Chapter 1: Meeting of Destinies
The young woman strode through the biting rain, lightning ravaging the skies and earthing onto the bloodstained ground. She just wanted to get away from the constant struggle between her kin and those who sought dominion over them. She knew she would probably die before her wish came to fruition, but anything was better than doing nothing and dying in slavery.
She was weary of the many days of travel, and was starting to waver in her determination as fatigue set in and took over her thoughts.
*give in. live your life. be a slave. at least you will have certainty in life.*
The sounds of galloping horses and the shouts of their riders snapped her attention back, and she dived behind an immense granite slab, seeking shelter from the marauders. They stopped scant feet from the rock, allowing her to hear very word with terrifying clarity.
"She came this way" "Spread out and search for her" "He who finds her can do what he wants to her" The marauders roared with laughter at the prospect, and each went their separate ways, intent on hunting her down and letting their depraved minds run rampant. She decided she did not wish to see that happen, immediately leaving her hiding place and running as far from the rock as possible, leaving them no clues to follow.
However, her gamble backfired. The ground, slick with rain provided no traction for her to cling to as she ran, and she slipped down a steep slope into a narrow ditch. She panted in shock, and then to her horror, she heard the sounds of a horse, and the sickening cackle of it's rider.
"I guess I win." he chuckled as he jumped down from his horse, unhooking a cruel axe from his back as he did so. The woman closed her eyes, accepting the inevitability of her fate, as she heard the sound of a second mans footsteps. He spoke, yet his voice was different; soft, full of purpose, and strangely comforting. "Don't you know that you shouldn't treat a lady like that?" "Mind your own business human, and I'll let you go." The marauder spat. The woman heard the sound of a sword being drawn from it's scabbard; things were going to get ugly. "Wrong answer" the voice sneered. Seconds later, a blood-curdling scream resonated around the night sky.
As the woman trembled in fear, a gloved hand appeared in front of her face. "Grab my hand, I'll pull you out" the gentle voice came. Willingly she grasped the hand, and was hoisted out of the foetid ditch. Now she stood looking up at her saviour, his features masked by a hooded robe. She glanced down at the ground, seeing the dismembered corpse of her would-be killer. "Come with me, they will still be after you. I can protect you." He offered. "But if they catch us, you will be killed too. Why are you risking yourself?" "Human nature. Now come on!" he finished, grabbing her hand and leading her towards the huge, imposing mountains.
As the two raced up the mountainside, the man was satisfied that they had outdistanced their pursuers, and slowed down to a walk. He led the woman into a cold, damp cavern on the storm-blasted mountainside, sanctuary from the raging weather. Once inside, she saw it was no mere cave, it was his home. He lit a torch on the side of the cavern, bringing the only light for miles around. Within the safety of the stone shelter, the man removed his hood, revealing a pale skinned man in his early twenties, with a mane of pure white hair cascading down his back. From under his long bangs, a pair of emerald green eyes stared at the young woman.
"You should not go wandering the wasteland all alone. Anything could happen to you." He said sternly. The woman was somewhat taken aback by this, feeling it was not his place to be lecturing her. "I don't need you to tell me that, whoever you are. Who are you anyway?" "My name is Sephiroth. I hunt down the warriors sent by the Masters. It allows me to vent my frustrations and also means I'm doing my bit for humanity." He chuckled. "What's your story?" he asked the woman, curious as to why she was out in such a dangerous place. "I am Rinoa Heartilly." She replied, pulling back her hood, to reveal a porcelain white face, with ruby lips and onyx eyes, framed by ebony hair. "Heartilly? As in Lord Heartilly?" "I'm his daughter. When the oppressors came, we tried to stop them, but he died in the attempt. Our town fell soon after." She replied, her voice wavering as she spoke, for the pain of the memory was too great. "I can see you are tired. Please rest here the night. I wouldn't want it on my conscience if you walked out of here and got yourself killed." Sephiroth offered. "Thank you." Rinoa yawned as she settled down to rest, falling into a deep slumber as soon as she lay down. Sephiroth smiled slightly. It had been so long since he had last had contact with another human, and he had forgotten how good it felt. He sat down next to Rinoa, gently stroking her hair. He decided to keep watch over her that night, his heart telling him to protect her, no matter the cost.
And, as always, he would follow his heart.
So, whaddya think? Please Review: I like hearing what people think of my work, even if it is all bad. The next chapter will be up as soon as I think up more stuff, and have the time to write it all down. Until then, goodnight.
