A Winter Nightmare
Chapter Three.
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Please forgive any mistake as I hal little time to check over my own work and I am using NotePad so not spell check sorry.
This story may wonder a bit and has some humer to it so I hope you injoy.
And THANKS TO
Alanis Strife, and Guest for being my only reviewers!
and everyone who Faved of put me on alert!
And last but not least thanks to the Community
Read's Way To Much!
...
I walked through numbing cold with the frozen wind trying to blow me away, the lights in the distence called out to me. The close to the village I came the more I saw that the lights were being cast out on to a flat stone area with markings on it, I paused just outside the stone area watching as lights of red, yellow, blue, and green blinked randomly across the stone along the marking of white and yellow.
I felt the wind pick up as a whirling sound nearly deafend me, my body stood frozen to the ground as I watch a metal ship that reminded me of the ones Genesis read to me about from one of his books. A ping of sorrow hit my heart at the memorie but was replaced by sher giddinss as I watch hooks fall to the ground and people running around in tan colored cloths picking them up and attaching them to something on the ground ankering it.
A child like excitement came over me, I could hear them yelling to each other as a rope ladder rolled down and people started to climb down. I could feel there hearts hammering away as the two groups talked or yelled, pointed at things, and flipping on orange lights in there hands and made motions with them.
I was so in overwhelmed with it all that I never noticed a few people stopping to look at me with shock, or a tall blond haired man yelling at me till I was smacked up side the head by said man.
"What the sam hill you think your doing out here dressed in %$#*& shorts!" He yelled with gruff voice never taking the sig from his mouth.
"Your ! %# nuts will freeze off if you stay out here any longer! Ya %$# ! dumb kid" He barcked at me.
I had a sudden feeling of rebelion come over me as I glared at him, he lock eyes with me and glared back, soon we were inchs from each other and I could swear lightining was passing between us as nether of us blinked.
A female voice broke the silence around as "Captin we should get him inside the winds picking up from the north" The woman called out to him.
The Captin suddenly grabbed and flung me over a shoulder like a sack of flour, I growled and clawed at him angry that this man thought he could do this to me.
"Quit your %$# whining ya brat or I'll drop ya on your head and drag you in by your ankle!" The Captn bellowed at me with a grumble.
I kicked and clawed the whole way in but when the man called Captin dropped me before a heater in a square little room I realized just how cold I truely had been. The weman that had called out to Captin draped a thick blanket on my shoulders with a kind smile, as the Captin walked out bellowing orders at people outside the room.
"Don't mind Captin Cid, he likes to make threats and tell but he's a kind soul" The lady said smiling at me.
She was about my height with brown hair, and hazel that had a caring shine to them, she was were brown pants, a green weater, and a white coat.
"My name is Shera, it's nice to meet you" Shera smiled as she held out her hand to me.
"Cloud Strife" I replied with a horsed voice shaking her hand as I did.
A shocked look crossed her face and I wondered if she some how knew me right before she ran to the door and vanished be hind it. I sat the pounding how long it would be before Captin Cid and Shera had me thrown back out in to the cold night, when suddenly Shera returned carring a coffee mug with steam coming off it.
"Here Cloud dear, drink this it should help your throat" Shera said handing me the cup.
I Sipped a bit and humed, it wasn't to sweet but just enought to cut the bitter after taste of the tea, along with a slit lemony bit.
"Its tea mixed with honey, lemon, and cinnamon" Shear said smiling at me "Oh, will you be alright being along for an hour? I still have to finish filing the papers, then I have to check when the next order is, and I still haven't got Cid to sign the form!" Shera said drifting off in her to do list.
:I will be fine thank you miss Shera" I replied braking her from her thoughts.
"Oh good! and please, just call me Shere dear" She said before heading out the door.
I sat there listening to the whirl of the heater and the voices shout outside the room, sighing I wondered if my brother even cared that I had left.
"Why did you just let me walk away Gen?" I sighed to myself in the little room.
The room its self was mid sized and square, four walls colored a nutral brown tone, the heater and I sat in the far courner behind a desk that had lots of papers in stacks all acrossed it. I found two potted plant I didn't know sitting in the room, two chairs infront of the desk, and random art and picture place around the four walls.
