Utopia

[Rikugurl]

The blonde watched the Chaser leave, growling and suddenly slamming his fist into the wall. "FUCK!" He shook his head as he waved his hand, waving his hand. Ven walked in circles, his mind a mess. What was he going to do? How was he going to get out of here? Finally, he wore himself and sat on the bed, feeling how plush it was. It was so different from the one that he use to sleep on. Everything was so different down here. For his whole life, he and most of the other Flyers figured that these people lived in the dark, their way of life must have been the same. The horrible truth was, they were better off and would outlive the SkyFlyers and possibly the Unbroken. Easy food, fresh though scarce water, better clothes, better beds and everything the sands had buried underneath.

He took a deep sigh and hung his head, his heart and his mind starting to slowly work against each other. His heart told him to find a way to get home, to be with his family, his brother, his eldest one... and even his twin.
But his head, his head told him to stay and ride it out. Life here... was better. People here were different.
People here has lost their hopes and their prayers but used their head instead, something the Flyers hadn't done yet.

Later that night, when Terra returned, he paused at the mouth of the den, seeing Ven sitting on the bed, glancing through a book. At least this time, he wasn't holding it upside down.
When the blue eyes of the Flyer looked up, the book was lowered some. "I... needed some inspiration to come up with an idea for a drill. What kind of... material do I have to work with?"


Back the the ruins, the warrior placed his Reflecting Plateon the wall in the young hunter's room, the redhead not really owning enough to make the blonde feel cramped. "That should be the last of it." Red eyes rolled over the master crafted item, a gift that was given to him when he first came, Ventus being the maker. "Don't say it," He said suddenly, "I know you've been thinking about having that Divine deal with the Murderous instead of me. That is not going to happen."

[Reno]

OOC: Guess who came home for a 'visit' *rolls eyes* AND went back to jail *rolls eyes again*

A brow arched high, and he glanced back at the dragon who had been watching the blonde all day.
I figured he was looking at the pictures. The other supplied before laying his head back down, the whole thing truly not interesting him. Terra slowly turned back to Ven, wondering if this was some sort of trick as he approached, hesitated before he reached out and picked up something that made the blonde look at him curiously.

"Well," He turned item around. He approached Ven, holding it out to him, and he took it, inspecting it. He'd never seen anything quite like it. "We tend to carve things from ivory for most things since you don't need to make a fire to make things out of it - we only tend to make fires to cook food since well..." He rubbed the back of his head, "We have to be near by one of the holes to let smoke come out and we don't want Fff- uh anyone to know where we are for long... but I know you're used to using metal. We have a lot of that we've never used. I can get that if you need it but you'd only be able to use the fires we make to cook food."
"...What is this?" Ven asked, looking at the weird little device that had holes in it in a straight pattern on one side.

"Ah... heh, my dad actually gave it to me when I was a kid. My grandfather learned about it from Ienzo's grandmother. His family was always kind of knowledgeable... Anyways, he carved this for my dad. And then he gave it to me." Terra admitted. "It's called a flute, and it makes music. See?" He took the flute back and blew through one end, a whistling song emitting from it. He pulled it away and said, "I used to play with it a lot of spells ago with the other kids. Well... when we had a lot of kids around."


"Why not?" Came the testy reply back. "You know what they say - Divine are immortal. He can't die! Like you can!"
"Roxas!" The blonde flinched as the other yelled at him for saying such sacrilegious things. He turned his head away, glaring at the wall, then snapped, "Then let me handle the Murderous! I could... I could sing it back! Like I did the Stealth!"

[Rikugurl]

The blonde tapped the flute in is hand when Terra handed it back, frowning at the weight and density. "This won't work. It will break even if they are heavier pieces. I would have to use the metal. And I may not have to use the same technique you use because..." He paused, frowning some as he stared at the flute. Blue eyes rolled up to look at the curious face. "Flyers can't see smoke at night so... I could work them since I'm use to being awake during the night unlike... everyone here who is up during the day. I would just need a place large enough to make mud molds and to work with the metal. I will also need some sort of reference on how the end of the Driller dragon's nose. Then I will just have to figure out a way how to operate it. Cranking might not work due to the solid ground... but I'm sure there is a way."

He looked back up at the man, seeing how his face changed, even looking... adoring. "What?"


"And we thought Divine would kill us the moment we spoke to them and that didn't happen! If that Divine does die, we will NEVER be allowed into the Promised Lands!" Axel cried, now pacing the room. He paused when the blonde suggested himself and shot towards the man, grabbing him by the shoulders. "Roxas, what are you thinking? You're not even a man yet. You would have to get quiite close to that thing for your singing to work and I won't allow it. I am the warrior of our people, it is my job to be on the front line. Please Roxas... let me do my part. I have been fighting before you were even born. This is what I do.

[Reno]

Listening to the other speaking so intelligently just like Ienzo always did, he didn't even realize the look coming over his face. Though most of the time he got lost in the explanations, he always enjoyed the sound of his voice. Ven's was... kind of nice too. Still young but somehow... "...Huh?" Terra blinked, before looking away. "Ah, uh nothing!" What was coming over him?

