A place to hide. (Bre! :] )

Nature, tranquility, silence. Over the course of time he had spent alone, Benjamin learned how to become in touch with these three attributes of humanity. Beneficial, maybe, but that's debatable. He has recognized the fact that he has been more calm--not that he wasn't before, unless angered--and his time of pondering philosophy and ethics has begun to diminish slowly. As much as he cared about the time he spent thinking before, it wasn't really his major concern. It's not impossible for Ben to start up again, as he is still curious to find out who he is. Kind or cruel? Caring or calculating?

These thoughts brought Ben to the stables, where he sat purched on a tree, back resting against the trunk. He observed the green scenery that surrounded him, capturing him in it's beauty, and attempting to relieve him of his thoughts. As much as he tried to resist, Ben couldn't help but notice a rose or two beginning to bloom. He wondered how long the flowers would survive until camp lifted the borders, and allowed the snow to enter the camp for winter.

Is that what life is like? An endless time of wondering what will happen to you, but no matter how hard you try to prevent tragedies from hurting you, escape is inevitable until the inevitable is done? Is life so short that we try to extend it, though we as humans do not posses the power? Will there be a day when we do?

The son of Thanatos scans the landscape further, bringing the stables into view. He wasn't one to ride horses or pegasai, though he considered the idea for a moment, but later pushed it away. He'd rather be sitting upon his tree, thinking, planning. Today it would just be him, all alone, just like before.

Well, being by himself didn't last that long. After the last month of being alone, though, he didn't mind the fact that Essie came to join him.

"Hey Es," he addressed, nodding his head in acknowledgement. "It's been a long time."

Now that he thought about it, it has been. Not that a month of separation would sever their relationship, but since they practically lived together in the same camp, it might have been a little odd of Ben not to visit Essie at least once a day. Strange how they never even met up at training either.

"How have you been? Is everything well?"

"Can't complain," he answered simply.

With the corner of his eye, Ben glanced at Essie, noticing that she was pulling down her sleeve. It wasn't the first time he saw her do this, since she did do it quite often. He was well aware about her past, and how the only way she could take out her emotions was to cut herself. Essie had told him this, so why was she continuing to hide her arms from him? Had she forgotten that he knew? Did something else happen to her that he wasn't informed of?

"So, Essie," he began, though unsure of how to continue, "is everything all right?"

Benjamin shook his head. He should have tried a different approach, rather than addressing the suject directly. Essie doesn't welcome sympathy, and because of this, she almost seems to refuse to allow Ben to help her. At least, that's what he has gathered.

"Es, I can't force you to tell me anything, and I can't make you allow me to help," he explained calmly. "I have to intervene when neccessary, though. So whatever the accident was, it depends on the amount of damage you took."

Benjamin's hypothesis was one hundred percent accurate. It made him furious with himself. He should have been there to protect her, to stop her! What could have happened in the month of his absence that could have harmed Essie so much to return to her old habits?

"Essie . . ." he began, almost choking on his words. "Did someone hurt you? Is that why you resulted in . . . this?"