Golden Sun: The Lost Age
A Novel

(A/N: I DO NOT OWN GOLDEN SUN: THE LOST AGE© or GOLDEN SUN© or ANYTHING for that matter. I write for both your and my own enjoyment… at least until I can buy the royalties from Camelot™. For now, I give you 'Golden Sun: The Lost Age, The Novel.' Say that three times fast. We'll just call it GSLAN. And now, the story. From my LCD screen to yours, I hope you enjoy.

S. Katharine (Kat) Kellermeyer, aka: jedigrl2001)

Chapter 1:Aftermath

Birds scattered across the cream-colored morning as a scream echoed in the trees. Fingertips were deep in the ground, holding the soil and grass hard, face twisted to avoid the sobs clawing at the back of his tongue.

Jenna watched Kraden in pale silence, her hands hard on Alex's shoulders, keeping him from moving. He squirmed, groaned in pain as Kraden turned his face away, swallowing hard. He wiped the sweat from his forehead with a damp sleeve, blood-stained hands trembling. "There…"

Alex's breaths were short and tight, eyes shut tightly, head in Jenna's lap. She swallowed hard, looking at Kraden. "Was this really neces—"

"It wasn't completely broken," Kraden said, lowering his voice to a whisper as Alex's breathing slowed. "If I hadn't, the bone wouldn't have reformed correctly, or it would have just broken again at a less convenient time." He sighed in exhaustion looking up at Jenna. "Either way, he won't be walking for some time."

Jenna smiled sadly as she removed her hands from Alex, slipped away, leaving his head on the ground. "Already asleep."

"And well he should be," Kraden murmured. "He kept watch all night… must be entirely exhausted." He shook his head, reaching up and grabbing hold of his sleeve. He pulled hard, the material pulling loose from his tunic. He sighed. "Are you well enough to start a fire?"

She hardly nodded. "I think so."

Kraden nodded slowly, tearing his sleeve into several long strips. "We'll need to boil this fabric before I use it. The last thing Alex needs is to get sick. Especially with Felix and Satu…" He stopped, words hanging in silence.

Jenna stared off into space again, her expression changed.

Kraden sighed. "Jenna… are you—"

"It's been two days now," she murmured. "Two days tonight."

"I'm certain he's fine," Kraden whispered. "Wherever he is… And Saturos and Menardi are there with him… and Sheba."

Jenna's chin fell, staring at the ground intently. "I suppose…"

"For now," Kraden murmured, standing and wiping the blood off his hands onto his black trousers. "I suggest we worry about our own survival. And that requires water to boil and wood for a fire."

Jenna frowned. "But we lost everything in that cave. The pots, the pans… how are we going to—"

Kraden plucked up a piece of armor from where it was strewn on the ground. The breastplate Alex had been wearing was rounded, a deep arc that Kraden turned over and set on the ground to demonstrate. "And there you have it. A make-shift pot."

Jenna smiled dryly. "Alright, I'll get the wood."

Kraden nodded. "And I'll fetch the water."

Alex lowered his dagger, holding the long piece of wood to the light for a moment. A few more tiny movements and he set the blade down and struggled to stand.

"I wish you wouldn't do that," Kraden muttered from where he was mixing plants in the breastplate over the fire. "It hasn't even been a day and already you want to ruin your leg again."

"It won't get any better by just sitting there," Alex muttered.

Kraden looked at him dryly. "Actually, as nature intends it, that is what happens."

"I just… can't stand sitting here… waiting," Alex said softly, catching his balance with the long stick, jamming it under his arm where he had carved it flat. "I need to be moving."

"You need to be resting," Kraden muttered.

"I'm going out for a while," Alex said softly.

"Where to?" Kraden laughed. "There's nothing around here—"

Alex's eyes narrowed. "To the beach," he muttered. "If I'm being forced to sit for a long period of time, I'd like to go somewhere I can think in peace. Besides, a little sun might do me well."

"Will you at least wait for Jenna to get back?" Kraden asked. "I don't want both of you getting lost and leaving me here by myself—"

"I don't get lost," Alex said softly. "I'll be back…" He thought a moment then bent over, grabbing a stick. He jammed it into the soft earth, drawing a line a ways off. "When the shadow hits that line."

