I actually already finished this chapter, but I forgot to post. ;-; Sorry.

Anyways.

Who is rEaDY fOr tHiS-

How it happened, Sora didn't know.

After grabbing a few of the ingredients, Candace had stopped keeping a watchful eye over the two teenagers with her so that she could peer at the list and mutter to herself about where it was, since the stand had moved since the last time she'd been here. (Which wasn't surprising, considering it had been at least a decade.)

The crowd had gotten really packed, and a lot of people were bumping into him. He couldn't even see Riku or Candace. It didn't feel like the people had been moving him by much, but...

He broke away from the traffic at last. He went off to the side, scanning for his companions. Nothing.

Sora looked around and realized he was utterly lost.

'Well, this isn't good.'

Feeling anxiety stir up inside him, he summoned his Dream Eater. Cookie shook itself as it popped into existence, before squeaking and gazing at where it was. It made a confused noise and sat down, looking up at Sora inquiringly. He picked up the Meow Wow and petted it, heading to a more shaded area. Cookie crooned and relaxed.

"Can't believe it," Sora muttered, plunking himself down. "The one thing Candace tells me not to do..." He placed Cookie in his lap. If only he hadn't forgotten to charge his phone with the portable charger he'd brought from home last night. Then it wouldn't still be powering up back at the castle.

Cookie purred and bopped his hand with its head. He smiled and scratched the Spirit, who rolled onto its back in contentment.

Sora felt his skin prickle. He looked around warily, and noticed he'd gotten some stares when he'd summoned the Dream Eater. Some people looked puzzled, others were surprised, and the rest were...hard to read. But that group made him uncomfortable.

Sighing, Sora got up. Cookie tumbled out of his lap, yipping and seeming to think this was a game. It lunged at its master, head butting his legs happily. He smiled and gently used his foot to knock the Spirit over. He started walking in the direction he thought would be sorta right, hoping that he's catch sight of the castle's grand figure through the tightly packed houses, or fine someone who could point him in the right direction.

After a minute or two, Cookie barked and reared up on its tiny hind legs, playfully nipping Sora's fingers. The young wielder laughed quietly, and scooped up the energetic Meow Wow. It gave his face one sloppy lick before settling into his arms, crooning. Time ticked by, and he felt his feet start to fall asleep. Heading into a nearby alleyway, he sat down with a heaving sigh.

Sora peered up at the sky, or what he could see of it from his place in the narrow, grimy passageway. He couldn't spot the sun, but it wasn't dusk yet, so he guessed it had been maybe almost half an hour since he'd gotten separated.

Strangely, everything seemed...different. Darker. Dirtier.

Cookie opened its eyes, cooing from where it was curled up in Sora's lap. He stroked its head until it fell back asleep. He started to get nervous and wondered how worried the others would be. He hoped he wouldn't be in too much trouble when he got back.

Sighing, he summoned his Keyblade. It was more like a reflex than a conscious effort. Holding the special weapon in his hands comforted him a little bit.

"You should be more careful."

Sora yelped and bolted to his feet at the voice that sounded no more than two feet away. Cookie squeaked as it was half-thrown unceremoniously from his lap. It rolled back onto its feet and shook itself, getting ready to fight.

"Flaunting your fancy little toy around here is gonna get you the bad kind of attention." As if melting from the shadows, a boy stepped into sight. He had spiky black hair and sharp yellow eyes. He looked at Sora in a bored, yet calculating way.

"Who are you?"

He raised an eyebrow. "I take it you're not from around here. News flash, kid: you somehow wound up here in the slums, and the crime rates here are no joke. So your pretty little pet and key might get stolen. I've already counted five people who are following you, and twenty-seven others who were definitely considering doing so, not including the three who passed by during the time you've spent in this alley."

The way his body remained so still, so relaxed, so perfectly matching his tone; it was completely unnerving to Sora. Then he realized what the strange boy had said.

"Wait- I'm being followed by five people?!" His head cracked up, thinking of the Heartless controllers.

The boy shrugged, "Six if you count me. And you probably just gained two more with your outburst."

"You were following me? Then how did you-"

"Get into the alleyway? I have my ways."

