She had plenty of questions to ask him, but one that she thought was most important with their current situation, was what she decided to go with. "Do you think the nights seem longer? It's either that or we've been awake most of the night." She shook her head. "It's probably mother but I just have this hunch..." A small spark lit up into a small flame which had her cheer with excitement, but the wind made quick work of blowing it out. Castitas sighed, resuming her attempt of starting a fire, determined to keep her and her... Markus warm for the night.

Markus thought for a bit and nodded, "Yeah, it does seem that way. What's this hunch you have?" He watched her create a small flame and chuckled as she cheered, but when the flame died he felt kind of bad. He got up, picked up a small rock and grabbed a piece of flint from the supplies they bought, "Here, let me help." He handed her the flint and rock and then took her hands, manipulating them to strike the rock with the piece of flint. It created a spark which turned to a small flame, Markus blew on it, making it slowly turn in to a nice sized campfire. He patted Castitas on the shoulder and smiled, "Good job." He sat near the fire and watched as it glowed.

Castitas sighed, letting out a breathless laugh. "I don't know, I just feel like this all connects to the storm... the orb, all of it." She blushed, feeling overheated as Markus held her hands. She had a hard time moving with him wrapped around her, feeling weak from his touch. After he complimented her, for no reason since he did all the work, She smiled, sitting there trying to calm her heart from jumping out of her chest. She wanted to thank him but only a squeak came out, instead, she gestured towards the creek, grabbing a fresh clothes and heading there in a hurry to avoid embarrassing herself anymore.
She huffed when she sat at the edge of the rocky stream out of sight, wading her feet in it as the tension building up inside her released. She undressed herself, sitting in the cold water as it pushed onto her, washing away the blood. She shivered, goosebumps rising on her smooth skin. "He really is nice..." She told herself. "I'm sure he'll save the princess and marry her and-" She tried not to cry at the thought, even though she forced herself to think of him with anyone but her.

Markus watched as she walked off to go to the creek. When she was no longer in sight, he went back to staring at the campfire. He sighed resting his forehead in his hand, "What the hell, Markus. She's a priestess, besides... she probably thinks you're a freak anyway." He sighed deeply and laid down where he was seated and watched the sky, listening to the sounds of the creek. The knight realized that his armor was still covered in blood and got up, grabbed a set of fresh clothes, and took advantage of Castitas not being there by changing by the fire. He looked at his armor, Markus needed to wash it before he had to wear it again. He gathered his gear and walked towards the creek. He thought that Castitas was farther down the river so he didn't expect to see what was coming. His eyes widened as he dropped his armor, which made a loud clanking noise, and he immediately turned around. Markus didn't say anything hoping in vain that the priestess would hear him. He couldn't believe what he just saw.... Castitas... nude.... He tried to shake the image from his mind, but it continually popped up in his mind.

Castitas turned suddenly when she heard a clanking noise. She turned her head seeing Markus as he turned away. She shrieked, hurriedly getting up, only to find her food slipping on the algae on the stones. She fell, hitting her head with a crack, blood fading in the rushing water. She sat up holding her head, as a headache pounded at her skull. She remembered Markus, trying to cover herself as red seeped from her head covering her face and neck.

Markus wiped around to see Castitas bleeding, "Castitas!" disregarding her being unclothed he ran up so her, covered her with the clothes near the creek and carried her bridal style back to the campfire. He quickly ran and grabbed medical supplies and began treating the wound as best he could. After he was done he sat her up, helped her get new clothes on and sat next to her, "Are you alright? You were bleeding quite heavily, I tried to patch it up as best I can. We won't be able to get you more help till the morning... I'm so sorry, I was just trying to wash my armor, I thought you had gone down farther. I'm a terrible person, I am so sorry." He talked so fast that when he was done, he was out of breath. A few tears weld up is his eyes, which were stuck in an expression of terror and concern.