"Fine," Kraden sighed. "But if you ruin your ankle, I refuse to fix it again."

"Fair enough."

Uneven steps echoed into the forest, leaving Kraden alone with his mortar, pedestal, and thoughts. He crushed a handful of berries in silence, mixing them with a few leaves from a plant, added water and dumped them into their 'pan,' waiting for them to boil. Jenna walked into camp, playing with her hair tiredly. "Oh, Kraden… how long will this island continue to drift?"

"Until we find a group of fishermen that can row fast enough to dock here, or until we crash into another landmass and become their new peninsula," Kraden murmured dryly. When he looked up to see her face, he sighed. "I don't know, Jenna… I wish you could tell me."

Jenna shook her head, throwing herself down on the ground. "You're no help at all."

Kraden rounded on her, eyes narrow. She was staring at the treetops, the blue that peeked down at them. He sighed, looking through the plants he gathered into his bag. He pulled out a small pouch of berries. He thought a moment, then tossed them to her.

She started, looking at the pouch. She pulled it open, cheeks flashing red.

Kraden cursed as the berry pouch nailed him cleanly in the back of his head. He turned to see Jenna, eyes narrow. "How can you even think of food at a time like this!"

"I was thinking of you—!"

"Well, stop!" Jenna shouted, slamming her fist on the ground.

Kraden turned away, going back to his potion. It was boiling furiously now, and promptly turned from green to a brownish purple. He groaned, flinging up a hand and dumping the mixture into the grass. "Well, it's no good now."

Jenna stared as the grass where the potion fell promptly turned yellow and died. "I'd say so."

Kraden threw her a dirty look. After a moment his expression softened. Jenna was playing with the trinket around her neck, the tiny necklace. He sighed. "What are you thinking about?"

She shrugged, seeing him eyeing the necklace and quickly turned away from him. "I… just wonder what happened to Felix… and the others, that's all."

"Well, at least we know they have lit the Venus beacon," Kraden said softly.

Jenna scoffed lightly. "I know. That's how we ended up adrift at sea in the first place, isn't it?"

Kraden's patience was wearing thin. He bit his tongue, starting on a new potion. "Well, you certainly are cranky today," he grumbled darkly. He wiped the remnant of the old potion off with the corner of his tunic and flung a few leaves into the metal. Time passed in silence, Kraden feeling suddenly awkward. He turned, seeing Jenna staring at him, necklace still in hand. He sighed tiredly, scratching the back of his neck. "I… I'm sorry, Jenna. I suppose you're just worried about Felix and the others."

Jenna said nothing for a moment, stared at the necklace. She cleared her throat. "Isaac and the others must have been there, too."

"I suspect you're right," Kraden sighed.

Jenna sighed, staring at the spots of sky above her. "I miss them… Isaac… Felix…"

Minutes passed in silence until a familiar uneven rhythm pattered into the camp again. Alex stood in the grove staring at them with wide, sea-colored eyes. "Come with me."

Kraden frowned. "What?"

Alex shook his head. "Quickly… there's something you must see."

Jenna and Kraden stumbled through the forest toward the beach, Alex limping as fast as he could through the brush. He pushed aside a cluster of leaves, light pouring into their eyes. Jenna quietly swore and put a hand over her face. She stepped forward into the sand, Kraden behind her.

She squinted, looking out at the sea, bright lights flashing in her eyes. "Lovely," she muttered. "It's the beach."

"That isn't what I brought you here to see," Alex grumbled, walking onto the beach. He motioned for the others to follow him, struggling to keep his balance as the sand shifted under his feet. "It's over—"

"By the elements," Jenna murmured, pressing her hand to her mouth. "Is that…" She broke into a dead run, Kraden calling after her as he began a weary jog. She fell to her knees, tearing away the seaweed, pushing sand and sea salt from their faces. She stared in silence for a moment, but the emotion burst inside of her, and she began to cry.

Kraden reached Jenna, his eyes wide. "Sheba… Felix…" He swallowed. "They are…?"