Snickering made him look back and glare at the dragon peering in. Shut up!
You're becoming rather fond of him.
I am not!


The blonde's eyes narrowed even more before he slapped Axel's hands away. "Whatever. You want to die that eagerly, then go right the fuck ahead." He snapped, turning away and walking over to the far end of the room, settling down on the bed and just glaring at the far wall. When Axel tried to come close, his shadow climbing up around the wall in front of him like a great and terrible creature, he just snarled at him and told him to leave him alone.


Watching from one side of the fire, Terra's head tilted, yawning some as Ven worked over the flame, his shirt pulled off and sweat glistening on his skin. On one of the walls was Terra's best drawing of the driller horn he could manage. It wasn't expert work or anything, but the blonde assured him he understood the general make-up of it and got to work.

Terra had to be honest. What Ven was making did not look like a drill. The blonde complained he was just starting and of course it didn't look like it yet! "I still don't see how that's gonna be a drill." The brunette complained for the fifteen time that week.
"Stop bitching." The blonde grumbled.
"I'll bitch all I want! It's my tunnel! These walls. That hole. The ground your sitting on, all mine!" Terra lent back on the heels of his hands. "Should make you pay a tax."

And as often happened when he brought around a term unfamiliar, Ven had to ask what the hell he was talking about - because how could he find an appropriate insult otherwise? "Well, in the past people used to have this stuff called 'money'. It was these little pieces of printed metal and pieces of something called 'paper' people carried around to trade for things. You could actually buy food with that stuff. Can you believe it?" He rolled his eyes. "Anyways, a 'tax' was what people used to keep the going-ons of their people running. Like... planting trees and stuff I guess." He shrugged, "Anyways, I should tax you for being allowed to use my tunnel so I can keep it looking pretty."
That of course got him a snarky response. Before Terra could retort though-

"Well, well, well..."
He heard that. It made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up and his head whipped around so fast he pulled something. His eyes widened at the sight of the blue-haired girl holding little Caleb in her arms, a wicked grin on her face that always said 'run away' to him.
"A-Aqua...? What are you doing here?"
"Caleb here wouldn't go to bed and wanted a bedtime story." She tilted her head, looking past him towards Ven, "But seeing as you taught the little Flyer here to speak our language perfectly in just seven moon rises, maybe I should make you his teacher!"
Terra growled.
"Oh don't get all snippy. I know you. You have a good reason for keeping this a secret Terry. But... I think I need to 'tax you' to keep me quiet too."
"....What do you want?"
"Oooh, just watch Caleb whenever I ask?"
"What?! No way!"
"Oh okay, Ooooh Xigbar-"
"Ugh, fine, okay! You wanted a story, right Caleb?"
The boy practically pounced out of his mother's arms, to young to really understand what was going on as he cheered for a story. He gave his friend a look, "Can you at least watch him," He nodded towards Ven, "While I go get a book, you demon?"
"Sure." Aqua smiled sweetly, finding it so cute when Terra took Caleb's little hand and they went walking down the tunnel to his den. Her blue eyes wandered back over to the blonde.

[Rikugurl]

Ven watched as Terra walked off with his younger nephew, noting how he was holding his hand and being careful when they walked down the steep slope. He brought a smile to his face but when he felt the eyes of the female Chaser on him, he glanced at her for a moment before getting back to work. He swallowed, working around the fire to create whatever molds he needed to. A large hunk of metal was placed before him and when the pieces he had in the mold were hot enough, he would carry them quickly to the larger pieces and fit them on, making a few touches. He was hoping that she wouldn't say anything but of course, it didn't take long before her voice carried over to him.

"Uncle Ter, how come you're babysitting a bad guy? Daddy told me that he should be food but you're playing around with him instead. But daddy also said that my dragon was food and that I was playing with him too. Where did he come from, uncy? Are you friends with him?"


Back in the ruins, the Divine was looking out through the rags at the sands and towards the glowing crater in the distance. His eyes were dim and his skin was red from the scratches of the sand and dirt. He was already starting to look worn and even a little thin. He glanced back slowly when he heard the other set of rags flutter, seeing Sora walk in. The brunette had been so worried about him...
"So, tomorrow is the raid?" He asked, his voice a little raspy. He was already missing his brothers and sisters and Yue wasn't so white anymore either. Things were very different and it was a change that was quite extreme. He ate meat for the first time, finding it foul but was hungry enough to eat it.


In another tower, the redhead was getting his gear ready for the next night, having been the one to plan the raid. Roxas was still not talking to him, the distance between them made Axel more uncomfortable that he imagined. There was only one bed in the room so for the past few nights, the warrior slept on the floor near Xiu's fire sac for heat. Just as he was pulling on the last strap, he spoke. "Why is it that you don't want me to go up against the Murderous? Is it because... we made love?"

[Reno]

"You know, somethings been bothering me since the last raid. And I think you can tell me the answer." Aqua said causally, brushing away some of her bed-tousled hair from her eyes. "During the fight, "After my dragon got all tied up, one of your Flyers, the one on the mood dragon," She saw how this made the blonde tense up a little, "He was coming right at me. There would of been nothing I could of done. I was so sure he was going to kill me." She hesitated, then said, "And then... he flew under me."

