Author's Note: Haaa! Guess what! I'm not completely done with this yet! Sorry for the long wait. I've been insanely busy with things. Mostly school, band stuff and my sister's wedding. I hope you all haven't forgotten about this yet…thanks to all who've stuck with me this long. Thanks for all the great comments too. They keep me wanting to write more.

Anyway, sorry if this chapter seems a little…choppy and short. I'm trying to get back into the feeling of writing again…and knowing my characters again. I've not worked on this at all in MONTHS. So bear with me as I get back into the swing of things. Sorry again for everything. And also, thanks for everything. You people are too cool for school.

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Chapter Eleven

Darkstar's eyes slowly opened as she became aware of her surroundings. She could see the sun was just beginning to rise in the east, casting a pink and orange hue in the sky. Looking around she saw the rest of her companions still lost in the realm of dreams and unconsciousness.

She lay her head back down on her arm and tried to sleep again, but found it impossible so her mind wandered around and finally stopped on her encounter with the familiar fox of her childhood. Was it all a dream?

She pondered over the question and went through experience step by step, picture by picture, word by word. She hoped it was true. Somehow, knowing she met someone from her past made her feel closer to her memories.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath of the clean sharp morning air. She could catch a slight whiff of the unmistakable salty scent of the ocean indicating that they must be getting near. The smell was nauseating to her as the images of drowning started form, but she pushed the memories out of her head before she was forced to dwell on them.

She wondered if this Salamandastron place was across the ocean…she prayed fervently that it was not. She was very unsure of how she would handle a ship ride.

The sun continued to rise as its rays spread over her dark face and her companions. Still being unable to fall back asleep she sat up and rubbed her eyes, then made her way to the lake where she had nearly drowned the previous day.

Kneeling at the edge of the water she peered at herself in it. Her green eyes looked back at her as she knelt silently by the water feeling the calm morning breeze gently brush against her fur and the clean early air fill her sharp nose. Everything was so peaceful; so magical; so calm. To stay like this forever would be heaven…with her new friends, her new life. Free from the torments of her past. Yet, she knew her soul would never be at rest without knowing. Too many memories haunted her.

Hearing someone stir behind her, she quickly scooped up water in her paws and started washing her face.

"Good morning, Darkstar!" Came a cheerful voice.

Darkstar turned, water still dripping from the fur on her face and nodded at the speaker. "You surely are up early." Karia commented as she knelt beside the fox and began to wash her own face.

Darkstar nodded again. "I wasn't able to sleep very well," she admitted.

Karia shook her head, trying to get it dry. "Aye, I know what you mean. Sleeping on the hard ground never was my preference."

"Are we anywhere near Salamandastron?" Darkstar asked.

Karia shook her head, "Not really; we still have yet to cross the ocean. But we're really close to the water. We should reach there by mid-afternoon."

Darkstar balked. "The ocean?" She gasped out.

"Yep! Ahh, the water. How I miss it. My bones can sense the water nearby and it's making me all tingly and excited inside." Karia chirped, missing her friend's reaction to the word.

Darkstar stayed quiet as the otter maiden continued to go on and on about how much she loved the water. "There is no other way to get to Salamandastron?" She finally butted in quietly.

Karia looked at her, "Oh no, silly! It's in the middle of the ocean! It's a fire mountain." She smiled her happy grin and the two females turned around to see Snowpaws and Skipper also starting to wake up.

Once they all had washed up and eaten breakfast they were back on their way towards the water. As Snowpaws, Skipper and Karia engrossed themselves in a deep conversation concerning fish, Darkstar remained quiet as they all walked on. Just thinking about the ocean made her stomach nauseas and her body seemed to shake underneath her dark fur. Yet, this was all worth it, right? Perhaps this Badger Lord had some of the answers she was looking for. Some of the missing pieces to fill into her memories. She had to overcome her fear. This was the only lead she could go on and one she couldn't pass up.

Before long she started hearing the crashing of the waves in the near distance. Her surroundings were starting to change as she saw the forest become less dense and the ground beneath her paws start becoming less firm and sandier. The salty smell of the water permeated her sharp nose and she could hear the shrill screech of seagulls flying above her.

Karia grabbed on to Skipper's arm. "EEE!" She squealed in delight. "We're almost there! I can almost taste it!"

Skipper hmphed at her, and removed his arm from her grasp. "Oh Karia, you're still such a pup," he commented, putting a nonchalant air about him. But his eyes showed his own excitement at being near the ocean.

