Chapter Four: Kindred Spirits

Author's note: Thanks for the reviews again. They drive me to continue on. I realize that in my last author's note I said that I would have Auron meet Kimahri after he visits the Travel Agency, but I have changed my mind. Another thing that I just realized is that the Travel Agency in the Calm Lands is just a trade post. I am going to keep it as such, but I'm going to pretend that there is a room in the back that Auron could stay the night in. Please forgive me for straying slightly from the way it was in the game. I guess we could just pretend that that was the way it was ten years ago. Well, I hope you enjoy this chapter as well and thanks for reading.

I fixed and added a lot here, so please reread. Some of this might affect future scenes. Thanks again for reading and I hope I improved this chapter.

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Auron briefly looked back at the mountain he had just climbed, wondering how he had survived. The icy wind and cold hard exterior, protecting the warm, dark caves reminded him of himself. Suddenly he felt some sort of kinship to it. Shaking his head, he entered the Calm Lands.

An expanse of green grass spread out before him. Occasionally the blanket of grass was torn by strange rock formations that looked like claws ripping out of the ground. A ridge that ran along the edge of the land was to his left. To his right, some ways away, was the trade post. He reached inside his hidden pouch to take stock of his items. There was one potion and two antidotes. He would need a lot more if he was to make it to Bevelle. He briefly looked down at the wound in his chest. It had stopped bleeding some time ago, but if he got into another fight he would probably have to heal it again. He flexed his left arm. It felt good to be able to use it. He had returned to letting the left side of his coat fall down by his side, freeing his arm for fighting. His large katana now rested on his shoulder. He felt a little stronger after the use of the high-potions, but he knew that feeling wouldn't last long, so he pressed onward.

After walking a ways he neared one of the larger rock formations. He had a feeling that he wasn't alone. He tensed, waiting for the presence to announce itself. After a few moments a Ronso walked around the large talon like stone and crossed his arms. Auron thought he recognized the cat-man, but he couldn't be certain. This Ronso was shorter than most. He was covered by blue fur and his hair (if that's what Ronso called it) was white and fell down his back.

"You Summoner Braska's guardian?" the Ronso asked, meeting Auron's eyes.

Again that name tore at his heart. "Yes," he said softly, forcing himself to meet the eyes of the cat-man. Signs of weakness were not accepted by the Ronso.

The Ronso nodded. "Sin gone?"

Auron looked the Ronso in his yellow cat eyes. "Yes."

Again the Ronso nodded. It was then that Auron noticed this Ronso's horn, which was the pride of any Ronso, was broken. An outcast. Another kindred spirit. Without a word he started to walk away. He felt the cat-man stare after him. Auron shook his head. No more kindred spirits, just duty.

He looked ahead. The Travel Agency was still some distance away. Looking at the sky, he saw that the sun was nearing the horizon. The flaming orb slipped into the distant sea, seeming to burn the sky in its descent.

"Look out!" a growling voice warned from behind.

Auron spun around just in time to see a nebiros attack him. Searing pain shot through his head. He felt the giant insect's stinger enter his flesh just below his hairline and rip down, through his right eye, and down his cheek. Auron backed away hurriedly, feeling the effects of poison course through him. When he looked up he saw the Ronso from before make quick work of the nebiros and the insect dissolved into pyreflies. Auron felt his knees give out from under him and he pitched forward. Before he hit the ground the Ronso caught him, gently lowering him to a sitting position. Auron reached inside his pouch and pulled out an antidote. The Ronso took it from him and poured part of it over the wound. The rest of it he forced Auron to drink. Auron felt his strength return. He hesitantly lifted a hand to touch his wounded eye, but a clawed hand stopped him.

The Ronso shook his head. "Gone," he said.

Auron dropped his hand and stood slowly. "Why did you help me?"

"Kimahri grateful for what guardians and summoner do," the Ronso said, crossing his arms.

Auron pulled his heavy sword back onto his shoulder. "Hmph," was his only response.

Kimahri stared at him. Auron felt like the Ronso was asking him a question silently, but not requiring an answer. The feeling of a kindred spirit returned.

