Sorry for the wait but it has been a busy week. In exchange, I'll upload a longer chapter. I hope that you like it.

I only own my own words.


They had problems. Big problems, with a capital B. It was incredible how much they messed up all their plans, and now they were in this situation. Detained in a cell, by a general's order no less.

Lightning didn't know how they were going to fix this. She was pacing inside the small cell, although it was big enough for all of them. Thanks for small mercies.

Snow had his head bowed, feeling guilty. It was true that he was the one who lost his cool and put them in this mess but he was being provoked so clearly that Lightning didn't have the will to berate him for his idiocy. She had been close to explode too so she couldn't talk.

-Are you ok Dajh? I'm sorry I couldn't protect you better- said Sazh as he examined Dajh, looking for injuries on his neck, where the febe's knife touched him.

-I'm ok dad, don't worry. He didn't hurt me.- assured the boy.

-Thank goodness! I felt my heart stop when I saw that man grabbing you.- said Vanille, who was hugging Dajh. She discretely healed the whole group, careful of not being noticed by the guard.

They were lucky in that aspect. They were alone in the cells. Nobody was crazy enough to be a criminal under the capital's army watchful eyes. If you didn't count them, of course. There was only one guard and he was far enough so they could talk about anything without the fear of being heard. Sazh reassured them that in this world there wasn't any kind of camera vigilance system. It seemed that the technology hadn't developed as much as their original world in that aspect.

-I didn't feel fear.- proclaimed Dajh. –I never felt in any danger.-

-You're so brave!-

-Agh, we're in such a mess. We had the best chance to investigate and messed up.- Sazh rubbed his head in that characteristic way of him.- Geez, I guess that now our only option is to become fugitives again, isn't it? Poor Cokrane, he'll have problems to make trade deals from now on.-

-Yeah, is better if we scape at night. A few distractions with fire and explosions here and there and we could leave the city.- added Fang.- But I see two problems. One, where do we go from here? And two, what do we do if the febes are outside, waiting to ambush us? It hurts me to say this, but they were good. The guy I fought with was very agile for being so big. So unlike Snow, no offence.-

-None taken.-

-I don't think that the febes are going to be a problem for us.- said Serah, who was comforting Snow.- They only attacked when things were getting ugly.-

-Even so, they are a risk that we can't take.-said Lightning.-The guy I fought against was able to read all my movements. Is obvious that they are really skillful and had been trained by experts.-

-Why thank you.- a soft voice reached them.

They got startled and those who were seated got up quickly from the floor, on guard. There was a febe in front of their cell, the one who fought Lightning and took Dajh as a hostage. They were so distracted that they didn't notice his arrival. It didn't help that he was so damn stealthy. Another soft thud came from the place where the guard was. They could see a black figure behind the guard, leading his body to the floor, to avoid making much noise.

-We don't have much time.- warned a female voice. She was the one who neutralized the guard.

-On it.- the male febe searched in his pockets and took a piece of paper.-These are the directions to reach a safe place inside the Kabul forest. We'll meet you there in two days.-

Silence met his words. All of them were confused and didn't know how to react. Suddenly, his words registered and they started to talk at the same time.

-What?-

-The Kabul forest!? Are you crazy?-

-Are you asking us to go with you?-

-Why two days?-

The febe raised his hand, stopping them. The female one was getting impatient and she was checking constantly the state of the guard, so it was clear that she didn't kill him, only knocked him out.

-We don't have enough time to explain everything. Blackrock is keeping guard but we must return to our rooms before they start suspecting us. The guard will only feel a little dizzy after he wakes up so don't worry about him. He won't have any recollection of what happened in the last minutes. We'll leave in a couple of hours so most of the bellvedians attention will be focused on us. Use that moment to scape. On the paper are written the best ways to leave the city undetected.-

-Why should we trust you? We don't know you and you just attacked us and helped the soldiers arrest us.- accused Lightning.

