In the distance I see movement causing me to look up from the little fire pit we constructed, it takes a moment for my eyes to focus in the darkness. That's when I realize it's Crete and his brothers returning from scouting the area. Grys is ahead of the other two and I can't help but wonder why? If they're all brothers without memories then what would Cause Crete and Hades to bond with out him? Could it be because Crete and Hades are so similar with their gray skin and red eyes? They both also prefer heavy intimidating black armor where Grys is an albino and wears a much lighter leather armor. I will have to watch them more closely and see if there is something I'm missing. With the minions having retrieved wood planks from the bridges, we now have everything we need for a fire. "Light damn you!" Everything but a flame that is. With all the moisture in the air from being at this altitude starting a fire is proving to be difficult. "May I be of assistance?" I turn to see Hades standing directly behind me, I immediately realize his eyes are focused on my backside and begin to second guess what he means by assistance. I stand up making sure my hip skirt is covering me properly. Hades senses my realization and grins, his smile is infectious. He reaches back pulling one of his flaming short swords and touches it to the planks in the fire pit, the wood ignites immediately and begins to burn. "Great work." Says Tate as he places his hand on the small of my back. "It's getting cold quickly now that the sun has set. Did you find anything out there?" He asks Hades. "Something is definitely out there." Replies Hades. "But with the sun setting it didn't seem wise to be separated." Just then Crete and Grys join us around the fire. "What do you think it is?" I ask, I can hear the quiver in my own voice. Tate must here it too because he pulls me in close and holds me tight. "We should find out." Says Crete. "Find it before it finds us." "We've been over this brother, now is not the time to be separated. There is strength in numbers and without light we would be asking for trouble" Says Hades. Tate then speaks up. "I've been meaning to ask, about your eyes that is. They glow." Hades nods in agreement encouraging Tate to continue. "If you can't see in the dark...then what purpose does the glowing have?" He asks. Hades seems to ponder this before responding. "Your question is valid. Unfortunately as you are aware we have no memories of the past, so as of now you know as much about us as we know about ourselves." The glowing eyes leave little room for doubt in my mind. "Demon blood." I whisper. Crete's head whips towards me just then, he couldn't have heard me...could he?" "It might be so." Says Crete. "Would that then be a problem?" He asks me in particular. "I...I..." But before I can finish Tate lets go of me spinning on Crete. "No, The Broken Arrow said you were Gray Humans, not demons." Reminds Tate. That's when Grys chimes in. "So tell me Tate. You are from this era, have you heard of Gray Humans?" Tate turns to look at Grys. "Well no, not exactly but..." "I don't think Kortt knew his head from his ass." Says Crete. That seems to put Tate over the edge, anger floods over him and rage becomes evident on his face. " THE BROKEN ARROW IS HERO, ONE OF THE GREATEST MEN TO EVER LIVE!" Says Tate sternly. Crete takes a half a step towards Tate. "I disagree." He says in a calm, yet terrifying manor. "He is a coward who fled the first chance he was able." Tate's hands begin curling into fists and I know this is about to get ugly, but before I can do or say anything Hades steps between the two men. "Come join me around the fire, let us decide together what our next move should be." His voice is calming, I find my self wanting to do as he says and to my surprise he seems to have the same effect on the others as well. Moments later we are all huddled around the fire pit staring at one another. It's Hades who speaks first. "I don't want to worry anyone, but their is something you should know. I have a connection with fire, I can feel its presence, I find it intoxicating." He quickly scans the group, everyone is listening so he continues. "There's more...I hear voices in the flame." Crete interrupts. "You hear voices? What do you mean YOU HEAR VOICES?" Hades grins, Something about that grin is irresistible yet unnerving at the same time. People find Crete intimidating, he's large, he's menacing and usually angry so when he starts to raise his voice people cringe...but not Hades. Crete doesn't seem to intimidate him in the least so he continues. "I can't really explain it, I just know It has something to do with the fire. I've been hearing them for awhile now, but since lighting the pit they have become more constant, more clear. "What do they say?" I ask. "I don't know, it's like it's in a another language." He replies. "Hearing voices isn't a good sign." Says Grys. "Is there anything else your not telling us?" Hades grins again. "Yes brother, as a matter of fact there is." Hades scoots closer to the fire. "I can also control it, I have known since the tomb. I was flickering the lanterns in the corridors and none of you had a clue." "Any reason you decided to keep it from us?" Asks Grys curiously. "I was waiting from the right time." Replies Hades. "It's not the kind of thing you just blurt out randomly." "Prove it!" Says Crete, his voice rich with disbelief. I watch Hades stretch his arms out towards the fire with his palms up. He momentarily closes his eyes, he appears to be concentrating. Then without warning his eyelids shoot open revealing glowing eyes, not glowing the way they usually do, now they look like miniature fire balls. His hands begin swaying ever so graceful and to my surprise the flame seems to mimic his every movement. "That's amazing!" I say. Crete is know where near as impressed as myself. "That's it?" He asks. Hades glances over his shoulder at his brother. "Not exactly." He replies. Then with a smile that makes my heart flutter he does something completely unexpected. I watch as the flame begins transforming into a bird, or maybe it's a Phoenix of legend. Either way it must be the most incredible and beautiful thing I have ever witnessed. It flaps its wings like a living creature and begins soaring around over our heads. Crete grunts before turning and walking to the edge of our camp light, he begins watching the darkness like he can see something. Crete isn't worth my attention, so I turn back just in time to see Hades swipes his hands causing the creature dissipate. "That was beautiful!" I tell him. "I can't wait to see more." "Very impressive." Agrees Tate. "You guys have any other special abilities we should know about? I only ask because I too have a gift." Tate reaches down placing his hand on one of the camp stones, it begins to glow blue and emanate energy. "I call it a density charge, it temporarily changes the properties of the item making it stronger." "Interesting." Replies Grys. "Have you ever tried it on something like an arrow?" Tate nods. "I have. You know how a normal arrow will break if fired at a stone wall?" "Yeah." Says Grys nodding. "Well a charged arrow will lodge within the stone as if it were made of wood." Says Tate. Then something stirs in the darkness, we all here it. Unfortunately out of the whole group, Tate's elven eyes are the only ones capable of seeing in the dark. Whatever it is that's out there has moved on or is hiding well. "I see nothing." Says Tate while still scanning the darkness intently. "Let's go end this nonsense." Says Crete. "We stopped here to rest, how can we do that if we're waiting to be attacked? I say we hunt what's out there. Hopefully it's meaty, I'm hungry!" "Do we go as a team or split up?" Asks Grys. "I'm weapon less!" I exclaim. "I don't want to go out there in the dark. What if it's a dragon?" "Stay." Replies Crete. "I can handle this myself." He turns to head out into the darkness, no hesitation in his stride. "No." Replies Grys. "Take Tate, use his eyes to your advantage. He can see where you can't." Tate looks to me, he knows I don't like this plan. "Don't leave me." I whisper. Hades steps forward placing a hand on my shoulder. "She will be safe with us my friend, you have my word." Tate's heart tells him not to leave her with Hades, but his gut says that he can trust him. He moves in to hug Hayden tightly and whisper softly in her ear. "We won't be gone long, I love you." But before Hayden can reply he begins moving towards Crete. The two men eye each other up and down but no words are exchanged. I watch in horror as the two men then move off into the darkness, fearing this may be the last time I see Tate alive.