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P** art Thirteen: "The Walk and the Talk"**

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As if time itself had sped up, within what'd felt the blink of an eye or the beat of a heart, it had in fact been almost a week after the shark attack. During that time, thanks to whatever luck was with her, Nyrina's previously wounded body had recovered a good deal since. Indeed, the place where she'd been head butted in the side by the aqua predator as well as knocked aside by its tail were now no longer as uncomfortable as they'd been when first dealt to her during her life and death struggle further up the Seidon River. During the moments she thought that maybe she was going to die... before a certain heroic human had stepped up in her defense, driven away her demon of a foe as well as become a close companion of hers today.

However, despite her progress in healing up to this point, whether or not she wanted to accept it at the moment as she ventured into the woodlands with her human savior, the she-otter was still somewhat physically injured. Her body ached every time she moved. Thus, truly, no matter her show of bravery, she should have known that it was not a good idea for her to be wandering the surrounding forestlands. Even with Ivan at her side; even if it was to keep him company in case anything bad did happen while he was out searching for Sunseed.

For if something bad did happen during this silent mission of theirs... well, her hurting self wouldn't provide him with much support. Rather, she would - more than likely - be a burden to him. Nevertheless, the Urchinhide daughter couldn't hope to turn back during these early hours of the newest day's morning. Due to her recent if not ominous dream back on the raft, she had to be here for her human friend. Deep down in her heart for whatever reason, she was somehow newly aware that she had to watch over him, protect him, just plain be there for him this morning.

"He needs you now." ConcernedNyrina remembered Goddess Gaia had gently said to her back in her most beautiful of dreams earlier, having meant Ivan then, "He needs you more than ever."

And it was those words - oddly feeling prophetic - of warning from the all mother were what made Nyrina, against her better judgment, presently if not stubbornly follow her silent champion west through the forest. As she did her best to keep up with her human companion, while she watched his back ahead of her, the strong she-otter's mind gradually became a whirlwind of questions.

During Nyrina's slumber back on her family raft, while she'd swam with the goddess in the vast seas of the dream world, what in Felldew had all of it meant? For the very first time in her life, out of literally nowhere, why had all powerful Gaia so suddenly decided to visit the Urchinhide daughter during her sleep? Such an honor was most incredible if not grand! Even now, as she walked through the quiet woodlands and knew she'd seen the goddess in her sleep, Nyrina was still having trouble wrapping her mind around it. For as her parents had told her many times in the past during her growing up, she knew that no one but destined individuals - figures meant to do great things - envisioned the all mother in their sleep!

So, clutching her chest to try to stem her excitement building in her beating heart, was the beginning of something grand for Nyrina? Was she fated to go on to do something revolutionary or life changing for all of Felldew? No, that was impossible to consider! The young she-otter knew her family was fantastic but not THAT fantastic. Besides, she didn't want that kind of role. She didn't want to be legendary... not like the humans of Norlinth. She wanted to be herself.

Speaking of humans of the northern kingdom, was she not in the presence of one right now? Had she not been effected ever so grandly by Ivan since he'd come into her life no more than seven days ago? Yes. That was true. Hm, thus, did Ivan's presence in Nyrina's life have something to do with the she-otter abruptly being visited by the deity? Well, with him being a human, he was a messenger of her heavenly grace.

So, more likely than not, yes, it would make sense for the goddess to begin showing herself to those who were around Ivan, wouldn't it? Indeed, as Nyrina had heard her parents claim that they'd witnessed Gaia in their own dreams when traveling with their own human friend, it would seem... that she was bound to start having visits from the goddess some nights. Maybe, during the days to come, thanks to Ivan, Clampter too would see the all mother in his sleep?

Mind, it wasn't like dreaming of Gaia was a terrible thing for any Felldewan in the world. No, rather, as it had been made plain since the very days of Adam the Human Liberator and Eve the Dragoness hundreds of years back, seeing the goddess in one's dreams promised happiness, peace, good tidings that were yet to come. Still, what in this good world had Gaia's words meant back in Nyrina's dream ocean? More importantly, due to the deity's words, why had she been guided to her human rescuer... who was stranded upon a most ruined, eerie, wrecked ship floating out in the middle of nowhere?

"Helena?" Ivan had breathed then, looking up at Nyrina like he hadn't known her. Rather, it had seemed then like he was expecting... someone else to be before him? Regardless, that'd been the name that Ivan - gaunt, depressed, not his usually cheerful self - had said to the worried she-otter when she'd asked him what'd been wrong on the deck of that frigate, hadn't it?

