How could she....die?

Reo's thoughts were fuzzy and jumbled, he couldn't seem to think or feel anything except numbness.

I must be in shock.

Sapphire eyes blinked, trying to focus.

"Reo! I need help, I think Arc's dead!" Lotus babbled uncharacteristicaly, running up to him and grabbing his hand.

"Come on! Comeoncomeoncomeon!" She despretely yanked and puled, but Reo didn't even budge. His eyes were glazed over and he had a dazed expression on his face, even when he turned around to face her.

"What can I do?" He whispered so softly she had to strain to hear him.

"Something!"

He turned away from her, his shoulders shaking slightly.

"I take life, not save it."

Speechless, she simply gaped at him as he walked away.

Reo didn't hear her franticially pound at Arc's chest, nor here the gasping intake of breathe as arc began to breathe again.

He could only think about Storm.

Why...

Why me? I never did anything to deserve this.

"Why must I suffer?"

Why couldn't things be simple, happy,

content?

He slowly walked towards the funeral pyre, gazing at Stormtracer's still and frail body.

"I love you."

One of Stormtracer's eyelids fluttered.

Reo blinked once, then looked at her again.

She was still.

I must have imagined it.

Still, he leaned in closer, hearly a soft, familar whispering sound.

What is that?

Try as he might, Reo could not place what it was. After a minute or so of thinking, he finally gave up and reluctantly left her side.

Soon you may rest in both body and soul Stormtracer...

"Reo!"

Slowly he turned around, spotting Lotus running towards him.

"Yes?"

He noted that her eyes sparkled with unshed tears and she was smiling.

"Arc's alive! Can you believe it?! I was just sitting there trying despretely to bring him back to life and then he came to!"

Guiltily, Reo remembered that he hadn't helped Lotus earlier.

"I am sorry for not assisting..."

She shook her head. "That's okay, Arc and I understand. You were still in shock after....it happened."

Lotus looked worriedly at him when she saw his eyes cloud over.

"Reo?"

He snapped back to reality. "I am sorry."

She laughed. "That's okay, Breathe Deep Seek Peace Reo."

He smiled. Then suddenly his eyes widened and he grabbed Lotus's shoulder.

"When is the funeral starting?"

"the sun is about to set, so soon I guess." She eyed him, confused by his strange behaviour.

He abruptly ran off, ignorely her questioning cries as he headed back to the funeral pyre. he had finally remembered what that familar sound he heard earlier was.

Breathing.