A.N. Here's the long-desired chappy 3^^ I wanted to tell you Clouds childhood here, but there's no room anymore, please forgive me v.v But then again, you have a reason to look forward to the next chappy^^
Normal POV
„talking"
Clouds/Aeriths thoughts
„Wolves talking to each other"
voices of the lifestream
Beauty and the Beast
Chapter 3: Back to Gongaga
Cloud and Aerith went for a walk in the Wall Market. Cloud wore his black cowl again to hide his wolf ears and tail, while Aerith wore her pink dress and red jacket. „And? How do you like Midgar?", asked Aerith, while Cloud looked around. „Hmm...Not that bad. I mean it's better than in the woods, of course. You can see more here."
„Of course.", she agreed and then she spotted something. „Hey, Cloud! Let's eat ice cream!", she suggested, took his hand and dragged him with her. „What's ice cream?", he asked her curious. „It's...uh...like ice, you know, just creamy with several flavors. It's really yummy, you'll love it!", she explained as they arrived the ice cream parlor. Aerith bought herself strawberry and vanilla ice cream, while Cloud got chocolate and nougat. They continued walking through the Wall Market and slowly headed back to Aeriths. „Try it.", said Aerith and began to giggle as Cloud just examined his ice cream. Cloud began to lick his ice cream hesitantly. „Cold...", he murmured, while Aerith had to bite back a giggle. „But delicious."
„You wanna try mine too?", asked Aerith and held her ice cream to Cloud, who licked hers. „Yours good too.", he said and licked his lips, while Aerith began to giggle. „Told you so."
As Cloud and Aerith finished their ice cream Cloud noticed that Aerith still had some ice cream on the corner of her lips. „You have some ice cream on you face.", he told her, while she looked at him. „Where?", she asked back and looked surprised at Cloud, who leaned in to her. „There.", he mumbled and licked the ice cream off her face. They both instantly began to blush fiercely, as Aerith felt Clouds tongue licking the corner of her lips, and as Cloud tasted her sweet skin all over again. Cloud almost didn't want to stop and just wanted to continue licking her face, but he forced himself to stop, or else it would be more awkward than it already is...He licked one last time, to make sure there's no ice cream anymore, and to taste her a bit longer, and leaned back again. He looked to the ground, the hood covered his face a bit more, not wanting to see her expression after he did this.
„Sorry...but...all wolves are doing this...It's...a habit, you know.", he said, but actually he never really did this before. „Oh, okay.", she replied, obviously buying what he said. They went back to Sector 5 in silence. „Hey, Cloud, let's go to the church!", suggested Aerith, as she saw the church, while Cloud nodded and they head to the church.
They entered the church and Aerith immediately ran to the flowers to tend them, while Cloud slowly walked towards her and knelled down next to her, once he doffed his cowl. He watched her in silence as she tended her precious flowers. It seemed like she caressed every flower and cast a spell on them to look more beautiful than they already are and he couldn't help but wish that she would caress him, too, like the day before.
„What are you thinking?" Cloud suddenly heard Aeriths voice so close to his ear, that he jumped, which caused Aerith to giggle. „I...", he began and looked away from her to hide his blush. He didn't really knew what to answer, because he didn't heard what she asked him, he was too focused on his own fantasizes of Aerith caressing him and whatnot.
„W-what did you say?" Aerith continued to giggle, which let Cloud get even more embarrassed than he already is, his heart pounded fiercely in his chest and he always wondered what this feeling was. He never felt like this before, so...why now? Then he remembered what his mother once told him...She told him something, which called itself...love. She said he will meet someone who he wants to be with forever, that he'll put the live of this person in front of his own...
But there was something else...What was that again...?, he wondered and tried to remember. Oh, right...She told him that he'll know when it happens. His heartbeat gets faster, he'll always blush, he'll get a warm feeling whenever he'll see his special someone or whenever he's thinking of her and he'll get a feeling of emptiness, when she's gone and so much more and as he glanced at her, he clearly could feel all this, but...It feels wrong. I'm a wolf, she's a human. It would never work out...No...forget these feelings!, he forced himself, but he couldn't.