Yes, instead of saying Nyrina's name... he'd said another's; Helena. Why had he said that? And why had he said it with something like fear in his tone?

As she watched the back of her steadfast human friend leading the way through the dark foliage around them, feeling her heart hurting for untold reasons and her head starting to ache, there were so many riddles that currently ran wild through the unsure Urchinhide daughter's mind. Where she felt like she'd come to know plenty of things about her human during the last week, now - within the span of one dream - she was not at all sure that she knew him at all. Rather, now that she thought back on it, it'd only been seven days since she had met him.

Therefore, was it a bit childish if not foolish of her to think that less than a week was the right amount of time to say that she knew her rescuer in most every way? Even after so many years alongside her family, there were probably things that she still didn't know about her loving parents. So, alas, it truly was a bit... immature for the she-otter to have assumed recently that she knew Ivan for the better. Rather, she now had to come to terms that there was plenty more to learn about him. Underneath that smile of his, he was maybe hiding things from her and the goddess was encouraging her in turn to seek out his secrets.

No, now that she walked with him through the darkness of night just before dawn, now that she'd had her ominous dream about him, now that she recalled how he'd been a bit harsh towards Spik last night until she'd comforted him, Nyrina was starting to accept that there definitely had to be more to the human ahead of her. True, what more there was to him and how much more, she wasn't sure.

Yet, smiling to herself and remembering all of his kindness shown towards her family for the last week, she found that she wasn't exactly afraid to find out. If anything, with her heart drumming against her chest, with her mind trying to work out the mystery of her dream about him, she very much wanted to stop him at the moment... and discuss many a thing with him. How could she do that though? Even if he was human and was familiar with how the goddess worked through dreams, how was she to begin?

"Oh Ivan, listen to this. You wouldn't believe it but right before I came outside back on the raft and found you about to wander off, I had a lovely dream about Gaia herself. Do you want to hear it?" Nyrina imagined herself stupidly chiming, acting like nothing was amiss with what she was talking about, "You see, I was swimming with the all mother in this grand ocean and then the goddess told me that someone needed me. So I swan up to this weird ship drifting in the middle of nowhere and guess who was on that vessel? You were on it! Hm, odd, right? Not only that, you told me something on that ship. You spoke a name. Care to explain?"

Oh joy. That sounded like a most excellent way to start a conversation, did it not? No. No, despite her knowing her friendly her human friend had been for the last near week, Nyrina wasn't comfortable... with just stating so much to Ivan. She felt it right for her to take her time. She felt that it would be good for her to maybe - if he was hiding things - take this procedure a bit slow.

One way or the other, ever since they'd met, the Urchinhides had revealed plenty about themselves to their Norlinthian guest. He was a friend of theirs by this point. They'd told him about their many years of travel, about the many sights they'd seen, about the many other anima they'd met. It had only been common courtesy on their part to do such a thing, after all. Alas, as Nyrina thought back on it, where she'd told him a lot about herself, Ivan hadn't exactly revealed much about himself.

And during last night where he'd listened to everyone speak their minds over Sunbeam's revealed personal story, the Norlinthian had simply listened in the background. Curious. Why was that? What was his cause of silence all of a sudden?

Not only that, as Nyrina had noticed him doing during last night's chatting, why had he gazed into the fire like he was lost in the deepest of thoughts? Why had it seemed then that his eyes had not shined with happiness but with hints of somberness? Had his staring into the fire been the cause of his outburst against poor ol' Spik then? Had he been... hurting after Sunbeam's story? If so, what in the world had he been pondering over that could have made him go from being the icon of optimism into a hostile soul?

Helena... When that word - that name - been spoken by grim Ivan stranded on his ship, it'd sounded ever so painful to hear. It had made Nyrina gasp with worry, making her wake in turn and go check on him outside. Did that mystery of a name have something to do with how the human had intently stared into the dancing flames of the fire pit last night? Had it made him behave so unlike himself against Spik?

Or was it maybe another thing that'd made the human grow angry when he'd heard the story of why Sunseed was rebellious? AUGH! There were just so many questions without any kind of answers at the moment-

"Augh!" Nyrina grunted suddenly, feeling her left foot ache all over next! Hobbling along for a few paces, grimacing to herself, she found that she'd stubbed her said foot on a protruding root raised up off of the forest floor. Blast it all! Shark attacks and root ambushes? Mother Nature could be cruel sometimes. "Ouch, ouch, ouch - whoop!"

