Mr.Who2123: Well, I'm updating, and it took less than a year to get off my lazy butt! Yay! My goal is to make this chapter as long as I can so that you guys are entertained! (clenches hands and gulps) Good luck to me.

Kratos: She, of course, doesn't own Tales of Symphonia.

Mr.Who2123: Here we go!

The stars twinkled with bright beauty in the midnight sky. The whole world was drenched in black and a mysterious darkness covered all of it. The black new moon blended into the ink black sky and was invisible to the world. Under the beauty of the night was an open field where the black grass danced under the wind, yet didn't make a sound. Under the black of sky and the lights of the stars were a man and two beasts sleeping soundly, two of them in peaceful respite and the other in fitful sleep. The just awakened and worried Noishe finally opened his dark eyes and looked towards the sleeping forms of Sanaro and Annule. Noishe heaved himself up with slow silence to not wake up his aquaintances, and padded off without a word.

I've got to warn Kratos. This Sanaro might be an enemy! Noishe thought frantically as he started bounding towards the clearing of the Tower of Salvation.

Under the same dark sky Kratos and his friends were also resting, encased in their dreams and loathing the moment they wake up to the dangers of their days ahead. In the bleak of night, Kratos' sharpened senses picked the sound of running and painstakingly lifted his head to see the running person. He saw the wing-like ears of Noishe and sighed in relief as he dropped his head back to the floor and closed his eyes. In just moments later, whining sounded from the protozoan, waking up the whole group instead.

"Aw, Noishe, shut up!" Anna moaned painfully, unsuccessfully throwing a rock at the distressed protozoan. Yuan covered his ears painfully, squinting his eyes shut as to shut out the annoying cries.

"Kratos, make him be quiet!" Yuan and Anna yelled at the same time, covering their ears with their hands. Kratos sighed and blindly held his hand on top of Noishe's back, calming him down instantly. Anna sighed with pleasure as the sound disappeared.

"Noishe, what's wrong?" Kratos asked tiredly as he stretched his arms before wincing at the pain in his body. Yuan stood up and stretched as well before rolling up his blanket. The sun started to rise and dawn had begun to break away from the mysterious depths of the midnight sky. Pale colors rose in the east; reds, yellows, and even some light pinks as the stars slowly disappeared in the growing light.

"That protozoan is just trouble. What's his deal anyways?" Anna asked, following Yuan's example as she folded her blanket and placed it delicately into the bag. Kratos shrugged at her and held his hand up. Yuan grabbed it and pulled Kratos up effortlessly. Kratos wrapped his arm around Yuan's back, leaning on his friend as Anna carried the bag. They started heading south, towards the mine. Noishe recognized the path towards Sanaro and immediately sat on his haunches and howled as loud as he could. Everyone turned to the strange protozoan and began to complain unceasingly with the howling along with it.

"Kratos, can't you just put a muzzle on him?" Anna nearly yelled at Kratos, who winced at all the noise.

"Let me shut him up. One smack on his nose and he won't howl anymore," Yuan suggested, clenching his free hand. Kratos sighed deeply and closed his eyes.

"There's a reason Noishe is howling, so let me try to figure it out," Kratos replied. Noishe, hearing his friend, stopped howling and wagged his furry tail, thrusting dust into the air. Kratos let go of Yuan and gently fell to one knee in front of Noishe, who licked him unmercifully. Kratos flinched a little before smiling and patting Noishe's head, halting the protozoan's act. "Noishe, can you try to tell me what is wrong?" Kratos asked softly. Noishe barked and pointed to the south while growling.

"I don't think he wants us to go in that direction," Yuan said, looking in the same direction as Noishe. Noishe barked happily and bounded towards Yuan, nodding.

"Then what direction should we go?" Anna asked, helping Kratos up. Yuan took hold of Kratos then and sighed.

"I don't know, Anna, but we should try to find a way towards the mines without going in that direction. How about sailing around?" yuan suggested. Noishe instantly agreed and circled around him, barking triumphantly.

"We should go to Sybak then," Kratos said, and pointed Northwest to the city. "It will take a couple days longer, though." But it didn't seem Noishe minded at all.

Sanaro treaded through the plains with Annule at his side, sometimes chasing after small prey, or growling at passersby, making them speed up to a run to let distance grow between them. Annule had successfully driven a caravan completely around them, filling the large wolf with glee. Sanaro looked down at his friend.

"Annule, we need to be KIND to others, not scare them away! What if Kratos was on that caravan?" Sanaro lectured. Annule whined a little and hung his tail between his legs. Only moments later, Annule started chasing a rabbit, forgetting the lecture that Sanaro had given to the wolf over and over. Sanaro fumed at the wolf and tried to stay focused on his mission. While traveling, Sanaro came upon an odd group, conversing with the protozoan he had seen the day before. Still yards away, Sanaro hid behind a rare tree and watched as the group headed north, while the protozoan wagged his tail with glee.

"Are one of those Kratos?" Sanaro asked himself softly as he beckoned a chasing Annule to come. Annule ignored the prey and padded to Sanaro who smiled. "I think I found them."

Kratos, Yuan, Anna, and Noishe walked towards the Goarrochia Forest, only to remember the painful memories of the past.