I was suddenly being shaken awake as two voices argued, I don't even remember falling alseep but I must have more tired then I thougth.
"Captin be gentle! He's sick after all!" Shera politly yelled at Cid.
"Ya well the $#*& brat should have fallen alseep! He could die ya know!" Cid bellowed back with color.
I think I said something about not being a brat but it came out giberish, Captin Cid suddenly looked worried and Shera was running for the door. My vision began to blur and I couldn't keep my eyes open any long as they started to close, sudden pain in my cheek woke me abit as I started at Cid in shock, Cid looked more concern every second as I sat there.
I started to fall back asleep with out warning whe yelling started to ring out in the roo, Cid move as a man I didn't know examained me with a grim look the guy turned and said something to Cid I couldn't hear as I started to pass out.
I slowly I realized I was being picked up from were I was propped up against the wall, blinking heavy eyes I saw Cid holding me was he followed quickly behind the docter.
I woke as the sun shine dance acrass the room throught the window, I lay on a bed in an unfemiler room as a sense of doing this before hit. I sat up slowely as my body argued about moving, everything felt stiff and I could not tell just how long I had slept.
The crashing sound of glass hitting the floor alerted me that Shera was standing in the door way of the room looking both shocked and happy.
"Your awake! Oh thank the Gods!" She cried out before running to me and wrapping me in a hug.
A loud thunp and running soon followed and soon Captin Cid was standing in to the room looking like he had just had a panic attack.
" !%$#*^%#* It's about time you woke up you brat! you scared the #!$#% out of us all with you coma #% $%!" Cid half yelled as a look of relief came to his face.
"Cloud Honey, you have been asleep for a alittle over a month dear" Shera said answering my on spoken question.
I looked at her stunned, a month? how had I sleep for so long? and what did Cid mean by coma? I was about to ask when Cid beat me to it.
"You had the worst %$# case of pneumonia the doc had ever seen! He was sure you were a goner brat!" Cid said laughing.
"Captin that is no laughing matter! Cloud bearly survived!" Shera said to Cid with sorrow.
"Ya, ya, but the kid made it didn't he" Cid was still laughing.
"Oh never mind! Cloud dear you must be hungry after sleeping for so long, give me a minute to go whip you up some soup" Shera place a kiss on my head before rushing off.
I sat there in stuned silence, why were they so reliefed that I lived? they didn't no me, and why were they being so kind? outside of mother, Gen and my old friends I had never recived such kindness before.
"Don't sweat it kids, what ever demons drove you here you can bet your $# ! that your safe here" Cid said watching me.
"What do you mean?" I asked, how did he know of the werewolfs that haunted me.
"You talked alot in your sleep, bout scared the %$# out of Shera. I know what it's like to be haunted by something so don't you worrie, and hey when you recover I'll take you for a ride in my airship" Cid said scratching his stubble with a grin.
"Whats an airship?" as the words came out of my mouth the ever present sig fell from Cidsopen mouth as his jaw dropped open.
"Whats an airship!Whats an airship!?" Cid yelled with pure shock "Why there the greatest thing since toilet paper!" He bellowed.
"I could tell you just how wonderfull a thing they are! But I think showing you would be better!" Cid pointed a finger at me with a shit eating grin.
"Thats only because you don't explain thangs well" Shera laugh as Cid yelled at her.
"Here now eat up, I want you to grow stronger quickly so cid can show you his baby" Shera laughed out as Cid currected here with a yell.
...
I smiled as I thought back to that day two years ago, I had come along way since then. Cid forced me to on to an airship later that week and soon I was flying as part of the crew, I was being trained by Cid to pilot the Shera if needed, and to do basic repairs.
"Are ya still working on this hunk of junk?" Cid asked coming up behind me.
I was setting in front of a beat up motorcycle that looked like it would fall apart at any moment, I swivled the roll around stool over so Cid could see what I had done with the motor of the bike.
"Ya managed to stop the oil leek but way still gatta figure out how to repair the cylinder head" Cid said pointing to the said part.
The bike was a marvel, even Cid couldn't figured out how it had come to be. The body was wide so it could hide the compartments that held swords, it was sleek and black, and some how it had materia to power it unlike the airships, modern cars, and bikes of the times.
