Shune woke up to loud music coming from Eliya’s room, she blinked curiously at the door to the Aquamarine Divine’s room. ‘Eliya never closes her door.’ Shune thought, but she was glad Eliya was being considerate for her. Shune knocked on the door and yelled, “Eliya?!” She didn’t get any response the first time so she yelled louder, “ELIYA?!”

Ponto spun around sitting in Shune’s chair. “She won’t come out.” He said. “Been blaring that music for a long time, I’m surprised you haven’t woken up sooner. I don’t know if she’s sad or happy, but she’s not coming out.”

“Eliya.” Shune muttered fairly frustrated at the wyrms refusing to come out of her room. “Don’t make me open the door. You know I can.”

Ponto seemed to be chuckling at Shune and said, “She can’t hear you with that music.”

“She can. She knows fully well that I’m trying to talk to her if not what I’m saying. Telepathic, she knows what’s going on.”

The music died down and Shune then Eliya said, *Don’t open my door Shune. I wish to be left alone for a while, Ponto has been getting on my nerves and the music helps to calm me.*

“That noisy stuff?”

*It’s not that loud.*

“You better come out before dinner Eliya.”

*What is for dinner?*

Shune sighed, “I don’t know. What do you want?”

*Fish or perhaps some shrimp or a lobster. I would like to try something like that.*

“You’ve already tried fish and you liked that, but okay, that sounds good.” Shune turned to Ponto, “Do you have a problem with eating fish, shrimp, or lobster for dinner?”

“No problem here!” Ponto declared smiling.

“I’ll get started with that then. What time is it?”

“About dinner time so go ahead. Need any help?”

Shune smiled at Ponto, “No I’m fine thanks I can fix it myself.”

Shune sighed again, ‘I wonder if Eliya is really happy here.’ She thought to herself. ‘She didn’t really want to come with me out into space. Or did she? I tried to make it better for her, I made her a relaxation room on this ship, yes I did that.’ Shune’s thoughts about these things were then replaced by her looming fear that she would never find Than and Syl’Onora. ‘Hope.’ Shune firmly thought. ‘I must keep hope within.’

*Don’t be sad Shune. You have done everything in your power to make me happy while you search for the one you have lost. I am beginning to understand, I’m sorry I haven’t done so earlier.*

“Eliya?” Shune asked aloud then looked around for the Aquamarine colored wyrm, but the Bishel dragon wasn’t in sight.

*I’m sorry I have been prying into your thoughts. You have a deep concern for everybody around you and that I am beginning to understand. Even your enemies, you do not hate. How is it that you aren’t capable of that one emotion? Even at my young age I have experienced hate or perhaps it was merely frustration at those fish, but still. You cannot let yourself hate, why?*

‘You listen to my thoughts?’ Shune now only thought instead of talking aloud. ‘Do you listen to others?’

*No. You and I share a bond together, perhaps that is why it is easy to wiggle inside of your mind. I must ask you though, why do you continue this search to find Than?*

‘At first I thought he had died, now I learned that he is not dead so I search for him.’

*I must say I sometimes don’t understand you, but alas, I shall always go with you and stand my your side.*

‘Th-thank you Eliya.’

*This world is new to me even if I’ve been in it for a fair amount of time. Ships, technology? Shune? You do not like these things do you? Your heart is lodged within a time that is peaceful where people got along.*

Shune listened as Eliya stated everything that Shune was aware of, but never really came to accept about her. ‘You are the first to ever really know me, aren’t you?’ Shune found herself asking.

*We share a bond together, you and I. As you know me, I know you.*

‘Yes. You said that before as well.’

*Shune? I’m sorry I never listened before, when I was younger.*

‘What do you mean?’

*Your thoughts were always splayed out in front of me, but I never looked as deep into them as I now look. I’m sorry.*

‘Eliya. I do not understand why you are so sorry. You have no reason to be sorry. What is it that you find in my mind that is making you this way? What, I don’t know how you are able to pry into my mind, you said it’s the bond we share?’

*I believe so. Bishel dragons are telepathic, that is true, but I do not believe we would be able to scramble into the thoughts of others as easily as this. I must admit, I’m so confused. Perhaps it is because I’m not yet a full Bishen.*

‘You cannot blame yourself, you are only a wyrm after all.’

*No I’m not.*

Shune turned away from her cooking then and found that in the doorway was Eliya, but she was larger and was obviously no longer a wyrm. “You have grown.” Shune smiled at Eliya as she said those three words out loud.

*Yes. I am a Marine-Arboreal. Apparently my Arboreal and Divine heritage would not let me be only a Marine so now I have these small wings.* Eliya ruffled her wings at this. *My color of Aquamarine has fully developed as well.*

“You are amazing Eliya.”

Eliya’s eyes seemed to shine brightly at Shune. *I’m sorry if I awoke you from the music, but I’m glad you are finally up. I was worried you would be waking. You went to sleep yesterday morning and only just woke up at dinner the next day. You were very tired. Please do not wear yourself thin like that.*

“I am capable for going on for a long time without sleep Eliya, and without eating. I shall be fine do not worry about me.”

*Nonsense! Of course I worry. As you would worry about me, I worry about you. You need to eat, sleep, and everything else regularly instead of continuously trying to find Than. If you do find him he will probably not be happy at the fact that you are near death when you find him.*

Shune turned back to her cooking and said, “Dinner will be ready soon Eliya.”

*Do not ignore what I said Shune.* Then she slithered her way back to her pond not giving any notice to Ponto who was asleep in Shune’s chair near the controls of the ship. Once back in her pond Eliya said, *You are right Shune. Hope. We must keep that within us.* She was silent then and slept while Shune cooked dinner for the three of them on the ship.

Dinner that night was quiet. Eliya said nothing nor did Shune or Ponto. They all ate in silence as the ship flew closer and closer to the planet Ihaut.