Despite the pain she felt in her head, she couldn't help but laugh. Soon, her giggles turned into hysteria as she clutched her sides, She wiped her tears of joy away, hugging him tightly. "It's alright, It's fine." She looked at him, cupping his face with her hands as she looked him in the eyes. "I haven't felt like this since everything went downhill." Her heart skipped a beat, feeling daring she looked down to his lips, thinking to herself; 'Just do it!' She kissed him softly but quickly, looking into his eyes once more. Nervousness crept back into her soul as she waited for a response, any at all.

Markus sighed in relief knowing that she was okay. He blushed a little as she placed her hands on his face and blushed harder as he kissed him. A small smile appeared on his face, his heart sped up. Without even thinking the knight pulled her close and pressed his lips to hers. After a minute he pulled away, realizing what he had just done. He couldn't help but think that he made the wrong move, even if all the signed told him it was right. "I... I'm sorry." He laughed nervously. Markus couldn't think straight and he was starting to panic a little.

"What are you sorry for?" She chuckled lightly. "I want this..." She ran her fingers through his hair. Maybe she was dazed from knocking her head on a sharp rock, but for the moment, all she wanted was to be wrapped in Markus' embrace until the new dawn arrived. She never felt more courageous in her life, assuming Markus felt the same, she returned all kisses eagerly.

Markus stared into Castitas' eyes, he gave a small smile. It seemed the feelings were not one sided after all, which made the knights heartbeat heighten. He placed a hand on the priestesses cheek and leaned in kissing her once more. His other arm was wrapped around her torso, holding her closely. Markus' insides felt like they were on fire, he had never felt this way before and he never thought that a priestess would make him feel this way. In this moment, all the world and it's problems started to fade. Nothing mattered at that moment besides the two of them.

The sun rose, a purple fog clouding the skies. Castitas awoke in her lover's arms- no wait, what? She looked at him, remembering that last night was not a dream. "Oh goodness..." She carefully untangled herself from Markus, not wanting to wake him up to cause him any embarrassment. She went to fill her pouch full of water by the river, noticing a shadow move within the trees. She stops, calling out. "Who's there?" Twigs snap as the figure approaches at a swift pace.
"It's just me..." Whisper announces, stepping from the shadows.
Castitas sighs in relief. "You scared me to death, I thought you were some sort of-"
"Monster?" Whisper raises his eyebrow.
"You are no monster, you spared me and you have returned. You are my friend."
Whisper and his brother were once feared by most creatures but not once had he considered anyone his friends other than his family, his heart was warmed.

Markus slowly awakened and sat up. When he noticed that Castitas was gone he was about to search for her, but stopped himself sighing slightly. He knew what happened last night was never going to happen again. She was a priestess... He ran a hand across his face as he sat in silence thinking to himself. The knight noticed his armor, still covered in blood from yesterday. He got up, picked up the armor and headed to the creek to wash it. He saw Castitas and his eyes fell to the floor, letting out a silent sigh. He also noticed the hound from before, but did not care much for saying anything. He crouched at the water and began washing his armor.

Castitas saw Markus, who was now wake. "Did you sleep well?" She asked him, blushing intensely. Whisper looked back and forth between the two.
"Did something happen while I was gone?" His ears lifted with interest. "Are you no longer... clean, Castitas?"
The priestess looked to the hound, her face scrunched up as she wondered what Whisper meant. "I bathed last night, I'm as fresh and clean as a I could ever be."
Whisper shook his head. "You have not committed any sort of sin?"
"I'm a priestess, I would never sin." She laughed, still oblivious to what Whisper was hinting at. "You told your mother about your brother, yes?" Her face went serious, speaking off the recently deceased.
The hound nodded, looking in Markus' direction. "She still wishes me to search for you... but I fear that it won't be long before she sends out her minions. Mother can get quite... impatient." Castitas bowed her head, showing that she understood. she continued to fill her pouch with drinking water.
Whisper walked nearby Markus, stopping to ask silently. "You did not 'take her' did you?" His eyes were filled with suspicion.

