Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy 7. The Characters, world and products from Final Fantasy 7 belong to Square-Enix. This fan fiction is written purely for the express purpose of enjoyment and my love of this world and of writing. I make no monetary profit from this story.

Chapter 14: The Unexpected

Aerith's fears had not been unfounded. Several days had passed since that night by the fire. Just as she had feared, Cloud's attitude had digressed. He became increasingly belligerent to both she and Tifa. While she fought back against his negativity with optimism and kind words, his attitude was having an opposite effect on the martial artist.

Tifa grew more cold towards him and they were beginning to fall into arguments about the smallest things. And the training was even worse. Tifa was reluctant at best to train with her. Aerith didn't know why that was, especially considering she sensed a great deal of residual synergy within the martial artist. What made matters worse was that, almost every day, the raven haired woman would find an excuse to leave their group; whether it be to gather firewood or to retrieve fresh water or some other excuse. And every time, she would return tired, with bruised knuckles, as if she had been training on her own.

And Cloud was a chore in and of itself. She struggled to encourage him to bond with his Guardian Spirit. But the blond man only wanted to force his Guardian Spirit's power to manifest. The Spirit must have taken notice because all he could ever produce was that same small spark of lightning that never grew beyond his fist.

Fortunately, one bright spot in the journey was that her relationship with Tifa began to grow. Whatever misgivings the raven-haired woman may have had before, they were either forgotten or overlooked. Often times, they would have long conversations, sometimes about what lies ahead and other times, simply about the past. Aerith was pleasantly surprised to discover Tifa was an easy listener and someone she felt increasingly comfortable spending her time with. And while she was always curious of what her companion did when she wandered off every day, she didn't want to push their blooming relationship, and so she never asked.

The sun was just beginning to set on the eighth day of their journey and Aerith could feel her muscles straining against a full day of traveling. She was walking alongside Tifa while Cloud brought up the rear. That was the usual order these days as the blond didn't want to walk alongside his childhood friend and Tifa didn't feel inclined to look at him either.

"I think we've made enough progress for one day," she spoke up, rubbing her shoulder, just beneath where her staff was pinching her in the back.

"Yeah, okay," Tifa nodded, looking up. "It's starting to get dark anyway. No sense in us stumbling around at night."

"Can't we go a little further?"

Cloud, once again was impossible. Aerith shook her head silently before wearing a smile and turning towards their companion. "No, I don't think that's a good idea."

"Why not? If we walk a bit further every day, it will help build stamina," he explained. "That will only help us in the long run."

"Here we go again," Tifa rolled her eyes.

"I don't think it's a good idea," Aerith spoke up before Cloud could respond to the martial artist comment. "because we're all tired. Even you look winded, and don't you try to deny it!"

True to her words, Cloud's shoulders were slumped and his legs moved more sluggishly. Even his eyes were more downcast. Only his pride drove him on.

"There's a difference between training and killing ourselves."

Cloud frowned but gave an indifferent shrug. "Fine. We'll start up again tomorrow then."

"Sure!" Aerith nodded with encouragement. "Maybe then we'll do some practicing." She glanced over at Tifa. "Since we're not really getting anywhere with the spiritual component of our training, perhaps I can interest the both of you in some martial training that I picked up during my days in the Kingdom."

"That sounds like a great idea!" Tifa's eyes lit up with excitement. "I've been wanting to learn some moves from you."

"Yeah," Cloud agreed. "It will be a good day!"

Aerith smiled. Finally the two of them agreed on something. "Then it's settled!" Aerith gave an enthusiastic nod and came to a stop, shrugging her backpack off from over her shoulders. "Let's stop here."

"Here?" Cloud frowned. "In the middle of the trail? Is that wise?"

"Really Cloud, what do you think is going to happen?" Tifa rolled her eyes. "We haven't seen anything aside from wild rabbit, deer and a colony of insects. I think we'll be safe on the trail for one night."

Cloud only narrowed his eyes. "You're making a mistake. Letting your guard down is the first step towards failure."

"Ugh! Again with your talk of failure!" Tifa threw up her arms. "Let it go for one day, will you!?"

"That's easy for you to say-"

"ENOUGH!" Aerith raised her voice, moving between the two of them. "We're stopping here!" She commanded. "Cloud is right. While we haven't seen anything in these past few days, we're closer to the Coral Caverns now and that puts our safety in question. We'll sleep in shifts. Tifa, you take the first watch. Cloud will take the second and I will take the third. Is that clear?"

