Author's Note: This is a very long story, so Chapter one will be divided into four parts.

Rinoa

Rinoa was startled by the blonde's reaction. She then shook her head, she knew where the girl was coming from. She had once felt the same way when she thought she had lost Seifer, even though now she didn't want to have anything to do with Seifer. Rinoa felt a deep sympathy for the girl. She picked up her dagger, so no one could do any harm with it. Rinoa suddenly felt an incredible rage burn deep within her body, right down to her very soul. These people didn't even have a care. They didn't show any compassion for the woman's loss, and they seemed like they were more engrossed in their own 'little' problems than to actually help one woman out of her pain.

Rinoa wasn't like that. She looked around at everyone, anger burning in her eyes. She finally looked angrilly at Squall. If he could show her compassion, love, and so many other emotions, then how could he not show any sympathy for someone who had suffered such a loss? She gave him an angry glare, clearly upset with him, and everyone else. This Riku was annoying her greatly, and she felt as if, she could hurt him badly at any minute now. Although, Rinoa wasn't one to hurt people, and if she did, it would be as if all hell froze over. Rinoa still didn't know if anyone besides Squall, from Balamb Garden, trusted her as a sorceress. This made her angry, why would she want to hurt people? She wanted to heal them.

Just Like I'm going to try and heal someone's pain now...

Rinoa gave Riku a deadly glare. She walked over to him, and with a great force, pushed him down to the ground. She then turned around to look at the remaining members of the group, all who seemed shocked at her sudden outburst. Rinoa almost felt like laughing, in a cruel manner and spitting upon each of them. Didn't they see what was going on? No, of course not. They were too wrapped up in their own little, selfish problems to notice anyone else.

"You all disgust me, You don't see that she is in pain? How could you stand there, and be more worried about about your own selfish problems then trying to comfort someone? It's not that hard you know. Or maybe it is for some of you."

With that, she stormed off in search of the younger woman. It didn't take long to find her. Rinoa found her weeping openly. She was overcome with more deep sympathy for the girl. She walked towards her and, even though she didn't really know her, she hugged her softly. Rinoa hated to see people cry, it was one of her weak spots, and this time wasn't any different.

"Shh...It's okay. I've been there before. I know what it feels like, the pain, the torment, the feeling like you want to die...But you have to be strong, he would have wanted it. He would have wanted you to be strong, and happy, and to love."

Rikku

Rikku walked away, not having a clue what she was doing, barely registering how dark the woods were getting, and when both the mental and physical pain grew unbearable, she stopped, falling to her knees and just cried for Gippal, and for the whole situation. She stared out into the dark as the tears fell down, barely registering a strange flicker in the shadows. At this point she didn't care. She turned when someone came up behind her, that girl, Rinoa, stiffening slightly as Rinoa put her arms around her, trying to comfort her. For a brief moment it was like Yunie was back again. But the woman's words banished that, and Rikku backed away. Yunie was dead, and so was Gippal. Everyone she loved was gone. Even as she focused all her anger and attention on Riku, she had picked up on the the love shared between this dark-haired woman and that man back there. Rinoa couldn't possibly know what she was feeling. Rikku stood up and backed away.

"You don't know what it's like! Everyone I love is now dead. You might be stuck here, but at least you're not alone..."

Rikku shook slightly.

"I should have done more... and so should that lying apathetic jerk back there. He could have done something to stop it."

Rinoa

Rinoa stumbled and fell on her butt, at the other woman's quick movements. Rinoa knew she wasn't alone, but she also knew she had experienced that sadness before, even if the younger woman didn't believe her. Rinoa stood up, clearly upset that the other woman had brushed her off so easily. It made her feel as if her attempts were fruitless, which they pretty much were.

"Fine, don't believe me, but I've been there. If you ever want to talk...I'll be around."

With that, Rinoa headed back towards the clearing in which they had all fallen onto, but stopped and decided that was probably not the best route, so instead she turned and went down another path until she found a river. She sat by the edge, frowning deeply and twirrling her fingers in the cool water. Rinoa noticed that it was much darker in this area of the forest, and the river seemed almost black. She was startled when she heard rustling in the bushes behind her. She turned around and was surprised to see a creature of the shadow leap out at her. She let out an ear-splitting scream before dodging out of the way of it. She was pretty weak, and didn't know if she could fight it off.