Out of the blue, just as she was beginning to slip off balance, just as she was starting to fall to the ground due to her skipping forward thanks to her hurting toes, Ivan - who never seemed to miss anything - was there before bewildered Nyrina! Easily in turn, with his arms outstretched, he caught her as she stumbled forth into his waiting embrace. Then, for a moment or two, with her coming to terms with what had just transpired, the two of them remained softly content in one another's arms. And with the shadows of the night hiding them from sight now, with the torch held aside out of harm's way, neither of them in fact moved for what felt like eternity.

Instead, the two friends came to understand that it was just them there, out in the middle of nowhere... with no one or anything to tease them like back on the Dynamic. The human's eyes locked onto the startled she-otter's. Blue eyes stared into green ones then.

Truth be told, with her breath caught in her throat, feeling his strong arms holding her close to him, Nyrina felt almost like she was still experiencing the sensation of falling; falling into her champion's honest if not warming hug, anyway. Truly, where she'd had bad feelings about him being in some kind of trouble or that he was maybe not what he seemed a moment ago, now the she-otter was inwardly lecturing herself on how foolish she'd been in thinking such things.

Just as he was showing her at the moment by having prevented her from falling and possibly hurting herself, had Ivan not made it clear to the Urchinhide daughter by now that he was a special human with a grand soul meant only for spreading happiness? Had he not proven his strength along with valor when he'd saved her from the shark when they'd first met? Hadn't he become a good addition to her family, despite the fact that he was quiet from time to time? Yes. Yes to all of those inquiries.

It was true. For whatever her prophetic reason, Goddess Gaia had visited stunned Nyrina during her sleep no more than an hour ago. Nevertheless, where the all mother had spoken of him in a fated way then, Ivan didn't seem any different now than he'd been during the last few days. He was still a caring, encouraging if not dutiful friend to Nyrina as he gently lifted her back onto her feet, brushed her off, then gave her his warmest of smiles in the torchlight. He was her savior.

And... whether they knew it or not this morning, he would go on to become her everything. She, in turn, despite the odds to come, would become his everything.

"You sure you're doing okay back here, Nyrina? You're not getting dizzy or anything are you? You nearly fell right now." The human asked gently, watching the she-otter looking up at him closely as he spoke, "It's not too late for you to turn back and return to the Dynamic, you know. There's no reason for you to push yourself like this if you're suffering-"

"Ivan, stop it. I'm not some pup for your information but a grown lady. Heh, I'm not suffering. Really, I'm not. I'm doing fine. Thank you for worrying over me but don't. I only slipped on a tree root was all. See?" The otter daughter responded at once, brushing her hair out of her honest eyes as she gestured back to gnarled root nearby, "And no, there's no way I'm going back to the Dynamic! So, hmf, you can quit giving me that look. It's like I told you earlier, tough guy, I'm coming with you. It's not safe for you to be running off into these woodlands in the dark on your own."

"It's not safe for me to be on my own? That may be somewhat true but truth be told, I was on my own for quite some time - years even - before meeting your family. I think I can manage now. Also, I'm not the one who is still recovering from a shark attack less than a week ago." The human replied, giving his otter maiden of a companion a smirk which she returned by playfully sticking out her tongue. Next, looking a bit unsure, the Norlinthian reasoned, "Honestly, Nyrina, I appreciate your worrying over me but it's not wise for you to be coming out here with me. You need to be back in your hammock sleeping and recovering, not trudging through this chill time of day with those injuries of yours."

"Oh come on, don't be another parent of mine, Ivan. My one mother is bad enough without you becoming one too. Honestly, ha ha, we've been walking for the last thirty minutes. There's no way I'm going back now. Not when I've come this far with you. We're adventuring together. We're both pilgrims!" The she-otter argued happily, shaking her head as well as nudging her human champion to keep going westward. She gently nudged him with her tail when he looked reluctant to carry on, "Besides, it won't be cold for very much longer nor will it be dark. You said before we took off into these woods that it was an hour or two before dawn. So, soon enough, the sun will be up. By then, we'll be able to better see where we're going and we won't be cold."

There was a moment of silence where Ivan looked uncertain as to how to proceed. His reluctance was unnerving... but heartening. It was clear that he really did care about the otter maiden's overall health. Maybe he was a fool for having allowed her to tag along with him earlier. Yet, she had had him cornered then. She'd threatened to ruin his intentions by waking everyone else up.

