"We arrive Grass-gate station in half an hour" Train speaker did announced.

Aerith did sighed and put down the book she was reading. It was tale about man who had travel train across eastern continent. Journey that Aerith was in now, thought this was not holiday trip, thought it could say to be an adventure. Like from some old story, but adventure what she was in was more dangerous.

Aerith looked great grassland what she has seen last few days after train come down the mountains. She had looked it long time. Most of her life early life had been Shinras lab, it had been prison to her and her mother Ifalna. Prison that eventually did take her mothers life. But before that her mother had managed to escape and get her out of there. Luckily before her death, they had met Elmyra at train-station, in her final moments Ifalna asked her to take Aerith somewhere safe.

Thinking that moment did hurt, then she noticed herd of chocobos in the distance. Great yellow feather birds run a cross across grassland. Aerith smiled sadly.

She had seen few chocobos in Midgar, but they were domesticated birds. Grown and teach to help people around. For a moment Aerith thoughts did go to Midgar and delivery service what used chocobo-draw carriages. They did move people and staff around the under-city. It was those birds life, under steel sky of Midgar, it have given them safety, thought not freedom. Like all who lived under Shinra's shadow.

Those are wild birds, free to go anywhere in the plains. But that freedom did come with the price.

What price I will pay of my freedom? Aerith did think.

Aerith turn her attention away from chocobos and looked around in train wagon.

There were some people in it. Mostly some local farmers and workers of nearby villages who were travelled back fort stations and going they business.

Thought around her were empty seats, there was reason for that. That reason was laying on seat opposite of her.

Red 13 or just Red like they called him. He was cat or wolf-like beast with flame like fur and long tail with of living flame. With big claws, sharp teeth and when you get close to him, you could feel some kind of force that radiated from him.

He was strange beast, but there were many strange beast in this world that some people used at they companions. Aerith did thought few moments other strange beasts what she had seen. She remember beasts at Corneo Colosseum, when she and her bodyguard had taken part into fights. Guard dogs that Shinra's guards have used. Then there were things she had seen in Shinra's lab, that Aerith didn't want to think too much now.

But one thing put Red in different category then all other beasts was ability to talk and intelligent that was bar with humans. That was something no other creature could not do. That would bring attention to them. So he was mostly quiet when there were other people nearby.

Just his presence did keep unwanted people away from her. Aerith companions had tried to just keep her sitting alone in the seats, but after few times when some young men had tried to get near Aerith and tried to start conversion with with her.

Her bodyguard had decided it would be better that Red would be next to her rest of the trip.

Aerith had tried to reason that she could take care this kind of attention herself, but at the end she had relented. They were wanted by Shinra, she most of all. Someone might get suspicious and recognize her. Threat of war was also in the air, people were nervous. There were talk about spies and terrorists, so it would not be good to draw attention to themselves.

Aerith looked outside of train window, she could see more farmhouses in the distance. They started to get closer the town.

Little later train started to slow down, Aerith checked her bag and put book in it.

Aerith did stepped in station, there quite a lot of people. Grass-Gate was a town near the great grasslands of the eastern continent. It was border region, this town was last bastion before wilderness started. There were some railways towards east-coast but Aerith remember hearing that railways and sometimes trains themselves were attacked by the monsters.

One story was that Behemoth had attacked farmhouses and cattle. She had hear people talking about it in the train.

Behemoth, Aerith remember reading books were they had been described these great beasts. Apex predators in world of Gaia.

Adult Behemoth was a monster that could strike even train off it rails. She remember when his bodyguard had tell her how he have encountered one in underground lab. That had been fierce battle and meeting that kind of beast in wilderness would be dangerous.

In wilderness beasts were not only danger, hunger, thirst, diseases or elements could bring end to any traveller who was not prepared.

She remembered when they had come down the mountains, air had finally started to get warmer and snow started to vanish. Getting cold was something she had not fully experienced, in this point in her life she always had place what was warm.

Then the grassland started and it could be seen going into horizon. It was never-ending sky, she shivered and didn't want to think about it now. Growing up under steel sky of Midgar, open sky was new to her.

Aerith felt light touch against her hip. Red was there and took look at her with his one good eye.

"I'm okay." Aerith said and did give a smile.

Pleasant wind from the eastern grassland did greet her. Prairie that continued hundreds of kilometres until it meet great sea in the east.

Then Aerith looked south she could see great mountain range that cut eastern continent in two parts. Even in this distance they seem so huge. There were some routs and valleys across the mountains, but those routs could be guarded by Shinra.

But now she should find place to we're they agreed to meet.

There were people on the market, many did not give her second look, thought Red did get most of attention, luckily most people just went they business. She keep her hood down, when she walked across the city. Thought she stopped for moment buy few new and clean clothes from stallholder, nice older women who had noticed her dirty clothes.

