obsessedbyerik.

2 hours? This is GerardErik, it doesn't take 2 hours to get to the lair. And he didn't faint, he lost consciousness.
And that wasn't the Zora he saw before he lost consciousness. It was someone else. And it was clinging to him.
It was afraid of it's attackers coming back for it. Wouldn't you be scared if someone attacked you,then came back?
And I think the lake is a bit polluted, but I was thinking about the same thing. :D

LetsTwistAnotherFairyTale.

The other reviewer liked my story, they just had a bit of constructive critism for me. I like that. To an extent.
I am very glad you like my story, and I am especially thankful that you think I am a skilled writer. Thank you!
I love it when people enjoy my reading, because that's really what it's about; everyone enjoying it.

arachnid.

I don't really agree with you about this story being better than the others, but I am glad you enjoy this one.
And Erik lost consciousness because he was, not only tired in the first place (I don't think he would sleep much, after The Fire, do you?), and because he was stopping himself from reliving the memories. Did that help you any?
I was a bit worried about the Zora's speech, I'm glad it was good. I am more glad you think it was in-character.
I'm a member of the IPFC; the Institution for the Protection of Fictional Characters. We strive for in-characterness. And the Zora does not know, because it was raised in captivity, and does not know what 'genders' are.

And no, there will not be too much embarressment. On the Zora's behalf. Glad you like. I really am!

Thank you guys so much for your reviews!
And here is chapter 2:

((BEGINNING OF CHAPTER))

+---Erik's P.O.V.---+

I regained consciousness. Where was I?.. I remembered where I was now, I was at the edge of the lake. I slowly opened my eyes, to see someone I had not expected.

"Hello Erik." She said, smiling

"Christine? Is that you?" I asked, dumbly. That would explain the white blur I saw earlier...
I sat up. Christine was seated next to me. I looked around.

"I wondered when you would wake, my Angel. You had me worried, fainting like that." She said. "What happened?"

"I did not 'faint', and nothing is wrong. I just, have not had much sleep since you left.
I am glad you are here, Christine. But, why?" I asked. She smiled at me.

"I wanted to see you, is that so wrong?" She asked.

"No, no. It is not wrong at all. I am just surprised, that is all." I replied. She hugged me.
I was dazed momentarily, then returned her embrace. "I feel better now that you are here, Christine."

"Can we continue our lessons, just like before, Erik? I hate not seeing you every day, like I used to.
You are like a father to me, and and friend. Please can we try again?" She begged. I smiled,
and turned her head to face mine.

"You are always welcome here, my dear. Always." I replied. We sat there locked in eachother's gaze.
It was bliss. And it was doomed to end. I heard a scream and a loud splash. It made Christine jump.
It did not take me long to figure out who had made the scream. A groan accompanied the discovery.
The Zora. What a nuisance it had turned out to be! It must have followed me here, and gotten lost.
And now, it had fallen into the water trap!

"Darn that creature!" I growled, standing up. Christine was apparently confused.

"What creature? Is something wrong, Erik?" She asked me. I grabbed her arm, and dragged her along.
I made my way through a few hallways, until I came to the hallway that led to the water trap.
Christine's eyes went wide at the contraption. She was about to say something, when she gasped.
I was puzzled at first, then I saw it too. The Zora was sitting on the bottom, looking mournful.

"What is that, Erik?" She whispered. I sighed.

"It is a Zora, Christine. No doubt you have heard of them." I replied. She raised an eyebrow.

"I thought they were just a hoax. Are they really fish-people?" She asked, confused. I shook my head.

"Unfortunately for me, no. It is really what they say it is." I replied, feeling agitated.

"It? I am sure that there would be a difference between a man and a woman, even for Zoras." She said.
I frowned. I was not sure if I should tell her that I did not know whether it was a male or female.
"You do know whether it is a man or a woman, right?" I hesitated, then shook my head.

"It did not know, and neither do I." I explained, gloomily.

"How could the Zora not know?" She asked.

"That is what I said, when it told me that." I replied.

"Well, it cannot just stay in there, Erik. You need get it out of there before it gets hurt!" She told me. I scoffed.

"Let it. Then I shall be rid of the creature. I do not want to have to take care of something." I stated.
And that was suppose to be the end of the discussion. But Christine shook her head.

"You are going to let it go, Erik. Now." She declared. I gave her an 'oh-really' look. It did not work.
"Erik, now." I groaned, and lifted the grate. I saw the Zora look up, and swim to the top. It smiled.
Christine smiled too. "Aw, it's so beautiful." I rolled my eyes. Christine stroked it's face.
The Zora suddenly swam back wards and did a flip in the air. Christine laughed and smiled.
Why I could I never make her laugh like that? I frowned.

"Women." I muttered. Christine moaned, turned towards me, and frowned.

"Men." She retorted. I glared at her. The Zora climbed out of the water, and smiled.
Then it noticed the two of us frowning at eachother, and looked puzzled. It did a dolphin call.
Christine and I turned, at the same time, and raised an eyebrow at this weird creature.

Then, it laughed. It was a kind of a squeak, but it filled us with joy. We could not help but smile.
I do not know what kind of magic that creature had to use on us, but I can now say, that it worked.
We laughed together, then hugged. The anger between Christine and I had vanished, as if never there.
The Zora smiled at the two of us, then jumped up and down. What a giddy creature.

"Well Erik, now we shall never 'get rid' of it. But we shall have to find out it's gender." She said.
The Zora nodded, not completely understanding. I nodded as well.

"How about we go home, and think about it?" I asked, smiling. Christine smiled too, and nodded.
We took eachother's hand. The Zora ran over and took mine. I forced a smile. There was something about it...
We walked down the hallways, and got into the boat. The Zora sat next the Christine, after a fuss.
I pushed us along, and Christine hummed. The Zora tried humming with her, but I could not hear it,
through Christine's laughter. When we finally arrived, I helped Christine, and the teetering Zora, out.

Now, the real adventure will begin.

((END OF CHAPTER))

Please remember to read and review! I love that! I hope you enjoy this chapter as much as I do!