[littl3chocobo]

he had come to about halfway back but had no inclination to notifiy the other. he did however have time to ponder what had been said. ...a secret...he cursed his weakness, there was something important there, something he missed entirly. he regreted not being able to know, if only he had been stronger, if only he he...bt no, the other was so very close then, so warm against him. he felt faint again just thinking about it. he was ashamed then, to think he had ruined not only any chance to befriend this oddly compelling man but he had also been left with an unknown secret he would never find the answer to. he wished desperatly to be able to open his eyes and ask what it was the other had thought to tell him. instead he lay limp until he was laid down and the other stole away upstairs. turning then to his aunt he contemplated waking her. she knew all the answers to every question he had ever had, even before mother had died auntie had been his only real family, she was wise and educated, she had the ability to fix all manner of things from kettles to arms to disputes, but he had a feeling that even if she could explain to him what it was he could not understand she would most likely not. she hated men of the sea, pirates most of all. she would be no help. he turned away and tried to sleep.

he dreamed as if in a fever. everything was heat and teeth and running. bites and kisses and baring of teeth abound, it was red and black and everything ran together. he was running, running from that hungry mouth that would eat him whole. he fell. he was trapped! he woke up

he lay there stock-still breathing heavily. his auntie had already risen, the fire stoked. he felt ill, this was not his usual nightmare. he quickly got out of bed and folded up his blankets, stowing them in the bed-box he quickly got dressed and went down to shore to collect the morning's mussels and driftwood. he said nothing.