I'm really, really sorry that I haven't been able to update lately. I've had midterms and essays piling up lately and on top of balancing that with my social world, things have been hectic. So now that I'm on break, hopefully I can get a chapter out more often.

Groves and Emma had tried to search for food and fresh water while keeping the shore in sight, but soon realized they had to wander further inland since no springs were found. There was some fruit they could partake, but they needed water just as much if they wanted to last until finding the Endurance again.

Using the tall, slender mountain at the island's center as their focal point, they figured they could head towards that and use it like a compass once they found water and head back towards the shore afterwards. Soon enough, they found a spring well into the island, the mountain still standing tall, albeit closer, though it didn't appear to change much in size.

Once the water was deemed safe, Groves and Emma wasted no time in drinking to their hearts' content. He was sure to refill his canteen for the journey back, and splashed some onto his face. The rich foliage provided ample shade, yet it did nothing to ease the humidity.

He glanced up after wetting his face, then dabbed it with his sleeve, the cold water reviving him. He saw Emma nearby, and watched her take in their surroundings before she knelt down and swept up a substance in her hand.

"What is it?" he asked her as he approached.

She stood and rubbed her fingers together, her eyes fixed on what she held. "The soil is red."

Without thinking, his fingers grazed hers as he took a pinch of it from her fingertips and felt it for himself. The clay soil was soft and heavy, but he'd never seen it before. It was safe to assume it was harmless, since it didn't appear to damage the plants or even the water.

He opened his mouth to say something, when a rumbling noise hummed low, growing louder by the moment.

Their eyes met as they froze in place, unsure of what to do. The ground didn't shake, and though the noise grew closer, it didn't sound as though it was headed straight for them.

Within moments, they saw it was nothing to worry about, but a sight to see. Familiar whinnies cracked through the silence as a small herd of wild horses galloped past them, their muscular bodies visible briefly through gaps among the shrubbery, kicking up clay swirls as they passed.

Emma found herself walking away from Groves as she watched them, mesmerized at the sight. She had never seen horses run free before, only bridled and ridden by men. She had seen several wander the streets without riders, but they had run away from the noisy brawls of Tortuga, only to be snatched when they were found either by their owners or a passer-by who would claim it as their own.

Groves watched her as she glided away from him, following the wild herd only a few feet before stopping herself and watching them gallop away out of sight. He slowly caught up with her, his heart dropping when he saw her face. She hadn't looked back at him when he reached her side, her eyes filled with awe…possibly a longing as she looked after them. The peace he had seen in her face that night in Tortuga when she had danced was present in her face now.

His body lightened as he watched her, the freedom he wanted for her overwhelming him. If only she knew how much he wanted to help her obtain that freedom…

"Where do you think they're going?" her soft voice shook him from his thoughts, her eyes still fixed on where they had galloped from sight.

Groves swallowed, his low voice making her heart leap as he found himself replying, "Wherever they wish."

His tone made her turn her head, and she froze when their eyes met. She saw an emotion there she hadn't seen before, uncertain if it was longing, selflessness, or…empathy?

Images of Caldwell holding her to him when they had made their agreement flashed through her mind again-the agreement that would save Groves from any harm if she complied. She still had to do her part.

If she hadn't made the agreement, she could have stood there staring back at Groves until she gathered her courage to ask him what he was hiding behind those dark eyes, but in order to protect him, she didn't. She couldn't risk getting closer to him now, for the pain would be too much for her to bear when the time came, and it wasn't fair to him. She highly doubted he would want her if he knew. She couldn't think of why a man like him would want a woman like her who was willing to use her body to protect him.

She forced herself to break her gaze, and couldn't look his way once she did. "We should find higher ground again. It may help us find the ship."

She started to walk away, Groves's eyes still looking where she had been standing as he gathered himself. He was overcome with emotion, half of him yearning for her, the other half reminding him of what he should have done a long time ago. Realizing what he must do once they returned to the Endurance, he swallowed before joining her.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

"There's got to be water around here somewhere…" Pintel wondered aloud.

"The ocean won't be refreshing," Ragetti agreed.

The crew from the Pearl had been wandering around on shore among the greenery, the desert they had docked by instantly crossed out as a hopeful resource.

Several more of the crewmen grumbled aloud as they continued inland, Jack lagging along with his compass. It swiveled this way and that before indicating a promising direction, at least according to what Jack wanted most at the moment, besides rum.

"This way, gents," he ordered and tried to lead the way.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

Groves and Emma continued on, pushing their way through the foliage. At this point, the tall mountain remained the same size-at least they thought so. They had expected it to shrink away or grow taller as they continued towards it, hoping to find another area of high ground to get a better view of the shore, the path that had led them to the water having been disorienting when they first started off.

They squeezed inbetween plants when a rustle nearby fluttered some plants, freezing them in their tracks.

