The four sat by a campfire they made in the plains far away from the road under the night sky of Wrathak, deciding to ditch the truck as they saw the tire marks from the Emperor's truck deviate onto another path off of the main road. They all sat silently around it, not saying much. Kry's eyes were up at the stars rather than at the fire.

Altara was sat next to Hugo, shivering.

"Cold, Alt?"

"A little..I'm fine I just have to wait for the warmth to get to m-"

Hugo took off his parka and placed it around Altara's shoulders.

"There you go, sleep with it on as well." Hugo grinned and patted his back before looking back at the fire.

Kry looked down from the sky at Hugo who was now in his black vest, talking to him.

"Reminds me of when we arrived, except we don't have any supplies..."

"Where did they even go anyways? Our supplies." Hugo asked Kry, itching his cheek.

"No idea, they must have taken them when they captured us and threw us into the prison." Kry looked at Konstantine next to him who was looking into the fire. "You alright?"

Konstantine looked at Kry, clearing her throat. "Oh, yep..yeah I'm okay."

Altara stood up, wearing Hugo's parka. "I'm gonna go for a short walk."

"Don't stray too far Alt!" Hugo put his thumbs up at him as he walked away.

...

Altara stood on a rock overlooking the murky plains, his eyes set on the direction they were heading. He had a sinking feeling in his stomach but sighed it out, looking down at the muddy floor before looking back up at the plains.

...

Nero was looking the direction they were heading from on a balcony in the military base, the old man's eyes narrowing.

"Altara...so it is him..." He mumbled.

...

Altara woke up from his trance as he heard footsteps behind him, quickly turning to see Konstantine.

"Sup."

"Oh, hey."

Altara looked back towards the plains, Hugo's parka flowing in the wind. Konstantine climbed up on the rock and stood beside him with her arms crossed.

"What is so alluring about this dead plain of land to you?" She asked Altara, her crimson eyes looking across the same plain he was looking across.

"I...I don't really know, something past the plain seems familiar to me."

"Past it? Hm."

Konstantine was shivering slightly, Altara saw this and instinctively and gently pulled her closer, wrapping his arm around her. Konstantine froze in place, blushing slightly but stayed close to him not saying a word. She glanced up at Altara. "He's changed...and not just because of this..."

"Penguins do this up north, they huddle together for warmth." Altara yawned out.

"Penguins? I don't think I'm familiar.." Konstantine mumbled, looking up at him.

Altara looked back at her, not talking for a few seconds before he did. "Nevermind."

...

Altara looked back toward the plains. "I wanted to thank you for saving me and Hugo against Lilith. If you weren't there I doubt I would be standing here right now."

Konstantine looked back at the plains as well. "No..I should thank you, you both came to my aid."

"Heh.." Altara grinned to himself. "I guess we're both in each other's favor then."

...

Kry looked at Hugo, who yawned. "You can sleep if you want."

Hugo slowly looked up at Kry with a tired gaze. "Yeah. I think I should." He slumped down to his side beside the fire.

"If Altara and Konstantine don't come back for a while wake me up."

"Got it, goodnight Hugo."

"Night Kry."

Kry looked up at the two moons in the sky, the rocky Mirallia, and the green Nuricha. He sighed and sat back down at the fire, adjusting his glasses as he did. Soon enough Altara and Konstantine came back. Altara saw Hugo sleeping on his side, walking up to him taking his parka off, placing it on Hugo acting as a blanket. Konstantine sat back down at the fire and glanced at Altara placing the coat on Hugo.

"How was your walk?" Kry asked the two, clearing his throat afterward.

"Pleasant, not much to look at out here especially during night time." Altara mumbled, sitting next to the sleeping Hugo after placing the coat on him.

"Heheh, that is where you are wrong, Alt." Kry looked up at the night sky, Altara following his gaze.

"The sky in this country is so clear at night, you can see all of the stars and some of the planets in the Adeptan System with a telescope..shame they took mine when we got captured but no matter. It is stunning to witness with the plain eye."

Kry spoke as he looked up at the sky with Altara and Konstantine.

Reference Image

Altara was seemingly in a trance but was awoken by Kry who spoke to him. "Say, Alt...how about you come with me on my next research expedition to space? Konstantine you can come to."

Altara looked at Kry, smiling slightly. "R-Really??"

"Yeah! It'll be fun. A fellow astrologist coming with me to keep me company would be great."

Konstantine grinned slightly, looking down at the fire again. "Sounds cool, I'm not so much as interested in it as you two but who wouldn't go to space?"

"So it's settled then! After this ordeal, I will take you both with me." Kry smiled at the two and looked back at the fire.

Altara looked at Kry. "What about Hugo? Has he ever gone with you?"

"Oho no, he has a fear of space. Doesn't like the idea of being alone in the infinite vacuum." Kry looked at the sleeping Hugo. "Don't tell him I told you, he hates people knowing."

"Oh okay, got it." Altara looked at the fire, exhaling before speaking once more. "I'm gonna go to sleep." He slumped down on his side.

Kry nodded. "Goodnight Altara, I will keep watch."

Konstantine did the same. "Same here..."

"Alright, I'll wake you both up when the time is right." Kry looked at Konstantine, who nodded at him.

Altara stared at the fire...slowly drifting off to sleep.