Erk was nowhere to be found in the hut that all of them were crammed into. In retrospect, no one could remember actually seeing him walk into the hut.

Erk's robes whipped back and forth in the dawn breeze as he stood watching the sunrise. The crisp air chilled his bones and stiffened his aging joints, but he ignored it for the time being. He was lost in his trance. He felt nothing, not the cold, nor the protestations of his joints and his stomach. There was nothing but the path.

The path forward. The way across the trackless plain that was life. He would walk the plain, and he would carve a new path.

It had been long since he had done something like this. Lately, it had seemed that his life held little purpose. He was an old, decrepit man. His eyes were failing, and he found it difficult to hear. He couldn't run for very long, and marching exhausted him. It seemed for a while that his legacy in the world would be little more than what he breathed onto parchment and mapped onto vellum. But now....

The world was changing. He could feel it in his bones. And not only was he alive to witness it, now, he seemed to be a part of it. He could see the world as if looking down from the heavens. The world turned around the pin of fate, and he could see the pin. It was this man, this summoner. This.... Shinu, and everyone around him. These were the men that would shape the world, the harbingers of the future. All that would come was determined by their failure or success.

And Erk would play his part. This frail old Guado would leave his mark on the world, for good or ill, he had yet to see.

There was suddenly lots of people inside the hut. Axel had kept to himself, hiding behind Kat a few times. A young man came over to Axel and waved at him. Axel was wondering if this was the summoner or not. Either way, Axel didn’t respond to him, he was a little nervous around so many people.

“We'll talk soon little buddy”

Axel didn’t move from where he was sitting when the food was being served. He had already eaten was full. He was thinking to himself about the summoner. He looked quite young to be a summoner, not what he had in mind. One thing for sure was that he was friendly, so he might be able to find Axel’s dad.

He also thought about all the other people in the hut. There was a young woman, she seemed friendly as well. But the other two, both men, looked mean. The first one looked as if he had a very bad day, the other, didn’t look like anyone he had seen before. Axel didn’t want to talk to either of these two men.

Kat looked at the boy sadly.

"Yes, it's cause of Sin, I am impressed that he managed to survive for so long, but there is one problem, he's scared so he may not want to talk with anyone right now... I am glad he opened up to me."

She smiled warmly at Axel, he was looking at the new guests and he seemed lost. She wanted to make him more comfortable but she couldn't if he didn't know who all they are. Kat sat down waiting for Shinu to finish eating so she could talk with him. She was impressed how much he ate, that was a good thing cause she knew that her food was good enough for a summoner. As she talked her voice was trembling a little but with time she overcame it. It was important for her to explain the situation of Axel as well as she could so they could help him.

"I am sorry summoner, but I have to ask you for a favour. You see, this boy, Axel, lost his father and I would like to help him find him. The problem is that I don't know how to do it and I don't know where to even start searching so it would be hard for me to do so. All I know is that Axel's father is not in Besaid anymore and that this boy is really brave to survive alone for so long. I am not sure if this is what summoner is doing, but I would be glad if you helped him."

When she finished she looked at the table embarassment and took a deep breath, she looked at him after that waiting for his answer. Kat was hoping that that would be enough to make him agree, but since he remained silent for a while her hopes started fading away.

Shinu smiled as Kat made her case for him to take care of the boy's problem and find his father. She must have been nervous, because Shinu didn't remember her pausing to take a breath when when was trying to get all of her ideas out. She was pretty, but even she wasn't going to be pretty enough to be Shinu's type with all that shyness. Still, Shinu would be crazy not to try to keep another pretty face around, not to mention one so nice with the ability to cook. When she was done, he sat and watched her for a bit, and made sure to take note that he would handle some public speaking for her if need be.

Come on outside with the boy, we'll have a talk.

He made his way out the back of the hut and motioned for the boy to come. He hesitated until Kat came first, and probably only came because he'd rather be out there with her as opposed to in there alone with all those strangers. He popped another squat and just sat on the ground thinking for a bit. He knew that Mieli wasn't going to be excited about this newest idea too much, but once again, Shinu had to just rely on his instincts and hope that Mieli understood.

Well Axel, my name is Shinu, and I am indeed a summoner. I hear your daddy is missing, and I believe that I have an idea as to where he can be. Now I can't tell you that getting there will be easy because it's not. I'm on a pilgrimage to defeat Sin, and my guardians and I are going to be in a lot of danger. You are coming with us until we reach Luca though, Kat is coming too!

Shinu sent an arrogant smile her way because he knew that she'd be stunned by his large proclamation. He seemed to be making a new habit of making people offers that they can not refuse due to their previous actions. She seemed like one of those really pure types, and he wanted to find out how pure when it came to doing her part in what she said she really wanted for the boy.

