What Once was Broken

Chapter 23.... Eastward Bound

We were at least four miles from the Maw, and I had charted a course Eastward. "Seeing anything Claire?" Leo asked, sweating buckets! "Nothing yet. Keep rowing until I see something!" I replied, keeping an eye out for any kind of land. "We've been rowing for HOURS!" Six stated crossly as she jumped from the wooden seat. "Besides, why go East?" I was heasetent to tell her, but I knew the truth would come one way or another, so I replied, "When I was a lot younger, when I got my powers, I also had visions of a boy in a gloomy, rundown city. He would call out to me, telling me to come find him, and set him free! I made a promise to him that I would, and he told me prior to actually escaping the Maw that he was located Eastward." I turned to Six to see what she would say next, but oddly enough, I found a petrified, almost blank look plastered on her face. "W-We can't go East. We HAVE to turn this boat around!" Six blurted, then covered her mouth as if she had said too much. "Why? Have you seen what lies East for us?" I asked, trying to squeeze as much information out of her as I can, but also being watchful for any untruths. Six placed her arms back to her side, and turned to face Leo, who had stopped rowing long enough to hear the conversation. "N-No, I haven't. But the entire thing sounds nothing BUT trouble!" She replied quickly, turning back to me. I realized that I had cornered her in her first lie. I didn't want her to find out I was onto her for fear of what she could do to Leo and I both if we got on her ugly side, so I played along with her little game. "He's there, and I will NOT change course until he's either proven himself to be a dream, or here in this boat with us! And if the mysterious, tall man in my visions suck us away into Oubli, Oblivion, then the search was at least worth our lives!" Six gasped, and whispered one word under her breath, which I managed to hear, "Mono." "Mono?" I asked, raising an eyebrow as I crossed my arms over my chest. "I-Is a disease!" Another lie... "A disease?" "Yes. Horrible, NASTY disease that causes deterioration to the human body!" "Sounds like something we should be wary of Claire. I'd like my body to stay in tact, if you don't mind!" Leo murmured nervously, rubbing his arms as he shuddered. "Exactly! And there's no doubt LOTS of germs in the East." Six added, nodding in agreement with Leo. "Well then, we'll just have to be careful not to get infected, shall we?" I replied, keeping a strong stance. Six dropped her mouth open in astonishment, and turned to Leo, expecting him to counteract my statement, only for him to shrug in response. "She's a brave girl. Very strong willed, and kind hearted she is!" Leo said, beaming. I smiled back at him, happy for his support, and I turned back toward the East horizon. As we continued to sail Eastward, the sun began to set, marking the end of our first day off the Maw. "Wow!" Leo breathed in awe, looking up at the night sky, just LITTERED with shiny stars. "How pretty." I said, admiring the stars as well. "And quite soothing, to be honest." Six added. We stayed silent, looking up at the twinkling jewels as the night wind blew softly. "Do you two know what a "Constellation" is?" I asked, scanning the sky. "A what?" Leo asked, scratching his chest. "No, I don't think so." Six replied sheepishly. I turned to them both, and explained, "A constellation, is basically a collection of stars that makes a certain shape. For instance, if you look straight ahead, you can see the constellation called "Orion's Belt". And if you look up, you'll find the little dipper!" "Little dipper, eh?" Leo chuckled, "Sort of reminds me of you!" "No, silly!" I laughed, "The little dipper is called that because it looks like a tiny ladel. It's counterpart would be the big dipper, which looks like a giant ladel!" "So you're looking for spoons in the sky? Sounds mind boggling to me." Six scoffed, crossing her arms in a sassy manner. "Spoons made from stars." I replied smartly, and turned my back on the two, leaning on the edge of the boat. The silvery moonlight reflected in the blackened water as ripples were made, and it illuminated just about EVERYTHING! Leo, who had stopped rowing for the longest time, mentioned the beauty first when he said, "You know, Claire, you look stunning in moonlight. The white cast from it gives a mystical, fantasy like glow to you!" "Like a princess?" I giggled. "Sure, whatever you're little heart conjures." Leo replied softly. I yawned out loud, and contorted my tiny frame into a stretch. Six giggled, and stated, "We've had a long day. I think ALL of us should get some shut eye!" "Sounds like a plan to me." Leo yawned, and hopped down from the bench to curl himself up on the floor of the boat. I untied my cloak, and set it gently on top of Leo, like a blanket, and made my way to the underside of the bench when he asked, "It's going to be cold tonight. Are you sure I could use this?" I turned back to him, and gave him a sweet smile as I replied, "You'll need it more than I. It's what friends do for each other! Sleep well, alright?" And I turned to continue on to the underside of the bench. Once I situated myself on the floor, I heard a pair of footsteps coming over to where I was going to sleep. I turned on my side, and found Leo, situating himself beside me. "Leo? What are you doing?" I asked, confused. "Friends may keep one another warm when they know it's cold," he began, "but a better friend would keep the other protected from the elements when they know it's cold." And without another word, he covered us up under my cloak, and huddled up to me as he fell asleep instantly. I felt akward, being in his embrace, but soon enough the warmth engulfing me was forcing sleep to come, and I eventually gave in, sleeping soundly as I listened to the steady beat of Leo's heart.