He was walking for hours now. Even an inexperienced cadet like him could sense the danger seeping from the forest that surrounded the group. They were in a narrow valley - not really a place to relax in. According to Tactics, the place was simply created for an ambush. Not that some monsters studied Tactics, but still…
Suddenly, his ears caught a distant shout. The voice was somehow familiar, but he couldn't understand what it said. A person was running to them, waving his hands in warning. Then the forest disappeared in a crackling blue flame, and he felt his body fly. The ground was so hard… His vision blurred with red. And everything went dark.
His body was damn heavy. He supposed that he was dead already, but it still didn't explain the feeling. Was it supposed to be like that? Or it was made up specially for him as a punishment?
-Mhm…
Was it his voice? No, it couldn't be. This one was squeaky and weak. His voice was… He couldn't remember his voice. He never tried to listen to it, but, on the other hand, who would listen to his own voice? Genesis, probably, would…
Huh? Somebody's calling?
-…d
He listened hard, concentrating with all he had.
-Cl…d
Could it be his name? Was he still alive?
-Cloud!
-Ah…
-Thank God! I examined you, but I'm not a doctor, you know. You just weren't waking up, and I started to get worried.
The man was speaking fast, so it took Cloud several seconds to understand what was said. He also managed to identify the voice. Zack… A wave of relief washed through his body, and the boy let out his breath. He didn't even realize he was holding it! But Zack sounded so worried… Cloud had to say something.
-Z…k
His throat refused to work properly, but Cloud was too stubborn to give up that easily. After all, stubbornness helped him to keep his place in the cadet program.
-Zack.
-Hey, buddy! How do you feel? Here, have some water.
-Thanks…
Cloud took Zack's flask and made a slow sip, making a swift look around. They were in a big cave, which was lit by a small fire near the wall. It was dark outside and raining heavily. The SOLDIER sat near the boy, an unusually serious look on his face.
-What has happened? Where are the others?
The older man stood up and went to the mouth of the cave. He leaned against the wall, looking at the falling droplets of water. Cloud didn't like it. Zack was never this gloomy. He was always smiling, no matter what happened! This just wasn't right.
-Listen, Spiky… What do you remember?
-Uh… We were sent on a mission to capture some new monster species for professor Hojo's lab. The Commander's group was sent to the South, and ours went North. We were to go through the valley and up the hills. Major Lewis was paranoid and sent you to check the surroundings every half an hour…
-Sure he did. During the last check, I found a trace of something that could have been our target. It was heading your way, so I went to warn you…
-Oh, I remember you running and screaming something.
-I didn't make it in time…
Zack looked guilty and remorseful. Cloud felt a shiver run down his back. It couldn't be… He quickly scanned the cave once again. There were two or three rifles near the wall, their muzzles bent and melted.
-What do you mean?
-They attacked with some kind of plasm, which wiped the whole valley from the earth's surface. You are the only survivor.
Cloud was dumbfounded. He stared at the older man, trying to find something, anything, that would make it all a joke. A stupid Puppy's joke to shake the teen's balance. Zack's face was stern and solid, his knuckles were white and his whole form was tense.
-No… It's not logical! Someone must have survived! I can't be the only one! I was there with everyone and…and…
-You were damn lucky, you know. I start to think that Gaia loves you, Cloud.
Cloud shook his head, making an even bigger mess of his blond hair. This must have been a dream. All of it. Now he would wake up in his bed and go for breakfast. The boy pinched his hand and shook his head once more. However, when he opened his eyes, he could still see the cave and the dark figure of his friend in a dim light of fire. The flash of lightning painted Zack's face white, and for a moment Cloud was scared of his friend. He shuddered and clutched the uniform material, a muffled sob escaping his lips. His fellow cadets were dead and Zack looked like he was a ghost too. What if in reality Cloud was the only survivor, and Zack was just too stubborn a spirit to leave him alone?
-Hey… Come on, Spiky. Don't do that to me. I… I'm really…
-Sorry…I'm so sorry… It shouldn't have been me. I'm useless…and It'd be better if some other guy survived! I…
Cloud's words died out, sobs were choking him, tears running down his cheeks. Suddenly, strong hands circled him, gently pulling closer to the warm chest. The boy clutched at his friend's uniform, listening for the man's heart. He oh so desperately needed to feel that Zack was truly alive! The SOLDIER hugged the blonde closer, letting him check as much as he wanted, giving the boy all the tenderness he could muster.
Soon the boy started to calm down, relaxing in his friend's arms. He felt so safe there he didn't want to ever let go. A sudden peal of thunder almost made him jump, and caused his older companion to smile gently.
Then, on remembering the boy's words, Zack's expression changed to serious again.
-Don't you ever say such things again. Your life is precious and I really don't understand why you think otherwise. You are important, Cloud! So much that when I was waiting for you to wake up, I thought I'd go mad with worry!
-Uh, you didn't have to worry so much really…
-No, I had to! You are dear to me! Why can't you believe that I care?
-Sorry…
Zack sighed, letting it go by now. He would make sure that Cloud reconsidered that stupid idea of him being useless.
-Ne, Zack, what are we going to do now?
-Well… I have a kind of plan for us to get out of here.
-Is it even possible? How are we going to pass the forest full of those freaking monsters?
-Hey, I'm a First Class SOLDIER! Do you doubt my abilities? I'll take us back for sure!
Cloud nodded and closed his eyes. He was too tired to notice the affectionate look he got from his friend, and too mentally worn out to argue when Zack covered him with his own SOLDIER blanket. Every cloud has a silver lining, hasn't it?