He couldn't forget these feelings. He couldn't forget her...I guess mom told me this too...These feelings just felt too good to just forget. „I said, what are you thinking?", she asked again, while Cloud snapped out of his daze once again. „Um...nothing.", he replied, but Aerith wasn't convinced by his answer. „Right. And why are you spacing out so much?" Cloud looked away from her, to quickly think of what to answer. „I just thought...", he began, but stopped as he felt Aeriths small hands on his ear, caressing him lightly. He froze immediately and thought his heart stopped for a moment. „Don't mind me. Your fur's just so fluffy, I can't help but want to touch it.", she said and continued to caress him. „Go on."
But Clouds mind was totally blank. Just as he felt her touch, all he could think of was how he loved her touch and he wanted her to never stop this. But it still felt wrong to him. Wolves and humans can't be together! That's absolutely impossible!, he persuaded himself into it ever and every again, but there was a small part in him, which just didn't want to believe it. „I...I...I...", was all he managed to say, while Aerith began to giggle at his lake of words. „You're so cute, you know that?", asked Aerith him amused, while Clouds heart pounded fiercely in his chest, which felt like it would burst out of his chest any moment.
„I'm...cute...?", he asked her nervously, still looking away from her to hide his flushed face. „Yeah you are!", she replied happily and continued to caress him and played a bit with his ear. „Clooouuudd?", she called him, stretching his name and Cloud knew immediately she wants something from him. „Hm?"
„Can you change into a wolf? I wanna touch your fur more!", she asked him with such a sweet voice, which let Cloud almost agree, but stopped himself. „W-why?", he just asked her, not daring to look into her eyes, because he knew she looked at him with her puppy-dog-eyes and he also knew he couldn't say no once he saw them. Aerith pouted at him as he said this. „I told you already!" As Cloud heard her voice changed, he knew she's now pouting, which looked just as cute as her puppy-dog-look.
„Come ooonn! Pleeeaaasseee!", she begged and held him tightly on his shoulder, shaking him lightly. Cloud remained silent, while Aerith pouted again. She knew he won't give in as long as he can't see her look, so she crawled on his other side to look into his eyes, but he quickly looked to the other side again. Aeriths pout grew and then crawled on his lap and leaned to the side so that Cloud had no other choice but to look at her.
Now that Cloud looked at her she used her puppy-dog-look once again and Cloud tried to ignore it, which is really difficult when her face is so close to his own...Stay strong, Strife, stay strong...!, he told himself ever and ever again, but the more he looked into her sparkling green eyes, the weaker he felt and forced himself more not to say yes, but...„Okay. Just don't look at me like that!", he agreed, while Aerith squealed in excitement and hugged the wolf tightly, which caused Cloud to blush even more and his heart to stop once again. As Aerith let go of him he went behind a wall again, undressed himself and changed into a wolf. Cloud plods back to her and stopped in front of her.
Aerith immediately stood up and hugged Clouds giant head. Cloud blushed immediately under his fur, but luckily she can't see it, besides she's way too busy to touch his fur. She still didn't noticed that I'm not a gray wolf...guess it's because of the light here..., Cloud thought as he watched her caressing him happily. He knew that Aerith won't be satisfied in the next few minutes and lied down. Aerith sat down on his side and leaned on his shoulder, still caressing him. Cloud curled up in a ball, his tail covered her legs and his snout touched her shoulder lightly.
Aerith caressed his snout, cheek, head and behind his ears (his weak spot) lightly, while Cloud closed his eyes in relaxation, but quickly opened his them again as she stopped. She fell asleep on him and snuggled deep into his fur. He watched her for a few more minutes, before he licked her face lightly, so that he won't wake her up again. Then he lied his head on his arms and closed his eyes, drifting into sleep too.
