Chapter Thirteen: Moving Closer
Pietro rode his faithful mount, Miaka, over the gently rolling hills of the Calm Lands, on his way to the entrance of Macalania Forest. The chocobo ran through the lush green grasses with long strides. The man turned its bird to its left and proceeded to urge in up the steep incline to his destination. As the two crested the slope, Pietro pulled back on the reins and slowed the animal down to a halt.
"Whoa, there. We've arrived," he said to the chocobo. The yellow bird turned around in circles and warked at the man. "Calm down, Miaka, I need to dismount." Miaka stopped her fidgeting motions and stood still so her rider could slide off the saddle.
When Pietro was off, he walked forward to face his friend. "This is where we part ways, Miaka. You can not go where I am heading. You can wander around the lands and live happily." The golden bird nuzzled up to the man's ear the playfully nipped at it. She backed up and nodded to her master. "Farewell," the man said sadly as he began to walk away towards the wooded path to the forest. The chocobo loped down the incline to the savannah below as the former crusader entered the sylvan land.
*******
Pietro traveled down the twisting branches of the forest, listening to the all too familiar sounds of nature. He had grown fond of the chattering of animals during his journey. It was if the noise they made told him that there was life everywhere around him, even if he could not see it. Just knowing that it was there was enough for him.
He felt the soft breeze that blew against his face and cherish the cool feeling that it bestowed. A soft scent of pine hung in his nose as he walked. It was so much different than the sea salt that was always present in the coastal villages where he grew up.
Oh what a difference traveling through the world granted a person. The knowledge that no two places are exactly the same, be it the clean air, the wildlife, or the simply the way the sun rose or set. Pietro had seen many of these places, yet he knew that they were many more that did not get the chance to see.
The path was heading downward, when he heard the slow lapping of water against a shore. Pietro looked around in search of the sound, when he noticed a lagoon on his right. There was a path cut through the brush that led to the body of crystal clear water, so he decided to take it. He strolled to the edge of the pool and placed his hands in the water. "It's warm," he said.
He cupped his hands and withdrew some of the liquid. He raised his hands to his lips and drank the refreshing water. It rejuvenated his travel- weary body, giving him more energy to continue his march through the wooden land. He got back to a standing position and turned around. He walked back through the bushes to the main road and marched down it.
He continued traveling until he reached an crossroad occupied by a woman and a young boy. "Excuse me, could you tell me which path to take to get to Bevelle, please?" he asked the two people.
The woman answered, "You can take the path that is straight ahead, and you should reach it no time. I am wondering though, did you see a man along the path that you took?"
"No, I'm sorry I did not. Why do you ask?" Pietro inquired.
"He's my husband and he said to meet him here. I'm afraid that he got lost, he has no sense of direction. Damn you, Ryoga, why couldn't you have just come with us," the woman said under her breath.
"I hope you find your husband," Pietro told the wife.
"Thank you for your concern. If it's not being too rude, why are you traveling to Bevelle?" she asked.
"I'm looking for someone important. She's an acolyte of Yevon and I hope to find her there."
"Oh, she'll be there, all right. Maester Seymour is to be married there in two days time to the daughter of High Summoner Braska. All the priests and acolytes were called together to partake in the festivities. She'll definitely be there, it will just be a matter of finding her. Good luck to you, sir, you'll need it."
"Thank you." Pietro bowed two the family and walked away. "Just like in the dream, this might be easier than I thought," he said to himself.
To be continued…
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A/N: What going to happen next? Is Pietro psychic? Did he call Miss Cleo for his free tarot reading? Why was the final line of FF: The Spirits Within "It's warm"? Why am I rambling like this? Ah, just shoot me now.
Now on to the real notes, I have one more chapter to write, yeah! I have a few ideas about how to write the next arc, it just might take a wee bit to flesh them out. Please be patient. If you have any requests, ask and you might receive. Until next time, farewell. ^_^
Pietro rode his faithful mount, Miaka, over the gently rolling hills of the Calm Lands, on his way to the entrance of Macalania Forest. The chocobo ran through the lush green grasses with long strides. The man turned its bird to its left and proceeded to urge in up the steep incline to his destination. As the two crested the slope, Pietro pulled back on the reins and slowed the animal down to a halt.
"Whoa, there. We've arrived," he said to the chocobo. The yellow bird turned around in circles and warked at the man. "Calm down, Miaka, I need to dismount." Miaka stopped her fidgeting motions and stood still so her rider could slide off the saddle.
When Pietro was off, he walked forward to face his friend. "This is where we part ways, Miaka. You can not go where I am heading. You can wander around the lands and live happily." The golden bird nuzzled up to the man's ear the playfully nipped at it. She backed up and nodded to her master. "Farewell," the man said sadly as he began to walk away towards the wooded path to the forest. The chocobo loped down the incline to the savannah below as the former crusader entered the sylvan land.
*******
Pietro traveled down the twisting branches of the forest, listening to the all too familiar sounds of nature. He had grown fond of the chattering of animals during his journey. It was if the noise they made told him that there was life everywhere around him, even if he could not see it. Just knowing that it was there was enough for him.
He felt the soft breeze that blew against his face and cherish the cool feeling that it bestowed. A soft scent of pine hung in his nose as he walked. It was so much different than the sea salt that was always present in the coastal villages where he grew up.
Oh what a difference traveling through the world granted a person. The knowledge that no two places are exactly the same, be it the clean air, the wildlife, or the simply the way the sun rose or set. Pietro had seen many of these places, yet he knew that they were many more that did not get the chance to see.
The path was heading downward, when he heard the slow lapping of water against a shore. Pietro looked around in search of the sound, when he noticed a lagoon on his right. There was a path cut through the brush that led to the body of crystal clear water, so he decided to take it. He strolled to the edge of the pool and placed his hands in the water. "It's warm," he said.
He cupped his hands and withdrew some of the liquid. He raised his hands to his lips and drank the refreshing water. It rejuvenated his travel- weary body, giving him more energy to continue his march through the wooden land. He got back to a standing position and turned around. He walked back through the bushes to the main road and marched down it.
He continued traveling until he reached an crossroad occupied by a woman and a young boy. "Excuse me, could you tell me which path to take to get to Bevelle, please?" he asked the two people.
The woman answered, "You can take the path that is straight ahead, and you should reach it no time. I am wondering though, did you see a man along the path that you took?"
"No, I'm sorry I did not. Why do you ask?" Pietro inquired.
"He's my husband and he said to meet him here. I'm afraid that he got lost, he has no sense of direction. Damn you, Ryoga, why couldn't you have just come with us," the woman said under her breath.
"I hope you find your husband," Pietro told the wife.
"Thank you for your concern. If it's not being too rude, why are you traveling to Bevelle?" she asked.
"I'm looking for someone important. She's an acolyte of Yevon and I hope to find her there."
"Oh, she'll be there, all right. Maester Seymour is to be married there in two days time to the daughter of High Summoner Braska. All the priests and acolytes were called together to partake in the festivities. She'll definitely be there, it will just be a matter of finding her. Good luck to you, sir, you'll need it."
"Thank you." Pietro bowed two the family and walked away. "Just like in the dream, this might be easier than I thought," he said to himself.
To be continued…
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/N: What going to happen next? Is Pietro psychic? Did he call Miss Cleo for his free tarot reading? Why was the final line of FF: The Spirits Within "It's warm"? Why am I rambling like this? Ah, just shoot me now.
Now on to the real notes, I have one more chapter to write, yeah! I have a few ideas about how to write the next arc, it just might take a wee bit to flesh them out. Please be patient. If you have any requests, ask and you might receive. Until next time, farewell. ^_^