Author's Note: I have no idea where this story is going so if you have any ideas, review or e-mail me at teengenius89@aol.com. Thanks

Disclaimer: None of the MKR characters are mine.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

It had been four hours. Four long hours since they had started searching. Lantis, Ferio, and Ascot were almost on the verge of giving up when suddenly, an unexplainable urge to follow the path, just a little longer, took over each of them and the search continued.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Fuu heard it first. It was just a slight sound. So slight that at first, Fuu was unawares to what had awakened her. She laid down to sleep again when it came again. Louder, closer, ever so slightly, but Fuu heard it anyway. She looked around frantically for the disturbance or something to defend herself with if she needed to. Afraid now, she woke Umi, as difficult as that was. "Wha...What's wrong Fuu?" Umi muttered, still half asleep. "Wake up Umi!" Fuu whispered as loudly as she dared. "What's wrong Fuu?" Umi asked again, now fully awake. "There's something there," Fuu said, "Listen." The noise came again, much louder and closer than before. "What is it?" they both, unknowingly, thought. Umi and Fuu decided to watch and wait to see what would happen.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Lantis, Ferio, and Ascot reached the end of the road, literally. From there on was only forest. But something strange happened then. A strong pull seized their hearts, not painfully so but enough to be noticed and paid attention to. Beckoning them forwards, the pull then ceased when Lantis and Ferio drew their swords and sliced through the underbrush and thorns that had stopped their travels. Ascot and Lantis dared not to use their magics to speed things up. The fear that they might hurt their loved ones was too much. So slowly, they made progress, slowly, but it was progress none the less.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

There was nothing in the clearing, nothing at all that could be used as a weapon. Umi and Fuu watched Hikaru's labored breathing as they tried to decide whether to wake her and move to a safer spot, but the risk of monsters and Alcione outside this sheltered area was to great so they sat and watched. Waiting for whatever it was. Friend or Foe. Each knowing that if it was an enemy, they would have to get past them first if it wanted Hikaru.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Author's Note: I know that this seems like a pointless chapter but it has some meaning and that will come up later.