Disclaimer: I don't own anything from final fantasy 8.
Firstly I'd jus like 2 say that, yes my chapters are very short. I'm improving that in this chapter. I will begin to get into the story more as well. Thank you to all that reviewed, you've made me more willing to continue! Thanx
Run.
Rinoa's P.O.V
Normally when I have a dream I end up forgetting it. But this dream seemed so real. But was Raylin real or was she just another character in my twisted dreams? Nothing seemed so clear anymore.
Squall was asleep, lying just beside me. I had woken from my dream or nightmare a while ago. To scared to sleep again.
He stirred then got up yawning sleepily. " Where to now?" I asked. " Well we can't stay in this so called cursed forest, they'll find us, so I thought about it before I went to sleep. East from here is the Acult Plains. There's a large forest there, it's full of monsters. If we go there we'll at least be away from the gardens." I sighed. " Sounds ok".
Getting out of the forest was easy.
We had expected to see guards everywhere. But there was none. What was going on?
A few kilometers from the 'cursed forest' we made it to the Acult plains. The forest Squall had mentioned was near some other scattered forests situated around it like a circle. Once inside the forest, I began to wonder about the monsters.
" You said there was heaps on monsters in here…what about that?"
" Don't tell me your scared of few bite bugs and grats Rin?"
Rolling my eyes I followed him deeper in.
A small lake was in the middle of the forest. Crystal clear with a few bugs jumping in it.
" It's beautiful" My comment had been unheard as Squall was looking in the other direction into the deep trees that surrounded the small lake clearing. " What's wrong?"
" Someone's here…" Squall grabbed something from a tree. He pulled out a man, wearing a long gray trenchcoat with short blonde hair. I recognized him straight away.
" Seifer?"
Author's P.O.V
Donas walked gracefully into the office. " Sir!" She stiffened raising her hand into a salute. " Yes what is it?" The gruff voice behind the chair asked.
" The Gardens are getting suspicious, they want to know if we have found anything about the sorceress and knight."
" Those Gardens…don't know a thing. Tell them…we found some of the sorceress's hair and are investigating. They'll believe it. Say we have hundreds of guards around the plains surrounding Deling."
" Yes sir, anything else?"
" If they find out about us Donas, we're done, I don't want anymore info leaked out and keep those damned SeeD's out of this!"
"Yes sir! I'll get right on it! You have my word sir!"
"Good"
Dons walked out of the room. Manches puffed his cigar. " Almost time, when we're ready, the Council will be more powerful then ever…in time"
Squall threw Seifer on the ground. " What the hell are you doing here?!"
Seifer stood up and walked towards the lake, standing at the edge of the water. " I wanted to find you"
" Find us? Why?"
" I'm in the same situation as you, remember?, I wanna help you both"
Squall crossed him arms and leant up against a tree. Obviously wanting to stay out of the conversation. I stepped in.
" Why would you want to help us?"
" You need help, simple as that, how do think I've managed to keep so well hidden all this time? I've been staying there, I want to take you there as well"
"There? What do you mean, where do you want to take us?"
" Promise you'll trust me and let me help you, I can't tell you if I don't know you trust me"
" Why should we trust you"
" Because I'm the only one you can trust"
" Ok…but if you dare break your word Seifer…"
" Yeah yeah"
I looked toward Squall. " Is that ok?" He nodded. " Be good Seifer"
Seifer nodded and began to explain. " I'm gonna take you to a place called Crescent Winds. It's in the Herms Ranges near the Trabian territory. No one knows about it except us. It's a village"
" A village? Don't you think people would know about it?"
" No, it's * inside * the largest mountain of the Ranges, Mt. Gray. Only I know how to get in."
" Oh…"
Squall looked toward Seifer then walked up to him. " Well then let's get going "
Quistis P.O.V
We still hadn't heard anything from the Council about Squall and Rinoa. They weren't keeping us informed about anything and I was beginning to wonder what had happened. But today the Council Leader, Donas, announced they had found some of Rinoa's hair and were investigating. Guards were scattered all over the plains surrounding Deling.