Rikku

Rikku didn't turn as Rinoa walked away, some part of her acknowledged that the girl was just trying to help, but she was still too wrapped up in her pain. She was angry at that guy Riku and she didn't really trust him, but mostly she was angry at herself, she should have done something more...

Suddenly, a strange noise echoed through the woods, and the disjuncture between the sound and the quiet around her shook her out of her misery. Jerking her head up she around the dark woods... Maybe it was the girl again, Rikku realized that she didn't even get her name... Rikku would have to apologize.

"...hello?"

Hesitantly, Rikku took a step forward.

"Is anyone--?"

Rikku broke off. Something was hiding in the shadows. She moved closer despite the voice in her head telling her to get the hell out of there. It was almost as if she was compelled by what lay hidden in the darkness. Rikku froze, a shiver running up her spine as she wondered just exacly why it was called the eternal forest anyway. She had just turned around, deciding that she wasn't going to investigate the noise after all, that she should instead just head back to where the others were, when she saw multiple sets of crimson eyes glaring balefully at her from the shadows from the same direction that she had come from. Eyes widening, Rikku took a startled step backward only to step on a rock that turned her foot in the wrong direction... Rikku went down.

She looked around the clearing frantically finding to her horror that the things were all around her. She moved her hand to the her knife sheathe, then realized that she had stupidly left it behind. She watched in horror as she realized that the creatures hiding in the shadows seemed to be made of the very shadows themselves. Wraiths of shadow, like pure darkness except for the two gleaming orbs of red, staring at her unblinkingly as they approached. More of them appeared, dripping from the shadows and up from the ground itself. She tried to get up, but a swift jolt of pain cracked through her ankle and she fell again. Attempting to move back as best she could, she glanced behind her only to find her exit was blocked.

Thinking that her life was over anyway and that all she had to do was die, she closed her eyes waiting for it to come. Then the first creature reached her and a painful emptiness flashed through her, accompanied by an odd almost feral sort of hunger for... something.... and she changed her mind. She couldn't go out like this, Rikku began to struggle violently against the shadowy creatures, trying to get away.

No more then a few minutes ago, Rikku had thought it impossible for the situation to get any worse... she was wrong.

Tifa

Tifa was dreaming of stars, like the ones they had seen in the observatory at Cosmo Canyon, twinkling brightly in the sky. She had seen those stars, right before the ground had dropped from beneath them when they had followed Sephiroth through that portal. The sounds of voices murmurred through her dreams and slowly she began to awaken.

Her eyes fluttered open and she saw Cloud's smiling down at her, but with worried eyes. She smiled slightly at his greeting, and lifting her hand she pressed it briefly against his cheek, relieved that he was there with her. She had lost him before, she never wanted it to happen again. Struggling slightly, she sat up, not understanding what was going on. She noticed the commotion, but couldn't sort it out in her mind. Lifting her hand to her head to move her hair out of the way, she felt a throb of pain in her head as her fingers brushed against it. She pulled her hand away and saw blood on her finger tips. She had hit her head hard in that fall, but it didn't seem to deep of a cut. She clenched her fist and dropped her hand to her side, hoping that Cloud didn't notice. She didn't want to worry him.

"Cloud... what happened?"

Cloud Stife

A Sigh of released push his lips apart as Cloud noticed Tifa's eyes flutter open. She seemed on the whole fine but she accidently drew attention to a cut he hadn't noticed. Gently he reached up, his fingers lingered over the cut before he lowered them. He tried not to seem worried and he wasn't - much. It was only a slight cut and she was a strong girl, a tough one - she'd been through much worse. The question she asked though, was one he had no idea how to anser. So he gently held her hand and liften her to her feet as he explained all that he knew. He'd noticed a few interactions between the others and Vincent was also awake now which was great. The strangers seemed to be alike them, stranded warriors. He could tell this by their puzzled expresions and the weapons they kept close. Cloud was unable to fully understand everything as he'd been concentrating on Tifa but it seemed that a rather distraut member of this 'group' had been shouting about murder and had infact run off into the woods. Someone had gone after but she was something they'd have to get to soon. He sure wouldn't want any of his friends alone in a strange place such as the woods so he certainly saw no reason for them to not help her.

"Well, to be honest", he said looking into her eyes trying not to look too concerned. "I don't know. There are a number of others here, seemingly warriors that seem to be as confused as we are. You remember falling down the hole right? well this is where we ended up, all of us. I'm guessing it has something to do with Sepiroth but i'm not entirely sure. I might have been able to find out more but i've been waiting for you to wake up. There was this one girl though, she seemed pretty upset, i think if we're all ok we should go after her."

