Thanks to everyone for reading and, if you don't already know, the Pulsian in this story can be translated using the Al Bhed cipher.

It had been three days since Claire had gone out on patrol and Serah was beside herself with worry. She was sitting on the couch watching the news when she heard a strong knock on the door. Her heart sunk at the sound, thinking it must be the Sanctum military come to tell her that Claire had died. She fought the tears on the way to the door and opened it to see a tall blonde haired man behind it. "Oh, it's just you."

"Just me?" Snow Villiers leaned down and planted a kiss on Serah's cheek. "Who else were you expecting?"

"Oh, it's nothing. Come in."

Snow followed Serah into the living room where she sat down on the couch and was glued to the TV which was displaying the evening news. He sat down next to her and put his arm around her, she unconsciously snuggled up to him and he could see that she was looking for something. "What's wrong...?"

"Shhh." Serah shut him up just as the anchor began speaking.

"More on the apparent 'invasion' by Pulsians, it seems a team sent to the border to investigate the matter has come up missing. Sanctum officials have reported that earlier this week an advance team was sent to the border regions to scout for Pulsian threats. In three days they have had no contact with them and it is assumed that they were killed by Pulsian raiders. Sanctum officials have been discussing retailiation..."

Serah wasn't listening anymore. They hadn't said it but somehow she knew that Claire had been in that team and she knew that Claire wasn't coming home. The news hit her like a freight train and she clutched at her chest as if she were in pain. Snow noticed and reached out for her. "Serah, what's wrong?"

"C-Claire, s-she...she..." The words wouldn't come, she was overwhelmed with emotion.

A heavy knock on the door sounded and Serah visibly flinched. Snow got up from the couch and went to answer the door. The man who stood on the other side wore an officer's uniform and was carrying a folded Sanctum flag. He looked perplexed to see Snow standing there. "Ms. Serah Farron?"

Serah got up from he couch and walked to the door. As soon as she caught sight of the uniformed officer her eyes watered. "That's me."

"I regret to inform you that your sister, Claire Farron, has been killed in action on the border of..."

"No." Serah's hand covered her mouth and tears streamed down her face. "No, this isn't happening. I told her not to go. I told her."

Snow put his arm around her while the uniformed man watched the proceedings with casual disinterest. Snow took the flag from him and held it for Serah who was bawling in his arms. "Can you tell us how it happened?"

"We don't have much information at this time. What we do know is that she was leading a scouting party on the border and that they have since dropped out of communication."

Snow furrowed his brow. "So you don't know that she's dead?"

"Worst case scenario she's being held in a Pulsian prison camp which would be a death sentence to her after they were through torturing her..."

Serah cried out to hear that and Snow held up a hand to stop him. "Okay, that's enough. Thank you."

The man saluted smartly then turned on his heels and walked down to sidewalk to his vehicle, a sporty red model that Snow had never seen before. It looked expensive. He shut the door and led Serah over to the couch where they sat down and she buried her head in his chest. "I can't believe it..."

"Don't believe it." Serah looked up with puffy red eyes at Snow who had set his jaw. "It was bullshit. You heard him say it, they don't know that she's dead. They're just assuming."

"But..."

"I'm a pretty tough guy," Snow was one for boasting whenever the occasion called for it, which was every occasion, "but there is one person that I've always been afraid of."

-SAVAGE-

Claire's eyes opened slowly and she wanted desperately to be in her own bed in Bodhum. Unfortunately she would see the same room she had been waking up in where she had been receiving care for her wounds. Remembering she checked the wound on her stomach and found it had nearly fully healed, miraculous considering that only a couple of days past she had been close to death. Her smaller wounds had healed as well and she had to admit that no doctor in Cocoon could have done so marvelous a job healing her. At least not without several thousand dollars worth of equipment and a steep hospital bill.

