Starting small...only about 800 words here, but it's a good launching point. From here I'll be able to slide back into my old plans for this story and hopefully find some sort of groove for it again. I'll be honest I kinda forced this out after so long without doing anything over here, but I think it's a start! So, please enjoy!

The group of what was left of the myths trooped sullenly down the dirt path.

Valentin had done several head counts already, ensuring that no one had been trapped underground. Wisteria was awkwardly trying to fashion some sort of massive leaf umbrella for the vampires, and Kaiser was overly focused on his flute, fingers dancing up and down the shaft without actually playing any music.

Now was only the time for heavy, depressed silence.

The Sanctuary was gone, all of their most powerful players were all still out liberating labs. Still believing they had somewhere to come back too.

"Shouldn't we loop back around? What if the others come back?" Michelle asked worriedly, her fingers anxiously twirling at one of his pigtails.

Allistor put an arm around her shoulders.

"We could, but what if those goons come back? They know where we lived, they'll return with reinforcements. Even if some part of the Sanctuary is still open down there, we can't risk trying to dig our way in."

Jet raised a hand. "Couldn't we try to swim in from the beach? I mean, even if it's collapsed, we'd be able to find out just how much has survived, right?"

Toby hesitated. "Yeah, but then we'd have to leave the forest and make a run for the shore. Even there, only us water myths would actually be able to hide underwater. The others would be sitting ducks."

Jet deflated. "Good point."

Lilli, meanwhile, was trudging along in the back, her bangs sliding into her face what with her lack of a ribbon to keep them at bay.

This is all my fault…

She thought to herself in silent misery.

If I'd just been more careful, if I'd just realized Big Brother's role…

Anger flashed in her eyes.

No.

The fire licked at her heart, rage building in her chest.

If I'd just realized Vash's role in all this.

She couldn't recall the last time, mentally or aloud, that she'd referred to her brother by his first name.

She'd get used to it, because 'Big Brother' was something that clearly didn't suit him anymore.

Meanwhile, Emil and Li Xiang were conversing quietly just ahead of Lilli herself, whispering back and forth about things she couldn't quite hear.

That is, until they both fell back and picked up the pace again at either side of her.

"Hey Lil." Li Xiang greeted, his voice a bit wheezy from how far he'd had to push in his flame spewing abilities during the attack.

She merely gave a small nod in greeting.

Emil sighed. "C'mon…don't start blaming yourself for this."

Lilli squeaked. They'd seen straight through her.

"I-I I don't! I mean, it is my fault but that's not what I was…"

She groaned. "Never mind it. It is my fault! Can't you see? If I had just bothered to be a little more careful in my work, Vash and I wouldn't have had to come running to the Sanctuary, and he never would have launched that beacon. Things would still be the same as always. Instead I…I…"

"No, no, no, we are not having any waterworks right now. You've already cried enough today, Lilli." Emil insisted as Li Xiang put a hand on the girls back.

"Yeah, like, just because your bro was a bit higher up in the labs than we thought it doesn't, like, mean that that's you're fault."

Lilli sniffled. "A bit." She scoffed.

Now there was an understatement.

"And on top of that…he got away…" She sniveled again, wiping the sleeve of her dress against her nose.

"He got away and he knows about you all now. Too much! This is awful…I just…I don't know what to do…"
Emil put a hand on her shoulder, and Li Xiang hadn't taken his hand from her back.

"You can smile. Keep your head up, at least. We're not done, not by a long shot. We'll find a way to bring the Sanctuary back…or…find a new one. We'll keep hidden until the others come back, and then we'll make a plan once they're here. Ok? It'll be ok, Lil. I believe in us, don't you?"

Lilli felt two more streaks of tears escape and begin running down her cheeks. She felt her heartbeat, which had been hammering unsteadily till now, beginning to smooth out.

She lifted her head up, and forced a tearstained smile.

"I do."

Li Xiang hummed.

"That makes three of us."

Amethyst: So. Here I am. Alive. Ish.

Arthur: Ish?

Amethyst: Yeah, well, see, it's been a year.

Alfred: WE NOTICED DUDE

Amethyst: Have you guys been here like, the entire time?

Yao: It was weird, aru. Like, we all sort of just fell asleep and like...we just woke up when you got back. It was weird.

Amethyst: Yeah, I think most everyone is still asleep.

Valentin: *Wakes up flailing* WAIT LABS SUN WHAT DID I MISS?

Amethyst: Absolutely nothing.

Arthur: Well this little tid bit up there, he missed that.

Amethyst: Yeah but that literally is just me trying to force myself to get into writing this story again.

Arthur: Oh. Right.

Amethyst: So, that's all for now! Please favorite, follow, and review! Sorry I've been gone so long, I'm gonna try my best to get going again here! Thanks for reading!