They were all exhausted, even the lesser Nobodies; They had been searching for two hours now. Mud was caked on their boots up to their ankles, and their bodies soaked with cold rain. Demyx gasped as one of his dancers slipped in the mud and fell head first, but the lesser Nobody quickly recovered gracefully, with a bit of help from it's beloved Master, a wave of thanks radiating to the sitarist, who let the two go before himself. Marluxia and his Reaper Nobodies were slicing slimy vines and branches from their path, Zexion following the errratic scent path of Xigbar and Lexaeus, occasionally sniffing to himself as soaking strands of metallic violet stuck to his forehead. Roxas sighed as he slashed down a bush in their way, damp cloak rubbing uncomfortably against his soft, pale skin. It was just as Xaldin said, there was so sign of any life; No birds, no amphibions, no Lexaeus... or Xigbar. Roxas pushed his hair from his face, wishing it would stay out of the way, but the stubborn locks wouldn't comply as they tromped through the maze-like jungle of Fantasia. He looked over at Zexion, who was sniffing the air, then at Marluxia who didn't appear tired, but if one looked close enough, they could see his shoulders slumping, exhausted from swinging his scythe.
"Marly, you should take a break... Your arms will get hurt if you keep doing that for too long..." Demyx said softly to his boyfriend, laying a hand on the assassin's shoulders, who turned and gave a smile.
"I'm fine, Demyx.. I can keep going." Marluxia said as he cut another group of hanging vines away with his Graceful Dahlia, cringing inside because he was destroying plants, but at this point he realized he didn't really care.
"Do you still have their scent, Zexion?" Roxas asked over the suddenly roaring wind and rain.
"I do! But it's faint!" Zexion yelled back, rain pouring down, thunder rumbling."I think we should rest soon!"
The group nodded to each other as the rain came down even harder, but Demyx used his power over water to create a barrier of water above their heads to shield them from the sky was darkened by clouds, making it even harder to see through the thick bushes and trees. Marluxia's ocean blue orbs narrowed as he watched a group of suspicious, pulsating vines slither across a tree branch. They seemed almost... alive... but it couldn't be true, those vines seemed like they were moving with intent, like they had a brain, which was impossible... The assassin grunted as he sliced through the crawling vines deftly, and blue fluid spurted from the insides.
"Stop. You three, look at those vines. They're bleeding, and they're not any type of plant I've ever heard or seen." Marluxia hissed, stopping any movement. He didn't know if they could sense movement like a snake, but he wasn't going to take any chances, especially since his precious Demyx was with him, not to mention the desperate Roxas and Zexion.
"That's gross..." Demyx's face orphed into one of disgust.
"Their scent..." Zexion gasped. "Xigbar and Lexaeus' scents... the vines are drenched on with their scents!"
"R-Really?" Roxas stuttered as he stared at the vines that oozed ultramarine blue blood, limply falling from the branches; It was like watching at a dead snake, head missing but the vine's body still unnaturally quivering. More vines slid from around the tree's base, some slithering up and others inching towards the small group sinisterly, but Marluxia killed them instantly with his scythe, blood spilling onto the mud and sinking in and mixing with mire.
"I believe that if we follow where the vines originated from, we have a extremely good chance of finding Xigbar and Lexaeus.." Zexion said almost excitedly, holding hs hands close to his face at the thought of finding Lexaeus. The auburn haired man was so dear to him. Deep down he knew the chances of finding them alive were slim to none, but wouldn't say a word to Roxas, he already knew the younger male was troubled enough without knowing that Xigbar might be dead... but... Roxas probably already aware that death was a high possbility. If the vines had their scent on it, it was likely that the vines had something to do with their disappearance, whether they touched them accidentally or... the vines came after them. That had to be it, which possibly explained why they hadn't seen any Heartless or regular animals. Could the vines be part of something much larger?
"C'mon, we gotta go now... The vines are going towards the right!" Roxas announced, pointing towards where the vine's bodies led into the bushes.
"You all, the vines could be something part of something larger, like a Heartless. We'll need to be careful!" Zexion said as the group ran into the bushes, Marluxia and Roxas slashing wildly to clear the vegetation from their path, even Demyx using water to slice away grass and approaching vines. The lesser Nobodies began to shudder maddeningly as more vines approached them. Roxas let out a sudden yelp as a vines twisted around his wrist, but he pulled away with all his strength, snapping the vine; Ultramarine splashed onto the Keyblade wielder's arm.
"They're coming after us! Run, run!" Roxas grunted as more vines came at the group, grabbing his hands and his chest, but Demyx's Dancer scame to his rescue, slashing the vines off of him with graceful movements.
Zexion was fighting off vines from the rear also with the Dancers, Roxas and Demyx the sides, and Marluxia and the Reapers to the front. They were surrounded, snake-like vines sliding towards them with dark intention. Marluxia let his eyes close, and suddenly the vines stopped moving, turning a hidieous mix of brown and green, resembling something melted and burning.
"They're dead, let's hurry!" Marluxia began to run towards the dead vines to what they thought was north, the other following behind them; More vines were coming in behind them, slithering swiftly from bushes and grass, even from up under rocks. The group trampled through the forest, but the Reaper and dancer nobodies stopped, quivering. Demyx and Marluxia stopped for a second, staring at their lesser Nobodies and thanking them silently for their sacrifice, both Nobodies resonating their joy and loyalty between them before the vines errupted from all sides, engulfing and wrapping themselves around the lesser Nobodies; They were torn to shreds, fading away as the group kept their pace up.