The format here is going to be crappy, but hey, it's better than nothing, right? I apologize in advance for the fact that it's not even a real chapter, just a little tidbit of writing. Here's the deal. I've been extremely busy recently, so I'm really sorry for the fact that I haven't updated this thing in like forever. Please, accept my apologies.
Now, on to the preview of the next chapter:
If the waves out on the open lake had been rough, it was nothing compared to the squall they faced upon entering the narrow inlet where they would make land. It seemed as though the wind and waves themselves had been set in opposition to their quest. The craft, relatively small when compared to the sheer enormity of the lake, was tossed and thrown about like a leaf on the autumn wind. The timbers strained and pulled against their pegs, threatening to tear the craft into so many pieces. The only good thing about the storm, Haku reflected, was that he was no longer having troubling dreams. In fact, he was no longer sleeping at all. Instead, he found himself spending all of his so called 'free time' doing his best to help Mia and Nami keep the ship from tearing apart at the seams and sending them all to an icy grave.
The slippery, icy deck made moving around hazardous, however, so with the exception of ship threatening situations, of which there were many, the voyagers spent most of their time below deck patching up leaks and springs in the ship's hull. There was no end to the work that had to be done simply to keep the ship afloat, and the weary, bedraggled would-be seaspirits were much relieved when the wind and the waves slowly died down and the sea became as calm as if there had never been so much as a ripple upon it's glassy surface. For the first time since the travelers had set out over the lake, they were finally able to see their destination. The tremendous steppes of gray rock jutting proudly into the sky like so many monstrous teeth promised to make the going difficult for Nami and Haku, but for the moment, they were content to soon have the chance just to step out onto dry ground once more.
Now that the storms above the lake were behind them, Haku was once more able to take to the sky, and he did so gratefully. The cool breeze whipped through his silvery mane as he twisted and twirled joyfully among the cotton white clouds and golden sunshine. The warmth of the suns rays on his back made him forget about his worries and his problems, if only for a moment, and he reveled in the happiness that flooded through him like a golden shower.
Docking at the jetty took but a moment, and before they knew it, the two travelers found themselves once again standing on the firm, solid ground. Having grown accustomed to the rolling of the ship, they found it difficult at first to stand, and so opted to eat their meal right there on the bank. Mia choose to spend the afternoon fishing for their supper, while Haku and Nami made the most of the day by getting their bearings on the map that they had brought with them. The lake they had just crossed marked the southern boundary of the mapped out land, beneath it, most every map they had found went blank.
There. Now, I'll update the next chance I get, but absolutely no promises!