The Battle for Blogland Chapter 5

Theme 1 [Heat]: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NneLtiUcEjY
'Heatwave' by The Living End
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Theme 2 [Rain and follows.]: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RYvzTWE3y8
'The Other Side' by Evanescence

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5

THE SURPRISE IN THE NIGHT

Walking. That pretty much summed up basically everything that ever happened on that second day. Or first day. Whatever. Whichever. The first full day after the Hollow Man attack on Central happened. ‘Walking’. Walking and a hell load of arguing along the way. Tedious, useless, petty, meaningless arguing that increased the headaches of everyone who had stayed up for watch. Except Nixion, of course, who was doing most of the arguing himself. He seemed to have made it his personal goal to start as much conflict as possible over the tiniest things. When an argument was burning, Nixion was always in the middle of it, yelling over the others, trying to make his own opinion on the useless matter known, or rather; carved into the minds of everyone. When an argument begun to die down, Nixion would roar the most provoking thing at the top of his lungs at someone which almost always started it back up again. Whenever an argument died out entirely and silence was allowed the opportunity to seize control again, Nixion would crush it down, finding another absolutely petty thing to complain about that seemed to make everyone else so aggravated that they simply had to argue against or along-side him. I was beginning to think he had an endless supply of energy, and if it was an act to appear immune to fatigue, it was certainly a good act and one of which that would have convinced everyone else too if they were not so intent on either ignoring or arguing with him.

To be perfectly honest, the first quarter or so of that first day passed in a hazy blur for the most part. For me, I mean, obviously. The ones who were rested up for the day maintained a fairly steady pace, but those of us who had had not had one wink of sleep were forever trailing behind, half sagged and practically dragging ourselves across the plains. This did not include Nixion, of course, as he was up ahead with the others, either abusing his eternal energy supply or putting up his act, and Eve was managing to keep up with the others without too much trouble, having had an hour of sleep at least the previous night. So it was actually just Sparky and myself that were behind; exhausted, dehydrated, emotionless, half asleep. Neither of us spoke to one another, nor exchanged words with any of the others for the first quarter of the day. Actually, I was kind of glad that I was not the only one who had been too tired to keep up with everyone else; although it was true that I did not want to be taking part in any lead role in the group, I didn't want to be seen as a weakling, especially not this early on. 

I'm not entirely sure if the others would have seen it the same way if it was someone else trailing behind alongside me, especially seeing as the arguing seemed to have them occupied, but Sparky’s presence probably helped. Even if she doesn’t, or didn’t, know it, Sparky is and was incredibly influential on everyone else. For example, if she were ever to enter an argument in the weeks that would follow, the opposing side would almost immediately die out, their expressions clearly displaying that they were embarrassed at having thoughts that contradicted with Sparky’s way of thinking. Strong, arrogant, influential and intelligent, Sparky was probably the one who should take a lead on the group. She had leadership qualities. Or so it looked, anyway. She certainly didn’t look to be in any condition to anything right at that moment, though.

The qualities that everyone had before the invasion were now up to a point of entering a stage where they basically lived or died. The useless ones, the strengths that would not help in these new circumstances, would die out while the useful ones would strengthen under pressure and flourish, would shape the new attitude of each and every one of us.

Uselessness would only get in the way, after all.

Survival.

That really was the only thing that mattered now.

Somehow, everyone knew that more things were out here and, like the Hollow Men back at Central, had the sole purpose of existing to kill us. Or perhaps we all just ended up guessing correctly.

For what seemed like an eternity, the sun blazed menacingly in the sky, the agenda it took on of vanishing the previous afternoon nowhere to be seen. It burned in the sky, like an immortal flame, a fireball in the sky, powerful, mocking and evil. Wave after wave consisting of nothing but immense heat were sent crashing down on us as if encouraging on my headache to cause my body more main and also increased the fatigue of the everyone except Nixion.