Also, she had a point at the moment. They were a half hour into the journey already. Thus, within another half hour or a little more after, the morning sun would be coming up in the east. The arrival of dawn would chase away the chill in the air. Until then, though, the air was a tad bit too cold for the human's liking. Well, not on his part, anyway, but for Nyrina's who - even with her fur - hadn't really grabbed much of anything from the Dynamic when she'd insisted on coming with him.

Honestly, even if it didn't want to be admitted by either of them, she was more dead weight than help at the moment. She didn't even have a weapon in case something "bad" did actually happen during their searching for Sunseed. Sheesh. Had she called herself not a "pup" but a "young lady" a moment ago? Pft, and yet here she was rubbing her arms, shaking her tail, blinking her eyes as well as looking a bit pathetic without anything to defend herself.

Well, either way, knowing that the she-otter before him had a point that they'd come too far to turn back now for whatever reason, knowing that she wouldn't return home without being forced, Ivan made no move to make Nyrina to go back to the raft. Instead, with a swift if not brotherly movement, surprising the otter maiden, he unclipped his traveling cloak from around his neck, flung it over the shoulders of his admirer like he'd done after her shark attack and allowed her to wear it once more.

Only this time, rather than hide her nudity from the world after danger had passed, it kept her effectively warm while he - at an easier pace than before - proceeded further westward in only his tunic and jerkin.

Once more, almost without trying, Ivan had shown his compassion for those around him. He, as a human, had shown the nature of his valiant people. In turn, admiring his caring ways, feeling her heart soar, Nyrina's drove away her fears that her human was maybe something other than he appeared to be. There was such a thing as being too "nice" towards others that led to suspicion.

However, that was not Ivan's case. As a human, he could never be too nice. He was always the gentleman. He was a grander than grand symbol of how his civilization - the first awakened under Goddess Gaia - had grown before and after the Reckoning War.

As Nyrina came to figure out later on, for her injured sake obviously, the march westward in pursuit of Sunseed slowed down a little for the next half hour. It was not so rushed but relaxed. As they walked along in each other's company, the comfortable she-otter and her valiant human champion came to notice the gradual return of life around them. For as the first rays of the morning sun's light began to peak over the eastern horizon in a brilliant shade of epic golden-bronze, the trees of the woodlands around the pair of friends seemed to shine with the brightest emerald colors. Gently, the wind sighed through the tree trunks and the many voices of waking birds called out to each other from wherever they rested in the leafy canopies all around.

This walk... it was almost like when Nyrina had gone off looking for freshwater pearls. Only this time, she wasn't fated to dive into shark infested waters without knowing it.

No, during this certain walk through the beauty that was Mother Nature, she was in the company of a dear, protective friend of hers. A friend who made sure she was okay every other minute by looking back over his should at her. And every time he did so, he caught her eye at which he shared a bright smile with her as well as went on leading the way over hills, down hills, past fallen trees and through the occasional puddle.

At one point when Ivan looked back at her, the she-otter playfully stuck her tongue out at him. "I'm still here." She laughed, feeling extremely happy that he cared about her safety that much, "Sorry to disappoint you."

"Why would I be disappointed?" Her rescuer answered, looking back ahead casually. He shrugged along with laughed cheerily, "I mean, it's better than looking ahead. Every time I look back... all I see is the same thing; beauty. I can't help myself. It's addicting."

Blushing crimson, covering her face to keep from being found out but squealing on the inside, Nyrina did her best not to roll up into an embarrassed ball at the subtle compliment thrown her way. Ivan had said "beauty" like he was referring to the environment all around them. However, having caught onto his formal if not clever wordplay since they'd met, the she-otter knew better. And she loved how her champion managed to catch her off guard like that. It was... too adorable to put into words.

Truly, she appreciated his every comment; no matter the way it was put. She appreciated him.

During the stroll to the west, with the many birds singing with gusto, Nyrina half expected the same confident sparrow from before the shark attack to land right in front of her, swagger about on a tree limb, puff up his little chest along with call for his friends to sing for her pleasure.

At this thought, not thinking twice about it, filled with undeniable need to raise her voice to the heavens, the now skipping otter maiden broke into the same song she'd sung before her rather wicked diving for freshwater pearls. Her voice carried far. Her voice rang strong. Her voice made her content human guide smile happier than ever when she hugged his arm and sang into his ear.