"Are you ok?", he asked as a wrinkle creased his brow, his concern evident.

Quistis Trepe

She let Squall help her stand, the pain was beginning to numb making it easier for her to stand. Usually pain was better than numbness but in this case she was greatful for the numbness. Quistis watched Rinoa carefully, she seemed to be the only one to show how much this was affecting her. This situation frightened them, Quistis would bet on that.

'Don't you think we would be the hell out of here if there was a way?'

Quistis paitently replied to Seifers question, she knew it was rhetoricall but sometimes it was easier to shut him up by answering back, She gave him a look which said the same thing. The interaction between the white haired boy, Riku, and the blonde girl was interesting. It was obvious that she wanted to kill him, something about him killing her boyfriend. Whatever it was it got Rinoa all worked up.

Quistis nearly jumped out of her skin when Rinoa turned around and started shouting at everyone. She'd never seen Rinoa get this angry over anything. Quistis decided not to say anything back or interfere, that was Squall's job. She turned around so that she was facing him.

'Go talk to her Squall.'

Tifa

Tifa allowed Cloud to help her to her feet, and tried to clear her aching head, as she looked around the clearing and listened to him speak. She frowned slightly, wondering what Sephiroth was up to... and these woods creeped her out, she hated to think of someone lost and alone in them. Then at Cloud's question, she smiled, and grabbing his hand she squeezed it once.

"I'm fine... if this is Sephiroth's doing, we should find out what he's up to..."

Tifa glanced around at the other people in the clearing, a blonde woman was talking to a handsome dark haired man about going after someone, the second person that had gone off into the woods, she deduced..

"I wonder where they are from..."

At that point the sounds of screams could be heard from the woods. Tifa turned her head abruptly, ready to go run and help, when a wave of pain swept over her, and the world went gray, she turned towards Cloud.

" think I hit my head harder then I though."

And with that remark, she passed out.

Squall Leonhart

Squall's beautifully charismatic eyes widened in surprise as the petite blonde girl- as well as Rinoa ran off into the dense forestry around them. Sighing as he attempted to call to Rinoa, his shoulders instantly slumped as he saw only the feint shimmer of her long blue coat before her body fell completely out of sight. Sighing once more, he glanced headlong towards Quistis, he had seen Rinoa like that before, and he had always thought that it was her way of getting used to her new powers- or at least letting out some frustration that was caused by the ones around her. Thinking that it was Riku's fault, Squall glared towards the pale young man before his own ears- as well as Riku's perked up, both men's eyes meeting- and obviously thinking the same thing.

Squall had heard a scream, and he knew Riku had heard it too. Not waiting one moment longer for another scream to ring out through the forest, Squall instantly turned on his heel and started off in the direction his ears took him. Craning his neck to the side and muttering a few words to both Quistis and Seifer, his tone showing that his words weren't requests, but orders.

"Quistis, stay here- anything happens- you know what to do, Seifer, you stay here with the others, protect all of them with your life. And that's an order!", his voice became fainter as he plunged into the greenery around him. His eyes straining to accustom to the darkness that obviously over ruled the sunlight in the deeper part of the Forest planet, his Gunblade instantly sliding out of its sheath and hacking away branches and other forest plants as he sped through the realm around him. His eyes instantly snapping open once more as his eyes caught hold of a blue trench coat, and a head of raven hair...Rinoa. The fear of losing the love of his life adding to his speed and determination, the trained SeeD squad leader sprinted forth- and leaped over a particularly large gnarled tree root that stuck out of the ground, before bursting from the forest and into yet another clearing- this one dominated by...almost black looking water.

"Rinoa!" Squall spoke whilst pulling the trigger on his Gunblade. The bullet tearing through the air between him and an odd shadow creature that was seconds from slamming into Rinoa's shoulder, the oddly shaped creature bursting into pieces as the bullet came in contact with its small body, fading away just to be replaced with two more ugly creatures- their red and yellow eyes piercing his soul and causing an icy shiver to prick his spine. However, that didn't stop him from protecting the love of his life. He continued spinning his blade around in between his fingers, slicing in half more and more creatures as they exploded from the shadows, grabbing Rinoa's hand and slightly pulling her towards the direction of the clearing they had woken up in, wanting to get back there as soon as possible- preferably all in one piece.