Suddenly, a few hours later, Cloud ears pricked up, he heard something, or rather someone walking towards the church. He quickly looked to the door to convince himself and indeed a few humans went to the church. He prods Aerith lightly with his snout to wake her up. „Hm...", she groaned quietly as she opened her eyes. „Cloud...? What is it...?" Cloud looked to the door, to tell her someone's coming and Aerith followed his gaze. „What? Is someone's coming?", she asked him and he nodded, stood up and quickly disappeared behind the wall, where still his clothes lied. He changed back to human and put all his clothes on.
Meanwhile Aerith stood up too and stared at the doors, which opened and three people, dressed in black suits entered the church, two guys and a woman. The woman had short, blonde hair and brown eyes, while one guy had spiky red hair with goggles on his head and blue eyes and the other guy, who was the biggest one, had a baldness and black sunglasses. „What are you doing here?", asked Aerith them nervously, while the three went towards her. „We should ask you the same.", said the blonde woman. „Someone told us a suspicious person went in here moments ago."
„A suspicious person? Me?", Aerith asked them and pointed to herself, while the red headed guy shook his head. „Not you. Someone told us a guy in a black cowl entered the church with you. Who is it?" Aerith jumped unnoticeable, as she heard they're searching for Cloud and quickly thought what to answer. „Oh! He...he's my cousin. He has a black cowl because...his face...he has a wound on his face and doesn't want everyone to see it.", she said, hoping they would buy it. „And where is your cousin?", asked the taller one, while Aerith looked around. „Um...he..."
„I'm here.", said Cloud and went to Aerith, his face is hidden by the hood of his cowl.
„So, you're the one everyone told us about. Can we take a look...?", asked Reno and went closer to Cloud, but he backed away from him and held the hood a bit more to his face. „No. My cousin told you already that I don't want you guys, or anyone else, to see my wound.", Cloud replied, while the red headed one sighed in defeat. „Okay, then, we tell them false alarm. Man I get sick of this back and forth.", he said and went out of the church, the other two following him.
„Ouf, that was close.", said Aerith as they left the church. „Yeah.", Cloud agreed and revealed his face again. „And, cousin, what do we do now?", he asked her teasingly, while she grinned at him. „Well, if it wasn't for these guys I would still sleeping on you and could touch your fur more."
„I won't change back again. What if these guys come back and see me in my wolf shape?" Aerith began to pout as he said this. „Noooo! Change back!", she whined, while Cloud just shook his head, this time stronger to say no to her. „You're such a meanie!"
„Hey, I'm a wolf, remember? We're always mean.", he lied, what she didn't knew is that Wolves are actually incredibly kind. „I think, I don't like you wolves anymore.", she said, her pout still on her face and turned away from him, crossing her arms over her chest. Suddenly Clouds heart dropped. He didn't want her to hate him, or his kind. He wanted the complete opposite, even though it still felt wrong to him.
„Hey...I lied, okay. We're always kind. I mean, when no human tries to kill us...", he said, while Aerith didn't budged. „You just say it, but is it even true?"
„Of course. Hey, if I would be really mean, I killed you as I saw you. Or I killed the humans as I ran into this town.", the wolf said, while Aerith looked over her shoulder to him. „True enough.", she said and smiled at him, and Cloud felt relieved that she didn't hate him. „But I still want you to change back.", she insisted and pouted at him. „No."
„You're really a meanie!", she yelled, but Cloud could hear clearly the teasing tone in her voice and smirked slightly. „I know." But then realization hit him. His pack's probably really worried about him. He didn't want to, but he had to go back to Gongaga. „Aerith?" Aerith clearly heard his sad tone and looked worried at him. „Hm?"
„I...have to go back to Gongaga." Aeriths eyes widened as he said this. „What? Why? I thought you like Midgar?"
„I do. I really like Midgar and I also like you and your mother, but I can't stay here. These guys are searching for me and my pack is probably very worried about me." Aerith looked to the ground with a sad expression, which let Clouds heart sting painfully. „Oh...you're right."
