After searching the entire city for one single glimmer of hope, Madison and Haylee were reluctant to return with nothing but the two posters that Madison had swiped from a wanted board. Despite asking around and searching every available building, they had found no trace of a reliable doctor who could treat Kaylo's wounds. But, of course, as they returned to the Shellshock, they realised that the situation had now become more dire than ever.
"...What happened?" Haylee asked, looking around at the shattered harbour and sunken ships, all while Elez sat silently atop the deck - completely alone.
"...Zenith fought Zorin." He muttered, striking fear directly into Haylee's heart as she ran off below deck to search for survivors.
"Who?" Madison asked, unaware of the famous Swordsman's reputation.
"He almost killed Zenith." Elez sighed, standing up as he prepared the ship for departure. "Please… Tell me you found a doctor." He pleaded, looking up to her with tired and painful eyes.
"We didn't…" She muttered, pained by Elez's words. "But I won't let them die. I'll do whatever it takes." She said, rifling her hand through her pocket as she pulled out a slightly crumpled wanted poster. Depicted on the paper was a man of massive proportions, with a hearty bounty of one-hundred million gold. Added to the bottom was a note from the Navy themselves, stating that the man had a potent healing source and could quickly recover from any battle.
"You're suggesting that we ask this guy for help?" Elez asked, noticing the high and threatening bounty. "It's a suicide mission." He mumbled.
"Prepare the ship for departure." Madison replied, barely listening to his warning as she walked off below deck in search of Pip and Zenith. Unfortunately, the young fox boy had long ago learnt of his father's wounds, and was sorrowfully curled up at the foot of his bed, waiting for the nightmare to end. As Elez sighed and nodded in response, Madison gradually approached Zenith's room.
Slowly, she stepped into the room, approaching the small fox as she picked him up in her arms and held him close to her chest. Pip made no effort to move, but enjoyed the comfort with what little acceptance he had left. Now, directly next to Madison, Zenith lay motionless atop his bed. His breathing was ragged and struggled, while his face was covered with sweat and pain. Just like Kaylo, it was doubtful that he would survive the coming week.
"...W-will dad be ok?" Pip asked, transforming back into his human form as he spoke.
"Of course he will, I won't let anything bad happen to him." She replied, kissing his forehead gently while she slowly climbed up into the bed and laid down beside Zenith, holding Pip close while she attempted to get some sleep.
As the others were sleeping, Elez and Haylee stood alone atop the deck, looking out over the vast oceans ahead of them. Silently, Haylee steered the ship, while Elez was left sketching atop on an old sheet of parchment. No words were exchanged between them for many minutes, maybe even hours.
"Where to?" Haylee asked, looking over to Elez who was seated nearby.
"Head east from here and follow the ocean currents, we're chasing a pirate." He confirmed, standing tall and pinning up the bounty poster nearby. Their new goal had become a desperate search for the man known only as Captain Avon Rove.
"What do you plan to do when we face them?" She asked, looking towards Elez with a concerned and shallow stare.
"I will get what Kaylo and Zenith need." He replied, knowing full well that it may cost him his life. Elez's determination was high though, he was set on saving them no matter what it took. Even if it did kill him, he would make sure that they would never face the same fate.
Slowly, Haylee nodded in response to his orders, and turned the ship towards the east with a slight resistance from the waves. After sailing against the currents for many minutes though, they eventually caught on to the natural ocean currents, and Haylee locked the wheel in place as she stepped away and sat down at Elez's side.
"Don't worry," Elez said, noticing her shallow expression. "We'll save them, I won't let them die." He continued, looking back at his drawings while he carefully designed a special blade that he had in mind for Kaylo.
"You're very good at that," Haylee said, gesturing softly towards his drawings.
"Thank you," he replied softly. "My mother taught me to draw when I was young."
"Is your mother still around?" Haylee asked gently.
"I couldn't tell you, I haven't seen my family in eight years…" He sighed, thinking back to the good old days when he didn't even realise that there was life outside of his small island home.
"I'm sure she's doing just fine," Haylee smiled, leaning close to Elez as she gently pulled the Angel boy into a hug. He hesitated at first, but slowly leaned into it and held her close to his chest.
"Thank you," he said, looking up towards the shaded horizon ahead of them.
"No need to thank me. We are all family here, and no matter what, I want to help you see your family again." She promised, leaning back and smiling softly while she stared at him, hoping that maybe he would look at her with the same admiration, but instead he looked away and wiped his eyes.
"That would be nice," he nodded, hiding his tears of sorrow at the thought of his family forgetting about him or already being lost to the hands of death.
"You should get some sleep," Haylee said, backing away but still staring at him with a soft sweet smile. "It's been a stressful day." She continued, walking back to the wheel of the ship and looking out over the dimming horizon.
"Yeah, wake me up as soon as you see a ship." He replied, standing up from his seat and gently stretching his wings, before nodding and stepping off below deck. Haylee watched him go, sighing softly at his departure before pulling out her old leather book, trying once again to read the cryptic language depicted within.
While Haylee was left alone atop the deck, Elez approached his room, only to stop and turn towards Kaylo's door. Slowly, he placed his hand atop the metal handle and silently entered the room, looking down upon the sleeping boy while he slowly approached and sat beside him. Gradually, Elez began cleaning the bandages atop his body, and eventually fell asleep with his head at the foot of the bed, the rest of his body being hunched over while he lazily lay asleep in his chair.