Black Storms

The sun was getting low when they finally reached the ship again.
"How'd it go?" Kathy inquired raising her eyes off her spell book.
"It was a piece of cake!"
Drake grinned a bit against the truth and went inside. Iisai just walked pass her like she had been mere air and Teo soon after him. There was no hurry. Baron grabbed her by her wrist when she stepped in.
"Well?"
Teo pulled her hand free.
"It will be delivered early tomorrow morning. There was no problem."
Baron frowned.
"So you had to go there then?"
She nodded.
"Yes, but it's ok. They won't talk."
Concern didn't step aside from his eyes but he as well settled for a nod.
"Well then" He spoke so that all could hear.
"I've booked you rooms from the havens inn, it is my belief it is best for you to stay there tonight. Personally I shall stay here in the case the creeps return to do further damage. You all answer to Captain Myooji while I'm unpresent."
There was little mumble, since Angie, Aqva and Amarel absolutely refused to leave the ship, and it seemed quite pointless then for only few to go but Baron said the inn it would be and so the inn it was. Iisai noticed a slight protest in Teo's eyes, she didn't seem to want to leave the commanders side but remained silent. Finally, the group formed of Iisai, Teo, Drake and Kathy headed towards the inn. In the end, Iisai figured it could be quite fun as well to see the place and get the experience. Teo claimed them the rooms Baron had booked and after a short check up they moved downstairs to get late dinner.

Drake had gone gathering female creatures around him, as no one could recognize him as a Sunner no more, while Aikatherinee watched over that the spell would remain flawless. Teo and Iisai had gotten them a quiet corner table where they now sat talking about anything and everything. Iisai had had at least twice as much ale as Teo had, and he didn't seem to be very resistant to the not so pleasant effects of alcohol. Couldn't say he was drunk yet, oh no, but his articulation had gone down quite badly and he seemed very open, which didn't really bother Teo. She actually enjoyed listening to Iisai tell about his past life, how he had seen the turtles for the first time and so on. Then Aikatherinee walked to Iisai and lowered her head.
"Iisai, you're not being mad at me no more, are you?"
Iisai snorted and put on a face of pure disgust.
"Of course I am mad at you, you stip- stupd- stupid little vermit. You cursed thing, get out of me sight!"
Teo sensed great troubles but remained silent. A few guys who had obviously chosen themselves as Aikatherinee's newest victims were paying close attention. Aikatherinee straightened her back and gave Iisai such a murderous glare any sober person would have fled in fear.
"Oh, really now.. How dares a crossbred call me a vermit?!"
She rose her voice so loud everyone was sure to hear her. After a while there was slight snickering in the air, and those poor male souls Aikatherinee had wrapped around her pinkie came to give her back support.
"Is that shorty a crossbred?" Other of them asked.
"And how! Look!"
Aikatherinee took a tight grip of Iisai�s hair before anyone, even Teo, could stop her, and pulled the hair back so that Iisai's ears were visible to all. Short but pointy. There was no doubt about it.
"Look, a half elf!"
Someone shouted, pointing at Iisai very rudely. Teo pushed Aikatherinee away very harshly and could have broken her nose with a single stroke of hand.
"What are you doing, you idiot?!"
Teo hissed, but the damage had already been done. Everyone who were even a bit below level of smart broke out laughing, pointing at Iisai and calling him with names of all sorts. Teo could see from Iisai's eyes he just wanted to crawl somewhere and die. He shivered visibly as he tried to get up. His face remained blank as he looked at Aikatherinee, turned towards the door and staggered into the night air.
Oh noes, there he goes again�
Teo looked after Iisai in mild panic and if Aikatherinee didn't have such arrogant smirk on her face, Teo wouldn't have bothered another thought about her. But no, Teo smacked her fist square on Aikatherinee's nose, making her trip back and hit her head on the nearby wall. By the time Aikatherinee had landed Teo was already out of the inn, running after Iisai.

