To Where the Sun Rises (Part 2 of 'A Tale of People and Apples' Trilogy)

Chapter 22: The Wolves of the Land and Sea

Luka looked ahead at the pink sun and sparkling ocean as their craft continued its pursuit of Solan and Eeva, and their escape from Julien's wrath.

Despite the circumstances, that a majority of his own people turned on him, that he was able to escape imminent death, that he was now a fugitive of Gaiathal, and that he had to say goodbye to his friends, the sight was beautiful.

Just as beautiful was the person he shared it with, who was looking ahead with her sparkling brown eyes now, too.

The Orca animals that dragged their craft had began to tire, and they were now traveling at a fast but steadier pace. As they got further away from the continent, the cold and wet air began to seep into Luka's bones even though he had dried off from the water he had swam in before.

He was not made for the ocean cold, while Calysa clearly was, who was not bundled with a layer of Raven blankets which Luka clung to, his teeth chattering. He tucked into the corner of the vessel to avoid the ocean air that they cruised through, but his arms continued to vibrate and his flesh continued to freeze.

Calysa made sure there was no land masses, or any sight of Solan's armada, before she withdrew from her outlook back within the cabin of the vessel as well.

She smiled upon Luka, who was in the corner and in a ball, trying his best to retain his heat but clearly failing.

"The great Luka Fenria, who has bested Sixes and Remainers and Imposters and the Creatures of the Night and Outlanders and bullets and a noose, defeated by a chilly breeze," Calysa said and smirked at him from her warm stance through the ocean spray.

Luka scoffed and smiled while he rubbed his arms in futility beneath his layers. "What a profound Gift of the Orcas," He said to her, "The ability to not freeze to death amongst the waves."

Calysa looked skywards in fake contemplation. "I'm not sure that's a Gift of ours," She said, tapping her index finger to her pursed lips. "I think it's known as standard toughness, Orca or not."

Luka laughed again as he grabbed another layer from a heap of their Raven supplies. He didn't care how his surrender to the blankets looked. He was freezing.

To both Luka's bemusement and bliss, Calysa knelt and curled up beside him and beneath his blankets, her skin warm on his. She put his arm around her, and nuzzled her face into his shoulder.

"Better?" Calysa asked him as she closed her eyes in comfort.

Though she didn't think he could see her smile from his angle, he saw it warmly spread across her face. His teeth stopped chattering as her warmth spread to him, and not just her body heat, but the very warmth from Calysa's kind soul.

"Better," Luka said back, pulling her close.

The two fell into a morning slumber as the waves rocked them to sleep, the sun now peaking over the walls of the craft and the black Raven blankets absorbing the heat rays from the sun, Luka no longer freezing.

A seeming stoppage of their craft woke Luka. He gently released Calysa, careful not to wake her, and ran to the sides to inspect.

A flash of silver and black beneath the waves swam away from their vessel, and Luka realized it was the Orcas scattering away and no longer carrying them forth.

Calysa awoke with a comfortable yawn, and saw them leave too. She looked back to the west and could barely see their home continent, and to the east was unending ocean.

"Why'd they leave?" Luka asked Calysa who was beside him now, both looking into the purple depths.

"I'm not sure," She replied, shrugging her shoulders.