[Perhaps 1#]

Blinking his eyes as his jaw dropped, “Wait what?!"

"What?! What was that? What was that huh?” He repeated following behind Sedalia gesturing behind them. 

“Huh? --Can somebody tell me what was that?” glancing up at the sky, as the clouds began swirling and crowning. “Wait."

"No no forget what that was."

"What is that?!” Pointing up at the sky.

Sedalia growling “Would you shut up and Run!!” Panting as he would shut up, “Fine!” kicking up his feet even more. 

In his mind shouting at himself, ‘Lets Scooby doo the shit outta here!!’ 

Yelling out finally, “Right!”

 Sedalia glancing back behind her narrowing her eyes. “What?!” Her eyes widened as [main] was catching up to her quickly. ‘About time!’ She thought in her head, before feeling a grip against her side. Glancing to the hand that held onto her side, then towards [main] as he was right beside her pulling her close to him for a moment. 

Before she could say anything to him about touching her. He stopped suddenly on his right foot for a moment only to grip the back of her body with his hands spinning around slingshotting. Using his strength tossing her up into the air, her feet were still moving as if she was still running. Sedalia’s eyes widened as she seen what looked like waves of the ocean swarming engulfing the ground under her. 

[Main] was panting heavily, bent down taking a breath before taking off running once more. A large body of water began crashing around coming from behind him. Glancing behind him for a second yelling to himself, “Fuck."

'OH Shi- run! run!'

"Get the hell outta here!!” Panting heavily while kicking up dirt behind him, the roar of the waves behind him gaining speed as well, and coming more violent with each object it destroyed. 

'Why is everything trying to kill me?!'

Sedalia had landed upon a roof of a building as it was getting hit with waves after wave of water. “Shit! Run you Idiot!” she yelled out before running upon the roof tops as the buildings were shaking and moving under her. Up on the roof, and above them the cloud’s continued pouring down rain faster and heavier as time continued.

 [main] panting heavily as he clinched his chest with his hand, thinking to himself “Dammit."

"Not now..” His whole left arm began getting tingly and numb as his lungs began to burn, along with right side. Glancing behind him once more as he had no choice but to continue to run, tears began streaming down his cheeks. Inside his body was burning up torturing him as he was pushing his body as much and as far as he could.

 His legs went numb suddenly as he fell to the ground only for a second, before being swept up in the roaring waves of water smacking, tossing him around while he held his breath still holding onto his chest. Sedalia continued running around on the rooftops as the waves continued smashing the buildings into each other. Coming to the end of the buildings as she looked back, at the water. 

“Curse you!” She yelled out as the building she stood on was struck with wave after wave. Swaying back and forth keeping her balance upon a piece of the roof. The building crumbling under her as she fell into the water holding her breath as the waves slammed her body into the wall of the building and out the other end. Splashing around, while opening up her eyes under the water swimming her best to get to the surface.

 Only to be grabbed by a large hand pulling her up out of the water tossed upon a flat surface of a makeshift raft of pieces of rooftop‘s. Coughing and spitting up water as she opened up her eyes seeing it was Fuego that pulled her up out of the waters tomb. “Fuego?" 

"Where are the others?“ Panting out before laying on the roof top catching her breath as the cloud above was breaking up into pieces and evaporating back into the sky. “You’re only one, I have seen lass..” he said while holding onto the edges of the raft looking around under them in the water for anybody else, or anything else that would be useful. 

“Where’s."

"[main] wasn’t he with you?” Drifting upon the water on the raft, as she lifted herself up slightly looking around for any sign of him. 

“I."

"don’t know."

"Last I seen he was running."

"Running..” She sighed, closing her eyes and laying back down to gain her strength up. Fuego suddenly diving half his upper part of his body down into the water, as he reemerged tossing Kontara upon the raft. Coughing and spitting up more water than Sedalia had. Her arms and legs wiggling like jello to hold herself up before collapsing on the surface of the raft gasping for air.

