"Trail leads there." Red said, his one eye did looked forward intensely. His flaming tail move side to side, he was tensed, but Cloud also sense excitement, this hunt was clearly affecting Red. Flame furred beast felt more alive.

Hunting was something that Red clearly enjoyed, Cloud noticed that Red's mood affect him as well. Guess he was little exited hunt as well, in Midgar he had taken some jobs to hunt beasts that had troubled locals. Those beasts were always nearby human and local were-rats or gorgers were not much of a challenge to him.

This was something else, behemoth was from wilderness and was predator that hunt to survive.

Cloud had faced behemoth once before in Midgar at Shinra's underground facility. That beast had been huge, size of the a truck, but had also been starved and mad by the tests. It had eaten other monsters and beasts what it could reach, it has been weak from thirst and hunger. Cloud was hired to kill it before it might get out of the underground facility and cause havoc at surface. It not had been an easy battle. Behemoth had been in large hall where it had not get out, least not easily. There it had been cut it down.

But now they where middle of the wilderness hunting behemoth that had learn how to hunt real prey and they were now near it lair. Beast that was so dangerous that it killed several hunters that had go after it.

A small forest was now in front of them, this forest was near the river and the hills. Thick woods and bushes covered the area. In distance over the trees he could see some kind stone structures.

Tracks of the wounded behemoth lead there.

Cloud had also noticed dried blood among the tracks, thought he was not as good to identify tracks as Red nor he had his sharp nose.

"We have to be careful." Cloud said when he dropped down from his chocobo he was riding. Rust was clearly nervous, big bird did looked around and felt tense.

"Yes, wilderness is full of graves of the hunters who went after wounded beasts." Red said darkly.

Cloud tied Rust loosely in nearby tree, thought not tight, chocobo would get free easily if it needed to run. He just wanted his mount to stay there for while.

Cloud did to stay behind Red. Red went forward slowly his stomach on the grass.

Cloud followed behind, but keep his distance staying down and try to move quietly. He moved only when Red did.

Soon they were in the woods and cloud notice few signs of the beast. In some of the trees where marks from horns and claws.

Cloud noticed that Red stopped and started to sniff and looked traces more carefully. Cloud waited, then Red turned and come closer.

"I think we big have problem." He said quietly.

"What do mean?"

"There is two of them."

"What…?"

"There is several tracks and two different scents." Red answered.

For a moment both were quiet. Wounded young behemoth was dangerous, but Cloud and Red had taken down dangerous beasts before. But if there would be other beast, at the same time?

"That the wounded hunter tried to say" Cloud said quietly.

"They thought they hunted one beast, but there were two of them." Red added grimly.

"Let's hope there is just two of them." Cloud added.

Suddenly Red turned and went down on the grass. Cloud followed his example and went to his knees putting his hand to hilt of his sword. Meantime Red went forward towards bushes staying down.

Then Cloud hear it, something did move among trees.

Cloud pull buster sword ready, he could see form moving among trees. Thought even now in daylight it's form was not that clear. Cloud moved close to big tree, he did not wanted behemoth running towards him at full speed and trying to pierce him with its horns.

Beast had stopped, but now Cloud was sure it was looking at him. He could see its eyes at distance even among shrubs. It was now stalking him. Cloud took glance side towards Red. Except Red was not there.

For a moment he felt coldness to grip his heart, but Cloud was enough experienced not to let that affect him. Red was most likely getting better position, he just had to keep beast interest on him.

Cloud did stay calm and waited, beast attention was now at him. Longer it was looking at him, better chance Red did had. Cloud was sure that his mako-enhanced speed and strength would be enough to match young behemoth even by himself.

It was waiting game and time was on his side in this fight.

Where is the other beast?

He moved closer the tree and have it on his back. Cloud tried to listen and keep himself calm. His heart was beating harder, his entire body expect battle to start.

I have beaten dangerous beasts before, this is no different.

Still doubt did hold it's grip at him. Behemoth was stalking at him in the woods near it's nest, he did not know where the other behemoth was. Night before these behemoths had surprised group of hunters and killed most of them.

Then behemoth stepped forward and Cloud could see it more clearly.

It's hide was almost black and some kind of shadowy aura did surround it.

Shadowcreep Cloud thought, name did fit.

It was not as clearly big as giant monster that Cloud has faced in Shinra lab. Red had been correct, it was young individual, thought it was fully independent and grown to hunt most of the animals that move in wilderness and in future, decades to come it had potential to grow to be something terrifying. Even now beasts shoulders were little lower than Cloud's head. Horned head with big teeth and claws, it mane was still quite small, it was young male.

