Bloodlines of Archaea I. Afira
A Night Alone Under the Stars

“I’ll keep us on track, first,” I said, “wake you up when it has been around an hour.” He smiled and nodded gratefully.

“Make sure you keep all four torches lit,” he said, for the fifth time that night.

“I am aware,” I said, giggling at his anxiousness.

“Remember,” he said, “you are the protector of the light, therefore the shadow creatures will attempt to attack you when you are in the darkness unless there is not enough darkness for you to be vulnerable. Stay away from the water, if you can, and stay warm. Shake me if there are any problems.” Even after he finished saying this, he continued to look at me, anxiously, before finally pulling out a blanket, and falling asleep, facing me. I quickly looked through the storage and found flint and steel. I struck the rocks together, creating a spark, and eventually lighting a torch. I moved to the middle of the boat, and put my back against the post.

The cold evening air bit my face as I pulled my cloak tighter around my shoulders, looking up at the stars to make sure we were still going in the correct direction. A chill ran down my spine as I pulled out my oar and continued to row occasionally. I watched how peacefully Akuma slept, his face content as his shoulders moved with the pattern of his breath, steady and constant. He didn’t seem bothered by the cold night air. I remembered a time when it hadn’t bothered me either. I wondered if this was a side-effect of my powers. I shook my head and reminded myself how lucky I was to have been given such a gift.

Eventually, I allowed my mind to wander and I realized I had never been this far away from my island, or from Ember. I missed my comfortable bed, I missed the way I could always hear the sound of the waves crashing against the shore. I missed how every night, Ember would lead the Twilight Leaders across the sky, right over my head. I missed how Grandma Lilly would hold my hand and talk with me, every night just before I went to sleep. Most of all, I missed how simple my life used to be, even if it was just because I didn’t know the truth. I wished I could go back for just one more day. Before Ember chose me, before Grandma Lilly died, and before the world as I knew it fell apart. I wished Grandma Lilly could take my hand and walk me out to the garden where we kept the trying Fire Flowers. I wished she could scoop one up and hand it to me, where I would marvel at its flaming beauty, but she couldn’t.

I had never felt more afraid. I feared not only for my life, but also for the life of Akuma, Ember, and every one of the creatures I was now responsible for. I wish I had someone to guide me, or even just to tell me that everything was going to be alright.

A single tear fell from my face, rolling down my cheek. It was cold, and stung my face, bitterly. I watched the position of the moon, realizing it had been about an hour. I turned and looked at the sleeping Akuma. I wondered how he cared so much about everything, me, our island, the ocean, every little thing wasn’t very little for him. I yawned. Reaching over, I shook his sleeping arm. He yelped and jumped up. I gasped, covering my mouth.

“I’m so sorry,” I yelled. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

He looked up at me, surprised, “It’s okay, I’m fine, really. It just surprised me. ” I pulled my legs in close and stared at my hands. He looked at me, seeming to see the tear which had rolled down my cheek, after a while reaching over and touching my knee, saying, “Hey, I’m fine, and I’m not going anywhere,” he laughed and then added, “I mean obviously,” he gestured to the vast ocean which surrounded us. “You were just tired. It’s my turn to keep watch, I’ll wake you up in an hour. Thank you for taking the first turn.” He smiled at me, as I unfolded my legs. He stood up, and held his hand out to me, taking it, he and I switched sides. I curled my body in close and wrapped my cloak a little tighter around me. I looked up at him one last time, before falling asleep.