Chapter 4

He felt virtually stranded as he looked at the sheer number of lobos surrounding them. The canine beasts drooled as if they were hungry for blood. Lobos, he knew, were usually not this cocky and when he saw a larger being walking towards their direction he suddenly found out why. The Plague, the greater beast that brought them forth, gave them the initiative.

He had a sick feeling at the pit of his stomach when he realized that Ashe was still unmoving in his arms, and even up to that moment, he was not sure of what exactly hit her. Cursing his luck, he moved backwards, toying with the idea of running away yet fully aware that his chances of escape were very slim. He moved back some more and suddenly felt the sword he had dropped by his feet. He slowly bent down to get it when a hand reached out and held on to his sleeve.

"What are you doing here, with a woman to boot?" the man said in between breaths. Basch glanced behind him and saw an injured man struggling to get back to his feet. His platinum colored hair just about covered his eyes and his chin still had particles of sand stuck in it. "Didn't you know that the Plague had been running around in this area? Tough fiend to beat… I've done all that I could but it's still moving."

Basch looked in front of him and once again saw the mark they called Plague. It looked like a mutated wolf with eyes made of fire and teeth made of spears. It walked… no… swaggered, slightly wounded but still feeling strong. Its pelt had stains of blood in it, as it lost its silver luster. Yet the blood in its claws and in its teeth showed not weakness, but ferocity far from what the puny silver lobos were capable of.

"I have weakened it a bit, but with my condition now, I am starting to doubt myself. Go, I will attack it once more. Wait for my signal and I will make a way for you. Then run as fast as you could." The man said as he clutched his bleeding arm. Basch could not see the man's weapon and he slightly wondered what it was. He probably used a dirk, or a scimitar, judging from his stance. For a beast so huge, small weapons may not be efficient – by the time you get a shot at the beast, it would need only a short distance to retaliate. He wondered if the wound in his arm was a result of an exchange between him and the beast.

"Forgive me for saying this … but in your current condition, I doubt you'd even make it with that plan,"

The man laughed tiredly, his eyes squinting and his expression half a wince and half a grin; "Well then, if you want an unglamorous way of looking at it, it might take that horrid monster a few seconds to chew my body completely. Somehow you'd still be given some time to escape."

The man looked as though he were around the same age as Basch was, probably even younger judging from the nonchalant outlook he had with his own life. Yet he admired his calmness despite their seemingly impending doom. When Basch focused on what was ahead of him once more and saw the number of lobos in front of him that were ready to pounce, he felt the blood rushing in his veins. Unlike the man, he was anything but calm. The blood pumped briskly, loudly, that he heard pounding in his own head. He could not even make out the words that were coming out of the Ashe's mouth any longer.

"I have a better plan. I give you an elixir and my sword… and I entrust her to you as well," the man barely caught the semi-conscious Ashe in his arms and he had no chance to disagree. "She is in a very delicate condition right now, please protect her and I will protect you both."

With that, he bravely ran forward to face the enemies, barely thinking about the soundness of his decision. Was it right to entrust the queen's life to a complete stranger? Was it right to ask a wounded man such a big favor?

Ashe's eyes were half open and she seemed to have fallen asleep. She didn't even hear the man holding her shout at her companion for what he had just done. Everything just seemed to be hazy…

Basch reached the center of the pack and was face to face with the mark. Several lobos attacked him at once, but somehow he looked like he didn't feel a single thing.

A thick mist suddenly covered him, and with a loud battle cry, he pummeled the beast with everything he had. A combination of darkness and light… flames and explosions disappeared just as quickly as they came. It happened so quickly that the injured man barely saw what had happened. All he saw was the seemingly never ending darkness, a black hole that swallowed the enemies whole. When the sunlight was back and everything was clear once more, nothing but dead carcasses of lobos could be found scattered about and the Plague re-emerged – alive but greatly weakened than before. It moaned – out of anger or pain, he was not very sure.

Basch had not expected the fiend to last this long, and to fight it unarmed seemed to be a bad idea.

"Take it!" the man shouted as he threw the sword towards his direction. The wolf attacked, more vicious than before and the knight barely evaded it. He dove down the sand to go behind the wolf and he successfully got the sword.

Basch breathed heavily as his sweat and blood trickled down from his head and his arms. Yet his eyes remained focused on his target. He only realized at that point that it was more than twice his size. Yet it was slow, and it almost breathed as heavily as he did. He lifted the sword and placed it in position in front of him. It may seem like they were of the same level now, yet he knew… he knew he still had the upper hand.

