Chapter twenty one:
The sun began to rise and its sunbeams begin to dance along the floor slowly creeping forward towards the cave's entrance as Near watches.
He notices how the sun on the ground is almost like a painters paintbrush on the blank canvas.
Painting the space in new colors until the whole thing is different than what they started out with.
"Seeing the sun rise like this…." Near begins. "It's…." He glances upwards to the sky slowly being lit up as the sun rises. "It's quite nice." He says and a light breeze blows by for about a minute or two before calming down to stillness once again.
Things are silent for a little bit.
Matt yawns silently as he awakens. He shifts lifting his head glancing around before his eyes land on Near still keeping watch. He shifts and gets to his feet.
The sun is pretty much risen by now.
Matt walks over to Near and sits down on the ground beside where Near is sitting.
Near turns as he hears a loose rock shift as the red head settles.
"It's pretty quiet huh?" Matt speaks looking out of the cave to the outside of the cave.
Near turns to look outside as well. "Yeah it is." He agrees with a small nod.
"You know I'm not really sure if I told you this but I'm in a way kind of glad the beasts came." Matt says and this causes Near to turn back to him.
"Why?" Near asks.
"Think about it." Matt responds turning to Near. "If they hadn't come along we might not be working together. You, Me, Mello and those that have so far joined us along the way even if we don't have everyone who joined us." He explains. "We have each other and that is important." He smiles.
Near blinks then turns back to the cave entrance. "That is one thing to be grateful to the beasts for." He agrees.
Matt also turns to the cave entrance.
Suddenly there is a shadow that looks like Linda causing the two to jump to their feet.
The shadow almost looks like she's peering at or into something though they don't actually see her physically. She then turns and leaves.
"We need to get going." Near says a little quietly as if saying the words on the air as his exhale.
Matt nods with a small sound, almost like a grunt and hum mixed together, in agreement.
Near turns rushing over to their things thinking that they need to be fast but ends up turning to go help Matt wake the others when the red head moves towards the seeping others.
They can't be sure how easy it'll be to wake all of them and one doing it will take too much time.
Matt heads towards Mello and Near heads towards Allen.
Near kneels by Allen then reaches out to put a hand on the others shoulder. He gently shakes Allen. "Wake up." He says as he tries to get the other to awaken.
Allen slightly groans and shifts only to open his eyes half way that flicker up to Near.
"We need to get going." Near explains. "It's time to wake up."
Allen nods and sits up as Near goes to wake up some of the others.
The others that are awoken join until everyone is up.
"Alright." Mello says. "We'll make sure to split up all that we need. Don't make one person carry everything heavy."
The others nod and they begin to work to get ready for their journey making sure to split things evenly well as evenly as they can.
Once ready they head towards the cave entrance.
Mello and Matt peer out, each standing closer to opposite sides of the cave for coverage, glancing around for any sign of anyone.
Now with Mello in the lead they head out and begin to move away from the cave.
They let their newest members lead them back up along the rocky wall so they can head into town to get what they need.
Suddenly on an area where the rocky wall that's when something goes wrong.
Igneous slips as some loose rock crumble beneath him by the edge. He lets out a small scream of surprise and he slides down the slope trying to grip onto the rocky surface.
"IGNEOUS!" Kaori tries to rush out to help him but is held back by Allen. "NO!"
Igneous's bottom half slides over the slopes edge and he tries to scramble back up since he has a grip but he's slipping.
"Mello. We need to form a chain." Near says as they don't even think about their bags.
Mello nods.
The two join hands and Near cautiously begins to move down the slope.
Near tries to reach Igneous but the chain isn't long enough.
Matt joins hands with Mello's free and the blonde carefully moves down to make it longer.
Near also cautiously moves and he once again tries to reach for Igneous but it's not far enough.
"Stay away from the edge and trust us to grab him." Allen tells Kaori then he goes to help. He links hands with Matt's free hand then Matt cautiously moves down onto the slope letting Mello and Near cautiously move lower.
Near can almost reach Igneous. He reaches as far as he can testing the limits but being cautious at the same time. "Igneous! Reach!" He calls to the other.
Igneous lets go with one hand then reaches towards Near with wide scared eyes. "Help me." He says a little quietly in a scared voice.
"It's ok." Near gives him a gentle look. "Just don't let yourself fall and keep reaching towards me." He tries to shuffle a little more down as he tries to reach further. "It's going to be ok. You just need to keep reaching and grab my hand."
Igneous nods still fearful and he tries to scramble up even just a little more trying to reach for Near.
Near keeps reaching as the two strain since their fingertips are so close to touching.
Mello turns to Matt and Allen. "Can we move further down?" He asks.
"I think so." Allen says shifting onto the slope and grabs a rock to use to help pull them back up after quickly making sure it's stable.
The other three move down and Near almost has it…
Just a little more…..
Near tries to shuffle down just a little more and he almost has Igneous…..
Then finally with one last strain the two's hands join.
Igneous's eyes flash with relief and Near helps him back onto the slope.
Allen pulls himself back onto the more level ground and he pulls up Matt who then pulls up Mello who pulls up Near and Igneous.
Near keeps Igneous close and they make it to level ground.
Igneous is shaking from his horrifying experience but Near holds him comfortingly.
Kaori runs over and looks Igneous over for any bad wounds.
"It's ok. You're safe now." Near says comfortingly.
Kaori rushes to all of them giving them hugs and big thank yous saying they are from both her and Igneous.
"You're good with kids Near." Matt comments.
Near turns to him and Matt gives a warm smile.
As Igneous calms down the group once again gets going this time staying further away from the edge.
As they walk they come closer and closer to the town.
They reach it and Near takes the lead from there.
As they walk Matt notices something that causes him to stop and turn to the direction he noticed something in.
He suddenly dashes off in that direction.
"Matt!" Mello shouts.
The others chase after Matt calling him to come back.
Until they get to the building…..
AN:
I worked on this a little sick and tired so hopefully it's good.
It's school and exams so hopefully I'll be able to post soon again but if I'm gone for a little bit then it's because of exams.
Anyways hope you enjoyed and reviews are awesome.
I hope you continue to read.
Reviews are awesome and flamers will be used to make chicken!
Mello.