There was a small stretch of silence, filled with nothing but the sound of metal bending and screeching. She finally said, softly, "He spared me... why would he do that?"

"So many questions for this time of night! Ven is a friend, Caleb, no matter what your dad says. Just like Nukey is your friend." Terra sighed but smiled down at the boy fondly. "And let's just say he's a gift, huh?"
"What's a gift?"
"It's when you are given something special." He said, before picking the boy up, and letting him hover in front of the hole that had the storybooks he had been reading Ven over the past few days - even trying to teach him how to read them himself. "Now. pick one."
When his nephew had, he lifted him up on his shoulders, carrying him back down the tunnel.


"Yeah..." Sora said, settling down beside the other. "To avenge Ven..." His lips quirked at the rhyme, then sighed, bowing his head. "Riku... do you hate me?"
The other's head jerked to look at him, surprised and shocked as he cried in confusion.
"I feel like I'm forcing you into this. How can I say I love you when I'm just letting you be hurt out here?"


There wasn't a quick answer, but slowly Roxas turned and looked at Axel, his blue eyes unable to keep hiding how afraid he really was as he whispered in a weak voice, "Is that really so hard to believe?"

[Rikugurl]

The inventor continued to work on the large piece, tweaking some things using sharp pieces of bone and shaved other things with sharp dragon talons. He listened though and when she mentioned the Mood Dragon, he knew exactly who she was talking about. He should of course. With a frown, he finished up a single blade, the third large bland done. He knew it would get quicker when he set the smaller blades and formed the front. I should be ready in another two moons or so. "My brother..." He started, finding it strange talking the old tongue to yet another Chaser, "he doesn't just have a Mood dragon because it was the one he chose. Our people hatch eggs when a baby is born, several eggs actually if there are a few around, and the dragon picks the Flyer, not the other way around. Iris, that Mood dragon, picked my brother not because of how brilliant he was but because he is a walking emotion himself. He has like this.... this sense of how someone us feeling by just looking into their eyes."

He placed down his tools and sigh, wiping some sweat from his forehead. "He could probably see the fear in your eyes, not just the one of losing your life but something more. Our mother is very tuned with her emotions too and taught us some special things about a woman's eye. He could probably tell that you were a mother just by your eyes. My brother would never hurt a mother, no matter what it was. It could be a mother Murderous and he wouldn't do it if he had the opportunity." He heard a growl from the dragon and rolled his eyes. They fixated on the woman's again and smile. "Like right now, I can tell by just looking at your eyes... that you're with child again." At that, the woman gasped, becoming speechless for a moment. The blonde smiled and started working on the 'hunk piece of shit-not-looking-like-a-drill metal' again.


"No one forces me to do anything, Sora..." The silverette smile, looking away, his eyes weary and tired. "I am still sorry about what happened to your brother. I still could never imagine what it would be like to lose one of mine. I would say that this raid is senseless violence but I know that if I was in the same situation, I would do the same." Riku shifted his weight, about to stand but froze and winces, making Sora run to his side. There was a sound, like something falling onto the brick and when the brunette looked down, he saw a single shiny scale that had fallen from under Riku's dirtied robes.


Axel blinked, slowly looking back at the blonde who was looking away now. "Roxas..." He spoke softly, leaving the Nightmare's side who rolled his eyes. The warrior came up close, his hand hesitantly reaching down to run through the blonde swirls. "Y-you know who I am. Just.... just because our relationship has changed, doesn't mean what I do, what I was born to do, does. I live for the moment and without it." He sighed, shaking his head. "Those stories I told you, about my hunts? You loved hearing them because they were so detailed, so real. That's my life, Roxas. Whether you're in it now or not... I'm still the warrior of the SkyFlyers."

[Reno]

A hand was placed on the flat stomach, Aqua looking down at it, wondering if it was really true... In the back of her mind she scoffed, realizing how happy Hatori would be if it were. Yet, she looked up at the blonde, seeing him work tirelessly, and murmured, "You ever see that brother of yours again, you tell him thanks for me, alright?"
Ven looked up at her, as if surprised she assumed he would be having relations with Flyers considering his current position but before he could say a word to that, they heard Terra's voice returning.
"'Who's there?' The first little pig asked." Terra said in a high voice, before it got low, Caleb looking down at the book curiously from his perch on his shoulder. "'Let me in, Let me in, little pig or I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your house in!' The wolf responded. And the little pig said, 'Not by the hair of my chinny chin chin!'"
"Another wolf story Terra?" Aqua said with a roll of her eyes.
"Sssh I'm fucking Uncle-ing over here!" The brunette said before continuing with the story.


"R...R-R-R-Riku..." Sora stuttered, reaching down and picking up the delicate scale before looking up at the man he loved. He held it up, lip trembling and eyes watering and he was just such a sight Riku was quick to reassure that it was normal. Even dragons shed scales, he'd grow a new one! He kept talking in calming tones until those tears disappeared.
"Can I uh... Can I keep it then?" He asked, blushing a bit. If it came from anyone else, Riku would of instantly thought them weird, but knowing at the bottom of Sora's treasure box he had a collection of Iris' scales - all of them different colors, he couldn't really be surprised as he smiled softly and said sure.

