Loralai and I hadn't set off on our rescue mission yet, because we had to collect supplies first.

And by 'we' I mean Loralai, because she was doing all of the work. She scurried loudly throughout the house, collecting things she thought we might need. From the sound of it, that was a lot of things.

I wasn't going to tell Loralai this, but closure isn't the only reason I had brought up going to look for Oliker. 

I also wanted to escape from Zaila. I needed to get as far away from her as possible. If-- I mean when, we find Oliker, I'll just bring up Zaila calmly, and the we can keep traveling away from her.

Flawless plan right? Who am I kidding? 

No plan is flawless, especially if you're a blind girl.

And your name is Isla Kunay, specifically.

Anyways, this is a good plan.

I'm helping Loralai, but also getting what I want out of the situation. All that I want is to live, so it's really not like I'm doing anything horrible.

It's a win-win.

"Loralai! Are you ready yet? You make it seem like we're traveling to the moon, not to a village that you said was 'not too far'," I finally called out, a little bit impatient at how long she was taking to pack.

Loralai stumbled loudly down the stairs. 

"Ready!"

I couldn't even see her, and even I knew how ridiculous she must look. One does not stumble down a staircase unless they have something very heavy.

"Do you really need all that?" I asked.

"Shut up! I do!"

Loralai grabbed my hand and wrapped it around a backpack strap. "Here, you take this."

I swung the backpack around onto my back, and swayed under its weight.

"What did you put in here?!"

It felt like I was honestly trying to carry a mountain.

"Stop whining! I'm carrying the heavier stuff!"

"Why do you need this all...?" I sighed.

"Well, I want to make a good impression on Oliker so I can convince him to come with us!"

"Loralai, you're going to make a fine impression on your own. Only bring what we really need."

"Fine..." Loralai said sadly. I took the backpack off and held it out.

She took it, and I heard her unzipping it.

The next sound I heard was similar to what I imagine it sounds like to throw a bunch of metal pots and pans down a staircase.

"Don't need that, that, that, that, definitely not that," Loralai said. Each item was followed by a clunk, a thunk, or a clank as she pulled it out of the backpack and dropped it onto the ground.

"This we'll need for sure. But not this. Or that."

"How did you even fit everything into those backpacks?" I asked her.

Loralai did not answer me, too caught up in her unpacking.

Loralai suddenly stopped, and I knew this because the room fell completely silent.

Loralai let out a long, slow sigh.

"What is it...?" I asked gently.

"It's a picture. Of him. Of Oliker."

"What does he look like?" I looked at where I knew she was sitting.

I knew it meant nothing to me. But I think talking about him might make Loralai feel better.

Loralai didn't question that I--a blind person-- was asking her about what a person looked like, and told me anyways, "In this picture, he's only 7, I think."

She paused, realizing she couldn't remember for sure. Instead of making her feel worse, it only seemed to make her want to find Oliker even more.

"He has these sparkling dark blue eyes that are always smiling," Loralai described fondly, "And jet black hair that he never cared about if it was neat. He looks like me, and my mother. I'm so glad he took after his mother and not his father. I don't think I'd ever be able to look at him if he looked like Him."

We sat there in silence for a long while, until I finally spoke.

"Well, Loralai, are you finished unpacking what we won't need?"

"Yeah... I think I'm ready."

"Well, now we can really get started."

Loralai grabbed my hand again, and put it on a backpack strap yet again.

Bracing myself, I slung the backpack onto my shoulder.

I did not fall, or even stumble. It was much lighter this time.

"Loralai, are you sure you want to find Oliker? He might not want to come with us, or he could be dead. There's so many risks we're taking by doing this--" I started to voice my doubts, but Loralai interrupted me.

"I've never been more sure in my life. I know there's a lot of risks. But, to possibly see Oliker again..."

She paused for just a second to open the front door, and both of us stepped out.

"...They're all risks I'm willing to take."