I knew I was awake when I heard the soft chirping of birds and the light hum of summer breeze. For a second I thought I was home, still on the earth I knew. I held on to this feeling, picturing myself asleep in my backyard on a large farm.

I opened my eyes when I realized I lived in an apartment in New York City and had no backyard.

The early light shone through the cracks between each stone formation. It was day, and we wouldn't have to worry about vampires now. I gathered myself and rubbed the crust from eyes. My tail was numb from resting on it and my lips were dry. I opened my mouth to say good morning, but my voice caught in my throat as a lump of panic formed in my chest.

Mikoto was gone.

Not dead gone, just no where to be found.

I began to worry. Was she taken off by something in the middle of the night?

No, said a voice in my head, if she were, you would have been taken as well.

The voice didn't sound like another persons. It felt like my subconscious coming to a rational conclusion, but I knew better. This was the voice of my Anima, as Mikoto had told me. Now seemed like the best time to try to ask for its guidance.

"Where did Mikoto go?" I asked it. It felt strange because I was asking myself, but then it's voice streamed through my mind naturally.

Maybe she got hungry and went hunting, or maybe she had to take a piss.

Blinked in shock at what the voice said. "She had to take a piss?" I started to believe that my Anima wasn't really speaking and it was just me talking to myself like an idiot.

She might seem bad ass but everyone has to take a piss sometime.

"Shut up." I told the voice. Weather it was my Anima or me, it wasn't helping the situation. I emerged from the stone shelter and took a long stretch. The landscape looked totally different than it did last night. It looked like a dream.

I stared back at the forest we exited from the night before. Now seeing its full width, it seemed almost unnatural. It went on in either direction for miles and miles. I couldn't see the end of the wall of trees. Green hills made up the majority of the plains. The sky was more radiant than I could remember. Soft white clouds swam through an ocean of endless sky, the incandescent sun keeping them warm.

In the opposite direction sat the Eastern Spire, stretching almost as far as the forests and staring down at me like a king. It was enormous and intimidating, but breathtaking and beautiful at the same time. Green land and trees covered it until about half way up, then it broke off into stone, the bones of a mountain. Although it was warm down here on the plains, snow covered the peaks, practically inside of clouds. I could make out streams flowing from the mountain base to the plains below.

Taking my attention away from the great structure, I scanned the plains for any sign of Mikoto. About a jog away was a small pool, naturally dug out by the changing landscape. It's water was as blue as the sky and equally picturesque. There was movement in the center, under the waters surface. I cautiously made for it, stopping at the edge of the water.

When it broke the water surface, I thought it was a Nereid, a water spirit that I had read about in Mikoto's Bestiary. But when her hair parted from her face and the sun shone on her elegant features, I knew that it was her.

Naked as the day she were born.

I almost broke my neck the way I turned away so quickly, as not to gaze upon the brilliance of her natural form. My face must have been as red her tail, which the wrapped around her canopy. Not everything was covered as she used both hands to wring the water from her saturated hair. I didn't dare look in fear that my brain would fry from overload. She didn't notice me at first, but when she did, she didn't scream or anything, which surprised the hell out of me.

"Oi, I see you're up bright and early!" she laughed while I held my eyes like I was blind. "You didn't see anything did you?" she asked timidly.

"N-not at all! I didn't see anything! I swear!" She laughed hysterically. She was messing with me. Relief and embarrassment washed over me. Mikoto sank down into the water until it was up to her neck.

"You coming in or not?" I glanced at the water nervously. "Don't worry, you can't see a thing from the surface."

"That's not it, trust me." I dug my foot into the ground anxiously. "It's just that. . .you know, I don't remember how to swim."

She tried her hardest not to burst into a laughing fit. "No one must have taught you then." she said,  "Even if you lost your memory, basic skills like swimming wouldn't have been affected." She dipped under the water and came back up, "And besides; it's shallow. Strip and hop in. I won't look." As she said this, she covered her eyes the same way I did.

I only stripped down to my boxers and my dirty T-shirt; they needed a good washing anyway. I took a step into the water and the coldness of it bit into my foot bottom. It wasn't a bitter cold. It was cool and refreshing.

I jumped in and I panicked for a second when my feet didn't touch the bottom, but just as the water reached my chin my feet hit soft earth. I dipped in, washing the dirt and dried blood from my hair and skin. When I came back to the surface I felt alert and rejuvenated. 

