DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the characters, places, names, or anything of Final Fantasy VII. This story was inspired by plots and settings of the post-apocalyptic game Fallout 3 and the novel The Road. This story is purely fan made and made for the enjoyment of writing.

Author's Note: This chapter is a test to see if anyone is interested and would want me to continue. Read and review. Thanks.

Chapter I

"We shouldn't be here…"

"Are you kidding me? Do you see all this shit here?"

"Nah, I'm serious, Cooper. This guy could still be lingerin' around here somewhere, you know…jus' watchin' us…waiting…"

Breathe.

"Oh shut the hell up, Dez. Look, I have all the weapons we need to protect our asses, okay? Now put your ass to work and start goin' through the backpack over there. I'm eatin' this guy's breakfast. I'm freakin' starving!"

Load.

The middle aged man nodded over towards the black, grimy backpack as he knelt down next to the camp fire and ravenously dug into the open can of sliced pineapples. Dez turned his head over to the area where his friend was pointing to. The camp site was extremely small and seemed suitable for only one person. Just some blankets, a backpack, and a burnt out camp fire. The backpack sat on the bleak, gray forest floor next to a bundle of tattered quilted blankets. Leaves, dirt, and other ground litter covered the bag and the bulky blankets. The cautious man slowly approached the bag but quickly ceased his motions. Something didn't seem right.

Aim.

Dez stepped back for a moment, feeling the sweat drip from his temples. His dark eyes left the backpack and watched the woods. Black bare trees surrounded them with some managing to touch the concrete colored skies while others were crumbled on the ground. Leaves, ash, and massive boulders blanketed the once flourishing terrain with hardly any floral life. No critters lingered. No birds sung. Nothing but the same dry wasteland he was used to. He looked up at the sky, seeing nothing but nimbus clouds rolling in from the west. He heard the low rumbles of thunder coming. He felt the stale and cold air, but it smelled rotten. He couldn't see it. But he could feel it. Someone was watching…

"Dez! Damn it! What the fuck are you doin'? Stop lookin' at the bloody sky and the damn backpack!" Cooper hissed as he continued to chomp down on the pineapple. "And make sure you get all the blankets and crap too."

"Coop, someone's here."

The man waved off his friend's remark and he stood up. "Oh stop your damn worrying, man. If you keep fuckin' around like this then I swear I'll slice open your damn throat." He then turned around and continued focusing on his food. "Look, I got your ass covered. I'm watchin' for the bastard. Trust me, whoever was here left. The ashes in the fire aren't even hot. So hurry up."

Dez shook his head. "N-no man…we gotta–"

Cooper whipped around to face the man as his yellow, hazel eyes burned into Dez's skin. He held the open can in one hand while the other held the sharp can top to his partner's throat.

Fire.

"Don't you ever say–"

Dez watched as Cooper's once wrathful and enraged face twisted into complete distress. His yellow eyes turned white and lifeless as the man dropped the items in his hands and immediately grasped Dez's neck. His feet stumbled and his body swayed back and forth. He tried to choke out words to his friend, but alas no words could be formed. He tried gasping for air but it was no use. He was only breathing in blood and drowning his own lungs. His heart began to pound in his chest as he continued to fight for air. Dez could only watch in horror as the dark crimson blood steadily poured out from the arrow wound at his neck. It was a clear shot; breaking through the cartilage around his neck and ripping through to his trachea. Cooper suddenly reached out to Dez and clutched his thick brown jacket before falling into his friend. Dez caught him and felt the pressure of his full weight in his arms.

He was dead.

"Oh…oh Gaia…no no no no…"

Dez dropped the dead man from his arms and began to panic. He trembled violently as his eyes flashed over to the woods, looking over towards the dark trees, boulders, anything for someone or something. His heart was pounding so loudly against his chest he could barely hear the low, aggressive growl that erupted from the pile of blankets on the floor near him. His throat unleashed a scream as a dark figure popped out from the blankets and launched itself on him. It hit him so hard that he fell backwards onto the ground. Instantly, his arm was locked within the jaws of a wild beast that uncontrollably twisted and yanked at his flesh. The bite was so hard that it easily pierced through his thick coat and skin. Petrified, Dez wrestled with the wild, black animal as he screamed with agonizing pain. He was so disoriented he couldn't make out what exactly the beast was.

"Down, boy! Off!"

At once the beast released his powerful grip on the man and retreated. Dez abruptly scrambled to his feet held his flesh torn arm. He could feel the warm blood trickle down underneath his thick clothing while his arm grew numb with pain. He groaned as he slowly looked up and met with dark amber eyes of a dog.

The dog was a pure bred German shepherd with a thick, all black coat. He was snarling at the man while flashing his yellow, crimson stained canines as drool dripped from the sides of his black lips. He stood in a defending stance with his hackles raised and his pointed ears flat against his skull. The muscles underneath his dark pelt rippled, defining his brawny figure. He would have surely killed the man if he wasn't called off.

Dez looked over to see a man approaching. He was equipped with a hunter's bow, loaded with a steel tipped arrow ready to fire. He aimed at Dez's head as he inched closer. He was of average height and appeared to be about 22. He had spiky blonde hair and piercing, indomitable blue eyes. He wore frayed dark blue jeans with worn black shoes. He had on an olive green thick jacket with its hood trimmed with various shades of brown animal fur. Underneath was a dark gray thermal sweater that hugged his muscular, lean frame. His clothes were tarnished and mucky with numerous earthly stains. He had a rather striking visage underneath the various cuts and scars and mud that tainted it. He stopped only a few inches away. Dez was motionless on the ground, too fearful to do anything.

"P-please…please don't–"

"Shut it." The blonde man interrupted. "Get up."

