Disclaimer: I own nothing written about in this story.

Pursuit

Chapter Twelve – of Patience

A repetitive crunching noise split the frigid air, followed by a muffled curse. There was some wild scuffling nearby and a loud clang rang out as something snarled and crashed, causing the ground to tremble.

Eraq tried to force his eyes open, but he just felt so weak. Weak and cold and scared. The sounds around him were so frightening, but even so, he still could only manage to lift his eyelids a fraction. Through what seemed like slits of blinding white light, he could make out some of the dark images that were making all the noise. He could hear his uncle Ven's distinct shouts and grunts as he fought off the monsters. Eraq guessed they were monsters, with the way they were growling they could be nothing else.

He wanted badly to cry out for his parents, to get up and run for safety while Uncle Ven killed all the monsters, anything except lie where he was on his side, unmoving and vulnerable. He felt his body shiver against the cold and was unable to remember when he had ever felt so cold before in his life! He was suddenly aware of something warm pressed up against his back and only realized what it was until it gave a familiar whine. "Angelo?" He was happily surprised when his voice actually worked and he was able to open his eyes a little more.

Eraq could see now that the blinding white from before was actually snow and it was everywhere! No wonder he was so cold, he was laying in the frosty powder. He could see Uncle Ven a little better now and watched in amazement how he fought off four enemies at once. Three of the monsters were the same as he remembered, big and cat-like, but the fourth was new, and it was huge! It sort of made him think of a horse, but it looked really weird and scary.

Ven never stopped moving for even a split second, he spun as the monsters converged on him and his Keyblade cut a path through one of the horse-thing's legs and curved on to strike the other three in a blinding arc. There was a universal cry of defeat as the beasts exploded into puffs of dark smoke and Ven collapsed to his knees an instant later, his breathing coming in labored gasps.

"Uncle Ven!" Eraq cried out feebly. His eyes were wide open now, but when he tried to get up, he could barely even move his arms. He could only watch as his blond guardian looked over to him in alarm, his gasping breath creating tiny clouds on the icy air.

Eraq could feel more than hear Angelo's growling at his back only seconds before he heard more snow crunching from somewhere behind him, and he realized that Uncle Ven hadn't been looking at him at all, but at what approached from behind him. Along with the numerous and noisy footsteps, he could hear a horse's snorting, and instantly assumed the worst. More monsters were coming for them, but poor Uncle Ven was exhausted! He couldn't fight off more of them!

The monster's noises came ever closer, and Ven still wasn't moving to intercept. Eraq understood that his uncle was too tired to protect him, but still hoped that he would somehow. His hopes were completely shattered and he watched in horror as his uncle's Keyblade disappear in a flash and his body fell forward into the snow and remained unmoving. With the monsters closing in and seeing that his uncle couldn't make it to his aid, the boy let out a frightened whimper.

He tried to take comfort in the pressure at his back; at least he had Angelo, though she was probably tired from fighting off the monsters too. Still, her steady growling only intensified by the second and made him feel a little safer. Maybe whatever was coming for him would think twice about eating him.

There were so many footsteps all around him now, crushing the packed snow noisily and he thought he heard shouting and voices but he was just too terrified to filter the speech into words. Monsters couldn't talk anyway, well, that fox talked but she wasn't really a monster right?

Just when he thought the heavy footsteps couldn't get any louder, two large hooves came to a halt in his field of vision and he looked up the slender, brown legs of the horse-monster to see that it was actually just a normal horse this time. Not a monster? It's pointed ears twitched and its long, brown snout lowered to sniff at his dark hair before snorting and losing interest.

"Hold," a distinctive voice said from somewhere above him and the countless footsteps were silenced in that instant. Eraq tried to look up but he still couldn't turn his head, making him panic even more; what was wrong with his body?

There was a shifting noise and he watched the horse brace itself as if a great weight was sliding off its back. Something landed heavily in the snow beside him and its footsteps crunched loudly as it moved into Eraq's field of vision. He felt instantly relieved that it wasn't a monster, but a man in thick clothing and partial armor. He wore a helmet that covered most of his head but Eraq could see that he had a friendly smile and a pair of concerned, pale-blue eyes as he studied the boy on the ground.

