Chapter Ten: Desert Hideout

I couldn't concentrate properly after the battle. My power was swirling beneath the skin, waiting to rise again. I was worried that the smallest thing would make it come to life, but I had my confidence from my friends and stayed with them.

It had been hours, and every now and then more fiends would attack. I was careful with how much energy I put into my fighting, and managed to keep the powerful flow in me down to a small portion. Still, it was visible to the others when a bright red light appeared around me and the monsters stayed well away from me.

I was feeling guilty not being able to fight to my utmost ability. Fortunately as they had been telling me, they were fantastic fighters and also managed to keep an eye out for me whilst covering their own tails. The feeling was great as I did not expect them to aid me or put myself at risk waiting. We all worked together and made it out okay, but surviving the heat and constant walking through the desert was straining on all of us, and I didn't know how much longer we would last.

Finally we found the light at the end of the tunnel. Ruins rose before us as though blooming from the ground and rising as pillars coated in sand. They had been there for many years judging by the cracks that lined every sand coloured brick. It was an ugly assortment, most of the structure merely rubble at the ground. There seemed to be barely any roof covering the rooms, but we decided that it would only make things easier.

We approached with caution, knowing that the siblings could very well be inside. Our hands gripped our weapons and we approached slowly, Paine taking the lead with me in the middle with Yuna. Rikku had her magic already tingling at her fingers as we pushed open the door, and once we entered our guards lowered a little as we started to realise that the place was well and truly deserted. There was no a single sound, only the howling wind as it entered through hidden cracks and holes.

Our feet echoed on the long stone floor, only ceasing as we stopped to check a room. All of them were deserted, the floor coated in sand and the walls coming down. As we explored further, I started to realise that I recognised everything here… but from where?

The ruins were cooling us down rapidly as we kept to the shadows out of the burning sunlight, and in the peaceful place void of enemies we hydrated with our water and prepared our sphere grids incase the pair were here after all.

"Well this is the last room," Paine muttered as we reached the end of the final hallway, facing a steel door. "What a waste of time this was." It was true, as so far there had been nothing at all, but something stirred in me again…

I stared at the door, my heart seeming to beg me to remember, but I still could not realise what. Paine opened the door, wincing as it scraped alone the ground in an ear piercing squeal. I gasped as I saw the interior and immediately I could recognise the area and I knew where the memory came from.

"The sphere!" I gasped, stepping into the same room the siblings had been in during their recording. "This is where they were when they recorded, remember?"

Everyone stepped in after me, staring at the walls and the boxes, realising that I was right. It felt unreal, standing in the place where the pair had sat; revealing information that they wouldn't have wanted my ears to hear. A smile spread across my face as I realised that my enemies indeed made mistakes, and it gave me the courage I had been beginning to lack.

"Finally, something interesting," Paine muttered as she paced the room. "But what exactly does it matter now? Obviously they've moved on."

I thought for a moment as more questions raged in my head. "I wonder…" I mumbled mostly to myself as I tried to wrestle down a single question. "Why are they running?"

"Running?" Yuna echoed.

I pressed a thumb to my chin. "Why would they be out here in the middle of the desert on their own? Surely they belong somewhere? Where are they from?"

Yuna sat down beside me with her weary legs. "It is a good place to hide and communicate with this 'boss' of theirs."

"That's true, but of all the places…"

Rikku was sitting cross legged on the ground, completely still as she tried to cool down, but as Yuna and I discussed the matter of the siblings in such a place she suddenly sat up straight and stared across at us with hunger in her eyes.

"Yunie, do you still have the sphere with you?" she asked hurriedly, on her feet before the gunner could even reach for it in her bag. She quickly watched the sphere, and as she did so a smile played on her lips. "I knew it…"

"Knew what?" Paine asked as she leaned against a wall, her usual poise. "Is the sun getting to you, Rikku, or is it just your usual nutcase disease spiking up again?"

The thief ignored her and pulled the sphere away, jumping up and down excitedly, shouting, "I have a new piece to the puzzle!"

"What is it?" I asked excitedly, leaping to my feet and grasping her wrists to stop her before she dizzied herself. "What have you figured out?"

She grinned so widely it almost blinded me with her shining teeth. "They're part of a clan! And I know which one too!"

"Clan?" I echoed, staring at her in confusion. "There are clans out here?"