"It's time we were bound for faraway lands

Where you and I will go everywhere hand in hand

Through forests, valleys, prairies and fields

Over mountains, rivers, oceans and hills

No matter the distance, we will conquer it all

No matter the trials, we will never slow

No matter the enemies, we will not stop

For by the goddess Gaia's command, we shant lose heart

So come with me, pack your bags and gather what memories of this place you will

For you and I are out and bound for faraway lands

And we will not be back home 'til next spring"

When she finally finished her ditty with a memorable twirl in place, laughing at how Ivan actually if not easily lifted her off the ground onto his shoulder for a moment before setting her back down, Nyrina stumbled into her human's side with a laugh which he shared very happily with her. As they got around to marching off towards the west once more, the Norlinthian made known his opinion of the very grand song that'd been sung by the very gifted otter maiden walking alongside him.

"Bound for faraway lands are you? I thought the two of us were in fact looking for a certain lost mouse boy." He remarked, smiling thoughtfully. He noticed how the she-otter was bumping into him on purpose, her eyes sparkling with glee, "I suppose that that song is a favorite among travelers, eh? Especially with a traveling family such as yours, Nyrina?"

"Oh yes. You're perfectly right about that. It's a favorite amongst travelers, especially my parents. It's been a commonly sung melody on the Dynamic even before I was born. My mother and father sang it many a time when they were younger and were traveling this world." Nyrina explained, remembering how her mother had explained to her the origin of the "Bound for Faraway Lands" tune long ago, "But you're a traveler too, Ivan. Was that your first time hearing it?"

"Yes. I have to say that it was."

"How is that? Haven't you been traveling Felldew for eight years?"

"Indeed. I have been on the road for eight years. And thus, I'm just as shocked as you that I haven't heard of that song until now. My folk have gleaned all kinds of things from this world. It is clear that we do not know all things though. Ha ha, not when I just learned a new song from you, anyhow." The human admitted, looking a bit humored with himself, "Either way, now that I've heard it from you, pretty thing, I will most certainly have to jot it down in my memory for future use. Perhaps yourself and your family would be willing to teach it to me before anything happens to keep me from doing so?"

"Huh? What could keep you from doing so?" Nyrina wondered back, feeling a little taken aback.

"Well, let me think for a minute. Hm, the last time you went off on your own without letting anyone know... you got attacked and nearly eaten by a shark." Ivan explained, looking jokingly fearful all of a sudden like something as going to jump out of the shadows at him at any moment. He huddeled behind Nyrina, looking around at the woods in joking terror, "And here we are going off without anyone's knowledge now. Er, um, eek, who knows. Due to some reason or another, I could end up getting mauled by something for my actions today rather than helping Sunbeam's little brother."

"Don't talk like that. Please don't." The she-otter said, feeling a bit frightened by the idea of her human friend being possibly hurt like her. She delicately looked at the ground, her hands clutched over her chest, "We're on dry land, aren't we? And where we're going won't at all risk us coming across a shark, right? In all seriousness, we're only out here to get back Sunseed. There shouldn't be any danger in doing that, correct? The goddess will see us through this."

"Ah, you are correct. Forgive me. I'm sorry about my bad humor, Nyrina. I didn't mean to upset you. That was the last thing I wanted." Her human champion apologized, quickly turning from comical to apologetic. He actually - almost as if it was natural - hugged her around the shoulders with his one arm as they began walking again, "And while I'm saying sorry... I should also apologize for what you saw me do last night."

There it was! Last night was mentioned! Yes, it was about to happen. Nyrina hadn't even needed to say anything about Ivan's case of hostility last night and here he was now, to her relief, about to start talking about the subject of why he'd been so angry towards Spik during then. Here he was about to explain himself as well as hopefully provide a few answers to her needy questions at the same time.

"You're sorry... about how you snapped at Spik last night?" The she-otter questioned softly, looking up to her human companion as he looked to her, "Is that what you're talking about, Ivan?"

"Yes. That's right. Such anger was... most unneeded from me. It could have ruined the night that we were all enjoying. Especially when that hedgehog as well as she-mouse had suffered enough already for the last six years. My anger was most unnecessary." The Norlinthian sighed, rubbing his forehead with his free hand to help him feel a bit easier. He walked along with a deeply thoughtful look now. "Yet, my rage did not last long, did it? No, thanks to you, Nyrina, I did not fly off the handle. You saved everyone from a rather harsh experience when you confronted me as you did."

The Norlinthian next looked to his otter maiden of a companion and spoke happily to her, "Not only that... it was you who helped Sunbeam the most in opening up last night. It was you who gave her the courage to tell us her story about her mother. For that, I thank you."