Dez did nothing and right away regretted it. The man kicked him hard on his flank. He let out a loud groan and rolled on his hurting side. The excitement caused the dog to explode into barking. Calmly, the man hushed the dog and focused his attention back on Dez. He repeated himself.

"Get. Up."

Dez slowly got up, eying both the bow and the growling dog. He staggered for a moment to maintain balance. He held his wounded arm close to his chest and stared blankly at man. Pain throbbed through his body. He watched the blonde adjust his aim again, this time focusing on his throat. He watched his eccentric eyes trace over his body, examining every detail in his head.

"Empty your pockets. Coat and pants pockets."

Dez did as he was told and slowly pulled out the pockets of his tan, blood stained parka and his ragged pants. Nothing came out of them except for a pair of wool gloves and a rusty locket necklace. He held the golden locket for a moment before letting it drop down to his feet.

"Open your coat."

He frowned for a moment before opening his parka. He unzipped it and removed the canteen of water from his belt and dropped it. He had nothing else for the man. But the man continued to speak to him. He nodded over towards his dead partner.

"Does he have weapons?"

Dez nodded.

"Remove them from him and lay them on the ground next the other items."

Dez dragged himself over towards the corpse and fell to his knees next to it. It already stunk of death and warm blood. A thick puddle of blood surrounded the man's face and neck while the arrow still stuck out from his neck. Dez flipped the dead man over on his back and winced. He couldn't bear seeing the man. His face was covered in so much blood it made his stomach turn inside out. Carefully and quickly Dez removed a switch blade and pistol from the man's own coat. He tossed both items over to the pile. He looked back over at the blonde man.

"Remove the arrow from his neck."

"Wh–?"

"Do it." The man ordered as he motioned with his loaded bow.

"Alright, alright. I'll…I'll take it out…" Dez reassured. The man remained impassive saying nothing in response.

He turned back to the body with a sickened face as his shaky hand grasped the protruding base of the arrow. He pulled hard on the arrow and watched it slowly slide out of the side of the neck. He heard the sicking twist of bone and cartilage and flesh as he desperately tried to remove the arrow. The sound was horrifying to his ears, and he closed his eyes trying to block out the disgusting sounds. With a final yank, the arrow popped out. It was painted in dark blood with small chunks of flesh still clinging onto the tip and sides of it. He threw it over to the pile and staggered to his feet, trying to hold in the bile creeping up his throat. He looked back over at the man ready to accept his fate of death. Whether it was to be shot in the throat like his friend or to be the canine's breakfast, it didn't matter to him anymore. He just prayed it would happen quickly. He could feel the hot tears swelling up in his eyes.

"Leave." The blond demanded.

Dez stood there for a moment, unsure of what to do. He wasn't going to kill him? What? Or maybe he was waiting until he turned his back, then maybe he was going to shoot him in the back of the head…

"I'm not going to kill you."

Dez stared at the man, perplexed. "What?"

"I won't kill you," The man stated again, slightly lowering his bow.

"But we just tried to rob you–"

"If you keep standing here I just might change my mind. So I suggest that you leave now."

Dumbfounded, Dez started to run but quickly turned around. "Please, will you just let me have the locket? Please…it's the only thing I have of my wife!" He cried, almost begging.

Quickly the blonde man went over to the pile of items and picked up the locket. He threw it over to the wounded man who caught it with his good hand. Then he turned and ran for his life, sprinting off into the woods of the black forest.

Cloud released a sigh as he watched the man flee away. The man was still likely to die. There was no way he was going to be able to survive the wilderness without any weapons or food or water. And with a wound like that, it was definitely going to be infected. Or at least detected soon by cannibals. In a way, he almost felt sorry for the man since he left him with almost nothing. But it could not be helped. No, in this godforsaken world, it was all about survival. Survival of the fittest.

Cloud knelt to the ground to examine the few items in the pile. He set his bow down and inspected the switch blade. He opened it to find the blade still in decent condition and still capable to pierce skin and carve things. Satisfied with it, he placed it in his pocket. He then picked up the sliver pistol. It was rare for someone to obtain such a weapon in the wilderness. Most of guns and other explosives were only found with the remaining Shinra government officials and soldiers, and never in civilian hands. He pondered how in the world this man was able to obtain it. He checked the ammo finding five 9mm bullets in the single magazine. Not much, but it would definitely do. He took it and hooked it through his black belt and concealed it with his jacket. He then took his arrow that was shot through the man and cleaned it off by running it against the ground to try and get off most of the blood and flesh.

Lightning soon kindled the dark sky. The thunder grew louder, and it started to sprinkle cold rain drops. Quickly, Cloud rose and began gathering together the thin blankets to wrap them up and get ready for departure. He needed to move hastily so that he wouldn't be caught in the pouring rain for too long. Before he started off, he checked his bag to make sure everything was in it; a few books, cans of food, a water canteen, and a few other things. He then strapped the blankets on his backpack and slid on the straps onto his shoulders. He looked down for a moment over at the black German shepherd that sat quietly and patiently, awaiting his next command from the man. The blonde gave a soft smirk to the animal and called his companion over.

"You did well, Fenrir. But we're going to have to skip breakfast and probably lunch in order to make it to Gongaga before nightfall…and hopefully not be in the pouring rain for too long." Cloud said as he gave the dog a quick rub on his neck. In response, the dog simply wagged his tail and let his long, pink tongue roll out.

"And hopefully my uncle will be there to help us out."

I just hope he's still alive…

I hope Gongaga is still alive…

Suddenly a loud blast erupted in the sky and it broke his train of thought. His blue eyes instantly met with the dark clouds and flashing lights above him. He needed to leave. Cloud pulled his hood over his head and continued his journey with Fenrir south to Gongaga.