She nodded and counted them off of her fingers. "There are the Desert Wanderers, the Sand Devils, and the Bikanel Thieves. Clans out here are illegal, of course, as they are always up to no good, but none more than the Bikanel Thieves, and that is where those little brats are from!"

I hugged her in all of my thankfulness. "But how did you find that out?" I asked as I held her in my excited embrace.

She released me with a giggle and tapped a finger to the sphere. "They both have little tattoos on their wrists. They're tiny and usually only Al-bhed can see them because we know what to look for."

"So what do the Bikanel Thieves do exactly?" Yuna asked, grasping the sphere and returning it to her bag. She did seem awfully protective of her spheres.

As Rikku answered the question, she could not hide her anger at the group. "They're savages, really. They scour through the sands all over Bikanel with stolen equipment that they manage to get their hands on. They take whatever they please, some things being crucial to further development for the Al-bhed. They have really made some enemies in the past, so maybe these two kids got a bit sick of being hated and hunted down, and wanted to get out."

"So they're hiding from their clan?" I asked, trying to fit everything together.

Rikku nodded. "But not just because of that reason. Their boss must have come from the same clan, because the clan hates magic, so they would be banished just for that. The boss must still be under the radar, because that would explain the two exiles choosing to stay in the desert." She spoke so fast that we all had a little trouble understanding.

Paine ambled over and tried to make sense of it all. "So these two kids are clan members and have been kicked out because they possess magical abilities."

I continued on as she left the story open to me. "Their mentioned boss is also there in the clan, but he hasn't been figured out for being tied in with the pair, so they stay in the desert close enough to contact him. That about right, Rikku?"

She nodded. "Exactly!"

"Wow," Paine muttered. "That's quiet a large chunk you've worked out there."

Rikku smiled. "Well I have lived in this desert for most of my life, remember? These things are pretty easy to piece together for me!"

I was so giddy that I could barely stand still. I wanted to shout out to the world that we finally had another lead, and now we knew where to head… but there was still more I did not know.

"Where do you think they got these powers from?" I asked, staring at Rikku. "Is there some sort of source out here in the desert?"

She snorted. "Why does everyone expect some prophecy or something hidden out here?"

"Well it would be the perfect place to hide something like that," Paine pointed out, her arms crossed in all seriousness.

Rikku shrugged. "So? Trust me, this place is just sand, ruins, and clans, nothing more."

"What about the cacti?" Paine added, trying desperately to prove Rikku wrong.

"Well, them too I guess, but that's all."

"Sure about that?"

"Yes! Stop trying to make Bikanel out as some sort of conspiracy!"

"Aww, you love your little sand pit, don't you Rikku."

"Don't call it a sandpit!"

I wanted to laugh at their argument, but my mind was on the clan the siblings were most probably from. If we were wrong, we could be putting our lives in danger stepping into the land we were forbidden from as outsiders… but we had to try.

"So I guess were off to the Desert Thieves Clan," Yuna decided, already fiddling with her spheres. "That means we are going to have to be very careful."

Rikku nodded, her smile fading away immediately. "They are really dangerous, so make sure you're all prepared and equipped. We'll have to sneak in, but if we get caught, I'm not sure how well we're going to be able to do in a fight. The clans fight savagely, and all as one as well. We'll be caught fighting the entire place if we take a wrong step."

Almost as though he could sense something was wrong, Brother's voice called out from Yuna's pocket. We all whirled around to stare at her as she sheepishly pulled out her communicator and answered. As soon as he heard her voice, Brother cried out in happiness.

"Yuna! My dear Yuna! I have been so worried about you! You haven't been hurt out there, have you? Tell me, and I'll pick you up right away!"

Frustrated at the lack of concern from her bother, Rikku snatched away the device and screamed into it. "What about me, your sister?! What if I'm hurt?!"

"Put Yuna back on! I want to hear her voice…"

"Go to hell, Brother!"

"Don't you speak to your leader like that!"

The argument was getting heated, but thankfully Paine had had enough and took the device off of a roaring Rikku.

"We're going to the Desert Thieves Clan. Ask Buddy where they are."

Brother gasped loudly into the device and groaned. "You can't send my love down there! They'll kill her!"

Rolling her eyes, Paine took a deep breath before unleashing it in a savage yell. "GET OVER HER AND PUT BUDDY ON!"

