This takes place after book four, The Crossing of Ingo, so there may be some spoilers.

And this is my first FanFiction :D

I'm trying the suspenseful/cliff-hanger kind or stuff. You'll see what I mean...

Chapter 1

I wish I was away in Ingo

Far across the briny sea,

Sailing o'er deepest waters

Where love nor care never trouble me...

I am with Faro; we are basking in the sun on the rock where we first met. He said that he is to go on a journey, and wants me to come with him. Saldowr sent him; he said he should like me to accompany Faro. I want to go, so badly. But I can't. I am starting my first day if high school in less than a week. Mum would be worried if I were to be missing and absolutely furious if I were to miss the first day of school. Besides, I'm excited. High school means I'm grown up, I get lockers and yearbooks. I've told Faro about it, he seems worried though. He thinks it will be too big and confusing, and that I might get lost or bullied. I tell him not to fear, it will be an adventure.

Suddenly something splashes in the water. Faro jumps up, going rigid. I look at him, questioningly. His eyes hold mine, they are intense. Then he opens his mouth. "Run, Sapphire!" he shouts, getting up himself, splashing into the water. I am still. I know I should be obeying him, running from whatever danger he seems so afraid of, but I am shocked into stillness. We were happily enjoying casual conversation mere minutes ago, and now there seems to be some big danger to run from. And what about Faro, who has no choice but to swim, as he has no legs to run on?

I make my decision quickly, getting off the rock and jumping into the water. For a moment I am blinded by bubbles, then I see Faro far in the distance, swimming faster than I've ever seen him swimming before. "Faro!" I call, but he doesn't seem to hear me. I try again, I have no idea what I'm trying to get away from, but I refuse to abandon him. "FARO!" This time he hears me, and turns around. He shouts and begins swimming towards me quickly. His mouth forms a huge O as he looks behind me, and he swims faster. I've never seen him look so scared before, and I begin to turn around to see what could possibly be so frightening. He wasn't this scared when we almost got eaten by sharks, and at that time I was completely overtaken by sheer panic, almost paralyzed.

Faro knocks me aside, and I am momentarily disoriented as I float away from him, then I try to get back to where he is. I pause. I look around me, at the surface, at the ocean floor, at the general area where I assume Faro is. How odd. My eyesight is unclear. Everything is fuzzy, blurred. I think I see Faro, but I can't be sure, he's just a faint shape in the distance. "Faro!" I call again; scared now for him as well as myself. I'm not sure if I imagine it, or if I see the shape in the distance turn to look at me. Suddenly I have the overwhelming urge to sleep. I have no idea where this came from, I never feel tired in Ingo. Yet even as I wonder this, my eyes drift shut.

It must've been a while, even though it only felt like seconds, because now I am awake and washed up on shore. My vision is normal. Thank goodness, I was getting worried about that. I push myself up, my legs are a little wobbly, but overall I feel fine. Then I smack my forehead with the palm of my hand. Faro! Where is he? What happened to him? Is he alright? What was he so freaked out over? I climb over the boulders and look down the shoreline. I see a figure lying in the sand, draped in some seaweed, surrounded by gulls.

I jog up to it; it must be Faro, he probably just got washed up on shore like I did. When I get closer I realize his back is facing me, so I walk around to his other side. A choked sob escapes my throat, and I stifle a scream.

It is Faro. And... he's dead.

I should post the next chapter within the next week or two.