Back turned, the brunette never noticed aquamarine eyes glancing at the scale full of worry and fear.


And if you die... who's supposed to protect me huh?! He thought but couldn't find the strength any longer to say. He just wrapped his arms around his knees and buried his head into them his body shaking some as he tried to hold back tears. He wasn't anywhere close to becoming a man if such little things made him cry.



The night passed without too much more tragedy occurring as most of the Flyers (and one unfortunate Landchaser) finally climbed into bed for some sleep as the heat of the day started. It wasn't until about mid-day that a woman who had seen better years stirred at the calls of her dragon. "Nn... Norn...?"
Her dragon, a sidewinder who was, ironically, also the father of Iris her first-born's dragon, made another call that had her sitting up. She knew that sound. "Jeeeet..." She called even as she was climbing out of the bed, pushing aside the rags just a fraction of an inch, peering outwards only for her eyes to widen at the sight of the cloud in the distance she just knew was there.
"JET! THE SPELL!"


CRRRRSSSAAAA CRRRSSSSSAAAA CRRRSSSSAAAAA
"Mmmnnn..." Roxas stirred finding an arm was curled around his middle - since when did he allow Axel back in his bed? He blinked away the drowsiness, sitting up, the man's snores almost drowning out the other one echoing down the halls. It was familiar, but not a sound he'd heard in a while. It took his mind a few moments to realize what it was. The steel drum.
A spell was coming.
"Oh.. shit! Axel! Axel WAKE UP!"


"Riku," A gentler but no less urgent voice was saying as he shook awake the silverette who was a fairly light sleeper anyways, so he was awaken fairly quickly. "You need to get up. Hurry." Seeing how pale his lover suddenly was (and how wrapped up), he was quick to his feet, though still a bit tired and stumbling. Sora took his hand, guiding him quickly down the hall to the dinging area where everyone was quickly gathering. Sora could already see Roxas, Axel, his father and Van lifting up the large metal table they ceremoniously ate at and setting it on the far side of the wall. In the middle of where the table had been was what appeared to be a door welded into the ground.
Jet leaned over it and he, with the other's help, lifted it up off the ground, swinging it open and the man disappeared into the hole. Axel lent down beside it, reaching down and then brought up pails. Lots of them.
"Boys! Are you ready?" Runa was saying as she and Lilo created a little train.
"Yeah mom!"
"Hmph, of course."
"Y-Yeah." Roxas bit his lip, Axel pausing just long enough to spare him a look, but there was no time to worry about it - and even Van wasn't stupid enough to try something. Like he'd have time too.
"Ri, I'll be back alright." Sora said with a smile. "Gotta go gather water." He didn't have time to explain before he was off, calling for Iris, Van and Roxas doing the same with Keir and Lux and Nyx. Xiu and Norn (after the latter was ordered to burst some flame below) were also called off and down the dragons went, all of them going to the well rooms, the boys carrying as many buckets as they could.

But Riku wasn't exactly satisfied with that. Even though they were busy, he was quick to go to Runa and ask her just what the Divine was going on! "The spell is coming." She explained, noting Lilo bringing what little meat they had over in which Jet took down to store before getting more buckets. "It lasts half a moon cycle. Because we're so high up, the wind is particularly harsh during these times. It often rips down our rags to the point we have no protection from the sun and there's no way to gather water. So, we created this little hide away to wait it out. But we have to store water before hand or well..." She just smiled thinly then shook her head, glancing at him seeing him looking about, "Would you like to help?"

Soon enough, Riku was part of a little train, Runa helping to carry buckets by taking it to and from the dragon's mouth and then handing it off to the Divine, who scampered to Lilo who was leaning over the hole and lending it to Axel, who was mid-way on the ladder, passing it down to Jet with no problem (paid to be tall) who took it to the end of the cavern to set with the other's and bring an empty one up which was given back. Yue too did her part as she flew back and forth with the other's and another, smaller train, was into the well room, Roxas pulling the buckets up and giving them to Sora, who scampered all the way to the end (unfortunately which caused a bit of delay, now that they no longer had Ven), giving it to Van who would hand it off to a dragon. The only one not helping with the water was Olette who was dressed like the boys to protect her from the sun as she ripped rags off walls, folding them quickly as she went from room to room to bring down into the chamber. They would need them come the end of the spell or they would bake under the sun once they came up for air.

And they, for now, would make great make-shift beds.

Just as Olette was returning, "Everyone get under!" Was Runa's sudden call and no one hesitated. Axel quick to hurry down the ladder and next came Lilo and then Riku who was a little overcome by everything, Then Olette who almost buried Riku under the rags if Axel didn't tug him away from the hole. Finally Runa was down. Then Axel and Jet hurried up the metal ladder together and pulled the door until it shut and they were in a little bit of firelight. Now it was clear why Norn had fired below. A few moments later, howling wind could be heard, though muffled some.