It didn't take her long to find him, He hadn't had enough time to actually hide anywhere. He was just walking away with long, fast steps on now rather empty street. Being a fast runner, Teo caught him in less than a minute. When next to him, she grabbed him arm to make him stop. Stop he did, but by the look on his face Teo could tell he wasn't quite aware of her being there.
Dear god.. what should I do�
Teo tried to think fast and hard but she had to admit she was quite shocked as well.
"Iisai.. "
She decided it would be best to get back to their room, as soon as possible. Without being seen ,of course. Determinately she took his hand on hers and started pulling him back to the inn. He showed no resistance until the inn actually came in sight. He stopped and wouldn't go further, not saying anything though.
"C'mon Iisai, we'll take the back way. No one will notice. I promise!"
She continued to drag him closer and finally got him to the back door. She slipped inside, behind the stairs and managed to make it upstairs. She pushed him inside their room and locked the door. He wandered to his bed and with no hesitation Teo sat next to him. She took his face between her hands and moved right next to him. She forced him to look at her, and could feel her hands get wet by his tears.
"Iisai.." She whispered and the without thinking further closed him in her arms.
Tightly holding him, Teo let the boy cry his heart out and after a timeless moment his sobs started calming down and fainting. Eventually she was just rocking him back and forth, neither of saying anything. For a moment Teo had time to believe the boy had fallen asleep when he growled faintly, and started to apparently return to this world from depths of the pain in his heart. Her arms loosened but she didn't remove them, letting the boy rest on her lap as long as he wished. Though Teo was quite sure the boy didn't still quite realise what they were actually doing. After all, only his eyes were red. He looked up to her and she met his gaze.
"How is it now, are you feeling a bitty bit better?"
He didn't answer, but a slight blush started indeed rising on his cheeks. And soon it wasn't so slight anymore.

"I'm.. I'm sorry..."
Iisai mumbled.
Teo shook her head.
"Nothing to be sorry about. Nothing to apologise."
"But.. "
"No buts! You haven't done anything, I repeat, ANYTHING wrong."
Iisai sighed. He seemed rather embarrassed of crying against her like that.
"Your shirt is all wet.."
She ignored him, and took his face again between her hands again.
"Iisai.. I know how you feel.. But you can't let them crush you. You have so much dignity inside you, so much pride and honour.."
She pulled his hair from his face behind his ears, revealing them. Iisai nudged to get away and an alarm flashed in his eyes but his back was against wall and Teo practically in his lap. There was nowhere to escape.
"I said this before, and I'll say it again. There is nothing wrong being half-bred. Only fools and empty-laughers can see it so. I know how you feel, you want to hide behind your hair, from the people and their mocks. But you can't always hide, you need to learn to be proud of what you are.."
Iisai did not quite seem to believe her.
"You know how I feel? I don't think so�"
Teo tilted her head so that a shadow was cast on it and Iisai could barely make out her facial characteristics.
"Iisai, I am a half-bred of a kind.."
Iisai couldn't believe what he heard.
"No way.. you are a full Velocy moon.." Teo shook her head, she seemed slightly in pain.
"That is incorrect. I, too, have a characteristics that people avoid, that I used to be ashamed of.."
Iisai rose his eyes again and took a careful look at her.
"Then what are you?"
"I am a full Velocy, but it is not sun that is my other half. There is a third group, called Velocy Constellation. It is the ruler bloodline of Forte. The only feature it shows in is my eyes. Only Velocy Constellations can have eyes of this colour. Anyhow, I do not have their ears, therefore I am not full blooded. My mother was a Mooner, and father the brother of Arden Sanquine V. Sepia Sanquine VI is therfore my cousin. That�s how I knew his father."
Her hands gently brushed his ears, so gently Iisai could only stare in shock.

