Three moon cycles pass before Kaia sees him.
The dark-haired young man who carries the weight of the world on his shoulders. He looks even more troubled than before, if possible.
She wants to approach him.
She doesn't want to get anywhere near him.
Ask him what's wrong.
Refuse to talk to him.
Take his hand in silent support.
Move on from him and the heartbreak-
She blinks. Her thoughts have been… odd lately, different from the way the voice is, and these last ones were just… she can't remember. She tries to recall whatever it was, but it floats away from her as if carried away by the tide.
Perhaps it's not important, since she forgot it so quickly, but she can feel that curiosity (that burning need to know) tugging at her more insistently than before.
The man runs a hand through his hair, staring out to sea as if it holds the answers to all his questions. Kaia strengthens her magic anyway to remain hidden and ensure the current won't allow his small boat to drift towards her.
She's not sure how long she watches him, but suddenly the air shifts and the next thing Kaia knows is the howling wind and the raging sea. Panic fills her when she realizes the waves have hidden the boat and she dives under the water to see if she can find him.
But it's worse because a darkened sky means murky water and the new currents tug her in all directions. She tries to swim towards where she saw him but soon has no choice except to breach the surface once more. Kaia repeats this pattern over and over and over and panic suddenly starts to consume her because he can't-! He can't die!
He's not allowed to! I want him to live!
Something catches the corner of her eye and- There! She dives once more, swimming towards the overturned boat and breaking the surface to find him clutching the hull, gasping for breath with blue-colored lips and eyes closed against the rain's onslaught.
"I've got you!" She comes up behind him and places a hand against one of his as the other wraps around his waist, "Come on!"
"-" He mutters something, shaking his head as he does, but the wind and thunder snatch his words before they even reach her ears.
"We'll be ok!" She promises, sending a flair of magic to surround him, "I promise!"
For a moment (a brief, heart-stopping moment) he clutches the boat more tightly, and Kaia worries the sea will take him. But then he turns his hand, intertwining their fingers, and lets go.