"They're alive," Jenna said softly, looking up at Kraden. Then, unable to contain herself, she said it again. "They're really alive!"

Sheba let out a cough, and Felix stirred weakly.

Kraden turned to Alex. "What is this, Alex? What happened?"

"I know no more than you, Master Kraden," Alex murmured.

Kraden dropped to the ground beside Jenna, took Felix's pulse, then Sheba's. He glanced at Alex, then Jenna. "We need to get them back to camp."

Kraden dipped strips of fabric into the potion he'd just completed, gently draping them over Felix's raw shoulder.

Jenna glanced up from where she sat beside Sheba. "How is he doing?"

Kraden smiled tiredly at her, finishing the wrapping. "Spectacularly," he murmured, shaking his head. "I thought Felix and Sheba were still in the lighthouse."

"It's a miracle," Alex murmured from where he had settled on a log.

Jenna sighed. "Miracle or no, I'm just happy to have my brother back."

Kraden set the pan, still filled to the brim with green liquid to the side. He looked up at Alex. "What on earth do you suppose happened out there?"

"I don't know," Alex said. "But I suppose once Felix and Sheba awake, we'll have plenty to disc—" His words ended abruptly as the small figure at Jenna's feet stirred.

Jenna leapt to assist her, catching her head as she swooned and dropped back on one elbow. "Careful," she cooed, as Kraden pressed a hand to his chest and murmured a praise to the elements.

Sheba's eyes were shut tightly. She moaned, pressing her free hand against her head. "Wh… what?"

"Sheba, are you alright?" Jenna breathed, fanning her hand in front of her face. "It's me, Jenna."

"Jenna?" Sheba murmured, lips moving slowly, like one who'd drank too much at the cantina. Her eyes shut again as the breeze disturbed the leaves above them, bright light tumbling through the canopy. She groaned. "Felix… what? What happened?"

"It seems you drifted here with Felix," Kraden murmured.

Sheba's eyes blinked open. "With… Felix…" Her eyes went wide. She sat bolt upright, looking about frantically as her head began to spin. She stopped, seeing Felix lying a short distance away, Kraden tending to his shoulder. Sheba let out a soft sigh, shutting her eyes tight to ward off the nausea. A moment more, and she carefully started to her feet.

Jenna rose suddenly, grabbing Sheba's elbow and helping her up. "Take your time," she murmured as Sheba stepped forward wobbly. Sheba stumbled, grabbing tight on Jenna, who frowned. "Do you feel alright, Sheba—?"

"What happened?" Sheba asked, looking at Kraden. "Where are we?"

"We are at Idejima," Alex said from his log. "Ironically, we were supposed to meet here, though how you arrived, we may never know."

"Why do you say that?" Sheba asked.

Alex smiled. "Because, my dear. Idejima is, at this very moment, an island, floating away from Gondowan."

Sheba blinked. "We're… this…" She looked at Jenna. "The island is floating?"

"I know it sounds hard to believe, Sheba," Kraden murmured.

Jenna nodded. "As much as I hate to admit it, Alex is right. When the Venus Lighthouse was lit, a massive tremor shook us loose… tore us right off the mainland…"

Alex lifted his chin. "The ground beneath the lighthouse roiled, as though it would crumble away. We thought that, perhaps, you had—"

Sheba straightened. "I remember…"

"What?" Jenna asked.

"I remember now," Sheba said, looking at her. "The ocean… the waves? That's what carried us away from Gondowan—"

"But what happened to you Sheba?" Kraden asked. "You and Felix were both in the sea, and Saturos—"

"Saturos and Menardi are dead," Sheba said flatly, lifting her chin up.

The group stared at her in silence. It was finally Alex that broke the silence. "What do you mean?" he asked, struggling to his feet.

"Another group came," Sheba said as he limped toward her. "They fought them… and won."

Alex shook his head. "Impossible," he laughed sharply, but Jenna and Kraden were already frantic.

"Was it Isaac?" Jenna asked.

"Isaac?" Sheba echoed. She slowly nodded. "Yes, I think that's what they called him."

Alex shook his head, suddenly livid. "You expect us to believe that Isaac and his friends fought, and defeated, Saturos and Menardi? Two trained warriors of Prox?"