"What about Sora?!" Riku seemed panicked and Runa was quick to reassure he would be there soon. They all waited, many of them with baited breath. It was many minutes more before finally, the metal above creaked and shifted. Their were groans from above, before the door flipped open and the light and howling of wind poured in. Roxas was the first to scramble down the ladder, his visor askew and some of his rags literally ripped off, any skin that had been revealed pink from pebbles or sun but otherwise intact. Then Van and Sora, much like Axel and Jet had done, stayed on the ladder to struggle against the wind to close the door. Once it was shut, Van came down next while Sora dangled with the handled a little longer, twisting around a bit until - click! - the door locked. He smiled proudly, coming down the ladder carefully.

"Whoo, that was fun!" He cheered, pulled off his visor and shaking his head of sand, only to get thumped by Van.
"Moron." The man said testily. His visors were just completely gone and his eyes were bloodshot, the skin around them a mess.
Sora stuck out his tongue, glancing over at Riku who was nearby and smiled, "Don't worry about Yue, 'k? I told Iris to lead her to where our family dragons go during the spell so she'll be well taken care of and have plenty of bugs to eat."

"Are you boys all right?" Runa was already worriedly looking at her three babies she had left. "Maybe we should get some water for these." She said, pointing to the surface scratches on her son's arm.
"Nah mom, they're fine." Roxas said, brushing off some sand quick to hurry closer to Axel and away from anywhere near Van. He could already feel it was going to be a long two weeks.
She pouted then looked to Van who just crossed his arms and looked tough, "Water is for cowards."
"Van..."
"I'm fine." He stressed going stepping away, "But you should ask the idiot here what he did."
Runa frowned but sighed at her boy who couldn't control his tongue and looked at Sora, not seeing a scratch on him. But he was definitely avoiding her eyes. "Sora..."
"It's no big deal mommy." He said in a sugary-sweet voice.
"Sora!"
"Heh... I uh tripped. I wasn't used to running that far without Ven..." He said, looking more ashamed then injured. "Twisted my ankle a bit is all."
"And dropped an entire bucket." Van said, this time to get reprimanded by his father.
"Well let's get the beds ready so you can get off it!" Runa said in that way of hers before going over to help Lilo and Olette.
Sora rubbed the back of his head, smiling towards Riku in embarrassment, "Moms."



The Flyers weren't the only ones rushing to get ready for the spell. The Landchasers, who heard the gong, had their own priorities. It was to Ven's surprise, as he stood in Terra's room, gathering books rather than water.

"What are we doing?" Ven asked, riding atop Atteris with Terra as they sped back down the tunnel after the very short meeting in the den of Terra's dad - which, as he understood, would be where they would be staying for the next half cycle.
"We? Well, you're gonna get some storybooks."
"Storybooks?!"
"For Caleb. You know what they look like."
"What?! What about food?! Water?!"
"We'll be fine. The creatures burrow during these times - my mom's dragon can find their nests easily. As for water, as long as the tunnels hold strong, we can go get it anytime at all. That's what these are for." Terra pointed to the large round discus Atteris was carrying. It was quite large and heavy looking. "Our biggest issue is the winds push so much sand below, it fills our tunnels, so we plug them up. Some of them are going to collapse anyways if too much weight gets on them. Gonna be a pain to clear them out now that Hayner's gone, but we'll survive."
"But what happens if all the tunnels come down and we're trapped in that room, without water stored?!"
Terra grinned, "We'll still be fine. There's a reserve under my father's den, for just that emergency." Ven blinked up at him, completely amazed. "Now get off and get some books for my nephew! And my flute!"

Even still, after years of spells, he couldn't help the urgency in his feet, thinking any moment the winds would be right in his face. He was running so quick he almost smashed right into Terra who was just about to turn the corner. "Whoa! What's the rush? Here, let me take some of those." The brunette chuckled, taking some of the books into his own arms. He looked up at the large dragon beside him, "You be careful now, you old goat!"
The dragon growled, Wolf! As he slithered down the tunnel.
"He's not coming with us?" Ven asked curiously, not that that should really be strange to him since he never had his dragon during the spells. But he was getting accustomed to realizing everything about the Chasers was different.
"Nah, he likes to 'protect his precious den'." Terra said with an exaggerated roll of his eyes. "Listen Ven, I'm sure you already figured this out, but you're gonna have to be careful about how much you speak to me and how much you understand. We'll get chances to talk in private if you need to for some reason, but otherwise, just uh... play dumb as much as you can."
The blonde huffed a little, but jumped when he heard loud whooshing and whistling echoing down the caverns. "The spell started," Terra said, not sounding frightened at all.

[Rikugurl]

The redhead of the SkyFlyers shook his head, watching as the women started making the beds while most of the men worked on getting the water and food situated. He hated the Spells because in a way, he always knew there he never caught enough to prepare for one. If a Spell had come during those fourteen suns, the Skyflyers would be no more. He knew, with the lack of food they already had, that one or more people wouldn't be coming out from this shelter alive. Luckily, they had over hunted to celebrate Riku and they still have some good meat left to carry them through the Spell.