Markus finished cleaning his armor when the hound asked him about last night. "What do you think?" The knights face expressionless as well as his words. He did not show any sign of anger or sadness... He showed nothing. He was still trying to forget about last night, knowing it was a means to an end. He stood up and walked to the campsite, putting away his armor and getting some supplies ready. After he was done, he noticed the necklace he bought the day before laid discarded on the ground. Markus grabbed it, looked at it for a bit, and then turned, throwing it into the creek. As he waited for Castitas to be ready he sat against a tree and watched the sky.

Whisper watched as Markus threw the necklace, seeing it plop into the water. He picked it up with his teeth, sighing as he knew the priestess probably stayed a virgin. Things will go according to plan, just as Umbra said. He remembered her orders vividly.

Umbra rose from her throne of skin and bones, patting her pet before casting a hex onto him.
"When the full moon rises, you will shift into the form of a man, in which you will stay for only a little while." Whisper felt the magic combine with his mind, feeling this burden rise from his belly.
"You must woo her... though she hold great power, her innocent heart is weak. Take advantage of this- and remember; she must be pure or her sacrifice will not be enough for our Lord."

Umbra's words echoed in the back of Whispers mind. He shook away the memory, focusing on his current mission. Whisper hid the necklace under his tongue, knowing he could use this for his future plans.
Castitas packed her things, hauling a bag over her shoulder. "You two ready?" She asked, smiling brightly. Her smile faded seeing Markus' face. "What's wrong?" She asked quietly.

Markus quietly stood and picked up the bag that held his supplies, he ignored her question and asked his own, "What's the plan now?" He didn't make eye contact with Castitas, using his surrounding as a way to keep is gaze from her. He knew he was being a bit cold, but it was the only he knew to do when he wanted to hide his feelings.

"We..." She looked to Whisper. "We actually need to go to Umbra." She looked saddened by Markus' behaviour but she couldn't let anything distract her for now, maybe he's grumpy from lack of sleep.
"Any reason why?" The hound asked.
"She possesses an orb that may be corrupting her... I know that's not exactly something you want to hear... but we can save her if we can steal it away... somehow..." She looks at Whisper with hopeful eyes. "Would you mind if you lead us to her, I swear that we will not harm her." She puts her right hand over her heart.
"It is quite a ways away, it could take a couple of days if we run there." Whisper laughs. "It's hidden within the wastelands of sand and ash, which is no where nearby itself."
Castitas grinned. "Thank you!" Whisper bowed, thanking her. The full moon is expected to arrive tonight.

Markus looked at the hound, "Well we aren't getting any closer by talking now are we?" He had a heavily sarcastic tone as he spoke. The knight was glad Castitas didn't insist on finding out what was wrong with him, he was lucky that she was focused on the orb. Markus wanted to hurry and get this over with, he didn't really care if Umbra lived or not, he just wanted to leave all this behind him. Granted he wouldn't have anywhere to go, but currently he felt that it would still be better than being here. He looked toward the sky, sighing slightly and whispering to himself, "Why can't I just have a normal, non stressful, and quiet day?" He silently cured the Gods for putting him in this situation.

Whisper growled under his breath, "Prick..." Leading the way out of the forest.
Castitas couldn't keep her gaze off of Markus, she hoped that he would feel better when he had more time to rest, she did keep him up most of the night. She giggled out loud, keeping her eye on that peculiar boy to see if his mood would change.
Whisper looked over his shoulder, smirking at the sight of the knight rejecting love that he thought was fake. This plan is going to go smoothly... Perfect.

Markus couldn't help, but smile slightly at the sound of Castitas giggling. He tried to keep his expression as emotionless as possible, but it was hard when she was being so cute. He saw the hound peaking over it's shoulder with a smirk, he didn't like the look of it. He shot a stare at the creature to remind it of the promise he made if the hound tried anything funny. Markus never trusted that thing and was always ready at a moments notice to attack it. He looked onward as they continued to walk, what were they going to do when they go to this Umbra? How were they going to take the Orb from her? A slight feeling of fear rose inside of him, but tried his best to suppress it for it would only serve as a hindrance to him.