Sheba's eyes narrowed. "I'm telling the truth."

Alex shook his head. "It isn't possible…" He stepped toward her menacingly. "It isn't possible to gain that sort of power in so short a time!"

"Alex," Kraden breathed, stepping between the two. He turned to Sheba. "Child, are you certain of what you saw?"

Sheba sighed. "The others struck them down, and they fell into that chasm in the tower."

Kraden pressed a hand to his forehead as Alex stepped back, limping back toward his log. Kraden swallowed hard. "Good Gods…"

Jenna stared at Sheba, patted her arm. "But that doesn't explain you, Sheba," she said, quickly changing subjects.

Kraden glanced up. "She's right. How did you end up at sea?"

Sheba looked between the two. "It was as you said. When the beacon was lit, there was an earthquake… it knocked me from the lighthouse."

Jenna's jaw dropped. "Then how did Felix—"

"He tried to save me," Sheba murmured softly, looking tenderly at the boy lying on the ground.

Jenna frowned. "He… jumped? Felix jumped from the aerie?"

"From the aerie?" Kraden echoed. "Dear me, he didn't!"

Sheba nodded. "He did."

Jenna laughed. "But Felix is terrified of heights!"

The group turned as a slight groan came from across the camp.

Alex limped toward the boy as he blinked his large, brown eyes open. He leaned over him. "Are you awake, Felix?"

"I don't know," the boy murmured wearily, glancing about before shutting his eyes again. "Am I dead?"

"Unfortunately, no," Alex said, settling on a stone near Felix's head. "And if you were, this would be the most pitiful excuse for paradise I've ever imagined."

Felix shut his eyes again, moaning. "I feel like I've been hit by a boulder."

"No," Jenna said with a slight grin. "You only jumped off a massive tower into the ocean and managed to escape with hardly a scratch."

"A little more than a scratch, I'm afraid," Kraden corrected her. "But it shouldn't take terribly long to heal."

Felix shielded his eyes with his hand, blinked them open again and looked about. "Is this Idejima?"

"It was," Alex said dryly. "Now it's an island over which we have no control."

Felix groaned, sitting up. "Alex, could you be any more charming?"

"I try not to be."

"Are you certain you should be trying to move so soon?" Jenna asked. "Your shoulder doesn't look too good."

"I'm fine," Felix grumbled, sitting up and moving back to lean against the rock Alex sat on. He looked around, noticed the breeze rushing through the trees above them. He frowned. "This island is moving?"

Kraden let out a slight laugh. "You don't seem very disturbed by that."

"I remember seeing an island as we drifted," Felix said, glancing at him.

Jenna's eyes widened. "You swam here?"

Felix frowned. "No, I… I don't think I did."

"Then how did you come to be here?" Alex asked.

Felix's brow furrowed. After a long moment he let out a slight laugh, frowning. "You know what's strange? I don't know…" He looked at Sheba. "Do you remember?"

"Not a thing," she murmured.

Jenna folded her arms across her chest, frowing. "What a strange coincidence that the ocean would just carry you here."

"Jenna," Kraden grinned. "If there is one thing we have learned in our travels it is that there are no coincidences." He nodded at Felix. "And there is no such thing as luck."

"If there was, Saturos and Menardi might still be living," Alex said darkly.

Felix looked up at the man beside him, as though startled by his words. He took in a deep breath, the shock suddenly returning.

Kraden cleared his throat. "Girls, I need your help," he said, scrambling to his feet. "Felix will need another salve after those bandages are dried, and without my glasses I can't tell one flower from the next." He started into the forest, the two girls bounding after him.

"What are we looking for?"

"Well, it's small and blue, with a little yellow around…"

Alex watched until the three had disappeared from earshot. His blue gaze turned on Felix. "So… it is true…" He sighed, settling back against the rock as Felix stared at the ground, his breathing suddenly shallow. "This isn't the time to mourn, Felix," he said flatly. "Things have changed since we began, and if we are going to see this through, I need to know exactly what happened." He stared out into the forest, at nothing in particular. "The girl claims it was Isaac and his friends that struck them down. Is it so?"

