At some point during the night, a third presence in their tent was unmistakeable. Tao was undoubtedly asleep, as was, Lucia supposed, the rest of the camp and most probably the sentry. But something had stirred her from her sleep and that something felt very near her body, wrapped in covers, about two feet too far from Tao to attempt to wake him. She refused to open her eyes. It was hours before she heard the rustling again, this time, she was sure, the creature was leaving. Only then could she fall asleep.

"You seem tired." Luhan noted, more talkative than he had ever been before. He had probably resigned himself to the fact that they would be stuck in the jungle together for weeks without escape.

"I couldn't sleep very well." She replied, struggling to keep her eyes open as they waited for breakfast to be handed out.

"Did Tao snore?" Chen laughed.

"I do not snore." His brother replied, snarkily.

"He doesn't snore." Lucia confirmed. "I just wasn't very comfortable."

"I would have thought you'd gotten used to it on our way here." Xiumin said, joining them around the fire's embers. He passed a water flask to Luhan. 

The girl hesitated for a moment, then agreed. "Yes, I would have, too."

Nights in the jungle were hard to get used to, though. Too many pairs of eyes seemed to glint from the bushes, looking in on their camp.

"Well, I'm afraid we have no time to rest." Xiumin announced. "We have to make it through this next stretch of road before nightfall or we'll be caught in hostile territory."

"Who's the enemy?" Lux asked, intrigued.

"A special kind of savage." He replied, turning to her with playful malice. "A warrior tribe that enjoys the taste of human flesh."

She almost laughed. "Oooh, spooky." Looking down at the stale bread in her hands, she added. "I've met those types before."

"Did you partake?" Chen questioned morbidly.

"No. It was a ritual for their fallen comrades."

"Were you not invited?"

"We killed them." This silenced the prince, and she looked up to find his face uncharacteristically solemn. "Oh, don't misunderstand. We set up quite a successful treaty with them afterwards. As far as I know, they would still consider my soldiers allies if we were to turn up there again today. I simply found the idea of us, their killers, being present at a ritual to pacify the souls of the dead distasteful. I gave my men the option of going, but they were too scared o