- Adaptation -
It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change. - Charles Darwin
From what Xion had told him, his ship was wrecked upon the shoreline of their tiny island. She also informed him in a too merrily tone of voice that some of his men were also found and recovering as well. At first, Roxas was put off by Xion too happy, go-lucky mannerisms, but as the day progressed, he started becoming numb to them.
"So, Xion," Roxas started.
"Yessss?" She replied, drawing out the s sound in a child like behavior.
"Could I go ahead and, you know, check up on my men now?"
He had wanted to from the start of the day, but Xion insisted that he needed fresh air, and by fresh air she meant a tour of the entire island. And Roxas, being the gentlemen that he is, couldn't refuse her pleas. He didn't expect that she would have him out all day long. Dusk was approaching and he really just wanted to see his crew, or what was left of it.
"Oh Roxy!" She said, Roxas mentally flinching from the nickname she had given him when he introduced himself. "Don't you trust my people to do their job? They are in the hands of the best healer in the village!"
"Of course I trust that they are in very capable hands, but seeing is believing, right?" Roxas tried convincing; he didn't know how much longer he could be around this girl and keep his sanity intact.
Xion pouted stubbornly, but finally agreed. He silently thanked God as she led him to another hut that was on the other side of the village. As they passed through the village, he continued to be stared at like an alien. Roxas tried keeping his head down to be more discreet, but it was futile. Throughout the day, the villagers had been gawking and mumbling about Roxas and his crew. He was the newest bit of gossip that the village rarely got. He felt odd and out of place wearing his basic-colored tunic, pants and boots while the villagers wore brightly patterned clothes. As if he didn't stick out enough.
Roxas knew of course that there were indigenous people living on the islands that scattered the oceans, he just never thought he would have to be face to face with them. He stayed out of their territory and they left him and his men alone.
Xion and he finally made it to the healer's house and upon entering Roxas felt much more comfortable as he saw familiar faces around him. They were unconscious sure, but it was a consoling sense that they were here with him. He wasn't alone.
"Sister!" Xion exclaimed as she embraced the auburn haired girl in the room.
"Xion." the girl replied coolly, as she returned the younger girl's hug. She took notice of Roxas as soon as she and Xion's intimate moment ended.
"And who might this be?" She asked, walking over to where Roxas stood.
"How terribly rude of me, I'm Roxas Charles of Hemmingshire." He diplomatically introduced as he gave her a small bow. His father always taught him to be on his best manners in the presence of a lady. No matter how much that bastard of a father was, he had at least instilled a sense of etiquettes within his children that Roxas was thankful for.
"Such formality is unnecessary, Mr. Charles," She replied. "I'm Kairi."
He nodded and turned his attention to his men who lay unconscious.
"They are sick with malidehypo." Kairi said, ending her sentence in her native tongue. "Or as your people call it, hypothermia."
Roxas' eyes were filled with concern as he stared down upon his best mates. Hayner was on the closest cot to him, eyes closed but breathing steadily. Sora, Axel and Pence were aligned in the same fashion next to him. They all seemed to be in the same state, rigid, but slow, even breathing.
"They will be fine; the remedy we gave them will hold them over until the healer comes back from her journey with the medicine needed for such illness." Kairi continued, seeing the worry etched in his eyes.
Taking in the first bit of useful information he had received all day, Roxas was confused at how he was able to recover so quickly and they did not.
"The healer gave the last of our supply to you." She noted, seeming to reading his mind.
"And your healer will be back when?" Roxas inquired, taking a seat next to Sora.
"The plants needed for this medicine are easily found; it should take her no longer than a couple hours." Kairi replied. Roxas mentally cursed, if he were back at Hemmingshire the medicine would be a walk away instead of hours of just trying to find the plants to make it.
Xion was squirming where she stood, not liking the seriousness mood the room had taken on. Neither Roxas nor Kairi seemed to notice her petty distress.
Roxas stood solemnly by his men, feeling completely useless. He was their captain and yet here he was, handing their lives over to a mysterious village and their odd medicines. Roxas was always in control and knew the outcomes of his situations. The situation that he was in now didn't bide well with him, but the natives here were being hospitable and so he couldn't complain, no matter how angry he was at himself.
"Are they the only ones," Roxas swallowed, "that survived?"
"No, there are six more that reside in another house. I will take you to them later on." Kairi said calmingly. Roxas had about fifteen manning his ship and he didn't want to think about the five that he had lost due to his miscalculations.
"Xion," Kairi said, snapping Xion out of her fidgeting state, "will you go see if sister is back."
"Okay," she replied, sighing with relief. "Roxy, take care." She gave him a small wave before briskly leaving the room.
"I'm sorry if she had been bothering you all day, I know she can be a bit," Kairi stopped, trying to find a tactful way of describing her sister's attributes, "overwhelming."
"Ah, yes, she is a lot to handle, but she harmed me in no way." Roxas said.
Kairi nodded and motioned for him to follow her. Roxas followed quietly and the two ventured to the hut next door where the rest of his crew lay in the same condition as the other four.
Once the two returned to the healer's hut, a silence soon enveloped the room. Only the breathing of the four unconscious bodies seemed to fill the room. It wasn't anything uncomfortable, Kairi could see that he needed the quietness and she went back sewing the tear in one of her skirts. Roxas wordlessly thanked her for this gift.
They continued in this fashion for an hour or so until they heard multiple footsteps coming towards the door. Roxas jumped to his feet, hoping it was the healer.
The first through the door was an older white-haired man, followed by Xion. Roxas couldn't help but be a bit disappointed that it wasn't the healer with the antidote in hand.
"You must be Roxas." The older man said with a slight accent, giving Roxas a once over. Roxas did the same, taking in his tanned skin and small stature. Roxas stood well over half a foot taller than him. But whatever this man lacked in height, Roxas was sure he made up with intelligence.
"Yes, I am sir," Roxas replied, bowing even though Kairi had told him it was not needed.
The older man paused, not quite sure whether he should be hostile towards this young man and his motley crew or help them. He decided he would be polite until proven otherwise that these men were trouble. He and his people did not handle things with violence and he wanted to keep it that way.
"I'm Chief Ismann," Ismann greeted, also bowing. He then turned towards Kairi.
"Ayish eu humd freudi, shyundet noh ri nach?" He asked.
"Ma, noh eui't nach, noh shyund ri reutrong koer." Kairi answered.
Roxas was staring at the two, annoyed somewhat. He didn't like feeling out of the discussion, especially in this foreign land where they could be planning to kill him for all he knew.
"My father is asking why isn't my sister back yet." Came a small whisper in his ear. Roxas jumped a little in surprise, forgetting that Xion was in the room. "Kairi then said that she should be back soon."
He nodded in appreciation for her translation. The father and daughter continued to converse as Xion kept translating for Roxas.
Their conversation was soon interrupted as a girl with golden colored hair, carrying an abundance of plants, came rushing through the door.
Here's to hoping that I will keep on this story like a skank is to a manwhore. :)
Yes, I came up with random gibberish as a language. Don't ask what it means 'cause I don't even know...
My love and thoughts go out to my fellow countrymen/women who have lost/known anyone in the 9/11 tragedy. They represent true heroes.
Merci Beaucoup! And keep on reading!
