Alright, I realized last chapter that my breaks in between each group of paragraphs did not work, so I'll be trying another this time.

::::::::::::::::::::::

Petal was almost hopping up and down in excitement. They had just arrived at the River Belle. "Yes! Time to practice with my new spear!" She exclaimed, jumping into the air.

Drake nodded, and grabbed a handful of magical orbs from his bag, and his own Orc Hammer. Mist smiled at the excited Liltie, and picked her own racket up with a few magic stones.

After Petal grabbed her spear, Levias pulled his short-swords out from his sides, and nodded forward. "We're going to try to stay together, alright? I've heard that this place is unbearably unpredictable."

They began to move forward into the first path, all tensed up. Drake was gripping his hammer tightly, so some of his feathers ruffled up on his hands.

Suddenly, three squirrels popped out of the ground, scaring Mist due to her looking around like a scared child. The squirrels were demented and coming straight for them. Petal thrust her spear into one, and Drake smashed one down into the ground, before burning it with his stone.

When they looked over to the last one, they went wide-eyed. It was against the wall, cleaved in three pieces. Levias stood in front of it, turning around to them. "Let's keep moving…" he said while picking up a small amount of Gil.

:::::::::::::::::::::::

"I can't believe that damned bridge had to go and freaking collapse…" Levias grumbled as he exited the river, kicking off a random fish. He shook himself of the water, and looked back up to the beginning of the bridge, hearing Petal yelling.

"Mist fell in! Mist fell in! Go get her!"

Levias' eyes widened as he dropped his weapons, and plunged himself into the water. As his body was engulfed by the lake, he felt instantly cooler, but also fearful. He hated water, but he reacted on instinct and upon his old-attitude, how he acted before the murder of Mist's brother.

'I can't stop now!' He yelled at himself. He looked down, and saw Mist slowly drifting down. He pushed himself with a force he didn't know he had, his eyes wide in the fresh water.

She almost touched the bottom when Levias grabbed onto her, wrapping his left arm under her legs, and his right arm under her back. He pulled her up to his chest, and kicked himself off of the ground, and surfaced.

Petal gasped, and Drake watched in a worried state as their comrades and friends emerged from the water. Levias was instantly paddling towards the shore, which surprised Petal. "Why is he trying so hard to save her?" She asked Drake. Drake's eyes became knowing, and he nodded. "He still cares for her…Which is amazing, considering all that has happened…" He explained, nodding once more.

"You guys go around, meet up here, I'll protect her!" Levias called up, a foreign emotion crawling into his eyes. Drake seemed to be smirking, but no one could really tell. Petal nodded, and rushed to the side, followed by Drake.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::

(Levias' POV)

I turned and looked down at Mist. Her silvery hair was soaking, and her skin was dripping wet. I didn't want to set her down. But I knew that I had to. Cursing at myself for allowing feelings back into banned places in my mind, I turned to a scuffling sound. Setting Mist down, I pulled my short swords out. Water dripped off of my face as I faced the Fire Hedgehog that was rolling down the hill, towards me. It was soon missing its backside. It screamed, before disappearing into a black and purple dust.

That wasn't all that heard the bridge. There were two goblins, with a chieftan, who all picked up rocks, and aimed at…Mist!

I jumped in front of my comrade, deflecting the two small rocks, but being hit in the stomach by the larger one. "Die…" I whisper, rushing forward, surprising the brutish creatures. I slammed my blades into the large goblins neck, pushing off of him with my feet, and grabbing onto another goblin, pulling his arm all the way back, snapping bones. It screamed as it fell, and I grabbed its blade. The other goblin was returning from its shock, and rushed towards me, swinging its sword about like a child would.

I frowned, disappointed, and spun around it, stabbing it in the back, and through a vertebra. It died instantly, disappearing as the other creatures had. I picked up a strange artifact, a carrot, and my blades from the ground, placing them in my pack. I looked over to Mist, who was stirring awake. 'Good, now I don't have to sit here and get pounded by-' my thoughts were interrupted by a rock slamming into my side. I glared at a goblin that stood twenty feet away from me.

I think that's enough. I pull out a special blizzard stone of mine, and concentrate. Soon enough, the goblin is frozen solid. I walk up to it, and kick it, shattering the pieces of ice, and leaving a shivering goblin. I kicked it once in the chest, before stabbing its stomach. I then realized that my breathing was becoming shallow. Mist sounded like she was having trouble also.

'She can yell at me later…' I think, running over to her and picking her up, running in the direction I saw Petal and Drake go. I saw them about fifty feet away, running also. I feel my air running out. I use the last of my strength to jump into the magical bubble, and finally breathe in.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

(Third Person POV)

Drake went to reach for his friend, but said person jumped into the bubble, rather recklessly it would appear to anyone besides Drake.