"Auron," he answered, starting to walk away again. He didn't get far before his legs started to wobble and he had to quickly thrust his sword into the ground to keep from falling. Kimahri watched all of this silently. It seemed that the Ronso would wait to see if the guardian would ask for his help. Auron didn't. He did look back at the cat-man, welcoming him to follow if he so wished. Wordlessly Kimahri walked behind, hand clenching a spear. Auron hated to admit it, but it was nice to have a companion.

***

As the sun set in the sky, Auron felt his strength wane. He was still using his sword to assist his walking. Blood trickled out of the wound across his eye and down his face. There wasn't anything he could do about it, though. The wound wasn't deadly and he only had one potion left. He didn't want to waste it. The loss of blood made him slightly light-headed. He needed to get to the Travel Agency as soon as possible.

So far Kimahri had been a silent shadow, trailing behind him. The Ronso used his spear as a walking staff and glanced around occasionally, keeping watch for fiends. Auron chuckled to himself. Here he was a guardian being guarded. Braska would have laughed. Auron's chuckle turned into a sigh. Why did he have to constantly think of him? He lifted his gaze to the now starry sky. The tiny pinpricks of light reminded him of pyreflies. He shook his head at his morbid thoughts and turned his mind back to the way ahead.

The Travel Agency was still quite a distance away. If they kept walking they might make it there by dawn. Suddenly, Auron stopped and slipped into a fighting stance. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Kimahri follow. Standing in front of them was a shred and a skoll. Auron knew he could take on the armoured shred without much of a problem, but the skoll was too fast for him. He nodded his head towards the shred to indicate that he could handle that one. Kimahri nodded and lined himself up with the skoll.

Before the shred could move, Auron charged it, lifting his blade in both hands to bring it down on the fiend. The shred attempted to dodge, but was too slow. Auron's blade bit into its left shoulder, cutting, what could be called its arm, off. The fiend howled in pain and attacked Auron with the speed of the wounded, slamming its tough body into his side. Auron backed away, gritting his teeth in pain. He lifted his sword again and ended the life of the shred in one last slice.

Beside him Kimahri battled the skoll. At first the wolf-like fiend seemed too fast for the Ronso, but after a few attempts Kimahri finally hit it, causing the fiend to burst into pyreflies. He looked over at Auron to see him on one knee holding his chest. Auron sensed the Ronso looking at him and tried to stand, but his legs wouldn't let him. The wound was open again and bleeding, badly. He reached inside his pouch and pulled out his last potion. Uncorking it, he poured it on the wound and stood. Kimahri just watched him, silently asking if he was ok. Auron shouldered his sword once more and continued the walk to the Travel Agency. Kimahri followed behind.

***

Once more exhaustion was taking its toll on Auron. Now, he was putting his full weight on his sword as he walked. He stumbled frequently. Kimahri was always there to assist him. They were still far from the Agency. The moon was reaching the top of the sky. Midnight was quickly approaching. Auron felt his knees buckle. Silently he collapsed to the ground. With a great effort he pushed himself up to a kneeling position.

"Auron needs rest," Kimahri said, laying his hand on Auron's shoulder.

"No." Auron tried to stand, gripping the hilt of his sword for support. "We must continue."

Kimahri's hand went from a gentle support to a strong pressure insisting that Auron heed his words. Auron complied and collapsed back to a sitting position. He was too tired to argue.

The moon lit up the night like a soft candle. It was the only light that they had to go by. Auron felt his eyelid trying to close. He shook his head, feeling a dull pain shoot through his skull from his head wound. He couldn't fall asleep, not with this wound. As it was, he wasn't sure that he could get up again after taking this rest. His strength was ebbing and he still had to make it to Bevelle. Suddenly he caught movement out of the corner of his eye.

Kimahri walked around Auron to face the guardian.

"Auron needs sleep," he said, sitting down.

Auron lowered his head. "I can't," he said, simply.

Kimahri wordlessly reached inside a pouch he wore at his side and pulled out a bottle. Bottle in hand, he offered it to Auron.

"Drink," he said.

Hesitantly, Auron took it. "What is it?" he asked.

Kimahri crossed his arms. "Ronso medicine. Auron can sleep without worry."

