Final Fantasy XIII and its characters/creatures/locations belong to Square Enix.
I have not beaten the game as of yet (finished the storyline in Oerba) so forgive any inaccuracies.
Arise...
Arise...and help.
A great gasp emitted from Fang as her body was suddenly overthrown with the need for air, eyes opening with a quick snap. The sunlight burned her retinas, the sounds around the Oerban erupting in her ears. Despite the heat of the sun Fang found herself chilled, rolling to the side and wrapping her arms about herself. Her eyes would close, unable to focus, and her head and heart pounded rapidly.
It took a great deal of time before Fang was able to relax, her body steadily becoming accustomed to senses once again. The cold left her body and she now felt the sun's warmth, her heart slowing in her chest. Exhaling softly, the woman allowed her eyes to slowly open. They would remain half lidded at first before she felt it safe to open them fully, the brightness around her only posing a mild discomfort that quickly diminished. With her arms unfolding Fang placed a hand upon the soft grass she lay on, pushing herself up into a seated position to better view her surroundings.
Vast plains spread as far as the eye could see, towering masses of rock visible in the far distance. Grass a vibrant green covered a good portion of the plains, a number of shrubs, trees and other plant-life scattered about. Cliffs jutted outward in various places, casting shadows on the earth beneath them. The shining sun was nestled high in the cloud graced sky, a few winged beasts visible as they passed overhead.
Fang was in awe, a great feeling of relief washing over her as she rose to her feet. She inhaled deeply, taking in the familiar scent of the land.
"Finally," the woman sighed, though she soon came to realize that no one else was around. There she was, standing alone; and something was wrong with that picture.
Quickly Fang turned her head, first to one side then the other, taking a few minutes to survey both directions before focusing in front of and behind herself. The relief that once filled her was now replaced with a faint sense of dread, for Vanille was nowhere to be seen. Once Fang called the girl's name...twice...a third time, and no reply. Her heart started to sink. The sun was blocked out by the clouds, a sudden wind sweeping through the land. Rolling thunder could be heard in the distance, Fang gazing in its direction.
Storm or not, she was going to find Vanille.
Fang's initial destination was the Font of Namva, as she knew that Vanille had a fondness for chocobos. It seemed a good first place to start, though upon her entrance the Oerban found the area to be empty. No Vanille, no beasts...and, oddly, no chocobos. This confused and troubled the woman, and a further search brought an idea as to what the cause of the birds' disappearance may be.
Near the edge of the largest body of water Fang discovered deep gouges in the soil that measured at least two feet in length. As she knelt beside them she noticed that the marks were in a pair; four on the left, four on the right. No doubt some matter of creature caused them, frightening the chocobos and other beasts out. Judging by the location of the gouges, Fang gathered the thing resided in the water. The liquid was still, however, and the woman ventured closer.
Fang could not see any signs of a water dwelling beast, though she did spot what appeared to be a hole carved deep into the rock below. It must have dug its way through from another location to reach the Font of Namva.
The woman's brow furrowed at the sudden crack of thunder overhead, tiny droplets of rain beginning to fall from the sky. She exhaled a sigh, rising to her feet. The absence of chocobos was the least of her worries, and somehow she doubted that the creature attacked Vanille. There were no other markings on the ground to indicate a battle, no footprints that could have belonged to the girl.
Turning on her heel Fang headed back the way she had come, rain starting to dampen her hair.
Was Vanille out there, searching for her as well?