Teo woke up in the morning to the beautiful singing of the birds outside her window. She was in no rush of getting up before she realized the bed on the other side of the room was empty. It took a few seconds until she hit her elbow on something that turned out to be Iisai, curled up behind her, sleeping peacefully. She realized also it wasn't her bed, but his. Teo relaxed and turned on her side to face the sleeping boy. She had to smile as her thoughts returned to last night, to the hurt little boy sobbing in her arms. Iisai yawned widely and slowly opened his eyes.
"Good morning, Iisai. Would you want your breakfast in bed?"
Teo smiled little sleepy, suspecting he wasn�t still feeling like going downstairs to eat with others. Iisai looked at her in slight disbelief.
"Wait.. umm.. why are you here? I mean... still?"
"I do not know, I was thinking of asking you the same."
Iisai sat up and looked around.
"Really... there's a free bed like three feet away, why are you here?"
Teo smiled and gently touched Iisai's hand.
"You're not offended, are you?"
She looked deep into Iisai's eyes, who layed back down next to her.
"Why ever should I be? This was probably the best night I've ever had."
"Couldn't really believe after all the sad faces and tears"
Teo whispered and took a close look at Iisai's face. He was looking rather ashamed of being there, most likely because of last night too, but his eyes were smiling.
"Anyway, little fellow, we need to get up."
"But it's still early"
Iisai called after Teo who had gotten up and spruced up.
"Exactly. If that ignication wire has arrived we'd better start moving as soon as possible."
Iisai sat up on the side of the bed and yawned.
"Alright, you're the boss. But I would have liked to spend more time in this bed with you."
For a moment Teo was sure Iisai had meant something suggestive, but a closer look in his eyes showed nothing but pure innocence.
"Ehe, ehe, just get up"
Teo mumbled and walked out the door.

After quick breakfast in the room they made their way to the ship where the crew, Baron and Drake already were getting themselves ready to go. Later they found out that Kathy was sleeping in her cabin, where Drake had ended up having to carry her as she'd been out cold. Drake gave Iisai a careful, concerned look but the boy seemed to be doing quite well despite the situation. All of them rather sleepy, Drake finished repairing the ignigation system and they were able to take off with no further trouble.
"I heard that at the north coast of Forte has been volcanic activity that has caused fierce storms to occur. Therefore just for the future avoidance of any more trouble we shall not cut across Forte but make a small loop close the Spine Islands. Sure it will take us a little bit more time than cutting straight, but if we are to get into another storm it will take a lot more than that. So we won't risk it but respect the forces of nature."
Baron exclaimed to the people.
"I tried to find out of the person behind the sabotage, with no success. Therefore we must apply extra care from now on, as the enemy is aware of us and of our location. Judging by the little amount of damage they did, it also seems that they only wanted to slow us down rather than stopping in total. We should all concider the fact of possible trap ahead of us."
There was approving mumble, but rather than the atmosphere being negative everyone seemed just so very relieved to be back in air.
"You all know your tasks, now shoo!"
Baron shoved at them, looking un-Baron-likely tired. Teo expected he had worked all night trying to find the tracks of the mystery person. All they could hope now was that they would make it safely to Straves.

Aikatherinee crawled down from her hammock. Her dreams had been more or less restless and the pain caused by her nose was unbearable. She looked at her palm as it slowly started to reflect light as a mirror and she couldn't believe what she saw.
"Goddamn you, you dog-eared freak! What have you done to my face?!"
The bruise spreading from the remains of her nose created black shadows around her eyes, making her look like a zombie. Drake peeked into her cabin, after knocking of course.
"Hey, mornin'! What's with the cursing?"
Aikatherinee rose her eyes, full of hatred.
"Look at what that imbecile caused me. Look at me!"
Drake stepped closer and examinated Aikatherinee's face.
"Heh, that's one mighty bruise. You're lucky your skin is already dark, otherwise it'd look even more mighty."
Aikatherinee bit her lip trying not to make Drake eat some sort of a horrible curse or an end of the world spell.
"Drake... just.... go away.. You know nothing."
Drake obeyed and slipped through the door into the hallway. After a while of inner conflict of to heal the bruise with some unpredictable spell or not to, Aikatherinee followed Drake's example, being forced to face Teo on the deck.

Iisai was sitting next to Teo, being completely silent, when Aikatherinee stormed to them. For a moment she and Teo just stared at each other, hating each other in silence. As soon as Aikatherinee opened her mouth, Drake appeared out of nowhere.
"Now now, ladies, I don't want no catfight on this ship. It brings bad luck you know."
Iisai tried to look serious as he didn't want to face the wrath of either of the 'ladies'. Drake placed his hand on Aikatherinee's shoulder.
"You know, this case will not be solved by fighting blindly until other of you falls over the railing, I'm sure this just needs some mature conversation. Right girls, right Iisai?"
Iisai nodded and grinned widely. Aikatherinee tried to swallow her pride for Drake's sake. He smiled and put his other hand on Teo's shoulder.
"Let's just gather around the emergency meeting table and talk this over, eh?"
And they all moved slowly under the deck. After a long and frustrating exchange of insults Aikatherinee stood up.
"I have nothing more to say to Teo, but Iisai, come with me, I think I have something to make it up to you."
Iisai wasn't really convinced, but he'd take anything instead of more fights and insults. Teo refused to let Iisai be alone with that 'witch', but Drake talked her over.

