"Come on Aryll," Link said as he burst out the door. Lunch was done and he was in a hurry to get to Orca's "We're gonna be late!" hopping up on the rail Link turned to see his sister finally coming out the door. "Could you be any slower?"

She looked at him for a moment then walked calmly past. He turned to jump down and was greeted by Jasper and Jake two of her "friends", and caught by surprise he lost his balance and crashed down on to the porch. "Come on Link," turning back she said imitating his earlier tone, "Were gonna be late, can't you get off the porch without falling?" laughing she skipped away.

Link let his head fall back on the porch. "I'm gonna get you two for that." he said menacingly at the two gulls. The birds looked down at him from the rail, squawked and flew off. He sat up and heard the door open behind him, he look back and saw his Father standing with a small smile on his face.

"You all right?"

"Yeah."

"You know Link," he said helping him up, "that's the third time in less than two weeks she's caught you like that."

"Tell me something I don't know," he muttered to himself as he started to walk away. If his father heard him he made no comment.

"Have you been sleeping? It took forever to wake you up this morning."

Link stopped. He thought he hadn't disturbed anyone, but obviously he had. "Just a bad dream."

"Well if you want to talk it out I'm not due to ship out for another week." when Link made no reply he continued, "Well, you'd better get going."

Link didn't need any further prompting and bolted off the porch toward the old warriors house. He enjoyed his sessions with Orca, mostly because he didn't have to think. Practice was practice and thankfully it didn't leave his brain anytime to worry about stupid dreams. The harder he worked the less likely he was to dream of anything at night, so he pushed himself all the harder. He was finishing up his seventh round of Orca's prescribed routine when the old man called him to a halt.

"I think we'll call it a day Link, " seeing the boy's dejected expression he said, "Why are you pushing yourself so hard?"

"I just want to get the routine down."

"You've had the 'routine down' for over a week now."

"Can't I go through it one more time?"

"No."

Link knew that tone so did not protest further, he bowed to his teacher and walked slowly out on to the front porch. Aryll was waiting for him with Jake and Jasper. "I didn't think you were ever gonna come out of there."

"Why are you here?" he asked in a tone that was surlier than he meant to use. He sighed when she looked down at her shoes noticeably hurt.

"I'm sorry about earlier.. " She said frowning.

"It's alright, I shouldn't have shouted at you." he smiled and said, "You'd think I'd have learned by now, " he said pointing at her companions, " what happens when I threaten 'their' friend. Come on lets get home its almost dinner time."

She nodded then stopped, "Link?"

"Yeah?"

"Can I tell you something?

"Sure."

"Do you promise not to tell Mom and Dad?"

He turned around, "Well if its that bad, lets go to the rock." Sitting atop a large rock overlooking the bay, he wondered what she wanted to tell him. She was such a thoughtful kid. "So what's up kiddo?"

"It's about Dad," she said as she absently pet Jake's head, "I've been having these awful dreams lately."

He felt a moment of dread, "Yeah."

"Like something bad is gonna happen the next time he goes out to sea." she shivered, "I don't want him to go."

He didn't want to tell her he'd been having the same kinds of dreams for almost a month now. "What should I do?" she said looking over the bay, "I want to tell Mom, but I know she'll just tell me I'm being silly."

"I don't think your silly."

"You've been having them too?

He looked at her for a bit then nodded. She moved closer to him and he hugged her, "It'll be okay."

"You don't sound like you mean it."

"Yeah?" She only nodded and they sat in silence for a while until he said finally, "Come on, let's get home, I'm hungry."

She hopped off the rock, Jake and Jasper close behind. He watched her as she disappeared around the bend of the path; he looked back out over the water. It'll be okay, he thought then got up and ran after her.

No really this stuff just get all stuck in my head. I think I need a vacation - Atchika