When I emerged from the pool, my hair slick and wet against my scalp. I looked around and realized we had no towels. That didn't last to long because Mikoto tossed me one from the edge of the pool. I looked at her dumbfounded. She had a towel wrapped around her.

"Where'd you even. . ." I shook my head, "I don't even care. Thanks."

She used a second towel to dry her hair, which was now straight and shiny. Once I was dry I put my pants and shirt back on. I wrapped my sweatshirt around my waist; it was a warm day and I doubt I'd need it. Mikoto was re-dressed before me and I could tell the bath had done her good. The dirt and muck had lifted from her skin. She breathed in and exhaled the fresh open air. I couldn't help but smile. It felt like nothing else could go wrong at this point; like we were still on earth.

"This place is beautiful," I said, taking a deep breath of the sweet air.

"It's known as Gigantes de Campo— in english— Field of Giants. Legend has it that Giants once roamed these plains and built these rock formations in an attempt to stack them up to reach the clouds." She shook her head grimly. "They went extinct; wiped out by humans as they expanded pass these mountains. The formations were huge towers at one point, but due to the elements and age, they crumbled. They're known as Spire Ruins now.

"Legend? I'm confused. Isn't this place just a jacked up version of earth?"

"This place isn't our world," she said, "we were simply placed here in a new form. The history of this world and it's inhabitants and even laws of science our different. Think of this place as an alternate universe." When she put it like that it was easy to understand.

"But wait," I interjected, "when I woke up, I was inside of my apartment. If this is an alternate universe, then how does my apartment exist here?"

She grinned. "That's a mystery we've yet to uncover. The faster we find Bloodblade the faster all our questions will be answered."

"You really believe this Bloodblade thing will make everything clear?"

She nodded. "I have no reason not to," she said with a confidence, "It's the only solid ties I have to my pas—" she didn't finish. She stared hard at the reflecting surface of the water, conflicted.

"Yo, Susano'o, you alright?"

She looked up surprised, then waved the question away. "We best get an early start going through these mountains. If I'm correct, there will still be cabin up there. We won't be able to travel at night, so we'll have to make it there during the day and wait the night out and hope a troll doesn't sniff us out!" I shudder with fear and Mikoto laughed. "Don't worry," she reassured, "they have a poor sense of smell and it's mainly for sniffing out humans, which as you can tell, we aren't. So we'll be right as rain."

"How do you know a cabin's up there? Have you been here before?" I asked curiously.

She shook her head. "Nah, but my gut tells me that there's one up in those mountains. And my guts never wrong when I'm on a full stomach!"

"This is serious," I said, "If you're wrong and we go up there and there's no cabin, we're screwed."

She frowned. "Humans wouldn't have been able to cross the mountains without taking shelter during the nights, and through these mountains is a days travel at least." she put her hands behind her head. "Relax. We'll be fine." I was still doubtful. There was no guarantee that there was a shelter up there, and even if there was who's to say it's still standing? No, I can't focus on the negatives. Whatever happens, Mikoto will most likely have a backup plan. I need to focus on the current situation. . .

My stomach howled like a wolf. "Maybe some breakfast will get you out of that negative pit your in."

And right she was. Turns out she went hunting the moment the sun came up. She killed about a dozen rabbits, skinned them, and used a matchbox she had in her sack to light a fire and cook them to perfection. They were still warm when I ate them and it tasted amazing! Mikoto gorged herself on most of what she caught, leaving only two for me, but I was full before I even touched my second. She was more then happy to finish it off for me, burping cutely and rubbing her stomach. Soon I was livid with energy.

"You have quite the appetite," I teased.

She smirked and cocked her head smugly. "That was the first square meal I had in months. I bullshit you not, that forest had nothing but fruits! You bet I'm eating as much as possible, and if I pass anything on the journey I'm eating that too!" With our meal done, we filled up our water canteens at the pool and geared up. I only had to carry one sack this time since the second was empty and Mikoto suggested it'd have better uses later on.

"Is this water fresh?" I asked. I knew one of the basic rules of survival is to make sure your water is fresh or else sickness will follow.

"It's all good," she reassured me, "I purified it with electricity."

I asked her where she got the electricity from.