Aikatherinee gestured Iisai to sit down in her cabin and started looking for her scrolls. After a while she found what she had been looking for.
"Iisai, did you know that nothing is impossible for an illusionist?"
Iisai shook his head.
"Well, now you know" Aikatherinee grinned.
"Now show me those ears of yours."
A frown appeared on Iisai's face.
"What, you're gonna mess with my ears? No way!"
"Come on, do you want to look like that? Your ears are the only thing that give you away, and I can fix that! If it wasn't for you ears I would never had guessed you were a crossbred. You should sleep with a blanket over your head if you don't want others to spot you."
Iisai looked away. There was this very unease silence, the kind that ends with a huge storm. Aikatherinee tried to look Iisai in eyes.
"Which would you want to be, a human or an elf?"
Iisai grew more nervous by the second.
".. A human.."
"Then look this way, this won't hurt."
For once Aikatherinee didn't tell a lie. Iisai felt nothing, but when after a long while Aikatherinee showed him his reflection, his pointy ears were history, replaced by pure human ears. When Iisai rushed to tell Teo about it, she couldn't believe her ears nor eyes.

The afternoon went calmly, no one argued nor changed angry looks. They all seemed somewhat tired and wanted to spare their strength.
"So, why are we going exactly to Straves, I mean, is there any evidence of him being there?"
Iisai asked Baron as they were standing on the railing, looking at the passing clouds.
"No. The last record of him is getting on a ship that went to Malbo. And it is also recorded that the ship made it there. Of course he has probably continued to somewhere else out of fear of being found too easy, but it is a good place to start as all airship entering Malbo need to stop in Straves. I have contacts, Mr.Thales, worry not. If he is alive we will find him."
Iisai nodded slowly.
"I see. Did you know him?"
Baron shook his head.
"No, I have merely met him once. But judging by of that one time I think it was no surprise that he fled after Desdemon was killed. He always seemed very nervous and uneasy."
"Is he a human, elf or Velocy or what?"
"An elf."
Baron offered Iisai some nuts from a small pouch. Gratefully he took one and was quite surprised by it's saltiness. After seeing his expression Baron grinned.
"Salty, eh?"
Iisai nodded.
"Very. Umm.. you know when you warned me that a friendship with an Atrac is a hard one?"
The older man's eyes darkened.
"Watch it, i said aye."
Iisai swallowed hard.
"But it is possible, no?"
Baron didn't look at him.
"It is a possible one, it is. Especially if the Atrac is not on duty. In some rare cases it could work even in client-Atrac relationship but for your information Captain Myooji does not usually do either of those."
"But.."
"I know what it seems to you of.. you think she cares for you, and you mistake it for true care, or take it too deeply. Therefore you let your heart develop dreams of friendship and attachment, but you must keep in mind that every sign of care from Lady Myooji is out of pure duty. She gets paid for looking after you, Mr. Thales. Just like I do."
Iisai felt a piece of something hard get stuck in his throat.
"Just for getting paid, aye?"
Compassion was visible in Baron's eyes.
"I cannot say merely, but you cannot just except that her care is out of feelings of such. Whether or not she truly wishes your safety, is for you to find out. After all, she did give you her 'Ageha'."
Iisai's hands were cold.
"What is it anyways, it's cold, then ice cold, and all suddenly it burns like on fire. And Drake said it's made of Asterith, what ever that is, and what's with the name of Ageha? Why is it so special? ..Look! are those the Spine Islands?!"
Iisai fixed his sharp eyes on the not so far away dots in the sea below. Sea of Crest flowed under them, and the setting sun shimmered from the surface almost blinding them.
"Aye indeed. The Tauren's resident there."
Wide grin covered Iisai�s face.
"I know, I have a very dear friend who is a tauren."
�I know� Baron chuckled mildly.
�I have heard a detailed report of you and your journey thus far from Captain Myooji. Also what comes to �Ageha�, it�s her second name. And what makes it special is its rareness.�
Then he hesitated before he added:
�I might also say that some people know her better by her second name� It might come a useful info to you one day.�
Iisai pondered this for a while.
�What does it mean? And why is it carved there?�
�It means �swallowtail�. And it�s carved there because it�s her-�
But then his face went alarmingly blank as he spotted a huge bird flying straight towards them and his scentence was cut off.