For the first time, Brother did not argue. Immediately, Buddy's voice appeared. He laughed into the device, then calmed with a snort. "What's up Paine?"

"The Desert Thieves Clan. Where is it?" she asked, getting right to the point.

There was a sharp intake of breath. "You sure about this? I don't doubt you girls, but it's a pretty dangerous plan."

"Well you can't exactly pick us up seeing as the ship can't take all of that heat, so I guess we are serious, Buddy. Where is it?"

Seeing that there was no changing the warrior's mind, Buddy sent her the coordinates on a small digital map that she had attached to her belt, then she hung up immediately as he started to give her another lecture.

"Well now that you've deafened my brother and received the coordinates, everything is fine!" Rikku piped up, studying the area the clan was located. "I know this place as well. It's pretty well hidden in the side of a cliff wall, but we should be okay."

"Should be?" I echoed, staring at her fearfully.

She shrugged. "That's what we usually go on."

"Okay. 'Should be' it is."

*****

Well hidden seemed the perfect way to describe the ruins as we approached, apart from one thing.

The giant flying fiend standing guard in the entrance.

We hid behind a rock, lying low as the creature stuck its giant head into the entrance of the clan. It seemed to be trying to drag something out of the cavernous entrance.

"What's it doing?" I asked quietly, trying to peer out for a better look.

Rikku looked as white as a sheet. "Those fiends are meat eater and they only act like this when they're hungry."

"Meaning?"

She swallowed and lowered her head. "It's feasting."

The creature gave a great scream as it finally pulled out its desire and threw it out of the save, chasing after it's kill to sink it's teeth into the flesh. I almost fainted at the sight of the torn body, for it was human.

Yuna said something, but her voice was lost to me as I tried to concentrate on staying conscious. She repeated it and I realised she was speaking to me. "Are you going to be alright?"

I understood what she meant by it. If the body was near the entrance than it was a guard, and if the guard was dead than the threat had made it inside. That meant there were much more bodies awaiting us.

I swallowed. "I-I think so…"

"We'll have to fight that thing as well," Paine said, speaking as though it were a chore. "How annoying."

The beast lifted its head from its meal for a moment as though hearing us as we spoke, then lowered to feast again. Its size was frightening, especially as it widened its wings to stretch out the bone. Black and brown feathers covered its body thickly, large yellow eyes peering out on its face and staring down its clawed beak to run over the area in a constant check for enemies.

"Freaking scary," I mumbled to myself, staring at my blade that was suddenly looking very thin in comparison to the beast.

Unfortunately for me, the other girls were ready to go, brimming with assurance that they could win.

"Ready when you are," Paine said simply. It was no surprise. She was always ready for a battle.

Rikku and Yuna gave firm nods, confirming that they were ready, and I only managed a meek whimper for a reply. Paine, however, took it as an 'ok' and raced off through the sand, the mages following with me lagging behind.

I wasn't sure which I was more afraid of as I approached the alerted beast: Being killed or unleashing my unknown powers. Maybe it was both that left me open for the first attack, because I didn't see it coming at all. The creature's thick coiling tail whipped out and slashed across my chest, winding me and knocking me to the ground, then it rose into the air and gave an almighty roar.

Pain was a burning grip around my ribs as I laid back and moaned. Thinking they were broken, I didn't dare move or touch them. Paine had other ideas though and yanked me up before I could be hit again. I was deposited roughly on the ground again and left to Yuna's healing as the berserker leapt up to grasp the beast around the neck.

My ribs stopped aching immediately as Yuna cast 'cure', but there was no time to thank her as both Paine and the screaming monster crashed to the ground in front of us, both grappling with each other and clawing at flesh. Blood spotted the sand and the berserker released the bird, left limping away to avoid another attack.

Shards of ice fell away before me as Rikku unleashed a spell of ice, then followed up with thunder. Freezing and sizzling all at once, the fiend came tumbling down again and I took my chance to attack.

I knew that I could do little before I reached my limit, so I started with a light attack. Lifting my sword, I brought at down at the birds neck, leaving a deep scratch and then being rewarded with a talon catching in on the arm. It stuck in the flesh for a moment and I howled in pain, grasping for it and using my free hand to hack away at the monster's face.

Finally my blade cut deep enough to cause a better amount of damage and blood ran freely into the sand. Shrieks came from the monster now instead or enraged cries, and I stumbled back, freed from its weakened grip.

