-Los Perdidos-
It's a certain hum that's in their body. A certain tingle of energy that has them curling their hands, fingers twitching against the material of the straps of their pack and the saxophone case. They take a breath, eyes watching as Archer steps forwards, he's so assured, so sure that he's got them cornered right where he wants them.
Behind them, Héctor moves to protect Miguel. Stepping in front of the boy, and that curls through them. Because this isn't right, this isn't...
They're aware of the others around them. Like a pack of velociraptors circling their prey, like a pack of predators. But they curl themself, hazel shifting meeting toxic green and there's a beat. A moment where they just hold his gaze. They take a breath, and when he steps forwards they move.
The band holding them back snaps as Miguel lets out a whimper. There's a war cry that tears itself from their throat and Archer barely gets a chance to react as they swing the saxophone case around. Archer only has a moment to look shocked, while Héctor and Miguel race for it behind them. Obi and Dante both howl and everything explodes into movement. It is pure chaos, people reaching and grabbing for them, someone cursing as they sling the case around again, and duck under flailing arms.
It's like running around playing dodgeball in an odd way.
Just without any balls being thrown and a lot more to dodge. And when they're out of the crowd, they give a small laugh, an almost mocking wave and dart.
Somehow they manage to bolt in the same direction as Héctor and Miguel, catching up and surprising the two of them. A flash of a grin, a wink and they tug. Pulling them down, back towards those caves. There's a yelp, curses from behind them and they can only grin. This is something, they love running dreams. They love the sensation, the thrill of their heartbeat in their chest and the rising feeling.
The trips of vines that catch at their legs, and the drag of their backpack and the saxophone case are nothing.
This is nothing.
"There!"
"Wait! We're going back into the cave?" They only grin, remembering something that they had half-seen during their initial bolt. They move, slipping around corners again, and Obi barks, joyously speeding on ahead of them, a glow to her fur and markings. Eventually they come to the opening, and they pause for only a moment. Héctor hesitates.
Muttering beneath his breath "Cueva de las Cosas Perdidas" they roll their eyes, and footsteps approach, there's only a moment.
Only a moment as Miguel and Dante make the decision for them, charging into the tunnel. They only pause for a second, looking towards Héctor before following. It's only a second of hesitation, barely anything but there's that feeling that every second counts.
They're on a timer. They all are.
And they already know that they've changed events, and they have no way of knowing how much. They focus on moving, focus on remaining ahead of their pursuers and catching up to Miguel and Dante. Obi at their back, whining as she flies through the air. They glance at the boy, flashing a grin before grabbing him by the arm and pulling him into an alcove, before Héctor can race on past they also grab him.
A hand snapping over his mouth just barely cutting off his yelp. There's a period of silence as they keep his mouth covered and just listen to the sound of their pursuer's footsteps. Waiting for them to grow uncomfortably loud before getting distant once more. They wait for just a few moments longer, ears straining for that distant echoing beat of footsteps before they unfold themselves from the alcove and peer around. Obi whines, landing on the ground and doing an odd pace before they nod their head.
"Alright, alright... we need to-" it's their turn to yelp as Miguel grabs their arm and pulls them deeper into the cave. The boy's reason becomes obvious as they notice that his canine companion is missing. Where did that xoloitzcuintli go? There's a bark from somewhere up ahead and they feel a chill. Like ice, something breaks over their head, a prickling discordant feeling, their heels are digging into the ground before they can think, a whine breaking from their throat.
No, no, no!
No, they can't.
"Stop! Miguel! We can't go-" there's a shout, cutting them off. Héctor screams, and they can't. That prickling climaxes, harshly biting at their skin really and they snap. Miguel gasps as they do their own best whistle. Calling for- Obi howls as she dives, energy crackling around her. "Alebrijes are as mysterious, as they are POWERFUL!" they grin as someone else screams, before grabbing for Héctor. Dragging him along as Miguel calls for Dante.
That foolish xolo. Why'd the dog have to go and-
There's nothing beneath their feet. For a moment, a heartbeat they hang there, trying to understand that, before they're plunging. Sliding down a chute of some kind. Ahead of them Miguel's laughter rings out, while Héctor lets out a whine almost clinging to them. He must not be big on amusement parks then. They reach the bottom landing on something soft, airy and light, bouncing them all up a bit before settling.
They take a breath, before scrambling off the object and blinking in confusion. Is that a bouncy castle? What in the world is?