Karia ignored his insult and started to run ahead until she had burst out completely from the forest and was standing on the soft warm sand.

The other three soon reached her and saw her with her face raised upwards toward the sky, breathing in the air of the water as the wind whipped through her fur. She allowed herself to absorb the warm rays of the sun completely free of the trees' shadow.

Darkstar stood back a ways looking towards the water. She studied the white foam of the waves crashing down onto the yellow sand beneath her and then retreating back towards the water. She took a deep breath and moved forwards slowly, one paw in front of the other as her footpaws sunk slightly into the soft ground.

She let the ocean breeze rustle through her fur as she finally reached the edge of the water. She allowed the waves to crash around her feet and she bent down and brushed her right paw into the water. She could do this.

She looked back at her companions and saw Skipper and Karia racing each other around the beach and then tumbling into the ocean as they wrestled and rolled with each other in the water. Ha, and Karia is still the pup? Her eyes moved on towards Snowpaws who was starting a fire for their midday meal.

She trudged through the sand, drying off her right paw on her clothes and sat down next to the fire that Snowpaws was working on. "Sand…everywhere…" She muttered as she tried getting the wet sand out of her footpaws.

Snowpaws laughed. "Yes, that is the trouble with beaches."

Skipper and Karia then came up and joined them too, dripping with water and sand. "I think I have sand in my mouth…" Karia complained as she moved her tongue about trying to clean it of the rough texture.

Skipper stuck his tongue out at her. "That's what you get for trying to shove sand into my ear."

Karia giggled and sat close to the fire to help her clothes dry faster. "We're probably going to set sail right after lunch." Skipper said as he pointed down the shore. "The boat is anchored over there."

Darkstar just continued to eat in silence.

Soon they were all finished and Snowpaws threw sand on the fire. "Well, ready for the ride of your life?" Skipper asked good naturedly slapping Darkstar on the back.

Darkstar only gulped and looked at him. "See, this ride is going to be a little rougher because we're taking a smaller boat instead of my ship since we don't have my crew to man it. Hopefully we won't run into any bad weather."

Darkstar had a very bad feeling about this. They all followed Skipper down the shore where his little boat was anchored. Karia eagerly jumped into the boat, but Darkstar was very reluctant. Her breathing became shallow and her heartbeat began to race. Her paws started shaking and she froze in her spot.

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The dark calmness of night. Stars glittering above her.

Falling…splash…pain as he body slapped into the ocean…darkness…overwhelming her…cold…wet…unable to move…fear clutching her throat…the want to breath…suffocating…water entering her lungs…desperation…

-SMACK-

Her head exploded in pain… Black.

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Darkstar's eyes widened as a fragment of a memory flashed through her mind. She shook her head and took a step backwards.

Snowpaws studied her carefully and placed his warm paw on her shoulder. "It'll be ok, Darkstar. We won't let you drown again. You'll be completely safe with Skipper. He's an excellent seagoing creature."

Darkstar nodded, clenched her paws together and took a deep breath, regaining her composure and took a step forward…and then another. Slowly she climbed into the boat with the help of Karia. Skipper cut the line and then he and Snowpaws shoved it into the water and jumped in once the boat had caught a wave.

Darkstar immediately felt sick as the boat began to lurch from the waves. Rushing to the side she emptied her stomach into the water. She felt a paw on her back and raised her head to see Karia.

"A little seasick?" She asked. Darkstar nodded her head and slid down into a sitting position against the side. "Just try not to move around too much. It should leave soon enough." Karia said cheerfully as she rushed off to help Skipper.

Darkstar pulled her knees up towards her chest and laid her head in her arms. Snowpaws eventually joined her and sat beside her. "Karia said you're a bit sea sick." He said sympathetically.

Darkstar only made a groaning sound in response. "This should help a bit." He said, as he handed her some kind of herb. "I've got to go help Skip, but I'll check back on you later. This should help you rest some," the fox said as he got up.

Darkstar nodded her head and took the herb. The taste was somewhat bitter, but she swallowed anyway. She glanced upwards at the sky and noticed how quickly dark clouds seemed to be covering the once bright blue sky.

She started feeling very drowsy and right before she slipped into a state of unconsciousness she had a fleeting thought of the clouds not being a good thing for sailing. But that was all she had time to ponder about before her mind grew dark and she fell into a deep sleep.