Introduction: My first actual project on this site. Here's hoping *crosses fingers*. This will be a compilation of short stories surrounding the pasts of all of the playable characters, and maybe one or two non-playable ones. Needless to say there'll be spoilers. Possible suggested pairings as well. Please enjoy. Standard disclaimers apply.
Chapter 1: Caution
The rain dripped off the branches and leaves of the trees above him, spattering on his head and neck. His dark crimson hair and violet clothing clung to his skin as he ducked through the thick underbrush. He swept the wet bangs from his eyes and listened. The shouts were getting softer. They were giving up. For a minute, the heavy rainfall went undisturbed. He stood up, again sweeping the bangs from his eyes, and headed back the way he had come.
He stuck to the trees, not daring to leave footprints on the path, even with the rain. When he found her, maybe they would risk it, but not now. For three days they had been followed. Three dark, drizzly days. The storm had actually been a turn of good luck, as it gave them a chance of escaping without trace.
He stopped, listening again with sharp, trained hearing. Beneath the muddled layers of rainfall that enveloped everything was a different watery noise, flowing and gurgling. He followed it, squeezing through the dense trees until he splashed out into the open, flooded banks of the river. The cold rainwater seeped into his boots as he looked for some sort of familiar landmark. A rapid series of splashes behind him caused him to grab the hilt of his sword and whirl around. A strained whine greeted his unsheathed blade; it came from a large green and white dog-like creature, shivering in the wet rain. He relaxed and lowered his sword.
"Sorry, Noishe," he apologized, wiping the water off his brow, "You startled me. Do you know the way back from here?" The creature shook itself, then nodded and waded past him.
Shortly, they came upon a rise in the bank, safe from the floodwaters. A small hollow in the earth was hidden there, concealed by overgrown shrubbery and moss. He kneeled down and pulled back the foliage, then froze. It was empty. His pulse quickened and his breath became short and shallow. Hundreds of dire scenarios were rushing through his head. He was about to jump up and fly after their pursuers when he felt a gentle tug at his cape and reason once again took over his mind.
"Noishe," he began, turning towards the beast biting his cape, "Where's Anna?" Noishe's ears tilted questioningly, unsure whether the man was angry with him or not. The cloth slipped out of his teeth as he scrambled up the slope to the forest's edge and stopped under a tall, well-plumed coniferous tree. Its branches drooped, weighed down by the heavy dew, and swayed lazily as the man flew past them with glowing blue wings sprouting from his shoulders. He slowed his ascension as he reached the crown and swiftly pulled back the branches.
The immediate gasp that followed came from a young woman seated awkwardly next to the trunk of the tree. Needles clung to her wavy, dark brown hair and soaked orange dress, and her thin arms clutched a brown bundle, also wet, close to her chest. Seeing who it was, however, she quickly relaxed and smiled sheepishly at him.
"Hi, Honey."
Looking just as relieved, he leaned forward and effortlessly scooped his wife out of the branches, then parachuted all of them safely to the ground.
"Kratos," she began as he set her feet on the grass, but was interrupted by a cold voice, seemingly shaking with anger.
"Why didn't you stay put?"
She pouted childishly, then sighed and hugged the brown bundle closer.
"I panicked," she confessed, pushing a wet lock of hair behind one ear, "When I heard them coming. I figured it would be safer." Suddenly, she found herself pulled into a close embrace, and a soft voice whispered in her ear, "Just don't scare me like that, okay?"
She froze, speechless for a moment, then grinned delightedly and buried her face in his neck.
"…Okay."
A muffled cry of protest arose from the bundle currently squished between them, and the couple separated.
"Aww, you woke him," said Anna sympathetically as she peeled away the soaked cloth to reveal a scowling, equally wet baby boy. He immediately stopped scowling, however, when he saw his mother.
"He was sleeping?" asked Kratos disbelievingly. The boy craned his neck around to find the source of the noise, then grinned ecstatically and stretched out his tiny hands toward the man, crying, "Da! Da-da!"
"Oh, look. He missed you," she cooed as Kratos took the squirming child.
"…Was he really sleeping the whole time?" he repeated the question, hoisting his son up on one arm.
"I was surprised, too," she replied, smiling, "He slept through the whole storm, just like a- well…"
Kratos smirked. "A baby?"
"Shush, you," she warned him, "Anyway, I see it as a very good sign." The auburn-haired man raised an eyebrow as Anna stepped closer so her eyes were level with the boy's large brown ones.
"Lloydie's going to grow up to be brave and strong and terribly handsome, just like Daddy!"
"…What was that last one?" he asked, but she was still going strong.
"And then he'll meet this really cute girl, probably blonde, and then they'll fall in love and-
"Oh," Anna stopped and looked up in realization at the lightening sky, "It stopped raining."
"Indeed," said Kratos, "We should be on our way." A loud whine came from behind them.
"Oh, hi, Noishe," she greeted the beast, "Where have you been?" Noishe trotted past them and turned back, sounding another pitiful whine.
"I guess Noishe thinks we should go, too," she said.
"Doggie!" cried Lloyd, reaching for the creature.
"Lloyd, Noishe isn't a-"
"That's right, Lloyd, Doggie!" praised Anna as they started walking down the bank. "Oh, come on, Kratos," she laughed at his disapproving look, "You can't expect a two-year-old to learn a word like 'protozoan'."
Her husband's scowl quickly disappeared as said two-year-old grabbed and tugged at his wet locks of hair. He laughed and pulled the boy into a bear-like hug. Lloyd squirmed in protest.
"…Kratos?" asked Anna when his face turned serious once again.
"…The Desians are persistent. I just wish there was a way for him to grow up peacefully."
"Yeah…" She then clasped her hands behind her back and smiled brightly at him. "But we've got nothing to worry about."
"Why's that?"
"Because we have a brave and handsome knight looking after us."
He returned the smile, then looped his free hand around her waist and kissed her. Lloyd made a face.
One down, at least eight to go. Reviews would be much appreciated as I work through the next few stories.