Chapter Seven: Back on the Road
Yuna's face was pale as she lay motionless beside Rikku, her chest rising and falling softly with each breath. There had been no change in her condition since she had been knocked unconscious by the shielded hounds, but escaping with her life was a lucky reward.
"I still can't believe she tried to take them on as a white mage," Paine said as she stared across at the still form. "What was she thinking?"
A quick glare from Rikku caught her off guard. "Well if it wasn't for her we would have been ripped apart." Her voice was calm and steady, but it cloaked anger. Clearly she had not forgotten about what Paine had said to her after her mishap with the spell at the lake of mud.
Paine sighed and lowered her head. "I know, but she still could have changed into something else." She didn't want to talk about the argument Rikku desperately wanted to begin. She was too tired after her major attack on the fiends. Even after she had changed back to her normal warrior dressphere, she felt drained and could barely keep her eyes open.
"She didn't have time to think. She had to act before we were killed." Rikku's tone had not changed, but now she could not break eye contact with the warrior. It was a daring act, for Paine hated it when people stared at her.
Through her irritation, Paine glared back at her. "Rikku, don't bother. I could stare down a Greater Drake if I put my mind to it." It was true. She had proved this in the middle of the Thunder Plains, staring into the giant beast's glowing red eyes until it turned away only to have its ribs shattered.
Silently, Rikku rose and headed towards the entrance of the small crack they had located in the side of a long rocky wall. She stared out at the vast landscape of deserted stony ruins that glowed all shades of red, brown and orange.
With a heavy sigh Paine also rose and headed over t other young girl. She hesitantly placed a hand on her shoulder and spoke so softly she could barely believe she was speaking at all.
"Rikku, I care about you so much. It's not just Yuna I love as a best friend…" She froze, hesitating at the next sentence, but continued regardless. "Your like a real family to me, and it wouldn't be complete without both of you."
A sob racked through Rikku's body, then she unexpectedly whirled around and threw herself into Paine's arm, her head resting against her collarbone as she wept relentlessly.
"Oh Paine, I'm so sorry! You and Yuni are my family too!"
As the shock of the sudden embrace began to pass, Paine stifled a laugh. "What about Brother?"
Rikku snorted into her neck as she raised her head. "What about him?"
They remained like that for a few moments, standing in a sisterly embrace. At first Paine tried to shrug her off as subtly as she could manage, but seeing that the thief was not going to budge she tried to enjoy it as much as she could. It was a shock when she realised that she was actually comfortable, and didn't want to release the young girl. She was so important to her, and she felt protective of her. Even as she stood, holding her, she felt her muscles tense at the slightest movements over the blondes shoulder and prepared herself to jump in the way of any incoming attacks.
Finally, the frail al-bhed pulled away and stared up at Paine. "Your eyes are teary," she pointed out with an amused smile.
Instinctively Paine wiped them dry and shook her head. "It's the heat."
"Wow, you really do like hugs after all. See Rikku, she is all soft inside."
Yuna had woken from her unconscious state and was standing behind the warrior who had frozen in shock at her words.
"That is not true," Paine said in her defence, a playful smile forming on her lips. "And if you say it again, little gunner, I may have to take respect points from you."
Yuna pretended to be utterly outraged. "Little gunner? Oh no you didn't!" Quick as a flash she launched herself at Paine, but the dark clad girl was faster and sidestepped her. With a laugh she push Yuna lightly in the shoulder, sending her flying backwards. The gunner had to back flip to avoid slipping onto her backside.
"Hey, let me play too!" Rikku cried gleefully, jumping at Paine.. She was caught easily and deposited roughly to the side as Yuna raced forward again.
"Two on one, that is so unfair!" Paine complained, but the smile on her face gave away her enjoyment as she engaged in a gently grappling with her friends.
It was times like this when there was no need to worry about the troubles they faced, and sure enough, they had soon forgotten all about the terrifying landscape that surrounded them and the fiends that prowled.
After all, they had each other, and that was all they needed for hope.
The weather had turned cruel again as the three girls trekked across the barren land again, leaving their place of safety behind. The air was thick with heat and left their clothes sticking to them, sweat running down their faces. Each stone was boiling hot to the touch and the clouds had turned a deep crimson. Paine couldn't stop staring up at the odd sight in the sky, but they decided it was simply something to do with the terrible weather.
Up ahead was the lave lake, boiling and spewing out globs of bright molten rock.
Rikku approached with a grim face. "How are we meant to cross this?"
Her two companions stood at the edge of the lake beside her, staring down at the thick liquid that flowed steadily past.
A wicked smile appeared on Paine's lips. "Think that dressphere we found will allow us to jump across?" She had already fallen in love with the newest member to her sphere grid and was itching to use it.
"You know, it may just do that," Yuna agreed. She stepped back and motioned for Paine to act. "Well, you want to try it out first?"
Without a moment's hesitation Paine had begun to change. Her body disappeared from view and she was swallowed by a mass of flames that didn't scorch the earth.
Rikku pulled out her own garment grid. "And to make things easier for her," she began, activating her own choice of dressphere. She too was gone from sight, and Yuna grew weary for her safety. She pulled out her guns and loaded them, staring around to make sure she was safe.
A moment later Paine appeared, the demonic, revealing attire showing her muscular body that seemed enhanced by the dressphere. She smirked at Yuna, but her smile faded as she realised that Rikku was gone.
"Changing," Yuna explained simply, returning her guns to their holsters.
"I'm here," the blonde suddenly perked up, appearing in a flash of light at the edge of the lake. She had become a mage again and winked at the pair. "Time to redeem myself, but not with water."
