I feel like something is off as I look at my surroundings. From all the living creatures, even from the plants and the soil, they are all there, but I sense something is off. A luma runs past me, it almost feels like it’s fleeing.

“Huh? What is going on here?” I say, a little weirded out, both because it’s fleeing and also because it is silent.

The luma are known for their beautiful sounds of resonation. When a luma calls, their voice resonates with their flaming spiral antlers, their fur so white it glimmers with the sound.

Ramsey looks back at me, “Hey! What’s the holdup, Fukai?!”

I turn and look at Ramsey with a little concern. “Something feels off, Ramsey! Don’t you think it’s weird that there’s no sound?”

Ramsey looks at me, trying to comprehend what I’m implying. “What do you mean, Fukai?” Ramsey begins to look around, realizing what I mean. “What the hell?”

“Huh? What’s going on, guys?” Maka looks at both of us, confused.

I march up to Ramsey, unable to hold back my feelings. “You get it now, Ramsey?! While we were standing here, arguing, we didn’t realize it!”

“Realize what?” Maka looks at me, still confused.

I point at the mechanical orb that has lost its light. “Ever since I touched that thing, there has been no sound!”

“No sound?” Maka says, even more confused.

Ramsey hesitates for a second, and then begins to listen for the sound that all of us are familiar with. A sound that our land makes; something that is ingrained into the people who dwell here. The sound of the Deep Jungle.

“Don’t you think it’s weird! We’re here in the depths of the Deep Jungle! Where millions of living creatures make all different kinds of sounds! And yet, no sound at all! No crickets chirping! No monkeys yelling! No mocker bird making fun of us! Nothing!” I shout with worry in my voice.

Ramsey closes his eyes and inhales, then exhales. “Yeah, you’re right. This is weird.” Ramsey opens his eyes and looks around. “What the hell is going on here?”

“Umm… maybe we should get out of here? This may be too much for us to handle.” Maka looks at me and smiles.

“You may be right, Maka,” I look over my shoulder back at the mechanical orb, “but can we at least check out the situation?” I look towards Ramsey and Maka as I extend my hand towards them. “Maybe we shouldn’t leave just yet.”

All of a sudden, the three of us hear an instrument being played, almost as if the person is right next to us, and a woman’s voice begins to sing.

“This fair land turns dark and gray,

as the ashes rise from night ‘til day.”

“Music?” I say as I close my belt pouch and look around, wondering where it’s coming from. “I may be going crazy, but I’m pretty sure I just heard somebody singing…”

“No, Fukai, it’s not just you. I heard it too.” Ramsey begins to think as he rubs his head.

“Umm… me too.” Maka turns and looks at me, he seems a little bit concerned. “Umm… Fukai, is that the voice you heard?” Maka grabs my arm tightly, his hands shaking. “If s-s-so, it doesn’t sound like she needs help, right?”

As I look for the direction of where the music is coming from, a sense of calmness washes over me. “I’m sorry, but this is not the voice I heard. This is something entirely different.”

As the music continues to play, I can’t help myself but be drawn towards its enticing melody.

“Ye warriors rise up from this land.

Protect this jungle with thy hands.

As the ashes spread throughout this land,

ye warriors forgot thy path, oh,

ye warriors forgot thy path.”

Within that moment, those words became etched in their hearts.

A loud noise suddenly interrupts our trance. Quickly, I snap out of it, directing my attention towards the noise that sounds like thunder trapped in a closed space, unable to leave. What could be causing the Deep Jungle to make such a sound, and what happened to that music?

I lay my hand on my chest. “What is this feeling?” I sense a menacing aura coming from deep within the jungle. “There is something even bigger going on here,” I whisper to myself. “I…!” I begin to shout and quickly turn to Ramsey.

“You don’t have to say it…” Ramsey’s eyes are closed with his arm extended out, interrupting me. “…And I hate to admit this, but I agree. There is something going on here.”

“You d–d-d-don’t say…!” Maka gets down on all-fours, “Then m-maybe we should go ch-check it out?” Maka says, hesitating out of fear that I’ll take him up on his offer.

“You’re right, Maka! We should check it out!” I proclaim with a smile as I begin to walk in the direction of the loud noise.

“I think you’re both right. Maybe we should go have a look.” Ramsey confirms as he begins to follow.

