Looking over the cliff at the horizon, back against the fading Buster Blade, Cloud suddenly shuddered. A warmth had crept over his wind-chilled skin and knotted around his neck.
Cloud threw a look over his shoulder for the source, catching a brief glimpse of a flapping, floating piece of white.
A memory of a polished tiled floor and a voice in his ear fell into his mind in time with the lone feather falling to the ground.
·- ~*~ -·
'Yo, Cloud.'
The smiling face turned to him.
'Still aiming for SOLDIER?'
'Y-yeah.'
The smile widened into a grin.
'Great!'
Zack grabbed Cloud's wrist and tugged him down the hallway.
''Cause I have someone you might want to meet.'
·- ~*~ -·
Cloud lifted himself off the ground and walked over towards the abandoned feather.
He stood over it and watched as it twisted in the dirt, hopelessly seeking the sky.
·- ~*~ -·
'Cloud, this is that old grumpy preacher I was telling you about.'
'Hmph.'
''Bah humbug' to you too. Angeal meet Cloud, the scrawny SOLDIER wannabe.'
Cloud immediately threw a punch into Zack's arm.
'Doesn't look so "scrawny" to me.'
'... Shut up Angeal.'
Zack feigned a look of innocence at his 'attacker'.
'Aw Spike, what was that for?'
'Your lack of brains by the look of it.'
Zack pouted at his mentor.
'Why are you always so mean to me?'
'Because you deserve it.'
Zack clutched at his heart and mocked being hurt.
'Oh~, even the cute ones are cruel to me...'
Cloud and Angeal both laughed at his antics.
'Drama queen.'
Zack slinked up closer to Angeal and struck a pose.
'And a fi~ne looking one too.'
Cloud snorted.
'You wish!'
They laughed again as Zack clutched his heart again and fell to the floor.
·- ~*~ -·
Cloud picked up the feather and brushed the dirt off it. Making his way to Fenir, he smiled to himself.
'This will look nice next to the flowers.'