"Fine," Cloud folded his arms.

"Yeah, sure," Tifa waved her hand dismissively and turned her back to him.

Aerith sighed. "Good. Now let's get some rest. We've got a big day ahead of us tomorrow and we'll need as much energy as possible when the sun comes out."

Cloud pulled his own pack from his shoulders and walked off into the distance to find a place to rest.

Tifa watched him go, shaking her head. "He's changed," She said softly. Her eyes were narrowed but there was a hint of compassion in her voice that caught Aerith by surprise.

"He's been through a lot," She explained while she unfurled her sleeping mat on the trail. "He's still fighting with his demons."

"He can fight with them all he wants," Tifa shrugged, pulling off her own backpack. "But somehow it's me who's getting the brunt of his attacks these days."

There was a flash of pain in her words and Aerith paused in her preparations, looking over at the woman.

Tifa was standing in the light of the fading sun, the last embers of light reflecting off her raven hair and sparkling maroon eyes. Her arms were clasped about herself and she looked like she was on the verge of tears. "We used to be friends you know?... At least, I thought so... Before this whole business in the mountains, we joked and laughed together... And now it's like none of that ever happened."

Aerith quickly picked herself up and walked over to her comrade. "He just needs time," she explained, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.

But Tifa only shook her head. "I don't know what I need to do to get through to him?" Suddenly she whirled on the auburn haired woman and her maroon eyes were shimmering with tears. "I'm not his enemy!" She gasped.

Aerith wrapped her arms around the other woman, holding her in a comforting embrace. Tifa's shoulders shook in her arms as the woman slowly began sobbing into her shoulder.

"He thinks I don't care, but I do! I feel horrible when I think about what he's going through. But he won't let me in!"

"Cloud has his own way of dealing with his grief," Aerith explained, patting Tifa's shoulder while they embraced. "It may not be the right way, but it's the only path that seems clear to him right now."

Tifa sniffled and released a shuddering breath before slowly disentangling herself from her companion. "I'm sorry Aerith. You have to deal with so much and here I am, unloading more baggage on your shoulders."

Aerith smiled and shook her head. "It's not a bother. Really!" She slowly sat on the ground, patting the spot next to her. "Come have a seat. I think we should talk about it."

Tifa hesitated but only for a moment. She uneasily sank down on the trail, sitting next to their guide. She brought her knees together and under her chin, wrapping her arms around them. "I keep thinking about when I lost my own mom," she explained. "I was very young. I was devastated. I couldn't turn to my dad, he was a wreck. And everyone else in the village kept telling me it was going to be okay. There was only one person who let me speak; who let me grieve the way I needed to grieve; and she never judged me."

Aerith regarded her with soft and patient eyes. "Olivia Strife, right?"

Tifa nodded. "Yes. She was so kind with me. So thoughtful. Growing up, the other villagers had nothing but bad things to say about her. But spending time with her, I got to know her pretty well. She was one of the kindest people I've ever known."

"Losing her is like losing a part of myself," she explained, closing one hand into a fist. Tifa closed her eyes and exhaled. "I feel her loss every day. I don't know if the pain will ever stop. But despite that, whatever she was to me, she was Cloud's mother! I have tried to comfort him, the way Olivia once comforted me. But all he ever does is push me away."

"It must be frustrating," Aerith empathized. "But, have you ever considered something else? You are trying to comfort him the way his mother comforted you, as you say. But maybe that's the problem?"

Tifa tilted her head, curiously.

"Olivia had her way of doing things," Aerith explained. "But you are not Olivia. You are Tifa. You can't be Olivia for Cloud- that was his mother. Nor can you be what she was to you."

Tifa's chin fell against her knees. "What do you suggest?"

"Just be his friend," Aerith explained, placing a palm gently on her comrade's shoulder. "He may be lost right now, but he'll open up eventually."

"I hope so," Tifa mumbled into her knees. "Because I don't know how much more of this I can put up with."

Aerith hummed at that. She was about to say more when there was a sharp snap that rank out in the distance. Her head immediately snapped up.

"Did you hear that?" Tifa asked, her face also raised and her eyes alert, searching.

"Yes," Aerith nodded, while scanning the distance. It had been a heavy snap, far too loud to be an animal. It was definitely the sound of a footfall.

