A/N - Thanks so much for all reads, reviews, faves and follows! =D I hope you enjoy this chapter! I've been working hard this week on Rekindled, and the final chapters are on the horizon. I'm wondering what to work on after that. Mainframe is a given, but I'd like to do another Pokemon 'fic too, perhaps with a more PMD focus. I got pretty excited after this past week's Scarlett and Violet trailer. Nintendo have Pokemon-ized one of my favourite animas and I love it. I'd love to use it in a fun 'fic, perhaps with a cyberpunk setting. Hmm...

51 - Fire Island

"So it's really not much farther?" Cleo asked Reshiram as she folded the blue tent into a neat square.

Reshiram nodded. "If the wind is in our favour we should be there before nightfall!"

Cleo took the collapsible poles off Faith. "And if not?"

"Then we'll be camping in the ocean!" Reshiram rumbled good-naturedly.

Spark shuddered. "Oh no! There's water there!"

Faith and Reshiram chuckled at the dedenne's little outburst.

"There sure is, Spark." Reshiram flashed her a toothy grin. "Don't you worry, little one. If it looks like we won't make it then we'll just camp on the beach."

"So long as I don't get any sand in my supper then I'm cool with that." Spark took a huge bite out of her berry and fixed one eye on the white dragon. "And don't call me 'little'."

Reshiram chuckled again and winked at Spark.

Cleo finished tucking the tent into her bag and turned to address Reshiram. "If we're so close then can't we just keep flying in the dark? We'd reach the island much faster."

"We might, but there's one problem, Cleo." Reshiram lifted his wings in a shrug. "My tail would be like a beacon in the dark. It would be much too risky."

Cleo wanted to remind him that the murkrow and dragons didn't fly in the cold, but her mind swam with the memory of Mischief being snatched away by that honchkrow's flock. She bit her lip and adjusted her bag over her shoulder.

"Don't worry, Cleo," said Faith. "We'll get there."

"You certainly will!" said Reshiram. "You were making good progress before I found you."

It hadn't felt like it. That blizzard and the white landscape had made navigating almost impossible. If it hadn't been for Reshiram, Cleo feared they'd still be wandering in all that white, travelling with Old Red in a desperate bid to find this forgotten island.

She looked up at Reshiram again. "I don't think any of us have thanked you yet. Really, Reshiram. You've been such a huge help. Thank you."

"Oh yeah, a huge help!" Spark licked juice off her whiskers. "You're awesome!"

Reshiram's shoulders shook as he laughed, and a faint flush spread across his cheeks. "Oh, I don't know if I'd go that far. It was Xerneas who sent me to you after all. But I'm glad to be a help to you lovely girls."

A small smile spread across Cleo's muzzle. "Okay. Well, if we're all ready then we'd better get a move on."

"All right then! Last one on board is a rotten egg!" Spark stuffed her berry in her cheek pouch and hopped over the grass into the snow. She vanished into it with a shrill 'eek!'

"Oh, Spark." Faith plucked the dedenne from the snow and Spark shook her ears clean.

"Yep!" Spark removed her berry so she could speak. "Definitely prefer flying in this weather."

Reshiram lowered himself to the ground so his friends could climb onto his warm, feathery back. Spark settled herself in Cleo's lap, still munching away at her oran berry. Cleo felt she'd never get used to flying. As the large dragon leapt into the air with a beat of his powerful wings, Cleo's stomach seemed to take a moment to catch up. His tail erupted in flames with a deep, rumbling roar and he took off across the white landscape. The trees blurred beside them and Cleo felt her breath torn away from her lungs. She sucked in air and smoothed back her fur from her eyes.

Just like the night before, the land seemed barren of any pokemon life. It had been an oddly quiet night. Reshiram had curled around the tent, keeping them warm with the occasional blaze from his tail. When Cleo had kept watch, it had felt so eerie. Reshiram had snored softly beside her as she huddled into his wings, relishing his warmth. She'd marvelled at how he managed to stay so warm even in the bitter cold. Snow had fallen, melting no sooner had it touched his fur. She'd put it down to his fire-typing, but dragons were known to resent the cold. There must be something going on inside him that allowed him to tolerate it as much as a pure fire-type.