Indeed, there was a huge raven black bird flying at them, too fast to be an accident. It was the biggest bird Iisai had ever seen, far bigger than the rocs of Sevier. As it was still far away, Baron narrowed his eyes. Iisai did not really want to know what the bird wanted, and rushed to hide behind Teo's back wh� had just made her way to the deck. Teo, too, saw the bird and was preparing for a fight.
"Holy crap, look at that crow" Drake looked rather shocked.
"Dontcha think we should tell Aqva and the others... eh?"
After a while of standing and looking around, Drake rushed below the deck. Teo didn't like the situation. She felt unease and slightly helpless as the black figure got dangerously close.
"Everyone, below the deck. Now!"
Baron's words were loud and commanding, and Teo had no intention of leaving Iisai in the way of the bird of prey. But no, Iisai grabbed her hand and pulled her back, receiving a very murderous look from Teo.
"What is it? Get down there before something happens!"
Iisai's eyes were full of fear but he didn't move.
"But.."
Then there was a huge pow-sound and the whole ship trembled. Teo had but a fast look at what had happened, and as far as she was to understand, the bird had slammed itself through the balloon of gas supporting the zeppelin. The short moments Teo had time to stare at it, she couldn't really realize what had just happened. It couldn't have been true. What snapped her out of her panicking thoughts was Iisai's cry.
"It's coming back, Teo, it's coming back!"
Iisai's grip around Teo's wrist tightened and the man pointed at the sky, where the bird took a tight turn and let out a high scream, heading back. The deck's door slammed open and Aikatherinee's voice hit Teo's mind.
"What the hell are you still doing here? Get down here!"
"We can't" Teo shouted as loud as she could
"We'll fall if we don't do something!"
"Stand back, Blue eyes! I'll take care of this" Kathy yelled, full of self confidence.
She rose her arms to the air and a bright flash hit the bird, making it fall few feet down, losing balance. After a second a strong whirlwind hit all three down the deck, and the electricity in the air made Kathy's hair float. The bird flew up and grabbed a right hold on the railing, snapping its beak. Kathy jumped up and pointed at the bird.
"Get your filthy paws off our ship! I will not let you-"
The ship shook from side to side so harshly they all slid across the deck and rising winds made Teo blind. All she heard was a loud snap sound and she got to experience another slide ride across the deck. She tried to get up and wipe her hair off her face, but too late. Another snap sound and Teo could hear Iisai screaming from the bottom of his lungs.
"Teo, help me! Do something! It's cutting the wires!"
The boy grabbed Teo around her waist just a little before a huge blast turned everything bright white and made the ship turn over, throwing Teo and Iisai over the railing, into the deep sea below them.

Iisai screamed as hard as he ever could. They were on their way down to the ocean opening under them 40 feet below. Teo hoped desperately that they boy knew how to swim. Thought at the moment it was least of her problems as the mere surface of the water would crush them at this speed. Without giving it more a thought she started mumbling a chant extremely fast.
"Oh Moon, Oh Crescent Dark Sky Constellation! Forbidden Temujin Art number 20, Gravity Ravage!"
Iisai stopped screaming as he heard her chant and gasped as their fall suddenly slowed down dramatically.
"Whoaaaoaa.. What's this!?"
He was still hanging from her waist when they hit the water. It was cold, deep and dark and Iisai had to let go of her so they could make it to the surface instead of dragging them both down. Gaspingly he just made it when the lack of oxygen started burning his lungs. He saw the airship losing height and sliding towards one of the Spine Islands right next to them. Then Teo appeared coughing behind him and he hastily turned to look at her.
"We are alive.. Teo, we are alive!"
She took her time coughing before responding and Iisai started to get worried.
"Can you breath? are you okay?"
She nodded and calmed down.
"Are you alright!?"
"Yeah.. you slowed our falling, how did you do it? I mean.. "
"Another chant. Iisai.. listen to me.. Now I want you to listen carefully and don't panic.. But I'm gonna lose my sight."
She already had darkness spreading fast from her eye corners.
Iisai didn't quite understand but her serious tone made him nervous.
"What.. Teo? Are you okay? What's wrong!? Is there something wrong with your eyes?"
She was covering them and seemed as in pain.
"Light hurts.. we need to make it to the shore as soon as possible. Which way is it?"
Iisai felt terror take over him as he realised the seriousness of the situation. But from somewhere unexplained came determination he himself wondered later on. He quickly tore a piece if cloth from his sleeve and used it to cover her eyes since the light forced her to keep her hands on her eyes.
"Here! Now you can swim."
Teo grabbed Iisai's wrist blindly.
"You need to lead me.. can you say how far is the shore? Can you swim that far?"
Iisai nervously looked around.
"Yeah.. I think we can make it there. It's maybe... 5 or 10 minutes away.. here, this way.."
He turned Teo from her shoulders towards the right direction and she started swimming. It was slow and felt forever but finally she could feel the sandy ground below her feet and Iisai's voice came next to her
"It's okay now. We made it."
He took her hand and pulled them out of the water. Together they fell down on the beach, exhausted.

