Riku was glad to get off the ferry when it reached Plum Island. The island was much bigger than their home of Calypso Island. The population was almost double of their island home. Thankfully Apple Berry's was only a short walk up the hill. They didn't have to worry about trying to figure out which street car went where. There was even a Chocobo Ranch nearby if they wanted to ride.

"We should go riding after!" Kairi suggested.

"I was just thinking that." Riku said.

"Ice-cream first!" Selphie said, skipping off. "I need my sugar!!"

Riku laughed and followed the girl. Everyone else followed behind.

"Hey guys! Long time no see." Binx, the owner of Apple Berry's said. "Let me guess... Sora: peanut butter and chocolate sundae, Selphie: banana split with extra sprinkles and cherries, Kairi: Rocky Road with chocolate sprinkles, Wakka: Mint chocolate chip in a dish, Tidus: Vanilla orange swirl in a waffle cone, and Riku: Dark chocolate in a cone with a cherry."

"You know us too well, ya?" Wakka said, setting his money on the counter. "Ice-cream is on me, guys."

"Thanks Wakka." Tidus nuzzled the redhead's arm.

"Awww." Selphie cooed.

"Are you two like...uhm...going out?" Kairi asked.

Selphie laughed nervously, took her order, and went to find a booth. Sora grabbed his ice-cream and went to help her. Riku stayed in case he'd have to smack sense into anyone.

"Ya." Wakka replied.

"That's so adorable." Binx said.

"Thanks." Tidus blushed.

"Uhh...Kairi? You ok?" Wakka asked.

The girl nodded. "I'm happy for you. You're cute together."

"We know it." The redhead smirked.

Riku rolled his eyes and went to join Sora and Selphie. Kairi, Wakka, and Tidus soon sat down as well.

"Yummy, yummy. Sugar in my tummy." Selphie grinned.

"Please don't sing. You'll ruin my appetite." Riku teased with a smirk.

Once the group was done their ice-dream they made their way over to the Chocobo Ranch.

"Hello children." Clasko smiled. "Good to see you again."

The man got them saddled up and on their way. Once they were out of Clasko's hearing range Riku looked back.

"Is it just me or does Clasko like chocobos a little too much?" The silver-haired youth remarked.

"Ya. I noticed that too." Wakka replied.

"Ewwww." Selphie wrinkled her nose.

Riku chuckled and shook his head.

"I'm outta here." Sora grinned, veering towards the forest.

"Hey! Wait up!" Riku and Kairi shouted almost in unison.

The forest and mountain paths made Selphie nervous so she headed for the beach. Wakka and Tidus were content to be all by themselves in the fields.

.................

Riku cursed under his breath. By the time he and Kairi reached the forest Sora was gone. And now he lost Kairi as well.

"Sora? Kairi?" He called. No answer.

Riku sighed and just decided to enjoy the ride.

Sora and Solar (the chocobo) were running down a forest path faster than they should have been. If she had been running at a slower pace Solar would have seen the wild rabbit long before it darted across the path and startled her. Sora cried out as he was thrown from his chocobo's back. He fell from the path, through a tangle of giant tree roots, and landed in a shallow pool. Warking loudly, Solar took off without her injured rider. Down in the pool the brunette moaned. He was soaking wet and both ankles were throbbing painfully.

"Riku! Kairi!" Sora called hoarsely. "Someone! Help!"

Riku pulled on the reins to halt his chocobo. He thought he'd heard someone shouting.

"Riku! Help!!" Sora's voice cried again.

"Damn! Sora!!"

The teen turned his huge white chocobo around and started off.

"Sora!?" He called out his friend's name as he rode along.

"Riku! Over here!"

Riku dismounted and went to peek over the edge of a rather steep hill. Through a web of tree roots Riku could see Sora half-slumped in a small pool.

"Are you ok? What happened?"

"Solar got spooked and I fell off. My ankles really hurt but I don't know if they're broken."

"Okay. Just hang on. I'll come get you."

Riku sort-of sat on his bottom and started to slide down the hill. It was steeper than he thought and the teen caused a pint-sized landslide as he zoomed down. All the noise and dust scared Riku's chocobo and it ran off.

"Come back you featherbrain!!" Riku shouted. "Shit!"

Sora moaned in defeat and hung his head.

"It's ok. The hill isn't as steep further down. I'll give you a piggyback."

Riku was now glad his mother made him wear a long-sleeved shirt. He tore both sleeves off and kneeled beside Sora. The brunette whimpered as Riku removed his shoes and prodded his ankles.

"Not broken. The right one is sprained and the left is badly bruised." He checked the rest of Sora over as well. "Looks like you'll have a few bruises on your arms too."

The silver-haired teen gently bound Sora's ankles with his shirt sleeves. He tied the boy's shoelaces together and hung the sneakers around his neck.

"I can carry those." Sora offered.

"Nah. It'd just be extra weight on my back. Come on..."

Riku helped his friend climb onto his back. He took a deep breath as Sora's arms wrapped around his neck.

"My hero." Sora teased.

"Ah shaddup or I'll drop you in the mud." Riku grinned.

The older teen started walking. He nearly tripped as Sora nuzzled his cheek.

"Seriously...thank-you, Riku."

"Hey no problem. You've been very accident prone lately."

"I noticed."

A breeze blew over the two teens. The trees above swayed in the wind, making their shadows dance. Riku shivered. It felt like the shadows were watching him and trying to reach out and grab him.

"Mn." Sora grunted as his ankle twitched involuntarily.

Once Sora's voice broke into the silence the feeling of "scary shadows" vanished. Still, the youth looked around warily before continuing on. Eventually the hill rounded out and Riku climbed up the bank with ease.

"We're almost out, Sora."

"Good. I'm getting tired of all this walking." The brunette joked.

Riku chuckled and continued down the path.

"I want my money back." Sora said and Riku laughed.

The duo exited the forest to see a worried Tidus and Wakka riding up to them.

"There you are! What happened? We saw your chocobos grazing in the fields."

"Gluttonous featherbrains." Riku muttered.

"Solar threw me off and I hurt both my ankles." Sora explained.

"Put him with me, ya? I'll take him to the first aid office. You and Tidus can go get your chocobos." Wakka said.

Riku nodded. Tidus dismounted and helped his friends get Sora into the saddle behind Wakka.

"Okay. Hang on tight. Here we go."

Wakka took off with Sora.

"Where's Selphie and Kairi?" Riku asked.

"Selphie's still down at the beach. Kairi went to tell Clasko about you guys bein' missing."

"For a whole fifteen minutes." The silver-haired teen grinned.

Tidus chuckled. "Kairi is just protective of her friends. Well...c'mon. Let's go get your 'gluttonous featherbrains'."

"I'm driving."

Tidus decided not to argue with his friend. They jumped back on Tidus' chocobo and sprinted off. Even though Riku wasn't facing the forest it felt like the shadows were leering at him. Lying in wait for something. The teen shook his head.

[What is wrong with me? I'm I going bonkers??]

To be continued...

....................
The shadows are after Riku X3; R&R Please .