"Okay, bit further, Cloud." Zack paused, hefted Cloud up a little more, keeping hold of his wrist across his shoulders to keep him upright. Enhanced strength and endurance could only get him so far. Weeks with less sleep, less food and under constant fear of discovery and attack sapped his resolve. Too early to stop; not enough miles between their starting point yet, but- Over this next hill and they would stop for a time.
Beside him, Cloud stumbled forward, capable of something like walking. At least the terrain was easy to navigate; earlier treks through wooded areas a nightmare. Cloud's steps blundered into tree root after tree root, the hang up enough to make Zack stumble multiple times. Frustrating, but little he could do. Cloud needed help – no way to leave him behind now – getting angry at him would solve nothing.
"At least the weather's good." Cloud swallowed, Zack's heart skipped a beat. And nothing. His companion's head lolled again. Still no progress with fighting off the Mako sickness. The weather was (at least) good. Rain and wind remained utterly demoralising and the whole effort felt increasingly futile when he searched miserably for a place to shelter. Would it be so bad to give in and go back? Yes. Assuming they were not executed on the spot, there was no outcome imaginable that did not lead – one way or another – back to Hojo.
Another step; the top of the hill and the valley beyond spread out. "Look, Cloud. Sunflowers."
Perhaps it was farmland? No buildings in sight (a shame; barns the best outcome offering both shelter and a shot at warmth), though maybe they were one valley over. At the bottom of the valley was a vast field of sunflowers. And behind was a distant whirl of rotor blades. Fight back the panic; no rash decisions. Not now, not after coming so far. "Just need to turn around, Cloud."
Shuffling feet. Nothing in the sky visible. Not yet. No troops on the plains either. "Okay, Cloud. We need to walk a bit faster." First priority; get off the high ground. No looking back. Onto the downward slope, agonising moments when moving only as fast as Cloud could manage. Urge to look back, to see how close pursuit was. No time. Hope for the best, count on not having noticed them, not looking in their direction.
Must be far enough down the slope now, the sunflowers closer. And still the rotor blades at their backs. "Okay, Cloud. I think we're going to see the sunflowers. Close up."
The helicopter louder and louder, both of them shuffling closer and closer to the outer edge of the flower field. Holding his breath now. Passing by the first few free-standing flowers. Too obvious like this; the purple of their uniforms would stand out. He pressed in deeper and deeper, flowers slapping against Cloud as they brushed past them.
Helicopter so loud now. Not far in, but- Would they see movement in the rows of flowers? Zack crouched and lay Cloud back against the ground. Too risky to brace him against the flowers and cause a more obvious hole from above. Up above the helicopter loomed. Too high to send down anyone, but low enough to see them. Zack forced his gaze down to the ground, sliding the Buster Sword from his back and arranging his bag across most of the blade. Mako eyes might be all too visible in the gloom beneath the flowers.
Cloud. He was staring straight up; the noise of the helicopter drawing his attention. "Sorry, Cloud." Zack put his hand across his companion's eyes. Nothing to do now but wait and hope.
Time passed with glacial slowness, the helicopter a persistent nuisance. Stomach lurching on the moments it seemed to draw closer, the whirling blades so nearby. No respite when it moved further away; too soon to conclude they were leaving. Did the sound of the rotor blades mask anything else? Blue-uniformed troops marching along each rank of the flower field; nowhere to hide. Nowhere to run except forward – and then they would have them.
He could handle a few with surprise attacks. Possibly avoid a good number with his reflexes. But he felt tired, he was hungry and if there was too many, a lucky shot would inevitably catch him.
After aeons, the helicopter withdrew and heavy breathing filled the air. Zack held his breath. The sound stopped. Almost funny. He remained in place, waiting for the crash of someone else entering the field. For the heat of flames as the field was burnt to flush them out. Nothing. They might yet be safe. At some point the sky clouded over; now rain dripped onto Zack. He cursed. "Okay Cloud. Going to need to get moving again sorry. Looks like rain."