The other thing he hated about Spells was that there was literally nothing to do except tell stories, which Sora always enjoyed. During the later days, no one wanted to hear Axel's stories of hunting, always too hungry to bear it.
He turned, heading to the far side where he always took camp, not minding how Roxas followed him so closely. Just as he was about to sit down, there was a sudden, horrible cry. Everyone's eyes turned, spotting Olette who had tears in her eyes. "PLEASE!" Instantly, she was facing the Divine, getting up close and gripping his hand. "Please, Divine, make the Spell stop! You must know how! I prayed that you would keep Seifer safe and you didn't! YOU OWE US!"

The woman was pulled away by their leaders, the woman with the golden hair hushing the hysterical woman.
"I can't make it through this without him... S-seifer..." Olette whimpered while she was laid down on one of the beds.
Riku watched, silently. He felt numb and helpless. These people... really did put their faith in them and... how could Mother deny them so?


"THE SPELL!!" Was Ven's reaction and he started running but his shoulder was caught and Terra led the correct way towards the large den. When they arrived, the other Chasers were already sitting around, including Terra's family. He had to smile at the sight of the Terror, finding it funny how long this 'dragon food' was able to live so long with a Murderous around. He frowned though when he looked at the other side of the room, seeing his drill being examined. They had to move it here of course so it wouldn't be destroyed by the winds. "What the shit is this?" Xigbar was saying, looking at the hunk of metal from the front. "TERRA! We might as well eat that Flyer while where here because it looks nothing like the drill dragon!"

Ventus was about to snap that he wasn't fucking finished and that it wouldn't look the same because he changed the design so that it would work in a different way but he quickly remembered he had to play stupid. The whole clan was here and if he slipped up just a little, it was lights out for him. He followed the brunette towards his work, allowing Terra to do all the talking with his uncle and father. This may not be as bad as the living conditions during the Spell back in the ruins but it was equally worse just having to sit around with these people. As they talked, his eyes wondered, though he wasn't looking at anything in particular, just listening to the wind. The blonde had to wonder how the Unbroken survived a Spell...

[Reno]

Sora too watched her sadly, seeing how truly wretched she was. How could they ever tell her Seifer's death was divine's answer? That it was her intention? He sighed and shut his eyes, shaking his head, before walking - well, more hobbling, over to Riku and taking his hand. "Come on." He lead him to another side of the cavern and having him take place there. But even so far away and under the roar of the winds, they could still here Runa.

"Now Olette..." Runa was saying as kindly as she could, holding the woman's shoulders, "I know it seems hard. But Divine has a plan for everything. You have to trust her that she knows what is best. With a divine watching, you need to show her how we persevere... even in the greatest of tragedy."

Sora glanced at Riku seeing the way he lowered his eyes, guilt and shame of nothing of his doing crossing his face. He reached out, placing a hand over his and smiling to him when he looked over. "I know it seems terrible, but everyone here is looking to you for strength. You need to be strong Ri... they need it."
"And if I need it?"
"You've got me."


"'Course it doesn't look like s shitting drill yet. Do you think he's done? We got to work on it, what, seven days? Shit like that takes time." He shot Xigbar a look, "Now, until you can figure out how to make something like that, go gnaw on your own damn leg!"
"It's gonna be a long spell." Aqua sighed from beside Ida, Caleb on the floor and rolling around with the little Terror that amused him to no end. Hopefully the dragons didn't get too hungry.


The first few days of any Spell were never too hard. People still had energy, stories, hope. Sora was a tireless supply of all three. It didn't take too much to goad most of the family into some fun - he even got Roxas to sing some of his siren song for Riku to hear it. It kind of dazed him even.
Axel had his own tales like usual - all hunting tales of course that were sure to disappeared within a few days. But for now it was a wonder to watch him, his shadow dancing off the walls as he moved his arms around in expression, eyes alight with a fire of their own.
And of course they had some games they could play that they left down here times ago. Sora always brought them out but this time he had the joy of showing Riku how to play them. And of course, Riku soon learned what Sora meant by Van being his 'competitive' brother when he practically said he could do everything better than his identical twin, which of course led to them testing that theory. He was only better at half - though Van complained he would of won bucket pebbling if mom didn't yell at them to stop setting the bucket in places other people were - which, where weren't they?!

Food ran out though - fast as it always did and slowly they started to ration the water and energy started to wane. "Wonder how many moon rises it's been..." Roxas said as he stared up at the door, rubbing his stomach as it gurgled at him.
"Not how many it's been - how many are left!" Sora complained from the other side of the cavern, where he was plastered against the wall. "Look to the future Roxy!"
"What... are you doing?"
"Found a drawing rock!" Sora chirped.
The blonde rolled his eyes, sighing as he glanced at Axel mumbling, "Maybe we can eat him first."


Likewise, the Landchasers while different, did things similarly. Terra read from his storybooks to Caleb and, though no one admitted it, the rest of the family listened in. They played music, Hatori the best on the flute. They played games - mostly for little Caleb's sake no matter how childish they were.
And, when he just felt like stretching his legs, Terra would drag Ven up and down the halls they could safely walk, and they talked in that privacy and silence they had always sure to keep their voices low in case they had any unexpected run-ins.