It was also clearly a wounded, it's head was badly torn and burned, perhaps from some kind of explosion. It's also seem limp it fore-paw a little.

Beast stared him, but it eyes seemed not look him directly. It was sniffing air and seemed to try to listen when it approach him.

It does not see me clearly. Cloud realised when he look at the wounded behemoth. Cloud took step forward, beast didn't react, he took other. That moment small movement aside warned him. He took look aside.

Then he noticed other behemoth, it had come little out of bushes on his flank, it had gotten close to him when his attention was front of him. Beast realised it has been spotted and leap forward to reach for him.

That moment Red show up and did tackle that Behemoth, his attack was so precise that big beast lose it's footing and fell middle of it's leap.

Behemoth that was front of Cloud did hesitate for moment, Cloud didn't. He lunged himself towards wounded behemoth. Beast did managed to evade his first attack, but not next ones. He aimed several cut across towards it head and wounded front leg. Beast did fall back for moment to cover it's wounded side. For a moment beast did retreated trying hold distance at him.

Then his sword hit several times on it's horns, that moment beast did counter him striking with its horns, force of the hit did make Cloud fell back. Beast then continued it's attack with horns and it healthy claw.

For a while horns and sword did strike together and Cloud dodged claws. He could hear how Red and other behemoth fight behind him. Still he did not have time to take look, behemoth tried ferociously to reach him and did not give him time.

I need to change tactic, this takes too long.

Cloud started aim his attacks towards it horns and ignoring it's wounded paw. Behemoth counter it like before and tried then reach him with it's healthy paw.

That was moment Cloud had waited he dodged aside and strike all strength he had. Tip of his sword slice through beast other fore-paw, cutting deep. Behemoth roar in pain and was taken back, Cloud did not give it time to recover from it last wound. He followed instantly several savage cuts towards beast head to keep it off balance. It's horns and skull were thick, so strikes did not do that much damage as he hoped, but it did distract Behemoth and forced it back to cover itself.

He took quick look at Red who was fighting other Behemoth. That beast was trying to reach Red with it's claws, but Red's agility and speed make it difficult. But how long Red could do this? Behemoth was clearly frustrated and tried to catch Red to tear smaller creature to pieces. It was fully focused at Red.

Cloud focused and used materia in Buster Sword. Power of ancients or Cetra burst forth. Chunk of icy crystals slammed aside of Behemoths skull, distracting it. Beast turned to look what has attacked it. Next moment, crystals exploded and icy frost engulfed it's head. Any normal creature would have injured from the spell. But this black behemoth was something different, dark aura deflected some of strength of the spell away and seem to even absorbed some of it. Then the counter come. It was some kind of dark blast of fire that hit him sending him backwards.

He managed to get up but he felt blood on his mouth and his body felt drain and sluggish. Like the blast had taken strength out of him.

Dammit

Spell had been calculated risk, because some beasts were resistant or even immune to some spells. Some behemoths were among them, Cloud had hoped that young beast would not had that ability yet. Now beast was coming towards him.

Then Red jumped beast back and sunk his claws on beast it's flesh, behemoth turned it attention back to Red. For a moment Cloud consider go helping him fight against that beast.

No, I have to finish this beast now and trust Red to hold his own.

Cloud turned his attention towards wounded beast and yelled when he run towards it. Beast did heard it and turn to face him. Buster sword did strike against behemoths horns locking them together one moment. Then behemoth mass and strength forced him back.

Behemoth slashed it horns trying to find him, it did not used it wounded paws trying to reach him. It now trusted it spear-like horns. Cloud fell back luring it after him. Taking advantage that monster did not see clearly, he retreated through bushes near the tree. Behemoth followed and trashed bushes it's way to keep him at it's sight.

Cloud rolled aside, beast continue it's attack but Cloud was no longer there. Beast did clawed bushes and tree front of it, tearing bushes apart and deep incisions on the tree. For a moment it attention was there Cloud did had his chance.

Cloud lunged forward and slam his sword on full force towards the behemoths throat. Buster sword went through beast hide and flesh. He turned sword with all strength he has and sunk it deeper into monster.

Dying behemoth tried to turn to face it's opponent that had just managed to kill it. Cloud hold it's ground keeping it's jaws away, thought beast pushed his enhanced strength on its limit. Then beast huge paw tried to claw him, instantly he grabbed it with his other arm, though claws did sunk into his flesh.

Yelling Cloud twist blade more and cut the monsters throat open. Finally beast strength fail and it fell into bloodied ground. Cloud took several steps back to to catch his breath and check his injuries.