It had taken four days to figure out how to open and remove the engine so we could work on it, the parts of the said bike were scattered across the garage in piles according to were it came from, or what it did.
"I just hope it runs by the time we get done with it" I replied to him wiping my hands on a rag.
I was coated head to toe in oil and grease, I was thankfully wearing blue coveralls it even had Cids logo on it.
"Well aleast you still how the Shinra bike till you figure out this piece of %$# " Cid said scratting his stubble.
Knodding I stood up and followed Cid out of the garage in his back yard to the house, I had been givin the room in the second store of the house to live in Cid had refused to let me leave saying something about me being to stupid to go wondering around and get myself killed.
Shera who I had first thought was his wife but was later laughed at by Cid, lived next to us in her own house she had taught me to cook for myself which was un heard of back home, and how to saw.
I took a quick shower, fixed something for both Cid and my myself, then followed Cid to the landing strip. Everytime I look out across that blacktop strip with it flashing lights and crew members running to and frow, I remember the first night I layed eyes on it.
"We have orders for Wutia so get your #$%# in gear and lets GO!" Cid bellowed throught the hanger casting an echo.
People went heywire, running every-which-way to complete something or other, others ran maintenance before lift off, and finaly my group ran to sacure the cargo and load it.
Most of the cargo were wooden crates varying in size and all were sacured down with netting to keep it from moving around, just as we were fininshing up Shera walked in carring a small fancy black box that looked like one of those treasure chest from Gen's books.
"Here Cloud this is very special, so keep ahold of it till its delivered alright? The man who requested this paid quite abit so please make sure nothing happens to it" Shera asked with a rare none smile looking very serious.
I place the box in my pack and placed the strap of said pack over one shoulder and across my chest, before knodding to her Shera let out a reliefed sigh befor running off to make last minute checks, and I headed for the bridge.
The bridge of the airship was alive with sound people making orders for ajustments, people checking and rechecking the weather, others working out the flight path and thats were Cid was aguring with the understudy pilots.
I could hear Cid all the way in the loading bey, sighing I tried to ignore more of the chatter coming from the people in the round room.
The bridge was far in size, it was a solid cage of metal and glass as most of the bubble that made up the front of the bridge was glass, a large halogram globe was perjected in the center on the room an its own endent in the floor. A tall raised area at the back had a small stair case to the side leading up to the pirate ship like wheel, and a poster of a girl was placed on the back wall, that was Cids place in this mess of people.
I had found out over the spand of two years just how right Vincent had been, I wasn't like the people here and everyone in the town knew this.
It had taken abit of work but I had finally learned to manage my hear better, I could cut back what I heard by zoning out, or I could listen to anything in a room, and then some if what I was listening to was loud.
My strangth on the other hand was still a problem, I was able to lift stuff that would crush any normal person so working as a member of the loading crew was a slite problem, both Cid and Shera said I could change to another crew but I liked working with the loading crew when I was here and not off delivering something for Cids delivery service.
And another part is being hard to control was my inner wolf, my inner wolf liked to hunt, to run, and to come out when I was worked up or stressed out which didn't help much when you worked in a place like I did.
what did help was that I had a crew of people to back me up if I needed and to help controling or detain the wolf if need be.
"Its clear for take off, I repeat, Its clear for take off" I heard Shera's voice boom through to the speakers of the airship.
"All right people to your stations! Lets GO!" Cid bellowed to the all ready scrabbling people in the room.
"Come have a chat Cloud" Cid waved as he headed for the wheel of the ship.
I followed behind dodging the random running person as I did, once there I stood beside Cid and watching as the we took to the open skys which were still in pre-dawn blac purple mix dusted with stars.
"All right, by then time we get to Wutai it will be about noon there time but evening here. So I want you to deliver that expencive box in my place, Shera has a meeding set up with a client so I will be hold-up in the meeting room on the phone" Cid spoke with out real care in his voice.
Zombies could be taking over Midgar, the president of Shinra could be dancing naked in the hanger, and Cid would have never of known, for once he was in the sky's Cid turned in to a careless person when it came to anything on the ground.
