Okay so I am seriously sorry for taking this long to post something but my computer completely F%&$#ed so I wasn't even able to write anything until a few days ago. *sigh* I had a bunch of ideas but this one stood out for me my obsession with this pair coming through once again. So here we go again, please review and if you have anything you want to see let me know and I'll see if I can fit it in.

Chapter One: A Night at Camp

A light breeze blew through the canyon slightly rustling the trees and sweeping over the grass on multiple levels whilst an afternoon sun leaked through from above. Multiple creatures roamed the natural halls that had formed, the ever watchful sentinel Lightning sat perched on a rock that gave her a clear view of the entry point to their camp. The position looked odd, like a predator waiting for her target to reveal itself, she realised this but shrugged it off as survival instinct. This was after all pulse a very primitive place, and she thought that with both fear and admiration. Despite the danger it was easier to live here than on Cocoon, on Cocoon you had to worry about peoples plots, money, social requirements, but here all she had to worry about was protecting herself and her friends. It was simple.

As she stood vigilant her mind began to wonder to the problems they had encountered recently, they needed to make another trip to that lagoon to get fresh water, she need to find another smooth rock to sharpen her Gunblade, she had lost the last one when her pouch came loose during a battle with some Gorgonopsids and then there was her idea to have Hope help her with magic in exchange for helping him learn to wield a Gunblade. He had expressed his desire to use one himself back in Gapra Wightwood she just hoped that the desire was still true. She sighed as she thought about it, no matter how hard she tried she just couldn't get a grasp on these higher level spells, whereas Hope wielded them with such ease and yet such power.

After an hour or two her limbs began to stiffen and she realised that if she stayed much longer she wouldn't be able to kill something if it came through the entrance. She looked at her options, Fang was resting so she could watch the camp that night and she was the one who had relived Snow so the best option was probably Sazh. Vanille would just get distracted and run after some furry creature. She considered asking Hope, it wasn't as if he couldn't keep watch, in fact besides herself he was the most attentive when doing so, but he often gave off looks of exhaustion when he thought none were looking. So she slide off the rock and stretched her aching muscles then proceeded to walk back to the main part of the camp.

When she got there Vanille was talking to the Chocobo next a sleeping Fang, Snow was "working out" by which he meant punching imaginary targets and Hope was examining a curious runestone he had found in one of the old ruins. Her target however was sitting on a log cleaning his pistols, he looked up as she approached, "sup soldier girl, you want me to take watch"?
"Yeah, thanks",
"no problem", he said standing up, "send Fang over once sun sets",
"will do".

After Sazh left she walked over to the supplies picked up her canteen and took a few gulps of water, she then walked over to Hope. "Hey", he said glancing up at her,
"hey", she replied, "you figure out what that is yet"?
"According to Vanille it's the symbol of the Kiar clan",
"you mean like Dia and Yun"? She asked,
"uh-huh, apparently if I add lines here and here", he said tracing his finger over the smooth stone, "it becomes the symbol for Dia, but Yun has a completely different design".
"I see", she said nodding.
"oh-uh", he stammered leaning back over into his own space, "sorry".
"Huh", she hadn't even noticed him lean in close to show her the runestone. She put down her lack of notice as tiredness and stood to leave, but as she stood Hope moved as well.
"n-no wait I'm really sorry", he said looking worried.
It took a moment to puzzle over his overreaction before replying, "Its ok I'm just feeling tired I'm going to lie down".
"oh-a-ok", he said blushing but looking relieved, "ill-I mean, bye", he ducked his head and ran off.

After finding a spot to rest she sighed inwardly, great now I feel guilty for letting him freak out, I should have reassured him more and I didn't even get to find out if he still wanted to learn how to wield a Gunblade. She sat thinking it over for a while before reaching a decision. With her mind settled she stood and walked over to Fang and Vanille who had since fallen asleep. She reached out and shook Fang by the arm, the warrior sat up quickly taking a sharp breath, "what's wrong"? She said,
"nothing, it's just sunset", she replied pointing up at the stars now visible in the sky.
"Oh, okay then", she said standing, she stretched out her sleeping limbs a yawned, "see you at dawn". And without another word she walked off towards the entrance.

She looked around the camp, Vanille was asleep at her feet, Snow had dropped to the ground in exhaustion a while ago and had since began snoring, but it was as she looked around that she realised she hadn't seen Hope since he had walked off before. She examined the camp more closely and found him in a small corner. She walked over to him and realised he had fallen asleep. After a few moments deliberation she lay down about a metre away from him and began to drift off to sleep.

After a few more moments she heard footsteps, likely Sazh returning to them. She peeked an eye open just to be sure. Sazh came quietly into her view and took up Fangs position next to Vanille. After that she closed her eyes again and was almost asleep when she heard a sharp intake of breath behind her and a small voice calling out, "Light".
She sat up and looked over at Hope, the obvious source and found he was still asleep, but as she examined him she saw his eyes moving under their lids by the moonlight, "must be dreaming", she said quietly. She relaxed and lay back down. After a while she was finally able to get to sleep.

Claimer: lol jks disclaimer

Again please review I really like to hear what people think good or bad it helps me improve.

I'm in year 12 now so it might take longer to post than it used to but I will still endeavour to bring you this story a quickly as my homework will permit.