Felix slowly nodded. "It is."

Alex let out a sharp breath. "It's impossible…" He shook his head, voice rising. "It's impossible, isn't it? To gain that much power in so short a time?" He scoffed. "Those children could hardly move stones when they left Vale. How could they possibly defeat Saturos and Menardi in combat?"

"Saturos was injured before the battle," Felix said. "His whole arm was covered in blood."

Alex shifted his weight nervously. "Did he say what happened?"

"I never had the chance to ask," Felix murmured softly. He sighed. "I never had the chance to say anything…" He stared off into space, slowly shaking his head. "Gods, I… I never said goodbye. I never…" He ran both hands through his hair. "I never said anything… We fought up there… over Sheba, Saturos wouldn't let me take her here to Idejima. He… he said he didn't trust me." He suddenly shook his head. "I should have stood by them when Isaac came… I should have fought beside them—"

"If you had fought with them, you would have died with them, and Sheba with you," Alex said flatly. "The events have transpired and there is no other way they could have played out." He sighed. "So it was not their strength, but Saturos's weakness that caused their downfall."

Felix shook his head. "No… Isaac and the others are strong… much stronger than I ever remember." He looked up at the canopy, sighed. "Something happened there… Saturos and Menardi, they… they turned into this creature."

Alex frowned. "What sort of creature?"

"I don't know," Felix murmured. "I've never seen anything like it. It was so powerful, this creature… I was sure they'd win, but…" He shook his head.

Alex frowned. "Isaac and the others couldn't have possibly survived that earthquake… You and Sheba are miracles enough."

Felix shook his head. "I don't know… We've underestimated them before. I don't think it's a good idea to do it again."

"You think they're alive," Alex said.

"You don't?"

Alex sighed. "I think that if they are, they will not pursue us any further. The question now is… where to from here?"

"Contigo," Felix murmured. Alex glanced at him. Felix sighed. "Contigo, it's a village in the Western Sea… Saturos, Menardi, and I visited there before we met you," he said softly. "Jupiter Lighthouse is a half-day's travel North of there."

Alex slowly nodded. "So, we know where… which leads us to how?" He looked around. "We're on a moving island with no transport, the ship from Prox is in pieces and beyond repair, the black orb to pilot the ship was given to neither me, nor you, and at this rate, the island will slid right off Gaia Falls before we hit anything."

"What direction are we traveling?" Felix asked.

"We began going Southwest, but when last I checked, we had been traveling East, almost slightly Northeast," Alex said. He shook his head. "It's almost as if the island changed course entirely."

Felix smiled slightly. "Maybe we won't fall of Gaia Falls, then."

"We have been lucky once, Felix," Alex sighed. "Don't expect it to happen again."

Jenna and Sheba were on their knees, carefully gathering flowers as Kraden had instructed them. Kraden, however, was resting quite contentedly in the pleasant shade of a rock.

"Tell me again, Kraden," Jenna said, twisting the flower between her fingers. "Why are we doing this?"

"The salve for Felix," he murmured, beginning to catnap.

"I thought blue flowers were poisonous and violet flowers were healing," Jenna said off-handedly, giving him a side-long glance.

Kraden's eyes opened. "Oh… well…" He shrugged and shut his eyes again. "Well, these tropical flowers are different. Violet's poison and blue is healing."

"Oh," Jenna said, adding the flower to the pile. "Well, you're the alchemist."

"Yes, I am," Kraden sighed, settling back on the rock.

Sheba dropped a few more flowers on the pile. "So… what now?"

"What do you mean, 'what now?'" Jenna asked. "As soon as we hit rock, I'm taking the first ship back to Angara and going home."

Kraden's eyes opened.

Sheba frowned. "You don't mean that, do you?"

"Why wouldn't I?" Jenna asked with a laugh. "For the first time, I don't have some crazy Prox-person telling me to stay put and threatening me with a sword when I say 'Vale,' 'home,' and 'Isaac' or 'Garet' in the same breath."

Sheba shifted her weight, stared at the girl. "You don't think the beacons must be lit?"

