Mezzrik Valley

*One Week Before Mato's End*

Nathan sat, his back against a tree as he brushed his hands over the leaves of grass on the ground. He sat a couple yards away from his fleet, enshrouded in the shadows of the night, the tree leaves blocking out the light of the moon from reaching him. He watched from a distance as soldiers all sat around small fires, telling war stories or just joking around. In some groups, there was a gravity that hung over the soldiers, men and women alike, as they talked quietly about those who've died, or of the battle to come. Everyone was in edge, some could find a way to hand the stress, others were starting to break under it.

Nathan's eyes were on Evelyn. He watched her joke with the other soldiers, laughing around a fire as they roasted fresh boar meat over the flickering flames.

He began to pluck blades of grass out of the dirt one by one. He didn't feel welcome among the soldiers, due to his... issues. Nathan's abilities were extremely powerful, but he had a hard time controlling them, and in the past he'd hurt his own allies by accident, killing them. This brought about rumors and negative feelings among the soldiers toward Nathan, even some of the Deities disapproved of him. Especially Desrian.

Evelyn looked over at Nathan, who quickly averted his eyes to the ground, where he opened his hand, slowly letting the blades of grass he'd grabbed fall from his fingers and drift to the dirt.

He heard footsteps and the rustling of grass as someone walked towards him, but he didn't need to look up to know who it was.

"What's up with you?" Came Evelyn's voice.

"What do you mean?" Nathan asked, avoiding eye contact.

"Are you still upset about that?"

"About what?"

"You know, that. When you... lost control." She said, trying to be as kind as she could about it.

Nathan looked up at her. He couldn't help but get lost for a moment in her beauty. He sighed, "The others don't approve of me. They don't trust me, and they have right not to."

"It was an accident, Nathan, accidents happen all the time, not just in war." Evelyn said, "I'm sure that some of them forgive you."

"Some of them." He said.

Evelyn rolled her eyes, then sat in the grass beside him.

"Who cares what the think anyway?" She asked, "I trust you. I approve of you, I acknowledge you. Isn't that good enough?"

Nathan looked over at her, unsure of himself. He looked down at her hand, once again feeling that urge to reach out and hold it in his.

"Yeah... that's enough." He said quietly as he pushed away his feelings, his fingers twitching towards her.

Evelyn saw his hand move, and when she did a slight smile appeared on her lips. She reached her hand and placed it on his, and for a moment Nathan felt a sense of peace and happiness, but then he remembered the blood that was on his hands and he pulled away. A frown now appeared in Evelyn's expression.

"You're a good person Nathan. I hope your realize that." She said, before standing up and walking away, back to the fire, glancing back at Nathan only once.

•

•

•

*Two days after Mato's death*

"Where is he, damn it!" Nathan cursed, bitter cold wind beating against his face. He lay on his stomach looking over the edge of a sheer cliff leading down to a massive valley. Far off in the distance he could see the first fleet, a jumbled blotch of motion that looked like a swarm of ants from his view. So far the Titans had made no appearance... yet. This was where the battle would take place, but they were only to attack when Mato's group gave the signal; a large red flag bearing the crest of the human race, a dragon.

Mato's route was shorter than Nathan's, maybe not easier, but definitely shorter, yet he wasn't there. Mat should've beat Nathan's fleet to their positions... but he wasn't there.

Nathan clenched his fist, staring intently towards the cliff opposite to him. He hoped that, maybe, he was there, just hidden out of view. But if he wasn't... he shook his head, pushing the thought out of his minds. Mato would be there. He had to, otherwise everything would be ruined.

Then the ground began to tremble, nearly knocking Nathan over the edge. A hushed silence fell over the fleet. They all knew what was coming, and it struck fear into them, making them all go quiet.

*BOOM*

There was another quake.

*BOOM*

Rocks began to break away and fall down the cliff side.

*BOOM*

"Everyone get down!" Nathan ordered. "We have to stay hidden until Mato gives the signal!"

*BOOM*

The soldiers all dropped to their bellies, staying low to the ground as to avoid being seen by the Titans.

*BOOM*

It was getting louder and more powerful now.

"Nathan!" Evelyn called from behind. "Where is Mato?"

*BOOM*

"I don't know... just lay low." He answered.

"But-"

"Just do as I say!"

*BOOM*

A sudden gust of freezing cold air ran through the valley.

'Why's it so cold?' Nathan wondered. 'It's usually quite warm here, but recently it's been so cold... it started the other day... I wonder... no, it's probably just the altitude.'

*BOOM*

Nathan found himself holding his breath, his body tensed up to the point that it hurt. His eyes were constantly moving across the valley, from the opposite cliff, down to Desrian's fleet, and then around the bend of the valley where the Titans would soon appear, over and over again his eyes followed this same loop.

*BOOM*