Life is getting busy o.o but here's the next chapter. Review blah blah blah. let me know what you think.

Day: 19

Celeste is still ill. We should have brought a healer, this was my own negligence. I am such a fool.

My fault in this stays in my mind always. I can think of little else. Ike insists that she will recover.

Tomorrow we will be able to touch land. Without Celeste, we have no knowledge of what we will face there, but we must regardless. If there is any hope of finding a healer, we must try.

He set his feather pen down with a deep sigh, his hands meeting his head and running through his hair. This wasn't right, not at all. His choice was being affected by his emotions; that wasn't supposed to happen. He was supposed to be stronger than that.

Gently he picked the pen back up and ran a line through the last two sentences.

To go ashore now would be unwise. We know nothing of the land we will be exploring or its dangers, and we have two liabilities in the form of Celeste and the Captain. The best course of action would be to wait for this illness to pass.

Or for her to die, he thought. He quickly ran yet another line through what he had just written.

I feel indecisive; an emotion new to me. Usually I am able to make the sensible decision without a second thought; but now I feel torn. Celeste does not deserve to die; but then again, do any of us? Should we risk our well being to save her? That may well be the proper course of action, as having a hawk laguz will undoubtedly be of great use to us. Though, at the same time I cannot deny the foolish danger we will be putting ourselves in by going on land.

The weight of this decision and the lives of these people lie on me, and me alone. I must think on it more.

Soren.

"You alright Soren?"

The mage nodded while tucking to book back away in the drawer. He turned to Ike.

"You should sleep," the man's face was creased in worry.

"There's no time for that right now. I must think." Amber eyes were distant, tired.

Ike rose from his cot, "You'll make yourself sick if you don't try to get some sleep."

"If that is the price to pay, I shall pay it," he stood.

Ike shook his head, but did not argue. After placing his lips against the mage's in a soft kiss, he murmured, "Just get some sleep tonight, please? I have trouble sleeping when you don't."

Soren nodded, holding back the blood that threatened to rush to his face. "Alright…" he paused. "Is that true?" Ike head only tilted a bit in confusion, and the blush broke out across Soren's face. "What you said," the mage continued, "About not being able to sleep when I didn't…"

"Of course," he smiled softly. "I love you Soren, so I care about you."

Butterflies erupted in the young mage's stomach. This was the first time Ike had said those three words. He tried to hide what he was feeling by placing his cheek against the swordsman's chest and wrapping his thin arms around him. "I love you too Ike. Don't worry about me, I'll get some sleep." A warm hand was placed on his head and Ike pulled away, returning to his cot.

"I'll hold you to your word then," he smiled.

"I'm just going to check up on a few things first."

"Mmm," the man laid down in his cot, "Tell Celeste I said hi."

Celeste was being held in the captain's quarters, the captain having given it up freely for the sick girl. Soren entered the room silently, being careful to close the door in a manner that would disturb no one. Yet nothing could be hidden from the ears of a hawk. "Soren?"

He sighed when his name was spoken, of course she knew it was him. "Are you able to move?" He approached the bed she was lying in. Her face was flush, her breathing labored. This was more than just a simple fever; she was dying.

"Y-yeah. I walked this morning, even flew a little. But Bryant caught me," she laughed weakly. "I'll be better soon."

He said nothing.

"Don't worry Soren."

"I'm not worried." He said quickly, "It's just… we'll touch land tomorrow."

A smile touched her lips, "What does it look like?"

"Desert. Nothing but desert. We don't even know what we might face there."

Her smile fell, "That's my fault."

"We… would be in a better position if you had been able to do some recon work; yes. But the fault is partially mine. Had you not fallen into the ocean, you wouldn't be sick."

She looked at the ceiling, "So, what will you do?"

He had been asking himself that same question. "We risk ourselves by going on land with no knowledge of what we're getting into. But if we don't find a town with a healer…" He didn't continue.

"I know I'm dying Soren."

"Yes, well… we'll find you a healer."

"It will be dangerous though?"

"Perhaps. We don't know."

"I see."

"Don't worry about us," he said. "Just try to get better. We need you." He turned, "Uh, Ike says hi."

She smiled.

Soren didn't sleep well that night. Oh, he slept, as he had promised Ike he would, but his night was plagued with thoughts of tomorrow, and the decision he faced. It was a dreamless sleep, on from which he awoke to the darkness of the cabin many times.

He continued to lie in bed when the sun rose, though sleep no longer held his company. Ike too, slept, as was apparent by the soft snore that filled the room.

The door slammed open and Bryant charged in. Soren jumped up, and Ike rose slowly. "She's gone!" He yelled, his voice paniced.

"Who's gone?" the swordsman asked with a yawn.

Day: 20

Celeste is gone. She left a note, informing us that she was going to perform recon work for us. I fear that my conversation with her last night may have sparked this in her. We meant to take off immediately after Bryant discovered her cot empty, but the winds are against us.

We won't be able to sail until they die down or turn in our favor again. I attempted to use wind magic against the sails; but I don't have anything powerful enough.

All we can hope is that perhaps Celeste will return safely.

Soren.