Awake and Alive

Chapter One: Back To Where It All Started

"Don't worry, we'll meet again! That I can promise, sweetheart."

"Really? You sure?"

"Of course! After all, I am the reader of the stars."

"I'll hold you to that... partner."

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The sky vanished almost completely, with only a few fragments of blue remaining – like scattered pieces of an impossible jigsaw puzzle. The air was rich with the fragrance of leaves and damp loam, the sound of running water from the brook possessing a sort of hypnotic quality. Faint streams of light filtered through the canopy and casted an almost ethereal glow over the moss-blanketed tree trunks that had toppled over.

Rikka crinkled her nose as the sunlight warmed over her face, coaxing her to wake up, and dark eyes were revealed from behind thick lashes. She rubbed the sleep away from her eyes as she sat up, stretching her high so that her fingers wiggled in the sunbeams that dusted the thicket with a pale golden tint. As opposed to the early morning heat, it was notable cooler and less humid as the afternoon began to roll in slowly.

She rocked on the curve of her rear and launched herself into a crouching position. With her hands pressed against her thighs, she heaved herself straight up. A cold drop to her cheek shocked her a little and Rikka looked upward, arching a brow at the small flurry of white flecks.

"What the – ?"

Not enjoying the sudden tightening in her chest, Rikka shouldered her drawstring bag and dropped down from her tree branch. Just as she made a light jog back towards the camp areas, the gentle snowfall picked up into an impending storm.

She cursed the whole way back. As soon as her eyes spotted a nearby cabin, she sprinted as fast as she could through the accumulating inches of snow. She hastily jerked the door open and slammed her back against the hard wood, her breath coming out in hard rasps. Her body shivered, being dressed in shorts and a cropped t-shirt not helping to keep warm at all.

"Look who decided to drop on by, it's Rikka the Snowman!"

Her eyes narrowed, through her snow-flecked bangs, at a tanned skin boy with a bush for hair.

"Bite me." she hissed under her breath, brushing the snow off one of her shoulders. Despite his childish taunt, Tai came around and gave her a towel to dry off with.

For the next hour or so, the snow was relentless and continued on without a care. It was a swirling storm of screaming silver that coated everything it touched to the point that when the storm did stop, the outside looked like nothing more than a pure blank canvas.

Tai was the first to brave the aftermath. "Looks like the canoe races are canceled so let's have toboggan races instead!" He grinned and dared outside into the snow.

"I'm gonna build the biggest snowman!"

"Hey, TK, be careful! Slow down!"

"Brr, it's freezing." Sora shivered, rubbing her gloved hands up and down her arms for some form of heat. "And I didn't bring a jacket."

Joe looked panicked, as per usual, "Man, I was worried I'd catch a summer cold, but this is even worse..."

But he was interrupted by an excited gasp from Mimi, "Wow! Why didn't I pack my fluffy pink snow boots?" And when she stepped out, so did he.

Izzy was still inside the temple, staying behind with a hope of catching a signal for his laptop. Rikka stood on the elevated platform surrounding the temple, staring warily at the blinding whiteness of the snow. The feeling from earlier came back, albeit a bit stronger, and her hands clenched at her sides in unease.