Highwind
CHAPTER 1 – The memorial
Life is good now. The trees are green, the sun is bright and the sky is blue. Spring is in the air and blossoms are in full bloom as they glide gently on the wings of the wind, landing at the foot of a most peculiar creature.
"Father, the trees are crying!" shouted a small dog like creature. With a swish of his fiery tail, Nanaki (or Red XIII) sat in the cool spring breeze as it refreshingly glowed through is bright red coat. "The tree is not crying" explained Nanaki, "rather it is shedding like we do."
"Why is it shedding father?" asked the little one, "because the planet wants it to" exclaimed Nanaki. His son sat there confused as another small, red creature appeared. The young female creature looked different to a male, it had a shorter tail and a hint of brown. "Father where are we going again?" she asked. Nanaki had risen now, "we're going to the memorial of Cid Highwind". The male cub had to quicken pace as Nanaki began to walk softly over the grassy plains, "Who's Cid Highwind?" he said.
"Well Cid Highwind was an iconic figure of our times as well as a good friend. And the story of his memorial is truly an epic tale".
"Oh father a story can we hear the story"
"Yeh father pleeeeease" asked the cubs.
Nanaki chuckled slightly but continued to walk as he took a breath and began to speak. "It all began 500 years ago…the planet was in crisis and…"the cubs interrupted "but we've heard this story!"
"Yes well let's skip ahead four years…which means this story begins 496 years ago and the planet is a place of relative peace and harmony. Much had been learned from the mistakes of humans over time", Nanaki froze and sat down as he gazed towards the sunset that silhouetted a small stone on the edge of the cliff.
"Here we are…this is where the story begins".