Disclaimer: As before, I still don't own Kingdom Hearts or its characters.
"What are you doing?" Riku asked, watching Sora strip away bark from a large, fallen branch, even working the first layer of wood away.
"This type of tree grows near the base, so I know it well." Sora responded. "Inside of it is a soft, squishy material. It makes the water taste a little bitter because of any sap left in it, but it can be used with the canteens to get clean water into them. It keeps silt and other things from getting into the water."
"Huh, that's nifty." Riku nodded and watched Demyx work with the llarcloa on this. "Dem, did you know this?"
"I didn't know of the filter technique, but I was taught that this stuff is also great for kindling after it dries." Demyx admitted, chuckling a bit. "Think this is enough?"
"Mm-hmm." Sora nodded, finishing up with what he had and collecting the canteens they had. He then went to the stream nearby, filling them up with water. "It takes a bit longer, but it's better than drinking water that could get you sick."
Riku nodded and took one of the spongy materials, shook it in the water first, then put it with the canteen to fill it up. As he was filling up the canteen, he looked to Sora, concern on his mind. He wanted to know if Sora was feeling okay, physically and emotionally, but he didn't want to pry and make it worse. He then smiled when that tail found its way around his wrist. He looked to see Sora glancing back, smiling, as though having read his mind and assuring him he was fine. I'll be strong for you, Sora. Don't you worry. He thought.
Once the group got back together, they started their trek, Demyx keeping the lead and making sure they wouldn't get lost. As they walked, Riku admired how Sora looked around, clearly not used to some things. He spent the first part of his life in his territory the past few years where his memory was freshest in a military base. Seeing everything, it was strange and new, especially passing some farmland and seeing animals in a pasture, questioning about them. Happily, Riku would explain.
"Hey, not feeling bitter, are you?" Axel asked Roxas, seeing his tail bristle up. He moved to touch it, smooth out the fur like Riku would do to Sora, but Roxas pulled his tail around his own leg, keeping it from the redhead. "Okay, okay, I won't touch it. But c'mon, no need to be so negative; they're getting along and clearly like each other. You don't hate humans that much, do you?"
"They're not my favourites but… I guess I'm so used to Sora coming to me for everything…" Roxas mumbled, his ears going down a bit in a dejected way. "We grew up together… closer than most other siblings; Dad and Saïx told us twins were always very close. But seeing him happy with another… Don't get me wrong, I'm happy for him, but… I guess I'm afraid of change since this is the start where we separate more… the elders often did say it would happen after our sixteenth year when we reach the age where we could mate."
"Honestly? I can't understand firsthand how you feel; I hardly know my older brother and we're not close." Axel stated. "But… You do care for Sora, that's for damn sure and that's what I know." He actually reached over to give a gentle shove. "But don't worry. Just because he's found someone he wants as his mate doesn't mean he'll abandon you. He's your twin. And it sounds like you guys hold family close and dear. It'll be fine."
Roxas looked over and actually gave Axel the first sincere smile the redhead received from him. "Thanks." he said. "You may be a nuk'ta and a bit of a vek't, but… you're okay."
"Oh ho, was that a compliment?" Axel inquired.
"Don't make me regret saying that." Roxas sighed, rolling his eyes.
"Fine, fine." Axel chuckled, smiling. "But hey, seems like we're finally getting on the right foot. That's good."
The group kept on going, talking here and there, especially the medics. They would constantly talk about medicine, herbs, and healing techniques, especially to help Xion learn. As they traveled, they would take occasional breaks, especially by streams. By mid afternoon, the humans were exhausted; only the twins seemed to be fine.
"Just how are you guys used to walking long distances?" Axel huffed out. "Can we call it a day and make camp?"
"I don't think they're going to be going much further than this." Roxas pointed out to his brother.
"Hmm..." Sora grunted and went to Zexion. He got the other male to remove his boot to see his heel was bleeding. "You should've told me it was hurting." he said, thankful he had some ointment that he always seemed to carry around. It wasn't as much as he hoped, about two thirds of a small jar, but it was still good to have. He looked to Roxas. "We definitely need to call it a day; if Zexion keeps going on this for even another mile. He can risk getting an infection."
"Right." Roxas nodded. He then looked to Demyx. "You okay to look for firewood with me?"
"Yeah, sure am." Demyx responded, getting himself pushed up off the ground. "Man! How far did we get today? Twenty miles?"
