Chapter Two: The Climb
Cloud looked up at the ragged path that lie before them and let out a sigh "i hope that everyone is ready for the long hike," he said turning to them. They all slowly nodded to him and started up the winding path with the Mako Reactor has their target. Cloud paused a moment and turned to the group "also just to let everyone know be on your guard for wolfs and birds," he said "they tend to pop out of nowhere up here."
They all marched forward Cloud and Barret leading the team while Vincent and Aeris covered the rear of the team. Vincent slowly looked around the mountainside a bit preoccupied by his deep thoughts and not even noticing that Aeris had asked him something. "You don't talk much do you Mr. Vincent," she said looking up at him "I'm sorry forgive me i was merely taking in the sight of these mountains," he replied. He looked down at her with his red eyes "please do ask your question again," he said.
"I was going to ask if you don't mind if you could..." she said but was cut off as two wolfs leapt out in front of her. The wolfs growled bearing their teeth as they charged forward at Aeris. "Help!" she shouted as they neared. Before she could draw up her staff two loud bangs echoed through the air and the wolfs dropped dead in front of Aeris. She slowly stepped back seeing the gunshot wounds to the head on the wolfs then turned to Vincent as he held his drawn QuickSilver and smoke rising from the barrel.
The party turned their attention to the back as the group ran up to Aeris "Are you alright?" Cloud asked holding out his hand to her. She slowly takes his hand and slowly stands with his help shaking a bit. "Yea I'm fine," she said "that just totally took me off guard and the loud bangs frightened me a bit." He slowly nodded to her and let go of her hand and turned to the gunman "thanks for helping Aeris," he said. "It was no problem," the gunman replied putting his QuickSilver back in its holster. "Here Aeris why don't you come up front with me and Barret," Cloud said slowly putting his arm around Aeris.
Tifa slowly watched Cloud and Aeris hidden a look of jealousy from them and slowly moved back figuring that she was suppose to take Aeris's place in the rear. "Well I'll just move to the back so that Vincent isn't alone," Tifa said with a tone of dissatisfaction in her voice. Cloud slowly turned to her and gave her a smile "really? That's good Tifa i was going to ask Red to do it but if you want that's alright with me," he replied. I'm sure it's fine...Since you got pretty girl up front to gawk at she thought to herself and slowly moved to the back by Vincent.
Vincent slowly looked at Tifa and his sixth sense slowly kicked in as he felt a wave of jealously filling her. He slowly decided to break the silence as they hiked "so how long have you know Cloud?" he asked. She looked up at him with her brown eyes "well I've known Cloud since we were 5," she replied. The gunman slowly nodded to her and looked around a bit "so tell me a bit about yourself" he said, "that's if I'm not intruding on personal matters."
Tifa looked up at him and smiled feeling a sense of ease over come her. "Well lets see..." she started as Vincent and her walked along the path ignoring the others. Though the gunman may not have talked a lot about himself or any at all he said all the right things so that Tifa did the talking.