"Aw, Ivan, you're welcome. Really, it was nothing. I was more than happy to help Sunbeam open up to us. Truly, I know that I just met her but I like her. Being the way you are, Ivan, I'm sure that you know already that she's a fine mouse with a good, caring heart. She's done her best in raising her brother for the last six years. In that truth, I believe." The otter daughter explained, watching her human friend's reactions to her words closely. She studied her companion's face as she next wondered of him, "You believe it too, right? You believe that Sunseed has a good sister, yes?"

"Oh, yes, Nyrina. When I first looked upon her, with how long I've been on the road meeting Felldewan after Felldewan, I knew from the start that Sunbeam was a good mouse maiden. I'm sure you know already by now but despite the bad things that have happened to her, that mouse's eyes still shine with strength. Her voice rings with honesty and her feelings for wanting to make brother happy are evident." The Norlinthian stated, meaning every word, "And the same goes for Spik too. He's a grand, family loving hedgehog. He never meant any ill will towards the little he-mouse... during Sunheart's death."

"Then, Ivan... why did you get so mad with the hedgehog last night?" Nyrina questioned, needing to know, even if it meant probing for information too personal. She didn't want to hurt him or drive him away. However, she didn't want to be left in the dark either. She wanted to know him, understand him, help him. "When he went to get Sunseed back for his mother long ago, was it not right for Spik to do what he did to get the little he-mouse back home?"

As they continued walking, there was a long quiet shared between the she-otter as well as her human guide. Then, abruptly, they came to a halt. Next, with a somewhat somber expression on his usually optimistic face, Ivan turned to Nyrina who could instantly tell - by the saddened way his blue eyes glimmered in the forest light - that it indeed had had something to do with the story of Sunseed's mother's death that'd made him act so angry last night.

He had been hiding something from her up to this point. And he was now about to reveal that secret, hopefully. He was about to let her know a little more about himself as a human pilgrim. He was about to include her into his life.

"There was... nothing wrong with what Spik did towards Sunseed six years ago. Rather, it was how it was done that was the issue." The Norlinthian began to explain, looking towards the morning sky overhead as he did. He sighed, rubbing his face gently. "Nyrina, when Sunseed went off on his own into the forest to look for his father so that his mother could possibly get better... he was doing something important. The little mouse child went off on his own to try to prove something to himself."

"What? You mean he wasn't being foolish by leaving his mother who needed him most?" The she-otter wondered curiously, feeling a bit foolish that she didn't know what it was that her all-knowing human was talking about, "What was it that Sunseed was trying to do by being on his own that day?"

"He was attempting to be brave. Truly, I know it is hard to believe but in his own six year old way, Sunseed went off on his own that day to give himself some alone time to try to deal with what was about to happen; the death of his mother." Was Ivan's solid answer which honestly kind of made sense to his otter maiden of a companion at once, "Forgive me, Nyrina, but I must ask this; have you ever lost anyone close to you?"

"I... I... Yes." Nyrina replied softly, looking at the sky too with many a thought going through her mind, "Last year, my mother's father, "Tide of the Barkray Clan" of Onyx Bay, passed away. He was good sea otter. He was my favorite grandfather."

There was a pause of respectful silence. Then, looking back to her gently, Ivan asked of Nyrina with as much formality as possible, "I am sorry to hear that. How did he pass on into Heavenall, may I ask?"

"It was old age." The Urchinhide daughter admitted to her human, smiling bravely, "The years finally caught up with him, goddess be merciful."

"Ah, the goddess is always merciful, my friend. Old age? Now, if I may say so without upsetting you, that was... not such a bad way to go for your relative. Not when there are so many terrible other ways to have possibly suffered instead." The Norlinthian explained, doing his best not to sound impolite or insulting towards his she-otter companion's family. His words sounded distant. Nyrina could see that his eyes were seeing things from his past rather than now. "Ahem, I expect you and your family attended your grandfather's funeral, no? As for the funeral rites, your family and his clan set him in a longboat, gave him what gifts you thought appropriate and then sent him out on his last journey through Onyx Bay where the goddess would eventually bring him to her realm?"

"That's... That's right." Nyrina said, feeling a bit surprised but not at the same time to hear the actual funeral event that'd been given to her deceased grandfather described to her so knowingly by Ivan. Humans were wise. They knew plenty about the world. "Have you attended an otter funeral then, Ivan?"

"I have." The human said back, not in a happy tone but in a solemn one. Again, his eyes looked distant with memories. Good or bad memories? That was unknown to the otter maiden. "During my three years aboard the Valiant, Nyrina... I saw many folk die. In turn, I sent many an otter adrift in a funeral boat. Tossing on the waves, with the smell of the sea in the air, I sent them on their last journeys through the waters to the goddess waiting for them."