„Hey...I don't have to go now. I...can wait till tomorrow.", he said to cheer her up a bit, but it didn't really worked, she just nodded. „Hey, do you mind if we stay here a bit longer?", asked Aerith him to lighten the mood a bit, and to be with him alone a bit longer. „Sure." Aerith knelled in front of her flowers again and folded her hands in a praying manner, while Cloud knelled next to her and watched her silently. Please protect Cloud during his journey back to Gongaga..., she prayed.
You can go with him. Aerith suddenly heard a soft feminine voice talking to her, which she knew all too well. Mom? Aerith gasped softly, and quickly opened her eyes. „Is something wrong?", asked Cloud worried, while she just shook her head and went back int her previous position.
Go with him, dear. The planet brought you two together.
But why?
To understand each other more. And to end the war.
War? What war? But her mother remained silent, it seemed like she couldn't keep in contact with her anymore. „Hm..." Aerith thought for a while and decided to go with him, like her mother advised her to do. „Well, let's go home, huh? Eh...to my house, I mean.", Aerith said and lead the way, while Cloud looked at her with a sad expression and followed her.
As they arrived Aerith house Elmyra immediately knew that somethings wrong. „What's wrong with you two?" Aerith turned quickly to Cloud. „Cloud can you...go upstairs and, you know, change your clothes and..."
„I get it. I shall leave you two alone for a while.", interrupted Cloud, smiled a bit to Aerith and went upstairs. „What's wrong, Aerith?", asked Elmyra as they heard Cloud had entered his room. „Cloud wants to go back to Gongaga. And...I want to accompany him." Elmyra looked at her daughter in shock. „Really? Are you sure?"
Aerith nodded confidently at her. „Yes. Back at the church, I heard my mother talking to me. She said it's the best when I go with him."
„You're mother...? Well, when she says it's the best, I go along with it.", said Elmyra to her daughter, who just tackled her in a tight hug. „Thank you. And don't worry. Cloud's with he and protects me."
„Always when you say "don't worry", I'm worrying even more.", replied Elmyra, as she hugged her back.
Meanwhile...
Cloud entered his room and began to change his clothes. He knew he easily could hear what they say, but he decided to let them some privacy. Once he changed he opened the window and leaned on the windowsill. He looked around, to Aeriths garden, to the town, and up to the plate. What a weird town...Why build humans a town with a plate above? I'm sure these guys up there have a nice live, while the townspeople down here suffer...Why are human like this? Why do they torture their own kind? Why do they kill each other? I mean, okay, even my kind has some differences, we get in a fight because of our territory, but...
As Cloud thought about it, he heard a muffled voice calling his name and his ears pricked up immediately. She's calling me. Cloud immediately left his room and went downstairs, where Aerith and Elmyra waited for him. „Yes?"
„Let's enjoy the rest of the day together.", said Aerith and held a hand to him, which he gladly took. „Sure." They sat on the couch in the living room and watched some TV, which Cloud still didn't got the point of. As Aerith zapped through the channels they saw a documentation about wolves, his kind!
He suddenly leaned forward and Aerith knew he wanted to watch it and lied the remote on her lap. The reporter said that wolves, especially his kind, are extremely dangerous and bloodthirsty. In this documentation, they could see a pack of silver wolves. „Yeah, of course...These guys are bloodthirsty, but not every wolf is like them...", mumbled Cloud, which gained Aeriths and Elmyras attention. „You know them?"
„Yeah. They're our "neighbors", we always get in a fight with them, or rather they always pick a fight with us. I heard that silver wolves have special powers. They can use magic and whatnot. There are only three other silver wolves I know. Two of them are in my pack and the other has his own one."
„Oh, that means silver wolves are really rare?", asked Aerith the wolf curiously, while he nodded. „What color had your mother?" Cloud looked up to the ceiling and smiled a bit, as he remembered his mother. „She was a pure white wolf."
„Aaaww, how was she like?"
