I almost felt like laughing. I had escaped again. But this time I wasn’t going to let myself get caught. I knew the patrol would be after me soon, so I ran at a steady pace, keeping it up for about an hour at least. When I felt I was far enough away a stopped for a rest. The sun was gently rising over the horizon, giving warmth as it shone softly on me. I had stopped in a small clearing and the early morning sunlight was turning the long grass orange. Breathing deeply, I forgot about the patrol for a moment, only to remember Ari and Mauriz. I swallowed, tears coming to my eyes. I tried to keep them from falling but failed, and they were soon streaming down my cheeks silently, flickering in the sunlight as they fell to the ground without a sound. The patrol was suddenly the last thing on my mind.