“Alright! Let’s go towards that sound, and maybe we’ll find that mysterious woman who was singing!” I stop for a second as a thought runs through my mind. “Hmmm… maybe we should help the Guardian out first? Or maybe they are one and the same? Or…!” I begin to scratch my head out of frustration. “Dammit! I don’t know anymore! Why is thinking so hard?!”

“One thing at a time, Fukai,” Ramsey says with a serious look as he puts his hand on my shoulder. “That is the most an idiot can handle,” Ramsey takes a deep breath and looks at me, “one thought at a time.” Ramsey begins to gaze at me like I’m a helpless puppy. “Poor Fukai, to be born with an incurable disease.” Ramsey walks past me, “Don’t worry, I’ll be your mind’s guide. Let’s go.”

“Alrig…” I pause for a second, not realizing what just happened. “Hey! Are you calling me an idiot?!”

“Umm… r–r-right. We should g–g-go!” Maka stutters as he slowly backsteps in the other direction, shaking with what looks to be excitement. “Yep! We better go check on that loud, disturbing sound and that creepy, disembodied music…”

I look over my shoulder towards Maka. “Umm… Maka, I know you’re excited and all, but you’re going the wrong way!”

“Really? I hadn’t noticed.” Maka continues to back away.

I waltz over and crouch alongside Maka and put my arm around his shoulder. “Look! I know I’m not as excited as you are, but! I promise you this,” I clench my fist with excitement while tears of joy run down my face, “this surely won’t disappoint you!”

“Oooohhh. Thanks. How concerned of you…” Maka says as tears run down his face too.

“I mean, just think of the possibilities here!” I begin to lean forward with elation in my eyes, rubbing my hands together. “I can’t wait!” I say and begin skipping off, bubbling with excitement.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah, we’re all trembling with excitement. Come on, Maka.” As Maka turns to flee, Ramsey grabs him by the collar and starts dragging him. “We might as well get this over with.”

“No! No! No! You guys don’t need me! Right?! I can just stay here and look after the orbs! Right?!” Maka pleads while he’s kicking and screaming.

“It’s a lot safer if we just stick together.” Ramsey calmly explains, staring down at Maka, still dragging him on.

“Yooo! What are you guys doing?! Hurry up, or I’m leaving you behind!” I exclaim with a smile as I begin to run.

“Hey! Didn’t I just say we need to stick together! Damn it, Fukai! Don’t go running off on your own!” Ramsey shouts at me.

“Yep. That’s it. That’s what I have to do.” Maka begins talking to himself.

“What?” Ramsey looks a little confused.

“You guys are great and all…” Maka says as he looks up at Ramsey.

“Huh? What are you trying to say?” Ramsey says, a little irritated.

“Well, umm… I was thinking it’s about time for me to look for new friends! Yep!” Maka says with the most sincere smile.

Ramsey looks straight towards me with an irritated expression, as I wave from a distance away. “Is that so?” Ramsey says as he lets go of Maka. “Then I guess I could just leave you here… all alone… with all the killer creatures…” Ramsey quips as he strolls away.

Maka grabs onto Ramsey’s leg, sobbing. “Please, don’t leave me here all alone! I’ll be good, just don’t leave me!”

Ramsey struggles to push Maka off of him. “Get off of me! I’m not leaving you, damn it!”

Maka’s entire countenance is one of relief as tears roll down his face and he whisper-shouts, “THANK YOU! *Sniff*”

“Yeah, yeah.” Ramsey admonishes as he lends Maka a helping hand.

“Yoo…! Guys! Come look at this!” I shout with concern. “You won’t believe it! This shit is crazy!”

Ramsey lets go of Maka’s collar and takes a step away, pausing for a second. “Let’s go.” Ramsey starts to run, following my voice toward a clearing within the Deep Jungle; a subdued Maka quietly following behind him. “Fukai had better not be messing with us, or he’s in for it!” Ramsey pronounces. Upon reaching the clearing, they are blinded by the sun’s rays. “Damn! Didn’t realize how bright it was!”

“I can’t see where I’m going.” Maka complains, his eyes closed.

“Watch your step, it’s dangerous here guys.” I hesitate to say what is truly on my mind. “In more ways than one…”

Ramsey walks up to me, “What do you mean by that, Fukai?”

“See for yourself.” I say as I point down towards a section of the jungle.