"What?" Jenna asked. "Of course I do. I mean, Saturos and Menardi might not have been the honey and biscuits of my life, but the things they said seem to make a lot of sense."

"So, you aren't going to help Felix?" Sheba asked.

Jenna's expression fell slightly. "Well…" She let out a slight breath. "Felix doesn't need my help. Besides, he's got Alex. Between the two of them, they should have no trouble at all lighting the beacons."

"Saturos and Menardi were stronger than Felix and Alex," Sheba said softly. "And look what happened to them."

Jenna shook her head. "That's not the same. Felix isn't stupid enough to fight four people at once, and he certainly isn't stupid enough to fight with Isaac and Garet."

Sheba stared at her hands for a moment, before murmuring, "I think I'm going to stay."

Jenna laughed. "What? Why—?"

"Because Felix needs me," she said softly.

Jenna smiled slightly. "Felix doesn't need us, Sheba, we're kids. We know nothing about psynergy, and we'd just get in the way."

"Felix is no master, himself," Sheba said. "And Alex…" She sighed. "I don't know. I don't like him."

"Yeah," Jenna said with a slight chuckle. "Alex can really get on your nerves."

"He's so arrogant," Sheba said. "And whenever I'm around him, he keeps his mind veiled from me… intentionally…" She sighed. "It makes me wonder what he has to hide."

"Don't," Jenna said. "If you stress yourself out over Alex, you're not going to have enough energy when it's really time to be stressed."

"Do you think it will be dangerous?" Sheba asked. "This trip?"

Jenna blinked. "Well… yeah, I mean… I don't know, probably. It's been pretty rough so far."

"Felix, Alex, and me," Sheba murmured. She looked over her shoulder. "What about you, Sage?"

Kraden sat up. "Me? Well…" He gave a sharp nod. "I suppose I'll be staying as well," he said softly. "After all, their goals and mine are the same; light the beacons, and restore alchemy to its former glory."

Jenna stared at him. "You're staying?"

"Of course," Kraden said, offended by the surprise in her voice. "Why wouldn't I?"

"Don't you want to go home?" Jenna asked.

"What home?" Kraden sighed. "Tolbi? I could care less if I ever saw that city again. Besides," he added with a smile, "this is the most alive I've felt in years! All this fresh air does these old bones good."

Jenna sighed, wiping her dirty hands on her black trousers. "Am I the only one here who wants to go home and leave this to the people who know what they're doing?"

Sheba frowned. "Of course not. I want to go home. I want to be able to tell Mother and Father that I'm safe. But if I leave now, who will help Felix?"

"What kind of help can we be?" Jenna asked. "Up until now, all Kraden and I have been is baggage."

"Hey!" Kraden snapped from the rock.

"That's not true," Sheba said.

"Oh yeah?" Jenna asked. "You've only been here a week or so. Try getting dragged across two continents over three months, then tell me if you feel useless."

"'One can only feel useless if they aren't doing anything to be helpful,'" Sheba recited cheerily.

"Come on, Jenna," Kraden said. "Another adventure? It might be fun—"

"Fun?" Jenna gasped incredulously. "I've had enough fun to last me a few lifetimes, thank you. And another adventure? I'm still recovering from the last one! I'm tired, and worn-out, and for once, I just want to go home and sleep in my own bed, dream my own dreams, and go back to living my own life." She sighed, folding her arms across her chest. "And I won't fight Isaac and Garet."

Kraden straightened in his seat. "That's what all this is about?"

Jenna's face relaxed. "What?"

"You're avoiding a confrontation with your friends," Kraden said softly.

"The group at the lighthouse?" Sheba murmured. "You know them?"

"Same as Felix does," Jenna replied with a shrug. "We all grew up together in Vale and—"

"They've been following us since Saturos and Menardi took us hostage," Kraden said, rising.

Sheba frowned. "You were taken against your will? By your own brother and his friends?"

Jenna made a face. "It sounds a lot worse when you phrase it like that."

"And this is why they are follow us?" Sheba asked. "Because of you and Kraden?"

"They believe we are in danger," Kraden said. "Saturos honestly didn't believe they would, or even could, follow us for this long."

"Clearly, because the look on his face when he saw them could have killed a bear," Sheba said flatly.