"It's ok, you don't need be afraid of us," the stranger said as he reached out a hand to him, only to pull back sharply when Angelo snarled and snapped at him, lunging and crouching protectively over Eraq's body. "Woah! Hey, take it easy. I'm here to help."

Angelo sniffed at the air, almost like she was checking the stranger's scent for corruption, before she snorted and moved off of Eraq, giving his face a lick and his head a comforting nudge with her snout.

The stranger took that as permission enough and looked up to make a gesture and then pointed over to Ven. There was an instant response as two men led another horse and crunched over the snow towards Ven, lifting him up between them and set him on the hoofed animal. The stranger then turned back to Eraq and reached out a second time, lifting the boy as he re-mounted the brown horse from earlier.

Admittedly, Eraq felt safer in the arms of this stranger than when he was lying helpless in the cold snow, and Angelo seemed to give her approval, so he must be an ok guy. "Angelo!" Eraq cried, suddenly concerned and tried to look around for her but he couldn't see past the horse's girth. "I can't leave her!"

The stranger looked at the boy, thoughtful, before turning and making another gesture. Another horse and rider drew beside them and a moment later, Angelo was draped behind the saddle of the other rider. The look on the dog's face was quite displeased but she didn't seem to have the energy to resist the humiliation.

"There, better?" the man questioned down at the boy nestled in one arm while his other held the horse's reins.

Eraq was happily surprised when he was finally able to turn his head. He had watched the men put Uncle Ven on a horse but he had to be sure. After finding his uncle's distinctive blond hair, he frowned at his limp body, still draped over the horse's back. He worried that he might be hurt, but at least he wasn't being left behind. Eraq looked up to the stranger and nodded weakly.

"Good." The man offered a gentle smile before making a clicking noise at his horse, causing it to lurch forward. "Rest easy kid, you're safe now."

"We'll meet you guys in the council room soon," Leon told Terra, since Aqua had already passed through the hanger's exit. "I need to talk to Cid first. Maybe we can narrow down a search pattern or something."

Terra nodded and turned to follow his wife, only to pause briefly and note with a twitch of amusement how Leon tugged Rinoa along with him towards Cid's workshop. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Claire was watching the pair as well, puzzled and curious. And although she didn't say anything, Terra could tell she was wondering why the quiet loner was suddenly making such a fond connection with the dark haired woman.

"Come on," Terra said, nudging the young student out of her silent query. "Aqua has already left us behind."

"Master Terra?" Claire had to jog to keep pace with his steady, long strides. "How can you stay so calm in this situation? Aren't you worried about Eraq?"

"What good will it do me if I panic?" He decided not to mention his initial reaction to the crisis and gave the girl a pained look. "Besides, Aqua needs me to be strong right now. This whole mess is really tearing her apart."

Claire frowned deeply and fell silent at that, no doubt wondering what she could possibly do to help out in the situation.

They were nearing the Master's hall when they had finally caught up with Aqua's marching pace. She hadn't paused nor did she slow down for them to catch up with her, Terra noted with an odd mixture of frustration and affection. This was just Aqua on a mission. Resolute, independent and stubborn when faced with adversity. It was true when he said that she needed him to be strong, but the irony of it all was that she so often relied on her own strength, forgetting altogether that she had other reserves to draw from.

He would need to make it a point to remind her later...

"...want to help... could take a long time..." Terra tipped his head in concentration when he heard a pair of familiar voices, their words clarifying as he got closer. "Someone has to stay."

As Aqua led the way around the final corner that led to the Master's hall, Terra could see that the voices belonged to Cloud and Tifa, as they stood just outside the small daycare a short distance from the council room. Their conversation died away quickly and they remained silent when they caught sight of the two Keybearers and waited solemnly as they approached.

Terra couldn't see Aqua's expression from his position slightly behind her, but he could guess she wore a constant, hard and focused look. A sharp contrast with her usual serene and gentle expression. It was both a testament to just how much she was suffering inside and a defensive mask, something to keep the tears at bay. Unfortunately for her though, such a pretense was built up in vain when faced with Tifa's piercing intuition, and without a word, the martial artist pulled Aqua into a fierce embrace.

