○ 02 ○ A Day on the Islands

[connectedsky]

[This dream starts in what appears to be a cave, though a very small one, much taller than it is long or wide. It doesn't seem all that cramped or scary, though - light filters in from the outside, thanks to a hole in the stone at the top, and the walls are easy to see.

Actually, for a tiny cave, this place is fairly inviting. Moss grows on some of the rocks, and the area feels safe rather than closed-in, like a little hiding spot that you can go in and out of at any point. In fact, that's exactly what it is. Should you go to the opening, which is a very short walk, you'll find that it opens to the outside; a small, peaceful tropical island.

But good luck getting outside before a certain someone notices that you're there. A little boy, who some may recognize as Sora, is sitting comfortably near one of the walls of the cave. He picks up a piece of chalk and starts drawing what...looks like an attempt that drawing some kind of animal. In fact, the walls are covered in these drawings; childish scribbles of animals and adventures and stars.

There's also something else strange about this cave; a door, built right into the very back. No, not built - it looks like it belongs there, or has always been there. But what could it be for?

Well, whatever it is, it's not opening anytime soon. Besides, Sora has put down his chalk, already standing up and looking right at your before you have much of a chance to investigate anything.

Talk to the small, slightly confused looking child?]

Comments

[connectedsky]

I didn't see you come in, either!

[And it had been pretty quiet, so he should've heard something, right? But, oh well. Sora doesn't mind having company (heck, he probably wouldn't even notice if Cloud was armed, as long as he was being nice)...but he's certainly wondering about something.]

You don't look like you're from around here, Mister.

[Could this really be someone else from another world? Sora hoped so. He liked meeting people from other places...and, somehow, he'd been getting the chance to do quite a bit of that, lately.]

[anonfantry]

[ No, he's definitely no islander, wherever he's from, pale as the chalk on the walls as he shuffles his feet inside his clunky, military-issue boots, tugging the heavy scarf around his shoulders down a little farther like a nervous habit. ]

I don't think I am. Um, from around here.

[ Which, really, begs the question- ]

...Where is here, anyway?

[connectedsky]

[And Sora's face just lights up when he hears that question, both because this person really WAS from someplace outside of the islands, and because he got a chance to explain something.]

This is Destiny Islands! It's my home.

[Which, to this little boy, sounds like a perfectly solid and complete explanation.]

So you're really from another world?

[anonfantry]

[ Destiny Islands doesn't ring any bells - and why should it? As well as he can remember, Cloud doesn't think he's ever been to an island in his life, let alone a whole chain of them.

With a frown, he shakes his head, and reaches for the phone that should be in his pocket. (And, as always, it is, which is something of a relief.) ]

Uh, no. I'm just from- Well, I'm stationed in Junon. [ Which simply can't be on another planet. First of all, that's ridiculous. And secondly - well, actually the first one pretty well covers it.

Accidentally discovering the secret to interplanetary travel would be a pretty decent excuse for somehow ending up completely out of his service area. No reception. Great.

With what he hopes is only a polite measure of skepticism in his expression, he looks back from the blank screen of his cell to the little kid (who, regrettably, seems to have a much better handle on this strange situation). ]

Can you tell me which way to get to town from here?

[connectedsky]

...Junon? I dunno, I've never heard of it!

[That doesn't sound like any place around here, which means that it MUST be another world he's talking about. Nothing else makes any sense at all! At least, for all that Sora knows. But how'd he get here? Was it an accident?

Instead of asking more questions, though, he smiles brightly, reaching for Cloud's hand so that he can lead him out of the Secret Place.]

But I can show you the main island. Come on!

[We're gonna go find a boat~!]

[anonfantry]

H-Huh?

[ A boat!? WAIT! That's a terrible idea!!

But, unfortunately, Cloud has no choice but to follow. For now. Just until he finds signs of civilization other than pushy little kids hiding out in caves. He doesn't mind the hand-holding, at least, except that it causes him to stumble a little as he hastily attempts to keep up. ]

The main island? How big is this place?

[connectedsky]

[What are you talking about? It's the best idea. Boats are awesome.]

It's not that big! Don't worry, it's really easy to find.

[And it looks like Sora knows what he's talking about, actually. When they step out of the cave, Cloud will see that they're on a very small island; there's a beach, a pier, and a small shack, but otherwise it's just a small island area, full of signs that children frequently play here.

Across the ocean, not too far away, is the main island - it looks like nothing more than a small town, even from this distance. Nothing too daunting, and certainly easy enough to get around.

But suddenly, after letting go of Cloud's hand and looking out over the beach, Sora seems very concerned about something.]

Oh no...

[anonfantry]

[ But- Seasickness! Noooooo... ]

Um, okay.

[ Well, that's somewhat reassuring. A big place would just be more of a hassle, really, and though Cloud has no special fondness for small towns, he wouldn't want to get even more lost than he is, at present.

Which is pretty lost, all things considered.

Tugging at the scarf around his neck to loosen it further (he is decidedly not dressed for island weather, either), he squints into the distance toward the town. Nothing familiar, but that doesn't bother him much. He hasn't been to a lot of places, after all.

A second later, he blinks, glancing down at his suddenly worried miniature guide. ]

What's the matter?

[ Looks like a normal beach, from here. No monsters or anything. ]

[connectedsky]

[For the moment. Sora forgets about his duties as miniature guide, making a beeline for the pier. He climbs up, taking a good look near the edges at out onto the ocean around them - and he doesn't look all that happy with what he finds.

In fact, when he finally gives up and makes his way back to Cloud, he looks just plain guilty.]

My...my boat is gone. I don't know what happened to it.

[It seems like, with every passing second, the little child is visibly drooping more and more. What if it's gone for good? It was brand new, and his dad told him to be really really careful with it, and...oh no. What's worse is that he can't help anymore.]

[anonfantry]

[ Crud.

Though even a (socially inept) kid his age probably knows that succumbing to the same obvious despair will only make matters worse, Cloud can't help the way his own moderately hopeful expression falls, at that wonderful news. If there's no boat, they're stranded. At least until someone else comes around - and not knowing the island, Cloud can't say when that might be.

His survival training definitely doesn't extend to taking care of children.

...But that's not the way a SOLDIER would think, and he's duty bound by his own aspirations to do something. Looking out toward the horizon, again, and that other island, Cloud seems to come (reluctantly) to a decision. ]

...I guess- I could swim.

[ With a destination in sight, it couldn't be that far. Maybe. (Not that the distance is his main concern, watching those waves rise and fall in that fake-calm way that's really just as roiling once you're in it.) ]

And bring somebody back with another boat, to get you, too.