When they'd all woken that morning, the snow had melted where Reshiram had been lying, and the grass beneath his tail had been dry enough to sit on. The white dragon's fur and feathers were also completely dry, and he'd woken as bright-eyed and cheerful as he always was. Cleo had heard stories about pokemon that slept throughout the cold season, waking when the flowers began to poke through the earth. She wasn't one of them, and she found when she woke during the cold she was as grumpy as an ursaring woken from a deep nap, and almost as ravenous as a snorlax. Reshiram was like the chalk to her cheese, and he soon had everyone feeling better with his positive attitude and friendly jokes.

Faith's paw brushed Cleo's shoulder, drawing her out of her thoughts. "Look! There's Fire Island just on the horizon!"

Cleo followed her claw over the glassy ocean. She had to squint against the biting cold air, but she could just make out an island smudged beneath the blue sky. Two narrow points rose into the air. She assumed they were the volcanoes, which were hopefully dormant.

"How's the wind?" Spark called over the roar of Reshiram's tail.

He glanced back at them. "It's in our favour so far! If it keeps pushing us forwards then we won't need to camp before we get there!"

Spark threw her paws in the air with a cheer. "Keep it up, wind! Don't change on us now!"

...

Harlequin's blue paws beat the ground as she raced through the brittle undergrowth. Heavy footsteps thudded behind her over her pursuer's snarling breaths. The zorua turned sharply, forced aside by the bend of a river that wound between wicked thorns. The moon hung red in the sky, turning the water into blood. Another snarl came from behind her, far away yet filling the air with the sharp tang of poison.

Harlequin lowered her head and stifled a whimper as she forced her aching feet over the decaying ground.

"Over here."

Harlequin's ears flicked towards a tangle of brown thorns draping over a cliff face. Red eyes peered at her from the shadows. Harbinger? She turned and dived among them, glancing back to check she hadn't been spotted. Warm paws grabbed her and pulled her through the prickly curtain until she was sheltered against the wall. Each movement was accompanied by a soft jingle and her heart lurched. Her blue eyes were fixed on the decaying world, her ears trained on those snarling breaths.

"He won't find us in here."

Harlequin looked up into the other pokemon's crimson gaze. She shifted against the cold stone wall and placed her paws on Enigma's shoulders, trying to make herself as small as she could in that tight space. Enigma wrapped his arms around her trembling body, holding her against him as she kept one eye on the world outside.

"How can you be so sure?" she whispered.

"Because I won't let him," Enigma spoke close to her ear.

"He never leaves me alone." Her voice thickened with tears. "I killed him once, but he still comes after me."

"When will you learn to trust me?" Enigma's breath tickled her fur, and the tears she'd been fighting back blurred her vision into a smudge of red and black. "You're safe now."

The grunts and rasping grew louder. Heavy paws crunched over the rotting leaves. Harlequin's blue eyes widened and she dug her claws into Enigma's scarf. A dark shadow passed before the thorns and she buried her face into Enigma's chest, daring not to breathe.

"Harlequin?!" the shadow howled. "Harlequin!"

He sniffed the air and red claws flashed in the moonlight. Then he marched on, away from the thorn barrier.

Harlequin let out her breath, along with the tension in her body. She relaxed into Enigma, releasing his scarf from her death grip. "Has he gone?"

Her words were barely audible. Just a breathy whisper, fearing that the shadow was still lurking outside. Enigma's paw brushed her cheek, turning her face to meet his warm gaze. Her breath caught in her throat as her chest fluttered, stirring with it unwanted feelings that tore her mind into two voices. The loudest one screamed at her to run. Enigma brushed tears from her cheek with a soft sweep of his thumb, melting the confusion from her mind and silencing that insistent voice. She relaxed into him until her nose brushed his. He trailed his claws through the fur of her neck and she faltered for a moment as that voice began to nag her again. She forced it back with a ragged breath. Enigma pulled her into him, meeting her kiss with his own. With a sigh he pulled her closer and she sank into him as he leant back against the wall.

His claws combed through her fur, softly at first. Then they fiercely tore into her ruff. Harlequin yelped, yanking her head back. Blazing red eyes locked onto hers from a mane of red and black. Her heart galloped with fear as she fought back from the zoroark, tearing herself from his grip, but he kept a firm hold on her scruff.

"You can't escape me now, you disgusting wench!"

"No! Let me go!" Harlequin screamed. Her jaws snapped at his arms, falling short as her teeth found nothing but fur.