Terra thought he heard his wife inhale sharply, a sign that she was either startled by the sudden gesture or struggling to keep her riling emotions in check. He was distracted from the curious exchange when he felt a firm hand clamp his right shoulder. He looked to see Cloud's steady gaze as he too was silent in the comfort he offered, though their message was clear enough. We're here for you.

Terra nodded back and mirrored the gesture before he moved to follow Aqua once again. She had pulled away from Tifa with a murmur and headed straight for the council room, unperturbed and taking no note of the young voices bouncing out of the doorway that Cloud and Tifa guarded.

Terra on the other hand, paused at the council room doorway to see Claire kneel down and greet both Denzel and Marlene with a smile before turning up to the masters. "I can watch them while you join the meeting if you want."

Cloud and Tifa looked to one another for an instant before nodding down to the student gratefully and following Terra into the council room.

Aqua was headed for her seat beside Riku, who was already sitting at the head of the table, once again taking charge of the meeting apparently. Almost everyone was already there and in their seats, looking as if they were torn between staying where they were or getting up to offer comfort. The room became eerily silent with trepidation and the tension didn't relieve until Cloud and Tifa entered and she gave a "stand down" signal with a shake of her head.

The silence only managed to draw out even longer after Aqua and Terra took their seats. Sora, who sat right across from Aqua, took a careful breath as though he were about to speak, but Riku held up a hand to silence him. The brunette frowned at his best friend but clamped his mouth shut. Words of encouragement were his specialty, but that wasn't what Aqua needed at the moment, and thankfully, Riku seemed to sense that.

The silver-haired man cleared his throat objectively, drawing his worried gaze to Terra after prying it away from the dazed woman beside him, who seemed to have her own gaze locked onto a single point on the table. She was here, but she wasn't; her mind no doubt worlds away and searching. "We've been debriefed of the situation by your friend Zack."

Terra suddenly found himself far too aware of his surroundings, with the yawning, empty space beside him that was Ven's seat brought forth a terrible ache in his heart. What if something horrible happens and his friend never returns to take that seat again? That thought pattern was leading him down a dark path, and he forcefully turned away from it, trying instead to look toward the others around him.

Sad gazes met his and he was surprised to find Zack standing some ways down the table, behind Aerith of all people. She wasn't a master, much like Cid, but her skills were unquestioned, (though generally unseen) and she always had a place at the table.

"We can start assembling teams once Leon and Cid join us," Riku said, once again drawing everyone's attention. "I know everyone is eager to help with the search, but we can't leave our home completely unguarded." He paused long enough to scan all assembled. "I'll stay and watch over things, but I need at least two volunteers to stay and help out."

There was a short pause in the room, but Tifa's voice cut in gently. "Cloud and I are willing to stay behind and watch Marlene and Denzel. That way, Lea and Yuffie can join a team if they want."

Lea and Yuffie both agreed quietly, and Terra thought he heard the ninja exclaim something in a restrained whisper. It sounded like "freedom" but any humor she may have been attempting was a lost cause and promptly ignored as Riku continued. "Ok, with that settled, has everyone else resolved to join a team?"

At that, everyone except Cloud and Tifa raised their hand, even Aerith, which was surprising, as she had never once shown any interest in traveling to other worlds. But Eraq and Ven were important members of what she deemed her extended family, and when she was serious about doing something, well, everyone knew it was best to stay out of her way.

"I also think its a good idea for the teams to be at least three or four strong," Riku added after he had blinked numbly a few times at the pink clad woman.

Two things happened in the instant that followed. Leon, Rinoa and Cid finally entered the room, but their arrival was abruptly eclipsed by Aqua's interjection. Her voice, speaking for the first time during the meeting, was rough and strained, though stubbornly defiant. "Terra and I will be fine on our own."

Blue met blue as Riku turned to regard Aqua with a look something akin to surprise. There was an uncomfortable silence as the two Grand Masters faced each other, while Sora, as the third, could only blink from one of them to the other, befuddled and at a loss. It was unusual for Aqua to disagree or disrespect anyone so blatantly, much less her equal in leadership.

The uncomfortable moment seemed to stretch on forever, but Riku finally dropped the matter and turned to Cid and Leon. "We're about to assemble the teams. What do you have for us?"