She sat up and was surprised at how limber she felt, no pain at all. She stretched her arms and legs, which complained from the disuse since she had spent the last three days lying in bed, then got up and started her morning regimen. After nearly a half hour of doing sit-ups and push-ups she felt energized, if not a little sweaty, and was heading for the door when it opened and the old woman, whom she had learned was named Reyna, walked in. "Tu oui vaam paddan?"

"I'm sorry, I don't..."

A faint smile crossed the old woman's face and a sigh escaped her lips. "E'mm kad Vanille."

She hadn't understood most of the words but she had understood 'Vanille'. She's the woman that's been taking care of me. She wondered why the girl was helping her considering their leader all but told her she would find no shelter here. She was an enemy to these people after all.

Reyna turned and walked out of the room. From the other side of the door she could hear the woman talking to someone else in Pulsian. The voice that replied was speaking a language she didn't know but she easily recognized the voice, the only friendly voice she had heard these last days. Just hearing her voice brought a smile to her face, a smile she quickly recognized and hid away before the door opened and said woman walked through the door with a big smile on her face. "Hello, Lightning. I see you feel good this morning."

"A lot better, thank you." Lightning was sweaty from her morning exertions and Vanille noticed. She wrinkled her nose and looked at her oddly. "What?"

"You stink."

What!? "I'm sorry?"

"You need a bath. Come, I'll draw one for you."

A savage telling me that I need a bath. That's a new one. She did feel rather sweaty and hadn't taken a shower since she left her house in Bodhum. She lifted her arm and the stench struck her nostrils. Okay, maybe she's right. "A bath would be nice."

"Yay." Vanille seemed nearly excited at the prospect which caught Lightning off guard. Don't seem so excited, it's just a bath. "Just give me a few minutes."

Vanille hurried from the room and Lightning sat back down on the bed. She spotted her jacket folded neatly on a nearby table and picked it up, feeling the familiar fabric that had kept her warm over many winters. It brought her mind to her things and she wondered where her sword was. She reasoned it must be with the woman that nearly killed her, the Pulsian warrior Fang.

Her thought train was interrupted by the door opening and a joyful Vanille nearly hopping in with a large cloth towel. "Come on, your bath is ready." Claire followed Vanille to another room where a suprisingly elegant metal bathtub was filled with hot water. "We use this tub to soak people who come here with chronic pain, but it makes a great bathtub." She looked at Claire expectantly. "Well, you can't bathe in all those clothes."

Claire started taking her clothes off and noticed that Vanille was still standing in the room. Not only that she was slowly turning red. "Were you planning on watching me?"

"W-well...no."

Claire smiled, a rare smile coming from the normally stoic soldier, at the adorable look on Vanille's face. She took the towel from her and ushered the flustered girl out of the room. She closed the door and removed her clothing, tossing the dirty garments aside and slowly lowering herself into the hot water. She sighed as the water soothed her. She closed her eyes and let her mind drift away; to thoughts of home and her warm bed waiting for her, to thoughts of her sister who must be beside herself with worry by now, and, oddly enough, to the gentle touch of the woman who was caring for her. Vanille.

A sweet smell wafted up from the bath and into her nose, an enjoyable smell that calmed her further. Her thoughts continued to drift until she heard a knocking on the door to the room. "Lightning? Are you alright in there?"

The door opened a crack and Vanille's voice announced that she was coming in. Lightning turned her head and watched the red-faced girl edge into the room holding a pile of clothes. "I brought you some clothes to wear. They may be a bit big on you, though." Vanille took a glance at her but then quickly turned away. "I-I didn't know what size you were."

Seeing Vanille act this way brought a smile to Lightning's face. "Thank you, Vanille."

"You shouldn't stay in too long, you'll get wrinkles."

Vanille closed the door behind her and Lightning slid further into the water. Only when the water had lost all trace of warmth did she get up and towel herself off. When she felt the cold air against her wet, slightly reddened skin she hurriedly sought out the clothes that Vanille had brought for her and hastily threw them on. What she found was a comfortable pair of leggings, made from a thick cloth that would be warm but wasn't movement restricting, a shirt made out of the same material that felt comfortable, and a pair of boots made of leather to finish out the ensemble.

