This was her fault, Cosimia realized with cold certainty. If she hadn't been distracted in the training room with Grant, she might've noticed her friend outside the ship and she could've saved her. If she hadn't been distracted, Airlia could be standing here, waiting for Cosimia with a warm smile and soothing words.

She always had.

Cosimia staggered back, shock making her mind sluggish. She couldn't think clearly through the mess of panic and whirling thoughts in her head. Worried hands handled her but she could smell Grant's familiar smell. His voice was rushed with anxiety. She wouldn't be mad at him again; this was wholly her fault. Airlia had always been there for her, always there to help Cosimia through the darkness of life. But now, when her friend needed her, she was too busy wrapped up in her own selfish desires.

Stop pitying yourself, Cosimia, and do something. Minerva don't just sit around.

The mental scolding shook Cosimia out of her daze. She couldn't just stay here when her friend was stranded inside the Black Hole. Airlia wouldn't survive much longer out there by herself and if she died due to Cosimia's distraction, she wouldn't be able to continue with her mission. And mostly, she would suffer from the guilt her whole life. She pushed herself out of her friends' arms, surprised at her strength.

She bolted past them, sprinting as fast as she could towards the podship deck.

"Cosimia! Stop!" Mathias bellowed to her. "Don't make me chase you!"

She ignored him and pushed on. He grasped her waist and jerked her back, holding her firmly as she struggled against him.

"Let. Me. Go." She enunciated each word, forcing steel into her tone.

"You are not going off by yourself. Don't be an idiot, Cosimia."

"This is my fault and I'm going to fix it myself," she said through gritted teeth.

"Like your brother said, you are not going by yourself. It could be dangerous." Grant growled.

"What am I, some child? I can defend myself!"

"I know but this is unknown. You don't know what you'll be facing," Isadora urged. Her desperation grew with every minute that passed. Every minute that her best friend was struggling for her life. Every minute she was losing to get to her.

"Don't make me hurt you, Mathias," she warned.

"You won't." His arms tightened around her, like a steel vice. The Gloria glowed in her pocket and she mentally apologized to her brother as she whipped it out, the blinding light filling the narrow chamber. Everyone but Cosimia flinched away from the dagger, trying to avoid the blazing light. Cosimia seized her chance and flew down the hall, her adrenaline increasing.

She burst into the hangar deck, rushing towards the release button on the opposite of the spacey chamber. The group burst in and her friends just gaped, stricken, as Cosimia jumped and strapped herself into the podship. She looked at them silently, hoping the shimmering of tears was enough to convey her regret.

She slammed a button and pulled a lever, jerking it back. The podship fired up and dropped out of Lady Vortex. Cosimia forced Grant's helpless face out of her mind and focused on navigating to the cavernous maw of the Black Hole.

The pressing darkness that encased the podship made Cosimia want to curl up into a ball. Imagining what her poor friend must've felt just made her brave the darkness, for Airlia. She pressed the pedal and the ship zoomed forward. The tight tunnel let them through easily and Cosimia was uneasy about how the tunnel was defenseless. It made her ponder about what was on the other side, what creature that didn't require outer protection. She knew the Black Hole was the original home of the Creatura but she didn't want to discount that there could be other monstrous things inhabiting the Black Hole.

She exhaled loudly once the tunnel spit her out and Cosimia pulled back on the lever, steadying the machine. She set it down gently and stared at the strange land from beyond the protective cocoon of the pod.

It was strangely bright for a place called the Black Hole. It had many steep precipices and drop offs, but bordering the formidable slopes was a thick, dense jungle. Cosimia's excitement grew as she observed the jungle ahead. The trees, if that's what they were, were bizarre, with the thickest trunks she had ever seen and leaves of the purest silver. Strange plants grew, interloping with other species. They were a variety of colors, from the goriest red to the softest baby blue.

The amount of life that greeted her was astounding.

She had always imagined the Black Hole to be a harsh, lifeless land in which a single soul couldn't survive. But this? This was beyond what she had ever thought. This was why exploration beyond the rings was necessary. To find whole other worlds like this, with whole new life forms. Of course, with the good species came the bad ones but who knew what mysteries this land held?

Find her first, then geek out.

Cosimia refocused her attention and looked over every inch of the landscape. There was no sign of Airlia from within the pod. With grim realization, Cosimia prepared herself to step out of the podship. She pushed the glass overhead back and slowly released her breath. Was the air toxic like Jupitar's, or some other gas? Was there even any oxygen? Cosimia inhaled and gasped.

Oxygen.

People could survive here.