Tifa quickly rose to her feet. "I'm going to go check it out."

"Not alone, you won't." Aerith grasped her shoulder. "I'm coming with you."

Tifa looked back and gave her a firm nod. "Thanks."

"That's what friends are for," Aerith smiled and she noticed the other woman giving her a peculiar look. But then it was gone and Tifa started forward towards the shadows. She passed by Cloud, lying on his pallet, but the blond was already lost in sleep.

Aerith followed alongside her companion and together they sank into the thicket of trees and darkness. The night was full and the last rays of sunlight were spent. But the stars had not yet dotted the skies, making visibility difficult.

Aerith raised her staff and a pale light blossomed from the swirling orb. The leaves and grass shimmered beneath the staff's glow but as she moved forward, she could find no author to the sound they'd heard.

Long moments passed while the both of them searched the thicket. At last, Tifa looked back at her companion. "Maybe it was just a wild animal," she whispered.

"... Maybe," Aerith replied pensively. But her answer didn't sound convincing. Even if it did, it wouldn't have mattered. Neither woman believed her words.

"Let's head back," Aerith decided with a sigh. "No sense getting lost."

Tifa nodded and the two of them silently made their way back to camp. They fell into a companionable silence. Once they reached their sleeping bags, Tifa reached out to her. "Hey," she spoke up.

"Hm?"

"What you said back there, when we first heard the noise- did you mean it?"

Aerith blinked. "Mean what?"

"You called us friends..."

Aerith smiled and her eyes shimmered. "Of course I do. We've been traveling just over a week but I'm glad have met you," she nodded. "And if you are of like mind, I'd be happy to call you my friend."

"Yeah," Tifa smiled and nodded back. "I'm glad to have met you too. Friends."

Aerith sat back down, but she didn't lie down- not yet. Her eyes were still staring off into the shadows. Tifa's hand fell on her shoulder and she looked up.

"Get some sleep," the martial artist comforted her. "I'll keep watch. If anything happens, I'll wake you up."

Aerith nodded and lay down in her mat, staring silently into the shadows. She never noticed when her eyes grew heavy and sleep finally claimed her.

XXXX

The rest of the night was blessedly uneventful and morning came all too quickly for the companions. As much as he hated to admit it, Cloud was exhausted and there was nothing he wanted more than to sleep for several more hours. But when Aerith leaned over, gently shaking him awake, he pushed his desires down deep and forced himself to sit up.

"What's going on?" He asked, pushing the last cobwebs of sleep out of his bleary eyes.

"Morning," Aerith said behind a tight yawn. She stood up straight and gave a healthy stretch before moving off to wake up Tifa.

Cloud shook his head to clear it one last time. Once again Aerith bemused him. She wasn't afraid to show it when she was tired. But instead of giving in to her fatigue, she took it in stride and moved on. Cloud envied that ability to readily adapt. He would be better. He had to be!

With a deep breath, he pushed himself off of his sleeping mat and set to work folding it. "Anything more on that strange noise you heard last night?" He asked turning slightly in Aerith's direction.

When Tifa had woken him for his shift, she told him about the strange sound she and Aerith had heard. It had been enough to keep him alert throughout his shift and more than a few times he jumped at normal forest sounds. It was only after he'd woken Aerith that he fell into some semblance of relaxation but even then, his sleep had been fitful at best.

"No, everything was silent," their guide called back to him.

Tifa was folding her own mat now, while Aerith turned her attention towards her pack, fishing around for their morning rations.

"I don't like it," Cloud spoke while shoving his folded mat into his pack. "Something might be following us."

"I agree with Cloud," Tifa spoke up.

He was momentarily caught off guard by that. Since this journey began, they had been less than civil towards each other. Cloud winced internally. He was the one who had been less than civil. Aerith's words hadn't escaped him. But he couldn't let anyone in. His infatuation with Tifa had made him weak. Even though the girl had made it clear to him a long time ago that she wasn't interested, he had pursued that notion like a lovesick child. He needed to close that door and so he did.

But now, all of a sudden, the raven haired woman wanted to reach out to him. He didn't need her pity and the thought of it had made him mad. He had lashed out at her and things had continued to escalate. He felt rotten about it. He hadn't meant for things to get to the point where they were at each others throats. But she confused him. He didn't know how to deal with her pity and compassion. He was still reeling from the loss of his mother. Aerith had said friendship was a strength but he couldn't seem to reconcile that notion. He had remained detached from them and that had ruined his relationship with his childhood friend. So he was more than a little surprised when she agreed with him now.