 “Kontara?!” Sedalia called out crawling over to her, and pulled her into her lap. Fuego would go back to the edges looking around and waiting keeping an eye for anyone else in the water. Dead or alive from the group, before sitting up and coughing slightly looking at the two. 

“Is she going to be alright?” asking leaning against the edge lightly, Sedalia nodded “Yes.."

"I think."

"Yes she will be alright.” Drifting upon the raft, as the day turned to night. Kontara’s eyes slowly opening as she coughed slightly looking around at Sedalia, then to Fuego.

 “Did we make it?” 

Sedalia nodded, “Heh ya.."

"We made it.” Slowly sitting up from Sedalia’s lap taking a deep breath looking around as she looked around for everybody else. 

“Where’s everyone else at?” she asked rubbing her chest lightly. Silence met her question, from the silence she lowered her head having a moment of silence to remember those who hadn’t been found. Fuego stayed at the edge of the raft, looking down in the water searching in the depths of anything any signal of life, or death of any other.

 Sedalia, seeing Kontara having a moment would shift to another edge of the raft searching as well, but catching the reflection of herself for a moment in the moons‘ light. She remembered back when she had first met [main], before he dug her out and brought her back to life. Thinking to herself in the snow as it piled on her body, that she was going to freeze to death and there was no way to get out of it. 

Then after he dug her out and brought her back, what he was singing, one night while making a fire. Trying to remember the words, and the tune he had when he sang it. Then the other songs he would sing randomly as they were making their way to help him home. The night turned back into day, nothing was seen of any other.

Sitting on the raft as Kontara, Sedalia and Fuego would watch below at the watery grave. As time went on the level of how high the water was began decreasing sinking into the ground. Nothing was said, as all three couldn’t find the words to speak of what had happened.  

“Don’t worry."

"Be happy..” Sedalia scoffed out with a lump in her throat.

Both Fuego and Kontara tilted their head back looking at her, “What did you say?” Kontara asked, while stretching out a little bit feeling a bit stiff from sitting at the edge of the raft all day. 

“It’s a song."

"He sang it a few times that day when he found me.”  A loud whistle came from a distance, Husian and Phen where perched up on a wall caverns wall. Phen was sitting down staring at the water below ears lowered. Husian was waving his arms around frantically trying to get their attention. Hearing the whistles looking around before seeing them in the distance Kontara sat back down on the edge. 

While all three were paddling with their arms in the water. Phen would only wave at them with a blank expression upon his face. It was a sight to see someone else other than Husian, but then there were still those that were missing that haven’t been found. Soon as they were close enough, Husian jumped onto the raft balancing on it for a moment, before looking up at Phen.

 “Come on."

"Lets go Phen..” Looking down at the raft, then at everyone closing his eyes for a moment. 

Then being dragged off the cavern wall and placed onto the raft, by Fuego. Husian looked around for a moment, “Nobody else has made it out."

"Have they?” Again silence would fall upon the raft, sitting down Husian nodded his head.

“There is a way out of here..” looking up at the sky, seeing a single cloud slowly passing by. 

“The water is almost gone."

"We can leave when it is cleared up.” Sedalia said sitting at the edge, while the raft drifting some more the tips of trees were gently scrapping upon the bottom of the raft. A shadow dancing along the surface of the water would circle around the raft. Fuego quickly standing, when he noticed the shadow started multiplying in number. 

“Outta the water."

"in the middle.” Soon standing up, as they were all back to back watching the shadows surrounding them. Kontara glancing up into the sky’s as she seen nothing but feathers and wings which looked like they were flying around the sun. 

“Look..” The sun light shining down into their eyes, only able to see the ring of wings, flying around in a circle around them.  

Soon one slowly glided down towards the group, pitch black fur and wings. Her eyes purple that seemed to glow in the light, the only thing upon her body that was of clothing, was the strap wrapped around her shoulder that she used to carry scrolls or objects of sorts. “Kontara?” was all she said looking at the group hovering over the water a little bit away from the raft and out of their reach. 