"Either way, I don't think they'll just stop looking for me," Jenna sighed.

"Us," Kraden corrected.

Jenna scoffed. "Whatever."

"You shouldn't worry about your friends," Sheba said, frowning at the girl. "There's a lot more at stake here than a few friendships."

"They're practically my family!" Jenna gasped. "After we thought Felix died, those two practically became my brothers!" Her expression softened. "Closer than brothers."

"Felix is your brother," Sheba said softly.

Jenna shoved herself to her feet. "I know, it's just…" She groaned. "Look at us, Sheba! You're recovering from that fall, Felix's shoulder is in bad shape, Alex's ankle is broken, Kraden's blind without his glasses, and all my armor was lost in that cave back at Idejima!" She stared at the girl, her eyes narrow. "What chance do we have at success?"

"That is why we need to stick together," Sheba breathed. "Together, we have all four elements. That is something your friends Isaac and Garet had that Saturos and Menardi did not. It strengthened them, and it will strengthen us." She sighed. "We still need you, Jenna."

Kraden smiled at her. "Jenna, didn't you always say you wanted to learn Adeptry at some point? What better time than now?"

Jenna frowned at them. "What about Isaac and Garet?"

Kraden laughed. "Jenna, the chances of them following us now are even less than when they followed us the first time."

Jenna stared at him, raised an eyebrow.

He sighed. "Perhaps that analogy wasn't the best."

"Either way, you don't have to decide now," Sheba said, cutting off Kraden before he could make another stupid statement. "Just… think about what we've said… alright?"

"I will," Jenna murmured, gathering the little blue flowers on the ground in her hands.

Sheba pushed herself up, wiping her hands on her skirt. "It's getting dark. We should be going back to camp."

"Right you are," Kraden sighed. "Oh, and Jenna?"

The girl turned.

Kraden smiled. "Blue flowers are poisonous."

Jenna frowned. "Then why—"

"Distraction is the best healer," Kraden said with a grin. "Now let's hurry… before we can't see where we are going."

They other three traced their path along the beach, surprised to see Felix and Alex already sitting in the sand around a small fire. Alex looked up dryly. "Now the Mars Adept returns."

"Heaven forbid you have to start a fire by hand, Alex," she muttered darkly. "Why aren't you two back at the cave?"

Alex let out a sharp scoff. "Can't you see it?"

"See what?" Sheba echoed, glancing to the ocean as Alex turned his gaze back to the horizon. She frowned. Little lights dotted the distance, spread into a neat line. Sheba squinted. "Is that…"

Jenna's jaw dropped. "It's land!" she gasped happily. "An island!"

Sheba shook her head. "It's a little big for an island, isn't it?"

"That's no island," Kraden murmured. "It's a new continent!"

Jenna and Sheba both laughed and hugged each other, dancing in a circle. "We're saved!"

Kraden frowned. "So it would seem…"

"Or not," Alex muttered darkly as the lights began to grow distant.

Sheba and Jenna's laughter and dancing slowed to a stop. Sheba frowned, letting go and Jenna's hands. "Wait… we're going to pass right north of it!" she gasped.

Jenna's face fell. "What?"

"She's right," Kraden murmured, walking toward the shore. "We aren't going to make it."

Jenna shook her head. "But…" She turned to her brother. "Felix, what are we going to do?"

Alex groaned, lying back against the sand. "We're going to keep floating on this Goddamn island until we float right off Gaia Falls, that's what. The sooner we accept it, the sooner we…" He leaned up on his elbows.

Jenna frowned at him. "What?"

"Hush!" he hissed. He waited for a moment, his face taut. He glanced at Felix. "Do you hear that?"

Felix shook his head. "I don't hear anyth—"

"Wait," Sheba murmured. "I hear it, too."

"Oh, this can't be good," Kraden murmured.

"Hear what?" Jenna asked.

Sheba turned to her. "It's a tidal wave," she said softly.

Jenna frowned. "A tidal wave? How?"

"The earthquake must have caused it," Sheba said.

"Don't' be absurd," Alex growled. "The earthquake was days ago."

"Where is it coming from?" Kraden asked.