"Mist! Oh Mist, you're awake! Thank god!" Petal exclaimed, jumping over to Mist, and helping her up. Mist looked around; obviously confused and worn out from the shallow breathing.

Drake was kneeling next to Levias. "Are you sure you wouldn't like some assistance?" He asked. Levias nodded, standing up weakly. He glared at Drake when he felt his body suddenly rejuvenate. "You wouldn't have been able to fight." Drake explained.

Levias sighed, shaking his still-damp black hair. He picked his weapons up off of the ground, and strapped them to his sides once more. Mist watched him in surprise and a slight amount of remorse as Petal told her that he saved her. "Why did you save me?" She asked, causing him to stop in his tracks, nearly stumbling into his next step.

He still faced away from them, the water dripping off of his clothes slowly, and onto the sandy path. "It was my fault that the bridge collapsed. I should have tested it first. So essentially it was my fault that you fell."

That's when Mist snapped. Levias had been cold and calculating to everyone, mostly her, since he was blamed for the murder. "Like I believe that! You're only in things for personal gain! What did you gain from killing my brother, huh? Who paid you to murder him? You are a low piece of trash! I can't believe that the elders allowed you on this trip!" She yelled at him, letting out a year of frustration. Petal was shocked and Drake sighed, stepping in front of her.

"He just saved your life and that's how you treat him? Don't you know how much crap he deals with from the other villagers because of being framed for the murder? He's already borderline depressed, and thanks to you, he probably just lost the last bit of self-esteem he had." Drake said sternly, glaring down at Mist, who glared equally as strong. Petal was afraid. Everyone was already getting on each other's bad sides. She didn't like to see friends fight.

"Guys…" She whispered, only to be ignored. Levias began to move, and the Moogle looked between him and the others, unable to decide who to go with. His choice was made as Mist began to follow Levias.

"Get back here you monster!" He made no sound or any response to her. "Don't ignore me! I know you did it! You should die for it!" He stopped at this, not looking back. "…So you want me to die?" His voice came out strangled, and it almost sounded like he was choking slightly. "Yes! Death is what you deserve!" She yelled it out to him, raising her fist, before pointing a finger at him. "…All right…" His words stopped her in her tracks. Her gaze softened and became confused. "What do you mean 'all right'?" She yelled, still confused. He turned his head to look at her with one eye. His eye was a dull and dark grey, instead of its normal grey sheen. "I'll go die. You all stay here."

Petal went wide eyed. Drake had a similar expression upon his face. Mist looked sorrowful. "Wait!" She yelled, but he walked out of the Chalice's protective barrier. Nothing happened. He kept walking forward, and still nothing happened. "How is he still living?" Drake asked no one in particular. Levias lifted a hand, carrying a chipped off piece of Tipa's large crystal. "I'll go die, but I'm going to make it worth something. You guys wait until you see a blaze of fire in this tunnel."

He gave them no other option as he entered the tunnel. "What were you thinking? He's the only one who knows how to call and control our caravan beast. And he is a great fighter!" Drake started calm, but ended up almost loosing it at the end. Mist looked away, ashamed. Petal walked up to her, glancing sadly at both of them. "We aren't just going to sit here are we?" She asked, hugging Mist slightly.

Drake nodded. "If we go in there, then Levias will probably be madder than he would if we don't. I know he won't die. He just needs to realize that he isn't alone…" He said in a wise manner.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Back with our favorite Clavat, he finally reached a decision. "Never again will I eat seafood…" He grumbled as he dodged the large bubble of magic rushing towards him. He ran towards the beast, swinging harshly at its legs.

The giant crab squealed as its head armor popped off. Levias felt a small amount of arrogance surge within him, but he shook it away. 'I can't become arrogant; if I do I'll screw up…' He thought, jumping away from the jumping crab. "I don't even understand how that's possible!" He yelled, stabbing into its mouth.

The crab squealed once more, and Levias cut open a squirrel/Mo that was running towards him. "I hate crabs…" He grumbled once more, jumping out of the way of another magic bubble. 'Time to finish it…' He thought, running forward, and swinging his short swords in an 'X'. A grey formation appeared as his slashes missed. There was now a grey X in the air, causing Levias to jump back in surprise. The X sped towards the crab, putting an 'X' shaped hole into it. It squealed one last time, before disappearing in a flurry of purple and black dust.

"Damn…"

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

So guys, how was this chapter?

Review!

Next Time: Creepy Mist and Huge Shrooms

"Drake…Get them out of here…" Drake nods. "Levias?" Levias ignores her. "Petal needs healing, and our last Cure stone is cracked." He says, looking away. "Levias, listen to me!" Mist yelled, squeezing her eyes shut, leaning her upper body towards him to make her voice louder, having her arms against her sides with clenched fists. She felt slightly rough skin brush her face, but when she opened her eyes, Levias was already running away. She growled. "Levias, I'm coming with you!"