„Really kind and caring...almost like you. I bet you two would be the best friends if she would be able to meet you.", said Cloud and smiled a bit at Aerith, who smiled happily back. They both leaned back again and Clouds tail unconsciously fell on Aeriths lap and as he was about to lay it somewhere else, she hold it tightly, but gently, so that it kept laying on her lap and began to caress it lightly. Just as he felt Aeriths soft and gentle touch, he immediately began to blush and kept looking away from her to hide it.
„Cloud, may I ask you how old you are?", asked Elmyra him curiously, while Cloud began to count. „I'm 252 moons old. And in human years...21."
„You count the moons?"
„Yeah, they say it's simpler, and because of the fact that we aren't humans, or dogs or whatnot. We have a normal human lifespan. But I heard some wolves were at least 400 years old, our elders."
„Woooow!", Aerith exclaimed and unconsciously squeezed his tail painfully tight, while Cloud grit his teeth to ignore this pain as best as he could. Aerith noticed it and immediately let go of his tail. „Oh, sorry."
„It's okay...", he replied and forced himself to smile at her a bit and suddenly Aerith jumped up, took Cloud hand and dragged him with her. „Night, mom!" Aerith didn't wait for her mother to reply and Cloud had to register what just happened and found himself after a moment in Aeriths room. „Let's talk a bit.", said Aerith as she sat down on her bed and Cloud next to her. „Okay...About what?"
„You're journey. I wanna go with you." Cloud eyes widened as he heard this. He looked into her eyes to search for a sign that this was just a joke, but he found none, just pure determination. „Aerith, you can't come with me, it's way too dangerous! On my way we meet a horde of wolves!" Cloud said this to frighten her, but he didn't expected her eyes to begin to glitter with delight.
„I mean, okay, we'll met a few friends of mine, but also these bloodthirsty silver wolves!" At this Aerith just smiled at him. „Cloud you can't frighten me. As long as I'm with you I know I'll be safe.", she said confidently, while Cloud began to sigh loudly. „Don't be so sure..." As much as he wanted her to come with him, he couldn't drag her into danger like this. He would never forgive himself if something happens to her...
„But...there's really something I'm afraid of..." Clouds ears pricked up at this. „Of what?"
„...Please don't laugh, okay?" He tilted his head a bit, wondering what she means and just nodded in agreement. „I'm afraid of...the sky...", she mumbled the last part and looked away from Cloud in shame.
Cloud blinked for a few times and remained silent, until he realized what she just said. „It's so big, like it would devour me, or something like that.", she explained quickly and looked up at him, as he still didn't said anything, or even laughed, just to see that Cloud smiled warmly at her. „Aerith, you don't have to be afraid of the sky. It's really beautiful." Aerith looked into his azure blue eyes for a moment and thought for a while. „Like your eyes?"
„Yeah, like them. You're not afraid of them, are you?"
„No, they're beautiful. I mean, they remind me of the sky, but don't look scary at all.", she replied and smiled warmly at him and after a moment Cloud realized what Aerith just said to him. I should say something to her too...„Well, you're eyes are beautiful, too. I mean I live in the woods, I see a lot of green, so I know what I'm talking about.", he joked and continued on. „The color reminds me of the first leaves in spring, or these gemstones...What was their name again...?"
„Emeralds?"
„Yeah! Like emeralds!", he finished and smiled at her, while she smiled back at him, with a tiny blush on her face and muttered a quiet „Thank you".
„And don't worry, as long as you're with me I make sure the sky doesn't hurt you.", he teased and grinned a bit at Aerith, who suddenly looked at him. „You mean I can come with you?" Cloud eyes widened slightly as he realized he used the wrong words. „Well...I want you to come with me, but I don't want to expose you to danger..."
„Don't worry about it! Well, let's go to bed, huh?", said Aerith and yawned, while Cloud stood up and went to the door. „Okay. See you in the morning, then. You have to be well rested for tomorrow.", he said and opened the door and before he left the room he turned around one last time. „Good night."