He looked behind him and noticed that the queen has not regained consciousness. He shook his head in an effort to clear his mind and clutched the sword with his two shaking hands. Yet his mind chose to rebel. Save the Queen, he kept on remembering the name of the sword he currently had and was somehow annoyed at how fate jested with him. He was her only hope now and he had no room for failure. Time and time again he failed to protect those he had vowed to protect and he knew he was still on a long road towards redemption. Now was not the time to fail. Now was not the time to die. Suddenly full of rage and resolve, he moved forward once again as though he just drank a full bottle of Bacchus's wine.

Amon watched the battle in front of him, not quite sure who he should be more scared of – the monster or the warrior that stepped forth to fight it. His shirt was now covered with blood, both from his own body and from his foe. Yet he moved on like a berserker as he hit the wolf over and over again. He had the sudden urge to help the man, yet the woman he left him with made him think otherwise. She seemed to be completely oblivious to what was happening, asleep as she was. He guessed that it was better that way; after all he vaguely knew how unpleasant it could be for a woman to see her man struggling to kill and not be killed in the process. He moved to a more comfortable position so that he was in front of her and ready to shield her should a threat suddenly appear.

He did not know where his sudden devotion to her came from – he guessed it was because the man risking his life to save them now had forced him to think that way. He would protect her, after all, how could he not? She did look delicate as the knight had said, too delicate in fact, in a sense quite different from what the knight may have meant.

"Just a little bit more…" Basch told himself as he saw the beast writhing. Its pelt was already soaked with blood and its ribs were already protruding. Yet he knew he could not let his guard down just yet.

The Plague made a sound and the ground shook. Basch lost his balance and fell on the sandy ground. The monster took its chance and pounced on him, trapping him under its weight. He quickly disappeared from Amon's view and the man suddenly tensed up in agitation. Was he dead? Was it dead? He was not too sure. Before he could draw his weapon, he heard an agonized howl and the wolf ungracefully fell completely on the ground, its fallen weight caused a small fog of sand to appear. When the area was cleared, he saw the knight once more, breathing heavily as he lay in the ground beside the creature with one of his arms still inside the monster's mouth.

"Is … Is it dead?" Amon asked as he looked at the frightful scene, "Your arm is still inside… you can feel it can't you?"

"Regretfully… yes." Basch replied in between breaths. He faintly felt the pain for every part of his body seemed to be full of it. Even as he felt the plague's last breaths vibrating in his arm, it only disturbed him slightly for he was more concerned about something else. "Is… she… all right?"

His initial shock caused a delay in his reply. Tentatively, Amon looked behind him and saw the queen's still form. "I checked her breathing and her pulse a while ago. She doesn't seem to be in a weakened state. If I didn't know any better, I would think that she probably got disabled or put to sleep."

"She stepped on a trap," he said, not moving from his position in the ground beside the wolf, visibly tired, But Amon quickly noted the pain in his eyes. "It was my fault."

"A numbing trap. I see. Don't be too hard on yourself;" Amon reassured him when he realized that the knight had been feeling pain for her and not for himself. "You saved our hides. I'm sure she'd be all over you once she wakes up."

Basch fought the pain and rose awkwardly to a sitting position. He carefully pushed the Plague's snout and tried to pull out his arm. He felt its teeth scrapping through his arm, ripping his sleeve to mere tatters and leaving his arms feeling raw from its new wounds.

"Let me take care of that wolf, you go sit here with her," Amon said as he offered his hand to pull Basch back to his feet. "Name's Amon by the way. I wish we could've met under better circumstances."

"Same here," Basch shook slightly from fatigue. He managed to walk a few steps, only to slump back to the ground beside Ashe. "My name is Basch, and she is … Amalia. I thank you for keeping her safe."

He was about to scold him for bringing her with him despite the condition she had as he had informed him, but as he saw the way he gingerly brushed away her hair from her forehead with his uninjured hand, he decided to keep his mouth shut. He decided to focus his attention somewhere else to give the couple some privacy. He then brought out his dagger and poached the animal as quickly as he could and took the pelts of the other casualties as well.

"I left the Elixir there by the way. I did not need it as I got the rest I needed as you fought. Go and drink it for heaven's sake,"

Basch looked beside him and saw the bottle. He uncapped it and lifted Ashe slightly, letting her drink some of the fluid, praying once that she does not choke on it.

She coughed and stirred as she tasted the sweet liquid in her mouth. Her head still felt a bit heavy with sleep and she struggled to stay awake. Images kept on flashing in her head. She recognized some of what she saw yet others were just nameless faces or blurred pictures.

Basch finally let out the breath he didn't know he had been holding as he set the bottle aside and helped her into a sitting position.