-If we hadn't stopped you the soldiers would have annihilated you. They outnumber you by hundreds just in this building. And we are the only way you have to scape this place. Would you rather stay?-

-Night! We have to go!- said the other febe.-Give them the paper now!-

-In a moment. Here, take it. You had nothing to loss and all to gain from this.-

Vanille was the closer so she took the paper warily. –Why in two days? Shouldn't we travel together once we leave the city?-

-No. The bellvedians, General Selven in special, distrust us so they would keeping tabs on us until we reach the forest. In order to protect our people we can't show any link to you or your actions.-

-Enough!-the other febe came close to the cell and took his arm.- We've wasted enough time with them. The effect of the drug is going to disappear in less than a minute. If they don't want to come with us is their problem.- She started to push her companion before looking at them.- Your weapons are in the next room.-

-Wait! How do we leave the cell?-asked Snow.

They couldn't see the woman's face, but most of them were sure that they could feel the exasperation radiating from her.

-I'm sure that you have the means. Here, an incentive.- she said, before throwing a small scabbard at them.

A groan alerted them that the guard was waking up and the next moment both febes had disappeared without making a sound.

-Well, we have to accept that they're truly good.- said Fang, after a moment of awkward silence.

-What should we do?- asked Vanille who was reading the note.

-I don't know. I want to leave here, but I don't know if trusting them is the correct choice.- explained Sazh

-Me neither. But I think that they're our safest option right now.- Lightning took the offered paper and read it.-This will help us. We could always scape from them if we don't like what we find when meeting them.-

-That's not going to be so easy. If the febes are good warriors, they're better hunters. And the forest is their territory. We don't know why they are so interested in helping us and that bothers me.- Sazh said, reading the note over Lightning shoulder. Dajh went to the place where the scabbard landed and inspected it.

-You're too silent. What do you think about this?-asked Lightning, giving the paper to Snow who hadn't said anything since the febe's arrival.

Snow studied the note and the annotations in it. He scratched his head. –We could try follow their lead for a while. Maybe we could learn why they are so interested in us. If there are problems we could fight with all we got. After all we'll be covered by the forest plants, right?-

-Hmm, I still don't understand why they're helping us. From what I could tell the female wasn't so thrilled to be here. And they're taking a huge risk for their people, isn't it? -

-Eh, sis. I think I have an idea of the reason.- added Serah, in a small voice. When everyone turned to look at her she merely pointed to a place. They followed her gaze and only saw Dajh, inspecting the small knife which was inside the scabbard.

It took Lightning a few seconds to register what she was seeing but once she did her heart skipped a beat. For the second time that day she lost her breath. But this time it wasn't an illusion. Not if everyone else was seeing it too.

In Dajh's hands there was a familiar knife. A knife which Serah gave to Lightning as a birthday present.

The same knife that she after lent to Hope.


-This is gross. So gross. Eww-

-Be silent out there!-

They were currently slithering through the city's sewer channels. It wasn't a pleasant experience. The tension, the narrow space, the humidity, the small animals which crossed their paths... And don't forget the smell. It was the perfect place for a vacation, really.

At least the escape plan was going fine. Just as the febe, Night, said, they met little to no resistance leaving their cell. They used the survival knife to break the lock. They could have melted it with fire magic but it was less suspicious this way. The guard was taken care of easily. As the febe woman pointed out their weapons were in the next room. Following the note's directions, they used the ventilation pathways to leave the building. The soldiers noticed their absence just a few seconds after they stepped outside. It seemed that they didn't think them to be able to leave unnoticed. The rest was easy. The moment they've found a sewer's entrance they managed to lose their pursuers. For the moment.

-Next turn to the right!- said Fang, who had the note. It was incredible how specific were the annotations. It was like having a map.

They kept walking a few minutes more before arriving to an exit with bars. This was the place designed for the residual water evacuation of the city. From where they were they could see a pond which lead to the start of a small stream.

-I guess this is the last obstacle for our freedom.- And then Fang proceeded to kick the bars and break them. Now there was enough space to pass.