Instead she used ice. The crystal surface stretched out across one half of the lake, not being able to make it further across the heat. Rikku's muscles tenses and bulged as she tried to force it to go out further. Perspiration coated her forehead and her breath became ragged.
"Rikku, enough." Yuna was at her side, now in her songstress dressphere. She seemed to glow in beauty, but her face was worried as she held the unstable Rikku up.
Paine shook her head. "Next time, don't make yourself almost collapse Rikku. That's not much of a redemption."
Rikku nodded and lowered herself to the ground. It was then when she realised the odd choice of dressphere Yuna had made.
When she asked, Yuna shrugged. "It feels lighter," she pointed out, smiling at Paine. "If you make it, you can just come back and carry me across. I don't do very well in that new dressphere, so I'd rather not take a chance."
Paine laughed but nodded. "So will I be your taxi service as well Rikku?"
Rikku shook her head vigorously and pulled herself ip, her hands clutched around her garment grid. "I don't think so! I love the new dressphere! It's so… powerful!"
Glad that she would only have to carry one, Paine lined herself up, braced herself, then raced across the short ramp pf ice. Her clawed feet dug into the cold surface, but it stayed stable, and even as she launched herself from the edge it remained intact.
The hot wind blew hard against her, threatening to shorten the length of her jump, but she easily made it with some few metres to spare.
"There, easy!" she yelled over the lake before jumping straight back to collect Yuna.
"Okay, here we go," the nervous songstress said as Paine scooped her up in her strong arms.
"Hold on tight," was the woman's only warning as she launched herself into the air again. It was a safe landing, but it left Yuna dizzy and unable to stand. She fell to her knees, shaking but laughing at the thrill, and Paine turned to call across to Rikku.
"Your turn!"
"Okay!" Rikku cried back. She backed up, prepared for the long jump, but just as she pushed herself forward into a run a shadow appeared above her head. She froze, her blood turning ice cold at the sound of Yuna's strangled scream, then the darkness consumed her as the mysterious visitor swooped down upon her.
Paine was already back across the lake and speeding towards Rikku. She reached her in a split second and slammed herself into the form that had her dear friend pinned to the ground.
It was a small dragon fiend, half the size of Rikku, but with a fiery nature. Its long tongue rolled out, leaving room for a long burst of flame. Its bright red scales shone orange as the fire escaped its mouth and rose like fur on a cat as it roared into the air.
After the surprise attack Rikku rolled onto her stomach and pushed herself up, but she was shaky and barely able to understand what had happened. All she could do was watch as Paine slashed away at the dragon.
The little fiend was fast. It dodged most of her attacks, scrambling this way and that, and after each stroke with her arms it would launch itself into the air and spit a ball of fire at her.
"Damn!" Paine cried out as she rolled away from another flaming missile. She had a number of stinging scratches on her arms that bled steadily, leaving crimson spots on the ground, but luckily she received a helping hand.
Even from across the lake of lava Yuna was an excellent shot. Back in her gunner dressphere she fired expertly at the dragon, her shots penetrating it through the ribs and the wings.
Angry screeches escaped the dragon and it desperately unleashed a wave of fire that neither of the girl's would had expected it could hold.
Seeing that she was right in the way of the fire, Paine dragged Rikku roughly to her feet and raced her to the edge of the lake. Her claws dug into the girl's back, but she ignored her whimpers. Behind them the dragon was chasing, the flames racing after it. Oddly it seemed to grow with each step small licking spikes of fire appeared at its now giant mouth.
"I know what this is!" Paine yelled out as she glanced back at the now towering creature that perused them.
Rikku allowed herself to be half carried along the ground. "A little enlightenment?"
Paine scoffed a laugh, though she didn't look amused. "It's going to self destruct."
As though sensing the danger, Yuna dropped to the ground and shielded herself as Paine jumped, Rikku tight in her grasp despite her own capabilities. Behind them the dragon unleashed its most lethal suicidal attack and disappeared in an explosion of its own flames. They pierced the air, the force throwing Paine and Rikku further than they intended.
With a rough thud they hit the ground and slid to a stop at the edge of a small clump of rocks. Both lay still, grazes covering their bodies and cuts leaking blood covering Paine's arms. Despite the pain they both managed to raise themselves up and glance over to see Yuna approaching as fast as her white robes would allow.
"Heal!" she bellowed, raising her staff in the air. Small dots of light flowed along the metal and surrounded her two comrades, but they didn't even need such a strong spell as that. They were healed in a matter of seconds.
"Thanks Yuni," Rikku said as she pulled herself up and hugged her cousin tightly. "Your always so talented with your healing!"
Paine, less steady than the youngest, was slower to find her footing, but she too couldn't keep a grateful smile off of her face.
"I never need to worry about getting slaughtered with you around Yuna."
The white mage grinned, but lowered her head a little. "I think we could do with another rest," she said, noticing how tired her two friends looked. "Anyway, we need to talk about this new dressphere."
Paine smiled, staring down at her clawed hands that were drenched with blood. "Amazing, isn't it?"
Yuna laughed nervously and nodded her head towards a small clump of rocks that rose together like mountains, but they were too short to claim that title.
"Over there," she said, looking up at the sky on a whim. "The clouds are turning grey. Rains coming."
As the three headed towards the new haven of rest, they couldn't help but feel uneasy. So far they had heard no sphere waves, and they had received nothing but trouble, accept for the dressphere. But the battles were terrible. If they weren't careful, they would lose much more than they had gained.