The young woman strode through the biting rain, lightning ravaging the skies and earthing onto the bloodstained ground. She just wanted to get away from the constant struggle between her kin and those who sought dominion over them. She knew she would probably die before her wish came to fruition, but anything was better than doing nothing and dying in slavery.
She was weary of the many days of travel, and was starting to waver in her determination as fatigue set in and took over her thoughts.
*give in. live your life. be a slave. at least you will have certainty in life.*
The sounds of galloping horses and the shouts of their riders snapped her attention back, and she dived behind an immense granite slab, seeking shelter from the marauders. They stopped scant feet from the rock, allowing her to hear very word with terrifying clarity.
"She came this way" "Spread out and search for her" "He who finds her can do what he wants to her" The marauders roared with laughter at the prospect, and each went their separate ways, intent on hunting her down and letting their depraved minds run rampant. She decided she did not wish to see that happen, immediately leaving her hiding place and running as far from the rock as possible, leaving them no clues to follow.
However, her gamble backfired. The ground, slick with rain provided no traction for her to cling to as she ran, and she slipped down a steep slope into a narrow ditch. She panted in shock, and then to her horror, she heard the sounds of a horse, and the sickening cackle of it's rider.
"I guess I win." he chuckled as he jumped down from his horse, unhooking a cruel axe from his back as he did so. The woman closed her eyes, accepting the inevitability of her fate, as she heard the sound of a second mans footsteps. He spoke, yet his voice was different; soft, full of purpose, and strangely comforting. "Don't you know that you shouldn't treat a lady like that?" "Mind your own business human, and I'll let you go." The marauder spat. The woman heard the sound of a sword being drawn from it's scabbard; things were going to get ugly. "Wrong answer" the voice sneered. Seconds later, a blood-curdling scream resonated around the night sky.
As the woman trembled in fear, a gloved hand appeared in front of her face. "Grab my hand, I'll pull you out" the gentle voice came. Willingly she grasped the hand, and was hoisted out of the foetid ditch. Now she stood looking up at her saviour, his features masked by a hooded robe. She glanced down at the ground, seeing the dismembered corpse of her would-be killer. "Come with me, they will still be after you. I can protect you." He offered. "But if they catch us, you will be killed too. Why are you risking yourself?" "Human nature. Now come on!" he finished, grabbing her hand and leading her towards the huge, imposing mountains.
As the two raced up the mountainside, the man was satisfied that they had outdistanced their pursuers, and slowed down to a walk. He led the woman into a cold, damp cavern on the storm-blasted mountainside, sanctuary from the raging weather. Once inside, she saw it was no mere cave, it was his home. He lit a torch on the side of the cavern, bringing the only light for miles around. Within the safety of the stone shelter, the man removed his hood, revealing a pale skinned man in his early twenties, with a mane of pure white hair cascading down his back. From under his long bangs, a pair of emerald green eyes stared at the young woman.
"You should not go wandering the wasteland all alone. Anything could happen to you." He said sternly. The woman was somewhat taken aback by this, feeling it was not his place to be lecturing her. "I don't need you to tell me that, whoever you are. Who are you anyway?" "My name is Sephiroth. I hunt down the warriors sent by the Masters. It allows me to vent my frustrations and also means I'm doing my bit for humanity." He chuckled. "What's your story?" he asked the woman, curious as to why she was out in such a dangerous place. "I am Rinoa Heartilly." She replied, pulling back her hood, to reveal a porcelain white face, with ruby lips and onyx eyes, framed by ebony hair. "Heartilly? As in Lord Heartilly?" "I'm his daughter. When the oppressors came, we tried to stop them, but he died in the attempt. Our town fell soon after." She replied, her voice wavering as she spoke, for the pain of the memory was too great. "I can see you are tired. Please rest here the night. I wouldn't want it on my conscience if you walked out of here and got yourself killed." Sephiroth offered. "Thank you." Rinoa yawned as she settled down to rest, falling into a deep slumber as soon as she lay down. Sephiroth smiled slightly. It had been so long since he had last had contact with another human, and he had forgotten how good it felt. He sat down next to Rinoa, gently stroking her hair. He decided to keep watch over her that night, his heart telling him to protect her, no matter the cost.
And, as always, he would follow his heart.
So, whaddya think? Please Review: I like hearing what people think of my work, even if it is all bad. The next chapter will be up as soon as I think up more stuff, and have the time to write it all down. Until then, goodnight.