Sukie，stightly.Astheytraveled，Meitoldthemmoreabouttheattahervilge，hervoicetremblingwithemotion.Sukielistenedily，herheartagforthesufferingMeihadendured.

＂Don，tworry，Mei，＂Sukiesaidgently.＂We，llfindyourfamily.We，lldoeverythiohelpyou.＂

Meilookedupather，hopeshininginhereyes.＂Thankyou，Sukie.Idon，tknowwhatIwouldhavedohoutyou.＂

Astheymadetheirwaydeeperiory，Sukiecouldn，tshakethefeelingofuhatlingered.ShegHanFengling，whoseemedlostinthought.

＂HanFengling，＂shesaidsoftly，hervoicebreakingthesilence.＂Whatareyouthinking?＂

Helookedather，hiseyesfilledwithamixofemotions.＂I，mworried，Sukie.TheDarkLord，sforcesaregrowingstronger.Weobecareful.Arusteachotherpletely.＂

Sukienodded，herheartswellingwithdetermination.＂Itrustyou，HanFengling.Morethananyone.AndIkhis.Together.＂

Hesmiled，hisexpressionsoftening.＂Itrustyoutoo，Sukie.Andwithyoubymyside，Ifeellikewefaything.＂

Theypressedon，theirbondstrengtheningwitheachstep.Astheytraveled，theyenteredmnsoftheDarkLord，sinfluence:vilgesburotheground，familiestornapart，achedintothefacesofthosetheymet.Sukie，sresolvegrewstroheaewhorrortheywitnessed，herdeterminatiotheDarkLordunwavering.

Oneevening，astheysetupcamp，SukieandHanFenglingsatbythefire，Meiledbetweehewarmthofthefmesandthequietofthenightprovidedamomentofrespitefromtheirarduousjourney.

＂Sukie，＂HanFenglingsaid，hisvoicebreakingthesilehere，ssomethingI，vebeenmeaningtotellyou.＂