All of them jumped and followed the little stream until they found the concealed pond the note talked about. It was located among very tall grass and bushes, far enough from the city to not be searched until a couple of days have passed. At least the water was clear enough to wash themselves. They decided to spend the night there and met the febes the day after tomorrow. It was obvious thanks to the knife that they were the ones who knew about Hope's whereabouts. They didn't have another option than to trust them.

The whole group were unable to rest. All of them wondering about their future. In special Lightning, who felt how close to her objective she was. With luck, in a matter of a few days they'll be reunited with Hope. And maybe then they'll be able to return home.


It was midday and a soft breeze caressed the innocent leaves, who danced slowly with it. A small and cute squirrel was approaching its favorite fruit. The fruit had such flashy colors and smelled so sweet that it was irresistible. The squirrel started to nibble it when a big leave squashed it. A couple of greenish tentacles took the small corpse and inserted it inside the "mouth" of the plant. Only the blood stains on the plant indicated what had just happened.

-Lovely-

Lightning couldn't help to comment as she watched the spectacle. This Kabul forest was a bizarre place. They've arrived a couple of hours ago and they learnt really fast to not touch anything. Everywhere they looked something was eating something! They were surrounded by predators. Luckily for them for now all of them were plants, but they had the feeling that the more they penetrate the forest the more dangerous it would be.

The note didn't say anything about a time to meet so they didn't have other choice than to wait for their guides. They talked about it in these two days and agreed that it was most likely that the febe will lead them to their home, the febe's, where it was possible that Hope was.

Suddenly, Lightning felt a presence close to them. Fang and Snow seemed to notice it too, because they started to search for it among the plants.

-Well, at least you are aware of your surroundings.- a deep voice greeted them. A tall figure followed it, and a couple of seconds after it, a pair of smaller ones. The febes were there.

-Look there, they've managed to escape and to reach this place with all of their limbs.- exclaimed the female one. It was clear that she didn't like them so it was even more confusing why they were so interested in helping them to find Hope.

The tallest made a sign with his hand and the woman quieted down. Lightning seized that moment to show them her survival knife.

-Do you know the previous owner, right?- she asked, but none of them answered or even moved.- Tell us! Do you know the boy who had it? He's like this – she said, indicating his height- with silver hair and yellow clothes. He's around fourteen and he's called Hope.- she was rambling, she knew it, but she was so close. They had the information she needed and it was so frustrating that they weren't talking.

Once again, the tallest took the initiative and started talking.

-We can't talk about our village or its people.-

-You can't or you won't-

-We aren't allowed. In order to protect ourselves we are unable to disclose any information about us.-

-There has to be a way! Hope is our friend and we can't just leave it if we find a hint of his location.- she exclaimed, waving the knife in front of them.

The febe who gave them the note came closer.

-We can't say anything about our village or the people who live there. But we can bring guests.- their faces would probably be telling how hopeful they were after hearing that, because he rushed to add more.- We can bring guests, but the permission to stay in our village depends on Feither.-

-Feither?- asked Vanille, who decided to join in the conversation now that it wasn't so tense.- Who's Feither?-

-Our leader. He's the village head and he'll decide what to do with you. We should move on. It's better if we reach the red clearing before nightfall.- said the woman who started walking ahead of them.

-You should follow her. I will be on the center of the group. Midnight, you will be in charge of the rear.- instructed the big guy.- From now on you are our responsibility until we reach the village. If you want to stay alive you must listen to us.-

-Sure! Thank you for helping us!- chirped Vanille.- My name's Vanille, and these are Fang, Sazh and his son Dajh, Snow, Serah and Lightning. Nice to meet you!-

-You're way to excited to be in such a dangerous place. You're aware of the fame of this forest, are you not?-

-Yes, but you are protecting us, right? And you're experts of this place.-

-Be quiet girl. We don't want to get noticed by the beasts of the forest.- chided the girl at the front.

That silenced Vanille, who pouted. Fang nudged her kindly to appease her. They kept walking for a few hours, avoiding dangerous zones and a diversity of wild life. Ironically enough most of them were plants. The girl at the front didn't make easy for them, navigating the forest at a fast pace. If they were normal people they would have lost her a long time ago.

