Survivors of Alterna: Best for Last

Chapter 1: The Splatlands

"So... hot..." Akikta groaned, trudging through the sandy dunes of a vast desert.

The damp black and blue-colored scuba suit protected a majority of his light brown skin from the harsh rays of the sun.

The only positive thing the burning heat brought was helping Akikta dry off. At first, the feeling was pleasant, especially after he crawled out of the frigid cold waters that poured on him upon escaping Alterna. But the more he walked, the hotter it became.

The cool breeze of air was the only solace Akikta had against the blistering heat. When they blew over him, they caused his eight-long braids to sway gently. Similar to a cape in the wind.

The sand brought a comfortable warmth to Akikta's bare feet with each step he took. But the comfort it brought was minuscule compared to the landscape before him. Everywhere Akikta turned, his gaze met with a sandy hill or valley. Aside from the body of water he crawled out from, there was nothing else—just sand.

"This isn't the world Father Axe described..." He said, a little disappointed.

His grandfather told of a world where green forests stretched for miles and delivered delicious bounties called fruit to those who lived within. Icy winter wonderlands, which mimicked the various sites of Alterna, should've dotted the lands. And amongst it all, a plethora of diverse and unique creatures should be visible from miles away, living their best life.

But no. All Akikta saw were millions of tiny pebbles as he simmered in furnace-type heat.

The desert's conditions were intense; he found it hard to believe anyone or thing could survive out here. But he knew he wasn't alone.

Wrapped around Akikta's waist was a silver-colored utility belt. Secured on it were his two treasured items. A blank white mask and a handheld radio, the latter of which he unhooked.As he turned the radio on, the screen lit up to show he had arrived at the destination given to him by his mysterious benefactor.

His eyebrows raised before he took a few seconds to survey his surroundings. "Uh, Sal? I think I'm at the place you told me to go to. But all I see is sand." Akikta grew a little concerned. Had the water from earlier messed up the radio after all?

"Oh, wow!" The radio buzzed as a familiar voice boomed through. Usually, the radio gave off static whenever communication was attempted. But not this time. Akikta could hear Sal crystal clear, that slight gurgle in his voice being even more prominent than before.

"You look absolutely delicious!" Sal exclaimed, his mouth audibly full of what Akikta assumed was food.

He's eating again. Akikta shook his head. "Uh, thanks?" He said unsurely. Sal's tone suggested his phrase was meant to be a compliment—a rather odd one.

The word choice perturbed Akikta, but only for a moment. "Hold on, you can see me?"

"Of course I can. That radio has a built-in camera. Though, now that the connection is better, it actually works." Akikta would've never guessed such a feature could be put on a radio, of all things.

"How can I see you?" He asked excitedly.

Sal's noisy chewing ceased abruptly. "Sorry... It's a one-way feature. Didn't really think to make it a two-way."Akikta frowned. He desperately wanted to see the face of something that wasn't trying to kill him for once, especially one that belonged to a human.

"Anyway, to answer you properly, yes. You're in the right place, just in time too! Look up; you should see someone." Akikta turned to face the sky. Sal was right!

In the air was a small circular object, and underneath it was a spinning propeller. Had Sal not brought it to his attention, he would've missed it. "Yeah! I see them!" He said loudly, mainly so whoever was up there could hear him, which they certainly did.