"Are you feeling…"

"Get… get out of there. You mustn't die… You mustn't die…." she stated softly yet frantically, her eyes a bit tearful yet not fully awake. She saw it in her head. A man in danger… he… he was going to die. She did not know him but she felt it. She felt it in her heart. He must not.... she would not bear it…. He could not go on saving her kingdom. He could not go on doing her duty for the price of his life…

He did not understand her words or the despair she had. He held her shoulders as he tried to calm her and yet she became almost weepy. Had she been awake all this time? Did she see it? Did his violent onslaught affect her in any way?

"It is over, the threat is gone…" he whispered, hoping to soothe her. "It's all right…"

"No… Bahamut is… it's falling…"

The Bahamut? It was then that he remembered what she had been saying earlier. A bargain made with her ring – a payment – She must have been thinking hard about it since that incident with the bangaa yet the memory she had retrieved did not reach back far enough. The person she thought of… it must have been… "It's all right," he whispered, trying to comfort her, "He did not die. He's all right."

"Are you sure?" she asked as she closed her eyes after being slightly blinded by the warm sunlight.

"Yes. I assure you, he's fine. He returned your ring, did he not?"

"You're right… your right," she said softly as she laid her head at the nook of his neck and touched the ring in her finger.

So it was Balthier that she had remembered, Basch thought as he tried to put the pieces together. An odd feeling came over him, one he could not fully explain as he came across this conclusion. She was comfortably resting in his arms while he was fully aware that she thought of another. It made him feel… it made him feel…

It did not matter, he thought as he shook his head to clear his thoughts. She seemed to have been half awake all along as she failed to notice everything that had happened around her. The way she lay in his arms was nothing more but a matter of circumstance– one he mustn't prolong and one he must definitely not take advantage of. She may even be fully oblivious to it all. The trap may have had stronger magiks than he had expected which was why staying awake became such a hurdle for her. He wanted to wake her yet her calm breathing and her serene expression made him think otherwise. Maybe she truly needed some sleep, what with all the stress she had been through for the past few hours. He decided to let her be.

She will be all right, he chanted softly to himself as he tried to calm his own heart. He moved slightly to give her some space yet she seemed to continue to cling to him. He decided to give in to the temptation he simply could not resist. With shaking hands, he got a cleaned pelt he found lying nearby and covered her with it, hoping that it would prevent him from staining her with his blood as he continued to hold her close. He prayed once to the heavens for forgiveness for his forbearance (or the lack thereof), as he whispered an apology to her as well.

"Here's another one. You might need it. I managed to sun dry it yesterday," he suddenly heard Amon's voice above him as he offered him the pelt.

Basch nodded in gratitude, suddenly feeling too exhausted to speak. He suddenly felt drained, more tired than he was earlier. It must have been the loss of blood, he thought to himself as he felt lightheaded. What he saw alternated from visions of sunlight upon bodies of dead lobos and images of the princess and the sky pirate walking side by side as they had months ago. The dull ache in his chest was also starting to bother him. He did not know why… but the last time he had this feeling as far as he could recall was that time when the princess mourned for her dead husband as he stood nearby, incapable of doing anything but watch. As the memories came back, he realized that the expression she had as she pleaded to the sky pirate that last time they were together in the Strahl was no different from that time in Lord Rasler's wake.

"Don't look so glum there Basch," Amon said as he placed a hand on his shoulder, "She'll regain consciousness soon. I suppose that it's better for her to remain asleep for now. That would keep her from panicking!" he encouraged the knight as he heard Amalia's tearful voice earlier. She must have been so relieved to see that he was well. She sounded so anxious, angry even. Maybe she even panicked after seeing the horrid condition Basch was currently in, he thought.

"Thank you," He replied as he gathered up his strength to shake himself off from his stupor. He stood up despite the pain, with Ashe in his arms. "We should probably start going back to camp."

Amon nodded in agreement and took his place in front to guard both Basch and Amalia this time around. He heard the knight breathing heavily and was about to offer to carry her for him but as he noticed the distant look in his eyes and the way he held her close, he supposed it would be more offensive than helpful to do that. He simply remained quiet and focused on his task.

They reached the camp in no time, probably because no monsters got in the way. Amon thought that the hunter's camp was not as noisy as usual. It was probably because it was that lazy time in the afternoon. The sun was warmer yet the breeze was more comforting. The birds and the other creatures of the island were probably less agitated with the threat gone, and that fact that the hunters were probably not as perceptive and not aware of this, and were still in hiding - probably caused the unusual calm in the camp.