Sora scowled. Cookie trotted over to his side and growled. The boy gazed down at it disapprovingly, "Does your fat hot dog really think it can fight?"

"Cookie is not a hot dog!" Sora said indignantly.

"Right. A fat cookie, then, hence the name?"

Sora chose to blatantly ignore that comment. "Who're you supposed to be?" 'Maybe you know some people, like a kid with silver hair and red eyes.'

He shrugged, avoiding the question. "You lost, kid?"

The wielder was silent, not knowing how to answer that question. The black-haired boy didn't seem like he'd be part of the organization. He probably would have started a fight by now, and he wasn't wearing the gauntlet. "...Do you know where the castle is?" He asked at last.

The strange boy's once detached expression transformed, and he actually looked shocked. Then his expression hardened and he hissed, "You shouldn't repeat that to anyone. Don't you know what some thugs here would do if they found out you're from the castle?"

"Uh, no." Sora cast him a weary glance.

The boy rolled his eyes, "You know what? I'm done. I refuse to get caught up in the stupid affairs of some hoity-toity castle kid. You'll find it if you go straight down this alleyway, skip two turns, then take a left and keep walking. So scram." He pushed past Sora, adding, "And put away the freaking key!" Then he stalked away.

Sora stared after him, unsummoning his Keyblade. "...What just happened?"

Cookie squeaked, shaking itself. He frowned, "Never even got the guy's name...but I guess we should get going before the others get too freaked out, huh, Cookie?"

The little Dream Eater yipped in response, bouncing down the alleyway. Sora stole one last glance at where the strange boy had disappeared, running the directions through his head again, before going after his Spirit.

He knew the others would be worried, but he hadn't expected this worried.

Or maybe that wasn't a strong enough word.

The directions ended up being correct, and he found himself at the front of the market, near the bridge. Right at the entrance of the market, a group of very familiar Keyblade wielders were talking to each other with raised voices.

"Guys, guys!" Sora called, relieved, as he scrambled over to meet them. "I'm here!"

He barely had time to process their shock when Kairi and Riku barreled into him, bringing all of them to the ground. "Why'd you separate from us?" Riku asked, giving his friend's shoulder a light punch.

"Sorry, I couldn't see anything in the crowd..."

Kairi crossed her arms, "We thought you got attacked by those Heartless controllers or something!"

Sora gave a guilty glance at the rest of the people there. Terra and Ventus were sighing in relief, while Aqua was still taking deep breaths. Skuld looked like she'd been shouting, as she was rubbing her throat. Candace looked like she'd died and come back to life after being dragged through fire.

"Thank all of the worlds and great- oh goodness." Aqua coughed, "How did you find the way back? It's hard to see the castle while you're in the market."

"Uh, some weird kid gave me directions." Sora scratched his head. "I didn't get his name, but he was sort of...hostile. Not part of the Heartless controllers." He added quickly after seeing their expressions.

"Are you sure?" Riku questioned.

"Yeah. He wasn't wearing those weird gauntlets we were told about. Plus he didn't attack me, and did give me directions."

"I couldn't be more grateful or relieved that you aren't hurt," Skuld exhaled. "I made a promise to keep you three safe, after all."

Sora nodded, still feeling guilty. "Yeah. I'm really sorry for making you guys worry."

"I didn't get all of the ingredients on the list," Candace mumbled, her terrified face melting into a weary one.

"I'll get them," said Aqua. "You guys take a break in the castle. We've had enough excitement for a day."

"Or a lifetime," Terra muttered to himself.

"What would you do for the people you love?"

"Why are you asking me this?"

"Please, answer me."

"...Anything. I'd give my life in less than a heartbeat. I thought you knew that."

"I was just making sure you still feel that way. Now, listen to what I have to say..."

~.~.~

"Interesting, isn't it? Mutiny."

"I'd rather not call it that."

"You're talking as if it isn't a big deal."

"If I talked the way I really felt, we wouldn't be very confident about pulling this off."

~.~.~

"Word spreads quickly, doesn't it?"

"I'd never expect less, you know."

"True. But we won't be caught, right? If we are, we'll be as good as dead."