"What?" Tifa shrugged at him and suddenly he realized he'd been staring. Cloud quickly looked away, changing his focus back towards packing his bag.

"It's not like we always have to disagree," Tifa continued to explain. "Besides, the sooner we can catch whatever's tracking us, the sooner we can set our focus back on our journey."

"Then it's decided," Aerith said. The auburn haired woman stood up with her pack securely strapped over her shoulders. The morning sun was shining brightly through the bramble of tree branches and showered them with sparkling morning light. "Let's retrace our steps and see if we can't find a few more clues."

The two villagers followed Aerith as the three of them moved slowly and purposefully through the leaves. No one spoke as they walked. Aerith still had her staff strapped to her back but her hand flexed over the hilt of the sword she wore at her waist. Tifa was behind her, slightly crouched and flexing her gloved fingers. Cloud brought up the rear. His own hand rested on his sword hilt but even now, he felt unsure. If a fight broke out, he knew Aerith would be able to defend herself. Tifa had trained with a professional martial artist. That left only him. Self trained. Untested. Suddenly he felt very self conscious.

The three of them moved as one, going slowly as time passed. Aerith moved low, scanning tracks and checking for signs of retreat but she couldn't find anything. The minutes stretched into hours and still they found nothing more than a few frightened hares, several field mice and a startled deer.

As the buck dashed into a thicket of bushes, Aerith sighed and shook her head. "Nothing," she said, speaking at last. "Whoever it was that was outside the camp last night, they've covered their tracks well. Either that, or there was never anyone there in the first place and we've just been wasting our time."

"I don't believe that, and neither do you," Cloud glared, looking back at her.

Tifa looked between him and Aerith before raising her arms. "Cloud's right. Aerith, you and I both know it was too loud and heavy to have been an animal. It was definitely someone's foot."

"Which still makes us prey," Aerith narrowed her eyes and folded her arms. "I don't like this, but we can't waste all day searching around in the forest."

"What do you suggest?" Tifa shrugged.

"We don't have a choice," Aerith dipped her chin in thought. "We'll have to move on and return to our original course."

"What?!" Cloud blurted. "But we're being followed!"

"And they're clearly better at it than we are at tracking them!" Aerith returned. "Our only option now is to keep moving. We'll have to wait for them to make their move. That's when we'll have our opportunity to strike."

Cloud shook his head. "I don't like this."

"It is a big risk," Tifa agreed, furrowing her brows in concern. "By the time they make their next move, it may be too late."

"In the absence of a better solution, it's the only available choice left open to us." Aerith turned to walk back in the direction they'd just come. "Like I said before, I don't like it either. We'll just have to keep our eyes open."

That said, the three Guardians returned to their original trail. The day stretched out and they only stopped once, by a stream, to refill their water skins. Their original plans to spar were dashed in the fear that their enemy might take advantage while their guard was down. And so it was that they made up their lost time, traveling all throughout the day. It was only when the sun had finally began its descent towards the horizon that they did come to a stop.

"Look there!" Tifa pointed, then turned to glance back at her companions. "I think I see the mountain tops!" She almost laughed with surprise.

"This is Coral Mountain," Aerith grinned. "These alps stretch across the entire continent, bisecting the region in half. Some people call it Coral's Spine."

"It must go on for leagues!" Cloud wondered, looking high up over the mountain tops.

"More so!" Aerith confirmed. "But I don't want to get much closer with night approaching. I think we should move off the trail and make camp for the night."

"Move off?" Cloud couldn't help the smirk in his voice.

Aerith rolled her eyes and wore a sardonic grin. "Yes, Mister know-it-all." Her smile dropped for a moment, and suddenly her voice was serious. "This time you're right Cloud. We'll take a bit more precaution tonight."

"The air's gotten cooler here," Tifa observed, dropping her backpack from her shoulders. "We'll need a fire."

Cloud didn't like the sound of that. "Don't you think that will draw their attention?"

Aerith shrugged. "They most likely already know where we are. And a warm fire would keep us rested and maybe dissuade them from making a night attack."

"That does make sense," Cloud admitted.

"I'll go get some wood!" Tifa volunteered.