You see Axel, Kat is my guardian, so she is going to take care of me. As my guardian, she has to take care of you too, because you are my new friend. Does that sound good? We'll be in Luca to try and find your father really soon! Now, let's get back inside so that Kat can get some of her stuff ready, and I have to go visit the temple.

With a smile and a bit of a chuckle, Shinu walked back in the hut. He grabbed the gil that was stolen from the temple and sadly began to walk back to the temple. He wasn't in the mood to receive praise and thanks, so he intended on just leaving the gil outside of the temple and knocking, but that didn't seem like too smart of a plan given the fact that it could be stolen so easily. Instead he entered the temple and placed the gil outside of the eastern chamber and knocked hard on the door before he sprinted back out of the temple. It was strange, but he really didn't feel like being at the temple any longer than he had to.

PSSSSST!!!!

Shinu stopped suddenly when he heard a loud whisper off to his right. He started to head that way to see what was going on. Besaid sure was a much stranger place than he thought it would be. He pushed through some large leaves on a tree and found a man out back with three treasure chests.

Hey man, I got some of the best blow in Spira, top quality guaranteed.

Now this was interesting, and could prove more beneficial to the trip than a new summoner. Shinu didn't smoke, but he sure as hell knew someone who would appreciate this more than an aeon.

I'm sorry man, I'm just a summoner and I don't have any currency on me you know? Sure sounds nice though. May Yevon be with you...

Hey! No don't say that man. I didn't know you were a summoner, I'm sorry. That's pretty kick ass that you puff like us common Spirans though! Man, if you smoke some of my shit, that would be like, the most radical thing ever!

Shinu eyed this broke looking man up and down. Just some hippie trying to make a living the best way he knew how. Shinu felt bad that he wouldn't exactly give him the honor he was looking for, but having a guardian fill the honor was the next best thing anyways.

Alright man, that sounds like a plan. I'm in a bit of a rush though, so I'll just take some of this out of that left chest and run.

No words came out of the eager man's mouth, probably out of astonishment and excitement. He hurriedly put some of his weed in a zip lock bag and handed it to Shinu with a smile.

Thank you man, you have a good one and take care of yourself.

Again, Shinu caught a light jog, thinking his was never going to get off of this island. Kilika was in sight, and now past just his tiredness from Besaid, he wanted to see home. He wanted to sleep in his own bed, and most of all, see his mother.

On top of all of that, the fatigue was coming back to him. He'd been pushing it aside, but since he got Valefor, he wasn't exactly in the best shape. His energy was running short, so he'd need to rest soon. He wasn't going to be able to do that soon, but he hoped things would turn around. For now, he made it back to the hut to see how Kat took his unconventionally offered proposal.

When Kat heard that Shinu asked her and Axel go out she was really suprised but she did as he told her, she looked at Axel and smiled warmly taking his hand as they were out the hut. It shocked her what this new summoner said not even letting her decide if she wanted to be his guardian or not. Even though she knew she had to do it sor the sake of Axel, the only problem was what would her father say.

After Shinu went to the temple, she still a little bit shocked walked to the hut and sat down on a chair not knowing what to do and how to explain everything to Asuma. She looked at Axel an then at her father and let out a shy sight.

"Father, I talked with the summoner, he will help Axel but... I have to be his guardian. I acctually have no other choice but to do that. I'll better get ready to go."

As she stood up and walked to her room it was obvious she was a little scared of travelling. She already lived alone, but this was different. It was a pilgrimage. She took some things she knew she would need on the way to the different places of Spira and walked back to the kitchen where she saw Shinu obviously wanting to see her expresion. She walked to Axel and like always smiled at him kindly. That was the same smile her father was used to see when she was talking with him. This time she didn't wanted to look at neither Asuma or Shinu so she started asking Axel if he likes fruits she she could take some for the trip.

Kat knew that she couldn't keep that for long so she looked at the summoner with a decision she made.

"I have no other way just to go with you, but I want my father to come along. He may be more of help to you and your pilgrimage than me, so he won't be bothering you."

She looked at Asuma hoping he will agree. She knew he would be scared to let her go alone since her mother died helping others, and Kat was hoping that this would help him just let it go. He had to do something else to finally let go of er mother and let her rest in peace. This was the best way to do it.

Erk hadn't gone to bed, as the others had. He was in the exact same spot that he had occupied for several hours, looking without seeing across the waters shimmering in the vague promise of dawn's faint light. The hour to leave this shore came soon, this he knew. He could feel it.