In the days that followed, Norton remained somewhat distant from his comrades. Each of their faces brought him to the point of shame. He had been weak with Thalya... to think their love, momentary and carnal as it was, could be something genuine. He had done it all so wrong... there were times were he longed to feel the touch of a woman, to give himself completely to passionate. But never did he imagine that it would happen in the bowels of some dank craft, while his comrades were being ravaged below.<br/><br/>That was the source of his other shame. In the passion awakened by his aunt, he drew his thoughts lustfully towards the other women of his band. He had realized then that his aggressive lust was not much different from the same base instinct that had caused the women's rape. And still, his feelings only grew. He wanted to feel a woman again... and in those moments of bliss, his thoughts turned to Lux herself. He had witnessed<em>Her </em>rape as well.. and at times, imagined himself in her embrace. Then there was the combat... the rush that he got from slaying that creature of shadows...<br/><br/>"What's wrong with me?" He asked aloud, breathing hard in his quarters, nude and covered in his own seed. With the lust gone, the shame immediately set in again. It was the first time he had experienced such physical release since he was with his aunt... They ought to have been close to Ledon island by now. He quickly cleaned himself, dressed, and emerged up on the deck of the Esmeralda.<br/><br/>Norton shielded his eyes from the sun as he beheld the island. Normally, his first impulse would to be to see to his aunt. But they had exchanged little words since that day... seeing Alyssa gave him some feeling of shame and desire both, as if seducing her could absolve him both of his inability to protect her and his experience with Thalya. Instead, he went looking for Al'Rhayel. He had failed her as well... but Norton was still a man of compassion, and he helped himself by helping others. If she remained in her quarters to attend to her... needs, he would not bother her. But the youth looked over the deck of the ship to try and find her, his intent to offer her whatever solace he could provide.