Teo sat up. She wasn't even sure if she had fallen asleep or not and if had for how long. She felt sick and weak after the blinding chant and nervously called for the boy.
"Iisai..? Iisai!?"
"Right here, it's okay, everything�s fine. I mean... as fine as it can be right now.."
He placed his hand on her shoulder so she knew where he was.
"Teo, what's wrong with your eyes?"
She took his hand and pulled him closer. Something about her looked very small and maybe even little scared.
"It's the Gravity Ravage I used to slow our fall.. you see, there are 6 forbidden arts that are... not commonly used or recommended� as they take as payment one of your senses temporaly... Moulding gravity took my sight.. But don't worry, it will return eventually as I regain my strength� Before that you need to be my eyes.."
She staggered to her feet and tried to listen hard.
"Can you see the airship?"
Iisai shook his head and then added 'no' as he remembered she couldn't see it. He got up as well and looked carefully around.
"I really really hope everyone�s okay! ..What do you think is going on.?!"
Teo was silent for a moment before answering.
"Well obviously it was an assault.. And it seems the purpose was rather to drop us than kill us.. I have my doubts about this having something to do with the earlier sabotage you know.. Well then. I think our primaries are to get to the others without damage or trouble which is highly unlikely to happen. They are probably already looking for us.."
She reached out her hand, holding her whip.
"Could you check that the water didn't damage it?"
Iisai took the whip and after a moment handed it back to her.
"It should be fine.. but how do you plan to fight if we run into trouble?"
She grinned faintly.
"I still have my sixth sense you know.. I-" But she stopped to listen and suddenly turned around, whip cutting the air.

Something gave out a shrieking animal-like scream and a huge lizard jumped from the bushes.
"Iisai!" Teo shouted.
"What is it!?"
Iisai stood frozen, looking at the 7 feet long beast and managed to say:
"..It's a lizard. A giant lizard! Watch out, it has it's tail raised!"
Teo concentrated. She tried to hear and sense it.
"I want to you step back! Stay out of its and my whips way but don't get in trouble! Don't lose me from sight� You are my eyes now!"
Then she slashed again right at the second the lizard leaped up towards her. It got almost on her but she dodged with pure luck and now made a slash of 360 degrees.
"Iisai! Is it any hurt!?"
"It's bleeding.. but not too badly.. Watch out!!"
The 'watch out' came a little too late as the greyish green creature had thrust itself against her. They both fell, Teo desperately shoving with her whip trying not to hit herself at such close distance. Then a choked scream escaped her lips as she felt the lizard's jaws close around her upper arm and the poisonous teeth pierced her flesh. She pressed the whip against where she expected the lizards throat to be and felt searing pain to which was no relief even after the lizard decided they were not easy enough to eat and fled away leaving a blood trail behind it. Iisai ran to Teo.
"Teo! Teo! Are you alr-oh my god! That's blood!"