Auron eyed the bottle skeptically. What did he have to lose? His life? If he didn't rest he would die and if this didn't work he would die. He had nothing to lose. Uncorking the bottle he drank its contents. A cool feeling washed over him. The dull throb in his head receded and he felt himself getting sleepy. Slowly, he lay down, staring at the stars until his eye drifted shut and the world disappeared.

***

Kimahri sat and watched the slumbering Auron. The young Ronso didn't know why he helped the guardian other than out of gratitude. There was something else as well, he guessed: a sort of kinship perhaps. They both had suffered and they both seemed to deal with it in the same stoic, silent way. There was a respect between the two that Kimahri had never known before, especially at his home.

Self-exiled for his own failure to beat his brothers, all he had now was shame.

"Kimahri weak," Biran sneered, holding the broken end of Kimahri's horn in his hand. He lifted it in the air for everyone to see.

Kimahri lowered his head in disgrace. Biran was too strong. Shoulders hunched, Kimahri walked down the mountain to the laughter of his brother. He didn't see the sadness flash across Biran's face.

A moan drew Kimahri out of his thoughts. Auron was stirring next to him.

***

Auron slowly came to consciousness. His head felt extremely heavy. An overwhelming feeling of numbness pervaded him. He cautiously opened his single eye. Standing near him was a blurry, fuzzy something. The figure was large and blue. It must be his silent Ronso companion. What was wrong with his sight? Slowly he sat up, regretting it as he did so. An immense pressure seemed to squeeze his head. Instinctively he slipped his hand to his head. He jumped when he felt a hand slip to his shoulder.

Auron looked up. Slowly he was starting to make out the details of Kimahri's feline face. It was then that he remembered the strange potion that the Ronso had given him. Was that what was causing this?

"What is wrong with me?" Auron asked, his voice barely a whisper.

The large hand started to gently push on Auron's shoulder, encouraging him to lie back down. "Auron need rest."

"You didn't answer my question." Auron was starting to feel light-headed.

"Potion help Auron sleep. Don't fight it," the Ronso's voice was filled with patience. This slightly annoyed the guardian, but he didn't have the energy to argue. He lay back down and almost immediately sleep overtook him.

***

Bright light pierced his eyelid. Slowly, he opened his eye. His surroundings came into painfully brilliant detail. Moaning, he closed his eye and slid his left arm over his face.

"What time is it?" he asked, assuming that the Ronso was nearby.

There was a note of amusement in Kimahri's voice as he said, "Early morning. Sun just rose."

"Hmph," Auron snorted, not liking the tone of Kimahri's voice. He tried to sit up and found that he couldn't. An overwhelming feeling of weakness assaulted him. He collapsed back to the ground. In an instant Kimahri was by his side.

"I knew this was going to happen," the guardian mumbled, closing his eye.

Sorry Braska. Sorry Jecht.

A clawed hand slid under Auron's head. The former warrior-monk opened his eye. Kimahri was propping him up. He had a bottle in his hand.

"Drink," the Ronso commanded.

"What is it?" Auron asked, looking at the bottle warily, remembering the last potion Kimahri had him drink.

"Give Auron strength," Kimahri said, uncorking the bottle.

Auron raised an eyebrow, but accepted the potion. He cautiously took a sip from it, a slight feeling of energy coursing through his body. Satisfied that it wouldn't knock him out again, he drank the rest of the potion.

Kimahri took the empty bottle and dropped it into his pouch. "Potion last for few hours," the Ronso said, meeting Auron's eye to emphasize his warning.

Auron nodded and stood. Lifting his large sword to his shoulder, he walked away.

They weren't far from the trading post much to Auron's relief. If he could make it there, he might find a healer that could rid him of his wound. He could sense Kimahri following him more than he could hear him. The Ronso was silent as usual.

Some time ago Auron might have preferred this. Now, though he hated to admit it, he missed the out-spoken, crude company of Jecht. At times he could almost hear the blitzer's boisterous laugh. A scream pierced his thoughts.

"Look!" Kimahri growled next to him, pointing ahead.

Auron sighed. They had just reached the Travel Agency, but it was surrounded by fiends. It appeared the remaining ones wanted to get revenge on the humans for taking away the link to their rage. Auron looked at Kimahri. The Ronso nodded. Without a word the two charged on the fiends attacking the trade post.