When Cicile had been born, Vepar had moved from the deep sea's she'd been living to the shallow coasts of an island chain. While his mother spent the majority of her time actually in the water because her tentacles made the land far to hazardous Cicile actually was mainly raised on land. Julia was like a second mother to him. Vepar had had brought her father's soul back to her allowing her to say goodbye years before and Vepar had checked on her from time to time. When Vepar had given birth to a child more of the land then sea Julia had offered to help raise it.

Cicile sat on the beach and watched the sailors disembark from their ship, they'd been away a month this time and come back with little to wares to show for it. A storm had damaged their ship forcing them to make land before they'd gotten to their intended trade destination and with few repair supplies found where they'd landed work had been slow going. They'd been forced to make do with temporary fixes and pray their ship made it back before completely falling apart. They had been lucky no one was hurt, maybe a little tired and hungry but all would be fine after a few days back home.

Chase, Julia's 2nd son and Cicile's best friend, came racing along the beach tripping of the sand and sprawling next to Cicile, "How do you trip over sand?" Cicile asked laughing.

"I've just got that kind of skills." Chase announced proud puffing out his chest before giving Cicile a curious look, "You mean you can't?" he slowly shook his head and gave Cicile a few slow pats on the back like one would when comforting a friend.

Cicile laughed , "Woes poor me, please master sir, teach me the ways of the sand tripping."

------------------------------------------------------

The ships repairs had taken a full 3 weeks but it was finally ready and Chase was determined to be on it the next day when it set sail despite being told her was to young. He had sailing in his blood. His Grandfather had been a sailor, his father was a sailor, sure his older brother had chosen a different path but that had only made Chase all the more determined to be a sailor. After all one couldn't let a fine family tradition like being sailors to die out and with only a younger sister left it was up to him to carry on said tradition. The sooner the better.

"Chase your father will tan your hide when they find you on the ship," Cicile told him for what seemed like the 100th time. " Besides you'll get discovered less then a day out and they will just turn around a drop you back off before continuing."

"I know that ship better then any sailor, I just need to hide for a week and they'll have to keep me! After that it's just proving my worth. I've been studying my entire life for this. Come with me Cicile, you where born to be at sea too."

"I can't you know that. I have responsibilities ... " Cicile's voice trailed off. Chase had protested when Cicile had decided to follow the keepers path. A path Chase himself would never be able to take.

"Bah then go be a keeper, the next time you see me I'll be a sailor!"

Cicile watched from the same spot on the beach in which he saw the ship sail in when it sailed away the next morning. He watched each morning waiting for the ship to return and Chase to come back with his backside bruised but it never did. After a few weeks of waiting he could swear he could hear Chase crying but he just laughed it off as missing him. They'd practically been raised together and had never really been apart more then a few days in their lives.

By week six the crying in Cicile's ears became constant, he couldn't sleep, he couldn't work. It drowned out the voices of the spirits he was trying to help. When it had finally gotten to the point he couldn't stand it anymore, his mother came and sat beside him. Her tentacles being teased by the rising tide. "Why haven't you gone?" she asked him.

"Gone where?"

"To the soul whose crying for you."

Cicile looked at her shocked. Souls always came to him wanting peace, none had ever cried out for him before. He'd known there where times they had for his mother and she'd gone to find them but he was just a keeper, why would they call for him over her.

She smiled sadly at her son sensing his question, " You should go, discover that answer on your own."

"How do I find it?"

" You'll figure it out, just go in the direction you feel is best."

--------------------------------------------------------------

Cicile set out the following day, passing the incoming ship as he exited the Bay. With a look back over his shoulder he wondered what tales Chase would be bursting to tell him. He laughed a little picturing Chase's frustrated face when he discovered him gone. He was determined to hurry so that he could quickly return and hear all about it from Chase. Riding the ocean currents like his mother taught him he was soon farther from home then he'd ever been. As he got closer to the sound of the crying he could even make out his name between sobs.

Cicile, I'm scared. Cicile heart stopped, he knew that voice. It was so close, " Chase, Chase where are you?" He called frantically. Cicile, I'm scared ... Cicile. He followed the voice to where chase sat on the oceans floor, knees drawn up, face buried in his arms crying. With a heavy heart, he knew why the spirit had called out to him and not his mother despite him only being a keeper. "Chase" he called swimming over to his friend. "Come it's time go home."