Gale was soon out of my sight and I gave up trying to escape from Fern. I had run out of tears to cry and my throat was dry as sandpaper.

Fern continued to carry me until we reached a clearing, where Gale's final brother was waiting.

"You found them then," Atlas said looking at me with amusement in his eyes.

"Thawn, Raven and Blaise are taking care of Gale," Fern replied finally putting me on my own two feet, but still tightly gripping my wrist. 

"All three of them?" Atlas asked.

"He's stronger than you think," Fern said.

"So what are we meant to do with her now?" Atlas asked.

"Take her to the Elder I presume," he replied. "It should only take a day's travel."

"A day's travel if she's cooperative," Atlas said picking up a lock of my hair before drooping it back down.

"Why are you doing this?" I asked. 

"Because the Elder ordered us to," Fern stated.

"If the Elder ordered you to jump off a cliff, would you?" I asked.

Fern gave me a sarcastic smile before glaring at me.

"Keep that smart little mouth of yours shut," he demanded in a threatening tone. 

"Gale is your brother," I added as we began to head back into the forest - Fern dragging me along as I resisted.

"Doesn't mean we have to like him, honey," Atlas replied. "Willow, summer and April are your sisters."

"I would never do this to any of my sisters," I spat. "Can you let go of me please," I begged as Fern gripped my wrist tighter and continued to haul me through the trees.

He didn't let go of me. Instead, he forcefully pulled me into his chest before throwing my body over his shoulder.

"Now you can have your days travel Atlas," Fern said complacently.

It wasn't for another two hours that the sun finally began to reappear. I couldn't catch even a whiff of Gale's scent, which worried me slightly. What if they weren't taking him back to the pack? What if I would never see him again? My lack of movement led to the October air around us feeling much colder than it previously had. Fern's shoulder was also hard and not a particularly comfortable place to spend two hours, but there was nothing I could do so instead I just watched as the light of dawn began to bring the auburn colours of the forest back to life.

Eventually, Fern placed me down against a tree close to a small stream.

"Stay," he ordered. I wasn't actually planning on moving. I knew I wouldn't get far so what's the point?

Fern and Atlas both drunk from the clear stream. Atlas then found a wide, thick leaf and filled it with water before handing it to me. 

I nodded unable to bring myself to thank him.

"How long have you and our brother actually been a thing then?" Fern asked sitting against a tree opposite me.

"They're a thing?" Atlas questioned also sitting down.

"You missed a pretty dramatic kiss, Atlas," Fern said.

"That was the first time," I replied eventually. "So thanks for ruining it."

"Oh come on. You guys have been close for years. You aren't trying to tell us that was your first kiss are you?" Fern scoffed. "You don't expect us to believe that you used to spend whole days just talking?"

I scowled at him and refused to speak.

We sat in silence for a few more minutes whilst Fern and Atlas (who had actually done some walking) rested. I fought to hold back today's second wave of tears, but eventually gave in to them.

Fern looked at me with the same jade-green eyes as Gale, but they weren't kind and friendly like his. They were cold and emotionless. They also didn't even attempt to comfort me like I knew Gale's would. 

He stared for a few seconds and then looked away completely unphased. 

"You might as well forget about him now," he advised with no emotion whilst staring into the forest.

"I can't just 'forget' about him," I replied.

"Well if you don't, it's only going to bring you more pain. The chance of the Elder ever permitting your little romance is close to zero," Atlas said throwing a stick into the stream.

"So in other words, that kiss was your last taste of Gale Rivers. I hope it was good," Fern added.

"Neither of you are helping," I said getting to my feet. "I'll be back in a minute."

"Sit back down, Robyn," Fern ordered as I turned away from them. "You aren't going anywhere."

I stood motionless for a few seconds considering my options. I eventually decided to go against Fern and took another step away from the two brothers.

I heard one of them get to their feet and the leaves crunch as they approached. Before I could even process what was happening let alone react I was pinned to the closest tree.

"We should carry on," Fern said to Atlas before seizing my wrist.

"Let go of me, Fern," I spat trying to break free. 

"Atlas, get the tranquilliser," Fern ordered his brother.

My eyes widened and I madly fought against his hold.

"You're going to have to hold her still," Atlas said returning from his bag with a brown stained rag in his hand.

Fern smiled sarcastically at Atlas before pulling me into his chest tightly.

"You won't feel a thing," Atlas said moving my hair out of my face.

I felt the rag cover my mouth and the sickeningly sweet stench hit me. I knew instantly what it was- chloroform extracted from the fungi that grows at the roots of the elder trees. I held my breath, but it was too late. I had already begun to lose control of my muscles and that includes the ones you use to hold your breath.

Contrary to how you may imagine, there was nothing relaxing about it. Falling helplessly into Fern's arms (my enemy's arms) only just able to hear their blurred voices could never be peaceful.

It wasn't long until the only thing my senses could detect was silence and darkness.