I sat down, a bit aside from the others and started to think. My yearning for Wolfy grew stronger and washed away my bitterness. I don't know for how long I was lost in my thoughts - then I made a decision!
The others were absorbed in their chores or dozing, I went up to Nero and touched him on the shoulder, beckoning him to follow me. I was glad, he didn't oppose - finding a quiet spot I displayed to him what I planned to do:

"Nero, I want to go back to the camp, take Lynn, Polgara, Hypatia and Wolfy with me and find a new home where his lair is. Noo - stop, just listen, please... You know, I made a vow never to abandon him - and my heart has never been in this fighting business. I need peace... The bond between him and me is very strong and increasing every minute, he has become my soulmate... Please, don't hold me back... Here...."

I took off my halfmoon crystal and broke it into 2 parts.

"Here, take this one, and take over my part of singing and looking for new bonds between the races. Jurak is the first, there will be more. I believe, we're all here for one purpose: Finding out how to survive in the new and old world, how to come together instead of fighting against one another. You have been my partner since we arrived here - but time is like a river, it flows and changes - go with the flow, and well... like twigs taking their journey for a while side by side, sometimes then part and take different directions. If you need me, use the crystal - it will help you to remember old melodies. And, if the time river brings us together again, I'll be there where Wolfy's lair is.
Please, don't make it more difficult for me than it is already..."

Nero gaped at me, found no words. It hurt me to see the bewilderness and pain in his face, but I was sure... one day he would understand.

Standing up quickly, I vanished between the trees and glanced back at the camp. No one noticed my departure, save one - DQueene was watching me. We looked at each other for quite a while - she understood. Yes, she didn't like it all - but she understood, and she knew how stubborn I was. Yes, she was really the Queen of our group! I gave her a short smile, hugging her with my eyes and after a reassuring wave, I darted back into the woods.