Keith sits inside the cockpit of the Black Lion, enjoying peace as he leans into the slightly pluch chair, resting his hands in the armrests. He closes his eyes, the quiet sound of the radars beeping and the occasional metallic whir of the Lion filling his mind. He'd only been piloting the lion for four months. There'd been no missions for a month after Shiro went...missing. He refused to think he was dead, unlike some of the others.

So far, it seems as if Coran and Allura had gotten over the fact that they may never see the Black Paladin again the quickest. Then came Hunk, Lance, and Pidge. Keith actually spent more time with Lidge, learing about her mom, Matt, and her dad.

"Well, don't think anythings here, girl." He new he'd never be as good of a Paladin as Shiro was to the Black Lion, since he had just been pulled away form her, not like the gradual, willing seleration she had from Zarkon. She had never shared a memory with her, never had Keith look through her eyes, and only kept a minimal bond between them, so that Keith could feel her from a distance, know when the other is in danger, and have a good chance of success in battle. Now, he sits straight, putting his hands on the panel when the radar increases in noise comming to life. The Black Likn shifts its position, roaring greatly, The beeping increases in speed, from a sluggish beep to more of a bomb about to blow.

"What is it, girl?" The dot is right at the edge if the radar, and the Black Lion gently brushes against his mind. My paladin, she purrs, less of a command or question, but more of a longing. And thats when Keith knows. His body freezes, holding his breath. "We found him."

He sets a determined look in his face, eyes hardened and swirling with emotions, the corners moist. He increases speed, the blinkng red dot getting closer and closer on the radar. Keith turns iff the annoying blinking, wiping away the tears that were about to fall. He presses a button on his helmet, comms on.

"Keith?" questions Allura. The noise of footsteps and slight bickering is in the background, as well as a gentle hum.

"Princess..." he says, chockjng up, before he swallows the feeling. "We found him. Wormhole here immediately." The Black Lion hovers infront of a Gahlra fighter, devoid of fuel and seemingly any life. Maybe one of the other Paladins would of been tentaive to confront the pod, but not Keith. His mind was filled with a mantra of a single line- he's here, he's here, he's here. The Castle of Lions allears as the wormhole opens and closes just as quickly.

The Black Lion opens her maw, enveloping the pod in a swift motion.

--page break--

Shiro closes the log, breathing raspy and forced. Oxygen was almost gone, and his eyes drooped from lack of rest. The inside of the fighter was slightly frosted, the environemntal systems having failed a day after fuel was drained. His body was cold, and coughs were held in his throat. He hope's he didn't catch some alien or Gahlra virus or cold.

Pain fills his head and body, the lack of water and food taking its tole, as well as being unable to move, spare forthe sloght movement of his arms or legs, and back as he straightens or hunches. He closes his eyes, taking a shallow breath as he realizes he only has about a minute of oxygen left. Shiro's head itches, and he feels himslef about to sink into darkness when something inside him tells him to opens his eyes.

Wearily, he opens his eyes. Nothings there, He forces his arms to move, taking off his helmet to feel a bit of freedom. Frost gathers on his lips, as well as settling in his mangled hair and coating some of his skin. Maybe he will die, in the territory he loves so much. Space.

He puts on his helmet, breath shaking. Then, out of the darkness, the Black Lion comes to a halt infront of the fighter, eyes alligned with the translarant screen. Shiro's eyes widen, as a wormhole suddenly ooens and a fleetof Gahlra don't arrive, but the Castle of Lions.

"You found me." mutters Shiro as the Black Lions maw opens, and his eyes close. Frost covers patches of the run down, orange space suit as the last of the oxygen gives away. Shiro closes his mouth, holding his. Breath, but the space devoid of oxygen sucks at any other opening- his nose, ears, slight partings on his lips, as if to kill him.

Light pains his eyes as his body shuts down, his body slumping back and falling into darkness.