Chapter: 008 - Savage Nature.

Chapter: 008 - Savage Nature.

Location: Dark Forest

Characters: Larxene, Axel, Zexion, Lexaeus, Marluxia, Vexen

Rating/Warnings: G, actually

Summary: Larxene muses on best laid plans and how things don't always turn out the way you want them to.

Chapter 008 : Dark Forest - Savage Nature.

"You know Larxene, you're starting to look like Vexen's little sister." Axel grinned and flicked one of Number Twelve's drooping bangs.

Larxene hissed, and Axel yanked his hand back with a yelp as electricity sparked between her fingers. "That is a horrible insult, Axel!"

"Yes Axel, that is a horrible insult." Vexen commented, passing them by on his way to the stream.

Axel gave her an artfully wounded look, sucking on his injured fingers. "What? You must admit, they are not as gravity-defying as they once were…"

She snorted and swept past him, stalking away over the rocky beach. Axel should be lucky she counted breakfast more important than teaching him a lesson. She tried not to limp too noticeably as she headed for the blackberry bushes; yesterday's exertions had left her with stiff joints and aching feet. Perhaps she had eaten a few berries too much as well, her stomach told her. Zexion stumbled down to the water beside her and she smirked openly at his pained movements

The berries were just as delicious as they had been yesterday. She greedily tore them off the branches, not caring that her hands stained blue from the juice. Right now, the loss of the gloves seemed less important. This was so much better than rubbery fish, burnt half to cinders over an open fire. Her bangs flopped down in her face and she brushed them behind her ears, irritated. She was so not starting to look like Vexen! The Elder's hair was hardly as neat as it once had been, either.

The sun had risen well up in the sky by the time they started out. No one had really wanted to. They had food here, and lots of it to boot, they were tired and sore. But no one had wanted to be the first to admit to such weaknesses, and so they pressed on, after stuffing themselves and every available container with blackberries. Not that they had a lot of those. All of them had been reluctant to put the sticky things in their pockets, foreseeing an awful mess. A few hanging cowls looked suspiciously bulgy, though. She filed the knowledge away for later, in case she got bored.

Just as they had yesterday, they did their best to hide their tracks before they left. Marluxia made the grass cover their footprints and sleeping places even as Axel burned the last of the fire to soot. That done, Lexaeus made the earth swallow the fire pit whole. As the stone rose to create a smooth surface, she caught sight of Marluxia. He looked pale, almost nauseous. Seemed she was not the only one who had eaten too many berries yesterday.

Her stiff joints protested at every step, but the warm sun and the food made the day at least bearable. Watching the others drag themselves along in obvious pain made it easier to bear anyways.

It was a rotten situation she had ended up in. The new sores on her feet were just another remainder of the fact. All her plans had failed horribly. Now she trudged through the snarled undergrowth on this awful world, when she should have ruled in the Organization!

Well, perhaps not ruled. The ideas of what to do once they had overthrown Xemnas were actually a bit hazy. She had always assumed Marluxia had plans for the throne of Number One, and she wasn't about to challenge him for it. All she had wanted was to be released from the shackles of boredom and hierarchy. All the Elders, they were so high and mighty, giving all the orders, making all the plans; holding her back and she had been sick and tired of it.

In front of her, Vexen almost slipped as they descended down a muddy bank. Only a steady hand from Lexaeus kept him on his feet. The sight of the mud smeared all over the bottom of his coat made her smile, relishing in the fact that the tidy Elder soon would have clothes as ruined as hers.

Xemnas had always insisted their loss of hearts meant loss of emotion. The higher numbers had agreed, slavishly tried to restrict the show of feelings in themselves. No fun, no games, no enjoyment.

As if she couldn't decide that for herself. The glee she felt at the other's misfortune was real enough – he deserved it! – and Xemnas could rant all he wanted against it.

The first thing she had felt as a Nobody was the power crackling though her. It was all hers, this power, and she wanted to use it! To enjoy it, feel her element flow though her, do whatever she wanted just because she wanted it! Not be controlled by a bunch of slow old men always wanting to do things the slow, sure way. Cowards. They had never seen her potential. All they had seen was Number Twelve, second to last in the Organization.

By their own volition, her eyes sought out Marluxia, leading the way down the hill. They had found each other in the dissatisfaction, their urge for recognition. And it had been such a chance. Alone in Oblivion, away from the watching eyes of Number One and the more formidable Elders, with Naminé in their hands…

She had been such a sweet, easily broken little thing. Larxene had quite liked her, with her big blue eyes and whispery little voice. It was hard to believe she had the guts to turn against Marluxia in the end.

Or maybe not. Naminé and the Keyblade bearer had felt very much the same to her, innocent, naïve, caring. Easy to hurt. She could play them like fine instruments, she knew she could. And yet that blue eyed boy had… She shook her head. Better not to think of the moment of pure shock and utter nothingness before her being was pulled back from the brink where the boy's weapon had sent her.

They had all dearly underestimated their prey, and they had paid the price for it. And they would pay even more heavily if found by either enemy or ally. It was that grim thought that kept her moving, grinding her teeth every time she slipped on the uneven ground.

***

The stream had eagerly jumped down its narrow channel as they descended the slopes, but now it flowed more slowly, a clam and broad reach though the trees. Indistinct shapes moved under the surface. She lifted her hand to fix supper, then thought the better of it. She wanted to be alone for a bit, let her guard down for a moment. They had ground to a halt by the edge of the water, dusk and slippery ground making walking hazardous. This spot was dry. It would do.

"I'll find dinner," she announced, flashing her eyes at anyone daring to oppose her. "And the Ladies' Forest is that way tonight, so don't even think about it."

Sadly, none seemed about to challenge her for it. They others had more or less collapsed on the ground, Vexen complaining loudly over sore feet and Lexaeus hovering over Zexion. The Schemer waved him off, evidently not wanting that kind off attention in public. Axel's lips were blue with berry juice. The bastard didn't even have the decency to share.

It was almost too dark to find her way, but she relished this small amount of freedom. She had seen the jealous gazes of Marluxia and Axel as she slipped off into the trees whenever she wanted. The Elders would never allow either of those two to do the same. Axel was a snake, had proven his untrustworthiness more than once, and Marluxia… well, she understood why they wanted to keep their eyes on him.

Oh, well. Better them than her. At least now, there was someone below her on the ladder. She still could not stand those stuffy Elders, but the situation forced them to at least listen when she spoke. Bringing home the occasional fish only made them listen so much better. And she rather liked standing over Axel and Marluxia. It gave her an edge. Nothing wrong with letting them both eat some humility for the moment.

She had followed the river, and now stuck her hand down into the water. Blue light sizzled over the surface for a fraction of a moment. Soon, pale shapes floated to the surface. She gathered them in before they had floated off downstream. Another small thing that would ensure her freedom of movement.

She stuck her hand inside her coat and found the small leaf package of berries. They seemed to have had survived reasonably well. Filling her mouth with the sweet morsels, she strolled back to the camp.