Riku

Riku was once more taken by surprise as the petite blonde girl ran off- even more so as Rinoa approached him and literally pushed him downwards. However, seeing he was leaning against the tree it didn't do much but push him farther back, but none the less, he noted the strength of the raven haired girl and simply glanced towards her as she ran off. He was beginning to get restless with all of them- and alittle more then irritated. Riku had been trapped in despair and darkness for five years, he wasn't eager to return, and he wasn't eager to waste time guiding the mindless fools that had dropped into his life. However, he realized he had to be smart, if they truly were nine warriors, then he could use them to his advantage, whether they knew it or not. Clenching the keyblade in his palm once more, he burst forward in a blur of pale skin and grey like hair, turning around at the end of the clearing and speaking calmer then he should have been.

"Do not leave this place, they won't attack here- but wonder into the forest- there I won't be able to help you", he cut himself off before turning on his heel. Jumping into the forest and following Squall, who had obviously heard the same thing. However, instead of following the young man, he turned off into another direction, his own blade effortlessly slicing through the branches, and sometimes smaller tree's, cutting them down with ease, before he jumped up and pushed off a low tree branch. Vaulting himself into the air and landing straight in front of the blonde girl that had threatened him- who was ironically, covered by heartless.

"Do not move", as he spoke- several of the heartless creatures turned their eerie beady eyes towards his own. Which only brought out an unwelcoming emotionless smirk, stretching the Keyblade out in front of him and easily cutting several of the creatures in half- freeing the young blonde girl for the most part, he figured if he saved her from the darkness, she wouldn't be so rash...and angry with him for allowing her boyfriend to be killed.

Gripping a rather small heartless in his hand, Riku hurled it off the blonde girl and slashed another with his blade, kicking out his foot behind him and sending another enemy flying backwards, lost in the trees as it slammed up against a large tree trunk. His hand quickly reaching down and scooping the girl's arm in his strengthful grip, pulling her off her back and examining her ankle with a mere glance. Establishing that it was damaged, He tightened his grip on her arm and began to support her weight with his own, almost dragging her back into the tree's whilst slashing at constant heartless that flew from the shadows. Sighing, and breathing rather deeply- Riku glanced over his shoulder- which was now dripping with blood from a wound he had received from a few creatures that had ganged up on him, he rolled his eyes and diverted his attention back towards the girl he had 'saved', speaking in a rather hushed tone as he headed in the direction where he heard Squall and Rinoa.

"Trust me, those creatures back there, their called heartless. Stay close to me, and everything will be fine", he nodded and waved his blade in an arc out in front of the two. Cutting a clear path to where Squall and Rinoa fought, bringing the girl out into the clearing and glancing towards her once more. His emotionless eyes filled with hope and determination as he nodded. "Trust me"

Hoping that she bought his words, Riku quickly glanced over towards Squall and Rinoa once more, his keyblade pointing in the direction of the clearing they had all woken up in once more, as well as slashing outwards to fend off any other attacks. However, the heartless seemed to know who Riku was, or at least knew of the keyblade...for every time he swept it outwards- they shied away and went after Squall. Which meant one thing; they had to get back to the original clearing, and fast

Rinoa

Rinoa looked at Squall akwardly, she didn't know how to talk to him. Sure, he had just saved her life, but there was still the matter of her little outburst. She felt bad for having an outburst on everyone. Rinoa looked behind her and realized that the heartless would not go after Riku. She wondered why, and felt somewhat angry about it, but still kept her inner-calm. Rinoa looked up at Squall sheepishly and smiled.

"Err...Sorry about that outburst..."

She lowered her gaze to the ground as they continued to run to the clearing. Rinoa noticed the forest becoming visibly brighter. She smiled slightly before dragging Squall ahead into the clearing. Her heart was racing, and she had many emotions running through her. She was happy that they were all safe, but yet she would rather face the creatures in the shadows than anyone else at the current time. Rinoa rubbed her arm and gripped the braided-blonde's dagger a little more tightly in her hand.

She closed her eyes, wishing all of this was some crazy nightmare. She wished they wern't really stuck in some unknown world. She wished they wern't being hunted down by creatures of the darkness. She also wished that she could take back every thing she had said in the last hour or so, and either re-word it, or not have said it at all. That was the cruel thing about life, it never seemed to do what you asked of it.

Rinoa opened her eyes, and turned to face Riku and the younger woman. She walked over to the younger woman and handed her back her dagger. She then returned by Squall's side. She had a feeling someone was going to pester her about her little 'outburst' and she didn't feel like answering any questions at the current time.

