I sat frowning into the small fire that tried vainly to warm us all. I rubbed my arms, feeling goosebumps all over me. That blonde girl had my cloak over her and she was right next to the flames. I flicked a small spark into the bonfire and it grew slightly in size, still not enough to warm six people though. Furrowing my brow I looked at the skies, the Mist acting as a thick grey ceiling for us.

"What happens now?" I asked Zid, who fumbled around with the map Blank gave us carelessly. He heaved a sigh before stuffing the map into his bag.

"Wait for those two to wake up," He answered with a shrug of his shoulders. "The map says that there's a cavern which will lead us out the basin so I guess we'll head there."

"Absurd!" Steiner exclaimed, rudely entering our conversation. "We will return to Alexandria as soon as the Princess recovers! I will not allow you scoundrals to take her any further from the castle!" Zidane stood up and folded his hands over his chest, staring defiantly at the knight.

"Well Rusty, how do you propose we do that when the North and South Gates have been shut?" He asked. "Apart from this cavern those are the only two exits from the basin and we'd just love to see you clamber up the cliffsides to get out of here." Steiner remained silent, aware he couldn't win the arguement.

"Not to mention that Princess there left the castle of her own accord," I added in after a few moments. "Bit ironic if you ask me."

"Got a point there Twitch," Zidane nodded, sitting down again by the fire. I looked over to Vivi, the little guy was exhausted and was asleep. The Princess and the other girl had yet to wake up but hopefully later on they would.

"T-the two of you!" Steiner seemed quite shocked at our statement. "The Mist has clearly went to your heads, Princess Garnet would never wish to escape the castle!"

"Ask her yourself when she wakes up," Zidane shrugged and lay on his back. "We'll just sleep for now, pass the time I guess," He then looked over to Steiner. "Yo Rusty, keep watch will you?"

"I do not take orders from a thief!"

"Then obey your orders as a knight and keep watch for the Princess," I countered, lying on my back and staring at the Mist above. So peaceful looking, what a great facade it is. It appears to be so calm and soothing yet it not only spawns horrendous monsters it twists the minds of those caught within its web and turns them into its slaves for all eternity, til death do you part.

So romantic...

Looking up at that thick grey blanet made me think of Lindblum and the skies there. They were incredibly clear some nights and Zid and I would go out on those nights and stare at the sky, talking about other worlds and about how we would steal a diamond as bright as the stars themselves. Too bad we haven't seen a diamond as bright as that yet.

Unless you count that artifact in the church... but that's no diamond.

"Ghost! Leave her alone! Leave her alone!"

I woke up in a cold sweat, even colder in the January air which could have possibly made the globules of sweat freeze if it were any colder. I breathed in and out deeply, clenching my hands and trying to calm myself, surpressing the memories the dreams held. Fuck I wish they'd go away.

"Damn Ghost pull yourself together..." I mumbled. Everyone else was still sleeping and from the colour of the Princess it looked like she was recovering quite well. As for that other girl...

"Um, well one of you is awake now," The girl was standing barefoot, her heels resting by a rock as she wrapped my cloak around her. "I didn't wake you did I? Where are we anyway?"

"You didn't and outside the Evil Forest," I answered. Her green eyes wandered down to the ground and her lips curl into a frown.

"Oh... I was right then," She sighed, sitting down and crossing her legs. We sat in silence as the girl ran her fingers through her platinum blonde hair, stopping to pull out a twig and examining it before tossing it over her shoulder.

"You don't look dressed to take on the terrors of Evil Forest," I stated with a raised eyebrow, making the girl laugh casually.

"Trust me I have no idea how I got there myself," She answered, twirling her hair around her finger.

"Well at least we found you," I told her. "I mean if you had stayed there any longer you'd be dead."

"Comforting," She deadpanned before outstretching her hand. "I'm Lilith. Lilith Amadeus Clark, or Lily for short." I took her hand and shook her.

"Ghost Kismet Confleo... or Twitch," I twitched at that point then pointed to my eye with my free hand. "That's the reason, you'll get used to it I'm sure everyone else has." Lilith nodded slowly and pulled her hand back.

"Uh-huh," She took off my cloak and handed it to me. "Here you look cold I'll be fine," I took my cloak back and wore it. "So... how did you guys get here?"

"Well my brother Zidane and I," I pointed to the sleeping thief. "And our group Tantalus were meant to kidnap Princess Garnet here but Rust-a-lot over there got on our tails and now Alezandria wants our heads for kidnapping the Princess and Vivi just got dragged into this by accident." Lilith gave a nod in response before rubbing her arms.

She looked around in silence, allowing me to study her. Her eyes were incredibly green, like brilliant emerald gems and her platinum hair seemed natural. She looked like someone though, as though I had seen her face in a picture book or a portrait before. Her powder blue dress was torn up and dirty and those heels would be impractical for her to travel in. They must have caused her pain to walk around in if she's already taken them off. The earrings she wore were curious, those snowdrop earrings of white gold. Lilith Amadeus Clark seemed to be quite curious about the world around her. Probably a city girl who's never ventured away before and the one time she does she gets into serious trouble.

"Any meadowsweet nearby? My abdomen is killing me," She asked, hand on her pained stomach. I raised my eyebrow at her request. How would she know about meadowsweet? Instead I handed her a potion instead.

"Maybe this will help," I said. Lilith drank the liquid disdainfully, finding it unpleasant but meadowsweet oil wasn't exactly chocolate cake. She was an incredibly remarkable being and I was curious. "Why meadowsweet? It grows around Lindblum sure but probably not in the Mist."

"Good pain relief," She replied, looking at me strangely. "What's with the face?" Before I could continue questioning my brother jumped onto my back and pinned me down on my stomach. I bent my leg and kicked his shoulder before wrapping both of my ankles around her neck and pulling him down.

"Ahhh Twitch you win you win!" He exclaimed. I let him go and he stood up, rubbing his neck. "Why do you have to be so stretchy?"

"I'm flexible because it's useful in both the performing and thieving worlds," I answered. Zidane then walked away to the stone forest. Sighing I got up and followed him. We both stared at the stone. Zid frowned at the forest and I put my hand on his shoulder. "Hey we'll get him out, he didn't do this in vain."

We heard footsteps as both Lilith and Garnet approached us. Princess looked quite refreshed and a lot better than before. The two of them stared along with us in silence before the Princess spoke.

"Vivi had told me that your friend is the reason we were able to escape," She said.

"His name is Blank," Zidane replied a little coldly.

"Well we can get him out," Lilith chimed optimistically. "I'm sure that if we can find a Supersoft somewhere." We looked at her and she gave a shrug. "Hey it's a suggestion. Now let's go I really don't want to be here when the Misty monsters arrive."