Salamander
"What's that?" Yuna pointed at a small red object near the Zanarkand dome.
"That's a red salamander." Auron said.
"Didn't you tell me a story about those?" Tidus asked.
"Lookie, it moves!" Rikku squealed in childish glee.
"Yes." Auron didn't seem very interested.
"Tell us." Yuna looked at Auron in such a way he couldn't refuse.
"Yeah! Tell us a story!" Rikku laughed merrily.
Auron signed, defeated.
"Fine. But I'm not going to make it long. We have to get to Yunalesca."
"Yah! Story, story!" Rikku sang out her words and jumped into a comfortable position on the ground. She sat on a rock.
After everyone was settled, Auron picked up the small red creature, stroking it softly.
"A salamander in Zanarkand is considered to be…somewhat of an artifact." He started.
"Artifact?" Tidus raised a skeptic eyebrow.
"Yes, an artifact. It is rumored to have magical powers. Long ago, the salamander ruled the country of Spira with its fiery red-hot body and temper. There was a group of people called The Guard. They opposed the Salamander, thought of them as evil."
"So what happened to them?" Lulu asked.
"The Guard was made up of eight people. There were two leaders, a male named Juno and a female named Gina. Then there were six workers, Alexandria and Evanescence were the two main ones, while Liberi, Devon, Yokunai, and Samurai did their dirty work."
"Juno, Gina, Alexandria, Evanescence…that means to dissipate, right?" Yuna asked.
"Yes, High Summoner." Auron replied.
"What happened to them then?" Tidus was getting antsy.
"Yokunai and Devon were caught in a spike trap. The jaws of a fierce monster in Bevelle captured Liberi and Alexandria. Samurai drowned in the sphere pool of Macalania. And Juno and Gina were murdered in their final destination, Zanarkand, buried alive by the Salamander King itself."
"And Evanescence?" Lulu asked.
"She disappeared. Rumor ahs it she dissipated in the middle of Mount Gagazet." Auron lowered his eyes sadly, as if he knew the girl.
"Time for Yuna to go now." Kimahri grumbled, a party spoiler as always.
"Yes, he is right. We should go to Yunalesca now." Yuna smiled, a forced smile.
"Okay." Tidus looked sad to leave.
"I wanna hear the rest!" Rikku whined.
"There is no more." Auron said mysteriously but to the point, throwing his cloak over his shoulder and walking away.
As everyone else followed, Rikku jumped up and down.
"Hey! Hey, where's the rest? Come on! Where is the rest? Hello?" She kicked the dust at her feet. "Ah man! Not again! Hey wait!" She chased after her slowly trudging group, tripping over a big stone in the path, scraping her knee. "Hey!"