So instead she sat down against a tree, and closed her eyes, as if to say she was done with all this mayhem for the time being, and wanted to be left alone. She hoped people would get the point, but she wasn't sure if Squall would. Lately, he had always seemed to find a way to get down into the center of her problems, and try to help her through them.

Rinoa sighed lightly, before moving long strands of her hair out of her face. If she just kept her calm a little longer, she knew she could make it through this. Through all of it. However, her patience was slowly slipping away, and the questions that plagued her mind were hardly comforting. So instead she sat content with the knowledge that whatever they went through, Squall would be there.

Unless we are split up for some unknown reason...

Rikku

Ultimately, Rikku stopped fighting and just huddled into a ball, trying to stave off the attack as the creatures tore at her. If she ever got out of this alive, unlikely, she really had to see about replenishing her supplies, so she wasn't completely defenseless. The creatures tried to drag her off, but she on held tightly to the ground, speaking quietly to herself and to the strange creatures, as she willed them away.

"Mayja sa pa, mayja sa pa, mayja sa pa..."

Leave me be...

Then her hold slip and she turned, being pulled by the heartless, when she heard a voice cut in. Rikku closed her eyes, almost wishing the heartless had killed her off, instead of having him come rescue her. Then suddenly the heartless were off of her and Riku was helping her up. She couldn't walk so he dragged her out of the clearing, still managing to fight off the creatures and finally arriving in the clearing with Rinoa and that other man.

She started slightly at the expression in what had seem permanently deadened eyes as he told her to trust him. She wasn't sure she could do that, but for now it seemed a good idea. She noticed quite quickly that the heartless stayed away from Riku, but swarmed after the other guy, so she gestured to the pair. "Wait, come into the perimeter..."

Though they didn't hear they did make a break for the clearing, and got through, the heartless didn't seem to follow, but Rikku didn't have time to think about it as Riku quickly dragged her along to the clearing. She breathed a sigh or relief when the heartless didn't follow. Safety in numbers she guessed.

Glancing at Rinoa as she approached, Rikku felt a wave of guilt. The other girl wouldn't even have been out there if it weren't for her. Accepting the dagger back, she nodded, and within a second the dagger had disappeared back to it's sheathe . She gave her apologetic look.

Glancing up at Riku, who she was distinctly uncertain about despite what she'd done, she noticed the wound on his shoulder and forgot her concerns, for the moment. Pulling out her knife again, she reached into her hair pulling one of the strips of beaded cloth that tied her long hair up, and sliced it off.

"Hold still... is that sword machina? Why did it keep them away?"

Unfolding the colorful cloth so it would cover the most surface area, she quickly ran her knife along the edge and the beads scattered, falling to the forest floor. She spoke mainly because it was her habit sometimes, when she was uncomfortable, not because she expected him to answer. She didn't know why he had even bothered to go after her.

"People might think the Al Bhed attire is strange, but it has it's uses. There."

While she spoke, Rikku moved Riku's arm, despite resistance, and quickly wrapped the gauze around his shoulder, creating a make-shift bandage then looked up into his eyes for a brief moment. She suspected she'd never know.

"Dryhgc vun cyjehk sa."

Thanks for saving me.

Stubbornly, she hadn't said it so he could understand, she didn't like the choosiness of his rescues, he was obviously a capable fighter. Abruptly she turned away, and seeing Rinoa she figured she should apologize. Practically hopping over, she plopped down on the ground next to her.

"I'm sorry I was so rude earlier, I had no right to yell at you when you were just trying to help."

Rinoa

Rinoa's eyes snapped open. She looked slightly startled, but relieved at the same time. She gave Rikku a small smile before waving it off with her hand.

"No, It's alright, besides, I had no buisness barging in to your buisness. Anyway...I just hope your feeling somewhat better."

Rinoa's smile broke out into an all out-grin. She was happy that Rikku and herself were on good terms now. She just wished she could be on good terms with everyone, she wasn't sure if she would accomplish that. Rinoa sighed slightly before turning towards Rikku and folding her knees underneath her chin.

"I really do know how it feels though."

She smiled at her again before giving her a small patt on the back, letting Rikku know that she was there for her. She then dropped her hand to her side and started to play with the fringes in her long blue coat. Rinoa was still trying to make sense of the entire situation, but she figured, if she had to go through it, she might as well start being best friends with everyone. Besides, it was never good to have enemies.