„Night!", replied Aerith and lied down in her bed. „Don't you want to change?", asked Cloud, as he noticed that she's still in her pink dress, while Aerith jumped out of the bed. „Oh, right!" She took her clothes and went into the bathroom, while Cloud looked after her for a while and then disappeared in his own room.
Suddenly he felt alone and cold once again, which bothered him immensely. He didn't knew what it meant, or rather he pretended not to know what it meant and just ignored these feelings and lied down in his bed. He turned around every second and forced himself to sleep, but he couldn't. He felt like something's missing, something what can calm him down, but the only thing which came in his mind was Aerith.
No, don't think of her like that! You're a wolf and she's a human!, he told himself ever and ever again, but that tiny part in him still refused to believe this. Cloud sighed loudly. Would it hurt to go to her again...?, he asked himself and thought for a while. She welcomed him the day, or rather the night before, but will she do it today again?
Cloud sighed once again and thought he, at least, could just try it, so he stood up and went to Aeriths room. He knocked on her door and waited for a reply, but didn't got one. Cloud didn't knew what to do now, so he just opened the door a gap and saw Aerith already entered her room and tiptoed to her bedside and knelled down.
He couldn't help but felt like to ask her for permission before he sleeps in here. „Aerith?", he whispered and waited for a reaction, but she slept deeply and didn't heard him. „Aerith?", the wolf said a bit louder and poked her arm lightly and finally she stirred and opened her eyes. „Hmm?", asked Aerith sleepily as she looked at Cloud with half closed eyes.
„I...I wondered if I could...sleep here again." Cloud mumbled the last part and waited for Aerith to answer, while she smiled warmly at him. Aaaww, he looks like a lost puppy., she thought and had to bite back a giggle, then she patted the free space next to her. „Hop in."
Cloud looked at her in shock. „I can sleep on the ground.", he mumbled and looked to the ground in embarrassment, while she began to giggle. „Come on." Cloud thought for a while and then decided not to argue with her and climbed in her and under the covers. He blushed madly as he felt her move next to him, to lie on a more comfortable position. „Good night, Cloud.", said Aerith sleepily and closed her eyes, while Cloud mumbled a quit „Good night.", too, closed his eyes and fell fast asleep as well.
On the next morning Aerith awoke at first again and noticed that Cloud's right next to her, his head rested on her shoulder and an arm wrapped around her waist. Aerith had to suppress a giggle and tried to get out of the bed, but just as she moved Cloud began to groan and held her tighter to himself.
He's so cute., thought Aerith as she watched him for a while, but then decided to wake him up so that they can head out to Clouds home. Aerith began to caress his wolfish ear and just as she touched it, it suddenly stood upright, like it's leaning into her touch.
Aerith muffled her giggle behind her free hand and continued to caress him, still enjoying his soft, fluffy fur. Suddenly Cloud pulled her closer to him and nuzzled his face deeper into the crook of her neck. Aerith muffled another giggle, she couldn't help but enjoy what he's doing and she can't wait for Cloud to finally wake up, to see his embarrassed and flushed face.
She continued to caress his ear and slowly went down to his cheek and noticed that even his skin was soft. As she caressed him like that for a while she felt him smile a bit against her neck and smiled as well, still trying to keep quiet. Then she thought it gets boring and pulled on his cheek, waking him up.
As Cloud opened his eyes, he didn't knew where he was, until he saw something very familiar. He saw light curled, chestnut born hair and he also noticed that he held something against him. He looked up, his eyes showing confusion, until he was greeted by a pair of bright emerald green eyes.
At this sight Cloud jumped up quickly and backed away from her. „I—I'm sorry...", he mumbled and looked to his lap, while his wolfish ears fell, to hide his growing blush, while Aerith began to giggle. „It's alright.", she said and smiled warmly at him. „And you know what? As you asked me to sleep here and just now you reminded me of a little, lost puppy."