"No good telling you now, you wouldn't understand." She patted my shoulder, "Don't worry, I'll tell you later when I feel the times right." With that, she went ahead of me. I didn't like her keeping secrets from me; last time she did, it almost cost me my life. But I put it behind me. If we couldn't trust each other, then who else could we turn to? I doubted Mikoto was any better off then I was. She may have ample knowledge of this world, but how long could she last alone now that vampires were out for her? She'd need me just as much as I need her.

"Oi, you waiting for your vampire girlfriend or something?" She called out. My face grew red with embarrassment and I sprinted to catch up with her.

On our way to The Eastern Spire we passed more rock formations. Each one looked unique and I wondered if there was another reason that these were built other than to reach the the sky. Next time we stop I'd make sure to read up on them in the Bestiary.

 We walked in silence, taking in the scenery. As we journeyed closer to the mountains, they loomed over more and more; like a giant fortress casting an intimidating shadow.

Mikoto strode with an up-beat pep a few paces head of me; happy to be out in the open and filled with energy. As if she sensed me watching, she looked back and raised an eyebrow curiously. On an impulse, I quickly looked down at my feet, feeling embarrassed for ogling.

"What's the matter," she asked, her voice full of amusement, "you're all red in the face. Did you see something you like?" she grinned mischievously.

"I have no idea what you're on about," I denied, "I'm just looking out for any monsters."

"Mhm. I can read you like an open book, kid." She slowed down so we were beside each other. "There's no monsters down in these plains, besides you and I that is!" I smiled at her joke, but in truth it unsettled me a bit, was I really a monster?

"Cheer up," she said, sensing my misgivings, "once we're a good ways through those mountains I'l whip you into shape!"

I blinked, decided not to ask. I'll find out when the time comes I guess.

++++

We reached a break in the trees that skirted the mountain range. A broad path lay open that was sure to take deeper into the mountains. I could tell the patch of woods wouldn't go on for to long because about half way up the mountains base it cut off abruptly into a rocky hike. I took one last look at the lush green plains, knowing I may not ever return to this temporary safe haven. Once we're up there, we'll be at the mercy of monsters again. The thought ate away at my bravery and I contemplated staying behind, but Mikoto didn't give me the chance.

"If you stay here, Xias and her clique will have you for supper tonight. As long as we reach the cabin before nightfall, we're safe. Now, make your decision."

"Well when you put it that way. . ." I trotted ahead, not giving her the chance to leave me behind.

"Hey, you don't even know where you're going, dumb ass."

I stopped and allowed her to lead, making sure to stay only a couple paces behind just in case something decided to burst from the cover of the woods. On this narrow pathway, it was definitely  something to be wary of.

It didn't take long to hike the first few miles through the forest. By the time we broke through the trees, I had worked up a good appetite. As I had predicted, the narrow pathway broke off into a wide mountain pass. There were high walls on grey stone on either side of us, and the ground inclined up. There were patches of grass sprinkled along the terrain and a series of streams flowed from the top of the rock walls and down into the plains below, cutting through our path. Trees skirted the edges of our trail, giving us a wide berth and a lot of room to move about.

Mikoto sucked in a deep breath and stretched her towards the sky. "There's no going back now, Little Fangs. It's ride or die at this point." She put her hands on her hips and turned to me, a dominant glint in her eye. "It's time to see what you're made of!"

I blinked in confusion. "Come again?"

Her expression was intimidating and serious. "If you can't fight, then what good are you to me? Drop the bag and show me what you got."

I dropped her sack and raised my hands in defence. "Whoa, I don't want to fight you." I couldn't imagine harming Mikoto in anyway.

"You scared or something?"

I shook my head, "No, that's not it. It's just. . ." I knew it was wrong for men to hit women, but when I thought about it, I felt a memory begin to surface, then fade away again. I pushed it to the side. "Let's just go, okay? We shouldn't stay here to long—"

"Have you ever been in a fight?" The question came out of no where, and it made me nervous.

"Yes—no—I don't know. I can't remember. Let's just keep moving—" Immediately I felt the air around me ionize and the hairs on my skin stood up. What followed happened so fast that I couldn't register it. All I knew was that I was on the ground; all the air knocked out of me and I was gasping desperately to get it back. I was confused and scared for my life. Had something attacked me with an invisible power? Mikoto stood cross-armed  over me. Staring down at me with disappointment.

"Now  that you know what a punch to the gut feels like, maybe you'll learn to tighten your midsection."

