Welcome to Gaia! ::

Starr hugged Lin around the waist. She was still short enough to do so, after all.

"I just want us to be like we used to be," she murmured. "Just ... learning ... and ... being together, and having fun ..." She looked up at Lin. "Do you think we can get like that again?"

Starr nodded and hugged Lin again. "I'm sure he'll be better once we're off the beach," she said softly. "He doesn't like being at the beach anymore, because that's where it happened ... it makes him remember. I'm sure he'll be better once we go out into the jungle."

There were no jungles in the Second World after all, so in theory there could be no associations.

Starr smiled lightly at Lin. "I don't think I'll mind that very much," she admitted softly. "I think it will be fun to explore the island and see what it has to offer. And I know Storm was interested in the volcano ... but then he's always been partial to fire."

She hoped it was a sign that he was getting better, back to his old self ... but there was also that fear within her that it was just a hope after all, and nothing more.

Starr smiled at Lin. "Water," she replied. "I can use fire or any of the elements just as easily as Storm, but I like water the best. It's so peaceful ... most of the time." She giggled and sat down again, and turned the spit over the fire so that the fish wouldn't burn.

"Do you think they'll be back soon?" she asked, looking up at Lin anxiously.

Starr nodded. "But maybe ... when he gets back ... he'll feel better," she murmured hopefully. "And maybe I can help him then ..."

She would really like that. She would give anything to make her brother feel better.

Suddenly there was a rustling in the foliage near them, and a moment later, Earendil stepped out with Storm on his back, fast asleep. There were tear-streaks down the boy's face, but he did appear to be more at peace - at least slightly.

Starr jumped to her feet. "Is he all right?" she asked anxiously.

Earendil smiled and nodded, kneeling and carefully laying Storm down on the sand. "He just needs to rest," he murmured softly. "He'll be all right."

He winced a bit as he set Storm down, but then he smiled and sat in the sand. "So. Is dinner almost ready for us?"

"I'll be fine once I speak with Arwen," Earendil assured Lin, keeping his hand out of sight as he made himself comfortable. "Storm just got a little carried away, is all. But it's not his fault. He wasn't exactly in control of himself when we were talking."

He inhaled deeply and smiled. "That smells good, Starr. You've definitely gotten better since we arrived here."

Starr smiled warmly at her cousin. "Thank you," she murmured. "I added the herbs that you showed me, that's why."

"I'll wait," Earendil replied firmly. "As I said, it's not bad. I'm just hungry now, is all. And even Arwen would agree that healing goes better when the subject is well fed."

Starr blinked at Earendil. "That's silly," she told him. "Healthy, yes, but well fed? A full belly won't make a difference. And it's magic! She doesn't need other conditions to be met in order to make it work ..."