Looking at her, Kontara would blink stepping forward slowly. “I am Kontara."

"What is it?” Reaching into her strap, pulling out a scroll

 “I have been sent to give you a important message.” 

Raising her eyebrow, ”A important message? From who?” Slowly getting closer to the raft, before setting her feet down upon the raft. Her wings folding upon her back, as she was panting lightly. 

“It is from Tirishan from [Kontara‘s homeland], what it is I do not know.“ Kontara’s eyes widen as her tail puffs out as she took the message. Opening the scroll as she began to read the message quickly. Fuego would stare at the delivery girl, glancing at her wings.

Husian would smirk a little seeing this new face. “Well hello there."

"And what’s your name?” Sedalia leaning back a little looking at Kontara watching her expression, 

“What’s the message Kontara?” Kontara’s face was froze as her eyes would shift back and forth reading the message over and over again. 

“My homeland is."

"Was..” Quickly pushing Husian into the water as she grabbed a hold of the delivery girls shoulders. 

“When?! When did she give you this?” Struggling as she unfolded her wings kicking Kontara back while flapping her wings until getting free of her grip, hovered back over the water and away from the raft. 

“It has only been three days since, I was sent out to deliver the message..” Husian splashing around in the water, as he resurfaced quickly making his way back onto the raft.

 Gasping lightly as he shook his body for a moment, “Just got dry ya know..”

 Sedalia pushing Husian back into the water, “Shut up Hus..” Phen would be sitting back down upon the raft looking at his paws slowly moving his fingers around. 

“It would take us four or more to reach [Kontara‘s homeland].”

Kontara grumbled clinching her fingers into the scroll, “I have a important urgent message to reply back and I will pay for your trouble at any amount you want."

"Tell Tirishan that I’m on my way.” nodding her head, a smirk crawled over her lips as she flapped her wings sending her higher.

 “Deal.” 

Sedalia raising her paw up, “Wait!"

"Wait!! Have you seen any others around here?!”

 She would ask dreading the answer she may get, looking around in the distance while she was up in the sky, “No."

"I haven’t seen anybody, but you five.” lifting her head up, while making her way back to the rest of those up in the sky. Then taking off with the others in the direction that, the raft was floating in. Husian pulling himself back onto the raft, while glaring at both Kontara and Sedalia for pushing him in the water. Phen’s head was lowered now even more, as his head laid upon the floor. 

Sedalia feel to her knees, before sitting upon her own ankles. 

“So.."

"That’s it then?” Kontara would stare at the scroll reading it over and over again also falling to her knees.

 Fuego kneeled down at the edge of the raft and began paddling with his hands & arms following the way that those up in the air went. Further down that Fuego paddled the raft, lower the level of the water was. Jumping out as his hooves slightly sank down into the mud, before pulling his legs out of the mud, dragging the raft behind him. It didn’t take long before then that the ground was more solid and drier. 

Pulling the raft a bit before Sedalia and Kontara, Husian jumped off the raft stepping upon ground stretching and stepping around on solid ground. Phen stayed on the raft, not moving while thinking about Roulie and the others they had lost. 

“Sho time.” A males voice called out from a distance, while walking down the path of destroyed trees, and fragments of buildings all around. Looking towards the voice noticing it was Razeem.

It brought hope seeing other companions alive and wandering around. “Raz!” Husian called out, while the others would make their way over to greet him. The hour was growing dim, as light was starting to become scarce. 

“Have you seen anybody else?” Husian asked Razeem nodding his head holding up one finger, then turning to the side as he pointed in the distance. Sedalia, gripped a hold of Razeem’s head pulling him over to face him. 

“Who!? Who did you see..” She demanded fury and fear burned in her eyes. Phen’s ear flicked up listening to see what name would be said. Razeem, began stumbling over his words then pointed towards Phen. 