That moment other Behemoth surge towards him. Cloud jumped instantly sideways letting his sword go and avoided to being impaled by monsters horns. It did save him, but only for moment, next strike come sideways, that sent him flying through bushes, slide across grass and slammed against big tree. Any normal human would have seriously injured from that or even died. Even to his enhanced physique it was bad hit, it had taken air out of him, but he managed to rise on his feet, even breathing did hurt. Cloud felt blood on his mouth and felt weak, he took step forward and felt weakness growing.

Then behemoth rushed through bushes towards him. Beast did strike that kind of force it's horns that it tore chunk off the tree. Cloud did managed dodge between two trees, behemoth followed trying to reach him but could not fit through even other tree almost torn from it's roots.

That moment Red appeared and sunk its own claws into beast backside. Behemoth turn it attention back to Red and it tried get off between trees and to get smaller beast.

Thinking quickly Cloud took torn wood splinter and slammed in full force into monster eye. Splinter sunk into eye blinding it permanently.

Behemoth next move did broke the torn tree apart and it's strike sent Cloud backwards on the ground several meters.

Cloud rolled aside, when behemoth run past him. But it didn't turn towards him or tried to hit him, instead the monster run away.

It's escaping. Cloud realized.

Red come next to him he looked no worse to wear. But he looked Cloud worriedly.

"You okay?"

Cloud did not answer, he focused again on Chakra Materia in his belt, Red also used magic. Cloud felt how pain eased somewhat when wounds started to heal and knit together. After a moment bleeding did stop and he felt little better.

Cloud did straighten up and took several breathes.

"I'll manage."

"I follow it." Red said and run after behemoth.

Cloud forced himself to run back to slain behemoth and to his sword. As he pulled bloodied blade out Cloud felt it summon materia in the blade was stirring, battle had started to attract it.

Cloud turn and run after Red and Shadowcreep. Tracks were easy to follow. Behemoth had just run through everything.

Soon he find did Red, he was waiting at him at near ruins. Flame furred beast was sitting on a stone slab.

Cloud come next to him, and looked down from the hill. Front of them were some kind ruined stone temple that was next to pond. Several stone pillars were broken and fallen on stone floor front of temple.

Middle of the ruined square was the Shadowcreep, beast was wiping it face. Probably trying to get splinter out of it eye.

Cloud and Red changed looks.

"Let's finish the job." Cloud said and took deep breath, it hurt little, some of his ribs were sore, but he could continue fight. Red grunted and raise up. There were now point to try to surprise the beast, square were quite large and fallen stone pillars did not give much cover.

Shadowcreep turn towards them when they come the square.

Cloud did keep himself front of beast remaining eye, to give Red a chance to get to beasts blind-side.

Shadowcreep come towards him, cold determination in it's remaining eye. Cloud readied his sword and waited beast to come to him.

Cloud decided to focus on defence and counterstrikes. Behemoth tried to use is bigger size and strength against him, but it was giant that Cloud had faced in the Shinra lab. At normal human it would have worked but his enhanced physique was just enough to keep monster away.

Cloud managed to block it's claws and cut them few times. Behemoth soon change it tactic and attacked with its horns, this might had worked better, if Red had not been there. Every time behemoth forced Cloud back. Red attacked it's hind legs or side. Forcing monster to stop it's attack on Cloud. Soon behemoth started to get frustrated, it's hind legs bleed from dozens of cuts. Cloud sword had caused few wound on it's front paws as well.

Then Shadowcreep did turn and lash out towards Red, Red quickly jumped back out of it's reach. Cloud did followed not letting it chance to escape or attack Red. It did not do either, it turn quick and lashed to keep both of them away.

Then it looked like it would roar, but not much come out. Cloud did actually have not hear behemoth bellow whole fight. Then he noticed it horns and did glow black.

"Cloud watch out." Red did yelled and leaped back.

Cloud did stopped and raised his guard when some kind of blast come out of behemoth. Cloud was taken back power of the blast, it did strike like heavy wind.

Cloud looked around astonished, most of the colours where gone, world was grey and black. Form of the building and stones were unclear. Even sun looked dim like it was trying to shine through some kind of dark dust storm.

Worst of all, he could not see form of Behemoth clearly, it was somehow part of this new background.

"Oh, shit."

Cloud take step back and raise his guard when attack came. He barely could see them, he blocked first strikes with instinct and luck.

Then Red was there. Creature of burning flame, he fell on neck of the Behemonth and distracted it.

Then Cloud noticed summon materia in his sword hilt did reacted more strongly, instantly Cloud used his chance and let the creature arrive to this world.