Teo laid down on her back and took a shivering sigh. Iisai wouldn't stop jumping up and down, panicing.
"My god, are you alright? You're not alright, we need to get you help, we need to- I mean I need to save you!"
"Iisai please... Calm down"
Teo coughed. Iisai sat down next to her and looked scared to death.
"Panicing won't help either of us... so please, stay calm. For me, Iisai."
Iisai just sat there, staring at her. He looked as he would have wanted to say something but couldn't. It's not that Teo wouldn't have understood, she just wished the boy wouldn't have been so shocked. It was rather disturbing.
"But... Teo.."
Iisai finaly opened his mouth and started tieing her hand with his other sleeve.
"We can't make it out here, you being like that. Blind and stuff..."
Iisai reached out and took Teo's hand. It was almost more disturbing that the awkward silence.
"Don't worry, Teo, I promise I'll get you into safety. I swear!"
Teo sook her head.
"No no, you can't promise such... Just keep yourself in safe."
"No! I won't abandon you, I couldn't!"
Iisai rose his voice.
"After all you've done for me you just expect me to leave you here?"
Iisai grabbed Teo by her shoulders and pulled her up.
"Hear me now, Teo, I will not leave you here. I'd rather die first!"
After a moment of silence, Iisai started feeling rather ashamed.
"I know I shouldn't have said so. Sorry..."
Teo tried to smile, though the pain in her arm was not getting any better.
"It's alright, honestly... So, do you have a plan of some sort or why do you seem so assured?"
Iisai scratched his head and pondered a moment.
"No, I don't. But what I do know is that I'm gonna get you out of here."
Iisai turned his back on her.
"C'mon, I'll give you a piggyback ride."
Teo wrapped her arms around Iisai�s neck and was lifted off the ground.

Iisai could feel her grip slipping from time to time.
"How are you feeling? Are you in pain?"
He asked her trying to make his way through the trees and plants.
"...I'll live." Came her tensed reply.
"..That didn't sound very� Sure... you know�"
Iisai could feel cold sweat rising. He stopped and placed the girl on the ground taking a careful look on her. She was awfully pale. Iisai placed his hand on her forehead.
"You're burning hot! Teo.."
Her breath was laboured and she reached her hands up towards where she expected him to be.
"Iisai... can you look at the wound and tell me what it looks like?"
Iisai didn't really wanna look at a bleeding wound but he forced himself to undo the emergency bandage and check it. His face was now as pale as Teo's.
"It's.. it's..."
"What is it?"
Iisai swallowed hard closing his eyes.
"It's blue. Your arm is turning blue.."
Teo let herself fall backwards to lay down.
"Teo? Teo!?"
"I'm okay.. I just need a breather.."
But she didn't quite think she would only need a breather. Quite honestly she thought she'd need a miracle to make it alive.
"Uh.. well we can't stay here.. C'mon.."
Iisai helped her back up and lifted her on his back.
"I'm gonna get you out of here! No poisoning will take your life not now or ever as long as I'm around..!"
Teo felt slightly touched by his worry and will to save her.
"Iisai..honestly... I.. I don't think I'll be fine. It's hurting bad, and the fever is increasing. There is no one here and if there is they most certainly aren't our friends."
But Iisai just shook his head. After wandering around for about an half an hour in almost complite silence that was here and then cut off by Iisai asking how was she, her hands gave in and she fell. Her fall was cut of by Iisai who was still holding her legs but not enough not to reach ground. He knelt next to her and placed his hand on her cheek.
"Teo, Teo are you... Teo.. Speak to me.."
"Iisai.. I want you to take my whip and radars.. and there's some gold in my pocket.. You take them.. and try get out of here.. please.. you need to find your way out.. That's a direct order.."
Iisai could feel anger rise inside him.
"You gotta be kidding me! You can't seriously expect me to leave you here! No way in hell!!"
He tried to pick her up again but knew it wouldn't work out. She didn't have strength to hold on anymore. Her body was slightly trembling. With hard work she rose her hand and searched air for a moment untill Iisai took it.
"But you have to.. Your safety comes first.. I'm slowing you down and taking your strength that you should channel on getting out of here.. please.. please.."
"NO!!"
He stood up, furiously looking up, trying to spot something that might help. Anything at all. And indeed he did. Aikatherinee was standing there, leaning to a tree few feets away.
"Just what are you kids doing, getting all dramatic?"
She asked him amused when she noticed he had seen her. Iisai's jaw dropped.

