Well here we are, the final chapter! I was beginning to wonder if I was ever going to reach the end, or at least a suitable place to end it.
For those of you wanting to hear the rest of Cloud's story after this part is over, you can find it in my other story Pouring Rain. And while I strongly suggest reading the previous chapters to better understand what is going on, you also have the option of jumping directly into the portion of the story where Cloud appears once more, and for that you would want to start with Chapter 22.
And I will say this for my guest reviewer Null: I can't say too much without giving things away, but I will say that yes, the ending will be much happier in Pouring Rain than it is here. It might take a few chapters, but it will be there.
Thank you again to all of my wonderful reviewers and readers, honestly if it wasn't for your amazing support I don't know if I ever would have actually written this story, or even finished it. So thank you very much for the motivation to keep on writing.
And now without further nonsense from me, I present to you the last chapter of Like Footprints in the Snow.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything besides the plot line.
Warning: Potential for tears
Chapter 10
Nearly two weeks later, Cloud is released from the medical ward. As he is escorted back towards the room he has come to fear, he is lead past it and instead, steered towards the room that his cubs used to be in. When his escort stops outside of the room and gestures for Cloud to enter, he does but with much trepidation.
When the door fully opens, it reveals that the room itself has changed very much, but the most welcoming site is held within. Fai is sitting in a chair holding a sleeping kitten while two others sleep nearby, nestled between three snow leopard neko cubs. The five of them are sound asleep in one little pile, but they don't seem to care if they are by their siblings or not.
Cloud steps in, feeling as though he is imposing on the sight. Fai looks up and gives him a bright smile. He stands and carefully sets the kitten from his arms in with the others before making his way over to Cloud. The two embrace, but it is brief, for Cloud still shows clear signs of past wounds.
Fai settles for holding one of Cloud's hands and steering him over to the crib now holding six various cubs and kittens. He takes a moment to caress each of his litter before picking the first one up.
Her tufts of dark auburn hair stand out in sharp contrast to the white blanket she is wrapped in. "This on is Kairi. So far she seems to be a little spitfire, but nothing that will be too serious. After all, even now she seems to be fiercely attached to her siblings." He sets Kairi down and gently picks up a second kitten.
"This one is Namine. I can already tell that she's going to be too much like me for her own good. But at least we'll know where she gets it from." Fai gives a bit of a lopsided grin as sets her back in with the others.
The third wakes up when he begins to lift her out from the others. She squirms a bit, but remains silent. "Now this one I made sure had to come out just perfect. After all, I always told Kuro-poo that he needs a daughter just like him. That way the two of them can butt heads all they want. I'm proud to say that Xion should be able to do just that." His grin grows wider with the thought.
As Fai sets Xion back into the mess of kittens, Cloud looks at his own litter. Seeing the three of them sleeping peacefully, with small smiles on their faces brings a sense of relief. He had feared that they would end up being changed somehow because of being awake during that night. But it seems to him that maybe they really are to young to remember, and for that he is grateful.
Fai sees his troubled look and carefully steers him over to a small table and two chairs that have been set up across the room. Cloud takes his seat and is quick to burry his head in his hands. The emotions and memories sweeping through him threaten to overwhelm him.
"You know, you don't have to hold everything in."
Cloud looks up, expecting to see some sort of judgment on Fai's face. Some type of indicator that he is disgusted with Cloud, and wants nothing more to do with him. After all, who could stand to be around someone who has lost all respect for themself.
He looks down again, muttering to himself. "But if I don't hold everything in, then what else do I have?"
A hand takes a gentle hold on his shoulder and gives him a slight shake. "You have everything else. All the good that won't hold you back any longer."
"But what if there's more bad than good?"
"Then you simply have to find more good." The hand falls away, and instead, it gently lifts Cloud's teary eyes to face Fai's sympathetic ones. "But only if you want to find it. It's all up to you. But if you'd like, I'd be more than willing to help. And I know that Kadaj, Yazoo, Loz, Kairi, Namine, Xion, and even Kurogane are willing to help. But only if you'll let us."
The tears spring free as Fai's words hit deeper than he would ever know. With so much bad built up for such a long time, to have someone offer to help, instead of just force their own version of help upon him is something that he can hardly fathom. With so many emotions and possibilities before him, Cloud feels even more confused than before.
Fai let's him cry all that he needs to, and when the tears slow, and Cloud has let the mental exhaustion take over, Cloud finally finds his first peaceful rest in longer than he could care to remember.
