A.N: Hey guys, here is another new story. I plan on keeping the chapters a little shorter than I usually do in hopes that I can write and post more frequently. That is the plan anyways. Enjoy!

I no own nothing but my plot. Sorry for any mistakes, they always sneak their way in. Rated M, you have been warned.

CHAPTER ONE: The Beast

He wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand and blinked up into the treeline. Small patches of sunlight peeked through the mostly full branches, occasionally making him squint when it would catch his eye the wrong way. He flinched as a twig snapped under his boot, quickly looking around to see if it had disturbed the local fauna. He wasn't one for disturbing peaceful creatures, or the violent ones.

He was lost. He had been for almost three hours now.

"Gods I am going to die out here," he wiped the sweat from his forehead again. The hot climate wasn't agreeing with him, as it wouldn't with anyone from the north who didn't frequent the southern lands. The air was heavy and stuck to you making you feel like you had a second skin.

A bird tweeted and flew around him in circles. Not just any bird, he began calling it the bird. He swore it was following him, but the more likely case was that the heat was getting to his head. He stopped and pointed a finger at it as it landed gracefully on a moss covered branch, "and you...you just stop doing that, I am already dizzy and your obnoxious fluttering is not helping. Fuck off will you?" The bird tweeted and turned its head to the side before flying off.

"Impressive, I speak fluent bird...alright...this way it is."

He continued on through the woods in no particular direction, resting often, mumbling to himself even more.

The sun was sinking lower in the sky and his heart pounded ever so slightly harder in his chest. It wasn't smart to be in the woods at dark. That's what they had said, he knew they were right. Anyone who thought otherwise was a fool. So then where were they? He heard no shouts of his name. Only the swishing of the wind in the trees and the occasional birdsong and chirp of crickets were present. Speaking of birds, he was starting to miss his tiny stalker. His tiny stalker was gone, flew off to some great unknown. So why did he still have an uneasy feeling of being watched.

"Agh!" He shouted as he tripped over a tree root and fell, "God dammit." He lifted his head off the ground, damp leaves sticking to his cheek and blonde hair. He sighed and brushed them off. His boots and pants were spattered with mud, his white shirt white no more as it was filthy with sweat and dirt. 'What else could possibly go wrong?'

He sat on the ground for a moment looking around, cursing the roots that tripped him, until a familiar sound reached his ears. He jumped up, and worked his way through the copse as fast as he could, not bothered by the branches that scratched his face.

He reached a clearing, exclaiming his joy at the sight of a stream, "Water! Oh lovely water, how I have missed you!" He stumbled over, ignoring the dull pain as his knees fell onto the stones at the edge of the water, submerging his head underneath the cool water. He emerged with a gasp and shook the water from his hair, pushing the wet strands out of his eyes before drinking a few hand-fulls of water. He had hoped it was safe enough to drink. That was the least of his worries at the time as the sky grew increasingly darker.

Looking down he caught a glimpse of himself in the waters reflection. A stranger stared back, distorted by small ripples in the water. His cheeks were scratched, his bright blue eyes bloodshot, and his clothes were covered in dirt and mystery stains. He removed his shirt and washed it and his body as best as he could, before wringing his shirt and replacing it onto his pale skin. That would do for now.

A wave of dizziness and exhaustion hit him like a brick wall as he brought himself to his feet. His eyebrows came together as he closed his eyes momentarily. He opened them to scan his surroundings. Over on the other side of the stream was a large thicket, maybe it would be best to try and take shelter for the night. Hopes of being found were waning.

He crossed over the stream, boots sloshing water onto the backs of his black pants. At least he didn't have to worry about freezing to death. Starving was another thing, he'd worry about that later.

It had been at least five hours since he was separated from his group now. "Incompetent bastards call themselves hunters. Can't even track a human let alone these damn monsters. Gah!" He crawled into the thicket, pushing back leaves and twigs and making sure he wasn't exposed.

"I'm hiding in a fucking bush...no I am going to probably die while hiding in fucking bush, even better." He punched back a shrub before laying against the leaves with heavy eyes, whispering to himself, " I don't really want to die yet."His eyes began closing as he listened to the lull of the stream.

He didn't remember falling asleep but he woke with his heart pounding in his chest. He held his breath as he listened over the soft sounds of the stream. But he was sure that it wasn't the stream making those sounds.