She had learned this the hard way. Rinoa sighed, thinking of past memories and events. She wondered how long any human being could actually stay with their thoughts always stuck in the past. Some people learned to never let go, while others learned to let go too quickly. Rinoa placed herself in between both, as she sometimes liked to linger on past events, but also wanted to quickly forget others. She also wondered if Rikku lingered on her past, or if she didn't want to think twice about it. If so, she might get over the man she had lost quickly, but Rinoa hoped that wasn't the case. She knew that Rikku loved the man she had lost, and also knew that it wasn't so easy to forget loved ones.

Yuffie

Yuffie watched, unusually silent as the drama in the clearing played out like a soap opera. One girl had stepped forward and began threatening the only one in the group who wasn't bruised like they had been thrown down a mountain. She heard something about a boyfriend, but people had begun to wake up and her attention was divided, hoping it was someone she knew.

It wasn't, but she still watched as the girl sat up, pushing her glasses back up her nose. She had used a branch to help her up, and Yuffie couldn't help but roll her eyes at her own stupidity at not thinking of that first.

Yuffie let out the breath she had been holding when she saw Cloud stand among the unconscious bodies, but she didn't sigh with relief till she saw him find Tifa. Cloud wasn't Cloud unless he was worrying about Tifa. Again, she was distracted when another man introduced himself as Squall, and she searched her memory to see if she had ever met this person. She doubted it, but watched as he held on to the woman he obviously cared for.

The watchful eyes of Yuffie trailed the rest of the clearing, landing again on the woman threatening the man, except now it had escalated, and she had punched the man, but he didn't look at all fazed. He introduced himself as Riku and as their guardian. She looked at him warily, unsure but shrugging mentally. Riku spoke of dangers and Yuffie took another glance around. Many of the large group seemed to be armed, and most seemed to be conscious. Which was good. Riku explained, telling of a woman paired with Sephiroth, trying to find something, a promised land. Yuffie shook her head. She didn't really care about the end of the world. She just wanted their money. Was that so much to ask of them? Although, now that it seemed they were stuck in some dimension of other, stealing didn't seem to be an option, as long as she wanted to get away with it. Darn.

As though he knew her thoughts, Yuffie winced as she heard the fateful words of Vincent, who had apparently woken up behind her.

"Oy, can't a girl watch people without suspicion?" she asked quietly, pouting slightly. She was interrupted by the paranoid guy said something she didn't really understand, and then watched, half amused, half annoyed as he began to shout. As though that drama wasn't enough, the girl who had punched Riku before, had actually threatened him with a knife and then strode off.

"Just what we need...," Yuffie murmured to herself, "someone running off while-" but again, interruptions abounded as the girl who had introduced herself as Rinoa started shouting angrily at them. Yuffie would've tried to speak up, but knowing it was hopeless, attempted to stand up.

She ended on her butt, wincing, not even noticing that Tifa had awoken. Barely hearing everyone's conversations, she sat, wondering. Well...they were stuck. With a guide no one trusted. Two of the group had run off. There was- she paused. A scream.

Squall and Riku both took off running, Squall shouting commands over his shoulder, the words coming back clearly, despite his growing distance. Yuffie would've loved to run after them, but her bruises covered most of her body, and prevented her from standing up. There were sounds of fighting, and Yuffie was wondering if they would be alright, but her fears were alleviated when Riku and the girl both returned to the clearing.

Yuffie grunted and stood finally, her hands out for balance. When she was sure she was steady, she asked what she had been dying to know. "What was it? And are you alright?" she said worriedly, though she shouldn't have. She tried to step forward, but her knees gave out and she landed face first. Sighing and leaning on her arms, she scowled.

"Usually I'm much more sure-footed than this. I must've really hurt something." Annoyed she was so helpless, she pulled herself up into a sitting position, ignoring the gnawing pain in her thigh and ankle. Great, now she couldn't even steal. This was just getting worse and worse.

Sephiroth

"So Sorceress, are you capable of doing anything useful?"

Sephiroth asked more than just a bit rudely, partly to agitate the Sorceress a little bit and provoke her to prove her worthiness to him. After all, if that ice trick was all she held up her sleeve he could always kill her. She wasn't the keyblades master - nor was she needed in his plans.

