A faint tingling in the tips of his fingers was the first sensation that returned to him, distant at first, slowly spreading all through his hands assuring him that those limbs, at least, were still attached. He hadn't the energy to move them, not for a time. He drifted, floating freely in and out of consciousness, without real thought or emotion. Was he dead? Was he alive? He found he didn't much care, not in his current state.

Gradually he became aware of sound, water crashing lazily around him, though it seemed far off, unimportant. His fingers continued to tingle. He tried to discern whether his eyes were open or not. His hands curled slowly, clumsily into fists, and sent waves of feeling up and down his arms. Slender yet powerful forearms tensed, moving fluidly as he stirred... they felt heavy, sluggish.

Light strands of spiky blonde hair played across his features, yet they were damp, and he could feel the small, salty droplets of water clinging to him as he stirred. His eyebrows drew together just slightly in a frown, and after a moment longer, two intense, piercing blue eyes flickered open to gaze upon his hazy surroundings. They had a faint yet curious glow to their hue, offsetting the crystalline blue with a hint of emerald green. Narrowing slightly, they struggled to focus, and he at last pushed himself upwards onto his elbows, spitting sea water from his mouth as he did so. His clothing stuck to his narrow frame, alerting his body to the dull ache that seemed to exist in each and every muscle. The thick sleeve of black material that usually rested upon his left arm was gone, washed away by the tide, a vast ocean of steel gray sea that stretched out past his line of vision. He gazed upon it for a moment or so, silent, and felt a chill in his arms and legs. The sky overhead was black, overcast, and an icy wind whipped through the world of desolation around him, adding a despairing undertone to his solitude.

A few feet away, licked still by the water's edge, a glint of silver caught his eye, and he rose, collapsing briefly with a low curse as pain shot up the sprain in his left leg. Nonetheless, he straightened, and limped silently to the weapon's side, where he lingered briefly before heaving it upwards, resting the steel tip upon the rock and leaning against it as he cast another look around.

So much water...

How far from Midgar have I come?

He could not recall the events leading up to his present situation, not for the time being, however brief flashes of light and color, a powerful rushing of crushing water.

What does it all mean…?

His eyes shifted to the crude waters again, and yet he could see no trace of the poison substance within them...nonetheless, this did not deter his suspicions. His body had been drenched in mako. The scent was evident.

...That would account for the memory loss

The ex-SOLDIER's pale face twisted into a frown as he looked upwards from the desolate island of rock. He could hear nothing but the wind and sea around him, fluttering through his hair and sending a continual chill through his narrow body.

---

"...Hm?"

At last, the mako-tinted eyes shifted sideways, and he took a shaky step forward, squinting through the darkness to a neighboring outcrop of land. The black rocks jutted from many places around the one on which he had awoken, waves coiling around each of them and thickening the air with a light spray. Although wet, the bright red fur stood out in the bleak darkness, and without further hesitation he started towards it, plunging into the icy waters, after placing the sword in the holster upon his back, struggling slightly against the tide as he attempted to fight it with just three of his limbs.

He swallowed rancid saltwater more than once, as lightening clashed overhead, but at last, a gloved hand lashed out, catching the neighboring island of rock and pausing for a moment to regain his breath.

He found quickly, however, that he could not lift himself onto its surface, not yet...and so, resigned, he rested his pale arms upon it, allowing the near-frozen water to envelop his body. Reaching out, he rested his hand upon the head of the large beast, as he muttered a name. Red's markings were far from indistinguishable, and he struggled calmly to wake him. Perhaps the guardian would have some idea to exactly where the two of them had ended up...

---

Slowly the dark eyes of the creature fluttered open with a dimmed look. The lolling red lion like creature dragged himself to his lazy, waterlogged paws, his hues switching around with hesitation. Quickly he once again spotted the boy, his neck stretching as he grasped the fabric of the collar of his shirt dragging the injured human onto the surface, the boy himself seemed rather worn down, as he himself. With the jingles of his bangles as the massive dog moved around Cloud, the claws attached to his beastly paws quarrying as they slipped around the wet rock. Gradually the creature flicked his whip like tail; the gentle flame alit at the tip yielding as the flickers of rain landed along his pelt.

"Cloud, your leg." Nanaki murmured, noting his gaze to the blonde's face with a calmed look, without a response he let out a soft sigh before peeling away from his position, turning to the edge of the rock staring out into the roaring ocean.

This was not Gaia…

"…Where are we?" Cloud questioned in a dull tone, looking after the bright red creature. The waves coiling around his black boots as he shifted back along the slick rock with a emotion lacking look as he tensed his arms, he saw the creature's gaze shift back towards his own causing his soft blue hues to lower as he turned his head to the side. No response? So the guardian had no idea?

It was rather simple to discern that the two were no longer in Midgar, the stormy skies, ragging ocean., the ruined dark rocks, strange marking enlacing the surface of the water laden stones. This settlement had been claimed by chaos, it was evident, and though which city had this been exactly? A result of Shina's properties? This world of desolation was beyond redemption.

What happened here…?

No movement, all life in this place had been claimed, however he could not let him mind discern this only, he had a mission to get back to Midgar, Tifa, Marlene, Denzel, they were all in trouble, weren't they? A brief flash crossed his mind as he pictured their pale bodies placed on the ocean floor, sinking further and further, he was no good to help anyone. To stop this… Cloud quickly blinked scanning the ragging ocean with a frantic look, the being took a stumbling step, his injured leg giving way to him colliding with the puddle filled ground with a small splash, his hands formed fists, as he noticed Nanaki hovering above him with a apprehensive stare. Slowly he pulled himself up, noiselessly his gaze shifted to Red XIII briefly letting him know wordlessly that he was fine. Mako tinted eyes dragged across the horizon with a tainted look as he caught movement in the distance, something inside him screaming they were not truly alone here. For better or for worse.