Cid, his toothpick in place between his teeth, raised a dubious brow at Riku, then to Aqua before he shrugged indifferently and moved toward his seat only to remain standing. He pulled a rolled up chart from under his arm and spread it over the table. "As fer' as I can tell from the data we got from their ship, this is the world where the dark portal appeared." He didn't mince words or tip toe around the subject, but deftly pointed at different sections on the chart as he spoke. "I had Tron crunch some numbers, and we've narrowed down a few sectors that have a high probability of having a connection to that world."

"And if someone summoned the portal. What then?" Aqua's voice darkened with each syllable, and everyone turned to her in that instant, intent and alarmed. Terra had to resist the urge to place a steady hand to her shoulder, but he knew she would only resent his admonishment. She seemed to want to dwell in her anger, and he felt utterly powerless to intervene.

"It would still be easier to summon one of these sectors than some random one. But I guess it's possible-" Cid scratched at his head in thought, his words dying away as Riku cut in.

"You think someone purposely opened this portal?" The question was directed at both of them, but Terra turned his eyes away, scowling as Aqua voiced her suspicions.

"We didn't see her. But for a short time, right before Ven and Eraq disappeared, I sensed Maleficent's darkness. I'm sure of it."

There was a collective murmuring in response, and Sora nearly jumped out of his seat as he screeched in disbelief. "There's no way that's possible! I made a truce with Maleficent a long time ago!"

"I know what I felt," Aqua hissed back, though her deadly tone was not directed at Sora. And only Terra could feel the way her anger reverted back on itself, as though it were confused and unfocused. It seemed odd to give an emotion like anger a personality, but that was the only way he could understand and piece apart the energies roiling around in his wife at that moment.

He hesitated, but could not hold back his need to calm her down, to absorb some of that negativity and channel it away. He reached for her hand and held tight, as if expecting her to snatch it away with a glare. But instead of rejecting his touch like he thought she would, she instantly relaxed, turned to him and blinked a few times, her foggy eyes clearing as though she had just woken from a bad dream.

"Regardless of who's to blame," Riku mended diplomatically as he drew his gaze over everyone in the room. "Ven and Eraq need our help. Let's assemble the teams and get moving."

A mild din of debate passed through the room as everyone worked out which search party they would join. To Terra, the noise was deafening, and he was only partially aware of Zack's desire to continue with him and Aqua, but expressed that if they didn't want him along then he was willing to go with whatever team would have him.

In the end, they were only able to form two teams of four, as they simply just didn't have the numbers to split into three teams of three, except for Terra and Aqua's, but no one was feeling brave enough to touch that subject again.

"Lea, Yuffie," Riku regarded the ninja and the red-haired Keybearer. "Aerith and Zack are still unfamiliar with travel, I trust you two can guide them accordingly?"

"No problem," Lea drawled with a lazy wave of his hand. "We'll show em' the ropes."

"Our team is way too overpowered," Leon commented dryly as he looked from Rinoa, to Sora and then to Kairi; his team. "We should let Kairi solo her own ship. That would even things out a bit."

Kairi chortled softly and Riku snorted in response to the duel compliment-insult. "Gee thanks Leon!" Sora whined and sent him a glare that implied he would have smacked Leon's shoulder had he been in reach. "Remind me again who saved the worlds?"

Terra didn't hear Leon's retort as the two continued to bicker, instead, his attention was drawn back to Aqua, a deep frown marring her beautiful features. "Only three teams?" she murmured, so quietly that only he and Riku heard her.

The silver-haired Grand Master appeared to try and catch Aqua's gaze, but her bothered and empty line of sight was unfocused. Worried, Riku shifted to meet Terra's in a silent query. But Terra could only return the concern with his own and a shake of his head. He was at a complete loss as to what to do for his wife, and could only hope that the dubious stability he offered through their linked hands would hold her over until they were back on the ship. It was obvious now that searching was the only remedy for her ailment.

With a sigh, Riku turned away from the couple, the former clamor between Leon and Sora had come to a halt. "Cid? Are the ships ready for departure?"

The blond technician gave a grunt and brushed his nose with a thumb. "I just finished up installing the tracking and communication devices. I should be able to keep in touch and coordinate all three teams simultaneously from my workshop."

"Alright, are we done talking? Let's go already!" Sora exclaimed impatiently, his voice only as indignant as his cheerful personality would allow. He was out of his chair and leaping for the doorway before Kairi or Riku could rein him back with a proper rebuke.

