Everything had gone dark and it felt as if Malik was floating, weightless in a vast open space. Every once in a while there would be a flash just on the outside of his vision and he could almost make out figures in them but they vanished almost instantly. Suddenly he was walking, not quite knowing how he went from floating to walking. There was a faint light up ahead and he started towards that. Reaching it, there was a small house set in a beautiful clearing. What was this? That looked like Karth just around the corner. He started to run towards him, a happy smile on his face when he felt jerked back. It was almost like someone had a hold of his shirt and was pulling him away. "No! Let me go! Karth, I'm here! Just look this way!" Karth looked up toward him and mouthed "I Love You." No matter how he fought he couldn't get away from whatever was pulling him back. He let out a sob as he flew back into darkness and was pulled up.

Malik gasped and his eyes opened wide taking in the night sky above him in shock. What had just happened? He turned and saw Karth collapsed onto his side and everything came rushing back. He scrambled over towards Karth and drew him close to his chest, grief rushing into him as he saw the gash on Karth's throat. "Nooooooooo!!" This couldn't be happening. How was he alive right now? Reaching up he felt the line of scar tissue on his throat and realized what Karth had done. "This isn't the way things were supposed to happen! You can't leave me, I won't let you!" He felt for a pulse and relief coursed through his body. He was still alive! Barely but he could feel a faint pulse. Frantically he tore a long piece of his shirt off and wrapped it tightly around Karth's neck. Maybe it would slow the bleeding enough so that he could get help.

Quickly Malik jumped up and started to make a pallet for Karth to lay on so that he could pull him behind him. They couldn't stay here, he would only die. In his haste, when he reached for Karths bag, some of the stuff inside fell out. A yellowed piece of paper caught his eye as he started to put everything back inside. Unfolding it, his eyes widened when he saw the drawing of a statue in the middle of a forest. It had claws for fingers and very long hair and a grim expression on it's face. In one of it's hand's it held a curious looking orb and around that someone had drawn the words hearts desire. There was a rough map on what was left of the paper. It had certain places marked out and notes everywhere. In the top corner he could make out the words: It lies here in the most ancient of trees, guarded by those who would prevent it from being used by the wrong person. Past the mountain shaped like a bear and over the raging water lies the entrance that only the selected one's may enter. Be careful what you wish for. A light clicked on in Malik's head. What if the wishing statue that Karth had always told him about was real? He knew his heart's desire, to save Karth and have him live. I swear if this thing is for real and I find it and I can make him better, I'll tell him how I feel, damned be the consquences.

Malik brought the pallet over to his friend and started to put him on it without injuring him. It wasn't the easiest thing in the world to do, Karth wasn't the smallest of people. Finally he got him up on it and secured him so that he wouldn't fall off. He placed their furs on top of him, wrapping him in warmth. He had put runners on the bottom that would help him get over the snow. Strapping up to the pallet he placed the fragile map in his pocket and began to pull Karth back towards the way they had come into the forest. There was a small town back that way and he was going to need supplies. He started towards the town, determination in his eyes.