Araluen

Gilan had decided to try  giving the two boys the weapons to start practicing  with them, hoping it would keep them  too busy to fight.

Shockingly, he was right.

The two boys hadn't  spoken for the last half hour, and he was worried that because they were containing themselves, it would be worse later.

For now they were very intent on all their lessons.

And it was slightly worrying.

He'd gotten used to the two boys' antics and then it just stopped.

It was uncanny.

About an hour later, Gilan pulled Austin aside and asked about the sudden change.

"Where we're  from, we have books about you guys. And since I've  started reading them, I've  wanted to be your apprentice. " Austin explained.

"Well that's not  something  you hear every day." Gilan muttered as he headed inside.

Austin and Stephen (Stiv) decided to take a short walk before supper, because  they had things they needed to talk about.

"So where are Cora and Isack, if all three of you were teleportated at the same time?" Stiv asked.

"That's  the problem. I don't  know. They could be anywhere in Araluen, or they could be in a completely  different series."

"I don't  like this. Something strange is going on here and I don't  appreciate it."

"Neither  do I. We need to find them."

"Maybe we should tell Gilan. From what you told me, he would be very good at handling the situation."

"No, we don't  need to go that far yet. We just need to listen and see if anything seems off."

"As long as you're sure.."

"I am, we don't  need anyone else to know yet."

Little did either of the boys know that their new mentor had followed  them, hoping to answer some questions,   but only gaining many more.

The Heron

They had beached the ship somewhere Hal called Shelter Bay. Cora and Isack  attempted to help, but they were more in the way than anything, so the walked a short distance  away.

Isack hugged  Cora tightly and they  just stood there like that.

"I'm  worried about Austin." She said softly.

"I know, me too."

"And my depression is getting  really hard to cope with..." A tear streaked down her cheek at her words.

"It'll  be ok." He whispered,  hugging her a little tighter. "Now let's  go see about those weapons Hal promised us."

When they got over there, they found Thorn holding a crossbow  and an axe.

"You two are beginning you lessons today." He said with a wolfish grin.

When Cora took the crossbow, Hal  led her  about 100 feet away to some targets he had set up.

"Hal, I  don't  think this is a good idea... I'm shaking..." Cora said softly.

"Well you have to practice some time."

"I know.... but... nevermind,  forget I said anything..."

About an hour later, Hal let her stop practicing.

"Not too  bad  for your first time." He said,  then he turned and discovered that she was rather distracted. "You ok?"

"What? Yeah. I'm... fine... I just... need a little time to  myself."

"Ok, take as long as you want."

Cora wandered away  from everyone else, and Jesper was the first  to notice. Curious, he decided he would ask Hal what was up.

"What's  up with her?" He questioned his skirl.

"She said she needed a little peace and quiet. She's  definitely  worried about something."

"She sure is something else though. She's  the most unique girl I've  met."

"Not positive Jesper, but I wouldn't try too much. Seems like she may be taken already."

"By who?" The ex-theif demanded, slightly confused.

"For a theif, you really aren't observant, are you?" Hal replied, inclining  his head toward the area where Thorn was training Isack with his axe.

"Ooh. I don't  think so though. They seem like they're  just friends."

"Just... be careful. Don't do anything that will anger him. It probably won't go well."

"He doesn't  scare me."

"He should," came Cora's voice from right behind him, causing  him to jump.

"Why's that?"

"He doesn't  know his own strenght, and the sheer amount of strength  he possesses kind of  wories me, and he's never been truly  mad around me."

"Oh well. I'm  still not scared  of him."

"Then I'll  just have to change that." She gave him a devilish grin  before returning  to her lonely spot on the treeline.

Almost simultaneously, Thorn told Isack they were done training.

"You might want to go check on your girlfriend  over there. She seems a little down." Thorn said, concealing his wolfish grin.

"Oh, um," Isack stuttered, flushing a bright red. "She's  not my girlfriend. We aren't  together..."

"If you say so. The point still stands."

Isack walked away, not seeing the broad grin spread across the old sea wolf's face.

Cora looked up as she heard footsteps, and was slightly  surprised  to see Jesper.

"Is something  up?" He asked.

"Just... personal  stuff really... nothing major."

"You sure? I'd  like to  help if I can."

"It's  kinda hard to explain... I'm  actually constantly  really depressed and really  self depricating... but, as I said, nothing  major."

"I'm  not sure if this helps at all, but I think you're  amazing."

"Umm... th-thanks..." she whispered, blushing badly.

"You're  the most unique, strong, amazing, perfect girl I've ever-"

"Hey," Isack said, cutting him off. "How did your training go?" He seemed determined  to forget Jesper existed.

"It was fine 'till my depression  kicked in." Cora replied softly.

Isack sat beside  her and took her hand, intertwining  their fingers, and Jesper took it as his cue to leave. He turned back when he got to camp, just to see Isack kiss her cheek, and she appeared  to be crying  about something.