Both the pants and shirt were large for her but she felt comfortable in them and when she walked back out into the main room she was met with approving eyes. Vanille sat in a chair waiting for her and she smiled when Lightning came into view. "Those look great on you." Lightning didn't agree, but was thankful to be wearing anything. "So, what are you going to do today?"

"I want to take a walk around town."

"That's a great idea." Vanille hopped excitedly out of the chair. "I'll go with you."

"That's not necessary." She walked towards the door and could all but sense Vanille's pout. The girl had seemed very excited to show her around and it might be good to have a guide, though she worried how the girl would look in front of her peers. With her light skin and pink hair she all but stood out against the Pulsians and she didn't want Vanille to be ostracized because of her. "But it would be nice."

Vanille's frown changed in a matter of seconds and she hopped up ready to escort Lightning around the town. While she would have preferred solitude she didn't want to anger the one person who was helping her. She opened the door and stepped outside. The day was overcast and a bit chilly, she shivered though she wore such thick clothing. The door closed behind her and Vanille bounded beside her wearing sufficiently thick clothes and and a scarf wrapped tightly around her neck. "Where to first?"

Lightning shrugged and started walking in whatever direction her feet were pointed. Vanille walked beside her with her hands in her pockets and her eyes on the ground, silently watching the Cocoonian as her eyes gazed over their town. The Mother's house stood on one of the taller hills in the town, Lightning took a few steps away from the house and was able to look over the entire town.

What she saw was a small, walled-in town sitting at the base of a tall mountain that she couldn't see the top of for the clouds. She was surprised at the number of small wooden houses that lined what made up the residential section of Oerba, a large marketplace was situated in the center of town and an area that looked to be made of buildings used for smithing and animal processing. Two gates led out of the town, one to the north and further up the mountain and one led south down to the south and what would be a lush valley in spring. Most of the buldings looked to be constructed of treated wood, most likely to avoid be risk of fire catching in the timbers. A few of the buildings, most likely used for governmental affairs, were made of rock and even fewer than that, most likely the very wealthy in the town, were made of brick.

The wall that kept the town safe was made of rock and mortar and was at least fifteen feet tall at it's lowest point. Scaffolding existed in several places that led up onto the wall, most likely for lookouts she reasoned. Her eyes fell back to the marketplace, a square in the center of town that was decked out in stalls that sold many different wares. Many people milled about in colorful garments and she wanted to see it first hand. She started down the path that would lead her down there with Vanille following quietly behind.

Occassionally as they walked Vanille would point out certain places of interest; for instance as they passed an old brick house she mentioned that the family who used to live there got tired of the winters and decided to move, or as they passed a long house she mentioned how she would often go there to watch them mill the wheat brought in from the outlying farms into flour for bread. Lightning was attentive but her mind was always on her surroundings. She noticed the looks she received from many of the passers by, they ranged from unknowing to outright hostile, as they approached the marketplace.

Lightning entered and felt immediately claustrophobic surrounded by the throngs of people that were perusing the goods on display. Lightning saw many things that fascinated her but what drew her attention most was the artistic flair of their weaponry, from the simplest spear to the most complex crossbow every piece was hand carved and beautiful. What she found odd was that amongst all the stalls with their gorgeous wares she didn't find a single one that served food. She looked around her and didn't find a single restaurant in the square. She wondered why.

As she passed a stall she spotted a beautiful sword with a long curved blade and jewels inlaid in the handle. She picked it up, earning herself a dirty look from the store's owner, and tested the sword in her hands. It was amazing, the way the blade sang through the air as she swung it, the feel of the elegant handle in her hand and the lightness of the material all combined into something magical. Still, it didn't compare to her Blazefire. She wondered if she would ever see it again when she spotted it on the back of someone she had hoped to never see again. Yun Fang was walking through the marketplace with another dark haired woman on her arm and her precious sword slung around her waist.