I laughed under my breather, Goddess forbid he heard me or I would be getting an ear full for it.
"I still don't know where to deliver it" I replied as I too watched the sky's.
"The palace in Wutai as where its spose to go, somethin bout a wedding I think" Cid scratched his stubble.
I knodded back my replie, after two years we have learned how to talk with out talking and in some way I think I have become a son to him with out my knowing how.
"Good, now how bout you go find the weather report for me cus some dumb %$# #$ isn't doing his job! but instead wants to play Galaga!" Cid bellowed more at the said crew member then me.
After doing as I was asked the trip to Wutai went about like it normaley does, Cid stands at the wheel and barks orders, random crew members sneak off to the loading bey to smoke, Shera calls after a random button get pushed setting of the alarm, and while that was happening I am in the meeting room trying to do the homework Shera forced off on me.
We landed about noonish like Cid had said, and every member of the loading bey started the standerd scramble of unloading, finding, marking, and checking of the crates on board.
I ran up after helping to find Cid before heading off to deliver the package in my shoulder bag.
"I'm checking in Cid" I said as I walked in.
I took each step carefully as the floor housed stacks of paperwork knee high everywhere and I would hate to set off Cid in this room because the echo would kill my hearing.
"Ya, ya, just get there and back already! and here this will get you clearince to the king or whatever" Cid handed me a slip of paper with out looking as he searched a stack of papers.
"I will hurry back" I replied heading for the door.
...
Seeing Wutai in spring reminded me of the first time I came here two years ago on my first real run with Cid and crew. That day Shera went with us and had shown me around, the cherry tree's were in bloom coating the ground with pink something I had never seen sinse my home town was almost always white with snow or brown from bare ground.
The houses were made with a wood that was painted a bright red with gold accents, all the roofs were slanted, and the festival was going so there were paper lanters of many colors hung around the town, the people of Wutai were all dressed in colorfull clothing, and the children were playing with noise making toys.
A giant Levianthan was standing in the center of the town, I had been afread to go nere it till Shera told me it was decoration made for the festival and proved that it wasn't alive.
Looking around now I see there already puting up lanters for the coming festival, the women were teaching the younger kids how to make the paper lanters, as the older ones rushed about with colorfull streamers and noise makers.
I hurred to the palace passing a tall tower Shera had called the Pagoda as I went, as I aproched I noticed that there were alot more guards then the last time I was here.
"Hult" to guards ordered as I reached the gate.
"What is your bussness here?" The bigger one aasked in a deep voice.
"I have a delivery for the Emperor of Wutai from Cids airship delivery sevice" I replied handing them the folded letter.
"Well you do have clearence but we were ordered not to let any one in or out" the big guard said reading over my letter.
"I could run up to the thrown room and see what his magisty wants us to do?" The smaller thinner (if that possible) guard said looking over the bigger once shoulder.
I stood there silently as they debated what to do, finally after ten minutes they agreed that the smaller one should run to the thrown room while we wait here.
Half an hour passed before the smaller guard (who's name escapes me) returned with a very fancy dressed man, the other guard looked stunned before bowing at the waist.
I mearly blinked I didn't know this man from adam, or what was happening but he did smell like fresh silk and reed matts.
"Ah I was wondering when the package would arrive" The formal looking man said as he stood before me.
I didn't replie as I pulled a small book from my shoulder bag along with a pin and held them out to him, he scribbled a signature on the open page.
"Here is the box I was asked to deliver" I handed him the fance wood box as his eyes seemed to light up at the sight.
"Ah, yes, yes" He walked quickly back in side with his prize in hand.
I shook my head and turned and headed back to town, the palace was have in closed by a forest with only two paths heading to the front gate both of which were cut through the said forest.
As I walked my stupid inner wolf kept acting up, one moment I could smell roses, then I hear small animals, then suddenly I would pause at a swushing sound that signaled something to my inner self.
Before I even knew what was happening I was running after the swushing sound with a stupid grin on my face, my mind kept jumping from on thought to the other.
A bird?
A small fiend?
Ohhh a rabbit!
The more I wondered the happer and hyper I became, and as suddenly as it began it left leaving me stuck in the middle of no where how the hell I was?
