[center][h3]TIME-SKIP: Two Weeks[/H3][hr]
[URL=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WELaRE9jkjg][u]O N   T H E   H O R I Z O N[/u][/URL]
[i]9 Days Since Departure[/I][/center]
[u]The UIS Garrloch, Morning[/u]
	The Garrloch had been at sea for a little more than a weeks. It had been moving using a blend of fuel and wind, as designed: the long-range exploration crafts had been carefully designed to maximize range. The Garrloch couldn't move entirely on its own through its sails--it was just too large--but by combining the two types of propulsion, the ship's already large amount of fuel had been even further conserved. It led to a strange-looking ship: although it looked very modern upon deployment, the Garrloch now bore a resemblance to the smaller pleasure-yachts frequently used on Lake Marum on the United Isles. But without the sails, the ship would have already reached the limit of it's exploration range. Instead, the ship had likely another week before it would be forced to turn around.

A shadow lifted off from the Garrloch's deck in the rising sun. It was vaguely avian in form: the Endurance. In the morning light, the ship looked like a majestic bird of prey, ready to swoop down on an unsuspecting fish and carry it into the clouds. Instead, the roaring blades of the machine's propellers turned horizontally, and the aircraft moved forward from the Garrloch, gaining speed with every passing second. Today was the day the ship's crew had been waiting for. 

Today was a day for discovery. 


[u]The Endurance[/u]
	[i]"Ready to find out what's on that crazy map of yours, Ed?"[/i] The voice was tinny over their headsets, and if Edward hadn't seen Krauss's lips move, he wouldn't have known who had spoken. The Endurance's pilot sat in the front, hands on the controls, and a smile on his face. Beside him sat their most recent addition, Myra the engineer. Her piloting skills had been coming along, he'd heard, but she still wasn't allowed to fly by herself.

That left Edward, Constance, and Luna to fit into the two back seats. The three of them would have rather died than missed this. Edward had vowed to sit on someone to make it, safety be damned. He'd ended up under Constance, instead--the general consensus was that if he had been on someone's lap, he probably would have crushed them. [i]"You'd better believe it, cap!"[/i]. Edward wouldn't have missed this for the world.

They had sailed right by a flurry of smaller islands and landmasses in their adventure toward the biggest one. Edward couldn't tell anyone why, exactly, but he had a gut feeling that the biggest island held answers. He couldn't say what kind of answers, and he couldn't tell what kind of questions, either, but he had insisted on it. So he was banking on this island being positively magnificent.

He was not disappointed. As they rose further into the air, the horizon in front of them began to recede into the distance, slowly revealing more than a fuzzy outline of the island. And, as their speed increased, the fuzziness receded as well, leaving Edward dumbfounded as the details were revealed.

Were those...houses? Huts? They dotted the shoreline of the island--no, it had to be a continent--clustered tightly together as little specks. A village? More humans! There was no other explanation.

He could scarcely contain himself from barking for Krauss to go faster: instead, he had to hold in his excitement with every fiber of his being as they continued to close on the island. Specks became certainty: those were indeed huts. Even more exciting, as they grew ever higher, was the road which led back from the small village toward a much, much bigger city. It's elevation was higher than the coast, but it had been far removed from the water, making it all but invisible at lower altitudes. [i]"Take us to the big city!"[/i] Edward roared, a smile growing on his lips with ever increasing ferocity.

[i]"I told you all this would be worth it!" Ah, Luna, if your father could see this, God only knows how proud he would be! Constance, can anything on the Isles be a trip like this? Haha!"[/i] This was what he had come on this trip for.

[u]Ghal-Priyam[/u]
	"Ah, Mrs. Morrison, you always did know how to mix a Fahi Biegar!" Collin smiled warmly at the woman as she deposited the drink in front of him. He wasn't sure if his smile was warm, or if his face was from the alcohol. He had had...several drinks, and was three quarters of the way through feeling the effects. Tipsy as all get out, to be sure, but it was worth it for more of the Morrisons' fine drinks. Still, he was a fine drunk: that is, he spoke and moved like a sober man in all but the most intoxicating of situations.

"Collin, you are too kind." Kaya Morrison smiled back at him, before glancing at the man beside him with a huff of good-natured indignation. "Jonus, what did I tell you about the whiskey? You are not to have any more of it for the next hour, you oaf!" She lovingly smacked her husband, Jonas Morrison, with the serving disc she had been carrying around. "You are still needed for the serving. Up, up!"

"Bah! Kaya, all I have done this morning is work, work, work! The day is yet young, and there will be plenty more for me to do later. Allow me this drink with my companion here." He laughed throatily, thumping Collin on the back.

Collin continued his foolish smile. "How will Jonus see the strapping young Rahlei boy stumble over his toes at the mere mention of your lovely daughter, Kaya? He has had eyes for her for some time. A good man, if a bit confused about his lot in life. Then again, we all were at that time, were we not?"

"Just so!" Roared Jonus, banging on the table with a hiccup. "Why, when I met Kaya, I was a foolish young boy, trying to find my place in the world. If she had had any sense, I doubt we would be here today! I suppose it is no surprise: few can withstand my wily charm when I use it!"

"Few can withstand your foul breath, either," smirked Kaya, looping an arm around her husband. "Up, you fool! I know you. You are not nearly as drunk as you are pretending. There are customers to serve. Stop with your meandering and assist."

"Ah, you see?" grinned Jonus as he was led away. "She loves me!" Collin chuckled as they disappeared, and settled back to watch the sun rise. Soon his eyes began to burn from the light, and he turned around to rest his gaze.

That was how he saw the flying thing. It was an airplane: the Ghalari had been toying with flying machines for a little over a decade now, but this was unlike anything he'd ever seen before. It was as if the propeller models he had become familiar with had been put on the actual wings of the machine. And it looked almost made of metal! Metal, flying? "By the Faces!" he shouted.

Others turned to look, and awe spread through the crowd of the outdoor bar. Shouts of fear followed. Was it their enemies? There'd been no rumors of conflict with their neighbors. No, it looked totally not of their world. He tore his eyes away from the machine to scan the area. "Raymond!" He shouted. "Raymond, confound it, where are you? Juliette!" He somehow found himself taking personal responsibility for the young man, even though he had no such requirement.

The machine had grown larger in that short time, looming overhead. The propellers roared, drowning out Collin's continued shouts. By the Faces, why had he had so much to drink?