Able to concentrate on things better, I realised that the power had been kept within me, but my arm was pulsing blood at a rate that made me feel sick. I turned away from the wound in disgust.

"Are you hurt?" Yuna had come running over and immediately began healing me. I felt terrible for having her waste her magic on me all of the time, and I said so.

She only laughed lightly. "It's okay. After all, that's why I have trained so much with this dress sphere. I want to protect my friends."

I smiled at the title she had included me in and raised my head to stare at the entrance of the clan that lay ahead of us. "You think you can heal anyone in there?" I asked. "Do you think any even survived whatever happened if their guard was dead?"

She paled at the thought of the massacre that may lie ahead and shuddered. "We can only hope."

The entrance of the Clan cavern was coated in thick blood, but only there. The further we stepped through we only found bodies, but no blood.

Bending down to examine the nearest body, Rikku clicked her tongue. "Scorch marks," she said as she ran her hand over the burned flesh. "These people were burned."

I stared down at the bodies, each of them wearing the same sandy coloured pants. The women wore matching tunics, whereas the men were all shirtless. I assumed it was for the heat and also the disguise out in the desert seeing at they were all a similar tanned colour to the sand. It interested me to find a group of Al-bhed that were not in the game, but nothing like this was in there either. None of these bodies littered about the place that looked so still and pale.

"You okay? You're looked a little green there."

I looked up to see Paine staring at me with an expressionless face. I opened my mouth to reply, but it only gave my last meal the opportunity to come up and I vomited on the stone floor. She immediately took my arm and pulled me to the side, sitting me down on a rock and ordering me not to look at the bodies as Yuna and Rikku went on ahead to make sure the way was clear.

I noticed how strong they were as though they were made of steel even around bodies. "How do you do it?" I asked Paine. "They look so… different in real life."

She stifled a laugh and looked back at the murdered men and women. "I've seen stuff like that in my past before on the Crimson Squad… but I guess you already know a little about that, huh?"

I thought for a moment that she was attacking me, but she smiled a little and I realised she was merely refusing to tell a tale that I already knew of and waste time. Instead we turned onto a surprising topic of earth.

"So what do you fight in your little world?" Paine asked. "What sort of fiends do you have?"

I thought about my answer carefully. "There aren't really any fiends, but we do have animals."

"Animals? Like those annoying chocobos?"

I laughed. "We have birds called canaries that are… kind of like chocobos. But they're small, like, not even the size of my fist."

Her eyebrows raised. "Why would they be so small. How would you ride them?"

Again I found myself laughing at the cold warrior and she looked a little offended. "We don't ride them! We keep them as pets."

"You're kidding. You keep animals as pets?"

"You do here as well, right?" I countered. "You have chocobo ranches, and moogles."

Now it was her turn to be amused. "Moogles aren't animals, for starters. They are an actual race, and as for chocobos being pets, they are merely for riding around. Only freaks like Rikku would keep them as pets."

"Oh… Well, we keep some other animals as pets as well sometimes, like tigers or bears."

She stared blankly.

"Big animals, sharp teeth and claws. Umm… they are pretty dangerous, like the things you fight."

"Really?" She was clearly getting interested, but conversations were still not her thing and she went silent. I was enjoying the talk though, so I persisted.

"There are other things both our worlds share as well," I said. "Like your Crimson Squad and Clans like this. We have groups that band together for different religious belief and races. They cause wars sometimes, though, and wide out those who don't share their views."

She stared at me. "Here a lot of people hate the Al-bhed, but we don't have our groups going around and slaughtering them. What sort of a place is your world?"

I sighed. "Its turning into a pretty bleak place…"

Rikku and Yuna were silent as they entered and it was surprising to them to see the roles reversed as me and Paine chattered on about the ways of my world. I became so immersed in explaining everything to her that I completely forgot about he bodies that lay only metres from me until I saw the stricken faces of my friends.

"No one got out of this alive, whatever it was," Yuna muttered, her hands shaking as she clutched them together.

"It was magic," Rikku announced. "Some of them were frozen, and others burnt by something other than fire. I saw traces of all four elements on the bodies further down, and that means one thing…"

"The siblings," I muttered miserably. "So they are here after all."

Paine rose to her feet, saying one last thing. "It seems there are some things our worlds share after all, Rachael," she said, turning to me with a grim face. "Bloodshed."