"We won't need to worry about danger anymore if it works."

"And if it doesn't?"

"Then we won't be able to worry at all."

"I've never been too big on taking risks. Especially ones that put my life on the line."

"Our lives will always be like that even if we don't do this."

"Your logic amazes me, convinces me, and makes me want to back out all at the same time."

~.~.~

"Do you ever miss your old life?"

"Yes. It was peaceful. That's why we're doing this."

"You're right..."

"What's wrong?"

"They'll be looking for everyone. When we...leave."

"We can hold them off, can't we?"

"I cannot help but worry for the safety of all the people we are involving in this."

"We aren't safe, even while we're in these walls. We can barely even be ourselves. Aren't you tired of being called a name that isn't yours?"

"As if you need to worry about that."

"Still. I can imagine."

"Hm."

"Don't worry, old friend. Once it works, we can finally learn who the others really are, and I can call you by your real name again."

"Then I hope with everything I have that it does work."

Unknown Location...

"What do you mean you haven't told Fleet yet?"

Fang scowled. "Repeat that to yourself. It's in the sentence."

"Are you being sarcastic-" Jet began to rage, but was stopped by the teenage girl with the staff. She snapped, "Shut up!"

Moonlight cocked an eyebrow. "Of all the people you wouldn't tell, the last person I'd expect was him."

He sighed, running a hand through his messy pale locks. "I don't know if he'd be on board or not. He's unpredictable."

"Oh, please." Jet scoffed, "That can't be the only reason. You covered for him! Besides, you treat him like he's the best thing that's ever graced the worlds."

"That's what happens when you adopt someone," the girl with the staff snickered.

"And that's enough of that." Fang glared, "I haven't told Fleet because even after all these years, I don't know anything on how he feels towards the master. If he feels more loyalty towards him than he does to us, we're done."

"Something tells me you don't like that idea." Moonlight pointed out.

"I don't. If that happens..." Fang swallowed and gritted his teeth. "I'm not telling Fleet until the night we execute the plan. If he wants to stay with us, he'll come. If he doesn't, he won't have much time to tell anyone."

"And if he attacks us?"

"I'll hold him off myself."

"Then let's hope it doesn't get to that," the teenage girl muttered.

Evdomos

The moon was full again.

A young woman watched the stars with anxious blue eyes. She stood atop a mountain cliff; below her, trees and other foliage dotted the ground, freckled by the softly falling snow. The cold wasn't new to her- if anything, she preferred the weather like this.

But the situation in Evdomos was worsening by the day. The war was becoming even more intense and heated, and it were these thoughts that weighed heavy on her mind.

As it was commonly known, Evdomos's name came from an old language, meaning 'seven'. This was because there were originally seven tribes who inhabited the world.

There were the Dragons, larger than the tallest trees, and who had subspecies of others of their kind.

There were also the Great Hawks, which were also known for their size, though they weren't anywhere as big as a Dragon. Their name gave most of what they were away: put simply, they were giant birds, about thrice as large as an average Human.

Then the Archaics. They were known for their use of old words and teaching the old language in their community. They often had strange skin and eye colors, although there wasn't really a reason why, other than it being in their DNA.

The Elves were a usually peaceful race living in forests. They were much like Humans, the only difference being their strong love for nature and their slightly pointed ears.

Sirens very much resemble Humans, although their internal anatomy were more like Great Hawks. This tribe sports large wings, some hollow bones like a bird's, and had long ago discovered the secret to a special sort of singing, which was carefully passed down through the generations and was known only to them, earning their kind's name.

Seafolk are quiet and live on the water, in floating villages. They usually had darker or tanned skin due to them being under the ocean sun for most of their life, and are known for their ability to dive underwater and hold their breath for exceptional periods of time. They are the second largest population on Evdomos.

Despite being mostly normal in physical appearance, the Humans top the Seafolk in numbers, and triumph over all the tribes technologically. They are also the most infamous in the present. A little over half the population decided they wanted the world to themselves, and started by nearly wiping out all of the Dragons and Great Hawks, as well as launching an attack on the Sirens.