Burning flames burst into air and Ifrit stepped into square. Burning red flames drive darkness back, when creature of fire did arrive to face it opponent.

Ifrit howl it challenge, turned it horned head towards it opponent and sent ball of fire towards behemoth. Beast was taken aback when something big as it self come to face it. Soon it seemed recover and leaped towards fire deity intending to impale it with it's horns.

Huge fire deity grabbed behemoths horns and stopped the attack, for a moment these two giants wrestle on stone floor of square. Red did use it chance strike Behemoths hind leg, making beast to slip. Ifrit twist Behemoth and grabbed the beast and took a choke around it's neck.

Cloud did not waste his chance and thrust buster sword on the chest of the behemoth. Buster sword slide between rib-bones and Cloud bushed it forward all the strength until sword did pierced behemoths heart. For a moment beast tried to get free, but Ifrits grip was unrelenting. Cloud bulled blade out and stepped back to find new place to attack.

But it was not needed, strike had been lethal, Shadowcreep twisted few times and then went to limp. Ifrit hold it few moment on it's burning grip but let it soon fell onto ground.

Beast that had hunted farmers and local people were no more. Ifrit stand there for moment and started then to disappear and returned to place where it was come.

Soon darkness started to vanish as well, only thing that remained was burning carcass of dead behemoth.

Cloud come next beast and cleaned Buster Sword on it's fur and put it on his back. His wounds did ache, he had got several bad hits on this fight and he felt tired.

"Look" Red said next to monsters head.

"It's throat." Cloud commented when he walk next to Red. Something had clearly injured monsters throat.

"That's why it was so silent."

"Name shadowcreep was appropriate to this beast."

"Well, I think we take this beast horns as a trophy and proof that we killed it."

Then Cloud noticed that Red was looking around ruined temple carefully.

"Is there more of them?" Cloud asked when he come next to Red.

"No, but I sense of something."

"What?"

"Faint presence of something else?"

Cloud looked around ruins.

"That might had effected to behemoths." Red said and sound thoughtful.

"What you do mean?"

"Some places has effect on local life and animals."

Cloud looked around there were not much vegetation around ruined building and it looked strange, like it was struggling to grow. Temple was several centuries old maybe even older, it should have been overgrown by now.

"Well we were hired to kill Shadowcreep, we did that… twice" Cloud said and looked carcass of behemoth."

"But you are right, I will warn that something of this place might have corrupted these beasts."

"Aerith might figure something about this?" Red said looking around.

"Maybe?"

Then Cloud remembered when in Midgar they crossed Train Graveyard that had been haunted, beasts there had attacked them and some had strange abilities, also they had find childlike ghosts there. Ghosts had been curious about Aerith, she had been interested them as well. But Aerith had also drawn interest of something worse creature that had tried to capture and take her away, luckily he had found her in time. That creature might had killed her and turn her into ghost that was trapped in that place. Or something worse.

If I bring Aerith here, something might show up to catch her.

"I think bringing Aerith here might be dangerous."

"Red, could you go back to camp and check that wounded hunter."

"What you are going to do?"

"I'm going to remove horns of this Behemoth as proof that I killed it."

Red turned to look at him seriously.

"There is something wrong in that place." Red said and looked around.

"It might be better if we don't separate, least not yet."

He looked back flame fur beast, Red was worried. Cloud looked around he did not know anything about this place, they were middle of the wilderness, fight against beasts that had hunted humans and had strange abilities. There where also other things they had seen.

"Alright, stay on guard."

It took Cloud little longer then he expected to get Behemoths horns off the skull. When he hold the horn in his hand it felt… strange.

"You are okay?" Red asked

"Yeah." Cloud said and took horns on his hands and they started they way back to camp. They stopped to get other behemoths horn off on the way. Red went a head towards camp to check wounded hunter.

Cloud walked to place where he had left chocobo. Rust looked at him when Cloud come towards it.

He tied horns with rope and put them back of Rust. Chocobo did moved little uncomfortably when Cloud put them there. But Rust did tolerated them, Cloud did took chocobos reins and start his way back to camp.

Now they would have to get wounded hunter back to Grass-Gate, luckily they had other chocobo to carry him.

Now they should have enough gil as reward for killing Shadowcreep, so they could buy supplies they needed to continue they journey.

Aerith should know where they should go.

For a moment Cloud remembered figure of swordsman at devastated farm. That some image flashed in his mind he saw Aerith again praying for something. Cloud did hold his head when pain strike through it, for a moment after a moment pain did let go, but feeling of uneasy stayed.

His heart felt cold and terrible sense of uneasy stayed.

Cloud looked up towards sky, itwas darkening again, other storm was coming.