As I searched the forest floor by tree that looked just like the other millions of trees I was standing next to, my head snapped up as I caught the scent of the creature I had been chasing.
With my nose to the breeze I followed the scent, it smelled like a mix of rose with silk with a little metal thrown in, and the closer I got the happer I got for some odd reason.
I soon found myself standing in a place clean of trees, a waterfall drowned out most of the sounds but I could still hear a giggling of sorts, the air felt cool and smelled of water and grass giving me a sudden urge to roll around in the grass.
I wondered around abit taking in the sight of this beautifull place, when the giggling stopped I was suddenly on alert looking for the creature that smelled funny and made such strange sounds.
"Well now I don't think I have ever seen a wolf in these parts!" A girls voice echoed in the clearing.
I ignoring the voice I walked to the waters edge and sure enough right there refleting back at me was the blue eyed stair of a wolf with a golden coat, I cringed as I exaimed myself.
"Such a pretty girl, maybe I can train you to be a ninja like me!" the voice says before a girl drops from a nere by tree.
The wasn't very tall maybe my height, slim build olmost wirey, dark bob cut hair, brown eyes, tan shorts, green turtle neck sleeveless shirt, some kind of arm guard on one arm, and a sheriken on her back.
"Hi there little fella" The girl had lowerd her voice as if I would run away at the sight on her.
I just staired trying to figure out my options.
1, I could tell her to leave which might result in her running away screaming.
2, run for it and hope I find my way back and figured out how to TURN back before getting to town.
Or 3, go along with this girl till we get back to town then flee for Cids airship and hope the newer members of the crew wont freak out.
I was so caught up with thoughts of how to get out of this I didn't notice the girl pulling a rope from her pack and lassoing me till the rope was around my neck.
I blinked my wolf eyes at her in shock, now what? I thought to myself.
"Now don't fight! I'm going to make you the best ninja dog ever!" She smiled at me, with her fist on her hip in a victory stance.
Ok option 1 will have to do.
Just as I was about to speak to her crunching leaves had us on alert, I smelled the air and found it smelled of sweat and metal, the girl looked worried and slitely angery at who ever else was out here.
"Princess I must ask you to return to the palace at once" A gruff males voice came from the tree's.
Suddenly we were surounded by a group of man, all were wearing strange armer in dark green and black tones, pointy round hats, and black demon masks to cover there faces.
The girl jumped back landing beside me at the edge of the lake before the waterfall, her sweet aura changed to that of a fighters and I could smell the anger rolling off of her body.
"I will never go back! I don't want to marrie some random gut dad chose because he looked nice!" She yelled but with furry.
"You have no choice princess" The man said with venum making me growl.
Who is this man to tell her she has no choice? Who the hell does he think he is? My growl had grown to a loud rumble causing the man to realize I was there two.
Before I could attack them the air filled with smoke and the girl tugged my rope forcing me to follow or choke.
She ran shocking me at how fast the little brat was, we dodged over roots and under low branchs, around large rocks and fallen tree's, then finally were came to the edge of the town.
People were milling about with out a care as the two of us ran strait through town, I began to piece the area togather and realized we were close to the landing strip housing Cids airship.
I tried to pull the girl in the direction of the airship but was yanked torred a house just before I saw the ship in the distence.
The girl pulled in to a house on the higher grounds of Wutia and slammed the door closed, as she bolted the locks I stood frozen as my wolf sense started kicking in at the sight of all the CATS!
I stood wide eyed, mouth open, and ears pricked forward, as the cats slowly started to realize a very BIG wolf had just invaded there personal space.
The events were not my falt! The girl turned as the room filled with hissing and kitty growl as every cat in the room arched in protest at my presens, I one the other hand started sniffing the air happily bafore choosing a target.
The girl was to slow to grab me as I darted for the tabby cat beside a low tea table, the said cat ran for its life as I crashed in to the said table before darting after it.
I paused mid run before changing coures when a white china cat jump up beside me in to a end table, I nocked over said table and ran after the white kitty.
All the while the girl was trying to caught me but to no avail, then suddenly the door was trown off its hings as the armered guys ran in followed by the guy I gave the box to that smelled of silk.