They were tyrants, and had forced the Seafolk into an alliance. The surviving Dragons and Great Hawks joined forces with the Elves and Archaics. The Sirens had seemingly withdrawn into their own realm, remaining neutral on the war.

But this was only half of the Humans who were corrupt. A portion of the other half took no part in the bloodshed. The remaining Humans fought against their tyrannical brethren, siding with the victims of near genocide.

The stargazing youth was actually a Siren. Wings peeked out from under the brown cloak she was wearing, as white as the snow falling beside her. And she knew about the other worlds and Keyblade wielders, which was how she had learned the name Evdomos.

(How, you may wonder? You can come to a conclusion on your own.)

"I thought I'd find you here."

She inhaled sharply, then relaxed as she recognized the voice and turned to face it. "And I knew you'd find me."

The person- a Human male- shrugged, going to stand beside her. "I don't think you'd want me to come if all you wanted to do was talk."

"Surely you already know what I'm going to ask you."

He sighed, "Again?"

"Well?"

"The same answer as before: no." He glanced at her, his expression steeled.

The young woman's shoulders sagged, and she tightened her cloak against the brisk wind. "Are you even still considering it?"

"Not often. I'm only staying with them because everyone I know is there."

"Except me," she said glumly.

He cocked an eyebrow. "If they decide they want to disband or something, then you won't need to worry. You know I can handle myself, don't you?"

"That can't stop me from being concerned, you know."

"You're always concerned. Which is sweet of you, but I don't need it."

She looked at him again, sighing wearily. "Fine then. But promise me you'll keep yourself safe, and try not to get involved with the Keyblade wielders."

"I can try, but can't guarantee that I can keep that promise."

The Siren shut her eyes, saying nothing. He frowned, "Cheer up already, will you? It's your favorite weather right now, isn't it?"

"You're very funny," she huffed, feeling ever so slightly better. She looked at him again. "Just because it's in my name doesn't mean it's my favorite."

"Whatever you say."

She shook her head, looking back up at the sky. "...And also?"

"Hm?"

"Do you think you could take me to the other worlds someday? When all of this is over?" A smile graced her lips at the thought of landing on a faraway star.

Seeing this, he smiled a little as well. "Sure I could."

Another World: Forestt

Smoke. Earth. Dew. Animals.

These scents and more washed over her tongue. The air was cold, but the fur and padded chain mail wrapped around her body kept her protected from the weather.

Tossing long grey locks over her shoulder, the figure crouched low to the ground, detecting a foreign presence that had passed through. She growled softly, her shoulders raised. Something about it wasn't right...

Even worse, it was recent. She glared at the ground, her sharp green-blue eyes finding the faintest footprint. She felt the soil. The way the person was walking was soft, relaxed. The print was barely even there, and the approaching rain would soon wash any trace of it away.

Were they trying to stay inconspicuous? Was this all a coincidence? Or perfectly planned? Had anyone else been looking into it, this person would have gone undetected.

But growing up the way she had, she wasn't about to drop it, especially if this was a potential danger.

Sharp teeth glinted, appearing as a smile. Her head tilted back, and a clear, musical howl broke through the silence of the night. Somewhere in a glade, dark-furred heads were lifted, aroused from their sleep. They answered the call, and a symphony of bays joined the dark sky. They slipped through the foliage, seeking the figure.

She took a deep breath, remembering the scent and making sure it would stay in her memory. When she sensed danger, it would be a fool's choice to brush it off.

The others appeared, standing next to her as they too detected the presence. There were many of them, gathered in one place and ready to defend themselves. Her fangs slid into a wide grin. With a sharp bark, they disappeared into the shadows.

The hunt was on.

Review Responses!

Only 3,000-ish words, but I really like most of this chapter. I hope the Evdomos lore wasn't too confusing XD.

I had almost all of the first part prewritten, so it was nice to finally get this out! Can you guess who the person who gave Sora directions was?

As for the other characters, two of them who I introduced are new OCs: the Siren and the girl in Forestt. The boy who the Siren was talking to is someone you've seen before. :3 I'd love to hear guesses~

Hopefully my newfound obsession with Camp Cretaceous doesn't draw me too far away from this story. :p

As always, hope you enjoyed!

somibel, OUT!