I just thought that everyone would like to know what everyone else was doing... Seemed like a good idea at the time.

Rain… It was a blessing. It was the source of plant life and gives everything and everyone the chance to start anew. Washing away what once was and giving the one thing people want most after they screw up. A fresh start. It was sad that the memories of the past couldn't last forever, but if you stayed in the past you'd never have a future. That was a truth I accepted long ago yet never really followed. I was stuck halfway. Having the past follow me no matter where I went since I refused to face it. Refused to let it rain. Trying so hard to cheat it. Find a way to get someone else to get rid of it for me. Saying that I tried isn't enough. Will never be enough. Trying doesn't get rid of the problem. Trying is never the same as doing. Could I actually do it though? I came close to dying without facing it… That would not have been a death I would have been happy with. No matter how much I would try to convince myself that dying and giving everyone time was good enough it never would be. No matter how much I tried to fool myself into thinking that I would never be at peace with it… I stayed instead of running this time… So maybe it would end differently… Maybe I would finally feel free… Whether I did die or not…

"Sir?"

"Hm?" I directed my attention back to the two knights.

"What should we do now?"

As much as it would have been great to say something noble or heroic, regretfully we were of no use. We were as good as dead if we were spotted by anything. We had done what we could up until this point. We really had no choice.

I looked up at the falling rain. "We stay out of the way. We've done what we could and now we just have to let everyone else do what they can and what we can't."

They were silent for a moment.

"We should get out of here." Sword spoke first.

"Flee to the forest like everyone else."

More silence followed. Were they still looking at me for direction after all this?... Loyal to a fault.

"... We need to stay out of wide open areas so we aren't spotted on the way rain should wash away our scent so we won't have to worry about that." I responded.

The clink of their practically broken armor signaled that they were trying to stand again. No doubt they were using the wall to help in their effort. I redirected my attention again at the gesture. They each held out a hand. Waiting for me to take them.

"Any sign of them?" Arthur asked as he met back up with Dragato.

"Nothing. Just more of those Demons." He shook his head. "It's like trying to find a needle in a hay stack in all this chaos."

"I do hope they are alright, but we do have to be prepared for the worst..."

"I know… It's just like back then…"

"..."

"..."

"We should keep moving. Staying in one place will just draw them to us."

"Yes."

They ran down one of the back streets. The rain was gentle. A false security over what was happening to the little town. Each street they glanced down was just as discouraging as the last. No matter where they went they came up empty handed. No sounds of battle played to give them hope. No hints of anyone hiding in the darkness of the thinner streets besides the beasts. However they wouldn't leave until they gave this town a thorough search. Leaving one of their own with the possibility of them still being alive was not an option. Especially in this case. Twelve streets and who knew how many Demon Beasts later and they received their first glimmer of hope. One lone beast laying defeated and dying on the ground. Its body covered in slash marks and bleeding heavily its panting grew shallower and one couldn't help but wonder how it lasted as long has it had without falling into deaths hands. It whined desperately as the two approached it. Blades still ready. Caution was something that could not be thrown into the wind at this moment. They looked down on it.

"Those slash marks look familiar."

"... We can't waste anymore time." Arthur finished it with a quick strike with his blade before continuing on at a fast pace.

Dragato followed. Time was not something that they had much of, of late. The Demon Beasts that dared block their path were struck down with ease. Each slaying did not go unnoticed however.

The ships floated lazily, some just barely above the ground. Others gliding smoothly without any real direction much higher in the dark sky. The rain painted them with smooth steams down the sides, casting a slight gleam. The light pings and taps were the only sounds as the ships moved silently. Now not rushed to move about and send little insignificant beasts. Those controlling them walked the interior in a calm manner. Checking on things to make sure they would be working fine if the ships were needed anytime soon. Much to the controller's dismay they were unaware of the two watching their every move.

"Alright… I'll take the one on the left. You get the right and we'll go from there." Nonsurat voiced, eyeing the ships that had been teleporting the beasts.

"I hope you can keep up with me." Sirica smiled before taking the lead.

"This isn't a race!" He called after the girl.

"It is now! I bet I can take out more that you!" Sirica challenged, confident in her skills.

Nonsurat watched her go. He drew in a breath and let it out. Sometimes he swore she was just as cocky as Knuckle Joe… Kids…

"Cheeky little…I'll show you..." He grumbled before taking off after her.

This was going to be a long day. The only slightly lighthearted event since four days ago. Before all of this Nightmare business had risen up again. At least turning it into a game would make things go faster. But if they rushed too much and worried too much about how far ahead the other was there could be trouble. From injuries to getting caught on the ships. But Nonsurat wasn't going to let himself lose if he could help it. And so the race was on.

Beasts hit the ground. Hard. Practically vanishing upon impact. Falspar and Knuckle Joe easily took down the small pests. Both not even slightly worried about Kirby and the two kids with the ship so close by. It was just a run and jump away. They easily kept the pests from getting anywhere close to the star and its bearer. However… They couldn't fall into a muscle memory hypnosis of sorts. They had to be aware and alert and that ability to stay focused was soon tested as a large tiger looking beast lunged. Knuckle Joe leapt back at the last second as the veteran fighter easily evaded with a simple step to the side. His blade already poised to block if necessary. Falspar didn't bother telling him to stay alert at all times. He had heard it before and had learned the importance of it just now. He'd learn. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger and smarter.

Some believed that he could be a little harsh but he held firm to learning things on one's own in the field. If you get killed than you took the advice to lightly. Maybe you weren't meant to be a fighter. You'd be missed but you should have paid a little more attention. If you lived then you took it serious enough to survive and you could learn the importance of the advice right then. Never would you take such advice lightly ever again. That was a lesson he had learned the hard way. That was why he believed in such methods. Next he was going to watch to see if Joe could keep his focus not only on the large one but stay aware that the smaller ones still held a threat. If not he'd watch his back and Joe would learn two lessons in one day. Lucky him.

The beast growled threateningly. The swordsmen remained unintimidated. Knuckle Joe just drew into a ready position as he shifted his gaze from one threat to the other. Falspar shifted his weight onto his front foot and the large beasts attention shifted to the fighter. Falspar fluidly evaded the expected attack and struck while it was open mid-lunge.

"Joe!"

No more direction was needed. He sent a powerful strike to the creatures side. Despite the attack making a direct hit the threat landed on its feet with as much ease as Falspar had evading it. Its claws prevented it from sliding and it attacked again just as soon as it hit the ground.

Smash!

I looked up at the smoke. Not even a second later a loud crash sounded. Looks like we did have some help. I could guess who it was. The howl of a very familiar beast rang through the air. Whoever was fighting it was going to have a problem now. I just hoped that they would be alright. That thing was calling for help again. That's all it did. Call for help when it was strong enough to help itself. It may have been tough but it was a coward. All it did was let the others do the fighting for it and it would wait and strike a blow when its prey was distracted with the others.

"I think that they'll be fine." Sword reassured though he didn't sound so confident himself.

He had seen what those things could do along with Blade. They knew the strength some of them possessed. The cunning. Never would they look at a Demon Beast the same way again.

"We should… at least try and rest a little… Take turns sleeping and such. At least until they find us or we find the strength to get back."

"Yes…" I responded though it was pretty obvious that I was distracted by the events that we could do nothing about.

Another crash. Smoke filled the sky. Tainting the rain that tried to wash away the destruction that was unfolding. Why couldn't I have the strength to protect this place?