Cloud flinched. Like Aerith, he too noticed Tifa's frequent excuses to wonder off from the group. But now that they knew they were being followed, he was especially weary. He didn't want Tifa going out alone and his first instinct was to stop her. But what right did he have to say that? After all, it was he that kept pushing her away. Now that she was being more civil with him, he didn't want to step on that notion by making decisions for her. So instead he gave a tight nod. "I'll help set up camp."

"Good, I'll help you!" Aerith walked over to him while Tifa made her way out into the forest brush.

The blond watched her retreating form as he opened his backpack. "Do you think she'll be okay?" He muttered.

"Tifa's a fighter. And she's got a good head on her shoulders." Aerith said reassuringly. "She'll be fine." The auburn haired woman paused and gave him a coy look. "... I didn't know you cared."

Cloud felt his cheeks burning and he quickly looked into his bag, pretending to be busy looking for something. "Of course I care! I made a promise to her father."

Aerith hiked an eyebrow. "So that's the only reason?"

Cloud didn't answer, feeling his face warming. To his gratitude, their guide didn't press the question, instead setting to work opening her own backpack. Soon the two of them fell through the familiar routine of building their campsite. They never noticed as the dying rays of the sun flashed across the trees, reflecting a pair of eyes watching them from the distance. And by the time those shadows moved, it was already too late!

XXXX

It didn't take long for Tifa to find a nice patch of fallen branches. She stooped low, grabbing a bunch of loose logs. She knew it wouldn't take her long to have what they needed to get the camp fire going. That thought made her glance around, suspiciously. She looked left and right, just to make sure her friends hadn't followed her. When she was sure there was no one around, she carefully set the bundle of sticks and logs down next to her. Then she sat down and folded her legs. She rested her palms on her knees and took a deep breath. For the past several nights, she had been sneaking away from her friends with the excuse that she needed some privacy or that she was going to get water or in this case firewood.

She didn't know when it had started, but she had been feeling a pull from within. A sudden urge that she couldn't explain. So, when she had found time to escape her companions for a short bout of time, she would sit alone the way she was now. She would close her eyes and she would concentrate.

Every time, she had felt something stirring within her. Some sensation both pleasant and slightly cold. But it wasn't uncomfortable. Like stepping into a cool pond that is cold at first before getting used to it. And like a river, she felt herself getting lost in the wave. Each time she had felt the pull growing stronger.

Tonight, she felt a more distinguished sensation. As she closed her eyes, instantly she felt consumed by a wave of peace, as if she were floating in a sea of mist. She kept her eyes closed but the sense of familiarity was growing. Before she realized it, her mind had drifted. Was she asleep? She could feel herself floating in the mist. Then, the mist parted and all she could see was an icy cavern.

Tifa looked around, but she wasn't frightened. Something made her calm; something covered her with peace. The cavern was ivory with stalactites dripping from above and stalagmites rising from below. The terrain was bumpy but she kept walking forward towards the darkness, deeper into the cavern.

'Tifa Lockhart'

Tifa started in alarm. The voice was inside her head as well as outside. The voice echoed in the distance. It was the same voice she'd heard, nearly two weeks ago after the attack in the mountains.

"Who are you!?" She blurted out. "What do you want!?"

'Tifa' The voice began again. 'You have done well. Olivia was right to have noticed you.'

"Olivia," Tifa mused. "You – you were talking to Olivia that time! Where is she?"

'All will become clear, my child.'

Tifa shook her head. "I don't understand!?"

'You will. You have done well to nurture your bond this far.'

"Bond... The Bond? The one that Aerith's been talking about?"

'They will need you,' The voice continued cryptically. 'You must be ready... but first, you must fall...'

"What? Fall!?"

And suddenly Tifa was opening her eyes. Once again, she was sitting in the forest floor beneath the setting sun. She didn't know how much time had passed but there was still some light in the horizons. Tifa frowned. She was just starting to get up when she heard a distinct zipping noise cut through the air followed by a sudden pain biting into her neck.

"Ow!" Tifa raised her hand to her neck and plucked out a small steel object. She frowned at the small carved needle but she couldn't focus. What was she doing again? Her head began to swim and suddenly her eyes were too heavy to remain open. She was lost in darkness before her body fell flat against the grassy earth.

****To Be Continued****

Author's note: Thanks for reading! I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter. Please let me know what you thought. And please stay tuned for Chapter 15: The Mountain Men.