Phase 7: Chicks man...


A three year old Cloud sat in his front yard, doing what most boys at the age of five do in the heat of the summer – collect bugs. It was ritualistic, Cloud would first rid his ant home of the old ants and their dirt in side his house then journey outside to find new ones. But today was a bit different, as he sat in the grass, he wasn't looking at the ants or their hill but at the house next door. He had known for some time he was getting new neighbors. The last couple that lived that didn't have any kids, and acted to old for their age, but to Cloud anyone over ten was old.

He immediately noticed this couple had something the other didn't – a son. The boy had spike black hair and kept running in and out of the house while the movers attempted to bring furniture and boxes inside. This went on for just a few minutes till the boys mother snatched him up by the ear, scolding him from getting in the way and telling him to play outside. The boy pouted turning away from his mother as she walked back inside. The boys eyes landed on Cloud, the three year old looked away turning back to his ant hunt.

"Hey!" The boy walked over leaning down to look at Cloud. "What ya doin!"

Cloud looked up, but didn't answer. The boy frowned, " Are you mute?"

"N-no...momma says not ta talk to stranglers." The boy raised an onyx eyebrow.

"Strangers. My name is Zack, and I am this old." Zack held up one hand, pointing at all five fingers, " I'm not a stranger now see." Cloud frowned a bit, he knew this kids name, was he a stranger any longer?. I guess...

"I'm Cloud." Zack smiled, then looked at the ant farm. "Hey want to go check out some chicks!"

Zack nodded excitedly, "Sure!"

Cloud jumped up, waving Zack to follow him to the back yard where a mother Chocobo stood the cheeps of her babies emitting from a coop. The two young boys peered into the coop looking at the fluffy babies. Both boys giggled as the little chocobo chicks cheeped, warbled, warked and rushed away from the eager hands. Zack looked at his new friend in proclaimed for the world to hear, "I like chicks!"


:) Just a little bit of their background, this was essentually when they first meet in the KH world as kids. Zack is two years older than Cloud. They both like chicks...sometimes the same one...yea.