I'm sorry to say this is one of the last chapters. But there will be seuels! Plus a surpise at the end!


Dive into the Wild

By Atlantica Stitch

Where True Loyalties Lie

The sun was just starting to sink when Dirtfur awoke. He stood up and made his way out of the den. Ignoring the looks he got form several cats, he pushed his way out of the camp. As soon as he was free of the gorse, he raced off at top speed towards Rock Hollow. He didn't stop, even when a squirrel crossed right in front of him. He had to stop Sora and Riku, before Tigerstar got a hold of them. He stopped at the lip of the hollow, and peered down, hidden by the ferns. He spotted Riku, Sora, Nevarx and Roxas. They were facing each other with hostility. Dirtfur missed the flick of Kuritu's antennae towards him, and the blink of acknowledgement from all four. Sora and Riku bristled.

"What are you two doing here?" Sora spat.

"Whatever we want, you traitors." Roxas retorted.

"I think you came to spy on us!" Riku growled, his fur bristling.

'Aren't you clever.' Kuritu sneered. Sora glared.

"I should slice you up right now."

"Oh, no you won't!" Roxas and Nevarx chorused.

"Shut up Nobodies!" Riku hissed.

"If this is who we're here to help, we might as well fight WITH Tigerstar!" Sora spat.

Dirtfur plunged into the clearing. "Stop!" he cried. He turned to Sora and Riku. "You can't. Do you truly want us to be turned into Heartless?" his amber eyes glittered with sadness. Dirtfur then heard a yowl. The one yowl he would do anything not to hear.

"Dirtfur!' Glacierpaw cried, racing down. Dirtfur hissed displeasure through his teeth. Of all places, why did his apprentice have to be here? Sora and Nevarx exchanged nervous glances. They had not expected this.

"Glacierpaw what are you doing here?" Dirtfur spat as the apprentice bounded up beside him. Glacierpaw looked taken aback by his hostility.

"I-I saw you leaving, so I followed you. I only wanted--what are you doing here?" the last words he spat at Sora and Riku. Sora stepped forward, fur bristling.

"This is neutral territory." He growled.

"On the full moon it is! There's no truce here." Glacierpaw snarled back.

"Stop!" Dirtfur yowled. "Glacierpaw, go back to camp. NOW." Glacierpaw glared in defiance.

"No. I want to know why my mentor has snuck away from his Clan to meet with traitors and loners."

"You do not demand such things from warriors; much less your mentor!" Dirtfur spat. Glacierpaw seemed to take this as a solid response. He looked at his paws sadly.

"The Dirtfur I know is long gone. Fine, I see how it is." He meowed sadly. Roxas suddenly snickered. Glacierpaw looked up. "What'd I say?" he demanded.

"It's just, I remembered someone said the exact same thing once." He said, grinning. Sora's eyes went wide.

"Roxas! You remember Axel!" he cried. Roxas closed his eyes. And image of a man wearing a black cloak with spiky red hair, green eyes and carrying red chakrams popped into his mind.

"Axel…" he murmured. The image solidified then the memories came flooding back: him and Axel fighting in Twilight Town-twice, him and Axel arguing about him leaving the Organization, him and Axel pulling pranks on various Organization members. "I do remember!" he cried. Sora grinned at him, but facefaulted when Roxas cocked is head in confusion. So his memory wasn't completely restored yet. Glacierpaw cleared is throat and turned his gaze to Dirtfur.

"Dirtfur, why are you here? Don't answer!" Glacierpaw said, holding up his tail to silence his mentor. "You turned traitor! That's why you're helping these traitors!" he snapped.

Dirtfur looked coldly at his apprentice. "Glacierpaw, if being a traitor means helping the cats who will save our lives, and our future, then yes. I'm a traitor. They may think differently, and may not be from here, but I trust them. Firestar does." Glacierpaw's eyes widened. Sora's eyes sparkled at the unexpected praise. Nevarx rolled his eyes.

"Cue the sappy music." Roxas nodded agreement. A meow made all 6 of them spin around.

"How touching." Tigerstar sneered, standing at the lip of the hollow. Next to him was a sleek black cat with violet eyes. The cat grinned, revealing unusually long fangs.

"Xonah! No!" Nevarx cried, stumbling backwards. He looked around, as if searching for somewhere to hide. Xonah turned his head at the sound of his name.

"Nevarx," he purred. "How wonderful to see you." Nevarx met his gaze steadily.

"I'd say likewise, but I'd be lying." He meowed. "Where are your cronies?" Sora and Riku exchanged confused looks. Cronies?

"Back at the lab. But…Karu insisted on coming." Xonah said, turning his head. A very peculiar creature made its entrance. It was a Dragoon Nobody…sort of. It was pitch black, with glowing yellow Heartless eyes. And it had a symbol in place of the normal Nobody emblem. It looked oddly familiar.

"You're the one who kidnapped Donald and Goofy!" Sora cried. The symbol was identical to the on the man's cloak.

"How perceptive of you. Now that the introductions are out of the way," Xonah meowed, turning his head. "Heartless! Attack!" For the second time, millions of Heartless plunged into the hollow. The six charged in, fighting with tooth, claw and Keyblade. Sora noticed Kuritu locked in combat with the Dragoon.

'Go back to Twilight Town you mutant!' the Heatless snarled.

'It's Hybrid you overgrown ink stain!' Karu shot back. He gave Kuritu a blow that sent the Shadow flying across the hollow. Nevarx looked at the Hybrid, eyes full of pure hatred.

"To think I LIKED you!" he spat. He charged forward, pouncing on the Hybrid with a power that would put the Beast to shame. With Nevarx's fury to aid him, the battle was soon in the cat's favor. Xonah stood on the Flatrock, smiling. Sora felt his heart ill with dread. Xonah turned to Tigerstar.

"Shall I?" he asked casually.

"Of course." Tigerstar answered coolly. A small flash of darkness flickered in Xonah's paw. Sora gasped. The Nobody cat was holding on of the Aztec medallions from Port Royal. Slipping the medallion in his teeth, Xonah then tossed it in the air, where it disappeared in a wisp of silvery mist. Suddenly, the hollow shook with an ear-splitting roar. Trees cracked and cats fell in the unnatural earthquake. Sora's eyes widened with fear as he looked behind Xonah and Tigerstar. At the huge THING behind Xonah and Tigerstar. He heard Nevarx and Kuritu behind him.

'"We're doomed."' They whispered together. Roxas dropped his Keyblades and Riku went stiff with fear.

"Right now…Sephiroth seems friendly." Sora said, but everyone was too scared to laugh.


Next Chapter: The Final Boss: Genos and Xonah Title says it all.