The zoroark leaned into her and purred malicious words. "This time, I'll teach you a lesson you won't soon forget."

...

"Get off me!"

Harlequin snapped their jaws around Enigma's paw and he yanked it back, clutching it against his chest. His heart raced as he watched Harlequin thrash around on their pillow, their fur slick with sweat. The zorua's sapphire eyes were wide open, blazing with fear as she screamed and howled. Their paws flailed at the air and pillows, scattering them.

Elsa rushed into the room and Enigma leapt to his feet.

"Get off me!" Harlequin screeched. "Let me go!"

"What's wrong with her?! Do something!" Enigma snapped.

Elsa remained oddly calm, crouching beside the frantic zorua. "It's the nidoqueen venom," she explained. "Your friend is reacting to it. It's perfectly normal."

"Normal my tail!" Enigma growled. His claws swarmed with shadowy mist and he flashed a canine. "You'd better be able to save her, or-"

Before he could finish his threat, Elsa shook her leaves, scattering Harlequin with spores. The zorua's frantic yelps silenced into murmurs as they relaxed back into their makeshift nest.

"It's brought about a fever, that's all." Elsa looked up at Enigma. Not even the faintest hint of fear clouded her eyes.

"A fever," Enigma snorted, berating himself rather than Elsa. He shook his head, still feeling unconvinced. "So you can save her-" He bit his lip. "Him?"

"Of course. We just need to break it." Elsa rose to her feet. "I'll get some cold water and a cloth. If anything changes, you let me know."

Enigma watched Elsa leave the room and his gaze wandered to Harlequin. The shadowy energy shrouding his claws dropped and he sank onto the pillows. He lowered his head into his paws, letting out a long, frustrated groan. His mind was a fog of confusion. He was feeling vulnerable and pathetic, and he was letting it show. He took a few deep breaths to gather himself, failing miserably. He leaned back against the wall, rolling his head back. The slosh of water snapped his eyes open. He hadn't even heard the lilligant return.

Elsa rung a cloth of its excess water and plastered it across Harlequin's forehead. The zorua was lying on their back, their paws folded over their chest. Elsa wiped her leaves on a towel and stood up. She looked Enigma up and down and her face melted with pity.

"You could use some spore yourself," she said. "You look absolutely ragged."

Enigma snorted and glanced aside. Elsa plodded towards him and he found a cloth dangled before his face.

"Give me your paw," she said.

His paw? He opened his mouth to retort and clenched his fist, met with a throbbing resistance that silenced any words before he could voice them. He uncurled his paw with a hiss, suddenly aware of the warm blood soaking into his fur. It gathered in sticky pools around his paw pads, marred his scarf and clung to his face in congealed patches. He reluctantly held out his paw to Elsa and she bound the cloth around it.

"I know you're worried," she said. "But you really need to get some sleep. You're not doing yourself or Harlequin any favours."

"Well I can't sleep at the best of times," Enigma told her. "Let alone now."

"Insomnia?" Elsa sighed and shook her head as she stood up. "Then I guess my spore won't work on you. My aromatherapy might, though. Anxiety doesn't help insomnia at all."

"I don't suffer with anxiety," Enigma scoffed.

"But you're worried for your friend? One of my children broke his leg and I didn't sleep for two days worrying over him."

A soft smell wafted around the room with Elsa's movements. Enigma's nose twitched and he looked over at the lilligant. She didn't say anything, instead fussing over Harlequin. She removed the soaked cloth to douse it with more cold water, sending up more of the lavender-esque smell.

Harlequin's chest rose and fell gently. Occasionally their paw or ear twitched, no longer trapped in a frantic fever-dream. That was a relief. But what on earth had Harlequin seen that had thrown them into such a panic?

"You didn't touch your berries." Elsa's statement was both an observation and a question.

Enigma looked over at the plate sat beside a bucket of spring water. Two glasses sat beside it. One contained water he'd tried to get Harlequin to drink, to no avail. The other was bone dry.

"I'm not hungry," Enigma said flatly.

"You need to eat something," said Elsa. "You need your strength, and not just for yourself. If you're not careful you'll drop and then you'll be no use to anybody."

"I'll be fine," Enigma growled.

"Don't give me that tosh, Enigma." Elsa's eyes narrowed. "You're skin and bone under that fur. Mark my words, boy, you aren't leaving here until you've eaten something. And get some water down you, too. Don't think I haven't noticed."

