I began to tell Blair and Astra everything that happened to me from top to bottom: my life before I came here, darkness's embrace before I fell from the sky onto the island, the fear and intrigue I felt when I met the inhabitants of this world, and the fact that I was a human. They didn't understand a lot of what I said. So, as I told the story, I would pause often to explain things to the two of them. They both seemed greatly interested. Continually, the questioned what things I mentioned were (such as buses, roads, houses, a job, etc.). After that, I told them about my dream: the one that I had while on the mountainside.

"So the voice was the reason you were able to go on after all of that?" Astra asked me curiously.

I thought about it for a second, "Yes, I believe so. Though I'm not sure. I mean, something just kept me going. I don't know if it was inherently the voice that spoke to me."

"You really have no idea? After all of that climbing, you don't know why you climbed?" Blair sounded a bit agitated.

I replied a bit angrily, "No, I have no fucking clue! It felt as though I was in a daze, so I had no idea what the hell was going on!" I looked at my left hand, "The only thing that I do know for sure is that I have this weird marking on my hand now."

"What marking?" Astra was sounding curious once again.

"Yeah, what are you talking about?" Blair's anger was no longer present.

I lifted my hand to show them the weird symbol in the center of my palm. "Once I made it to the top of the mountain, all these flowing ideas and thoughts entered my mind. After a few moments, my hand felt warm. When I looked down at it, there was this weird… whatever this is."

Astra took my hand in hers and looked at it carefully. Are all women's hands this small and delicate? "This looks oddly familiar. I think I've seen it somewhere before. I can't remember where."

"Wait, wait, just wait a second. You mean you recognize this thing?"

"Well, a little bit yes."

I responded, "That's good. That shows that there could be a real meaning behind it."

Blair stood up abruptly and began to stretch. "So, what is next? Do we go back to the island? Do we move on past the mountain? Any ideas at all?" I sat and thought for a moment. I looked into the distance; at the island. I couldn't see it, but it was somewhere out there. I looked in the opposite direction. Something else was out there; I need to find out what this symbol means. Something told me I needed to find something out there. There was more to be seen, more to be found. I still have not found the wise being. What if that was the voice in my dream? Maybe that's why I was so motivated. If so, I need to find him. It told me something about a seal? I need to find out what 'seal' meant.

"Well, I think I am going to go collect some more wood for the fire. It's looking a little low." I stood up and began to walk around.

Astra stood up, too, "Mind if I join you?"

I looked over at Blair; she was already out cold. "Well, I guess you could. If you really want to."

We walked, talked, and collected firewood for quite a while. Well, now that Astra knew who and what I was, she seemed much more talkative.

"What is life for the average human?" She asked me.

"Well, they wake up, go to work, go home, and fall asleep."

"Is that really all?"

I thought about it for a second, "Well, I guess they take breaks sometimes. Then again, they just sleep while on break. So, that is all. I mean, it's different for me, now."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I never enjoyed doing any of that. Well, not at heart, at least. I used to lie to myself and say I was content with life. The truth was, I kind of wasn't. Going to work every day, and coming back home, wasn't something that I liked doing. So, I secluded myself in the confines of my video games. It was a world away from my own; a chance to be something I wasn't. It was a chance to become more than just a normal person. It was my way of being somebody. Well, I thought it was. But, at the end of the day, I had to go back to being the regular human, Drew."

Astra jumped out in front of me, almost surprising me. "You're not just a 'normal human', Drew. You're more than that! What normal human has done anything like you? Who else would have survived a fall from such a height when you first came here?"

I shrugged and responded, "Well, that was a result of Blair's skill and my luck, more than anything."

"Yes, a result of YOUR luck, no one else's. Do you remember telling me about you saving the small Pokémon in the giant fissure? Who else, if anyone at all, would be that brave?" Her eyes shimmered with pride, "No other person could have the courage and will power you displayed when you threw both Blair and I over your shoulders and climbed this treacherous mountain? Who could do that? You don't even know!"

Astra was slowly filling me with pride. Then, in a swift motion, she hugged me and buried her face in my chest; all the wood I was carrying fell to the ground with a few muffled thuds. We sat there for a moment in silence. I heard her say something under her breath, though I couldn't hear it clear. "…with you." I heard the last part of what she said. If she said what I think she had, I'm not sure what to make of it.

EDT: I enjoyed writing this chapter, especially that last paragraph. I might be expanding on that a bit more from now on. Also, the chapter name does have a meaning. Think of what a dwindling flame has the ability to become. (Actually, all of the chapter names relate to the chapter in some way shape or form. For example, the chapter "Adrift" means that they are literally floating in the ocean, but his emotions are also adrift. Get it? I should have explained that earlier. Actually, I was assuming that most people would catch it, but maybe not. Okay, to address the lemons thing, it may or may not happen. I probably wouldn't write it, but hint at it. As in, something like a character going into another character's tent at night type of deal. See what I mean? I hope so. Anyways, please review so I get some sort of input. It helps me a whole lot. Really! I'm trying to make each chapter 1000 words, because I know it bothers people when there is only 700 words per chapter. I am trying though, so give me some credit. Have a good one!

EDT II: I write that edit for you guys. Don't frickin skip it.