At this, at hearing him sound so sad, at realizing that he'd lost people close to him before he'd met her, Nyrina gave all of her attention to Ivan who went back to gazing at the morning heavens above. As he looked away from her to elsewhere, she now knew that he was trying to put on a brave face. She was aware that he was not looking at her because he didn't want to show any weaknesses but have her believe that he was steadfast in the ways of life. And in many ways, he'd shown her in the past that he was steadfast. Still, this was... most unexpected.

Humans were brave. Humans were true. Yet, it seemed that humans were just as mortal as everyone else. They could suffer, they could hurt, they could feel just as bad as the Felldewan next to them. And at this moment, at seeing him silently hurting, Nyrina felt her heart aching. She remembered her dream from earlier. She recalled Goddess Gaia's words.

"He needs you now. He needs you more than ever."

At this, knowing he was suffering in pain silently and not trying to show weakness, wanting to help him, the Urchinhide daughter allowed a part of herself to take over. It was a part of her she didn't know existed. Not until she reached up, took her rescuer's face in her hands and then directed his gaze down into hers, anyway. And there, in the middle of the forest with the birds singing lazily, with the sun shining down upon them almost gladly, the otter maiden - wrapping her arms around his waist, never looking away from him - reassuringly hugged her champion close to her.

In turn, slowly, looking quietly astonished, the human in her grasp returned the clear show of affection. Soon, placing his chin upon her sweet smelling head, he was hugging her tighter than ever with her whispering naught but kindness for him to hear meanwhile.

"I am sorry, Ivan. I did not mean to bring grief or anything upon you." Nyrina admitted truthfully, her arms wrapped around her friend's body. She spoke as softly as the passing breeze which majestically blew her hair into her friend's content face, "I asked if you knew of otter funerals without thinking... I did not realize that you took part in so many in the past."

"Tis' not your fault for my show of sadness at the moment, Nyrina. And it was not a terrible thing for me to have taken part in so many said funerals of your kind. True, I found them ever so sad at first. Yet, when I gave it some thought, I came to realize in time that it was the highest honor for me to send their souls - the souls of your water loving kin - to the goddess." Ivan breathed, coming to accept that he rather much enjoyed the feeling of the otter maiden holding his head close to her own. Enjoyed her warmth, her kindness, her face rubbing against his chest. "But Nyrina, again, you haven't done anything wrong. I started this talk about death. I brought about this sadness... What I meant to say about Sunseed going off on his own when his mother was so close to dying... That was simply his best way of dealing with it."

"And... Spik interrupted that, didn't he?" Nyrina wondered gently, thinking to herself about the subject at hand, "Sunseed was interrupted before he could truly face the fact that his mother was going to die that day?"

"Yes. He was interrupted. He was... rushed, you could say." The Norlinthian confirmed, stepping back from his otter maiden of a friend and nodding. He honestly felt his heart skip a beat when seeing just how green her eyes were. "Although he didn't know it at the time, although he thought what he did then was correct, the old hedgehog wronged Sunseed six years ago. And now, he runs off on his own for the wrong reasons. He does so to hurt others, not to grow up like he tried to when his mother was passing on."

"Which is a truly terrible thing." The Urchinhide daughter stated, feeling very badly for Sunseed now. However, through all of this sadness she felt grand. She was connecting with Ivan. She was bonding with him at this moment and learning about him! "But Ivan... how are you going to help that little he-mouse rebel see the error of his ways? When his own sister cannot, how are you going to show him that he does nothing but hurt those close to him when he runs off?"

"Where there is a will, there is a way. That is how humans have lived since the first day of this world. It is how we shall always live." The human said firmly, a smile on his face. He actually went back to leading the way westward again next instant. Yet, this time, he led the way with pleasantly pleased Nyrina's hand in his own. "And I have the goddess's will on my side. So, I can't fail. Truly, thanks to the goddess, I've helped you heal up to this point, Nyrina. How can I not but help Sunseed heal too?"

"Heh, can you not help yourself sometime, Ivan? No, maybe not. Before looking out for yourself, it's in your nature as a human to go about helping whoever needs help." The Urchinhide daughter laughed brightly. She yelped, then giggled as she allowed her bold savior to lift her off of her feet into his arms. In the meantime, with skill, the human began to descend a rather rough hill lined with pinecones. Pinecones that could have hurt her feet. "And for that, for your selfless nature, all of Felldew thanks you, human. For that, Sunbeam will thank you. For that, Ivan, I... I thank you."

