Amal closed her eyes, listening to the sound of waves breaking against the shore and feeling more relaxed when she felt the salty air on her cheeks.  She lifted her chin, just slightly, so the morning sunlight could warm her cheeks.  Biting back a smile, the mage allowed herself to be still and enjoy these fleeting moments.  In her heart, she knew she would never return to this place.<br/><br/>Still caught somewhere between sleep and wake, the mage exaggerated the way she stretched her still-tired limbs by lifting both of her arms up over her head and letting her head fall gently from side to side.  She couldn’t help but smile.  There was something so beautiful about the sound of the ocean, like a song that only her soul could hear.<br/><br/>Amal would have been content to wake up in this place every morning for the rest of her life, but she expected Ethan and the others would be anxious to be on their way.  Things were different now; their trek had gone from aimless adventure to doomed journey overnight.  That thought alone reminded her she still needed to find Chiron before she would be ready to give Harris an honest answer.  Or ask Ethan with a clear conscience if he'd accept.<br/><br/>Wrapping her arms around herself, the mage started when Ethan's voice interrupted her thoughts.  While she was glad for his company, she felt her heart sink with each word that fell from his mouth.  He was giving her an opportunity to leave without judgement?  Or was he… urging her to go home?<br/><br/>Her mind began to race and when her palms grew clammy, she pretended to straighten the smooth fabric of her olive jacket.  The mage had inadvertently tuned out whatever he'd chosen to say next.  She felt as though she was beginning to unravel from the inside out; her heart had finally decided to betray her deepest secrets and her desire to become a Guardian was finally made clear to her.  Amal felt her throat go dry as she struggled against her emotions so her outward expression would remain unchanged.<br/><br/>She really did want to become one of Ethan’s Guardians.  The mage was certain she could help him.<br/><br/>When Ethan placed his hand on her shoulder, he pulled her out of her thoughts.  She looked up at him with open wonder and thought, 'Does this mean he wants me to stay?  As his Guardian?'  Her heart rate accelerated as she tried to make sense of everything he'd just said.<br/><br/>Amal held her breath as she admired his smile; this one, unlike the smile from yesterday, did manage to reach his eyes.  Letting her gaze follow him as he began to make his way down the path leading to the beach, she whispered the first thing that came to mind; an honest and sincere, "Thank you."  For giving her time.  For giving her space.  For giving her at least until Luca to make a decision.  For not leaving her behind in Besaid.<br/><br/>Then she noticed him wink at her from down the path and she sent a silent prayer to Yevon he'd been far enough away not to notice the heat that rose to her cheeks.<br/><br/>She noticed Chiron out of the corner of her eye but immediately turned around like she meant to take one more look at the village below her.  The mage drew a deep breath and tried to set her mind on something else, anything besides the way her heartbeat sped up every time Ethan did that.  When she noticed Chiron had taken off after Ethan, she frowned and called after him, "Chiron!  Hey, wait up!"<br/><br/>After jogging several paces to catch up to him, Amal finally fell into stride beside him just as he took the first step into the shade cast by ancient machina overhead.<br/><br/>With a mischievous sort of grin on her face, she suggested, “Just because he is a fast walker doesn't mean we have to be.”<br/><br/>When it seemed Chiron hadn't immediately followed her thought, she explained, “Ethan won't leave without you.  We don't have to run.”