“You can’t be serious, Chiron.”  Alise hissed furiously, arms crossed over her chest.  “Nadine can’t go out of the camp on her own.”<br/><br/>The centaur sighed and shook his head wearily.  “Alise, I’m not the one who decided this.  I would let you go if I could, but you know as well as I that the prophecy should not be altered.  Seven people were named and, unfortunately, you were not one of them.”<br/><br/>The satyress clicked her tongue irritably, closing her eyes so she didn’t have to see Chiron’s pitying face.  Everything he said was true; the last time someone had tried to mess with a prophecy, the results had not been very pretty. The Fates could be testy like that.  She exhaled and opened her eyes, reigning her temper in.  “Still.. Chiron…” The brunette looked pointedly in Nadine’s direction.  The young demigoddess was staring at the wall blankly, humming some indecipherable tune to herself.  The satyress looked back at the centaur, clearly hoping he’d understood her silent meaning.  There was no contesting that Nadine was a bit… slow for a child her age.  “She’s going to get killed.”  Alise concluded with a plaintive note.<br/><br/>Chiron sighed again at his counselor’s words but spread his arms out helplessly.  It was out of his hands.  “It’s not fair to ask the others to take care of her--”<br/><br/>“And it’s fair to send her out there to die?!”<br/><br/>He continued as if he hadn’t been interrupted, “but I’m sure none of them will be so heartless as to leave her to die,” except maybe Mack.  She didn’t need to know that.  “Nadine has improved a lot since you first brought her here seven months ago.  I’m sure this will be a good experience for her.”<br/><br/>“To get killed?”  Alise wondered sourly, leveling a glare on Chiron.  However, the centaur wouldn’t budge.  With a huff of exasperation, the satyress pivoted on one heel and stomped over to Nadine, who had turned to look in her direction.  “Let’s go, Nadine.”  The demigoddes stared at her curiously before standing up and letting herself be guided out the door.<br/><div style="text-align: center;">~~~</div><br/>Nadine hummed softly to herself as she looked up at the night sky.  The stars were out to play today and they twinkled merrily at her.  Wind tugged at her hair playfully and she was tempted to follow it but Alise was holding her hand.  Her friend seemed unusually unhappy today, stewing in silence rather than talking as normal.  She was also stomping her hooves against the ground, eyes fixed straight ahead.  Usually, Alise was more interactive.<br/><br/>Green eyes blinked curiously at the satyress.  Why was Alise so upset?  Today was a nice day.  Tonight was a nice night.  The sky was clear (though rain was nice too) and the temperature not too cold.  Alise seemed ignorant to her scrutiny, furious eyes faced forward.  Hmm…  Nadine opened her mouth to speak but there was a sudden gust of wind, heavy with the scent of salt.  Ocean!  She didn’t feel like going back to their cabin yet, no doubt where Alise was taking her.  She eyed the path contemplatively before prodding at the Mist.  The beach would be pretty at night.