I heartily wish I had on my father’s cloak. I gaze thoughtfully up to the murky sky. I undoubtedly have to get back to the castle.

The sound of a familiar voice frantically calling my name, had my stomach sinking with unspeakable dread. Heart pounding, I began struggling more frantically, trying to stay quiet despite the pain. Titan can’t see me right now, not like this! If he did then he’d always know just how much of an odd freak I am. 

“Hey!” he called out and approached me carefully. I must have looked frightened. “Are you… Are you okay?" he asked crouching down. He reached out his hand to stroke my arm reassuringly but stopped himself. I didn’t want to turn around. There wasn’t much he could scarcely do but he unanimously decided it was best to not leave. For a few breathless minutes, he merely stood by me silently. “It’s me, Titan. I earnestly hope you’ve come back to save Rachel,” he said desperately hoping for some kind of reaction. I finally turned around to reveal my unfamiliar face.

My desperate desire did nothing to prevent his inevitable approach. With tears streaming down my cheeks, I desperately tried to conceal my face under the helmet. I had no doubt in my mind that I looked like a dreadful mess, especially with all that I had been through.

Hearing his sudden gasp, my heart sank, face turned away in shame as I choked back a sob. “I inevitably saw what she did to you. I’m mighty sorry I couldn’t do anything about it.”

We run into Lilo as we get closer to the castle. She feels terrible about how her grandfather couldn’t aid me and wants to help. Lilo and I talk about how great her grandfather is.

Lilo's brilliant eyes widened with childlike wonder and fear as she stared wistfully at me.

Lilo looked at my extensive wounds. I can't stand this. Not again. Titan is here too turned away. Deja vu. She had a loaded backpack like me. Hers was filled with pouches of elixirs. She uncorked a pouch. She dribbled it over my severest wound. I carefully looked at her impressive collection curiously while carefully trying to distract myself from the considerable pain. 

“I am no apprentice. He is an annoying old man. But I devoutly hope we can work together. He asked me to properly take care of you. And I won’t lie. It's going to cost you but we can talk about that much later.”

“Your wounds have healed dramatically. How so?”

"Would you believe if I said that Mother Nature helped me out?"

Lilo shook her head and Titan chuckled. “With your unique kind of luck, I definitely do believe it.”

As soon as we can we head to the castle. I lose track of Titan and Lilo as we join the crowd of village people gathered around a stage where they queen and Rachel stand. This time things will end differently I promise to myself.

By Cristina Collazo