Terra could practically feel Aqua's energy spike beside him, the thoughts on her face as clear as if they were his own. Finally, someone had spoken her language! It was clear to him in that instant that all she really wanted was movement, quick movement. And it finally dawned on him how frustrated she must have felt having to sit and wait. Yes, the meeting was necessary, but he hadn't realized just how hard it had been for her until now.

Everyone was filing out of the room with a new sense of purpose and haste when Aqua moved to stand, only for Riku to hold up a hand to stop her. Terra thought that was a bad idea. "Just a moment you two."

Aqua stood up anyway and Terra moved to stand with her, if nothing else but to keep their hands linked. He could feel her impatience and irritation rising, as if threatening to boil over. As she faced her fellow Grand Master she was staying relatively calm, but only just. "We should be out there right now. I feel like you're undermining the severity of this situation."

"I know how hard this must be for you-"

"No," she told him with an ice-chipped tone. "You don't."

Riku held her fierce gaze with an unwavering calm and continued as if she hadn't just corrected him. "But I think it's you that is underestimating the situation. If someone, Maleficent or otherwise, really is manipulating this crisis, then sending you two back out there alone would be a mistake. If you won't accept anyone from the other two teams, then at least take an experienced apprentice with you."

"An apprentice would just be a liability," Aqua practically hissed in aggravation.

Terra knew what Riku was getting at, though Aqua seemed oblivious to the hidden objective. We're both too emotionally unstable, we need someone to help us stay focused.

"We could take Claire," he offered after a tense moment, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "She's capable and smart, and she wants to help."

"Fine," Aqua relented with a frustrated sigh. "Whatever it takes for us to leave."

They had finally passed through the doorway and stepped out into the hall when they nearly collided with a sudden explosion of white smoke. "Hup-up! Looks like I made it in time after all!" came an assertive voice as the fog cleared to reveal an old man with white hair, a long white beard and blue robes. It was Merlin and he looked from Riku, to Aqua and then to Terra, adjusting the glasses on the bridge of his nose as he did so. "Leon asked me to try and locate your wayward boys with my magic, though I'm sad to say it's beyond even my expertise. I might suggest you check with Yen Sid, his powers are somewhat more attuned to that sort of thing."

Terra wasn't sure when he had gotten his hopes up, but both he and Aqua were listening intently to the elderly man, only to visibly droop at his lack of information.

"Ah-ah," the wizard tutted at them as he wagged a finger. "Don't look so glum. I was able to get a glimpse of the scamps before the vision winked out on me. They both appeared to be sleeping, but they seemed safe and sound to me, wherever they are."

"So," Aqua said and blinked numbly as the information set in. "They're ok?"

"Indeed."

"I knew it." Terra suddenly felt an enormous relief blossom in his chest, almost as though he had been unaware of some great weight he had been forced to bear. "Come on, let's grab Claire and get going," he said to Aqua and then turned to the elderly man. "Thank you Merlin. We'll be sure to check with Yen Sid first thing."

"Yes, yes, off with you then," Merlin shooed them away with a genuine smile and proceeded to produce a smoke pipe out of thin air. There wasn't much that could phase the old wizard and he seemed to be existing on a different plane altogether at times.

"Be safe," Riku called after them as the two Keybearers headed down the hall. "And watch out for each other out there."

Zack wasn't sure how he felt about it. The sight of it just gave him a weird vibe. He once again stood in the hanger, arms crossed and leaning against one of the many ships lined up in the expansive building. He was brooding as he watched from a distance two of his new party members saying their goodbyes to their son as they passed the boy over to the blond swordsman and the dark haired woman beside him.

His first impressions concerning his two new teammates were a little frightening. On one hand, Lea seemed pretty relaxed and carefree, but Yuffie took those same characteristics and lit them on fire with a hyperactive flare. He figured the three of them were going to get along great, they just may not get much accomplished... But that wasn't what was bothering him. In fact, he was feeling pretty lucky about his newly assigned team. He got put in the same group as Aerith after all, how sweet was that?!