Eyes burning as if on fire, eyelids so heavy, they were practically forcing themselves shut, ears ringing, the shouted arguments ahead of me hollow and distant, head pounding, mouth and throat rock dry, feet heavy, back hunched, stomach uncomfortably empty. This was how I was for the first few hours of the walk. I figure that there was a chance that Sparky had been feeling around about the same way, but it was impossible to tell, largely because my eyesight was always fixed on the ground below me, desperately trying to keep them open. The only time my vision wavered from the literally flaming ground was to check if there were any land forms up ahead. For some reason, I had been very interested in the landscape of our new surroundings. Perhaps it was largely because I so desperately wanted to rest somewhere at the time and take cover from the dangerously hot flaming ball above us all at that moment, but I had also generally been intrigued by everything new that was happening to us and how the environment changed or was different from Central.

I can’t explain exactly why, but I did say to myself somewhere along the way that I would make sure to write something down on the landscape when everything was all over and it had all finished. And, well, now I am, though not really in the way I had imagined. It was pointless either way, though; no landform presented itself to me and even though my eyesight was not entirely reliable at that point (partially because of everything having been engulfed in a rippling heatwave streaking across the ground, partially because I was struggling to keep my eyes open at the time), I was still fairly certain that I wasn’t imagining what I was seeing. It wouldn’t have mattered if a land mass had come our way though, because the others seemed keen on nothing but arguing while they walked and I was far too exhausted to even stop myself walking, now that I had got into the habit, let alone yell out to the others. But as I had said; this was only the first quarter or so of the day…

To the others, I think it was only noticeable because the clouds were so heavy and so large that they also blocked out the sun’s despicable rays of heat as well as every inch of the sky. The sudden change in the temperature was what made them stop. Of course, Sparky and I, who were so blocked off from everyone else at that point, noticed the clouds immediately. Even though our gaze was still fixed on the ground, it was not the shadows that alerted us. The clouds…well, it’s kind of had to explain, but they moved in such a sense that we were kind of able to sense them coming. Well, I was anyway, I still don’t actually know anything about Sparky or the others. Either way, once the sun was blocked off from radiating it’s heatwaves on us, the others stopped at once. Even Nixion stopped in his tracks and turned to the sky. The change in temperature seemed to wake Sparky and I up, however, and we managed to catch up to the rest of the group quickly before also redirecting our gaze to the sky. Dark, menacing storm clouds blocked out the sky as far as any of us could see. Apparently some others suspected that the sudden appearance of the clouds also signified another attack, as such weapons were drawn. Nixion, who had been carrying his machete in a sweaty hand ever since he had started his watch the previous night, raised it only slightly higher and his expression, which was already a fierce glare, had no need to shift. Lynxia had already raised her bow and had drawn an arrow to the skies, looking around for a sign of any disruption. Star raised a wall of ink to her aid. But there was nothing there.

Two minutes passed of complete stillness. Silence engulfed us and took over entirely. I was tense, cautious, and Nixion was muttering something quietly under his breath. Then, a deafening rumble of thunder made everyone jump backwards as a sudden blinding flash emitted out of nowhere. Then there was silence again for a few moments in which everyone took in what had just happened.

“…Crap.” Star said, letting the ink drop into evaporation as rain begun to pour from the skies and another deafening roar of thunder growled into being. At once, we all threw ourselves into the rain, ducking down so as not be as a large a target to the lighting which seemed to be striking in every direction now. Running low across the flat ground that was rapidly filling with water. That was how we spent the rest of the day. Argument was forgotten in laughter after that; no one knew why rain was so hilarious all of a sudden, but it made us laugh all the same. Large mouthfuls of rain water rehydrated us all and kept us running through the downpour well after what had been the time for sunset and even a few hours into the night, all the time of which the thundering rain continued its torrential downpour, beating down on our backs, soaking every bit of us it could possibly get at.

