"I'm going to miss you so much," Glory said, hugging him.

"I am worried about going alone." There was a tenseness to Léan's shoulders that hadn't been there before. "I would very much prefer it if someone could go with me...someone of my kind, or someone with a boat that wouldn't mind missing school or didn't have to go..."

Léan's voice suddenly trailed off. "...Viktor, perhaps?"

"I could ask," Glory said. "I can't guarantee he'll agree, though." She sighed. "I wish I could go with you... I don't know the first thing about boats, though, and I can't afford to miss too much school."

"If Viktor has a fast-moving boat...you could come along. A boat can move much faster than I can. If I hold onto the side while it goes and keep the scent...we will be able to reach Azilis much more quickly..." Léan mused.

"I'll ask," Glory said, reaching for her phone. Sliding it open, she tapped out a quick message to Viktor.

Quick question. I'm pretty sure you have access to a boat... would you be willing to take me somewhere? It's kind of important.

Viktor wasn't awake yet--he always gave himself about five minutes to wake up and get ready. But he never had his phone off unless it was dead, so his response was somewhat prompt.

I own a boat, yeah...I can bring it over. You should have your Nana call you in sick or somethin', though, if you're going to cut school for a day or so...

I'll take care of that, Glory responded. I wouldn't be asking if it wasn't important.

You're not trying to smuggle drugs into Africa or something, are you? What kind of boat do you need? I've got a yacht, a speedboat...

Even now, Viktor's uncannily odd side had to rear its head. It looked like his words were a little teasing.

No, I leave the expensive hobbies to you, Glory replied. She couldn't help the little bit of sarcasm there. We're trying to track down my dad.

Ah, I see. I'm assuming you want something fast, then. My speedboat's pretty big, but it hasn't got a lot of room on it for supplies...it's fast. The yacht's big, but not as fast. More room for stuff. I'll leave that up to you. Which one?

Viktor's parents owned a very large mix between a speedboat and a yacht. But he didn't have access to the keys, and he would probably be kicked out if he jacked it for a while.

Notice how you didn't ask WHY we need the boat for such a thing, Glory couldn't help but point out. The faster one is probably better.

I'm not one to ask questions. A million different assumptions are running through my mind, of course, but I'd rather find out for myself. As long as you're not planning to take me out to the middle of the ocean and shoot me or something, a great mystery is healthy mental exercise for me.

Viktor seemed to be feeling especially odd today.

Speedboat it is, then. It'll take me a bit to get it hooked up to my truck, and I'll need some supplies. I'll be over in a half-hour, maybe.

I would think you know me better than that by now, Glory replied. I still need to talk to Nana, so take your time. With that, she set aside her phone again.

Léan's face had lit up, and his tail was swishing back and forth. He seemed overjoyed that he wouldn't have to worry about going alone. "I'm relieved I don't have to go alone...giving me some of your hair was probably still a good idea. I still have to convince him to come to the surface. The sight of a boat is something my kind has learned to fear."

"That doesn't surprise me," Glory said, leaning against him. "It's completely understandable."

"Especially considering that we easily get tangled up in nets. And injured. And killed. And played with by humans until we die." Léan's voice had become a dry sort of drawl. He stopped himself short before he went any farther. "Either way, it will not be easy to get him to come to the surface. The hair should do the trick, but..." he trailed off, not feeling he needed to say any more.

"You've been going off into rants more often, lately," Glory said. "What's up with that?"

"I'm not quite sure. It's natural for me to want to rant, I suppose," Léan replied, loftily. He didn't really have a reason for it...at all. It had just been happening more and more. "I think you should talk to your Nana and get some supplies before Viktor gets here..."

"If you say so," Glory said, leaning up to give him a kiss. "I do have to talk to Nana, though... Come on, let's get you outside first."

Léan, despite his latest rant about humans, returned her kiss contently and then shifted, slipping the blanket off of him so he could easily be picked up.

Picking him up, Glory took him outside to the shore. The cold morning air immediately raised goosebumps on her skin and sent shivers up her spine. She carefully set him down at the edge of the water and gave him a kiss.

"I'll be back out soon," she said. "Hopefully, Nana will understand."

Léan smiled at her. "I'll fetch the bag...it should still be there. Take your time," he added, in an understanding way. He slid down into deeper water, beneath the rocks, to locate the sample of hair she'd given him.

Glory nodded and went back inside. Nana was up by now, making breakfast in the kitchen. Their conversation was very much like Glory's discussion with her mother, but with far less yelling and tension. Even if she tried, Glory couldn't be upset with Nana for long. After a few moments of silence, Nana nodded and agreed to call Glory out of school for a few days. Glory sighed in relief and went to shower and dress.

Léan had been assaulted on his return to the sand by his brother, who was insanely curious and asking questions about where he was going and if he'd come back. Typically grumpy in the morning, Léan was not in the mood to deal with Archie and stopped answering him after he started prying.

Glory headed back out to the beach, this time properly dressed against the cold. She grinned when she saw the two and sat down on her rock.