The forest was beautiful, with enormous plants which created a weird kind of natural labyrinth. A lot of times they were forced to take a detour in order to avoid a seemingly innocent area. But if the febes wanted to avoid a place it was better to do it. They were the one who knew the place so…

A whistle from behind alerted them of a danger. The three febes drew their weapons, a sword with two curved blades, one longer and thinner than the other, that looked a little like a crab claw. They directed them silently to some bluish bushes which were near. All of them crouched and waited. For a moment nothing happened. Snow started to open his mouth to ask but the one called Midnight covered it with his free hand, still looking at the forest. Lightning noticed that none of the febes lowered their weapons even if nothing was happening.

Suddenly, three small animals appeared from the foliage, running at great speed. The weird thing was that the febes only got tenser once the animals passed. The grip on their weapons tightened. A soft sliding sound reached their ears and that was the only warning they had before a gigantic lizard showed its face. It had a reddish color, and three pairs of eyes, that looked everywhere independently of the others. It had long fangs and discolored claws. It seemed to be searching for its prey, sniffing the air.

The beast looked their way and started to approach the place where they were hiding. Lightning and the others could felt sweat forming on their foreheads, and their hands getting clammy. The beating of their hearts was loud in their ears. It was the first time in a long time in which she felt that kind of fear. The fear of being prey instead of predator. She was always confident in her skills, but this was an unknown creature, dangerous enough that the experts were wary of it, and this time she didn't have the full potency of her l'cie powers to back her up and had to protect at the same time both Serah and Dajh. Unlike before, now they had in their group people who can't defend themselves.

The beast was getting closer when Midnight took something from his bag, lowered the cloth that covered his mouth and blew. A glittering dust covered them. The effect was instantaneous. The gigantic lizard started to sneeze and to rub its nose in the ground. Its erratic and spastic movements indicated that it was in pain. As suddenly as it appeared it fled from where they were.

The forest was calm once again so they left their hiding place.

-Dude, if you had a beast repellent why didn't you used it before?-asked Snow, whose knees were still trembling a little, even if he didn't want to acknowledge it.

-Because he shouldn't be so stupid. What were you thinking using the biting dust?- nagged the woman, who whacked him on his head. Midnight, on his part, just kept his hand on his mouth. Now that he had lowered the cloth from his mouth they could see a little of his pale skin.- Did the dust touched any of you?- asked the girl. All of them moved their heads in negative.- Of course not. Blackrock, I'm taking this idiot to the closest water stream. You lead them to the red clearing, it's close so you shouldn't find any problem. Don't worry about wood or food, we'll bring it.-

Both of them disappeared quickly.

-What's the problem? What happened?-

Blackrock just looked at them before he started to walk again.

-Come on, we need to reach the red clearing. Is too dangerous to stay still in the same place.- seeing that they didn't react he added.-I'll explain as much as I can once we are in a safe place.

With no other option, they followed Blackrock in an awkward silence until they arrived to a small clearing full of red flowers and brownish grass. It made honor of its name.

Blackrock sat down and they followed his example, staring at him expectantly. He remained silent.

-Aren't you going to start explaining what happened?- asked Sazh.

-I'm not the one who wants to talk. If you want to know something ask, and I'll answer if I think I should do it.-

Wow, another one who made honor if his name. A rock, huh?

-Ok, first of all, what was that biting dust and why was the febe woman so alarmed?-

-The biting dust is a powder incredibly irritating. We used it to repel beast that have sensitive noses.-

-Then, what was the problem?-

-We normally throw it to our enemies, not blow it because it's impossible to avoid inhaling some of it. I guess that Midnight is suffering right now due to his reckless behavior.-

So that was why the woman was so annoyed. His companion hurt himself trying to protect them, and seeing how much she liked their company…

-Why are you covered from head to toe?- asked Dajh. All of them were curious, but none of them dared to ask.

Blackrock stayed in silence for a while. They didn't know if he wasn't going to answer of he was just thinking about how to respond.

