

Looking back to her as he pushed some of the foliage away with his hands, also holding a path open for her in some of the thickest areas, he nodded.

[b]”Besides unlocking the doors on the plane, was that the first time you had used magic?”[/b] he asked in a soft tone of voice.

Letting her pass, Merrill then let the foliage close softly behind them as he continued to push his way deeper into the thick brush.  

[b]”It is wise to stay away from the path tonight Callie.  I would also advise not setting up a camp fire,”[/b] glancing back to her, a small smile crossed his face for the briefest of seconds.  [b]”Sorry.”[/b]

They walked for another half an hour.  Merrill’s feet were burning, let alone the gash on his leg, a gash that caused him to walk with a slight limp.  Finally, the two arrived in what seemed to be a small clearing in the depths of the word.  It was a round, circular clearing, surrounded by the thick trees and brush that had been typical of the forest in which they were trying to traverse.

When Callie commented on his leg, Merrill merely smiled that ghostly smile.  [b]”I have suffered worse Callie, I can assure you of that.  This is nothing but a slight injury, it won’t stop me.”[/b]

Looking around the clearing, he nodded.

[b]”We’ll be sleeping rough tonight.  Tomorrow will hopefully be better.  I will see what I can scavenge from the land around us, and tomorrow, I will teach you to hunt.”[/b]

Beginning to limp towards the edge of the clearing and the shadows that lay beyond, Merrill suddenly stopped.  Turning his head back to her, there was a strange expression on his face, one his features had not worn before.

[b]”Callie.....once I have taught you to hunt, I will take you to the nearest village.  From there, I suggest you head into the wilderness.  Travel east, you will find safer refuge there than the lands here.  I......I cannot travel with you.  I’m sorry.”[/b]

His face torn, he looked away from her, hesitating for a second.  

[i]Perhaps once I can defy the visions.  Perhaps once, they will turn out to not be true.[/i]

The only way that he could be sure of that though was to leave Callie.  To leave her and go far far away, to where she would never see him again.  It was the only way.

Yet the truth of it, it wasn’t the vision of her death that terrified him....it was the vision he had seen immediately before that that had scared him to his very core.....

From the shadows, the watcher watched.  It watched, and it smiled as it’s eyes glowed red......