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Shane looked so worried about her that Shee felt a sharp stab of guilt at what she was going to do.

Laughing weakly, she slowly sat up.

"We're so close. You can be sure that I'll try my best not to. But," she continued, still with one hand on her ankle, "I don't think I can walk the rest of the way by myself."

Atoc had just noticed th events transpiring behind him. He was used to tuning out all his surroundings in order to survive in the harsh landscape, but a loud Irish accent was a little too out of place to be tuned out even by him.

As soon as he turned his head however, everything seemed to be alright, what with the girl conscious and the other man offering to help her.

Shee placed her hand in Shane's and began to get up. She hadn't expected him to be this helpful-- she'd thought she'd lean on him the rest of the way or something of that sort, not a full-blown free ride.

"It's just over this last stretch," Atoc said loudly over his shoulder.

In front of the group was one last obstacle-- a hilly region that was thankfully less steep and less populated by vicious vegetation than most of the rest of their trip had been.

Grinning back up at Shane, Shee could only think how incredibly annoying having a conscience was.

She tried to think of a way of being less of a burden, but nothing came to mind. She'd have to make it up to him sometime later.

Sending an eye over her ankle, she quickly averted her gaze to Atoc and his unrelenting stomping, and crossed her arms around Shane's neck.

Hearing a quiet melody passing up from Shane, Shee looked at him in surprise. He didn't seem the type to be too much into music.

"What's that song you're humming, if you don't mind me asking? It's quite catchy." Shee asked, mimicking the last few bars she'd heard come out of his mouth.

Atoc just trudged along as usual, oblivious to anything.

"A song about girls, is it?"

A laugh escaped Shee's mouth.

"That's very fitting. I would love to go to Ireland someday. I haven't ever seen it. It's sounds marvelous, and much greener than what I'm used to, I'll admit."

They had reached the top of their ascent. Atoc stopped as a lush, wide valley came into view below them, it's crevices filled with the deep blue water of a mountain spring. A small, square building made of dull red and yellow stone sat beside the lake, in a dark corner of the valley.

As beautiful as the scene was, Shee knew there was something wrong. Aside from the absence of the usual bright flamingos on the lake, there were no other animals at all present and a surreal stillness lay over the valley beneath.

"We should hurry to Maita's house." Atoc said, shivering at the strange serenity. How had he not felt this when he crossed the valley earlier?

He started down into the valley towards the small building, passing hardly a glance back at Shee and Shane.

Shane was turning out to be quite the runner.

Shee tightened her grip on him as they sped towards the house after Atoc.

As they reached the door, Atoc pulled on the knob as it swung back easily, having already been slightly open.

The large, spacious room was a mess. Paper was spread out across the floor like a covering of snow and furniture had been knocked over left and right. Shee gasped.

There was no one in the room. It looked as if there had been a minor struggle, but it didn't seem that much was missing. Perhaps the letter was still there somewhere under all that paper?

"Oh that's fine. Both things, I mean." Shee replied quickly.

"I don't think we're in any immediate danger, but it's best we find that letter, and quickly. I'm afraid I can't really be of much help here... but maybe checking through that paper would be a good idea?"