“Fukai, w–w-what’s happening to the jungle?” Maka asks, refusing to believe what he is seeing.

“Hmmm…” Ramsey hums unconsciously while otherwise staying quiet.

As we are standing there on top of a giant cliffside overlooking another section of the jungle, I begin to realize just how huge and entirely encompassing this situation is, but even so, I still can’t comprehend the severity of the Deep Jungle’s condition. A portion of the jungle has become a land of ash with everything intact. Looking around the surrounding area, there is no sign of a fire or of smoke. It simply has no smell. This is no ordinary ash. The trees have been completely turned to ash, but still stand firmly in the ground.

“Fukai! Snap out of it!” Ramsey shouts as he smacks me on the shoulder.

“Right,” I calmly say, still beholding the ashen jungle. I look up at Ramsey with calmness in my eyes, “We better go down there and check things out.”

“Couldn’t agree more. Let’s go.”

“Wait!” Maka exclaims.

Ramsey and I turn to Maka with confusion written all over our faces.

“Maka? Is there something wrong?” I ask.

“‘Is there something wrong?!’ Are you guys crazy?! Why should we go down there and check it out?! I… I… I think we should go back home and have someone who’s more experienced than we are check it out! Someone like the King’s Royal Guards! Or maybe-” Maka walks up to me and grabs my shoulders, shaking me furiously, “one of the many Koa Warriors who live for this kind of stuff!” With a final shove, Maka releases me.

Without a second thought, I respond, “Why would we do that?” I take a step closer to the cliff and begin checking out the ashen section again, while wiping the drool from the corner of my mouth.

Ramsey steps up and slaps me upside the head. “Idiot!” Ramsey walks to Maka and puts his hand on Maka’s shoulder. “I know how you feel, but the more information we have, the better it will be for the Kingdom when we get back. So please, Maka, calm down. We won’t do more than we can handle.”

Maka wipes the tears from his eyes. “Ok, I understand.” Maka eyes the ashen jungle down from the cliffside and realizes. “It’s really a long ways down, huh? And well, I have been wondering about this, how are we going to get down there?”

“Silly Maka. What are you talking about? That’s the easy part! We just jump straight down!” I quip, smiling.

“You really are an idiot! We can’t just jump down!” Ramsey ridicules as he looks around the cliffside. “Hmmm… I don’t see anything we can use to help us climb down.”

“Ramsey. Ramsey. Ramsey. You worry too much.” I counter with confidence as I start to climb down the cliff. “Left foot! Right foot! Left foot! Right foot!” I look up at Maka and Ramsey and call out. “What are you guys doing?! Aren’t you coming?!”

Ramsey scrutinizes me from above with concern etched onto his face. “Hmph. Why do I even bother?” Ramsey turns to Maka while shaking his head and smiles, “Well, I guess we better hurry.”

“Sure.” Maka nods his head with a whimper.

“Make sure you have good footing!” I shout.

“Yea, yea! We know!” Ramsey yells back at me as they start to climb down the cliff. “Watch your step, Maka!” Ramsey grabs the rock that Maka was about to put his foot on. “See, not all the rocks have a solid foundation.” Ramsey breaks off the rock and then tosses it. “So, be careful.”

“O–OK! I’ll be careful.” Maka nods with a quiver.

“Relax, Ramsey. Everything is going to be fine!” I explain, smiling.

“You telling me this is not reassuring.” Ramsey rolls his eyes.

“What?! How so?!” I query, a little confused by the statement.

“Hey, I’m just saying!” Ramsey replies.

“Really, guys, I’m-” Maka’s sentence falls short as he takes a step down and the footing underneath him gives way. “Huh?” Maka says as he begins slipping. “Hey… wait! Wait! Wait!” Maka says as he begins scrabbling at the rock. “Am I falling?!”

“Yooo…! How are you guys doing up th-” I call, looking up and noticing out of the corner of my eyes that at that very moment, Maka is falling.

“Fukai!” Ramsey shouts as Maka zips past me.

“I’m on it!” I raise my legs up to my hands and push down against the cliff side, twisting into a run and begin to dive towards Maka, my heart racing in my chest. “I’m coming, Maka!”

“Fukai, you better make it in time!” Ramsey shouts at me, his voice biting with its intensity. Then, to himself, Ramsey declares, “I better hurry!” Making good on his word, Ramsey starts to climb down faster.