Pathetic. Feeble. Weak.

I had to get up. I had to find camp.

Frail. Dismal. Useless.

I was going to die if I didn't move.

So many emotions were swirling like a storm cloud in my mind: fury, disappointment, agony, grief. I was numb.

Whether this was blood loss or emotional overload, I had no idea.

Tears, salty and stinging, dripped down my cheeks as I clenched my fists.

If I died, right here on this patch of earth, I would never see anyone again. I would never see Oka and tell her that I loved her. Tell her that she was the best mother anyone could have asked for. She had sacrificed so much for me. I would never see Mai again and tell her that she was more like a sister than a friend. Tell her that her friendship meant so much and she was the one who got me through the days. She had put up with me for so long. If I died…I would never see Hiro or Rika or Iruka or Naruto or Sasuke or…anyone. I would become a part of the earth again.

A small voice screamed in my head. Don't give up. Keep holding on for them. Keep holding on for you.

I blinked open my eyes. Forcing my muscles to move, I propped myself up on my elbows and then into a low squat, using the ground for balance. Crimson clouded my vision but I could see the trees and their leafy green arms, reaching out to help. I stumbled forward, faltering until my hand snagged on a low branch.

My feet, and my path, felt uncertain and shaky. My body screamed with each movement, everything of me protesting to each step and stumble. I tripped a few times, the branches catching on my clothes and skin as I dropped to the ground.

The third time, I just stayed where I was, looking up at the stars. I couldn't help but cry, thinking death could be only a few ragged breathes away.

Rain began to fall, tiny drops of shockingly cold water splattering on my bloodied and dirtied skin. Turning on my side, I curled into myself as tightly as I could.

MAI's POV

Everyone had heard it. A voice. A thought. A sign of communal insanity.

Sitting about the fire, I jumped up, two senbon placed delicately between my fingertips. A chill rushed over my skin as frightened life had taken hold of the camp. Hiro was the first one by my side.

"You heard…?" he asked, his voice scarcely above a whisper.

"Everyone did. Where's Rika?" I rushed, in a low tone myself.

As if on cue, Rika appeared behind us, one hand on my shoulder, and the other hand on Hiro's.

"I'm right here," she replied, her voice soft and calm, "You should probably head off to sleep. Remember, we have training in the morn—"

"Rika," I interrupted, "Where's Kyoko?"

I tried to stay calm and keep my voice straight. My gaze stayed on our sensei as she calculated. Rika's glance switched between the two of us, blank and concealed.

"Gather the genin," she ordered. Not that that was terribly difficult: most of the genin had already assembled about the fire, some half asleep and still in their pajamas. Over at the sensei's tent, I could see a bruised and bandaged Sasuke making his way over.

Rika, Asuma and Kurenai waiting silently behind her, explained the situation as best as possible. My skin crawled as she continued past the information I needed: Kyoko and Kakashi were out there, fighting some terrible danger that had left Sasuke a banged up mess. My breathing was fast and rushed, I needed to think quickly and clearly. I had been trained for years to be a kunoichi: unemotional, unbiased, and unmovable. Now, put under pressure, I was becoming rash, fevered, and scared.

Without looking down, I grasped Hiro's wrist. I breathed in deeply, noting his composure, a hint of anxiety and worry added in. At least one of us would be calm.

Without missing a beat, I darted into the forest.

"Naruto! Go find someone else to bother," I growled, my tone hushed under the circumstances. Hiro was just ahead of me, his weapon at the ready. Crouched, I held onto his wrist tightly; if he came upon anything while I was trying to deal with Naruto, I would know as soon as it happened.

"I can help! You guys are most likely to find Kyoko and I want to help!" the blonde growled back. Huffing, I turned back and pushed forward; I had to focus on finding Kyoko.

"Grab my hand," I ordered, tossing my hand back towards Naruto. It took a minute but finally I felt Naruto's hand in mine and his weird excitement in my head. From my other hand, I could feel a string of fury from Hiro but I ignored both for the world around me. The leaves were fairly high above us yet we had a covering wall of branches and brush to maneuver about in. Whatever was out there, we didn't want to run into it without any warning.

It seemed like hours we were looking for her even though I knew only minutes had passed. Shivers ran through my body, the rain slowly soaking me. To add, fervor itched under my skin and I knew it was beginning to infect Naruto and Hiro.

I felt my surroundings, and still had trouble picking up any odd or different chakra signatures. There seemed to be nothing, as if we hadn't had three ninja go missing in these woods with a huge threat. Eventually, we picked up Kyoko's trail but it kept leading in random zigzags until it…changed. It was her, no doubt, but it wasn't the same kind of chakra and it left trails in short bursts.

Then, Naruto broke the connection. Stopping, he stared off into the distance, through the trees and the rain. Hiro glanced at me quickly, squeezing my hand to get my attention. I glanced at him, all my hope, fear, and anxiety clear and apparent. Hiro's dark irises had always been difficult to read, always hidden and well covered with a shield. Now, under his dark hair which was plastered to his forehead, reassurance and perseverance was shown through.

We followed Naruto until we found him, far off. Kyoko's trail increased in strength, blaring like a siren, as we came closer to the blonde ninja. Naruto was petrified, in complete shock, as he stood over a crumpled heap. I rushed forward, ahead of Hiro and going around the unmoving Naruto to Kyoko.

There was so much blood. It just kept coming, as if seeping from every pore instead of individual wounds. I placed my uncovered hand on her shoulder: she was so cold, and so far out of it.

"Kyoko, everything's gonna be alright."

Naruto, being shaken out of his trance, quickly crouched down and wrapped his arms around Kyoko, picking her up off the ground. She barely made any sounds, a few audible groans as her limp body jostled from being moved.

"Come on, we have to hurry!" Hiro stated, grabbing my arm. I brushed his hand quickly, placing my hand on Kyoko's side to feel her heart beat. The three of us rushed back to camp, attempting to move quickly without jostling Kyoko too much.

Rika was waiting for us when we returned, taking Kyoko quickly into the Sensei's tent to heal her. I tried to follow inside but Hiro held me back.

"I need to be there for her," I hissed, attempting again only to be stopped again.

"We don't need to crowd the tent. We can see her soon," Hiro soothed, pulling me away from the tent. I glanced back; he was right but I still wanted to be in there.

Sitting by the fire, Hiro and I waited for hours. Hiro wrapped his arms around me as I shivered, the cold night air blowing past us. Others sat with us intermediately, some returning to bed, some fighting to stay awake. Naruto was next to us, still frozen. Reaching over, I grabbed Naruto's hand, rubbing my thumb along his palm. He glanced up at me, worry lining his eyes as I gave him a slight smile. He scooted over, joining us in anticipation of Rika.

When Rika did finally exit the tent, the sun was beginning to rise over the horizon. If the three of us looked tired, Rika certainly looked dead. I had never see her so sullen or heard her so quiet as she warmed her hands by the fire. Turning to the three of us, she pulled us into a hug.

"She's going to be ok," Rika murmured, squeezing us tighter.