(http://th00.deviantart.net/fs49/300W/f/2009/192/6/1/In_Port_Antifo_by_Ralein.jpg)<br/><br/>He turned when he heard his name, his red hair seeming even brighter with the fire behind him.  But as she spoke, the only thing running around in his mind was<em>Do not laugh.  Do not laugh.  Damn it...</em>until he started to chuckle.  And when the first chuckle broke free, he couldn't help but smile.  And then he realized the whole damn fight was going to be for naught.  Yes, Valla, because food and shelter is so much more abundant at sea... he started, realizing that mocking her probably wasn't the best idea.<br/><br/>He turned to face her fully, hands up, palms forward trying to calm her, "Look, I know you hate it here, but throwing ourselves to the ocean's fate isn't exactly my idea of bettering our situation.  Remember those ships we came here in that it tore to pieces?  With a raft, all we could do is maybe get to another island... but we haven't even explored this one!" he started.  He should have stopped there.  "There could be ruins on the other side of the mountains!  Maybe even a city with beer and wine..." he began to backtrack, realizing dangling foolish hope in front of her wasn't going to help her.  He sighed, "Come on, Valla, calm down.  We both didn't get this far for fate to laugh at us.  You know I believe that..."