"You know," Terra said on one of these walks, while he paused and inspected a lantern that had gone out, the others near it emitting a red glow. "When the planet was normal, there used to be seasons." He stepped away. "Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. Spring is when things grow. Summer is when it's warm. Autumn is when things start to migrate. Winter is when it gets cold and dies. They were said to be very pretty - but now all we have is Spell Season and then... I guess summer the rest of the time." He looked back at Ven, "And water fell from the sky too. It's called rain. Now all we get is dust." He sighed tilting his head, "Do you ever wonder what caused the world to be like this?"

[Rikugurl]

Riku gave a small smile to the brunette, knowing how much he loved how to draw with those rocks. He had to figure that their Secret Place was now ruined, their drawings of Their Place now gone and washed away. Sora was right, people were really leaning on him for strength and as much as he tried to do it, he made sure that his bedding was around a corner so he could collapse when he needed to. What Sora didn't realize was that every day, another scale would shed, finding it when he awoke. He stored them under his rags and hoped that the brunette wouldn't accidentally find any. He could feel his strength and general health fade, just like Runa had inquired about the night before. She said she had noticed that his glow was getting smaller by the day but he assured it it was just because the lack of sun.

Honestly, now he was becoming frightened and he knew that this was just the beginning. He was afraid that the person who wouldn't be leaving alive was him. Even if he wanted to go home where it was safe and had plenty of food, he couldn't. He had decided to stay and this... this was his Mother's punishment. Jet had other thoughts, that revenge for his son was the reason why this Spell had happened on the day of the raid...
How was Yue? His sister? Was she suffering too because of him?
His grim thoughts were pulled away for just a moment when Sora revealed a drawing rock that he had found, his hand coming out to take one that was being given to him. He leaned up, about to draw something on the wall but his eyes closed and he slumped back. "Guess... I'm not in the mood, Sora. I'm sorry."


"Honestly," Ventus started, finding it strange being able to walk around during the Spell. If only he had known, maybe he would have tried to convince his father to try and make peace with the LandChasers so they could live easier. "I never thought there was a before. We never had books, just told stories that I'm sure changed when they were passed down. To us, the world around us was always as it was. Some believed it was like the Promised Land and then something horrible happened. Trickery or the like. My people are strong believers of nonsense, that is for sure. It was stories this, and stories that. The only reason why we're still around are because of the thinkers." He shook his head and sighed. "I shouldn't talk like that about my people but... I hated how they leaned on Divine."

He yawned, his blue eyes looking up at the ceiling, hearing the wind blow. "Terra... you said your lover was an inventor like me. W-what was he like?"

[Reno]

"It's alright..." Sora said softly, taking the rock back and leaning over Riku, frowning some. Even though the fire was fading, he could still see the dark circles around the man's eyes. "You look a bit tired Ri, have you been sleeping okay? I know the wind sometimes makes it hard to sleep..." He did know, vaguely, that he couldn't ever recall waking before the silverette.

But all these excuses didn't hide the bigger picture from himself either. He knew, also, he was suffering. The lack of food, the rationing of water - it was hard on them all, but at least they were used to it. For Riku who had been, well spoiled wasn't precisely the right word, perhaps gifted with the better life, didn't know how to adjust to such harsh conditions. "How about I come and lay with you?"


Terra shook his head when the other spoke of his family, offering, "I think we all get a little tired of each other sometimes is all. It doesn't mean you don't love them." He glanced at the blonde, seeing him looking at the world above them now - which was nothing but dark cave. For a moment they were in silence, and then Ven asked his next question. It made the brunette look away, frowning. To be honest... he hadn't thought of his former lover in moon rises. How shameful...

"Ienzo... he was..." Terra broke off, then paused in his walk, causing Ven to as well. "He loved to read so much, heh, sometimes I'd have to drag him out of his room. Even if he'd read them a hundred times before... He always said books had this way of... having more secrets to tell you." He paused then looked up, "He was smart too of course. He made those sensors that tell us when something is on the land. Ever since he did, we haven't gone a day without being fed."

He continued to walk, more idly now. "He was secretive, not liking to talk much but he was never afraid to give someone a sharp retort if they bothered him. I think the only person that ever actually scared him was my dad."

Terra brushed some of his bangs down, his voice getting lower, "He was also really... really serious. Even as a kid, he never liked to have a lot of fun. He would say if we were meant to play games we'd be in Divine's Land. I still remember this, heh this god damn time... we were playing Take the Dragon Egg and we needed a fourth and so I went and found him. His nose was buried in a book like always and when I asked him he didn't look at me and he gave that stupid line... and I told him in no polite way that he could go and fuck himself."
He chortled the sound a little hollow, shaking his head and looking towards one of the red-burning lights, ignoring how it blurred. "Now I kinda wished I just dragged his ass along... Why the hell didn't I do that?"

He reached up rubbing under his eye and when Ven called worried he sniffled a little mumbling, "It's nothing. Something in my eye..."