Enigma snorted and rolled his eyes. He glanced towards the plate once more, and his paw wandered towards it and plucked up an oran berry.

"Do excuse me," said Elsa. "I've raised three children. They all have families of their own now, but the mothering instinct never fully goes away. I still cluck around them like a mother ducklett."

Enigma chuckled as he took a bite of the overripe berry. "You're excused."

He watched Elsa for a while, listening to her ramble on about her family. Her words became senseless murmurs in his mind as he fought to keep his eyes open. He found himself sinking down against the wall, and his head clouded with a brief confusion that gave way to a strange, dreamless state interrupted by the movements and voices around him. For a brief moment he thought he was in a meadow as the scent of lavender washed over him with a cool breeze. Then he heard a voice that snapped him back into that small room and he found Elsa watching him from beside Harlequin. He had no idea how much time had passed, but he hadn't noticed her pick up the glasses and fill them with water. One sat by his paw, the other by Harlequin.

"Did you say something?" he asked Elsa.

"I did, but I assumed you'd drifted off." Elsa trailed a leaf-like paw over Harlequin's ruff. "I just said your friend seems to have settled now. The fever has gone, but I'll leave you this bowl of water in case another wave hits. I doubt it'll be a problem though."

Enigma nodded to the glass beside Elsa. "Has he drank anything? I tried earlier, but…"

"A little," said Elsa.

Enigma let his head flop back against the wall. "That's a relief."

"Enigma…" Elsa's soft voice drew his attention back to her. She motioned towards Harlequin. "You keep calling her a 'he'…"

Enigma sighed and closed his eyes, rolling his head back against the wall.

"Is there a reason?" Elsa asked. "You do know-"

"Hydreigon doesn't allow female assassins."

"It's confused me as well," said Elsa. "I was under the impression all of Hydreigon's soldiers and assassins were male. But Harlequin here… her dainty muzzle and tiny paws suggest she's female."

"Female zorua are ridiculously rare."

"That doesn't mean there aren't any. The species would die out otherwise."

"Let's say she is." Enigma fixed one eye on the lilligant. "Why wouldn't she tell me?"

"Zorua do have a notorious reputation for being deceitful. Don't look at me like that, Enigma, I'm not suggesting she's lied to you out of malice. You are friends, so there must be a reason." Elsa paused. "What happens to the females in the Shadow Lands?"

Enigma clenched his jaw. He'd never visited the breeding pens, but he'd heard stories. The stink, the crying, the abusive living conditions. The mortality rate was ridiculously high. There were reasons the soldiers never questioned where their meat came from. It was obvious. But he didn't need to inflict Elsa with such traumatic imagery.

He glanced away from Elsa, digging his claws into his paws. "They're not treated well, let's leave it at that."

Elsa nodded her understanding and rose to her feet. "I'll leave you two to get some rest. Try to get her to drink again if you can."

Enigma watched her go then looked back down at Harlequin. The zorua was curled in a tight ball with their tail over their nose. If Elsa was right, then why wouldn't Harlequin be honest with him? He wouldn't have told anyone. No one deserved to be locked in a pen, forced to choose between producing soldiers for the rest of their life or die a painful death. Enigma's mind swam with confusion and he tore his eyes off Harlequin to stare blankly at the intricate flower pattern painted up the wooden wall. He didn't want to believe it. He didn't want to believe the only friend he had left had deceived him for all the years they'd been together.

He refused to believe it.

He dragged himself to his feet, expecting his back to complain but the pain was completely gone.

Pokerus.

Now Harlequin was no longer in danger, Enigma needed to take his mind off the zorua and that horrid parasite. To do that, he was going to find whatever pokemon had butchered that nidoking. He lowered his density into a fine mist and slipped from the treehouse with barely a jingle. The only evidence he left behind was the makeshift bandage, which drifted with barely a sound to the wooden floor.

...

Yurlik stood trembling in the branches of a tall tree, its sparse leaves providing little shelter from the biting cold. He was further out of the Shadow Lands than he'd been in a long time. He'd not seen Yveltal leave, and deep down Yurlik hoped he hadn't. The shadow of a small murkrow flitted back and forth through the trees, its raucous caw splitting the air. A small wave of relief flowed through Yurlik, trailed by a thick, heavy wave of embarrassment. His scout was back, and he wasn't alone. A scrawny murkrow zipped through the branches behind him with a mocking grace that sent a shudder of rage through Yurlik.

