Lena unwinded herself from Finn's arms just enough to look at his vivid eyes, but she said nothing.

"I'm very—very—happy that you came."

A fleeting assumption crossed Finn's thoughts, causing him to expect her to have turned resentful through his self-regarding choices but her genuine smile proved him wrong. She brought no contempt.

Not the densest clouds could veil the full moon shining. A shower of beaming brightness reflected upon the crystals in the air, favoring the night, and under the moonlight, they stood arm in arm.

"I love your ocean eyes," said Lena, amazed.

"Ironic, because you're really far from loving the ocean itself." With empathy, he added, "I can only imagine what that fall must have been like."

"It was not a fall. It was a jump; a choice."

Their hug loosened. "Wait, you chose to dive, despite your fear?"

"Yes, it was my choice to let go."

"Why would you do that? You knew you'd drown."

"I did it because at that moment I realized that a fear slumbered within me that was much stronger and far more terrifying than the ocean."

"And what is that?"

"Losing you."

"You could have died."

"For you, I would have. And still would."

"Don't ever give your life. Not for mine."

With a mocking grin, she quoted him: "I think it's been established that we both have made the decision to die for one another."

"Where did you get such nonsense from?" he laughed.

Together, they recommenced their shared journey and walked past the lone tree and fragile lake, all the way up the mountain. Beneath the goddess' light they moved so far, while being so close, that they soon knew neither hatred nor anguish, nor even the remotest flake of fear.

They approached a bright red flame from a respectable distance and expected to find Arrakis. The embers were still hot, but the fire did not burn anymore. Fresh footprints moved away from it. It couldn't have been Arrakis, for two feet were walking, and whoever it was, he or she was not alone; something walked beside it. 

With caution, they followed the trail, and not far they found a big, hairy man and his four-legged friend.

"Pacu!" cried Lena, at which point he noticed and greeted them. "We thought you were dead!"

"I thought the same about you," he said with his sonorous yet soothing voice and displayed clear gratification to see even Finn. "The blizzard came out of nowhere, I thought I had lost you both."

"You won't get rid of us that easily," Finn said and was nearly crushed by Pacu's headlock, as the muscular man was convulsed by jolly laughter like a cheerful Santa Claus.

"And my beautiful Chione," he gave her an affectionate pat, "did they take good care of you?"

"Pacu," said Finn, his voice sincere, "we should tell you that Heroya—"

"I already know," Pacu interrupted, and Finn was relieved he did not have to say it. "I came back when the storm passed and found your backpack next to—" he lacked the strength to finish his sentence.

"We're so sorry. It wasn't our fault it was—"

"Arrakis," interrupted Pacu. "I know. It's alright."

"How did you know?"

"He met me along the way. Ate some fish with me and told me everything that happened. Actually, he only left a bit ago."

"You shared your food with him after what he did?" Finn asked, nonplussed.

The set eyes underneath Pacu's raised bush of eyebrows let Lena understand that Arrakis did not tell him the full truth of events, and that Finn's question confused him. Finn observed the same and wanted to unleash Arrakis' lies, but Lena stopped him with a subtle shake of the head.

"Arrakis told me that Heroya defended your lives when predators closed in on you guys. Arrakis could not flee on one leg, and had no other choice but to use Heroya as distraction."

"Yes, that is what happened," Lena lied, standing next to her muddled friend. "He is a hero."

"He really is," Pacu agreed. The strong massive man cared nothing for the holding back of emotions. Though he did not shed one tear then, he was bold to show he had before. "Let me get you your backpack," he said, walking to the tree his steed's ropes were strapped to.

"Why didn't you tell him Arrakis poisoned Heroya?" Finn whispered into Lena's ear.

"It would only hurt Pacu more," she replied in hushed tones.

"And why did Arrakis not just tell him that we poisoned Heroya?"

"Same reason."

"Arrakis would never miss a chance to add an enemy to our list. He's a bad person."

"A bad person does not have to be evil. He and Yurie have known Pacu for years. There is always the rare possibility that Arrakis cares not only about himself."

"Yeah right."

Pacu handed Finn the brown rucksack in which Finn found the poisoned food, a bottle of frozen water, a flashlight, a map, and a book with black binding.

"You packed Of Seven Silver Moons?" Finn asked Lena.

"I wanted to finish it one day," she said with an unabashed grin. "I like the knight's tale."

Without anyone looking, Finn pulled out something heavy from beneath his jacket and hid it in his backpack, then he extracted the map and smoothed it out to find their position.

"We are almost there," said Finn, scarcely believing his own words. "With Chione, we might get there within an hour."

"Let's quit dawdling then," Pacu said, untying the reins that held his pet.

"Actually," Finn threw the backpack over his left shoulder, "you should probably turn back. We don't know what will be expecting us, but trouble won't be far from it. Whatever lies upon the mountains of Thrake, it's not supposed to be discovered. You shouldn't be there if we get caught."

"Yeah. I saw a rocket land earlier. Thought it was something odd. Does it have anything to do with this whole mission of yours?"

"It has everything to do with our mission."

Finn sensed the conflict between Pacu's mind and heart. He wanted to stay but knew he should decide against it.

"You've done more than enough," said Finn to comfort his conscience. "You should go home."

He looked at Lena to find out what thoughts she may be thinking, and after thanking him for his support, she announced that she agreed with Finn.

"Well, at least let me give you my dear Khione," he held them his mount's reins, but neither of them reached for it.

"No," said Finn. "We've taken too much from you and Yurie."

"We got this," added Lena with a persuasive smile.

Pacu felt irresponsible for leaving them, but he believed them when they said it would be better to turn back. He had lived a pacific life and ought to change nothing about that. Having asked no additional questions, Pacu straddled Khione to make his leave.

Lena on Chione's back, Finn on foot, they walked on, higher and higher they hiked, until they stood in a valley hugged by cliffs and tors of stone. The wind dragged clouds against those walls of rock, and behind them they remained, stuck in the unknown. 

The crisp unclouded blue of air was spattered with the soft glow of a magnificent star assemblage. Suns, burning light-years away, their light carrying on infinitely even after death.

Finn held the map with both hands, close to ripping tears into each end from holding it so firmly. He took a deep breath of quiet, chill air and dropped the piece of paper from his trembling hand.

"We're here."