So much for going to sleep. No one managed to get a blink of the well needed sleep, being too lugubrious and scared. Saix's body had faded away during the many hours that passed, Xemnas's eyes fixed to the spot as he stood near one of the few jagged trees around the Forsis. Axel and Vexen sat leaning against a large boulder that jutted out from the ground, conversing in low tones. Some found it funny, for they would think the two would be hostile towards one another; Axel had killed the chilly scientist. The rest of the Organization sat or lay in a huddled group, talking to each other lowly, eyes darting around to catch sight of another of the creatures that they had encountered not long ago, a creature that had managed to take a member's life with only one bite, even with six people helping to fight it.
And the gang? Only some ways off from the distressed Organization. Not that they too weren't distressed. Sora ran his gaze over the Organization as Kairi leaned against him groggily, wanting to sleep but clearly still frightened by the ordeal. Donald and Goofy, sitting side-by-side near the brunette, looked around often, Donald's eyes narrowed in concentration and Goofy always staring at Sora worriedly. Riku insisted on standing up, saying that he would be no use if he laid down and slept while more beasts could have attacked.
Wanting to say something, the brunette looked up at Riku, clearing his throat to get the other teen's attention.
Turning around to look at his friend, he finally responded after staring at the brunette with a calculating expression. "What?"
"I... I was just wondering why you saved me, and..." Sora trailed off lamely, lowering his head shamefully.
"Why, you thought that because I was frustrated at you for getting us into this mess, I wouldn't save my friend from death, which was staring at you straight in the face?" Riku pressed, scrutinizing Sora. "I have to admit, the moment I stood there, I thought about it: 'He did bring us here; he was asking for it.'" Shrugging, he kicked some ash from the ground. "I'm not so selfish and vengeful that I would let my best friend die before my eyes. How could you think that?"
Sora just could not bear to meet his friend's eyes, knowing with a sinking feeling that he had thought that Riku wouldn't have helped him because he had brought them here. "I'm really sorry, Riku. I didn't mean to think that." Kairi lifted her head for a moment to look over Sora, noting that he looked ashamed.
"No one is perfect, Sora, don't be so hard on yourself." Trying her best to be reassuring, she rubbed his shoulder. Sora showed how he was grateful by giving her a small smile, the peaceful exchange being interrupted by a snort from Riku.
"Don't tell me you two forgot all about me already, love birds."
Both Sora and Kairi blushed crimson, turning away from each other sharply. Donald snickered, leaning over to the side to whisper to Goofy.
"Didn't I always say they were perfect for each other?"
"Like a dozen o' times, Donald," Goofy replied with a chuckle.
The five of them immediately looked over to Xemnas, who was stalking up to them and his Organization. Everyone scrambled up to their feet ungracefully, except maybe for Marluxia, of course.
"We should be heading off. If we ever want to get out of this place, we should look for whatever will help us do just that."
"But how will we do that? And even if we did manage it, how many of us will be left alive?" shouted Xaldin.
"Exactly! How much more will die?" Larxene added bitterly, Sora and Riku exchanging glances that seemed to grimly agree.
"How would I know? I can't predict just who will be killed off by whatever Forsis has in store for us," the Superior said defeatedly. He was the Organization's Superior; he just had to think up something to help out his members, including the gang for now.
"May I make a simple suggestion?" Zexion offered, cocking his head to the side like he usually did when making a statement or comment.
"Shoot."
"For one, we can't scatter like startled chickens; which is what we exactly did when those two lizardlike creatures launched themselves at us." The Schemer sternly fixed his grey optics on everyone until one or two of them dropped their gaze or shifted their weight. "That's why those beasts were able to practically herd us. Sure, the rest of us managed to get rid of them without a scratch-" he stopped briefly, rolling his eyes to the slightly greyish sky "-but they were still able to get Saix. This goes to show that the creatures that may be here aren't in the least bit stupid."
When Zexion looked as if he wasn't going to say anything more, Vexen hesitantly cleared his throat. "That's very well, Zexion, and the advice good. But, how can you have any time to think clearly when your scared out of your wit's end?"
"Vexen's right. Those creatures weren't exactly all sunshine and flowers, if you ask me," Marluxia added, backing up the Chilly Academic.
"However, Vexen and Marluxia," Xemnas began darkly, "Zexion speaks the truth. Fear is not an option here; not now, not ever. We've just got to remember to keep our wits about us, and stick together, not in straggled groups like last time."