Alex was stumbling to his feet, grabbing for his crutch. "The East. It's coming right toward us."

"How long do we have?" Felix asked.

Alex smiled at him. "From the sound of it, I would saytenminutes at most."

"Alex!" Jenna gasped. "How can you be so calm at a time like this!"

He sighed, starting toward the forest. "At times like this, where would be the good in panicking?" He nodded. "We'd best find shelter of some sort."

"Is that wise?" Kraden asked.

"Do you have a better plan?" Alex retorted sharply.

"We won't all fit in that cave," Felix said.

"Then we'd best think of something quickly," Alex said as they started into the forest.

Felix looked up at the trees, stopping as the others continued to follow Alex. He stepped forward and put his hands up against the wood. "Alex… I think I have an idea."

Felix was breathing hard, sweating as he called up his psynergy again, tearing the tree from it's roots and slamming it against the ground. He looked at Sheba. "Ready?"

She nodded. "Ready."

"Ready," Alex echoed, hands deep into the clay dirt below them.

"Okay, Sheba," he panted, brushing his hair from his eyes with the back of his arm. "One… two…" The two grunted, lifting their arms and the tree into the air with their minds. Alex made several quick movements with his arms, smoothing the mud over the first tree that had fallen. "It's ready!" he shouted. "Jenna?"

"Ready," she called, hands outstretched.

Felix and Sheba slowly lowered the log. As soon as it touched, Jenna made a sharp whipping movement with her hands. The mud dried, sealing it into place.

Felix bent over, his hands on his knees, breathing hard as Sheba collapsed on a rock, shrugging off her shawl and rubbing her bare arms. "We can't keep this up," she gasped, running a hand through her soaked blonde locks.

"Two trees is not enough to make an effective barrier," Alex said flatly.

"He's right," Felix panted. He rose again and held out his hands. With a long groan he pulled up another massive tree, Sheba standing to catch it before it toppled again. Alex hurriedly spread the mud over the last log and Jenna stood ready. "Go!" she shouted.

Felix and Sheba both lowered the tree against the second, and Jenna sealed the mud again.

Felix fell to his knees, then to all fours, breathing hard. "It's no use," he gasped. "I… I can't keep this up…" He shook his head as his breathing continued in sudden bursts. "This isn't like anything... I was ever... taught…"

"Clearly," Alex said, carefully limping to the front of the barrier. "And it isn't going to hold.We don't have much longer."

Jenna shrugged. "Then let's pack it with mud," she said, walking over. When Alex stared at her, she frowned. "We don't have time to argue, Alex. Come on!"

Alex sighed, lowering himself to the ground again and putting his hands into the hard, clay earth. After a moment, it turned to mud. He raised his hands, flinging a good amount against the logs, Jenna's hands, held in front of her, instantly drying it.

"You two get behind it," Jenna said, concentrating as she and Alex worked quickly. She glanced over her shoulder. "Where's Kraden?"

"Already in position," he called from behind the barrier.

Alex tossed up more mud, Jenna starting to dry it, but she froze. "Do you hear that?"

Alex lifted himself up with his crutch. "Time's up."

Jenna hurried over to him, grabbing his arm and pulling it over her neck, helping him behind the barrier.

Felix swallowed hard, still sweaty and exhausted. He pressed his hands against the barrier, the other three Adepts following in suit. He glanced at Alex, swallowing hard. "How long, now?"

"Not much longer," he breathed, the roar suddenly audible, growing and growing.

Felix braced himself. "Do you think this will hold?"

Alex sighed. "Of course not."

Sheba looked over the top of the logs. A massive black wave towered over them, moving swiftly. She swallowed. "Sages and Oracles."

"Brace yourselves!" Felix screamed.

(A/N: To be continued…

WHAT! Did you really expect the infamous jedigrl2001 to NOT end in a cliffhanger? Expect an update soon, or go visit the parallel story; Through the Other Eyes II: Bloodlines, Golden Sun: The Lost Age, through the eyes of Isaac's group, Karst and Agatio, Alex, and Piers. The two stories will be intertwined, so if you don't find it here, expect to find it there. Until next time!)