-Cyrus P.O.V.-

"Cody?" I said, gaping at the figure.

"How did you hear that name?" the figure said. He was a strongly built man with short black hair that was fluffed up, similar to that of my hair.

"O-Of course I would hear it... Its me Cody, Cy!" I exclaimed.

"The only Cy I remember is the one who fell of a cliff 10 years ago." he spat back.

"Well, what if I proved that I'm the one and the same?"

"How would ya prove that?"

I gulped... Did I STILL have that very charm that he gave me all those years ago?

I put my hand into the bag I fortunately still had, patting it around.

I found the wooden charm inside a small inner pocket. I sighed with relief. I still had it.

I started to pull my arm out, and I noticed that Cody's grip on his sword hilt had tightened.

I showed Cody the little wooden pendant and held it out on a flat palm. Cody reached out and grabbed it, bringing it close to examine it, hand still on his sword.

And he poured over the wooden charm, peering over each and every chip, curve, and minuscule detail. And he then turned it thrice in hand. There was a sound.

Click!

And the charm split open. Well... More like it opened on a hinge, revealing a tiny stone statue. Cody smirked.

"You really are one and the same aren't ya?" he remarked, tightening his hold on the charm. And with his other hand, he held it out towards me, which I just realized that I was still on the dirty turf.

"Thanks..." I said. Cody handed me one of his many swords.

"You still remember how to use one, do ya then?"

"Yeah..."

"Oh... And how in the Devil did ya survive dat fall then? It's a real wonder..."

"I will tell you all about that later Cods, right now we're in Valventese territory right now..."

"Sure then... Come on... let's get move on then..."

Cody started to run North upstream closer to the border.

It took us several hours of running until we had reached a run-down stable that was twenty meters away.

Cody held out an arm to stop me from walking.

"What is it Cods?" I asked. He held a finger to his lips in a sign of silence.

"Note de horses now man?" he inquired.

"Uh... Yeah..."

"Well... Las I checked, my horse was the only one ere..."

"Okay then..."

"An now there's at leas 10 of em..."

I froze. "You don't think..."

"I'm not sure... may be youer siblings en it?"

"That doesn't look like Xander's horse though... Not a single one of them..."

"Well, there en no trees ta hide en... So les jus stay at this distance then en it?"

"I guess so... We'll wait until they leave..."

Several hours passed, and Cody and I decided that we should stay the night.

"I'll take first watch Cods..." I said, never once averting my gaze from the stable camp.

"Okay then.... Goodnight Cy..."

"Night Cods..."

About two hours later, I heard rustling in a nearby bush.

I turned around, and there it was... A small green, lush bush sitting there, rustling a lot.

I originally dismissed it, but then I realized that we're in a desert.

And there was no green.

But before I could open my mouth to yell for Cods, I was tackled from behind.