The female landed in the branches above him and inclined her head on one side.

"I asked for Ilana," Yurlik snapped.

"Ilana is busy," said the murkrow. "You can speak to me."

"Fine." Yurlik huffed and tucked in his wings. "I need to ask her to do something for me."

The female let out a surprised caw, followed by dry, rasping laughter. "You want a favour?"

"I said no such thing!" Yurlik's feathers fluffed out. He sucked in a sharp breath. No. He had to shrug off his pride. If he wanted to be the one to finish off Enigma, he needed to win this little bet. "Fine. Call it a favour if you want. I need Enigma bringing back to the Shadow Lands alive."

"Enigma?" The murkrow gasped his name then recomposed herself. "Aren't you all looking for that traitor anyway?"

"The importance of finding him has shot up," Yurlik explained. "My murkrow are already spread out trying to find him. If Ilana's flock helps it will greatly increase our odds of finding him."

"Then we'll keep an eye open." The murkrow spread her wings.

"I need you to do more than that!"

The murkrow narrowed an eye then inclined her head on one side. "Have you made a bet with someone?"

Yurlik closed his beak and breathed in steadily through his nose. His feathers ruffled under her probing gaze.

"You have, haven't you?" The murkrow grinned. "Oh, Ilana's gonna love this. You're begging her for help so you can win some bet? Where's your pride, Yurlik?"

"Don't sass me, you-!" Yurlik's eyes blazed and he pulled his head back as the murkrow made to fly off. "Wait!"

The murkrow turned in the air to face him. "You want our help, you pay for it."

"Fine! What does she want?"

"More murkrow in her flock."

Yurlik clicked his beak in frustration. "I can't spare any of mine."

"She doesn't want your mangy cast-offs." The murkrow landed again, high above him, drawing a sharp glare from the other murkrow. The thin branch barely bent beneath her weight. "She wants more females from the breeding pens.

"Preposterous!" Yurlik scoffed. "Their numbers are already too low as it is!"

The murkrow shrugged. "Then it's no deal. Looks like you lose, fatso."

She spread her wings then rose into the sky. Yurlik shuddered with rage. He was not going to lose this bet. Enigma would be his.

"Fine!" he barked, drawing the female's eye. "She can have some more from the pens! Just bring me Enigma!"

The murkrow cawed and turned in the sky to fly back towards Ilana, wherever she was.

The male murkrow still sat in the branches near Yurlik. He watched the female vanish then turned his head towards Yurlik. A question lit up his eyes. Or was it amusement?

Yurlik didn't look at him. He was still flushed under his feathers. "Don't you say a word."

...

Reshiram dipped his wings, letting himself and his passengers drop steadily from the sky. He beat his wings at regular intervals, slowing their decent towards the ground. Ashen and unwelcoming, the surface of the island was eroded into a pattern of blackened rocks. A large volcano stood at the far end of the island, the slope considerably steeper where the rock met the water. The rest of the volcano formed the main part of the island, creating a gentle slope that rose again into a steep pinnacle, sandwiching the land between it. Glossy rock mounded up against the smaller slope. What Cleo had thought was a second volcano turned out to be some kind of natural gathering of molten rock that had cooled rapidly in the water, creating a buildup over many, many years.

Cleo looked towards the volcano as Reshiram landed gently on the flat space between the two slopes. "I wonder if it's still alive?"

"I think it is," said Reshiram. "There's no snow here. The ground is too warm."

Spark twitched her nose in the air. "I can't smell smoke. Let's just hope it doesn't decide to erupt while we're here, huh?"

That wasn't a thought Cleo wanted. She climbed off Reshiram's back and caught Spark as she dived from his shoulder. Faith landed beside her and turned to take in the island.

Cleo dragged her feet over the warm, smooth rock. She couldn't see any fresh soil. Plants jutted from the cracks, their roots tracing the patterns in a desperate bid to find sustenance. Haggard trees stood at awkward angles, their trunks blackened and their branches bare of leaves. It was hard to say whether they were still alive or waiting out the winter, refusing to let the volcano destroy them. Those less fortunate had been reduced to black, jagged stumps.

