As the fire overtook them, Kituo shuddered. His skin blistered as the heat's intensity rubbed against him. The heat was greater than any he had ever felt before. It was so hot that it forced him to prod the lantern away from his chest, its warmth only adding to the smoltering torture. Not only was the heat pounding him, but the smoke from the fire was beginning to choke Kituo. It was becoming increasingly harder to breath and as he hacked and choked, Kituo staggered on his feet. He couldn't rely on the lanter to get him out of this crisis. If his willpower couldn't succeed then he was finished. It made Kituo feel more uneasy to see even the monkey bats withdrawing from the flames. The fire was truly an adversary to them all.

He didn't know whether it was through sheer will or not, but somehow Kituo found the strength to keep his feet moving. While he didn't register it at first, he was actually being guided through the inferno by the shine of the purple lantern in the distance. When he did take heed of it, he could only manage a small grin as a display of his hope. The purple light gave Kituo reassurance in that he would not have to rely solely on himself. Kituo knew he wasn't the best equipped for keeping himself alive. For all he knew the entirety of the forest had already been engulfed. But, if the purple light still gleamed then there had to be a safe point ahead. Having a set destination motivated Kituo to pick up his pace. Hurrying along, he pushed the lantern back against his chest and gritted his teeth to endure the heat.

As Kituo trudged, his body began to gradually feel lighter with each step he took. This continued until he swore that he was floating through the air - a sensation he felt during his descent from above. The lantern in his arms almost blinded him as it reacted to the purple light that advanced onto them. As good as it felt, Kituo himself finding temporary pleasure in the familiarity, he was unable to fully remove himself from the fire that surged through the forest. He came back down to reality and pushed forward with his passion increased by a morsel. Kituo's heart had been worked to exhaustation. No longer able to zip, it thumped within Kituo as his body slowed down. The smoke was weighing his lungs down and he was becoming feint headed. Kituo panted and fought to catch as much oxygen as he could salvage. As he nodded in and out of darkness he swore he caught a glimpse of something looming near him. Whatever. If there indeed was something there, Kituo figured it unwise for it attack him giving the circumstances. 

[i]C'mon, move.[/i] Kituo urged, trying his best to lift his leg. Contrasting with his soaring head, the mass of Kituo's body was becoming heavier. Kituo staggered again and nearly fell. At this rate it would be near impossible for him to progress. He coughed and prepared to quit. But, just when he was about to fall to his knees, his body was suspended mid-drop.

The voice of the girl seeped life back into Kituo as she held onto his arm. Did she say that they could get home if they gathered all the lanterns? That was a symphony to Kituo's ears.

"A-alright," he chucked, forcing another step.

He had nothing to lose by resisting his own demise.