They glanced at each other, seeing they had both heard it, then jerked around when another group of plants rustled again. There was no one in sight, though the waving stems and leaves indicated where someone-or something-had been.

Groves stretched one arm behind him as a protective gesture for Emma, his other arm drawing out his sword. His heart lept when he felt her hands gingerly press around his arm.

"Hello?" Groves called out, but not too loudly.

There was only silence, not even a bird chirping.

Beads of sweat dotted his face, and he tightened his grip on his sword, his other arm still stretched behind him towards Emma. He could hear her breath labor a bit, but still felt her hands on his arm. He was tempted to grab her hand but didn't want to reach blindly or turn his head and risk not seeing something jump out at them.

Several more agonizing moments passed as their eyes darted about, their feet slowly turning them in a circle. They couldn't see anything hiding among the thick shrubs and trees, but whatever it was hadn't left yet, for no other plants gave any indication.

Emma turned her head in the opposite direction she saw Groves looking, and it was enough for her to see a human figure duck behind a tree.

"Theo!" she panicked and ended up yelping, making him jump and turn around.

Keeping her behind him, he backed away as he saw people emerge from the trees and plants. He wasn't entirely sure which were men and women because of their hair length and similar bone and body structures (not even a hint of curves to indicate gender were noticeable), but they were all beautiful and dressed uniformly, in draped gowns reminiscent of the most ancient cultures. Their skin color could have represented nearly any race, and they all possessed an ethereal appearance with platinum hair and light eyes.

They were unarmed, but had a determined glare in their eyes as they slowly approached, quietly chanting in an unfamiliar language, their voices barely above a whisper.

He quickly glanced behind him and Emma, keeping his sword drawn at the approaching assailants. He noticed they weren't completely surrounded yet, and could make a break for it. He couldn't think of a better or quicker way to get away from these people, nor did he wish to stick around and see what they were capable of doing to them, especially Emma.

The determined glare seemed to soften a bit when he turned his head back, as they knew what he was thinking, but their walk didn't change.

"Emma, when I say so, we're going to run," he said in a low voice, trying to keep it steady.

"What?" her voice wasn't so steady.

"Keep backing up…" he replied, and felt her grasp his hand tightly as the natives continued to slowly and calmly stroll towards them, still quietly chanting.

"Run!" he shouted, and they tore through the gap of the closing circle.

To his relief, Emma kept up well, their boots pounding the soil as they whipped through the plants. Their bodies were still sore from the storm last night, but they kept at it.

They could hear the chanting grow louder, and Emma looked back to see them chasing them. She wasn't sure, however, if they were running, for she saw them disappear and reappear at times.

"Theodore?"

"Keep running, Emma!"

They tore through the forest, their sides burning from the exertion, their hands still tightly clasped. His sword grew heavy in his hand, but he didn't dare drop it and allow them to use it against them.

Suddenly Groves heard a gushing sweep and saw an opening through the thick foliage. He and Emma yelled and skidded to a halt in the heavy soil in time to see it drop off. The cliff beneath them plummeted to a blue body of water below, the waterfall not too far off to their side, the white water thundering as it poured over the cliff.

Emma groaned unsteadily as Groves's eyes darted about, looking for any possible pathway to lose the approaching natives. He then saw the white, crystal rock on the other side of the river, shining in the light. The plants on the other side of the waterfall stretched out just a little further, then were immediately cut off where the white rock began, where it spread as far as the eye could see.

His observation and confusion was momentary, he and Emma frantically jerking their heads for any other pathway.

The chanting grew louder as the natives gained ground, still walking at their calm but menacing pace. Their tone seemed to change, though the words were the same.

Groves looked down at the drop, sheathed his sword, and heaved a deep breath before turning to Emma.

"Emma, we have to jump!"

Her head jerked to him, her eyes widening. "What!"

He moved them back a bit. "We're going to run and jump so we'll miss the rocks. Don't let go of my hand!"

"Have you gone mad?"

Groves recalled the instant Norrington asked him those same words when he told him about Emma. Already it felt like so long ago.

He tightened his grip on her hand, leaning closer to her and daring himself to touch her face with his free hand. "It's our best chance. Trust me, Emma. Please."

Her face read fear, but he thought he saw a glimmer of trust in her eyes, which was enough for him. He felt her tighten her grip on his hand, giving him her answer.

Keeping his eyes locked with hers, he kept his voice firm. "Ready…"

The natives were getting closer, their chanting louder, their tone changing from threatening to something resembling pleading or desperation.

Groves forced himself to face forward again before taking a deep breath, Emma doing the same.

"Now!"

They took the running leap off the cliff, the natives close enough to have reached for them as their bodies seemed to pause in the air for a split moment before plummeting past the roaring waterfall and into the blue river below.