The sight of the tall Pulsian wearing her sword was enough to send Lightning over the edge. Dropped the sword she was holding back onto the counter and shoved her way though the crowd until she stood within arm's reach of Fang. "You have my sword."

It took Fang a moment to realize who she was speaking to but as soon as she did her face turned up into a smirk. "Hey there, sunshine."

Lightning was in a combat stance, her eyes were fixed on Fang's face. "Give me back my sword."

The woman with Fang looked between Fang and Lightning. "Fru ec drec, Fang?"

"Tu oui nasaspan dra Cocoon cuntean fa vuiht?" The woman looked back at her with a knowing expression, as if she had just remembered something. Fang drew the sword and held it aloft, Lightning's eyes narrowed in anger. "This is a nice sword, and I won it from ya fair and square."

"Give it back to me."

The anger with which she spat those words made the woman with Fang hide behind her. "I don't think so. I'm keeping it as a trophy."

"Like hell you are."

Lightning quickly closed the distance between her and Fang and caught the taller woman with a punch to the jaw. The hit knocked Fang back and people backed away from them as Fang smiled and dropped the Blazefire back into it's scabbard. "Ready for round two, then?"

Fang and Lightning circled each other. Lightning was furious, her eyes blazed as she charged Fang and tried to hit her again. Fang blocked her and retaliated but Lightning was true to her namesake and managed to dodge the counter. Fang wanted to grapple with Lightning, knowing her strength would see her through, but every time she tried Lightning would move out of reach then come back for another strike. It was starting to aggravate her.

Lightning used her speed to land a few hits before ducking away from Fang's counter. Her hits didn't amount to much, though, as Fang proved to be quite resilient. She gritted her teeth and moved in for another strike. She and Fang jabbed and dodged at each other, neither able to overcome the other. Lightning missed a step and Fang caught hold of her wrist. "Gotcha."

She jerked Lightning's wrist up painfully and Lightning gritted her teeth. Fang took a swing at Lightning and hit her straight in the face. Lightning's ears were ringing from the hit but she managed to twist out of the way of a second hit and pulled her wrist free of Fang's grip. She growled and charged, catching Fang by the waist and knocking her to the ground. They grappled on the ground together until Fang managed to push the angry Lightning off of her and get to her feet. Fang had blood coming from her nose and several bruises on her face from where Lightning had gotten a few good hits in.

Lightning was getting ready to strike again when she heard the familiar sound of steel shifting. Fang brandished her own sword, now properly transformed, towards her menacingly. Lightning stopped, breathing hard from the fight. "What's the matter? Didn't think a savage like me could use your fancy weapon?" Lightning's face was twisted in a grimace. She hadn't thought Fang would be able to use the weapon. "You think you're so much better than us, sunshine?"

"Give my sword back."

Even in the face of her own sword her jaw was set and she was determined. "Stop it, Fang." The voice came from behind her, Vanille came running up and stood next to Lightning. "That's enough."

"Cdyo uid uv drec, Van."

"Mayja ran ymuha, Fang."

She couldn't understand them but it sounded to her like Vanille was trying to get Fang to back down, which was the opposite of what Lightning wanted. She wanted blood. "Back off, Vanille. This is between us."

Lightning put her hand out to pull Vanille back but Fang held the blade up closer, taking a full step towards her and nearly pressing the blade to her chest. "Don't lay your hand on her, filth."

"Stop it, both of you." Vanille's arms were taut at her side, her fists balled and shaking. She was getting angry and seeing her angry calmed Lightning's rage. She backed up and returned to a standing position with her head down.

The woman who had been walking with Fang took this moment to approach and place her hand on Fang's arm. "Lusa, muja, vunkad drec fusyh."

Fang reluctantly stepped back and thumbed the switch on the blade. The machine folded itself and she deftly slid it back into the scabbard at the back of her waist. "Veha, Anya." She glared at Lightning and her face twisted up into another smirk. "The sword comes with me."

Lightning met her stare, her jaw set. "I will get it back."

Fang's smirk didn't fade. "I'll be waiting."