After a while she arrive her destination.

Aerith looked the sign of the tavern, The Hunter's Rest, sign had two beast skulls either side of the sign. Here near the wilderness people were in danger of being attacked by beasts. Size of those skulls tell that those beasts had been big.

Tavern was built from solid stone and looked quite sturdy, almost like a fortress.

This tavern was the place they had agreed to meet. It was decent size tavern in the town and hopefully they could get some rest there.

"Well this is it I guess." Aerith said and looked Red.

"Yeah." Red said quietly and sniff the air.

"I can smell Barret he should be there already"

"What about Cloud and Tifa?" Aerith asked, they should be taking look around the town, figure what was happening around here.

Red did not answer, that moment group people come out from door. Family of four Aerith guess, parents and two children. Then they noticed her and stared. For moment Aerith look them back, then she realised, they were staring Red.

"Don't worry, it's friendly." Aerith said, then she give warm and assuring smile to kids. She had been popular with orphan children at Leaf House in Midgar, kids did trust her easily. She always tried to be friendly and uphold that trust.

Family seem little more trusting, thought parents still looked little worryingly at Red. She did understand, so she did give a friendly nod and stepped inside tavern Red at her side.

Inside of the tavern was quite large hall, walls were decorated with hunting trophies. Also with some paintings and old pictures of hunting party's and beasts they had caught.

Sturdy looking wide staircase to upstairs. Sign of restaurant and several tables at left side. Centre of the hall was big counter. Older gentleman was there and did noticed her and Red.

Aerith walked to counter.

"Do you have any free rooms."

"We do miss, do you and your… pet need accommodation."

"Yes, please."

"Well if you want your pet with you, it cost little extra and we only have bigger rooms available."

"I'll take it, week for a start." Aerith said and give the money. Luckily she had enough gil to pay it.

"I'm sure you like it, it is quite comfy, bathroom with nice bathtub and big bed, also thick carpet for your pet."

"Breakfast is also included in the price, you can get into your room or you can go into restaurant."

Man did ring a bell on the table, then young man arrive.

"Carry young lady's bag and show her room."

He give key to man and he took her bag.

Aerith looked around the hall last time when she follow. Only few people were watching her.

Then she noticed Barret, big man was on side table near the corner of the room, place he could see the room and everybody who enter the tavern. Barret had dark brown jacket and dark hat. His right arm was under the table, arm that had gun instead normal arm. Aerith didn't look his direction too long, they should pretend that they did not know each others. Least until then when there would be less suspicious eyes around them.

Aerith followed men upstairs.

Aerith look sideways when man open the door to her room, Barret had followed them. For a moment they eyes met.

He is looking which room I'm going.

Aerith did nod him and then went to her room.

It was larger then she had expected. Sturdy was word she would use to describe the room, stonewalls, solid wooden beams, thick floor. Like in the main hall there were decorations and paintings about beasts and hunters.

"Quite solid looking room." Aerith commented

"Yes, this tavern is quite old, one of original parts of the town. Hunters use this as they resting place and place to hold up, when bigger beasts did attacked." Young man did say and put Aerith's bag next to bed.

"Best hunters of eastern grassland come here to rest."

Red did snort to that.

For a moment man did turn watch Red.

"So that how this place got it's name." Aerith asked to get his attention away from Red.

"Quite so my lady. Thought now days most of people who stay here are travellers."

"If you want it miss I can take your dog a walk." Men said and give Aerith the room key.

"I will take care that myself." Aerith answered when she too the key.

"Well I if you need anything else…" Young man said and smiled to her.

Red did took one threatening step towards man, who took instantly several steps backwards.

"I will be fine." Aerith said and smiled little devilishly.

Man did leave a room quite swiftly.

"Was that really necessary Red?"

"Cloud did not want that you get too much attention."

"Well now I think I'm going to take a bath." Aerith said and headed towards bathroom. It's was time to test that bathtub.

Aerith could now understand when Tifa joked about how she would kill for shower.

When you travel cross the continent in the cargo-train, you start to appreciate niceties of life.

Just laying in bathtub in hot bath was so relaxing. For a moment she lay there in the warm water leaving weeks of worrying and tension behind her. They had get out and Shinras reach was weaker in the middle of the grasslands.

Aerith remembered that she should stretch later, Tifa had show her moves that had helped her stiffness.

Then someone knock the door.

Aerith did get up and quickly put towel around her and stepped outside of bathroom. Red was already at the door

"It's Cloud." Red said quietly.

For a moment Aerith thought putting clothes on, but she was still wet and… well it was Cloud.

Aerith did got to open the door and Cloud Strife did stand on the hallway.