-I guess I can tell you about it. After all once we arrive to the village you'll receive the cleanse.- started Blackrock. They didn't know if they liked how cleanse sounded, but they'll ask afterwards.- Phartonn is the name of our village. We've stayed isolated from the rest of the world for years, centuries, millenniums… it doesn't matter. When our predecessors started to interact with people from the "outside" the problems started. Our people suffered from unknown diseases and started to die. We learnt that, due to our isolation, we were vulnerable to the outsider's usual sickness. In order to avoid it, every time that an explorer leaves the forest, we cover ourselves. Explorer's clothes are specially made to be resistant and impermeable. Any spore, parasite or other illness's vector will be attached to our clothes instead of our bodies. Once we reach the village, we'll be cleansed, in other words, we'll be cleaned of any dirt we could bring to the village. And all of you too.-

-We too!?-

-Of course. If you want to come in contact with the villagers you'll need to be cleaned. You're currently a risk to our people and you'll do everything we ask of you if you want to see your "lost friend" again.- said Blackrock, with his deep and monotonous voice.

-So it's true that Hope is in the febe's village!- exclaimed Lightning. Blackrock didn't react nor elaborated more, but she didn't mind. He gave enough information to hope for the best once they arrived at the village.

-Don't call us febe. That's the way the outsiders call us and we don't like outsiders.- said the female febe, or whatever they want to be called. Both Midnight and she returned with wood and some fruits as big as a pig, the first once again covered completely.

-What should we call you then?-

-We're explorers. Our black clothes said as much and is a honor to wear them.- she explained pompously.

-But you can call us Blackrock, Midnight and Shion. It's better than "explorer one, two and three"- said Midnight with humor.

-But what are you called? All of you, I mean. I don't think the whole lot of the villagers are called explorers, right?- insisted Vanille. Now that they were talking they have to take the chance.

-Only a few of us are skilled enough to be explorers.-answered Shion with fervor.- All of us have a name, use it. But if you're asking about how the people who live inside the forest are called, then the name is phartenni.-

-Phartenni? Then there's no relation with the name of the forest. And why are you called febe then?-

-We aren't the most suitable to tell you about this. Feither will be able to answer those kind of questions. He or Kal are the ones who know the best about our history and origins. Although I can tell where the word febe comes from. A long time ago, some outsider idiot who was given the honor of meeting the Feither of that era thought that "feither" was how we were called. They didn't only mistook a name from a title, but they mispronounced it so the name that the head of the village receives became the distorted name that the outsiders use to design us.-

-Why don't you correct them?-

-Please. It's a constant reminder of their idiocy and less than satisfactory knowledge of us. Letting them call us febe is our own way to mock them.-

-How rude. How do they feel when they learn that you've been making a fool of them all that time?-

-That's the thing, cutie. Nobody ask. They don't care. You are the first to ask about it in a decade.-

That was surprising. The febe, not, the phartenni are considered the most dangerous warriors of this world, and with reason, yet nobody made the effort to know them? Why not? Wouldn't that help in the development of the relationship between the different cities and cultures? It was so weird… Maybe once they met the Feither he'll be able to answer those questions. And how the hell did "feither" changed into "febe"? They didn't sound alike at all!

-It's better if we eat and then sleep. If we want to reach Phartonn tomorrow we need to travel faster.- said Midnight, who spent all the time that Shion was talking in preparing the fruits they brought for dinner.

-Do we need to take turns to keep watch?- asked Snow while he ate. The fruit was really tasty, so tender and sweet. It was the first time that they had tasted that kind of flavor in a mere fruit.

-It won't be necessary. This is the safest place inside the forest. Do you see those red flowers that are all around us? They are poisonous to most of the animals here so they tend to avoid these clearings. They'll be dangerous for us humans too if we stay too much time here, but just a night is fine. When we reach the village tomorrow you'll be cleansed so there'll be no remains of the flowers pollen on your clothes. Don't worry.-

No wonder that only phartenni survived in this forest. Everything was a dead trap and, unless you know the area, everything here can kill you in a way or another.