"We go through here AGAIN?" Anna and Yuan both muttered loudly in distress, making Kratos smirk.

"Don't worry, it is actually a very short time to Sybak. Don't look so pitiful," Kratos replied to their despair. Anna folded her arms stubbornly and Yuan sighed in resignition.

"Lead the way, almighty Kratos," Anna muttered in a mock tone, making Yuan snigger. Kratos sighed as he pointed to a left path, and they headed into the dark forest. Soon, dead trees, twisted by the darkness, surrounded the group. The trees seem to move in the Goarroochia, and Anna shuddered at the grotesque trees, sometimes envisioning one moving towards her. She wrapped her arms around herself and shuddered again before sighing. Kratos, noticing her pain, placed a hand on her arm, making her jump. Yuan sniggered, but Anna ad Kratos ignored it as Kratos gave her strength with his small, majestic smile.

"Thanks," Anna whispered before looking ahead at the dirt path that would lead them out of the forest.

Sanaro watched the entrance of the dark forest with interest, but Annule was more interested in chewing a squirrel than going through a lifeless forest.

"Should we follow them?" Sanaro asked, but found Annule meters away, raptly bounding after a frightened squirrel. the swordsman folded his arms and tapped his foot as Annule caught sight of his friend's impatience. After one last leap at the squirrel, and missing painfully, Annule dragged himself to Sanaro.

"I asked you if we should follow them," Sanaro repeated, looking towards the forest again. Annule opened his dark blue feathered wings and lifted off of the grassy floor. Sanaro nodded and unfurled his green wings as well and started flying over the Goarrochia. Black blurred under them as Annule enjoyed to the fullest his ability to fly as he sped towards frantic birds, snapping at them as much as he could. Sanaro laughed as he watched the path ahead while speeding as fast as he could to keep up with Annule. The wolf hadn't flown for a long time and pure glee took over Annule as he humored himself any way he could to enjoy his flight.

"They took the left path, so let's head for Sybak," Sanaro yelled over the flurry of winds. Annule merely looked back as a sign of understanding before going after birds again. Sanaro sighed with a smile. Will that wolf ever learn? he thought humorously.

Before the day could even getr close to sunset, the black trees lightened to green and the path opened up to a large clearing, with Sybak not far at all. Anna laughed as she jumped in the air before looking back to see the others. Noishe barked and circled around Anna who scratched him playfully behind the ears.

"We made it!" Anna announced. Yuan put his arm in the air and smiled while Kratos did only the latter, leaning completely on Yuan.

"I hate this wound," Kratos muttered under his breath, though not showing his discomfort to Anna.

"I think we can make it to Sybak for a warm bed if we hurry," Yuan remarked, and Anna bounded off, laughing as Noishe followed, accidentally tripping himself and her in his glee. His legs crossed and he moved forward, falling down and knocking Anna down with him to the floor. The two tumbled in the grass, raising dust everywhere, and causing laughter from even Kratos, even if it was a small chuckle.

"Those two," Yuan sttarted in his chuckling, helping Kratos into a better position. "Well, Kratos, just a little longer and you can rest." Kratos nodded in relief and they caught up with the helplessly laughing couple. Anna grabbed onto Noishe and pulled herself up with a gigantic smile implanted on her face, not soon to be taken off.

"Noishe, you big dumby1" Anna mocked, rubbing Noishe's head and continuing towards Sybak with Noishe at her side and the two seraphim following close behind.

Sanaro and Annule made it to Sybak much quicker than Kratos, because of their flying ability. Sanaro checked in a room for Annule and himself, and waited for the mysterious group to arrive. Annule laid down in boredom, for no squirrels scurried anywhere in the city. Sanaro tried to make him happy with a couple rubs on his head, but Annule ignored it, secretly knowing what his friend would do next. Sanaro sighed in defeat when his sixth tickle brought no reaction.

"Fine, you can go outside, Annule. Just don't cause too much ruckus," the swordsman muttered. Annule, not surprised at the remark, bounded off towards the exit of the city. I can't believe I always lose at that, he muttered angrily as he noticed in the corner of his eye, Annule chasing a rabbit. Sanaro helplessly let out a chuckle.

Sunset had come the moment Kratos made it into Sybak. The city seemed to turn orangish to match the hue of the sky. He was immensly relieved at the sight of the inn, and beckoned Yuan to hurry. Noishe, padding alongside Anna, noticed Sanaro leaning against a wall with his arms folded and eyes closed.

What?? How'd he get here?? Noishe thought as he lowered his head and tried to hide behind Anna, hoping Sanaro would keep his eyes closed. The group unknowingly dodged Sanaro and reserved two rooms; one for Anna and Noishe, the other for Kratos and Yuan. Thankful for the respite, Kratos immediately headed for bed, hoping for a peaceful and long sleep.

After all, Kratos thought, being helped helped under the blankets, it will probably be a long day tomorrow.

Sanaro watched for the group the whole night, but there was no sight of them. Annule was snoring by his friend, tired from the chasing, and Sanaro sat by the wolf, watching the starlit sky.

"We'll find him. that's a promise," he said.

Mr.Who2123: (Gasp) That was so hard! Well, I hope you like it. I am turnning this computer off!

Kratos: Review.

Mr.Who2123: Yes, review!