Heirot

Telanis looked tensely at Laya. "There's no reason to jump to that conclusion," he attempted. "Maybe Neko has heard of this problem. I'll go find her." He stood up, giving Laya a reassuring glance before leaving the room.

Adonis crossed his arms uncomfortably and looked at Laya. Her fear was seeping into him, like an infection he couldn't stop. Why did he have to endure the emotions of human beings along with them? To him, the power seemed like a curse.

"Maybe you should lie down and relax," he comforted quietly.

"Neko?" Telanis called from outside her door. Remember seeing humans rap their fists against doors when they wanted the attention of those on the other side, he lifted his and knocked firmly on the door.

It was Kratos who answered the door. "Yes Telanis?" he asked paitently.

Laya looked at Adonis and shook her head softly. "I don't feel like relaxing, thank you," she said, but did lower herself to where she was lying down again.

She didn't want to make it worst off, but then again she didn't want to rest either. She could feel that Adonis was uncomfortable, it was just the air around him. "Uh... you don't have to stay here with me..." she said softly, her back to him.

"I mean... I don't want to give it to you.... Telanis and the others might want to stay away too..." She really didn't want to give it to him if it was able to pass from person to person.

She swallowed hard. It was sad to think that she got a chance to live and find peace and was going to die soon after.

"Don't worry too much about me," Adonis said calmly. "If I were going to get the disease, I feel I would have gotten it long ago, during my time treating it in the village. But it would be a good idea for you to drink something at least. I'll go find some water while Telanis looks for your friends." He stood up and left the room quietly.

"Kratos," Telanis said as the door opened, sound relieved. "Laya isn't feeling well. I will use my powers to heal her if she gets any worse, but..." he looked at Kratos with a frown, hoping he might have seen the problem before.

Laya didn't see him leave, since she was facing the all and her back was too him. But, she heard the sound of the door close and then there was silence.

She rested her head on her arm and pulled the pillow further down so she could rest her head on that instead.

She sighed tiredly, closing her burning eyes for a moment. She felt dizzy and sick again as the ship rocked back and forth and she felt her body swaying with the ship.

She wondered if maybe Adonis was wrong? Maybe he was trying to scare her into hating Telanis...

But, was Telanis really the cause of this? No... He couldn't be. He was kind and gentle. If only she could meet a guy like Telanis... who would take care of her. But, she wouldn't be seeing that any time soon.

Kratos lifted his brows quizzically. "How so is she sick?" he asked concerned. "Telanis, what iswrong with Laya?"

Telanis averted his gaze somewhat. "She may just be seasick. Or, it's possible she has what was going around that village," he said carefully. "But if it is, I'll definitely heal her," he assured in a rush.

Adonis headed down the corridor toward the area where the ship's mess hall was located, apparently absorbed into solemn thought. His stride was so quick and his thought so deep that he almost walked straight into another person who was coming down the narrow corridor. His eyes drifting upward just in time to realize her presence, he froze midstep and lunged clumsily sideways, having to catch the wall with his hand to keep himself from crashing into it.

His first instinct had been to avoid making blunt physical contact with a human, but when he threw his brown eyes warily to investigate the person he'd almost collided with, he found that she wasn't a human at all, but a beautifully furred creature that appeared to share little with humans besides her stature. Adonis looked at her with a blend of surprise, curiosity and caution. The human manners he had mastered directed him to make a casually apologetic greeting of some sort, while his own inclination was to candidly ask her what, exactly, she was. A third part of him, noticing his unwise interest in acquainting himself with her, bade him to proceed without a word. The result was that he wound up frozen in place looking at her blankly.

Kratos narrowed his eyes at Telanis. Was there something he wasn't telling him? "Let me see her." Kratos said stermly and walked out of his room.

Laya rolled over on her back and closed her eyes to keep her room from spinning anymore than it was. However, it didn't stop the strange feeling that her body was still spinning.

She wondered if she really had the sickness that the villagers were dying from... If she did then Telanis could heal her right? But, he had healed the boy who died... hadn't he?

Telanis tailed Kratos back to Laya's room and walked inside with him. The girl looked paler than when he'd first left. Unless Kratos knew what was wrong, he would use his magic to treat the problem. The only reason he hadn't done so already was because the unicorn felt hesitant to use too much power too soon while he was outside his forest.

Laya heard the sound of her door open again and she opened her eyes, blinking several times to clear her dizzy vision as she sat up slowly. She put a hand to her head and then looked towards the door to find who had walked in.

She thought it might be Adonis... He had gone to get her water. But, she didn't find Adonis. She wished it would have been Telanis... or Neko... or Kratos.

Anybody but who she saw standing in the door way. Anybody but him.

Sudden fear flooded through her, sending every nerve and bone in her body ridged like ice. Sending everything in her into violent trembles soon afterwards. Her breath was caught in her throat as her eyes watered to the point the image of him blurred in front of her. She couldn't move, breath, talk, blink... she couldn't do anything.

"K-k-kron...." she finally breathed. Her eyes closed slowly, her head tilted back and then forward as a wave of dizziness and nausea took hold.

It couldn't be. There was no way. He was a pile of ashes.

"No...." She put her hands to her head and closed her eyes. She needed to be aware now more than ever. Especially if he was back. She needed to be able to fight him off. "Don't touch me you bastard!!!"

"Calm down Laya!" Kratos called out to her. He didn't go to her, but he grabbed the trash bin by the side of the door and placed it close to her. "Don't fight it Laya." he tried to soothe her from a distance. In this state, touching her was a danger to them both. "Just let it come Laya... you'll be ok.. trust me. It's just me and Telanis Laya..no one else. I promise that."

Kratos leaned over to Telanis as whispered to him softly. "Go find my sister."

Laya cowered down, putting her forhead to her knees and her hands over her head as if the roof was falling down around her.

She could barely hear his distroted voice. " "Don't fight it Laya. Just let me come to you Laya... you'll be ok.. trust me. It's just me... no one else. I promise that."

"No!" she cried, her cry muffled by her legs. She couldn't take it if he touched her. She couldn't take it if he was really alive. Maybe she was just seeing things again? But... visions couldn't talk could they?

Whatever it was she didn't want to look up to find it was real. She wanted someone to come save her. Someone who had the comforting presense like...

Telanis!! she screamed in her head, help me!! "Telanis!"

Kratos backed away. He had no idea what was wrong wth her. He first thought she was seasick but now... hallucinations?

"Telanis!" he called. Why didn't he go? "Find my sister! I can't help her if she doesn't trust me!"

Telanis almost went to find Neko, but Laya's panicked mental request for help made him stop at the door and turn back. This was not seasickness; he was certain, even if he'd never seen it before. He walked over to her side. I'm here, he spoke gently into her mind. This is my hand, he guided her through her hallucination as he placed one palm lightly onto her forehead. He closed his eyes and a soft light surrounded Laya's body, seeking out the source of her illness and dispersing it. At least, that was what the spell was intended to do. Telanis had no idea that the curse placed on Laya was designed to accelerate in the presence of Telanis's magic.

* * *

Adonis looked at the fox and nodded slightly. "This is my first time on a ship," he admitted. Adonis was surprised by his own words. Why had he just told her that?