All the cats ran for the door at once and causing me to as well, but not escape, to caught! I landed on one of the armered guys, nocking two down as I did.
The girl watched with wide stunned eyes, as I jumped back to my feet only to slam head long in to the Emperor guy, nocking him out the door on to his ass.
The girl made her escape as the chaos happened, I was so busy chasing to cats I never realized I had chased one back to the lading strip and right up in to the loading bay.
"Holy crap! look at that!" Someone yelled.
"Dude!" Another yelled.
I last the cat somewhere around the halls of the ship, I sniff the ground traced and retracing my steps, I was suddenly being dragged to the meeting room as I fought to get away i had to find the kitty!
"What in $#*!%%#*^%# Who think you doing Cloud?!" I paused to stare at the man who yelled.
I Know you! I sniffed his leg, yes I know you! And I am your friend! scratch please! I paused in mid doggy rant as my sense returned slowly...What the hell was wrong with me?...
Oh ya my freaking wolf nature kicked in...fuck.
"Ya thats right you better come back to your sense before I make you! you stupid $# %^ kid!" Cid yelled at me.
I cring and thought back to my human self, I meditated on the human side of me and puff before long a man sat naked where a wolf once was.
"For %$#*% sake put some cloths on! know one wants to see you wanger!" My hands flow to cover my crutch as Cid went on a rant.
"OMG I KNOW IT!" A girly voice yelled causing both of us to jump.
"What the %$^#& you think your doing on my ship!" Cid yelled at her causing her to jump back.
"What do you mean? I followed my wolf and found a hot guy that waht!" The girl yelled back matching him in sound.
"Ain't know kid going to be on MY ship!" Cid yelled back put his fist on his hips.
"How bout this! You take me with you or I tell everyone he's a monster hiding in a human form!" The girl yells back puting her fist on her hips match Cid.
"Ain't ganna happ'n! and go ahead ain't no one ganna beileve ya!" Cid laughed back.
"Oh ya! well I'm the princess see, and every one will believe me!" The girl yelled back gloating.
"Well I don't care if you a Goddess! You ain't fly'n on this ship ya little brat!" Cid yells with finger pointing at her.
"Sexist, SEXIST!" The girl yells back with furry.
As the fight was happening I snuck out, and made my way slowly to my room with only my pack to cover things up below. The new people of the crew stopped what they were doing when I passed looking shell shocked, while the more seasoned members fell over laughing.
...
Shera could only stare at everyone when we landed, not only was I dressed funny (forgot to pack more cloths) but we also had a new member, a worrent for our arrest by Wutai after finding out that 'princess' Yuffie had stowed away on the ship, two lost deliverys, and nether Cid or I had finished our asigned paper work.
Results...
Very pissed Shera...
Me: grounded for a month, major choirs, and no working on my bike till sentence was over.
Cid: Grounded (literaly) and sentenced to paper work in his office for a month.
Yuffie: force to call home and explain why she stowed away and that she was stuck working for Cid's deliverys till she paid off the bill she ran up (not really cause Shera felt sorry for her being married off to some one she doesn't love) And Choirs for stowing away on Cids ship.
Everyone else was also grounded and given choirs.
Dear Journal
Here I sit after FINALLY Scrubbing down the 'Shera' Airship, as I write this I wonder just where this journey is taking me and if I will be making more friends along the way?
Yes Yuffie has become a friend even though she trys to black mail me with my secret, and for the first time in two years I wonder if my choice in leaving my brother and old friends was the right idea?
P.s I hope so because I can't want to get back in the skys with Cid and his Merry crew of misfits!.
...
DONE!
Finally...Geez, I swear finishing this chapter was annoing! I tried to find something werewolf to inspire me but come up the very little...
I mean shit where has all the werwolfs gone? I tried searching werewolf but that mostly came up with "How to become a Werewolf" and let me tell you some of the ways to 'become' a werewolf is just plain nasty!
I mean come on! eating two day old raw meat isn't going to do anything but make you sick!
...
...Right moving on...
Please review I love hearing from the readers.
Chapter 4: Crazy red heads and ninjas don't mix.
I swear there is a plot to this madness!
And keep your eyes out for a story in Castlevania!