So rest we did. I wasn't happy with being the dead weight of the team, but I couldn't say I didn't want to relax. I was tired and Chloe had been right, I was still drowsy. I kept forcing my eyes open after they tired numerous times to close. After the fifth or sixth attempt at staying awake I slouched against the wall, giving up. There was no point in trying, my body wouldn't hear my orders to stay awake and within minutes I had drifted to sleep.

Beside me, Chloe glanced over. When she saw I was snoozing she smiled. "She's tired." She said to Senel.

"Yeah. That hit was pretty bad. She might not wake up for awhile." Senel crossed his arms and looked around. Jay was still out and about, patrolling for any monsters. He wondered if they would have enough time to get what Will wanted. A sample of the water at the deepest point in a small pond. Rumours had started up in Werites Beacon about the lakes beginning to smell and the sheriff was notified immediately. He wanted to check if the source was from the Waterways first and being too busy with other things, let them go to grab a sample.

But Senel was starting to doubt the skills of their group. He was worried with me sleeping that when I woke up the incident would simply repeat itself. He had watched my fighting style carefully since we started battling together and knew I was horrible at dodging. I could barely get out of the way of an obvious hit. He had enough gels to keep us alive for the trip but the time it took to recover after such drastic ones would be their downfall. He frowned, mildly frustrated.

Chloe noticed his expression and her eyes turned worried. "Coolidge, are you alright? Is it your back?"

Senel shook his head and gave her a small, reassuring smile. "No, I'm feeling better. It's just... well... I think I'll go ahead and find the pond. Can you stay with Alex and keep an eye on her?"

"What? But you'll be all alone and even you're not strong enough for the beasts here!" She stood off the stairs, grabbing her sword she had set down beside her long ago. "I'll come with you."

"Chloe," he sighed, "you can't. Who'll take care of Alex? I don't think Moses would be too happy if we let his cousin get eaten by monsters."

"Yes, but..."

Their conversation was interrupted by Jay landing beside them from above. He had his dagger in hand and Senel caught sight of fresh blood on it as the boy tucked it away into his jacket. "Well, well, lovers' quarrel?" He teased.

Chloe's face heated up and Senel rolled his eyes. "N-no!" The knight cried. "We're just—"

"Jay, can you stay here and watch Alex for us?" Senel asked.

Jay's almost-smile disappeared. "Why? Are you planning to go ahead and find the spring?"

Clever as always, he never missed a point. Senel nodded, feeling rather like an open book. He knew it wasn't him, that it was just Jay's observant and quick reacting mind, but being read so easily bugged him. "Yeah."

The ninja didn't speak for quite a bit. He thought over the plan in his mind, re-thinking what could and couldn't happen. In the end he sighed, shrugging his shoulders. "I don't have much of a choice, do I? Alright, very well. I'll babysit the baboon. Just don't take too long or I might not live through it."

Senel smiled, patting his friend's shoulder. "Thanks, Jay. You'll do fine. She's asleep anyways."

"For now."

Chloe laughed softly. It was like Moses and Jay's relationship, only milder and somewhat one-sided. With Senel by her side they walked away after giving Jay a couple items in case he was attacked.

He watched them go and when they rounded the corner he snorted. He turned to my sleeping figure and narrowed his eyes. 'Please don't wake up.' He thought bitterly. 'I could go the rest of the day without any more nuisances.'

His wish wasn't exactly granted.

--

However long I slept I didn't know. What I did confirm was how much better I felt when I woke up.

I stretched my arms. It felt good to move again. I felt slightly bad for sleeping like that but I knew I couldn't dwell on it. The others didn't seem too upset about it at least. I bent my back, loving the feel as it strained and then relaxed. As I stood up I shook both my legs. They were numb. I must have been resting for quite some time.

I finished my stretching and began looking around. It was empty. I was alone. I wondered to myself if they went on ahead without me and frowned. They wouldn't do that... would they?

"Ah. You're awake. How unfortunate."

My eye twitched at the voice. Dammit. He just had to be the one to find me first.

Slowly I turned around, my stare set as a glare. Jay stood at the top of the staircase I had been napping on with an amused smile. I seethed inside. "You're so kind. It makes me want to puke."

"Don't worry, I feel that way too when I look at your face."

That's it. I wanted to snap but held it tight. 'Keep calm,' I told myself, 'he's just screwing with you. Don't give him the satisfaction you're angry.' Taking the advice to heart I let out a breath of air. If it was a mind battle he wanted, then I'd gladly give him one. "Right. So, where are Senel and Chloe?"

He shoved his hands in his pockets and jerked his head down the road. "They went ahead. They were worried you'd sleep too long."

Sleep too long? That certainly told me how little they thought of my manners. They were comparing me with Moses far too much. "Are we going to go after them?"

He looked like he wanted to roll his eyes. "Do you have any other ideas?"

Yeah, getting the hell out of there. The spring was deeper in and we were already quite a ways underground. I glanced nervously up to the ceiling. Was it just me or were there cracks starting to form? "Not really." I lied again that day and I wondered how many times I'd fib about my fear before the dawn ended.

Jay took note of the edge in my voice but didn't say anything on it. He stepped down the stairs, jumping over the last three. "Then let's go."