Author's Note: Enjoy the chapter. Be safe.

Chapter 11

Sento and Emu struggled through shifting sands as the wind began picking up and the temperature started dropping. It wasn't quite a sandstorm and they still had a few hours before dark but they were starting to get worried. Sento's exuberance over their new location had long since passed and conversation had become something of a precious resource: kept in reserve until it became necessary.

They had been walking for over three hours and there was still no sign of habitation or even shelter. Sento could not be sure that the sandstorm was linked to the time of the day but if it worsened as night arrived, they would not survive. It would not just be a matter of staying warm enough (which he was already not sure they would be able to achieve) but could become a battle to stay grounded and unflayed by sands stirred to vicious attack by cruel winds.

They needed something before night fell. A boulder. A tree. A cliff structure. Anything they could use to shield themselves and create a den to contain body heat.

Their trek had not leant much extra information to Sento. His initial readings had given him little to work with. The knowledge of dust saturation, however, had proved useful. Sento had instructed Ex-Aid to tie material around his mouth and nose and he had followed suit and ensured Ghost had the same protections. With the amount of dust in the air now, they would likely have been in danger by now if they had not taken earlier precautions.

That was yet another thing they would not be able to endure for much longer, however. Especially Ex-Aid. Carrying Ghost had not been an easy burden and the laden air had quickly led to short breathing and weakened legs. Ex-Aid had continued without complaint, of course, but Sento was not sure how much longer he would last.

Sento, on the other hand, had put all his resources towards his brain. He had thought of a million options to get them out of this situation. Transforming to lessen the dangers. Opening to portal to any random location. Using their clothing in combination with a transformation to create shelter.

All great ideas in theory but fatally flawed once fully explored.

Their transformations were taxing and, without Ghost conscious, he would not be able to transform with them. Sento and Ex-Aid could transform, of course, but that would likely cause further damage to existing injuries and he suspected the transformations wouldn't last more than a few hours at best. Even if they could transform, their shelter would not be enough to save Ghost from the worst of the environment around them.

Opening a portal to random coordinates could deposit them into space, an enemy lair, or worse and without confirming the starting coordinates, he could end up splicing them or even completely disintegrating them.

A combination of clothing and transformation would be the most effective shelter but only until the transformations wore off and half of their building materials disappeared.

There was literally nothing other than sand to use as an external resource and Sento had been in such a rush that he had neglected to bring any useful technology to build a solution.

Sento was still trying to come up with an alternative when Ex-Aid finally stopped.

"Everything ok?" Sento asked.

"I'm alright. I want to check on Takeru. Can you help lay him down?"

Sento helped Ex-Aid manoeuvre Ghost to the ground. Ex-Aid knelt and began the examination.

Sento knew he was not the necessary expert so he scouted their radius, searching for anything. He was to be disappointed.

He returned to the side of his companions.

He sat down on the other side of Ghost and let his body relax. He hadn't realised how tired he was. Most of his wounds were numb even with the sand sneaking through the bandages but there was a draining exhaustion creeping up on him. They had been walking for some time, he supposed. He took in Ex-Aid's appearance.

He looked taxed – as if he hadn't slept in days. His face was flushed and there were circles under his eyes. All concerning factors but nothing in comparison to Ghost.

Ghost was pale – almost translucent – and blood had crusted on the bandages around his head: creating a frightening contrast.

"How is he?' Sento asked.

Ex-Aid let out a breath and shook his head.

"It's not a good sign that he hasn't woken up yet. His pupils aren't fully dilating and his respiration rate is concerning. It all points to a nasty concussion. He needs professional treatment and lots of rest."

"Is there anything we can do?"

"Get him somewhere secure and warm. Moving him around like this is not good for his blood flow nor for that head injury. If we had more materials, I would have suggested a stretcher. If we had more people or proper medical supplies, I wouldn't have even moved him in the first place. Without shelter, he won't last the night.

Ex-Aid looked up and for the first time in a long time, Sento was struck by how young the man looked.

"I need medical supplies. Beds. Shelter. Blankets. Water. Food. Everything."

"Ex-Aid-"

Emu shook his head and ran a hand through his hair.

"I can't do this. I can't stop thinking about Parado. We abandoned him."

"He-"

"I know he wanted it!" Ex-Aid's gaze hardened as he glared at Sento. "But he's just one Rider. There were four of us and even with four, we couldn't beat that Rider. What can he do that we couldn't do together?!"

Sento had no answer.

"We left him," Ex-Aid repeated and a tear fell from his eye.

Sento knew there was no right response.

Ex-Aid wiped the tear from his eye.

"Build, we really need to find shelter. And we need to figure out how to get out of here."

Finally, something Sento could answer.

"We will," Sento said firmly. "Shelter first and then I'll figure out a way to get us back to your world. Parado survived in my world with no help for 3 years. I'm sure he can take care of himself."

Sento chose not to bring up the matter of the other Rider. He was still trying to figure out how the Rider's powers worked and what his motives might be. Better not to assume.

Sento shuffled and ruffled Ex-Aid's hair and felt a twang of loneliness himself as the action reminded him of Banjo.

"You're doing everything you can do. That's what good doctors do."

Ex-Aid nodded and stood abruptly.

"Help me with Takeru?" he asked.

Sento helped manoeuvre Ghost back onto Ex-Aid's back and they began their trudge through the desert once more.