Cloud tilted his head and looked at her in confusion. He didn't know if it's a compliment or...„Um...Thank you?" At this Aerith began to giggle and got out of the bed. „Let's change! We have a long day!", she said and went to her dresser, while Cloud, who still knelled in her bed, watched her silently.
„Hmmm, what shall I wear...?" Now Cloud stood up and went to her. „You should wear pants. You'll ride on me."
„I'll ride on you?", asked Aerith in delight and looked at him with glittery eyes. „Yeah, we're faster this way."
„Alright! Wait outside! Or do you wanna watching me change?", teased Aerith, while Cloud immediately began to blush and dashed out of her room. Aerith giggled at his behavior, took out her clothes off the dresser and into the bathroom. Cloud already changed and waited downstairs, where Elmyra already made breakfast for everyone.
„Cloud, could you do me a favor?", asked Elmyra after a moment of silence. Clouds ears pricked up and looked to Elmyra curiously. „Of course."
„I want you to protect Aerith." Elmyra turned to him and looked at him with worry in her eyes, while Cloud nodded confidently. „Don't worry. I'll take care of her and protect her." Elmyra smiled at him gratefully, the worry in her eyes completely vanished, that was the moment Aerith entered the kitchen.
Cloud couldn't help but gap at her. She wore simple blue jeans, a sleeveless pink shirt, which hugged her curves perfectly, and her small red jacked. Even with simple clothes like that she looks beautiful..., Cloud thought, but tried to dismiss these thoughts. „I'm ready!", she called as she entered the kitchen and noticed Clouds stare. „How do I look?"
Aerith turned around, to show him everything, which let Cloud blush a bit more. Um...You...That...suits you very well.", was all he managed to say. He wanted to say she looked beautiful, but was to nervous to say it aloud. „Thank you, Cloud.", replied Aerith and ruffled his hear teasingly, while his ears fell. He wished that Aerith wouldn't treat him like an animal, which he ironically is, but as a man. Even though he liked to be caressed by her...
„I even packed some things.", she said as she sat down next to Cloud. „And what? I hope you didn't pack to much.", Cloud joked, while Aerith pouted a bit at him. „No. I just packed changing clothes and a blanket." Elmyra gave them both a plate with food and they began to eat. „Aerith, are you really sure you wanna come with me?", asked Cloud her again, unsure if she really meant it and a bit afraid if she said no, but she nodded.
„You know, you have to go without these...luxury things, you humans have."
„I know. I'll miss everything, of course, but I decided to go with you.", she replied and smiled at Cloud and even though he really didn't want to drag her into danger, he couldn't help but felt relieved, as she said she wants to go with him after all.
Once they finished their breakfast Cloud suggested to head out now, considering that they have long way to go. Once Cloud put on his cowl, Aerith said good by to her mother, who gave her another lecture to be careful, and then they left the house. „Okay, where can we go outta here?", asked Cloud as they went a few meter. „We have to go to the upper plate. There's a gate."
Cloud nodded and they went quickly to the town above and left Midgar behind. During that time Aerith always looked to the ground or closed her eyes, to not to look to the sky, while holding on Clouds sleeve. „Aerith, look up.", Cloud said as they went for a while, while Aerith just shook her head, her eyes were tightly shut.
„It looks really beautiful, look!" Once again Aerith shook her head. „Alright, you want it this way!" Cloud spoke with a threatening, but teasingly tone in his voice and Aerith began to fear what he'll do to her.
Then suddenly Cloud began to tickle her mercilessly, while Aerith frantically tried to push him away, but he pulled her against him, so that she can't escape. „Open your eyes.", he whispered in her ear, as he continued to tickle her, until she finally opened her eyes and looked up at the azure blue sky.
„Wooooow!", Aerith exclaimed as she looked at the sky in wonderment there were a few pure white and plushy-looking clouds. „I told you there's no reason to be afraid of it."