Balamb Garden had been extended over the 2 years since Ultimecia's defeat. It was 2 years ago that we were all celebrating our triumph. A week from now would mark the anniversary of that day. A new ship bay had been built onto the Garden and the dorms had been extended to allow another 300 more cadets. 3-4 people per dorm. Only SeeD's got single dorms.
There were now four Gardens. Balamb, Galbadia, Esthar and Trabia. Trabia was still under repairs but it would be up and running in about a year. The gardens were not aloud to take part in the search. The Council had ordered all headmasters to stay away and cease all SeeD missions. The three gardens were now all stationary near Deling. A few miles from here was the Station. That's what we all called it. It was where the Council was. The main area. Just an enormous building housing three ships and a number of helicopters. The Station was where all major meeting were held, including Rinoa's trial.
The Council had been formed almost a year and a half ago. It as thought the world needed a leader, as did the Gardens. So the Council was formed. So far it had been a great asset. The head of the Council was Donas.
After a while they began to look into Rinoa's case, because of her being a sorceress. The idea was to send her to Esthar to Odine. There she would be held under her supervision, where he could carry out experiments to help his research. If she were locked away she would be no harm. They gave her a trial. I'm guessing she lost because she's run away.
I'm supposed to help them they look up to me, not as much as they look up to Squall, but they need me to be strong right now. Thing is, I don't know how to do that.
Rinoa's P.O.V
We looked out beyond the Acult plains. 2 chocobo's were tied to a tree. When we reached them Seifer untied them.
" I stole them from a chocobo forest" Seifer explained, answering the questions in my head.
"From here we go across the Acult plains and onto the Herms Ranges. Stay close. Technically the Herms Ranges are Trabian territory cos' of an argument a few years ago, even though Trabia is a long long way away from here. The trip should take us all night, I'd say we'd get there by about midnight, these chocobo's are pretty fast"
I had to ask. " Seifer, where's Raijin and Fujin?" Seifer grinned. " They're in Balamb, I told them to go to Crescent Winds if there's any trouble, so yeah, they know about it to"
Squall jumped onto a chocobo, as Seifer and I take my place behind Squall on his chocobo. As we rode I held onto Squall's shoulders and leaned my head on his back. So tired. I wanted to sleep, but I couldn't not knowing what I would dream about. What if I dreamt about Raylin again? It might be worse this time. But I couldn't hold back to need to sleep.
~Dream~
I was sitting on a rock, still in the valley at the bottom of the cliff. The mist still hung in the air. In front of me stood Raylin. Her back was to me. She turned around and smiled, then sat down next to me. " Why are so worried of going to sleep?"
"Because I'm afraid of what might happen, like last time, I didn't actually know you were real…I guess you are. These dreams are real". Raylin nodded. " I'm glad you understand" I shook my head.
" No I don't understand, why me?"
" Because you interest me, the way you think, the way you act. I just felt as if you needed help"
Seifer thinks so too
I stood up and faced her. " But how can you help me? Just give me advice? I don't need that kind of help. Your not exactly real…you're just in my dreams" Raylin smiled again. " That's what you think"
" Huh? Your real!? Where are you, let me find you!" Raylin shook her head. " That's not possible Rinoa, I'm glad we could talk, We'll discuss this more later, you need to wake up"
~End~
"Ouch…" I whispered. My head it against Squall's back as the chocobo stopped abruptly. " This it, we go on foot from here." We were at the base of Mt.Gray. I was freezing, the once grassing ground I remembered seeing before I fell asleep was now snow. Small flakes of snow fell from the sky. It was night. " How long was I asleep for?" I asked Squall.
" About 5 or 6 hours" Wow. It was such a short dream.
Authors Note: Phew! That was much more better. A lot longer. Thanks to everyone that reviewed
Mariko
devildragon
The Angel of the Lion
Please review I really need your input to continue! Cya!!!!
