Orkairn watched his companions fall asleep, one after the other, as he stood his vigil. Raves' small blaze crackling merrily behind him, exuding a small haven of warmth and light in what was an ever-darkening world. He looked up at the sky, and saw that it was a particularily starry night. Diamond dust scattered across a deep indigo cover. And right in the middle, a golden pearl which was the moon. Orkairn never really noticed how spectacular it was before now...
<Beautiful, isn't it?>
Kasumi materialized beside him.
<Yes... It is.> They both gazed at the night sky for awhile. Orkairn broke the silence, something that he rarely broke.
<So...can't sleep?>
Kasumi looked at him, the jewel upon her crown sparkled.
<I don't sleep.>
<Ah, yes. Of course...> After all, her body has laid down to the eternal sleep- it only made sense that her spirit was left with the eternal wake. Orkairn felt distinctly awkward. He rarely conversed with anyone before, but now here he was, chatting with a ghost. Orkairn never thought of this before, but now, it seemed ridiculously obvious: how do the dead feel about their deaths? He direly wanted to know, but one doesn't just pop the question on a spirit, of that he was sure. Death seemed to have just as many complications as life.
<What are you thinking?>
Orkairn slipped out of his thoughts.
<...What?...Oh- uh, nothing. Nothing.>
Her jewel glittered again, a shining ruby flash.
<Well... it's said that books can't be judged by their cover...> She had a small smirk curling her lips. <You have more than just your body hidden under that shell, don't you?>
His cheeks reddened- or, at least they did- under said shell. She seemed to notice anyway.
<I noticed how depressed you were, when we were heading towards Petalburg.> She wrapped her tail around his claw again. <Does something there disturb you?>
<What are you guys talking about?>
They whipped around and came face-to-face with- Chiira. The little Chikorita giggled.
<You don't know how funny it is. To see such a huge Crawdaunt and a ghost jump like that.> She smiled at both of them. Orkairn stared at both of them alternately, stupified.
<She knows?>
<Yes. I should have told you this before, but- as we were talking with Ho-oh, I experienced this horrible vision, depicting my death. I showed it to her, because I sensed that she is trustworthy. I would have shown you first, but you already seemed rather miserable.>
<Don't worry,> Chiira piped up, <I won't tell anyone.>
He nodded drearily at her. It has been a very long night.
<Well, it's almost 3 in the morning, judging by the Hoot Hoots... Would you like me and Kasumi to take over? Surely even a big guy like you needs sleep sometime.>
He sighed. Then nodded again. He didn't feel much like talking now. He clambered down from his watch spot, and found a nice little cove by a nearby pond. He settled down, and sank into a deep sleep.