Gourry sat in front of the fire trying his best to sat alert. It was his watch and everyone else was asleep. He was supposed to stay awake to keep watch for any possible danger.
Got to stay awake. Can't fall asleep, Lina will kill me. Got to stay awake. Can't sleep after what happened last time.
The last time Gourry had stood watch not only did he not wake Zelgadis for the last watch, but Gourry had fallen into such a deep sleep that he didn't wake up to anything that happened around him. Even the group of thieves that stalked in and stole their money AND their food while they had been sleeping. Lina hadn't been happy the next day, not at all.
But the foursome could only stand Amelia's whining about being tired for so long. They had to let her sleep a full night's rest. So that left them having to have Gourry take one the watches.
They had decided that Gourry would take first watch, Zelgadis second and Lina would take the last one. That way Gourry would be the least likely to fall asleep on his watch since he wouldn't be interrupted for a watch during his sleep. All he had to do was stay awake till it was time for Zelgadis to take over. Shouldn't have been that hard right?
Gourry fought with himself as he waged the battle of consciousness and sleep. His eyes lids felt heavy and his head kept drooping. He was constantly snapping his head up in his efforts to stay awake.
Got to do something to keep me awake. Gourry thought as he looked around. Amelia was sleeping soundly with a slight smile tugging her lips in the state of a nice dream. Zelgadis slept much like you'd expect him to given on how he acts most days, emotionless. The only notable thing was that somehow he had ended up sleeping with his face towards Lina's face, which was only mere inches away. That was most likely Lina's fault since she had been moving around constantly in her sleeping state. At the moment though she was curled up in a ball like a cat. This didn't help Gourry but make him sleepier.
I want to sleep too! He lifted his tired head to look for something to do. His eyes caught sight of a quill and a stack of paper lying not too far away from Amelia. He picked up the stack of paper and briefly looked over the printed pages. Amelia's newest justice speeches! Gourry made a sour face. This will probably make me more sleepy!
He put the paper back where he put it but then an idea came to mind. Amelia won't mind if I borrow some of these. Gourry took a few pieces of paper and Amelia's quill.
Maybe it was because he was tired and not thinking straight but Gourry had the sudden urge to write. He had never written anything in his life! Well no he had written things before he could read and write after all, but he never wrote a story before in his life.
How do you start off these things? Oh yeah Once upon a time...
Gourry started to write a story about a raven-haired emerald green-eyed princess who had been kidnapped by an evil monster who wanted her kingdom and her riches as well as her as his wife. There was a blond prince, another princess, two royal knights and an ill-tempered priestess in the story. It was almost as if the story was coming to life on its own on the paper, it took very little effort for Gourry to write the words. They just seemed to flow so well as if writing was second nature to him. He hadn't noticed but somehow he ended up using most of Amelia's spare paper to write his little fairy tale.
This is pretty good! Gourry thought to himself proudly as he looked over his masterpiece. And this is fun too! He gleefully as he continued to write.
Unfortunately thinking and concentrating so hard took a toll on Gourry. He had no idea how long he had been writing but all he knew was that he wanted to finish his story before his watch was over. But the clutches of sleep took him as he finished printing the end at the bottom. His head clunked loudly as it hit the ground hard and Gourry began to snore very loudly.
The same group of thieves which had stolen from Lina and company almost a week before watched as the blond swordsmen fall asleep.
"Man those guys must be pretty dumb to let him take watch... again." One of the thieves sneered.
The others chorused in laughter and their leader shut them up. "Do you want to wake them?!"
When no one answered the leader he motioned for them to go and plunder.
Being as quite as they could they looted the campsite of any treasure and food they could get their hands on.
One of the thieves took interest in what Gourry had been writing. "Hey this is pretty good." The thief commented in a whisper.
This pissed off the leader. "Put that thing down and shut up! Do you want to wake her up?!" The leader hissed pointing towards Lina. Yes they are all knew of her reputation. But it looked a bit funny since the women in question was at the moment snuggling up an unaware chimera.
Lina opened her eyes slowly as she woke up. The sunshine wasn't kind to her eyes so it caused her to shut them as soon as she opened them. Damn sun! Wait a minute I supposed to take last watch! Lina got up with a start on his revelation but only to be slightly pulled downwards by something latched onto her. Lina blinked at what or rather whose arms she was tangled in.
Zelgadis woke up at that exact moment.
"AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!" Lina screamed recoiling away from Zelgadis with a fireball ready. She would have sent it flying at him if she hadn't noticed one simple thing. Their campsite had been ransacked, most of their money was gone and their food supplies where nowhere to be seen. What she did see was Gourry slumbering peacefully on the ground. "GOURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"