Caleb smiled and leaned over grabbing another biscuit off the plate dipping it in some gravy before taking a bite. Leaning over Caleb bumped Maria back.<br/><br/>"Of course." Caleb smiled at Maria through her pink bangs then gestured to the plate. "Well we have biscuits, as you have already figured out." Caleb smiled playfully and stuck his tongue out at Maria.<br/><br/>"There is also smoked ham and gravy. Enough for both of us unless you are especially hungry."<br/><br/>Maria's face relaxed a small smile peeking out. She laughed at his obvious an horrible joke. But her face seemed to loose it's edge. Her head shakes lightly the pink tendrils swaying with her.<br/><br/>"No it's more then good enough" she said her hand closet to him reaching for his. Her fingers enclosing his to hers palm to palm.<br/><br/>Closing his fingers around Maria's hand Caleb smiled his heart getting a little faster. Finishing off his biscuit Caleb picked up a piece of gravy soaked ham and popped it into his mouth.<br/><br/>"How are you holding up?" Caleb looked at her a half smile on his face as he reached up and brushed a strand of hair away from her eyes.<br/><br/>Taking a few bites off the plate, she toyed with the biscuit in her hand.<br/><br/>"It's worse now that I am within age, an that I refuse to look for a suitor." She said her shoulders slumping her head leaning into his hand.<br/><br/>"He grows weary of my reluctance to choose he will choose for me in the end. An I can't bare that Caleb " she says her voice choked holding back tears.<br/><br/>Caleb rubbed his thumb against Maria's cheek. Picking up the plate Caleb set it on the other side of him. Scooting in close Caleb wrapped his arm around Maria and pulled her against him.<br/><br/>"I know how you feel Maria but in this he can't force anything without my mothers consent and I don't think she would do that to you." Caleb ran his finger through her hair and took a deep breath.<br/><br/>Maria's eyes closed at the touch of Caleb's thumb along her cheek. A lone tear escaping down her cheek.  Maria took a deep breath as she was encircled by Caleb.<br/><br/>"She may not want to but someone has to be the sacrifice. An I am that sacrifice no matter what way we look at it." Her voice soft wavering.<br/><br/>Caleb held Maria closer and kissed her forehead.<br/><br/>"I don't know how but that won't happen. I will die before I let you get sacrificed. Though that might defeat the purpose." Jack smiled at Maria and wiped away the tears on her face looking into her eyes.<br/><br/>"Fenrir will have to fight me himself if he want to take you away." Leaning down Caleb pressed his lips against Maria his heart beating rapidly as they touched.<br/><br/>Caleb's hands against her face freeing her from her tears. She looked up at him her eyes longing an soft. His laughter bringing a brief smile to her lips. With Caleb's embrace an there shared kiss Maria's hands reaches to his face lightly holding him to her. Her hands wrapping around him her body relaxed in his arms. But ever slowly she began to break away till she was but a whisper away.<br/><br/>"We are cursed" she whispered before returning to his lips.<br/><br/>Caleb grinned and kissed Maria back passionately after a few minutes he broke of from the kiss and smiled looking into her eyes.<br/><br/>"I believe you are right, though when I'm near you I feel it might be worth it." Jack closed his eyes and laid his head on Maria's lap.<br/><br/>Maria's features turning soft at his gentleness. Her hand gliding through his hair a warm smile on her face.<br/><br/>"How is it even now you cease to amaze me" she says looking off into the distant forest.<br/><br/>Opening his eyes Caleb looked up at Maria his eyes twinkling slightly. Picking a piece of meat off the plate he gently pressed it against Maria's lips.<br/><br/>"You should eat Maria I can tell how hungry you are. I don't know how amazing I am it feels like I am just guessing my way through all this."<br/><br/>Maria laughed at Caleb's antics taking the food from his finger tips. Her teeth barely grazing them as they left her mouth. She smiled with relief an happiness.<br/><br/>"Aren't we all Caleb? But were also on a path no one else has taken." She said her voice soft but a lash of hard at the end.<br/><br/>Caleb let his hand cup Maria's cheek for a second then let it fall to his lap. Looking into Her eyes Caleb felt the corners of his lips curl into a small smile.<br/><br/>"You know the wonderful part of taking a new path? While the way forward may be hard due to overgrown foliage and uncertain footings, at the end of it you will get to see a sight that no one else in the world has whether it is good or bad it will be awe inspiring. But the hardest part is making it all the way to the end of the path wherever it may lead. I am intent on seeing this through whether for good or for bad I want to know what is at the end of this path we have started down." Caleb looked past Maria and up at the sky the stars bright and clear.<br/><br/>Maria's expression hardened for a moment. Her eyes closing as she too looked to gaze at the stars.<br/><br/>"I pray your right Caleb" she says taking bits of food an eating the pieces quietly.