[Rikugurl]

"No, no... go draw with your brother." Riku offered, knowing that if there were children around, things might be a little livelier. Sora was pretty close but no one was there to keep Sora entertained. Of course Sora said he could do that later so Riku had to agree, laying down on his set of rags and closing his eyes. His back was killing him and it felt wet, making a little worried since he couldn't see it. He knew that he was probably being foolish, that he should tell someone so they could address it if his spine needed some water and cleaning. Sora had once told him about something called 'infection' and how it could kill.
The two laid there some time, listening to the wind above their heads, Riku's eyes so heavy but he couldn't find comfort between his spine and stomach.

The longer he laid there, the more it hurt, causing tears to roll down his face. Of course, this didn't go unnoticed and Sora was suddenly up and quick, his blue, blue eyes full of concern. When he asked what was wrong, was he hungry, the silverette shook his head and finally whispered, "My back..."
The Divine felt gentle fingers pulling at the dirty, white, silk robes and he heard a horrible gasp. What Sora saw down Riku's spine were open areas where slough and scabs littered. These areas were where a scale once was, several of them missing now. As Sora studied the once perfect, mystical flank, Riku opened his eyes slowly. "I think I'm dying, Sora... I... I've never shed scales before." He knew he revealed a lie but right now, it would be too foolish to act as if everything was alright. He was losing his strength, his light and now his scales.


Ven was easily going to call bullshit but when he looked up at the tanned man, he could see the hurt in his body language. Dirt in his eyes his ass. Still, he sighed and looked away. "Yea, that's easy to do in a Spell." He played it off, walking again. "I know I should say sorry... but I really can't. Like I said it was either him... or me. As much as I wanted to die, to just get away from my brother, I was so focused on killing him that nothing else mattered." He paused and looked back over his shoulder, seeing Terra still standing in the same spot. "I can say though... that even though you did all those things, you're not such a bad guy. I guess you could say... he was lucky to have a guy like you."

[Reno]

"W-What... why did you-" Sora started to ask as he looked down at Riku, then cut himself off as he realized... Riku had told him the lie to keep him from being hurt. "Oh Ri... you're such an idiot! You should of told me." His eyes watered and he blinked them away, "Stay here!" He ordered, up on his feet instantly and hurrying over to the water - well hurrying as much as he could, his ankle was still stiff, but right now he hardly noticed it. The minute his hands closed around a bucket everyone was looking at him like he was about to throw up in it.
"Sora, what are you doing?" Roxas asked, eyes narrowing.
"Riku's hurt!" The brunette claimed making everyone jump.
"The divine?"
"How did that happen?"
"I told you boys not to play those games!"
Sora ignored them all as he headed back, all of them following like a billowing cloud behind him. Some of them gasped, also seeing the drying and bloody patches.
"What did you do?!" Van accused but Sora didn't warrant an answer as he set down the bucket since his mother was shoving everyone back.
"Everyone clear out! Don't stare at him like he's a show and clear out so us women can take care of this!"



The brunette looked towards Ventus, his eyes a little wide and amazed and of course teary, before he smiled shakily, "Thank you... Ven..." The blonde just rolled his shoulders and talked it off like the manly man he pretended he was, continuing on their walk and Terra followed only a few steps behind. When they reached the den again, before they entered Terra said softly, "You know I think I'm still lucky."
"How so?"
"Even after all the bad things that happened in my life... one of them made me have in common with you. If it wasn't for that... we wouldn't be friends right now." The brunette smiled faintly. "Life is really kinda ironic, huh?"

[Rikugurl]

Axel jumped up, hearing that the Divine was hurt. Dammit! This couldn't be happening!
He rushed after the crowd and when Runa spoke the orders that women would be taking care of the being's mysterious wounds, Axel too pulled everyone away. "Back up, give him some room." He pushed the group back while Runa, Olette and Lilo, the only women left, started circling around the Divine. He gripped Sora's rags and pulled them, making the brunette get up from where he was sitting with the pail and sighed. "You too, he'll be alright." Axel was praying that was true or they were all in deep shit. When everyone took their places again, the warrior pulled Sora to the side. "Now, tell me... what's going on."

Rags were dipped into the water, gently being applied to the dead tissue and skin. They all pulled away when the man yelled in pain, never use to something so horrible. Eyes all shot to Runa, silently asking her if they were to continue. She led them in again, speaking soothing words to the graceful being. Lilo was carefully working on Riku's lower back, rubbing away a scab so it would break and she could wash the wound when she too gasped, her small voice traumatized. Olette and Runa looked to see what was happening and saw it. Another scale was falling off, hanging by a piece of skin. Pus started to bubble around it and slowly, the girl peeled it off, revealing a gruesome wounds underneath.

"This.... this is really bad, Runa. Oh Divine..." Tears were lacing her eyes as began to pant, knowing that something awful was happening to their Divine guest.


Ven's eyes grew dark for a moment, Terra's face reflecting off them easily. There was no smile in the younger man's features, just a distressed, pained grimace. "I still can't find anything good come out of that situation." He spoke, tasting acid coming from his mouth. It had been awhile since he dawned on how his brother touched him, perhaps even slowly healing from it. He knew Terra didn't mean to rip it open but it wasn't the best point even if it were true.