A cold glare caught her amber ones, he didn't have to say anything further, the look he sent was capable of telling her his thoughts, a slight smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth as he continued to pace about, waiting for Edea to become useful to him. Or, trying to plan his next move if she were to fail him.

Squall Leonhart

Squall had been fighting off more creatures when one, slightly larger shadow monster attached itself onto his leg, slashing at his thigh and causing a painful grunt to erupt from the back of the Squad leaders throat, instantly turning on his heel and slamming his leg towards the nearest tree trunk, the creature latched onto his leg taking the majority of the damage and falling limply to the ground, just long enough for Squall to slash it in two whilst walking deeper into the forest. Following Riku's lead as he easily slashed through the forest around them- the odd blade held within the young man's hand seeming even more powerful then his own Gunblade , and also seemed to keep the odd creatures at bay...which so far, was a good thing, the creatures may not have put up much a fight, and were rather easy to dispose of, but they attacked in packs, and they just kept coming and coming. Squall sighed and grunted once more as he began to run towards the clearing- which had started to let slivers of light into the darkness, as if seeking it out to push it back, deep down into the lake where more shadows had emerged from.

"What the hell were those?", Squall, as well as the others had finally made it to the clearing, and he was currently glaring back into the trees where they had came from. The feint glow of the eerie red and yellow eyes fading away as they shied away from the light, thankfully retreating to the shadows. Grunting once more, Squall looked towards his upper thigh and examined the tear in his pants, quickly checking to make sure his signature jacket wasn't damaged- thankfully, it wasn't, a few tree branches stuck to the sleeves- but that was about it. However, his leg was another story; there was a light cut across his upper left thigh that stretched down to his knee, a thin streak of blood running down his leg and staining the insides of his pants- causing the leather to stick to his skin uncomfortably. Sighing, Squall pulled his pant leg up to his knee and gently wiped off the excess blood- the cut wasn't deep, but there still was a lot of blood. After wiping the rest of the blood off, Squall looked upwards and tried to find Rinoa, spotting her sitting down with the odd girl that had burst off, causing Rinoa to do the same. Smirking, he strode over towards the two and slid down next to Rinoa, glancing at her lovingly as he spoke.

"Hey...you ok?", he nodded towards the trees as he spoke. He knew that she didn't mean to burst out in anger and yell at everyone, but he wanted to make sure she wasn't physically hurt, Squall knew Rinoa could handle her own- but he also knew that she didn't think that. After all her training at Balamb Garden, and even before Balamb, she had amazed Squall- she didn't look like much...but she could take down creatures twice her size, and he didn't think she would fair to bad if she had fended off the shadow creatures herself. "Your not, hurt are you?". His eyes trailed up the lengths of Rinoa's body, checking for cuts or bruises- new cuts and bruises at least- seeing they were all hurt from the unexpected fall into the current dimension. However, he also realized the young girl that Rinoa had been speaking to, and seeing all nine of them looked like they would have to tolerate each other, he nodded towards her and forced a smile. C0cking his head as he spoke.

"Squall Leonhart, I didn't get your name...", he looked upwards, as if thinking if she had indeed said her name. After a few moments, he nodded and extended a hand, hoping for her to shake it. Squall wasn't very sociable, he was still getting used to it after being influenced by Rinoa, who had 'taught' him to be out going and sociable, in return for more training in Garden- which he had been more then happy to give.

Riku

Riku merely quirked an eyebrow as the blonde girl he had saved walked towards him. Hesitating for a moment as she wrapped up his wound- it wasn't much, Riku had sustained much worse, but obviously it was her way of thanking him...as well as speaking in mixed gibberish and walking off again. Sighing, Riku rotated his shoulder to get used to the feel of the make shift bandage around his wound. The feint stains of blood shining through the cloth and darkening it with moisture. Simply rolling his eyes and brushing it off, Riku turned around and glanced at all of the nine warriors- most of them awake by now, and struggling to get used to their wounds.

"There should be an Oasis east of here, the water has healing properties, and we will be safer from the heartless. If they ventured so close, they'll do it again, next time into the light- it won't keep them at bay for long", Riku spoke clearly, speaking up so that all could hear. If they had to move, then the strong could carry the unconscious with them- but Riku wanted to get to know more of the strange warriors, and if they truly were strong enough to suit his causes, and even though he felt no threat from any of them- nor from the heartless. It was obvious that the warriors knew nothing of the creatures, and therefore, wouldn't be able to hold their own for long, at least not until Riku explained what they were. Which was obviously sooner then he had planned, seeing as he said heartless, almost all of them glanced at him dumbfounded. Sighing, he sheathed his keyblade and ignored the blonde girls comment for now, saving it until he was done.