I was so busy laughing along with everyone else, that I did not notice the change in terrain. Or perhaps it was because of the thick mist that had hung over the scene now. Either way, when I came back to my senses after Lavender (again) suggested in a yell that even then was only barely audible over the rain beating on the puddles that covered the ground, it was only then did I notice the changes. Instead of completely, perfectly flat ground with light, even grass, small rocky mountains and hills scattered the ground, ditches were filled with muddy water and there were large patches were grass had died out. At this point, though, I didn’t really care. We settled down in a large crater in the ground that didn’t offer any attention against anything that may have been thrown our way in the night that would follow (the cold, the rain, possibly another unexpected heatwave, who knew?) and once I was relaxed, to an extent, I begun to feel the fatigue and exhaustion again.

It only took me a moment or two to drift off into an uneasy sleep.

If I’m honest, I don’t think the others even noticed. From what I’ve gathered, no one talked much, if at all; even Nixion kept a lid on things now that there was water around to drink. The rain was so heavy and mist was so thick that it was hard to see your own outstretched hand, let alone the face of anyone else and any words that may have been exchanged were quickly drowned in the noise of the rain.

When I opened my eyes again, rested and fully awake, the rain had calmed itself. It was still falling down on us, but it wasn’t nearly as heavy as before. I must have been asleep for a while though, because the mist seemed to have dissipated and Eve and Sparky were both asleep (Nixion was curled up in a ball against the side of the crater but it was impossible to tell if he was sleeping). Someone had lit a small campfire again though, so I assumed Nixion was asleep seeing as there was no heated argument over its existence. Flame, Lavender, Star and Lynxia were all sitting, awake and looking quite peaceful, though thoroughly drenched. Just like the rest of us…

Flame noticed I was awake and nodded.

“You should probably sleep some more.” He said quietly over the soft patter of the rain.

“I know.” I replied at the same volume. All the same, I ignored sleep for the time being and moved closer to the fire. At that moment, I had no interest in safety; I just wanted to get warm. “What’s happened?” I asked.

“We did the same as last night, really.” Star said. Then Lynxia picked up.

“We stayed up on watch. Still are. Star and Flame went looking for food around an hour ago when the rain stopped for a bit.”

“Nothing turned up.” Flame injected quickly.

“And Nixion was awake with us until about two hours ago.” Lynxia continued. “But he hasn’t said anything for a long time now so we’re pretty sure he’s asleep now.” She laughed playfully at the ball that was Nixion.

“You, Sparky and Eve have all been resting for about five hours now.” Lavender said as if it meant something.

I nodded but did not say anything, moving as close to the fire as I dared.

The moonlight had somehow managed to penetrate the immense mass of clouds overhead and illuminated small patches of grass here and there, but the fire was really the main source of light. And warmth. It cast a brilliant, flickering orange around the crater and played tricks with the lights on everyone’s faces.

However, the fire was still a very potential threat, no matter how much I enjoyed the warmth it generated against the freezing night. Soon enough, I drifted back off to sleep but it can’t have been that long before I was roused again.

This time I jerked upwards, alert, panicky. My vision was blurry and I blinked quickly in order to clear it a bit. Sparky and Eve were getting into a sitting position looking confused. Lynxia, Flame, Star and Lavender were all white faced, looking at one side of the crater as rain continued to fall on their faces. I felt it immediately; the air was tense and full of horror. It soon became apparent why they were only staring in one place though. I looked up slowly and saw three people standing above the crater holding weapons, or rather I saw their silhouettes. And suddenly the fire seemed like a horrible, dangerous thing again that could very well have just gotten us all killed, had attracted three potential killers to us. One of the three silhouettes was speaking in a strong voice. It took me a few moments to register that it sounded familiar.

“Put your weapons on the ground,” she said slowly, purposefully. She knew she was in control. There was something in her voice that told us she was stronger, that she was the one who had the upper hand. And in this new world we had suddenly been forced into, she was probably right. “And stand up slowly.” Weapons were slowly drawn from holders or wherever else we had kept them and were placed on the ground before everyone slowly stood and turned to face the three silhouettes. The middle one, the leader it seemed, froze when we turned as if stunned.

Then she took a tentative step forwards. One step was all it took for the firelight to illuminate her face full of confusion and a weird kind of relief.

It was Ivy.