The bridge over the canal is functionally the edge of town, the city limits. It feels like the edge of a world used to, with something unknown beyond, even though you know that for most people, the idea of the edge of a world wasn't literal. The natural, in-built part of the world order made those edges invisible to people who didn't already know they were there.
The edge of Arcadia feels like that. Like crossing over the bridge will take you somewhere far away, instead of just into another chunk of forest with a road running through it.
You roll to a stop in the middle of the bridge, sliding the toe of one shoe along the pavement to come to a complete stop. Toby and Jim are still behind you, but you hear them slowing down.
You look right at them, and give a little wave, before leaning against the railing and propping your elbows over the edge. You wonder, not for the first time, how Axel made it look so easy when he leaned his back and shoulder against one wall. You could use some of that, right now.
"Hey guys," you say when they're close enough that you won't be shouting over the wind. "Something up?"
"Uh, well," Jim says, not quite meeting your eyes.
"Absolutely nothing!" Toby says, way too fast. (They're both bad liars. Toby's as bad as Sora.) "Wonderful night for a ride, isn't it? Just to roll around the town, and wind up here, of all places - "
You fold your arms and try to channel your memory of Axel's best not impressed look. (It would probably work better if Jim wasn't taller than you. Somehow, you're sure you can blame Sora, or maybe Ven, for your height even in this new world.)
Jim sighs, cutting off Toby's ramble. "Look, we heard some weird stuff about - "
Whatever he was going to say, though, is cut off by the screech of something from the woods beyond the bridge. It's not human, not animal, almost like nothing you've ever heard.
Almost.
But you've heard Heartless make cries like that, so you're on your board before Jim or Toby can say another word, kicking off down the road as fast as your wheels will take you. Even without your Keyblade, there has to be something, something you can do...
Once again, it isn't long before you hear the squeak of a bicycle behind you.
->
The edge of Arcadia feels like that. Like crossing over the bridge will take you somewhere far away, instead of just into another chunk of forest with a road running through it.
You roll to a stop in the middle of the bridge, sliding the toe of one shoe along the pavement to come to a complete stop. Toby and Jim are still behind you, but you hear them slowing down.
You look right at them, and give a little wave, before leaning against the railing and propping your elbows over the edge. You wonder, not for the first time, how Axel made it look so easy when he leaned his back and shoulder against one wall. You could use some of that, right now.
"Hey guys," you say when they're close enough that you won't be shouting over the wind. "Something up?"
"Uh, well," Jim says, not quite meeting your eyes.
"Absolutely nothing!" Toby says, way too fast. (They're both bad liars. Toby's as bad as Sora.) "Wonderful night for a ride, isn't it? Just to roll around the town, and wind up here, of all places - "
You fold your arms and try to channel your memory of Axel's best not impressed look. (It would probably work better if Jim wasn't taller than you. Somehow, you're sure you can blame Sora, or maybe Ven, for your height even in this new world.)
Jim sighs, cutting off Toby's ramble. "Look, we heard some weird stuff about - "
Whatever he was going to say, though, is cut off by the screech of something from the woods beyond the bridge. It's not human, not animal, almost like nothing you've ever heard.
Almost.
But you've heard Heartless make cries like that, so you're on your board before Jim or Toby can say another word, kicking off down the road as fast as your wheels will take you. Even without your Keyblade, there has to be something, something you can do...
Once again, it isn't long before you hear the squeak of a bicycle behind you.