Anya took her arm and they walked away, Lightning's Blazefire bumping against Fang's legs as she walked. The sight infuriated Lightning but she knew that for now the fight was over. Vanille turned to say something to her but by the time she spun around Lightning had already walked away, heading towards the scaffolding and the north wall. She didn't hear Vanille call after her to wait, she didn't feel the crowds parting for her as she walked, her thoughts were entirely upon her sword and her now sworn enemy.

She climbed the scaffold and took her first step onto the rock wall on the north side of town. She looked out passed the wall and her eyes followed the crest of the mountain upwards until it reached the cloud line. She knew that the peak was far above that. The land to the north of town had become a veritable wasteland in the face of the coming winter; the trees were leafless and bare, the long grasses that normally grew at the base of the mountain had all but died out and the iciness of the ground would soon give way to thick snows that would prevent passage into and out of Oerba. She shivered and wrapped her arms around her as a cold wind blew from the north.

She watched the scenery for long minutes before she sensed a presense behind her. Vanille walked up and stood next to her, her eyes surveyed the scenery as well though it was not as alien to her as it was to Lightning. "Lightning...are you okay?" The blood on Lightning's face had hardened and was now stuck to her and her bruises were darkened and showed clearly on her pale skin. "Come on, let's get out of the cold."

Lightning didn't respond, she just stood unmoving with her eyes focused north towards Cocoon and her home. "Why? Why am I here? Why am I alive while they're dead?" Vanille stood silently while Lightning poured her soul out. "Why can't I go home? Am I being punished?" Lightning sighed and lowered her head. "Serah..."

"We should head back now." Lightning's eyes were closed and she was deep in thought. "Lightning..." Vanille's voice gradually brought her back to the world. It doesn't matter why I'm here or how I got here. It doesn't matter if I deserved this or if this is an accident. All that matters is that I"m here, and I am going to survive. I will see Serah again.

Lightning withdrew from her daze and looked around her, noticing that Vanille was looking at her with a worried expression. "I'm fine, Vanille." Lightning walked passed her and started down the scaffolding. "Let's head back." Vanille smiled and followed her down the scaffolding. Lightning didn't notice her push a small parcel further into her pockets.

They walked back to the Mother's house together and when they got there Vanille opened the door for them and they walked in to find Mother Reyna working on some herbal potions. She looked up and smiled when she saw Vanille then frowned when she saw Lightning. "E caa cra'c ib ymnayto. Desa vun ran du ku drah?"

"Hu, Mother. Cra lyh ryja so nuus." Reyna's eyes widened and she shook her head but Vanille seemed determined and pulled Lightning by her arm further into the house to another door she had never seen before. "You can't stay in the main room anymore, so you're going to stay here from now on."

Vanille opened the door and Lighting stepped into a small room, more a closet than anything else, with a single cot and a few other furnishings that were necessary. "This is where I'm staying?"

"Yes. I keep this room so that I have a place to sleep if I can't make it home for whatever reason. Now, I want you to have it."

Lightning didn't know what to say. Vanille was going all out for her and she was starting to get the feeling that there were people in this town who weren't too happy about it. She started to fear for Vanille, for her status in her community, for the retaliation the others might throw at her for helping her, and she didn't want to involve the girl anymore. "I can't take this. You heard that man, nobody is allowed to help me. I won't put you at risk."

"But I want to help you and I'm willing to take the risk."

"No." Lightning's voice was stern. "Out of the question."

"Now you listen to me." Vanille's voice indicated that she was running out of patience for the pink-haired woman. "You're going to die out there without food or shelter, okay? You're going to die." She accented each of these words as she spoke them. "I don't want you to die, not when there's something I can do to help you. Understand?"

"But..."

"But nothing." Now it was Vanille's turn to be stern and Lightning's facial expression shifted. "This is your room from now on. I'm going to cook dinner, I'll let you know when it's done."

Vanille spun on her heels and left the room, closing the door behind her. Lightning cracked a smile.