'Could we have more?' Lillian wondered as she leaned against the stone wall of the cave by the opening. She thought about what James meant to her, realizing that she was beginning to care for him more than just as friends. But with everything going on, she worried about starting that kind of relationship with anyone. She didn't want to be a distraction to him, though with as much as he worried about her already, she pretty much already was.

Sighing, she looked at the stars as they twinkled in the night sky- dusk having long since passed. 'It might be nice to have a special someone, though. It's been a good change not being on my own anymore.'

Back in the tent, James stirred in his sleep and noticed that Lillian wasn't there. He got up and exited the tent, looking around and finding her over by the cave opening. He walked over to her, reaching up to put a hand on her shoulder. "Can't sleep?"

Lillian shook her head. "Not really. Just too much on my mind as always."

James smiled at that. "Anything you want to talk about?"

Lillian looked at him, opening her mouth to say something only to think better of it and closed her mouth again. "No, it's nothing." She turned back towards the tent, making to go back to bed and try to get some sleep, but James grabbed her hand and stopped her.

"Lily, come on. Don't shut me out?"

Lillian looked at him. He was the only person who ever called her "Lily" and it always made her happy. "James, it's alright, it's nothing important."

James pulled her towards him. "I told you before, Lily, anything on your mind is more important than you think." When she was in front of him, he lifted up her chin and waited for her to meet his gaze before continuing. "What's on your mind?"

"I..." Lillian sighed, her hand reaching up to cover his. "You're my best friend, you know that? And I'd do anything for you."

"As are you and as would I."

"I was on my own for so long, even longer before I met Kimi, but then I met you and it all changed. You mean more to me than I ever thought someone could." She looked down, her hand dropping. "I couldn't bear losing you, in any way."

"Lily..." James lifted her chin back up and smiled. "Silly girl, you won't lose me." He pulled her into his arms, holding her comfortingly. "Not now, not ever."

The following morning, they packed their things and headed back to Astera after grabbing a quick bite to eat. They stopped at the beach, just as James had suggested, and enjoyed some swimming, diving for seashells, sunbathing, and fishing. They enjoyed as much time as they could spare before having to return to their duties, but that came far quicker than they thought.

News had come that the Commission was ready to make its next move with Zorah Magdaros and a council was called. Someone had spotted James and Lillian at the beach and run to inform them of the situation, advising that they return as quickly as they could. They followed the messenger back to the settlement, making their way straight to the council table- just in time for it to start.

Lillian stood with Sarah as Edgar went over the new information and the plan, her eyes widening when he said, "At dawn we'll attempt what no one in history has dared: Capture an elder dragon! Make your preparations and proceed to the site. May the Sapphire Star guide us all." Once he had dismissed them, Sarah went off to make sure their supplies were ready for the mission while Lillian headed towards her quarters. James noticed something was a bit off with Lillian and wanted to go after her, but his attention was being called elsewhere.

Lillian gathered the materials she needed to upgrade her gear and hauled it up to the workshop, turning it into the Second Fleet master and his smithy crew. Promising to have all of her gear ready to go within a few hours, Lillian made her way through the settlement and helped with the preparations wherever she could. And before she knew it, hours had already passed and evening was falling. She retrieved her gear- choosing her bone armor and glaive for the mission- then met up with a few other hunters and rendezvoused with the rest of the crew at the Great Ravine. She quickly got to work aiding in the preparations, trying to keep herself busy.

Not long after, James arrived with his grandfather and they inspected the first barrier, making sure everything was ready. Edgar checked in with Sarah, Thomas, and the hunters they were helping, Sarah promising that everything would be ready in time.

"The operation will commence at daybreak."

James chuckled. "Sounds like we've got our work cut out for us, eh old man?"

Edgar nodded, looking up at the moon. "By next moonrise, Zorah will be in chains."

James looked around, noticing that Lillian wasn't anywhere to be seen. He turned to Sarah. "Hey, where's Lily? Didn't she come ahead of us?"

Sarah nodded. "I think she's checking the hitching posts."

James excused himself and went looking for Lillian. He weaved his way through the throng of hunters and engineers, climbing the rope ladders anchored to the stone walls. When he reached the ledge where the hitching posts were set up, he saw her bent down checking the base of one.

"Lily?"

Lillian looked behind her and saw James standing there. "You made it. Good." She returned her attention to the post and finished making the adjustments needed. "We're nearly finished with the preparations. We'll be ready by morning." She stood and stretched, having been hunched over for quite awhile.

"Lily, forget the preparations for a second." James stepped closer to her. "What's going on? You've seemed off since this afternoon."

Lillian walked past him, climbed down the ladder, and made her way onto the barrier's bridge. "I'm fine, James. You shouldn't be worrying about me; there are more important things."

James followed her out onto the bridge, grabbing her hand before she could go any further and pulling her back to him.

"James..."

James looked down at her, her hands on his chest. "I will always worry about you, Lily, that's never going to change." He searched her brilliant yellow eyes and sighed. "I just need to know you're alright..."

Lillian smiled at that, moving her hands up and over his shoulders as she leaned into him for a hug. "You big softie..." She breathed in his scent, her smile growing. 'He smells like rockfruit.'

James held her, a strange new sense of worry rising. "If anyone else but you called me that..." He chuckled softly and smiled, breathing in her scent. 'She smells like honey and dragonbloom...'

They stayed like that for a moment, then stepped back. James looked down at her, brow furrowed a bit.

"Promise you'll be careful?"

"Only if you promise the same thing." Lillian replied with a smile.

James chuckled. "Deal."