„Okay, okay, you were right, I was wrong, happy now?", she said, as she turned back to him and pouted jokingly. „Yes, I am.", he replied and continued walking, while Aerith followed him. As Aerith went next to Cloud she noticed he looked somehow different. „Huh?" Cloud looked at her questioningly. „What is it?" She didn't replied, instead she took his right wolfish ear in her hand and examined it. „You're ear has a white tip!"
„Oh...yeah.", he replied, like it's nothing knew to him, which is actually true. She finally noticed „You never told me you have white parts!"
„You never noticed it either. It seems like the light under the plate made completely gray.", he replied with a shrug and continued on. „I have more white parts in my fur. You'll see it soon."
As they climbed up a hill they saw one last time back down to Midgar. „You still can turn back...", said Cloud as they watched the town a while, but secretly hoped she insisted to go with him. „Yes..."
At this Clouds eyes widened. Did she just said she goes back? „But I still wanna go with you.", she added, and smiled brightly at Cloud, who sighed quietly in relieve. As Aerith watched the town a bit longer, Cloud hide behind a giant rock and undressed himself. It's time he changed into a wolf so that they arrive the next wood, or town, today.
„Aerith?", he called her behind that rock and Aerith went to him. „Wait! Stay there.", he quickly said as she came too close to him. „Here, could you put this in your bag?" Cloud gave her his clothes, while she looked a bit shocked, but took it and did as she was told.
„I'm going to change now. I can't talk to you then, but feel free to talk to me.", were his last words before he came from behind the rock as a wolf. Aerith looked at Cloud in wonderment, while Cloud himself felt nervous as he saw how she stared at him. „Wow, Cloud! White suits you!"
Clouds whole back was gray, but from the tip of his tail, to the tip of his nose, he was pure white. Even his paws were white. The wolf blushed underneath his fur, as the young girl continued to examine him. What they didn't knew is that they were being watched...
„Look at this. He's really a wolf.", said the red headed guy, to the blonde woman and the bald-headed man. „Of, course he's a wolf, Reno.", said the girl in slight annoyance. „You believed them too, Elena!", countered the red headed man, whose name's Reno. „What shall we do now?"
„What our boss ordered us to do.", said the bald-headed man calmly. „See? At least Rude knows what to do.", commented Elena with a small grin in her face.
Meanwhile Cloud lied down so that Aerith could climb on his back, but before she could do anything Reno, Rude and Elena appeared in front of them. „Well, well, well, look at this.", said Reno nonchalantly, as they went rather relaxed to the two. „Oh no...", murmured Aerith as she backed away from then and leaned on Cloud now.
„Oh yes. We were ordered to kill this wolf and we'll do it, so step aside!", said the headed guy, as Elena pulled a gun out of its holster. Cloud immediately winced as he saw this weapon, which didn't stayed unnoticed by Aerith. „No! You scare him!", she yelled at them and held Cloud protectively. „Elena, shoot already!", said Reno a bit annoyed, while she glared at him. „I can't shoot. What if I hit her instead?"
As they argued Cloud used the chance, pulled her on his back with his snout and began to run away. Aerith let out a high pitched yelp in surprise as she was pushed up on his back and as he ran. „Hey.", interrupted Rude the two and pointed to the fleeing target. „They escape." Rude talked rather calmly, while Reno and Elena didn't followed them, but blamed each other that they could escape, and considering that the wolf was way to fast and they wouldn't keep up anyway.
Aerith sat in a more comfortable position on Clouds back and hold his fur tightly. She looked behind her and noticed they didn't follow him and sighed in relieve. „They're not following us." Cloud just nodded, but didn't slowed down, he didn't want to risk that they perhaps follow him any moment and keep up.
A.N. That was chappy 3^^ I hope you liked it and sorry again for not bringing Clouds childhood in here^^'' Now the three Turks appeared and want to kill Cloud, but they also have another mission to complete...There will be even more characters in the next chappy. You'll meet Clouds pack, and a random pack in a random woodxD
And please don't forget to REVIEW! ;3