"Heartless are what attacked us. Their creatures of the dark, formed of pure shadow, most attack in packs, they vary in shape and size, and power. Those were nothing compared to the ones that are in the deep of the forest, the ones that aren't afraid of the light". He nodded as he spoke, running a hand through his slivery hair and pulling out his blade once more, turning it in his hands and allowing it to catch the sunlight, replying to the young girl he spoke gibberish.

"I do not know what Machina is, but this is called a Keyblade...its, unique". He pulled the blade back before he said anymore, he didn't want to reveal to much to the group until he found out what he was truly going to do with them. If they were capable enough, he would sue them to his own advantage, if they were not....well then, he would leave them for the more powerful heartless that inhabited the island. Having the creatures do his dirty work for them, and with their burdens being gone...he would go after the odd man and woman himself, and show them what the Keyblade could really do.

Rikku

They didn't become fiends though, did they?

For that was the fate of those that died violently in spira, if no one got to their bodies in time for a summoning, Even though the Al Bhed did not believe in yevon, it was still something that had to be done, not by a summoner, but anyone at all, through the hymn of the fayth.... But then she was probably being unreasonable, maybe that happened everywhere. So, there was only a brief flicker of pain in her eyes, and then it was gone. Rikku smiled, it would be rude and pointless to contradict her anyway, and after all she had always tried to be optimistic. It was in her nature, otherwise she would have killed herself a long time ago. Maybe someone had found Gippal in time... and at least she was seeing new places... right? Right. Of course her inward pep talk didn't really help all that much, but at the moment there was nothing she could do. She had to stay positive. She had managed through out Yunie's journey, and that was where the worst hadn't happened, but was looming over their heads, this should be easy. A lot of people viewed her as a little ball of fluff, that wasn't true at all, but if she needed to she could hide her emotions like she had, trying to be cheerful and pretending that her cousin was not going off on a mission to die. In general though, she preferred to be up front about things.

Rikku was about to respond when another girl came up with questions about what had happened, flinching when the girl almost fell on her hurt ankle, breathing a quick sigh of relief that she had missed it, she gave her a sympathetic smile... that fall was hard on everyone.

"Some sort of fiends attacked, he called them heartless."

It was rather sweet how Squall came and checked up on Rinoa. Though, Rikku appreciated the gesture when he held out his hand. She was sure he must blame her for what happened, after all, if she hadn't run off, Rinoa wouldn't have, and those creatures wouldn't have attacked her, she blushed embarrassed that she had forgotten to introduce herself.

"Oh how rude of me! I'm Rikku."

Rikku tilted her head slightly and smiled impishly at the irony... then glancing over at Riku, her smile died. She was stilll angry, despite the fact that he'd save her, maybe even more so.

Then Riku spoke, his voice carrying through out the clearing, so everyone could hear, and Rikku turned slightly, wonderinc once again where exactly he was planning to "guide" them,. She also wondered if he was from this world. He certainly knew about those heartless, and how to slay them, but then Squall did a pretty good job of that himself. Most of all though, the sword intrigued her. She knew some magic and she had knew machina. This seemed like a little bit of both, though she couldn't believe that Riku didn't know what machina was. She studied it while he could, but right after he called attention to it, he put it back in the sheathe.

Keyblade, huh?

She'd love to get a chance to look at it closely, but judging from the speed with which he put it away, she doubted she'd get the chance by just asking. She'd find away to liberate it though, temporarily of course. She just had to examine it. If he wanted trust, then what was he hiding? Rikku glanced at the others, to see what they thought about what he had said.

She of course had a million questions. However, if this oasis did have some healing properties, she was all for it. She wondered if the effects endured when you took the water away from the spring or whether it was something about the source of the spring itself. With that thought, Rikku began to look through her pack again, now that she was more calm. The vials were in shards, and the pack was stained with al bhed potion and who knew what else... actually she was pretty lucky considering, some of the things she mixed up were volatile with mere contact. It would probably be a good idea to keep the pack away from fire anyway. As carefully as she could, but still managing to prick her fingers twice, Rikku brushed the broken glass into the center of the bag so she could search the corners of the bag. Her efforts paid off, and though the cap was busted off the vial, it was at the very least whole. Rikku smiled satisfied, now at least she had something to work with.