<br/><br/>Caleb looked Maria in the eyes his expression serious a very rare thing for him to wear.<br/><br/>"Maria I hope you understand there will most likely be hardships I hope you are as prepared as I am to face them." Caleb let his mouth curl into a slight smile as he picked up a piece of meat and chewed on it his eyes softening.<br/><br/>"You know I do love your eyes Maria."<br/><br/>Maria nodded. Her smile not as genuine as it should have been. But with a smile an soft words again her smile turned genuine again reaching her blue eyes. A light an playful scoff escapes her lips<br/><br/>"yea yea I know, watch yourself Caleb or I may throw you outta the tree" she said her voice light an full of laughter.<br/><br/>A playful grin spread over Caleb's face as he cocked his head.<br/><br/>"Throw me out of the tree? You mean kinda like this?" Caleb rolled to the side letting his torso fall over the edge of the branch while using his legs to grip the top. Swinging gently Caleb smiled as he was hanging upside down from the branch.<br/><br/>Maria shakes her head at his foolish antics<br/><br/>"not exactly" she says motioning toward his legs. " I meant more like completely " she says her tone mocking as she pokes at his legs a few times with a finger. She sighs rolling on her back<br/><br/>"I swear your a cat. Our poor pups" she said before releasing she said it allowed. Her eyes wide her hand over her mouth. A flush of pink of her cheeks.<br/><br/>Caleb's eyes widened in surprise at Maria's words his legs slipping as he lost focus. Flailing his arms Caleb was able to grab the branch with his hands as his legs fell down. Dangling from the branch by his hands Caleb pulled himself up onto the wooden surface his breathing ragged. Looking at Maria his face slowly stretching into a smile as he moved closer pressing his forehead against hers.<br/><br/>"Our pups? I like the sound of that."<br/><br/>Maria looked up eyes wide cheeks flushed. Her face embarrassed, but a small smile on her face was still there. Caleb's warmth an sunshine scent surrounding her made her face scrunch up. After a moment her eyes opened to his still smiling face there. The embarrassment was too much her hands batted him away.<br/><br/>"Okay I should go home now" she said as she started to move towards the lower parts of the tree. Her face red an her breaths hitched a bit from her slight future confession.<br/><br/>Caleb smiled and grabbed her arm turning her back towards him as he leaned in and pressed his lips against hers pulling away after a few seconds.<br/><br/>"If you must. Here take some of the food." Caleb grabbed the last biscuit and a piece of meat handing them to Maria. "You know, you are very cute when you get embarrassed."<br/><br/>Maria sighed as she leaned her head into his an sighed.<br/><br/>"thank you for the dinner. It was nice" she said placing a light kiss on his lips. As the last comment came out of his mouth she rolled her eyes an pushed his head away with her free hand.<br/><br/>"Yes thank you for that reminder" she said shaking  her head her eyes. on him a lightness in her blue eyes.<br/><br/>"Goodbye Caleb " she says softly before making her way down the tree.<br/><br/>Caleb leaned against the trunk of the tree watching as Maria made her way to the ground then headed off towards the village. As Maria disappeared from sight Caleb sighed and let his head rest against the cold bark Maria's scent still hanging around.<br/><br/>"Goodbye, Maria." Leaning over Caleb grabbed the plate and slowly ate the small amount of food left as he played back the night in his head. This was going to be a hard path to follow but Caleb was resolute he would not let Fenrir have Maria. Having cleaned off the rest of the plate and surrounded by Maria's fading scent Caleb slowly dozed off in the tree the gentle breeze lulling him into sleep.<br/><br/>A few hours later Caleb woke up with a scream his body covered in a cold sweat as he looked around his eyes wide and panicked. His eyes darting from side to side Caleb slowly calmed down as he realized he was still in his tree. Leaning his head back against the trunk Caleb stared at the stars the nightmare playing over and over in his head. He had been with his family telling them he had chosen Maria and he wasn't gonna give her to Fenrir. They had all supported him until The ground opened underneath them swallowing the entire village.<br/>Caleb was hanging over the edge of the fissure holding Maria by her hand trying to pull her up. Slowly inch by inch Caleb was pulling Maria out of the fissure when a large hand rose from the abyss and grabbed Maria pulling her away from him and down into the darkness leaving Caleb alone with only the sound of a laugh echoing around him.<br/><br/>Pressing his fists against his eyes Caleb tried to get the dream out of his mind but it just kept replaying over and over. After what seemed like days the sun began to raise signalling Caleb's time to patrol. With great effort Caleb stood up and looked out over the forest his eyes locking on the area that housed Fenrir's statue.<br/><br/>"Maria is mine." With that Caleb climbed down the tree and headed towards the meeting spot for his patrol group.