They shake their head, they don't have the time to-
They really don't have the time to worry about silly things like that their bones clearly visible, hands almost completely bone. It's terrifying. Only having that thin glowing membrane really. They don't have the time to wonder about stupid things like a bouncy castle. They have to scramble, or really bounce walk over the material and get back onto the ground and-
There's trash all around them. Piled up and heaped, climbing towards the roof of the cave. That purple tint feels ominous really. Prickling over their skin and they pull their hood up, awkwardly tugging the straps, tightening it against them.
"What is this place?" Miguel asks, looking around as Dante lets out a small whine.
"Cueva de las Cosas Perdidas"
"The Cave of Lost Things..." they mutter in the same moment that Héctor answers Miguel's question. "So you know, whenever you lose a sock in the wash, or a USB, it ends up here... or in a similar place..." they find themself swallowing. Nervously peering around. "And... I highly doubt that would be the only thing lurking here. It feels occupied."
"Qué?"
"Did you hear what he called me before?"
"Uh... Perdidita?"
"Roughly Lost One." they nod their head, ears straining for every small sound in the room around them. There's just something off in the air. Something that prickles, far more than the knowledge that they're still being pursued. And considering how much noise they made coming down. "We need to move. Those people can't be too far behind, and honestly. This place is hardly safe." People lose all kinds of things.
This is where they all come eventually.
This is where... they pause, a thought drifting through their mind. Something about lost objects, lost ones.
"Los Perdidos." They pull up slightly short and turn just slightly to Héctor when he speaks. Rather confused. "We might run into those who go by that title. Not that there's... that much distinction. They're just more of us. Los Olvidados. But-"
"Can you save the history lesson! We don't have the time for this!" they hiss cutting Héctor off and ignoring his rather affronted expression as they peer around. There has to be something here that they could use, there has to be-
There.
"Alright, come on!" they grab and pull Héctor along. Having seen something that they think will be able to help. Or at least they think that they've seen something, still they have to drag Héctor along with them. Forwards and around the next pile. Only to stop, pulling up short as ahead of them.
"Ahh, Sí. There they are. Los Perdidos."
"The Lost Ones?" Miguel asks, and they find themself gritting their teeth as Héctor nods his head.
"Alright, alright, but what are-" There's a cry, a shrill call from the group in front of them. And like a bunch of meerkats, they all snap to attention. The yellowed and grey skeletons all looking around, frantically for a single moment before scattering. It's almost too quick for Milk to keep track. All of the group soon disappearing into various tunnels and holes hidden among the heaps.
"PUMAS!"
A second call rings out, and it echoes. Something tightens in their chest and a sick feeling coils, bubbling in their belly. Pumas, Mountain Lions, or even sometimes Cougars. Incredibly dangerous predators. But more than that, it's a warning call. Miguel looks around absolutely bewildered, trying to figure out where everyone had scattered to. Héctor though, flinches, looking like he wants to dash as well.
They have a choice to make. A direction to-
"Hola!"
"Archer!" they snap their head around, catching sight of that blond hair and feeling their hands curl. Fisting up just at the sight of him. It doesn't matter what direction they pick now. Not really. "And it's time for us to-" they yelp as Héctor grabs them. Yanking them in turn through a passage that they hadn't even known was there.
Racing down a tunnel that's framed by odds and ends really. Behind them Obi growls, snapping at the air. It makes their teeth grit as they race down the tunnel following after Héctor. Dante whines and they wince, this isn't good. But what else could they do really? What else could they possibly do?
Run.
Run, and run until they burst out the other side and-
"Where do you people even come from?" Héctor's voice is shrill. Almost two octaves higher than it had been before. Miguel presses closer to the man and they growl. Heaving the much heavier than expected saxophone case up higher on their hip and glaring around at the group of skeletons surrounding them. How many of them are there.
More than half a dozen now they're sure.
But there is a gap.
There's always a way out. Dante and Obi both growl, the two canines coming around to stand in front of them. Blocking the way. Milk feels themself shift and they bite just slightly on their lip. Héctor's bones faintly rattle, the sound echoing in the air around them. But that's something that they can ignore. That's something that-
Orange light flares. Flickering and dancing and there's a scream. A battle cry really. They barely see the one who moves. Just a figure in a sweatshirt before it all devolves into absolute chaos.
They take a breath, and shove Miguel and Héctor to the side. Taking the lead in racing in another direction. Ignoring the arguing and shouting that's behind them. Many people are swearing, screaming a name over and over, and they don't want to get wrapped up in that. Not really, they already have wasted enough time really.
So they make their way through the area. Stumbling over lost socks and slipping on fallen rugs. Barely keeping up their speed. Only knowing that the fighting won't last forever and that they'll be in danger if those people catch up to them.
