Niko
I must say, the heat in my homeland really is not very bearable. Maybe I've gotten soft in my time away, but I'm pretty sure I could feel the sun scorching the earth and my skin. We trudged through the desert in silence, the only sounds the occasion cough or chatter from behind and the rhythmic pattering of our footsteps. We'd been travelling for about two days in the relentless desert, and we seemed to be running low on water.

"We should reach a village soon." I mumbled under my breath, watching my boots as they scuffed through the sand.

"Hm?" Lucia raised her eyebrows questioningly.

"Oh, ah, sorry. I just said that we should be getting to a village soon." I replied with a soft smile.

"How'd you know that?" She asked in surprise.

I shrugged. "I used to live around here."

"Really? Cool, I'd forgotten about that." She laughed, a light and tinkling sound.

"Yeah." I nodded, "I just hope my home's escaped the occupation."

She offered an understanding smile. "I hope so too, for your sake."

I was suddenly acutely aware of the way she held her hand flat against the side of her thigh. Come on, you coward, I scolded myself, just reach over... and... take it. Come on!

"Hey, Niko, is that your village?" Lucia's voice broke into my thoughts.

I jumped and laughed nervously. "Uh, what?" My gaze followed her pointing finger, and I felt my jaw drop. "Y-yes..." It was barely recognizable, since all the huts had been burned to the ground. I froze in my tracks, my gaze fixed on the wreckage.

"Niko?" Lucia halted beside me, but to me her voice sounded distant, as if from a dream. My world had narrowed down to focus only on the destruction before me. I realized I was running as a ragged breath rasped it's way out of my lungs, and the picture of smoky ruins was bobbing slightly in my vision.

"Aiden!" The howl tore through my throat, tears burning my eyes as I stumbled into the burnt village. "Mother!" My gaze scanned the ground, searching, hoping not to find them... I tripped, landing on my hands and knees. I continued crawling, scraping my palms on the debris.

Please... Tellun, please have spared them... I straightened, sprinting through the ruins toward my old home. It, too, was destroyed. I reached out, my hands grasping for something... anything... to hold onto, but the smoke drifted through my fingers. I gasped in air, halting abruptly beside my old house, now nothing more than ash.

"No." The word forced it's way out of my lips, sounding dead in the heavy air. My hands found my hair and I tugged, suddenly wishing to fell something. Everything had gone numb. They were gone. Never coming back.

"It should've been me." I whispered almost inaudibly, my fingers drifting back down to brush the ash and debris that I used to call home.

"Never Aiden. He was too young." A fat tear plopped onto my hand, and I closed my eyes to let the rest escape from beneath the lids.

"At least they would've been together." I breathed out, my chest tightening at the thought.

"If I was there... I could've saved them." I sighed and clutched at the ashes.

"I should never have left. They were too fragile." I wasn't crying anymore, the ashes and dirt sticking to the still-wet tear tracks on my face.

"Niko..."

Was that... I straightened, startled. My eyes flicked around, trying to locate the voice. "Who-who's there?" I had to restart as the words stuck in my throat.

"Niko... it's me." A figure was standing just a little ways away, their face partially blurred. I squinted to try and make out who it was, but they were too far. The figure took a hesitant step forward, his face slowly coming into view.

"You!" All of a sudden I was on my feet and running. The figure broke into a grin as I leaned forward and wrapped my arms around him with a loud sob.

"It's okay, Iko." He awkwardly patted my back.

I'd know that nickname anywhere. I pulled back and rubbed tears from my cheeks. "You scared me, Ai. Is...?" I glanced past him.

The boy shook his head. "I'm afraid she didn't make it, Iko. I'm so sorry. I tried, but..."

Yet another lump formed in my throat, but I swallowed it away. "Shh, it's okay." I pulled him back into my tight embrace and murmured in his ear. "You did all you could. I'm so glad you made it."

Aiden squeezed my arm. "Why are you here?"

I laughed in a tearful sort of way. "It's a long story. But Aiden, we need to get moving. My team is waiting."

He nodded in agreement and I sighed, hooking an arm around the younger boy's shoulders to pull him against me. Together we headed back toward the group, which was a black silhouette in the golden yellow sunset. "Has it been long?" I asked gently.

"Not really. It's only been about three days." He replied with a shrug.

"Did anyone else survive?" I proceeded to ask.

He shook his head. "No. Only me. I've been doing fine though." At those words, Aiden's stomach growled with disagreement. I laughed, a real laugh without any sadness. After a moment, a grin broke Aiden's face and he joined in.

"Don't worry," I said once I'd regained my breath, "we have food to spare."

"Thank Uraza." He breathed happily. I chuckled again and we continued toward the sunset and our new group. Our last hope.

Boom! Done! Sorry it took so long, but I was really busy with school work and other stuff. Next chapter out soon, I promise. Also, I'm gonna see Endgame tomorrow!! X3 I'm excited!! But no spoilers, I swear on my life! See y'all soon! Stay tuned! Peace!!! ✌️