No, what bothered him was that blond guy's sword. Cloud was it? He carried a Buster Sword almost exactly like his own, and as much as he had wanted to confront the matter, he just simply hadn't had the opportunity to, and it looked like he never would. They would be departing soon and he didn't want to risk causing anymore problems than they already had.

"Zack?" a familiar voice tugged him out of his musing and he turned to see that Rinoa had approached without his notice. She stood beside him now, arms behind her back as she offered a timid smile, her beloved Leon some ways off and conversing with that Cid character. "Guess this is it huh?"

He gave her a sad smile, somehow knowing that they were both embarking on a new journey, only this time, their paths led in different directions. He earnestly hoped that she would find the happiness she had dreamed about for so long. He couldn't help himself, his body suddenly moved before his mind could overrule the action. Rinoa gave a tiny yelp of surprise when he pulled her into a fond hug. "Embrace your dreams, Rin."

It didn't take her long to relax in his hold and return the gesture, though at his words she pulled back a bit in question. "Huh?"

He didn't get a chance to explain himself because the sound of Leon's approach drew his attention away. "Is there a problem here?"

"No," Zack replied with a lopsided smile. "No problem, pal." He gently pulled away from the dark haired woman, the one he had watched over for so long. She in turn looked up to meet his wry expression with a sad smile of her own and a tear in her eye and seemed much less inclined to detach herself from his person.

"Not unless you make one for me." He let the friendly threat hang in the air for a moment, hoping Leon would catch his meaning without having to spell it out. Hurt her and you die.

There was a silent pause. "Oh," Leon replied, scratching his neck absently. "I understand... I think."

"Understand? Understand what?" Rinoa questioned, her attention flipping from one male to the other as Zack gently extracted her and turned his determined sky blue eyes on Leon. "Zack, what are you-?"

"Good," Zack said to Leon, ignoring Rinoa's protests as he pulled her by the arm and had her stand before the brunette as though he were about to perform some holy ceremony. "I've fulfilled my promise then." With Rinoa's wrist in one hand, Zack reached down to grab Leon's, carefully placed them together and gave the woman the most sincere smile he could manage. "Don't forget what I said Rin. It's important."

He looked to Leon's serious expression and after exchanging a nod of understanding with him, turned and walked away.

He didn't look back.

"But Zack-" Rinoa's voice wavered and hitched; was she crying?

Zack had to fight off the urge to turn and see. He knew that his unusual behavior must be confusing her, but the pattern in their lives had shifted drastically, and such a change needed to be addressed by no uncertain terms.

"I will." He smiled when he heard her confident reply.

Looking forward, he noticed that Lea, Yuffie and Aerith were all waiting for him near the ramp of their ship. "Enough with the drama." He grinned at his new teammates. "Let's get this show on the road!"

What in the world was with that sharp pain at the back of his head? And how could such an annoying sound even exist? It sounded like an unnatural hissing, somehow building up with pressure, as though it were about to pop.

"Wha?" Ventus opened his eyes and blinked multiple times to clear his vision, but the odd, silver fog he was staring at was not due to the sleep in his eyes. The strange apparition faded and disappeared with a black haze before he could focus on it completely, the hissing abated as well. Delirious, he sat up, the action requiring more effort than he expected. A soft blanket fell from his torso and pooled in his lap as he looked around, noting four flapping walls of cloth. A tent?

Why couldn't he remember how he got here? He could remember fighting Heartless but nothing else. He reached up to touch the ache at the back of his head, expecting to feel a bump or a gash, but there was nothing.

"Uncle Ven?" Eraq's tiny voice instantly drew his attention and he looked down to see the boy lying close by in another bedroll. "Why can't I move my body?"

Recent events flashed through Ven's mind in that instant. The jungle world, the dark corridor, the snow, the Heartless. The headache. "The darkness in the corridor," Ven started to explain, the details of the incident flowing back to his mind like a rushing stream.

He remembered launching headfirst into the dark portal, his first and foremost thoughts had been on locating and getting Eraq to safety and he neglected to summon his armor before the darkness invaded his body. By the time the metal plates encompassed him the damage had been done and it was all he could do just to cling onto the comatose Eraq and Angelo and stagger for the nearest open doorway.

"The darkness?" Eraq prompted when Ven realized he had zoned out for a moment.