The night was bright with a full moon but he could hardly see through the branches surrounding him. He supposed that was his plan, he just hoped nothing could see him either.

The bushes across the stream rustled now and then making his heart skip a beat. The sound of something walking closer made him bite his cheek. Then the sound of something crossing the stream.

'I'm hidden, nothing can see me. I'm okay, I'm safe here,' he repeated to himself like a mantra. He felt along the ground for the rock he laid on when trying to get comfortable earlier, his finger curling around it tightly as the steps grew nearer.

His heart was pounding so loudly he was almost sure it was giving him away. He sat up slightly, fingers even tighter on his rock as the thicket began to rustle.

Now or never, you're not dying in a fucking bush man. He gulped before jumping out of the thicket with a pathetic battle cry, hurling the rock at the intruder.

"Fuck off, it's my goddamn bush! "

"Argh! Fuck- what the fuck is wrong with ya'?"

He blinked and looked down at the man holding a hand against his bleeding forehead, a torch burning on the rocks beside him.

"CID?!"

"I don't want nothing to do with your damn shrubs, have' ya' gone mad Cloud?"

He excitedly helped the man to his feet, giving his apologies before picking up the torch and handing it to him.

"I thought you were going to kill me, bad view from in there really," he said pointing to his hideout.

The old man adjusted his goggles on his head and grunted, " Cloud, ya'know, next time stay put, it'd been easier to find ya' if you had. Ya' go wandering off and make us go on a wild goose chase to find ya' everyone's pretty mad. How's it so hard to track an idiot like you? Gah, they'll be along any time now anyway."

"Oh...I didn't think of that."

"Ya' wouldn't would ya.'"

"Hey! What is that supposed to - well whatever I'm just glad I didn't kill you...and that you found me before something bad hap-" Cloud's entire body went stiff and his face paled, making the older blonde turn to see what has caused the reaction.

He frowned and held the arm with the torch towards Cloud, tapping the handle against his chest for him to take it and he did. He carefully drew the rifle from his back, pointing it in front of them.

Brown fur shone in the moonlight as silver eyes glowed by the edge of the stream across from them. It was staring right at them.

"Cid," Cloud licked his dry lips," Is- is that-"

"It's one of them."

"Ah, there's more than one, of course there is." Cloud didn't remove his gaze from the silver ones staring back at him as he took a step back. Cid shot a hand out grabbing the front of the young blondes shirt in a fistful.

"Don't fuckin' move a muscle ya'hear? Do what I say."

Cloud swallowed before nodding. Cid let go and drew the rifle to his eye before aiming it at the huge creature.

"When I shoot, we run. One of these wont take it out, just a distraction. We run past it towards the direction of the group ya' got that kid? "

"I'm not an idiot, I got it."

"No time to be a smart ass. Now..." Cid aimed, finger on the trigger before taking the shot. The dark hit the beast in the neck making it yelp in pain and stumble to the side.

"Run like hell kid!"

Cloud didn't need to be told twice as he took off in a sprint, Cid right behind him. He made the mistake of looking back as the beast got to it's feet, shaking the dart out of it's neck and pulling it's lips back into a menacing snarl. Cloud whipped his head back around, almost running into a tree in the process.

"It's fucking chasing us Cid! SHOOT IT AGAIN!"

"Can't only bullets left."

"SHOOT IT WITH BULLETS THEN!" Cloud shouted and ducked as a branch nearly took his head off. The beast howled behind them as the glow of torches and the sound of voices could be heard up ahead.

"Not...how..it works kid." Cid huffed behind him, rifle clacking against his back.

"At least...I didn't...die in a bush."

"CID?! CLOUD?!"

Cloud waved his arms at the group that appeared up ahead.

"IT'S FUCKING CHASING US!"

"We have one, hit it!" Cid yelled to them, three of the group instantly drew their guns. The two blond men ran past them catching their breath as the three gunmen took their aim past them.

The huge beast bounded toward them with giant strides, before skidding against the forest floor and then falling as three shots were fired into it. It howled as it lay breathing heavily against the earth unable to fight.

The group rushed over with ropes as Cloud stared into silver eyes before they slowly closed.

In the distance a bird sang despite the full moon.

AN: Thanks for reading everyone! I can't wait to post the next chapter!