Her island was with in view as they sailed. After last night's discovery Lia found herself ecstatic. She couldn't wait to go exploring, which is why she changed back into her island dress. The dress and shoes that had been bought for her back at the pier were just too nice for her to chance to ruin.

She finished helping Thomas with the chores, the sun beaming down on her. Her bones ached in pain. After that morning's lesson as well as the past lessons she found herself barely able to function. But she had to push through. She was so close.

" Ah thank you Miss Lia-"
" Drop to the deck!"

Thomas pushed his hand into her back and they both dropped to the floor. Lia didn't have time to question before a cannon ball went flying over head.
" It's the Rika!"

Hooks clamped onto the sides of the ship and men began to fling over. Lia ran for her knife and readied to fight. She knew exactly what they wanted and they weren't getting it.

Lia felt pride burst through her as she was able to take on the first man that came towards her. Though it wasn't flawless, it started to become second nature to her. She gave a push and the pirate stumbled off and overboard. One snatched her up from behind but he was quickly ripped off. When she swung around she saw Nathan fighting Allan with all his might. She cried out and tried to pry Allan off but she just couldn't. He was too strong.

Nathan was doing well until he took a hit in the temple. His vision blurred and he stumbled, allowing Allan to make his move. Lia's heart stopped as she saw him tumble into the sea. Her mind flashed to when she had first met him.

He couldn't swim.

She heard the crew cry out for her but it she couldn't hear him. Without a second guess she jumped into the sea below.

The water swallowed her whole as she swam down, trying to keep Nathan in view. Down and down he went, farther and father from her reach. Lia pushed herself to swim faster. She stretched her fingertips as far as she could get them and wrapped them around his wrist. The momentum of him kept pulling her down but at least she was able to keep hold of him.

The feeling of rock under her feet gave her hope to push through. She gathered her energy and pushed off, propelling through the water and to the surface. She gasped roughly for air then quickly turned her attention to Nathan. She called out to him, gently smacking the side of his face. The crew called out to her and she looked back, only to be met with a wave.

Everything was muted and her breath was taken from her. Just as it washed over she was barely able to finish taking a breath before she was hit again. Only this time taking a mouthful of salt water.
Lia tried to hang on. She had to hang on for Nathan, for her, for them. But as the final wave hit her she put what strength she had left into holding Nathan and her world went black.

When Lia woke up she relieved to feel the sand shift under hr fingers. She instantly shot up and looked around for Nathan, happy to find him laying next to her. She sighed and flipped him over. He was alive and well. Just soaked.

When she looked around she took notice how there was still daylight but only a few precious hours of it. She had no idea where they were either. The forest all looked the same. She had gotten lost in the when she was younger and she was lost in them now.

If she hurried then she could gather supplies to make a base before he woke up. But just in case, she wrote him a note in the sand. Then set out to find wood.

She had used what was left of the day light to gather supplies. By the time the sun had began to set she had made a fire and a small tent to shelter them from winds and coolness at night.

Her body screamed as she dragged Nathan up an into her tent. But she sucked it up and pushed it past her. She could only hope that Russell would be able to see the light and smoke from her fire.

Lia pushed her hair from her face and looked down at him. She could only hope that he would wake soon.

When she made sure he was safe under the temporary housing she walked down to the shore line. Quickly she removed her dress and dove into the ocean. Though it was salt water, it was water. And that meant it would be the second to best thing to strip the dirt and sweat off of her skin.

She popped her head above the water and watched the sun set behind the horizon. Then she laid onto her back and gracefully swam around, enjoying her time.

Meanwhile Nathan groaned as he opened his eyes. All he saw was the green of the leaves and brown of the branches that made shelter. Confused, he sat up and looked around. What happened? Where was he?

He crawled out of the tent and stood. Out in the ocean there was a figure. Slowly he stepped forward. He hadn't recognized it at first. She ran her hand through her hair and pushed it back. Then she looked over at him. Now he recognized her.

Lia let out a scream and immediately dunked herself shoulder deep into the water. Nathan's cheek flamed red as he turned around. Beside him her dress laid. He couldn't have woken up five minutes later?

" I-i'm not looking." He called as he covered his eyes with his hands. He cursed at himself for not being able to hide his stutter.

He felt his cheeks grow even hotter (if it was possible) as he heard her get out of the water. She wrapped her dress with haste and embarrassment. He had to have woken up now of all times!
" You're fine." She mumbled as she rang her hair out. Even though she gave him the ok Nathan still couldn't find himself to look at her.

" What happened?" He asked as he kept his eyes locked on the fire.

" You got thrown over board saving me. I managed to get to you but the waves knocked me out. Then when I woke up we were here. I have no idea where this is but I had to make the most of my daylight." She explained as she sat on a log that was by her fire. " You really had me worried there."

" I could say the same to you." He replied as he sat down next to her.

" You were worried about me?"

" What if I was?"

Lia smiled. " Nothing. You can go rinse off if you want. I found some fruit for us to eat until we can find something else in the morning."

Nathan nodded, watching her stand. The fire, the tent, the food. Maybe they understood each other more than he had first thought.

Nathan walked up to the beach, drying his hair with his shirt. Inside the tent Lia waited for him to finish, trying to fight off the coldness. Before stepping inside he picked up another piece of wood and fed it to the fire. Maybe they would be able to feel the heat from inside.

He pulled back the small flap she had made from leaves and saw her sitting quietly.
" I just finished getting them ready. Here, have some." She insisted. Nathan let the flap fall and too his seat next to her. He plucked the mango from her hand and ate it. It was the same mango he had bought at the markets but for some reason it just tasted different. It was much more tasteful.
" There's plenty more where that came from. So eat as much as you want. I think I'll go to sleep."
" You don't want to eat?"
She gave a small shake of her head. " No. Drinking all that sea water still has my stomach hurting."
" What were those berries you mentioned before?"
Lia laid down and pulled her legs close to her chest.
" Erea berries?"
" Yea, those. What do they look like?"
" Almost like black berries. They grow in bundles."
Nathan nodded. He'd have to remember that.

Then he suddenly heard the soft noise of teeth clattering. He looked down at her and saw her shoulders shake violently from a chill. He pushed his hunger aside and laid down facing her.
" You're shivering." he stated. She looked at him through the dark, the dim light of the fire only illuminating everything very softly.
Lia felt an arm wrap around her. Her face was burrowed into his bare chest and she shivered even more. This time not from the cold.
" What are you doing?" She stuttered.
" It's the best way to keep someone warm. So we are doing each other a favor."

Lia couldn't argue with him. He was amazingly warm. She couldn't stop herself from nuzzling in closer. Nathan was taken back but held her closer.

" Nathan?"

He looked down at her to show her was listening. She reached up and pressed her lips onto his cheek before settling back down.

" Thank you." And with that she was asleep.

I think this was one of my favorite chapters to write! Please let me know what you think ^.^