"It weakens your body, it will even paralyze you if you're not used to it. Don't worry though, it should wear off after awhile." He cringed at that, thinking that time might not be a luxury they were given. If the most recent Heartless attack was any indication anyway. They were safe for the moment, but he needed to be ready for the next assault, because it wasn't a matter of if, but when. The Heartless were after something, and he got the odd sense that they were being controlled by someone.

"Uncle Ven, I'm scared." The boy whimpered. "Can we go home now?"

Ven blinked down at him for a moment, mouth ajar and unsure of how to answer. How would he get them home? He had his glider, but without armor, Eraq wouldn't survive the journey, and he couldn't just leave him here to go get help. He looked to the trembling wall of their tent where he could see a sliver of an opening and he was suddenly aware of all the noises outside.

Men's voices were either barking orders or blending together in various conversations all around and he thought he heard the cry of a horse, or was it laughing? It was hard to tell. More of the creatures were snorting and pawing at the ground, he guessed, while countless other sounds registered in his mind. Pounding, metal clanging, and tents flapping all round them. Where were they? He needed to find out and work out a plan of action.

A sniffling brought his attention back to the boy and he cringed at seeing fresh tears in his bright blue eyes. Apparently he took the lack of an answer as a "no" and wasn't reacting well to the concept. "I want Mom and Dad, why haven't they come for us yet?"

Ven sighed wearily and was surprised to see Angelo's black and tan head pop up from behind Eraq and proceeded to lick his cheek free of any tears that escaped, though the boy seemed completely unfazed by her comfort.

"I'll be right back Eraq," Ven told him as he pushed himself up to stand, immediately feeling light headed and unsteady on his feet. He had to persevere though, Eraq's safety depended on it, and scouting the situation was important too. He felt a little better about leaving him with Angelo, at least for a moment anyway.

Eraq didn't have the same opinion. "But what if the monsters come back?" he whimpered and clutched at his blankets tightly.

"Hey, its ok," Ven soothed and knelt down to place a hand on the boy's charcoal blue head while making a great effort to fight off his frown and pin an encouraging smile instead. He wasn't sure how successful it was until he noticed Eraq's expression relax a tiny bit. "I won't let them hurt you, but I need to find out where we are so we can get home. Alright?"

It took him a moment to process, but the boy finally sniffed and nodded. Even though Eraq said he couldn't move, Ven was both surprised and relieved to see him turn over and cling to the thick fur of Angelo's neck. The dog gave a soft woof in response and she seemed equally lethargic but that was to be expected, and they would all recover, given enough time to do so.

Ven smiled at the pair and headed outside, he swore the ground must be uneven as he walked, but quickly realized he was still just dizzy and weak. A buzz of activity swarmed around him as he pushed past the tent flaps and noted for the first time since he woke up how his breath formed a cloud in the air. He remembered the snow and just how cold it was when they were practically dumped into the unknown world.

Countless soldiers in armor hovered all around, weaving in and out of tents, tending fire pits, horses and weapons. He stood at the threshold of the tent a moment and simply watched all the activity, trying to gather his bearings and formulate a plan. The situation made him feel like being trapped in a cage without a Keyblade to escape. And if leaving this world wasn't an option at the moment, then he needed to start making some allies.

There was a soldier not far away from him, lounging about against a large boulder. Startled, he leaped to his feet when he finally noticed Ventus standing there. "Oh you're awake!" The soldier glanced around quickly before hailing down another soldier. "Tell the Commander to come quick!"

A moment later and Ventus recognized the Commander's approach immediately, with his armor being a different shade of red from the other soldiers and his helmet sporting a bird's feather like a flag. Taking initiative, Ven decided to meet the man halfway and offered a polite bow in respect. "Glad to see you're awake and unharmed. Some of the men weren't sure you would come around before we made the capital."

"I appreciate your concern Sir, and my nephew and I thank you for your help," Ven said meekly and noted with relief that the man in charge had such kind blue eyes. "My name is Ventus, Ven for short."

As Ven continued to study him, the man reached up and removed his helmet, revealing short, but wild blond hair. Although he was sure that they didn't look much alike, the similarities they shared caused Ven to blink dumbly for a moment. "Welcome Ven." He snapped out of it when the Commander smiled widely and reached for a handshake. "Call me Wentai."