"Yeah, but it would actually help a bunch if we knew what animals are here, their weaknesses and strengths, or if their poisonous or not. Among tons of other things, of course," Riku growled, shoving his hands into the pockets of his baggy jeans.
"I've never thought of that," Kairi muttered wide-eyed, side-stepping closer to Sora.
"Gawrsh, that is somethin' to think 'bout." Goofy blinked, rubbing the back of his head.
"Aw, this sucks," Donald grumpily pouted, crossing his arms sourly.
"Hm, that thought never occured to me. There's food for thought," the Superior murmered, already starting to think about it.
"Maybe we should get going... Y'know..." Sora started, running his tongue over his teeth nervously. "We want to get out of here as quick as possible, or risk losing more of us and running into more creatures."
"Definitely. Superior...?" Lexaeus turned to his leader, quirking an eyebrow. "Shall we start heading out, or shall we wait and regain our strength?"
"It's not hard to tell that none of you were able to get a blink of sleep, and I wouldn't doubt it if you weren't able to right now, either. So, I guess we'll start going, then." Xemnas looked everyone in the eye, before continuing again: "This time stick close together, and don't stray off for any reason except if it's urgent. We will head to the north, the opposite of where the three lizards that jumped us came from."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The trek through the rough, burnt earth that was the Forsis proved more difficult than expected; since there was hardly any trees - the few they passed along the way were all twisted and leafless, offering no shelter - the sun which never rose or set bore down on them, quickly sapping the few strength that they had left. After another hour or so of this endless walking, Demyx buckled onto his knees, shaking his head wearily.
"Can't we rest? I can't even walk a foot anymore," the Melodious Nocturne pleaded, his falling stopping everyone in their tracks.
"C'mon, Demyx. We haven't gotten that far yet," Sora sighed, sympthetically eyeing the Nobody.
"Yeah, we should cover as much distance as we are able!" Axel replied chirkily, the only one of the whole, large group that was unaffected by the relentless heat that came in waves from the sun above.
"Your the only one who can say that, as you have no problems in this sweltering heat," Xigbar growled coldly, fixing his one good eye on the pyro angrily. "This is no fair, man. We're practically in your domain, and your the healthiest one here, with not a problem in the world."
"Now, we can't go blaming Axel for having the element of fire," Xemnas stepped in, staring back at the Freeshooter just as coldly. Axel peered around the Superior's shoulder, smirking and enraging the one-eyed Nobody.
"Let me at him," Xigbar snapped, pushing the Superior out of the way, only to be restrained by Marluxia and Xaldin, who both gripped one arm and dragged the furious eye-patched member away from the redhead.
"Wow, this heat has affected us more than I would have thought," Riku voiced out loud, furrowing his brow.
"And not only by affecting our attitudes, either. There is no water," Zexion put in, speaking up for just the fourth time since they were in Forsis. "Therefore meaning..."
"We'll evenutally die of thirst, if not before goddamn monsters," Larxene spat, the heat not helping with her temper in the least.
"We're surely going to have to find some water, won't we?" Kairi muttered sheepishly, eyes straying around as if hoping to spot some.
"Yer right, Kairi. Gosh, we can't survive without water." Goofy yawned tiredly, rubbing both eyes.
"Hey, we still have to eat, too," Donald put in bitterly, rubbing his stomach to emphasive his point.
"Complaining about it won't help," Riku hissed impatiently, Xemnas obviously thinking the same thing.
"All good points. And complaining won't help, as Riku has kindly stated." The Superior's optics flickered to the musician, who was still on his knees with his head bowed. "Get up, IX. We have no time for rest."
"Why don't you just go on without me? I can catch up later..." Demyx replied drowsily, shoulders sagging.
"I'll help him." Lexaeus immediately stepped up to Demyx, hauling him up steadily and supporting the dirty blonde-haired Nobody against his shoulder.
"I wouldn't mind the help either, as I am affected as much as Demyx there; and we're in worst condition then any of you," Vexen pointedly, and groggily, voiced aloud.
"I can help our scientist friend," Marluxia suggested, wanting to help out and feel useful. Once Xemnas nodded his approval, the Graceful Assassin hurried over to Vexen's side, who was starting to sway and looked like he would topple over at any minute.
"Now that that's settled, we can get moving," Xemnas announced, continuing onward. The rest of the Organization, the gang included, followed in suit.