I coughed and looked up at her, my gaze filled with hurt. "Why'd you do that. . ." I squeezed out. My body was dumb from the sudden impact and I breathed hard.

"I did it so that you can learn to defend yourself. You should have reacted when you felt the warning signs. Now you know what to watch out for." Her tone of voice didn't sound apologetic in the slightest. It made me angry. I wanted to get up and punch her like she punched me, but I cursed myself for even thinking of doing something like that. Men should never hit women. I wouldn't dare lay a hand on her. I had morals and I was standing by them.

I lifted my self from the ground an wiped the dirt from my clothes, wincing at the aching pain in my gut. Mikoto cocked her head to the side and frowned.

"You gonna attack me?" She taunted.

"I don't hit women." I spat.

I should have chose my words more carefully, because the second they left my mouth, the air filled with static. On instinct I tightened my midsection and raise my hands, but it was too late. Her fist connected sharply with my stomach, bringing me to to my knees. I was able to steel myself against the brunt of the punch, but it hurt just as much as the first.

"You're a weak minded fool," she growled, "a woman wouldn't hesitate to take your life. The world isn't the same. If you keep that ignorant mindset you'll be an easy kill, runt." Her words hurt worse than her punch. I felt a vivid memory trying to surface. It was on the edge of my mind, but I couldn't quite grasp it. I came to my feet again, but didn't meet her eyes.

"I don't care what you say. Any man who would hit a girl is evil—" This time there was no warning. My vision filled with stars for a moment, then darkened as a jarring pain filled my ear and temple. I was on the ground again, very aware that I had be punched in the face. It hurt a lot more than a punch to the gut and the spot where I was hit throbbed. I brought my hand up to where I was hit. I was sure I felt this pain before. Multiple times. It felt familiar; like a scent you can match up to something from your childhood. Had I been in an actual fight before. I looked up at Mikoto. her face was livid with anger, her fangs bared. I scurried back a little, feeling terrified of getting hit again. This fear seemed familiar too. A wave of deja vu crashed against me.

"Feeble people like you make me sick," she spat,  "get out of your pitiful fantasy world that you were raised in. The world is a harsh place and this world is even worse. Gender doesn't mean shit when you're fighting for your life.  But how would you know? Chances are your parents kept you protected from the hardships of the world."

"You talk like you know me," I retaliated, growing angry from her assumptions, "I don't even know me! But I do know one thing and I'll say it again: I don't hit women. You can beat on me all you want but I'll never lay a hand on you." My decision was set in stone. I've never been more sure about something in my life.

Mikoto grabbed the collar of my shirt and jerked me to my feet. Her eyes gleamed with anger directed at me. She cocked her hand back, preparing to strike me again, but lowered and and tossed me to the side, my shirt tearing in the process.

"You're not worth the energy. Someone as daft as you wouldn't last a second in a fight. Go crawl back to your mam and—" When her eyes fell upon me, her expression change immediately. It was a mix of shock, sadness and regret. I was confused, so I followed her gaze. My chest tightened and the memories that lurked on the edge of my mind flooded forth like a tidal wave of despair the moment my eyes fell on my chest. Deep, ugly scars covered the whole of my body like parasitic vines underneath my skin. Some were faint and a shade lighter then my skin, but one that stretched from my sternum to my naval was deep and gruesome. With each scar I layed saw, memories of the horrors of my childhood cropped up into my head, weighing down my heart.

How had I not noticed these before? If I were to remove my shirt back at the plains before entering the pool, I'd have seen them for sure. But it wasn't until Mikoto tore it by accident that I'd see them and regain more memories. But I wasn't elated to get more memories back. My past was terrible. I was abused, and had the scars to validate it. It felt like a bomb went off in my heart, and a stream of tears rolled down my cheeks and onto my bare chest. I wasn't sheltered as Mikoto had assumed, but the exact opposite.

"Eron I didn't know—" she stopped an dropped her gaze. I knew what she was going to say. She didn't know anything about me. She didn't know how shitty my living conditions were back before the Rift. I wouldn't blame her; I didn't know anything about myself either.

I stood and untied my sweatshirt from around my waist. I put it on and pulled the hood over my head and in a daze I progressed through the rocky trail. Mikoto didn't move, still staring at the spot were I had been.

"Let's keep going, okay?" I said in a shaky, timid voice. Without a word she took up the lead and we traveled in silence. The previous hunger I had felt no longer existed.