The week of traveling that followed was very...strained. Or at least that's how Jillian saw it. Robinson kept things "quiet" and by that, he ingorned her most of the time. He acted normally, but wouldn't go out of his way to talk to her like he used to.

She tried to tell herself that it was perfectly normal and he had his friends..crew to talk to. It didn't have to be all about her. But still, it was a bit disheartnening, and she did feel a bit sad some nights.

"What's that strange mark?" Goose asked one morning. She was pointing to a carving on a tree next to their campsite. The others weren't paying attention as they were finishing breakfast, but Jillian decided to humor her.

Getting up, she traced her fingers over the grooves. The carving was a thin outline of a circle with a diagonal slash across it, splitting it in two. "This is weird," she said to herself.

"What does it mean?" Goose asked. Jillian shrugged and Goose walked away, interest lost.

Jillian was about to leave herself until Eye-Eye appeared beside her. He was schrutionizing at the mark with the strangest expression on his face. He let out rapid fire curses as he seemed to recoginize it. "We need to move," he said loudly, brushing past her. He rubbed his eyepatch, as if it was bothering him.

"What are you talking about?" Jillian asked.

"Trouble," Eye-Eye answered. "Especially if they're close." To emphasize his point, he dumped their pail of water over the fire.

He had sucessfully captured the attention of the others. Jillian watched at Eye-Eye began tying bags onto his horse. She had never seen him so frantic.

Robinson's temper flared. "If you don't spill what you're on about, I swear I'm going to-."

"A gang of bandits," the first mate interrupted. "We're in their territory." It was like lightning had struck the group.

They ran around, trying to cover up their tracks as quickly as they could. Rosie sadled the horses with Sparky. Robinson covered up their footprints. Smalls and Al packed the bags with Boulder. "Goose!" Jillian yelled, realized the girl was nowhere to be found.

"Shh!" Eye-Eye hissed, waving at her to be quiet. "We don't know how close they are."

Jillian looked around frantically. "Where is she?!" Without another word, she sped off into the surounding trees, calling for her. They have had trouble with her running off before, but now with bandits, there was so much more danger.

"Goose!" A blur of blond hair and Jillian spotted the young girl standing in a clearing. Tripping over a root in her bare feet, she ran up to the girl and hugged her. "Thank goodness! We have to go..." She trailed off when she saw that there were tears running down the child's face.

"What's wrong?" she asked, bending down, worried she was hurt.

Goose moved her lips soundlessly as the tears continued to flow.

"I think your friend it trying to say that its too late," a gruff voice said. Jillian let out a surprised shriek as a dozen men came out of the woodwork and surrounded the two. The bandits had arrived. They were all huge and muscualr, covered in animals pelts. The most unsettling thing was that they all had eyepatches over their right eyes. A man with a silver belt and straggly balck hair stepped forward. "Grab them," he growled, establishing the idea he was the leader.

"Help!" Jillian yelled to the forest as a man grabbed her arm. Goose's scream mingled with her own as the girl was yanked out of her grasp and into the hands of the bandits.

"Let go of her!" she shouted, feeling raw fear climb up her throat. She kicked and squirmed, trying to twist out of his hold. The bandit twisted her arms behind her back, making her cry out in pain.

Without meaning to, ice traveled from her hand to his arm. There was a crackling sound and he screamed, releasing her. Jillian stared in horror as ice coated his arm, turing the skin benath it black with frostbite as he tried to shake it off.

"Ice magic!" someone shouted. At those words, the scene froze. The bandits all looked at each other and then back at her with apprehensive expressions. They seemed not to know wat to do with magical folk. Jillian's breathing became more labored as she struggled to keep her magic under control. The air turned frigid cold and she could see Goose's terrified breath form tiny clouds as two men held her fast. She frantically wondered what was going through their heads. Did they fear her? Want to turn her in for ransom? Kill her? She prayed Robinson and the others would show up.

The bandits tightened their circle around her, but not close enough to touch her, for fear they would end up like their friend. "Now, now," the leader said gently, stepping closer. "We won't hurt you or your friend as long as you cooperate."

"Let us go and I won't hurt you." Jillian was pleading with them but she instanlty regretted her words as his face hardened into a scowl.

"That's how you want to play it, eh witch?"

"No! I-."

"Shut it!" he snapped, rendering her silent. "I know where your campsite is and your comrades are there right now. You will go to them and act normal for a few minutes so we prepare our attack. Oh no," he laughed, seeing the look in her eyes. "You won't be able to warn them beacuse we will be holding on to your little friend here in the meantime."

Goose let out a frightened cry as the bandits laughed cruely.

"She's just a child-," Jillian tried to say.

"Then I hope you do as I ask because if you don't, she will be the first of your companions to die. And I'll make you watch. Got it?"

Jillian nodded quickly.

"Don't use your magic neither, witch. Walk."

Jillian returned to the campsite.