Kathy and Iisai walked towards what they thought was the way to the central island. They were discussing about what possibly had happened on the airship.
"I really doubt from the bottom of my heart that bird was not really a bird"
Kathy stated. She tried to support Iisai, who was carrying now unconscious Teo in his arms.
"I think it was a tauren."
Iisai almost tripped over.
"But... why would a tauren want to attack in that height? It doesn't make any sense!"
"Iisai"
Kathy sighed
"Since you met Teo, has anything in your life made sense?"
Iisai pondered for a while, then shaking his head. Kathy grinned.
"Didn't think so."
Iisai didn't feel like saying anything. Even though there was far more important things to worry about, he still felt hurt by Kathy's earlier behaviour. They walked a long while in silence, until Iisai couldn't help but to ask a thing that had been bothering him since they fell.
"Umm.. Kathy? That flash that made us fall.."
"Yes?"
Iisai bit his lip.
"I was just thinking a little and.. Was it caused by you?"
Kathy shook her head and tried to stop Iisai from falling over while crossing some rocks.
"Partly, yes. That bastard of a bird just tried to hit me with lightning."
Iisai layed Teo on the ground and sat down to rest a little.
"Didn't you say it was a tauren?"
"I did, but as I'm not sure, I'll call it a bird"
Kathy said, walking around in circles. She was seemengly nervous, not that anyone could blame her. While wiping sweat off his face, Iisai took a good look at Kathy.
"Come on, sit down and rest a bit."
"Why? I'm not tired, I'm not the one carrying a corpse around"
Kathy just kept on walking. Iisai snorted.
"She's not a corpse! Not now, not ever. I'm gonna get her well again and we can get on with our duties."
It was really close that Kathy didn't slap him or claw and maul him.
"Stop being such a child, Iisai, grow up! No matter how hard you try, you won't find a miracle worker from here. Teo is as good as dead, so why bother to-"
"Shut up! Just shut up already! I don't want to listen to you, you don't know anything!"
Iisai yelled from the bottom of his lungs.
"I will save her, even if it was the last thing I'll ever do!"
Some birds fled from every nearby tree, but other than that it was silent once more. Iisai knelt down to pick Teo up again, and left Kathy stand behind.

"Well well. I thought I heard your voice."
Came clear female voice behind Iisai. He flew around on his feet and started in awe at the tauren standing there. He couldn't believe his eyes.
"Betsy..? Betsy! Oh my god, it's you!!"
Iisai put Teo back on ground hastily and wrapped his arms around the female tauren. Kathy's eyes had widened too, seemingly alert.
"Iisai, what are you doing, those are the ones that probably crashed us!"
Iisai withdrew from Betsy but didn't look like he would believe a word Kathy had said.
"Don't be a fool, why would they want to drop us?"
"Umm..Iisai.. "
Betsy started.
"What? And oh, Betsy, do you know any doctor near by!? Teo's in really bad shape, she needs help! Now!"
Then Iisai saw the other tauren standing behind Betsy as she moved and knelt beside Teo.
"Who are you? Are you Betsy's friend?"
The other tauren didn't say anything, just looked at them with most alert and curious eyes, as in making sure nothing would slip by him.
"What happened to her? She's a total wreck!"
Came Betsy's slightly shocked question. Iisai turned on his heels and knelt beside her as well. Kathy peeked over their shoulder to see what Betsy was doing.
"A lizard bit her� And a spell or chant or whatever blinded her temporary� "
Betsy's huge hands took hold of Teo's fragile looking body when compared to her and tilted her head. She handed Iisai a small bottle.
"Here, try get this down her throat. It's no match to the poison in her now, but it will lower the fever and probably return her consciousness giving us some time. What I'm more concerned of is the amount she's still bleeding. The poison won't let the wound close. I'll explain you everything later, but now I think it's best we get her out of here."
Iisai looked slightly puzzled but opened the bottle and did his best to pour it in the unconscious woman's mouth. Betsy picked Teo up and gently placed her in her arms.
"Iisai, climb my back and hold on tigh, if I can run we'll get out of here in no time."
Iisai didn't hestitate and obeyed immediatelly but Kathy who seemed to have to climb on the other taurens back refused.
"I won't be carried around by a cow! I have two feet that work just fine I-"
Her resistance was cut off by the silent tauren who simply picked her up and started running after Betsy.
"Oh for god�s sake!" Kathy cursed but knew it was quite waste of strength to struggle.

Chapter 9-Chapter 11