"You thank me, do you? Heh, you're very welcome, pretty otter." Ivan chortled, putting Nyrina back down at the base of the hill. He did not notice her disappointed look. She'd been very much enjoying him carrying her around in such a fashion; like she'd been as weightless as a cloud. "And as payment for me helping you, she-otter, I ask for only one thing; for you to teach me that "Bound for Faraway Lands" melody."

At this, when hearing that all her human champion wanted in payment from her was a song, the other side of Nyrina she wasn't familiar with took hold of her again. Quite honestly, each time she was taken over, she didn't mind. She actually encouraged it to dominate her feelings. For as Ivan looked to continue west, the she-otter grabbed his arm and - with him yelping a bit in shock - pulled him back to her with a purposeful jerk.

Next, pulling her friend's curious face down towards her own by gripping his uniform collar, Nyrina winked cutely and churred rather sweetly, "A song? Heh, that's... all you want for payment, Ivan? Truly? JUST a song?"

"I-" The Norlinthian began to say, suddenly seeing the playful glint in the otter maid's usually shy eyes. He gulped a little, smiling honestly as he admitted, "A song would do, yeah. Why? Er, do you have something else in mind that could be better?"

"Do I?" Nyrina purred, next taking a hold of her champion's face in her hands and standing up onto her toes so that they were closer than ever before; close enough to feel each other's nervous breaths on their faces. Heh, the otter maiden was being... quite confident all of sudden, wasn't she? What was going on? She was usually shy. Yet, encouraging herself, here she was being as straightforward as the sun shining in the sky. What was her game? "Why yes, Ivan, I do have something else in mind for a payment. Something far better, I must say. You saved my life, don't you know? You deserve something grander than just a song. Do you want to find out what I have in mind?"

Yet, just as Nyrina's confident self was drawing so very close against Ivan who was utterly entranced by her natural if not wild beauty, as her fingers intertwined with his limp own, just as her lips were centimeters from his so that the two of them could practically feel each other's lips practically brushing together, something... interrupted their rather romantic set up. For although alone in the forest where it seemed perfect for them to maybe start something more than friendship, where it seemed that they could get to know one another even more than they had, it seemed the goddess's intentions were instead for them to not get distracted from their current mission in locating Sunseed.

Just when they were about to actually share a kiss where no one could see them, a mighty wind picked up in the woodlands around the Urchinhide daughter and her champion. In turn, with all of the trees creaking, with leaves whipping by, the startled she-otter was pulled down to the ground with her rescuer where they watched their surroundings on their knees!

Then, from the spot they knelt upon, the pair of alert friends saw it passing them by just above the tips of the trees; a massive shape, predator like, feathered, flew directly if not boldly through the air over the awed pair of travelers and headed westward at a rapid pace; a pace that made the air hum, the wind howl and the leaves scatter across the ground like mice frightened by an ambushing cat! In turn, with the leaves of the forest floor scattering around them, whimpering Nyrina - feeling a bit scared - was hugged closer to Ivan who - being the warrior he was - never looked away from the thing that had flown overhead.

For several long moments afterwards, as the winds died down, nothing was said between Nyrina nor Ivan. They remained close, the human sheltering the unsure otter maiden.. Then, without warning, unslinging his bow, checking the quiver on his waist, the human asked of the she-otter as he stood to his feet with purpose, "You saw that too, right? You saw what flew overhead, correct?"

"Yes." The otter maiden confirmed, a bit shaken.

"Then it's time for you to go back home." The Norlinthian stated firmly, running west without warning!

"Ivan, wait-" Nyrina began worriedly, standing up on her own two feet, heart racing, eyes wide.

"No! Do not argue with me! There is nothing to discuss between us." Ivan yelled firmly, pausing for a moment to drive his caring friend away and back to safety. He was checking his arrows with a determined look; a look that he'd worn the day he'd shot down the shark chasing her. "Go back to the Dynamic, Nyrina. I'll be back with Sunseed. Go now!"

Yet, despite the command given to her, despite the sign of danger she'd seen fly west towards where poor as well as unknowing Sunseed apparently was hiding in the wilderness, Nyrina - with a determined spirit - chased after her swift human rescuer. Even as Ivan continued to tell her to turn back, as he told her to stop following him, she did not listen. Rather than his words, there was only one thing going through her mind as she did her best to keep up with the faster than fast Norlinthian; the words of Goddess Gaia from the dream earlier.

"He needs you now. He needs you more than ever."