The realization sent giddiness flooding through her. If there was fresh water, and good food, this could be a home, if need be. Cosimia filed that information away for later.

"Airlia?" She called cautiously, hoping not to attract any Creatura. Cosimia stood on the pod, gazing over the top of it to the landscape. The only reply was an eerie silence. Cosimia frowned. Something wasn't matching up. Airlia had fallen through not more than 20 minutes ago; how had she traveled so far already? Still holding the top of the pod, Cosimia swung down to the ground.

Instantly, a vine curled itself around her leg and tugged, almost ripping her away from the ship. Terror shot through Cosimia as she fought to get a better view of the thing that had grabbed her. It shook her back and forth and her head swam. She looked down to see a black plant gripping her leg, impossibly tight. Sharp pain exploded in her leg and Cosimia could see fresh blood drip lazily down her leg.

Dammit.

She held onto the podship ledge and jerked herself towards the pod. More pinpricks of pain came and Cosimia cried out, gritting her teeth against the shooting pain. She would not succumb to a measly plant. However, it was clear this thing was not a measly plant.

"Cosimia!" Grant's voice sent relief coursing through her. The Lady Vortex landed with a heavy blow of air. It loosened the demonic plant's hold on her and Cosimia kicked out, hoping to hit the thin stalk. Thudding footsteps came towards her and she fought, trying to scrape the plant off her leg with her other leg. But it was to no avail. The plant had dug its little thorns into her flesh.

"Get this leech off me," she snarled. Grant's movements were quick, precise, as he hacked at the plant. Soon, the plant was uprooted and dead, but still hanging onto her leg. Freda rushed forward and observed the bloody mess that was her calf. Her friend grimaced and she nodded at Isadora.

"I'll need your help. When the plants come out, the blood will come. I need you to press down with," she pursed her lips. "Mathias's vest." Her brother balked. Freda rolled her eyes and glowered at Mathias.

"You aren't going to be naked. It's just the vest." Mathias peeled the article of clothing off of him and Freda expertly tore it into even strands. Freda's father was the royal healer and from a tender age of six she had been trained by her father. Freda studied the position of the wounds and the now-dried blood crusting her skin.

"Damn plant. It pierced the muscle." Freda swore under her breath.

"What does that mean?" Grant demanded, running a hand through his hair. Cosimia's leg twitched and waves of pain crashed through her. She cried out at the slight movement. Freda grimaced and glanced at Grant.

"It will take longer to heal. We won't be able to move as fast as we need to." Cosimia growled.

"I'll be fine. We don't need to slow down."

"Don't give me that crap, Cosimia," Dominica snapped. Cosimia reeled back; Dominica was usually the most level-headed of the group.

Freda probed the plant, digging her fingers under its lifeless body. When Freda finished wedging her fingers under the plant, she nodded at Dominica.

"This will hurt immensely. Somebody needs to hold her." Grant held her close to him with no hesitation in his step. He cradled her close to him, murmuring soothing words for her ears only. Mathias strode forward and propped her leg up.

"Stay strong for me, love," Grant whispered.

Counting softly to three, Freda yanked on the plant. Pain seized her and starbursts exploded in her vision. She fell back against Grant's warm chest as her leg throbbed. The plant was still lodged in her leg, albeit slightly less than before.

"It's too much for her." Mathias brushed his fingers over her forehead, frowning with worry. Pain overtook her and even speaking seemed like too much. Freda shook her head, face pinched with grief.

"We can't leave it in her. It'll infect."

Grant nodded, determined. "Get it out, Freda."

When Freda wrenched on it again, Cosimia couldn't hold back a scream. It reverberated through the silent land. Tears clogged her vision and she sobbed as Freda finally tugged the plant out. Ruby blood gushed down her leg, coating her pale skin a garish red. Dominica pressured the multitude of wounds and her sobs subsided as the wound was wrapped.

Grant rocked her back and forth, holding her close against him. Her leg fell uselessly by her side and Cosimia clung to Grant, unable to hold herself up. Mathias held her hand as Freda and Dominica set up a makeshift cot in the pod. Isadora bustled around, silently offering aid where she could. Cosimia wanted to drown in the darkness, give in to the numbness. Every movement, even from her toes, sent overwhelming pain hurtling through her entire body. Her skin was still stained red and she refused to look at it, refusing to look at the clear reminder of what she had been through.

While the rest of the crew regrouped a few paces away, Mathias stayed with Cosimia. He didn't say anything but his solid presence calmed her frayed nerves. She sunk into a fitful sleep, a small mercy from the Goddess.