If Archer catches up to them.
It's all that they can do. Eventually the group slows down, and they feel Obi landing on their head. Rather heavy really and they let out a small grunt as the canine settles. Happily panting, tail waving.
"I think... I think for the moment we might be alright..." they mumble, before settling themself into the nearest heap and sliding down just slightly, letting out a small whine. "This is a disaster..."
"Hey, hey, it's not your fault amiga!" Héctor says, and they feel him make an aborted movement towards them.
"I know, but- Argh, let's just get going. We're running out of time!" and they look at their hands as they speak, disrupting Obi and the dog lets out a whine. "That contest won't wait forever!" they spring to their feet, ignoring the shoot of pain that pulses through them as they straighten up.
They move rapidly, speeding around the next corner. An itch prickling under their shoulder blades as they realize that the echoing sound of that fight is long gone now. Fallen silent. It must have ended then. Which means the gang will be after them again.
As they go, they occasionally see a faded skeleton, peering out from the piles around them, watching with narrowed sockets. Anytime they glanced in the skeleton's direction, they would duck down.
More like prairie dogs now.
Poke out, poke in.
And yet, they would notice them waving. Watching them pass, and waving to Héctor, who would awkwardly wave back. It makes them wonder, what connection does he have to these people? And then they scold themself, of course he'd have a connection to them. He's been here for more than long enough, and aside that he was supposedly their guide in the dream and in the movie.
Supposedly.
It really doesn't matter in the end. Not really. So they just tighten their grasp on the straps of their pack and consider things. Ignoring the fade of their skin. Ignoring the stark clarity of their bones and the shading difference. Ignoring that pain. The ache that shoots through them.
Sharp and burning, so familiar. Something that they could choke on really.
Obi and Dante both whine, and Miguel looks back at them. Something in his eyes, that they can't quite meet. They can't meet them. They can't meet those auburn eyes, so much like- A grimace crosses their face. The similarities are so clear and obvious here.
So painfully obvious now.
Especially when they already know. Their fingers twitch, twisting into the straps of their bag and they take a breath. Forcing themself to hold their tongue. They can't just blurt that out, they can't point it out. Not at this point.
So they walk.
They just keep looking around. Seeking something, anything that could give them an easy method of escape from this place. Like a devil the thought whispers through their mind. They do have an easy out. At least for themself. In their bag, if they just pulled it out and offered-
They suck in a breath, peering over their shoulder, peering for anyone. Any of those hunting them. Just a hint of blond, or of those odd almost uniforms. Nothing.
Nothing and that prickles more than anything else as they keep walking. They keep walking acutely aware of those who are watching them. Acutely aware of-
"PUMAS!"
All three of them jolt, Miguel letting out a small sound as Dante whines. Obi yaps, lifting up off their shoulder and growling in the air. Ahead of them footsteps sound, and they grimace. Héctor grabs their hand, yanking them down another side passage. This time around a heap, and Miguel lets out a shriek.
They don't even see their pursuers this time.
Instead all of them just move.
Taking the cue that's been given to them. Feet pounding and slipping on the ground. There's so much useless stuff just lying around. So much lost objects, broken, or rebuilt, odds and ends. An obstacle course that in another time they might have been impressed with. In another time they would have loved to simply stare at and observe.
But now they can only race. Twisting themself around and ignoring the way that their pack swings on their back. The bump of the saxophone case against their legs. The ache, the pain, the brittle feeling going through their legs. Each step hurts, but they throw themself forwards. Keep running and remain ahead of those steps.
Ahead of those who are chasing them.
Ahead of-
"Oh! So that's where it went..." Héctor's statement is mostly ignored by them as they look back again over their shoulder. They're fully expecting their pursuers to catch up at any moment now. Behind them are Miguel and Dante, also looking back. Still they focus ahead once- there's a van there. Relatively plain, simple. But it stirs something in their head. A plan, an idea and they don't hesitate racing ahead, and, keys are still in the ignition.
"Hop in!" they demand, not really giving either Hector or Miguel an opportunity to object, pulling them into the Van, and hitting the auto-lock button.
"Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait! Can you even drive?"
"Of course I can!" they say, turning the key, after disengaging the handbrake and shifting into first gear. Their feet shift on the pedals. "Well... I have my learners at the least! Buckle up!"
There is no way in hell this could be anything other than a good idea. Obi lets out a small whine and they frown, focusing, hands curling on the wheel. This is a familiar position, even as ahead of them a bunch of skeletons burst out. They feel a smirk slide over their face.
So these guys wanted to be the predators did they.
How's about they switch the game around.