Spark inspected a razz bush that fought its way over the ground, strangling out the weaker plants. Lumpy red berries weighed down its thorny branches, hovering over those that had rotted on the hostile ground.

Faith stretched up to her full height, squinting at the volcano. "It's hard to believe anyone could ever live here."

"That's probably why Hydreigon doesn't want it," said Cleo. "His disinterest in it makes it a haven. Come on, let's see if we can find anyone."

"You go on ahead," said Reshiram. "I'll wait right here for you to return."

Cleo jerked her head back towards him. "You're not coming?"

The white dragon spread his wings wide and nodded towards the volcano. "A pokemon of my size won't be able to climb around all those rocks."

Cleo followed his gaze. The slope of the volcano was far from even. Rocky outcrops jutted out in a chaotic fashion, and the flow of molten rock had built up shiny, black ravines towards the volcano's surface. The paths were too narrow for Reshiram, with the awkward rocks that would be too treacherous for him yet provided helpful footholds for smaller pokemon. Cleo and her friends would have no problem climbing up them.

"Okay. Well, do you mind keeping a lookout?" Cleo turned back to him. "If someone shows up who we've missed? I've no idea where to even begin looking."

"I don't wanna look into the mouth of the volcano," said Spark, with a dramatic shudder.

Reshiram chuckled and nodded his mammalian head. "Of course! And if you need me…" He reached into the feathers around his neck and plucked one free. He jabbed it with a claw and held it out to Cleo. "Just blow on that. I'll hear it and try to find you."

Cleo ran a paw along the smooth feather. It was one of Reshiram's smaller ones, yet was the length of her forearm. "Are you sure you'll hear it?"

"In this barren island? Of course!" Reshiram smiled. "Not that the noise is a problem. I have fantastic hearing."

Cleo returned his smile. "Thank you, Reshiram. You've been a massive help."

"You really have!" said Spark. "I've never flown before! We got here so fast!"

"Like I said, if the wind is in our favour," Reshiram looked out across the ocean, "we'll be here before sunset."

Cleo followed his gaze. The sky was dyed blood red, the trees rendered to a black smudge across the horizon. For a fleeting moment Cleo thought she spotted a black shape soaring above them. A chill trickled along her spine, setting her fur on end. She tore her eyes from it and motioned to Faith and Spark.

"Come on. We need to get a move on before it gets dark. We should at least find somewhere to rest."

Faith nodded and waved to Reshiram. "You might want to find somewhere yourself. You stand out a lot more in all this black rock."

Reshiram turned to look at it as if seeing the contrast for the first time. "Oh my. You're right! Don't worry. I'll find somewhere to hunker down. You girls take care now."

"You too." Faith joined Cleo's side, giving Reshiram one last glance.

"He'll be okay," Cleo reassured her. Although she wasn't entirely certain herself. If Hydreigon had no interest in the island then that certainly increased their odds of safety. But what about the denizens? Were there any, and if so, would they welcome strangers?

As they climbed over the glossy rock, the sun rapidly set, plunging the island into shadow. The volcano stood vibrant against the red sky, with black clouds smudged over it like thick smoke. Cleo faltered, huddling against a large, porous mound of stone. The night was drawing in fast. They'd need to camp. In this darkness, they could set up their blue tent and look like nothing more than another rock on this barren island.

Cleo's mind went back to Reshiram. He wouldn't camouflage as well as they could. As much as she'd been reassured that they'd be safe on Fire Island, the deep shadows that stretched out from the rocky outcrops set her fur on end. She expected to see eyes glinting from them, or claws to lash out as they passed.

Cleo stopped her friends and dragged out her tent. She didn't speak, but they got the message as clear as if she had. They set the tent up swiftly and huddled inside, their ears trained on the world outside.

Silence.

As Cleo divided up their meals she seemed to relax. Yet they ate quietly, speaking in whispers. Even Faith seemed a little unsettled by how empty and quiet the island seemed. Cleo feared none of them would sleep well. Agreeing on shifts to take watch felt both pointless and necessary. At one point they thought someone was moving outside their tent, but it was only the wind stirring the dry leaves of a wiry plant.

Then there was the looming threat of the volcano, its wide mouth yawning at the sky, towering above them. Should it erupt, no one would find them. They'd be lost forever on this dying island. Cleo desperately didn't want to be around should that happen.

...

Thanks for reading! Please R&R! =D