Knowing that they were safe from wild beasts' attacks because they were resting in a mortal field, they went to sleep. Or tried to.

The next morning they were up before the sun had completely risen. This time they travelled faster, following all the indications the phartenni told them. It was obvious that they wanted to arrive to the village and were in a hurry. How long has been since they left? Maybe weeks, or even months. They couldn't fault them for being anxious to return home.

If Lightning was honest, she was anxious too. Phartonn had the clues of Hope's whereabouts. With luck, Hope will be there, waiting for them.

A couple of hours after they stopped to eat lunch they reached a beautiful valley. Among all of that dangerous and gigantic flora, a picturesque landscape was hidden from view. A lot of small streams merged with the clear water from cascades that surged from within the walls of the valley, made of rock and vegetation. Below them they could see parts of the current of the river, with some houses built alongside it. The height of the trees concealed the real size of the village, so they couldn't measure it.

-Come on, we're almost there!- exclaimed Shion, whose tone of voice was the happier they've heard from her.

Lightning and company couldn't avoid feeling nervous. They were in the middle of a death trap, also called forest, and their lives relied on the desire of some suspicious people to help them. The odds weren't really with them, but it was a necessity if they wanted their group to be whole once again.

-Don't worry, everything will be fine.- assured them Midnight. They were lucky to have him in the group of phartenii who found them. He have been very helpful all this time, or as helpful as one of them could be. They started to follow the other two and descended from where they were to reach the ground where the village was. As always, Midnight was the last one.- I have your back.- he said to Lightning before she started to walk.

Something in her stirred. It was as if it was something that she had forgotten and was trying to remember but was unable to. Why she had been filled so suddenly by a nostalgic feeling?

She was still a little confused when they finally saw the entrance of the village. Tall wooden walls met them. A group of phartenni was waiting for them, but this time they wore white clothes. Actually, they didn't look much different than the kids who dressed themselves as ghosts.

-They are the cleansers.- explained Midnight who saluted them with a weird movement of his hand and a nod. The cleansers saluted back.

-We've been waiting eagerly for your arrival.- one of them said. It was a woman's voice.- The rest will be so happy to know that all of you are uninjured. Because none of you have and injury, right?-

-Midnight inhaled biting dust!- informed happily Shion

-Shion! You traitor!- exclaimed Midnight. It was interesting to see them so relaxed in comparison of how they were behaving just a minutes before.

-Don't worry, we'll be especially persistent in you cleansing, Midnight.- a shudder travelled his body.-And who could they be?.- asked the woman, who was now looking at Lightning's group.

Shion started to talk to them in a strange dialect. They couldn't understand anything of the conversation that was happening before them.

-Don't worry, she's only informing her of the reason of your presence here. Usually guests were brought to the village by the Feither's orders, not the other way around, so he needs to be alerted of you and your circumstances. You'll be cleansed first, because nobody can enter the village without that process. Then you'll meet the Feither and you'll have your chance to explain yourselves. Be as respectful as you can and do everything that they say and you won't have a problem.- assured them Midnight. Both Shion and Blackrock had already disappeared with some cleansers. Another group was waiting for them.

-You won't come with us?- asked Serah. If they thought about the way the phartenni reacted to them, only one out of three was kind to them. What if the next one was like Shion, so clearly hostile?

-I'll meet with you as soon as possible. Don't worry, nobody here is your enemy. At the moment.- and with those words, he too left.

A group of cleansers led them to some kind of big tents, separating them by gender. Before entering the tent, Fang grabbed Lightning's arm.

-Fang, what's..?-

-Look there!- she exclaimed, pointing to the far distance.

All the girls looked in that direction. Between the foliage, at the distance, there was a small lake with glittering water. But no, Fang wouldn't alerted them of something as trivial as that. Lightning focused her gaze on the shining lights that rose from the water surface. They weren't floating lights but the reflection of the light on small columns of crystal.

A very familiar type of crystal.