Part Two

Keith lay down on the Blue's head, his head resting on his helmet. It was not comfortable, but it was better than nothing. Allura sat in the cockpit next to him, her feet propped up on the control panel. Above them, the Kenuar sun was at its zenith, but the trees kept them cool. Kenuar was uninhabited so no one could come to their aid.

"We have to stay awake," he said. "Or at least one of us has to. We don't know anything about this place and who knows what danger is lurking out there."

"Alright," the Princess said through a yawn. "Are you hungry?"

"Pain tends to stop you from noticing other physical discomforts."

"So that's a 'no.' I'm starving. I wish we had some food in here."

"Want to go berry picking?" Keith suggested.

"Berry picking?" Allura echoed.

"Berry picking," he repeated. "I'm sure there's food down there."

"I suppose. But I don't want you walking around..."

"My arm is broken, not my leg. I don't want you walking around alone."

She smiled. "I'm not too fond of the idea of walking around alone either."

They descended from Blue Lion. Keith took a look around them, studying their surroundings with a sharp eye. The trees were extremely high and the sounds of wildlife came at them from every direction. Brightly colored birds flew overhead and smaller critters scurried through the trees. Like most animals, they were wary of humans and tended not to stand around when the two neared so they could never get a good look at them.

"Where are the berries?" Allura asked, kicking at a piece of fallen bark.

"We're looking for them," Keith replied.

"I'm really hungry, Keith. I feel like I'm about to faint."

"Lean on me."

She smiled at him. "Always the gentleman. I'm surprised you're unattached."

He snorted. "Don't you think I have something to do with that?"

"With all the beautiful women in the galaxy who have thrown themselves at you, why would you want to remain unattached?" She frowned. "Unless of course..."

"You know me better than that! Allura, why are you baiting me?" he said exasperatedly.

"Boredom...and curiosity."

"Hunger loosens your tongue."

"I'm afraid of what I might say next."

"Which would be?"

"Just wait and see."

They walked around for a few more minutes before deciding there was no food to be found, then headed back to the Lion to resume their stations. Keith popped another painkiller in his mouth as his arm was starting to ache. He frowned down at his hand and tried to wiggle his fingers a bit. They were beginning to get numb; not a good sign.

"How are you feeling," Allura asked, catching his worried glance before he could stop it. "God, I hope they get here soon."

"I shouldn't move too much," he said, leaning his head back and closing his eyes.

"No more berry runs."

"No."

The hours ticked by, the silence punctured by a few inconsequential exchanges about the Lions, and Castle maintenance. The sun was setting and the skies were alight with ribbons of yellows and oranges. Allura got up from the cockpit to sit next to Keith so that she could get a better view of it. She tucked her knees up to her chest and rested her chin on her folded arms. Her sky-blue eyes took on a far-away look and a small smile played around her lips.

"Penny for your thoughts," Keith asked.

"I was just wondering what my life would have been like had Zarkon not attacked Arus," she said.

"Nanny would be chasing after little Alluras," he said, smiling at the thought. "You'd be training to be queen, with your husband at your side."

Allura tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. A cool breeze was blowing errant strands all over the place. "Do you think we might have met?"

"I honestly don't know. Maybe. But..."

"...we wouldn't be like this," she finished for him. "I know. And I think that for everything I've lost, I've gained something in return. There is a balance in my life...now."

"So when Lotor goes away, you get a bright, shiny new castle."

She laughed. "Yes. Well, there's another reason to get rid of him."

"Are you flattered that he's so infatuated with you?"

"No." Her expression darkened. "Somedays, I wish that I had a mask just so he wouldn't feel the way he does."

Keith looked up at her perfect profile against the setting sun's rays. "The fair Allura," he said quietly.

The Princess looked down at him, a tender expression on her face. "The valiant Keith."

They lapsed into a silence that was thick with something they had always tried to ignore or forget about. Nighttime crept up on them as silently as a snake and with it was the need for sleep. Allura began yawning and as the minutes ticked by, the yawns became more frequent. Keith sat up next to her, deciding that lying down only welcomed sleep. His face was slightly contorted with the pain he was experiencing. He had decided to forego taking the painkillers, believing that pain would keep him awake. He and Allura had been stuck on Kenuar for the whole day, just sitting around, and laziness had gotten the best of them.

"Stay awake, Princess," he said nudging her. "Sleep is not in the plan tonight."

"Then what do you propose we do?" she said through a yawn.

"Play a game?"

"Name it and I'll play."

"Alphabet list game," he said. "Our favorite."

Allura had to laugh at that. Pidge had taught them the simple game a long time ago, during one of their longer journeys. The players just had to name things in the category chosen in alphabetical order.

"You can start," she said. "The category is planets."

"Too easy," he scoffed.