"Amon?" Mighty asked tentatively as he saw his familiar stride as he got closer to his line of sight. "Amon! It is you, kupo!" the moogle exclaimed as he jumped merrily.

"Hello Mighty, nice to see you," Amon greeted the moogle kindly as he gave him a high five, "Say Mighty, we can talk more later but right now, these people need some help," he said as he moved to the side so that Basch and Ashe came to Mighty's view.

"Basch! Amalia!" Mighty jumped in surprise as he saw how bloodied the knight was and the way he still managed to carry the unconscious woman in his arms.

"You know them already?"

"Yes, they were here a while ago. Even had a deal with Atak," the moogle shook his head, "He even left his sword with him. They made a deal that he'd get an automatic endorsement if he beats the Plague."

"That bangaa would never learn," Amon sighed, "Well I say we make Basch a hunter… make that an Elite hunter! He doesn't need Atak's endorsement. I declare him one myself."

"Wow Basch, did you hear that? That's the first time I've heard Amon say something like that. It really must be a…-"

"Excuse me but… I think I should probably…." Weakness was evident in Basch's voice and both Amon and Mighty visibly tensed up with panic.

"Oh… that's right, that's right. How thoughtless of me. I have prepared a cottage nearby since somehow I knew you guys would come back!" the moogle said as he walked briskly towards the said cottage. "It's still a bit messy but it is somehow… er… livable."

"If you want, you can stay in my cottage Basch," Amon offered.

"Thank you very much for your hospitality. I appreciate all of this, but I do not wish to make any imposition" His eyes were already half closed from fatigue and the floor was starting to shake beneath him. "A bed… would be sufficient."

"What about you Basch? You're seriously hurt! – "

"– I will be fine."

Mighty opened the cottage's door and Basch stepped in. Quickly spotting the bed, he laid Ashe gently in it, careful not to wake her from her slumber. He knelt down by the bed for a while as he watched her breathe.

"Basch, you should probably…."

"Okay, Mighty and I will just be around. Just peek out if you need anything," Amon said as he pulled the moogle away and dragged him out of the cottage. He knew how noisy and nosy the moogle could be, and having him around might complicate things.

"The medicine kit is there by the sink, kupo!" Mighty's voice was heard just before Amon closed the door. Soon it was quiet inside the cottage once again.

The light the sun provided by the window was enough for him to see everything inside the cottage. There were several boxes in a corner, a sink, a small table and a cupboard. He stood up, staggering slightly and almost hitting a lamp nearby. He struggled to reach the sink and managed to wash his hands. He still had the pelt Amon gave him and he used it to stop the blood that was trickling down his injured arm. He shuffled about and looked and opened some of the boxes. He sighed when he finally found what he was looking for. He fumbled a bit and managed to get the blanket, holding it a distance away from him, afraid to sully it. He walked slowly back to the bed, trying to avoid the moving floors he saw with his eyes.

He then carefully tucked in Ashe, just like he how he saw her maids do when she was younger… just like how he used to do so whenever he had the chance. He looked at her as she was the only thing that was not shifting or moving in his world that moment. Yet soon he looked away, knowing that even guardians were not allowed to stare. He backtracked a bit and slumped ungracefully on the floor, finally feeling his limbs surrendering to pain with his eyelids closing to oblivion. A nap… he probably needed a short nap. He should rest a bit for now to have some energy once he wakes up, he thought. Yet his mind lingered a bit before he let go. In his mind… no, in his imagination, he saw her, with that serene expression and that beautiful face he had burned in his head earlier. There she was smiling in her sleep. Dreaming of someone…. Dreaming of him.

Before he could chastise himself for his absurd and indiscreet thoughts that he knew were far from reality, his body already took over and let him get the rest it demanded of him.

Author's notes:

I have been interested in the FF12 characters' name etymologies and I came across some interesting conclusions. I would like to share it with you because it's funny and I want to prove to myself that all of the stuff made sense.

Well, since he was mentioned here, I'd start with Balthier. In the Japanese version, he was called "Baflear" if I'm not mistaken. Well. Obviously, flear can mean "flower", or it can be from the French word "fleureter" which means "to talk sweet nonsense" aka Flirt. Hahaha. On a more positive sense, Balthier can be associated to Baldur or Balder, a brave prince or hero. Hmmm…. Interesting don't you think? Check out etymonline if you don't believe me! So that's it for the educational portion of the fic. Which is actually… after the fic.

See you guys next time. The next chapter is a prologue to domestication. Hmm… what that means, well… you'd just have to wait and see. Mwahahaha.

Thanks to all who reviewed! Bye!!