Saying good bye

Lacey awoke and uncurled herself from the ball she had put herself in. She pushed the hair out of her face and got out of the hammock dragging her dress with her.

She looked out the small circular window that looked out of their cabin, it was night out. She changed it to one of the deer skin dresses Silvia had packed in her backpack, then packed her dress in, all the layers of the ball gown made a tight fit. She left Silvia sleeping to head on deck.

She walked out into the hall closing the door behind her, someone grabbed her wrist, she started to cry out. "It's me." Ray said from beside her in the darkness letting go of her wrist. She took a deep breath.

"Oh. What are you doing awake?" He moved with her as she started walking. "I never went to sleep. Are you okay?" "Yeah, it was just a shock. He was fine when I last saw him." Ray took her hand and light filled the hallway, she looked like he had a ball of dim light in his palm.

"Your Father? But it hasn't been a couple years right." She did not answer as they entered the night. Ray vanquished the light in his hand as they walked hand in hand to the edge of the ship, Ray was still holding Lacey's hand. "I will be fine." She leaned into him as he put his arm around her shoulders.

Moments passed in silence as they watched the red and orange of the sun rise. They pulled apart as the man in the bird's nest shouted. "LAND HO." Lilly let out a squeak, Lacey turned to see the bird had been sleeping nearby. The deck was soon filled with men that tied down the sails, Lacey and Ray watched as the ship pulled into the harbor.

The men threw the anchor overboard.

"Princess, you're awake. We will be sending long boats to the docks soon." Captain Luker said coming up behind them, Lacey turned to greet the Captain. "Good morning, I am so excited to be seeing my family again." Lacey turned back to look at the docks that bustled with the life of fishermen and sailors going about their morning work.

Silvia and Tim came up to join them, handing Lacey her bag and spear, before turning to the captain. "Thank you for all you have done for us.

We would have surely been no more had it not been for your little group. I hope you find what you are looking for and if you ever need any help please do not hesitate to ask." The captain said bowing to the group. After a somewhat awkward pause he added.

"You can get a hold of me by leaving a message for me at the little whale Inn at the south side of the docks. They know how to get me messages very quickly from there." Lacey and Ray expressed their gratitude for this and then turned to Silvia and Tim. With a sad tilt to her voice Lacey took Silvia's hands in hers.

"I will miss you so much. Again, I want to thank you for saving my life and for all the great times we have had on the Island. I have learned so much from you and consider you one of my sisters. If there is anything I can do for you let me know. I surely will miss you." A tear slid down her cheek as she spoke.

Silvia straightened her shoulders with a determination not to start crying too. "And I will miss you, you made those long days become an adventure again. You too will be missed and thank you for being that big sister I never had." The two girls hugged for a moment. Tears rushing down Lacey's cheeks and Silvia doing her best not to let them out. As they pulled away.

Silvia quickly turned her head away and wiped a tear off her cheek quickly trying not to let anyone see. After getting her emotions under control again, she turned back to Lacey who was working on getting her emotions back in check also. "So, I will do my best to come see you again once I have found my homeland. And you have to promise me you will come find me when you get settled and are in the mood to travel again." Said Silvia.

Lacey quickly gave Tim a hug and Ray shook Silvia's hand and then Tim's hand. "Take care of her." He said to Tim nodding towards Silvia who was helping Lacey as she began climbing down the ladder and into the small boat that was to take them to shore. "Yes Sir." Tim said in a rough voice as he fought to keep his emotions in check.

Ray nodded his approval and was soon down the ladder and sitting beside Lacey. Lacey waved as they rowed away from the big ship and watched Silvia waving back at her until they reached the docks.

Lacey and Ray were helped out of the small boat and helped on to the dock, after saying a quick thanks to the captain's men and made their way into the city. Lacey looked up at the castle that stood on top the mountain, it was not a particularly big castle with only one guard tower at each corner, she turned her head to look at the house and shops that decorated the street as they walked on, the further they walked into the city and got closer to the castle, they noticed the shops and houses having boards across the windows, and the places there were people, the doors shut as they walked past.

"What is wrong with everyone?" Lacey asked no one in particular. Ray shifted his pack and Lacey was surprised to see his face grave. "What's wron-" She was cut short by someone grabbing her leg, she looked down to see a child no older than five holding onto her leg with a death grip.

The child was covered in dirt and its hair was all over the place. Lacey looked around for her mother but no one was around except two other children that looked just like her but older, they huddled beside the corner of a house, fear written across their small faces.