When Cloud wakes again, he finds a heavy wiggling weight on his chest. Or more like three wiggling weights to be exact. He opens his eyes to find all three of his cubs lying on top of him. The sight of them all there, and all smiling in their own ways brings a small amount of joy and hope to him.
Cloud turns his head and sees Fai across the room, quietly feeding his girls. Cloud turn away, and takes one last look at his own litter.
"Fai, I don't want to be weak anymore." He pauses trying to articulate his emotions. "I want to be able to defend myself and my cubs. After all, what kind of parent would I be if I can't even do that."
….
Epilogue
In the months that follow, Fai and occasionally Kurogane work together to help train Cloud to be able to defend himself and his litter. They do not progress very quickly for Cloud has his own self esteem issues that he works through, plus the addition of still caring for growing cubs proves to be its own special challenge. Especially after Cloud discovers shortly after beginning his training, that he is carrying another litter.
Almost exactly a year after that, Cloud finds himself back in the medical wing, but this time he is holding a newborn cub his arms. A small boy with little spotted perky ears that he names Riku.
Throughout that whole year, Cloud does not encounter Sephiroth again, though the underlying fear of running into him is a constant. And after Riku is born, that fear escalates.
A month after delivering his cub, Cloud is led out of his new small room near the nursery area, and into a new room. This room contains only two things, a bed and Sephiroth. Cloud knows why he his here, he knows that his heat will begin again at any moment, and those involved with the Breeding Program desire for him to have even more cubs.
That night begins the same as many others that follow. The two are brought to a room with a bed and nothing else besides themselves. Normally Sephiroth is the first to make a move, normally something intended to be nonthreatening, but to Cloud, none of his movements can ever truly be unthreatening again.
Most of these encounters become mostly a heated exchange of sharp words, but every so often, they will accomplish what they were sent to do. Though very rarely does either party leave with anything resolved or changed. Cloud, not being able to forgive Sephiroth for all of his actions, and not being able to forgive himself for not trying harder and standing firm in the past.
About a year after Riku was born, Fai and Kurogane are blessed with another litter. This one containing four boys, three of which prove to be Bearers, something that has never been seen or heard of before. This quickly leads to all sorts of tests and observations on both Fai and Cloud, for people try to see what made the difference, and to see if they can replicate it.
This ends up drawing the attention of a group known as the Noah. And after much deliberation and 'generous donations,' things change drastically around the Breeding Program. The experiments cease, new and better living space is given to the nekos, and all of the nekos are allowed to interact with each other throughout the day, not just every few days.
This of course means that Sephiroth is included in this; however, it is clear by the behavior of the three older nekos that he is not wanted. But they do not make the decisions, and for better or worse, Kadaj, Loz, and Yazoo all seem to have taking a liking to their sire, much to Cloud's dismay.
But for all of the changes, both good and bad, things remain fairly predicable and all of the nekos are able to live in some semblance of harmony. Fai and Kurogane with their seven kittens, Kairi, Namine, Xion, Vanitas, Ventus, Sora, and Roxas get along very well, even if there is squabbling amongst the siblings. Cloud with his smaller batch of cubs, Loz, Kadaj, Yazoo, and Riku get along well enough, but soon it is clear to see that for the older cubs, Sephiroth holds a great amount of influence over them.
….
As the next few years pass, things begin to reach a level of existence where nothing really changes, and life becomes fairly predicable. However, that all changes one day when a new doctor pulls Fai and Cloud aside. With her tightly pulled back dark blond hair, grayish completion, and fiery golden eyes, they can tell that she means business.
As they sit expecting to be told that something very bad is about to happen, she hands them each a photo. In the photo is a young male neko with white hair, silvery eyes, pale skin, and a small red mark across his right eye, a small pentacle resides just above his eyebrow. For a neko that appears to be so young to already have a mark signifying a first heat rattles them both. But even more disturbing for them, is the fact that his small white ears are still tightly folded, signifying that he is a Bearer like them.
Lulubell opens her mouth to finally speak directly to the two of them. "This young neko will be arriving here soon. He has already had a bit of trouble, and has not been around many other nekos, especially other Bearers. We want you to treat him well and help him adjust when he arrives."
Cloud looks at the picture once more before looking up at the Noah doctor. "If you expect us to do all of this for him, can we at least get a name?"
"His name is Allen Walker."
Well there you have it. It's all done. No more chapters here.
Well no more chapters here unless you go and read the rest of the story in Pouring Rain.
Once again thank you to everyone who read this and gave me that support, you are all truly amazing, and I hope to hear from you again.
Now, for one last time, please remember to support your local author by leaving a comment, question, or review below.