Final Distance

Chapter 2:

Convenient Time for a Snow Storm, NOT!

Okay, lame chapter title. Deal with it, I have a tradition to uphold here. Anyway, this is chapter 2, girl looks for guy, guy is a mess, girl needs to get guy help. Wow, how original of me.

Disclaimer: If I owned FFT, would I be writing a fanfiction?



Cold, so cold…

That was the first conscious thought that came to him. It was closely followed by the pain. The pain was horrible, like a fire burning through his insides. He wanted to cry out, but he couldn't find his voice. The pain was rising, ripping through his chest, he was dimly aware of the blood flowing from his mouth, and he wanted to scream. He was choking, choking on his own blood. He struggled feebly against the black blanket that was smothering him. A buzzing, like that of a hundred angry bees was filling his ears, then there was silence.

* * *

Teta ran through the snow and debris, the dull ache in her chest and the sting on her back forgotten, replaced by a sense of dread and foreboding. She had to find Algus, and she had to find him NOW!

* * *

Somewhere off in the distance he heard his name, two voices, one soft and comforting, the other desperate. He struggled against the darkness once more, but he couldn't fight it. The soothing voice was telling him to go back, he felt warmth on his chest, but it wasn't blood, it felt …pure. That was the only way to describe it. The desperate voice called out to him again. He could hear it more clearly now, the darkness was becoming easier to hold back. Something inside told him to call out to it, but he couldn't. The blood kept getting in the way…

* * *

Turning sharply, Teta gazed at a small pile of debris. The chunks of wood and stone formed an over hang, sheltered from the whipping snow and wind. Making a mental note of where it was, she broke into a run. The snow was coming down harder now and it was almost nightfall. She had to be getting closer, the sense of foreboding was growing greater in her chest. She was afraid of what state she would find him in, but he had to be alive.

"ALGUS!"

* * *

The desperate voice was back after it's few moments' silence. He struggled a final time, throwing him self onto his side. The blood flowed out of his mouth, he was no longer choking, he could breathe. He tried to call out again, coughing once, twice, he felt the blood clearing from his mouth, he coughed again, and cried, his voice cracked and weak.

"I…I'm…h…Here!"

* * *



Teta froze. She had heard his voice. Turning towards the sound, she gaped slightly.

"Algus?"

She ran towards his prone form. He was lying in a pool of blood, trembling with the effort he was putting out to remain conscious. Kneeling down beside him, she gently touched his face. He shuddered and turned his head to face her.

"Te..Teta?" He croaked. His world seemed dim; everything was fuzzy. Teta frowned, he was very feverish and he was probably freezing. Carefully wrapping the cloak around him, she took a mental note of his injuries. He would bleed to death if she didn't get him to a chemist soon.

"It's gonna be alright, just hang on," she whispered, as she pulled him up. Placing his arms around her neck, she half carried, half-dragged him to the shelter. After checking to make sure he wasn't going to die on her, she took off, scavenging the rubble for potions. She only found two. They wouldn't be enough to heal him completely, but maybe they could last through the night. Reentering the small shelter, she sat beside him. He was still shaking, but he had made an effort to move, drawing the cloak tightly around himself.

"Here," she said, handing him one of the potions. He took it with a bloodied hand, nodding his thanks. Teta watched him until he fell asleep, then stared at the stars, sighing. The storm would clear in the morning, then she had to get him to a doctor.

* * *

Wiefgraf frowned at the sky. He had seen the smoke billowing in the distance, and knew what must have happened. Silently praying for survivors, he saddled Boco and another chocobo and took off towards the ruins of Ft. Zeakden.