"I'd say closer to thirty, actually." Roxas praised, smiling. "You guys are doing well." He then walked off with the scout, going to find extra supplies.
"You know, it's a good thing you keep that around; I didn't think to grab one of your extra jars from the medical room." Zexion admitted.
"Once I'm with a steady supply of herbs, I'll make more." Sora pointed out, putting the salve on the wound. He looked around before finding some leave and binding them around part of Zexion's foot. He removed the other boot, checking his foot over; he was thankful it had no injuries. "You should stay off of it for the night."
"Should he be carried tomorrow?" Axel inquired.
"No, this medicine will help it heal enough overnight; he'll be fine in the morning." Sora assured, smiling brightly. "Wish I knew of it sooner, though. This is why I hate boots; they cover scents of injuries more."
"Sorry." Zexion apologized, chuckling a little bit, albeit nervously. "At least it's not too bad, right?"
"No infection, which is good." Sora nodded. He then looked when the wind changed direction, a scent reaching him. "Huh?"
"What's wrong?" Zexion inquired.
"I don't know yet. But I don't like it." Sora mumbled, running off in a direction he could smell a strange and unsettling scent.
"Hey! Sora!" Zexion called.
"I'll follow him!" Riku responded, running after Sora, Xion close behind him. They ran after the brunette llarcloa, catching up when he stopped at the top of a hill about a quarter mile away from where they left Zexion and Axel. "Sora? Sora, what's that all a…bout..." Riku stared. On the other side of the hill looked to be a battle… or what was left behind. And judging by the smoldering fires just starting to go out and the fresh corpses, it had to be recent.
"Oh gods..." Xion squeaked, covering her mouth. She heard stories of battles and saw the injured brought to Marluxia's base, but never had she seen a battle in person.
"A battle… and a bad one at that." Riku sighed. "Not that there are good battles..."
"No… it wasn't a battle." Sora hissed. "It was a massacre..." He pointed out certain details, showing where buildings were and that the dead weren't all soldiers. "It was a village and attacked."
"Llarcloa don't attack villages, right? So they definitely didn't do this… right?" Xion looked worried; she didn't want people thinking ill, or worse when you ask other humans, of the llarcloa race.
Sora sniffed. "Some were here… but… no. It's not really their doing… It's a southern army."
"Southern army? But they've never gotten this far north before!" Riku was understandably shocked.
Sora sighed. "Either they're getting better… or people are betraying their own country..." he mumbled. He then perked up, his tail bristling.
"Sora?" Xion inquired.
"Get the others. I think there are survivors here!" Sora ordered, sliding down the hill before running again, checking over the deceased, looking for the survivors. He didn't know were, not with the scent of ash, flesh, and blood, but he knew there were people still alive in this carnage.
"Huh?" Xion questioned.
"Go report what was here; I'm going with Sora." Riku stated, sending Xion on her way before following Sora. "Sora? Are you sure you smell a survivor?"
"My nose doesn't lie." Sora responded, going around. He stopped and nearly lost himself when he looked to see a mother clutching an infant to her breast. "And people think we're barbaric… those who attacked here… mak'ne." He shook his head, wishing they weren't dead but knowing they were. He then went back to his searching. "Riku! Here! Under this wood." He then started moving the wood of what looked to be a collapsed home.
Stronger than Sora in a physical sense, Riku went over to help, making it go faster. "Mach… nay. What's that?" he asked.
"Worse than a daoetkt." Sora mumbled. He then got to the person, seeing a badly injured man with black and silver hair.
"Wait a sec… that's Commander Xigbar!" Riku exclaimed, recognizing who he was.
"Indeed he is, Riku." came a voice, catching both youths' attention, making them look up to see a broad man with black hair done up in braids and bound into a ponytail. "Now, what are you doing here with one of those beasts?"
Heyo, lovelies!
It should be easy to tell who this other man who showed up is. And it definitely looks like things are pretty bad. Hopefully Sora and Riku can handle it... right?
Well, I do hope you wonderful readers enjoyed this chapter. Look forward to the next one! And don't forget about reviews! While they don't affect the rate chapters come out or anything like that, I do appreciate them. Hell, even let me know of some things I'm doing right or wrong or what you'd like to see for me to keep in mind for future fics. Well, until next time!
~chibi