He was wearing his ragtag armor and sword on his back.

Then Cloud noticed she only did wear towel and for a moment he was surprised. Then he turn her eyes from her and look at Red.

Aerith did smile and turn when she walked towards bed where her clean clothes were.

"Is everything okay here." Cloud asked and closed the door behind him.

"Everything is quite good, considering circumstances." Aerith said and look towards Cloud, he did keep his head down and didn't look towards her.

"It's tolerable." Red added.

"How about you and Tifa, you find out something about town?" Aerith asked.

She took some clothes from the bed and went into bathroom thought she left door open.

"Well it seems that Shinra don't have much guards here, only small garrison."

"We'll rest and keep low profile here for while."

"Thought we need to get more gil so we can get some supplies."

Aerith toss her towel on the bed and start to dress her underwear's.

"There... is bounty of a beast that had cause problems to locals lately."

Aerith put her head out of the bathroom.

"You are going to after that?"

"Reward from that beast would help us and we need more supplies."

"How are you Red, up to a hunt?" Cloud asked and looked Red.

"Yes, I have enough rest in the train and my strength have return." Red did say and there was excitement in his voice.

"We are going use chocobos can you keep up."

"I can keep up with them, believe me." Red said and there where certainty in his voice.

"You are going to grassland?" Aerith asked and put shirt on.

"Beast had destroyed farm nearby and some hunters went after that, but they did not return."

"I can track them down, but I need a scent." Red said.

"I think I can arrange that."

"Just you two are going?" Aerith did said and stepped out the bathroom.

"We... move faster, if just two of us go." Cloud said and looked her little awkwardly. Aerith did smile, it's was fun to tease Cloud little bit.

"Tifa And Barret will stay with you."

"They try to find out more what is happening here in the town, you should stay out of sight."

Aerith crossed her arm and sighed.

Cloud did stepped closer to her, this time it's was Aerith who didn't want to meet his eyes.

"You are wanted by Shinra Aerith, you are last living ancient on the planet."

Aerith did bite her lips, she could not deny Cloud's words. Her entire life Shinra had always keep eye on her, thought in the past they have keep they distance. Now too much had changed, they might just come and take her by force.

"Rest of us are not exactly safe either."

"I know." Aerith said.

Shinra might just kill them. They were part of Avalance and now they were wanted for terrorism and murder of president Shinra. Cloud did have duel with Rufus Shinra man who was now leader of entire company. This is not just me any more.

"When we leave?" Red did ask after silence had lasted for moment.

"If possible in a few hours. There is storm coming and we need to get out before it comes." Cloud said looked Red seriously.

"I'm ready when you are."

"Okay meet me at backyard in hour."

"Get some rest and food we have long trip head of us, we might be away a week."

"Week?" Aerith said.

"Place where attack happen is two day trip, beast is an area it's take few days to find it and then trip back."

"You are sure you can take that beast?"

"I did get you out of Shinra building didn't I." Cloud said and smiled.

After a moment Aerith did smile back to him.

"Be careful."

"I will, I'll see you later Red." Cloud said and did leave.

Few hours later Aerith was looking down from the balcony on the back yard. Cloud was talking with some older man who was wearing brown clothes and great hat, man remind Aerith little about Chocobo-Sam from wallmarket. Red was with Cloud now and he looked excited and little restless.

Then some men did show up, one of them was bringing saddled Chocobo. For a moment they talked with Cloud. Then Cloud mounted the Chocobo. He seemed to know how to handle it, after all Cloud was from countryside.

Then Cloud turned and looked her direction, for a moment they look each-others.

After a moment Cloud turned Chocobo around and left Red did follow him. She looked after him but soon Cloud was out of her sight.

Aerith looked up, sky darking at the east, storm was coming. She could feel how wind started get stronger. Aerith turned and went back inside and to her room, sky started to feel threatening.

Loud thunder strike did wake Aerith up at the night.

Aerith turned and sit on her bed, putting arms around her and shivered. This was new to her, she was outside of Midgar. For a moment she remember when her mother Ifalna had wake her up and taken her at her lap, then they had escape from Shinras facility. She had sleep for moment during they escape, she had waken when train had stopped at the station. Station were her mother had finally died.

Lighting strike did light room for a moment.

She looked at the window it was dark horizon to horizon, heavy rain and lightning strike again. One did hit nearby and voice was threatening. Like fury of the planet itself. For a moment Aerith remembered what she had done. She had defied will of the planet itself.

What had I done?

Then she wished that someone would be here holding her.

Cloud

Aerith look out the window, rain and lightning did cross the sky. Cloud and Red were there on the prairie. They were hunting that beast that had destroyed several farms, hunted livestock and killed people.

Hope they are safe.

Outside storm did rage across grassland.