“Sho."

"Beer” Sedalia’s grip loosened on Razeem, before lowering her head. Phen’s ears perked up diving off of the raft and scattering all over the ground before suddenly stopping in front of Razeem.

“You seen Roulie!? Roulie is alive?!” Razeem would nod his head, but waved his paw slightly. 

Phen mimicked his paw, “What’s this mean?! Is Roulie alright?!” 

Husian touched Razeem’s shoulder, “Show us ya? Can you take us to him?” Nodded his head as he began walking back where he came. Stepping over branches, climbing over logs Sedalia turned her body back to the water's edge. 

Then looking down at a puddle in a foot print seeing herself “Sedalia."

"Come on..” 

Fuego would touch her shoulder gently. Following behind them slowly as she trailed them while Razeem led the way. The ground of dirt turned to a ground of rocks, as they were slowly making their way back the way they had come up to reach the place up in the mountain. Sedalia reaching into her shirt pulling out a small [gift from [main]] before putting it back into her shirt.

 The way down the mountain everyone seemed to be having deep thoughts about what was going to happen, and what had happened. Reaching the bottom of the mountain the sunrise slowly creeping up past the ridges of the mountains in the distance. Walking into the village once again, as a familiar voice called out, “Mom!” 

Sedalia looking up as Elilassa pounced on top of her and held her close with the teddy bear in a clinched grip in her right paw. Sedalia couldn’t stop the tears from rolling down as she held her daughter close to her. The handmaiden slowly walked up to their side, “She has been waiting patiently for once..” Sedalia sat up, held Elilassa close to her not saying anything. 

Komono & Nukapu came thundering through the road towards the others, as there mouths were open panting heavily. Coming to a full stop their heads turning to each of them growling, while their tendrils upon their heads waved side to side. Their eyes seemed to pierce through their bodies, drool dripping from their mouths sizzling against the ground below them. 

Elilassa’s teddy bear was dropped as the mother and daughter held each other, [one creature] lowered its head down to the teddy bear sniffing it with its snout, before gripping the paw of the teddy with its mouth and holding it up in the air, gently shaking it knocking the dirt from its body.

 “Wheres everybody else?” Elilassa asked while holding onto her mother looking around for any other that would have come back with them. 

“[main]."

"he” Kontara interpreted Sedalia, holding onto her scroll 

“He went home.” 

Elilassa frowned slightly. “But."

 "He promised to stay and show me how to make another teddy..”

 Razeem continued his way pushing open a door to the inn, walked up stairs to the rooms opening up the room down the hall. Laying upon the bed with bandages covering his head, chest and arms Roulie laid there still and sleeping with the blanket covering his waist. Phen peeked in looking at Roulie upon the bed sleeping, quietly bursts into the room dropping himself by the bed.

On his knees as he hesitantly began reaching out to touch his paw. 

“Roulie..” He whispered as more tears began slowly making their way down the sides of his face. Husian, Fuego and Razeem stood in the doorway, before Razeem reached out closing the door. 

“How long ago did you find him?” Husian asked with a frown upon his muzzle looking at Razeem, 

“Sho” raising up his paw making a small ‘c’ with his thumb, and index finger. Husian nodded his head, 

“Not long then.” Nodding his head, walking through the door Sedalia, Elilassa, the handmaiden, Kontara. All sat down and laid down in beds that were over the room, Sedalia, Elilassa laid together, while Kontara held onto the message and ran the finger of her paw over her bag feeling the gift that was given to her.

Husian and while Fuego would walk back downstairs sitting outside on the ground next to [creatures] taking a deep breath. ‘So much destruction in so little time, barely anybody got out in one piece.’

 He thought to himself, ‘so where are you at now?’ He added looking up at the sky as the colors in the sky would swirl and dance around. Everybody was tired, hungry and worn from what was an end to one venture and a beginning of another.