Disclaimer: Final Fantasy VII is the property of Squaresoft. However, the story concept is entirely mine. As are a few characters.
Clouds rolled and tumbled over each other in the night sky, distant rumblings and quick flashes as if to show their displeasure and restlessness. A storm was on its way and tonight, nature mimicked life.
A young man stumbled clumsily through a narrow path in a cave below Cosmo Canyon. He was ill adept for such adventuring, especially with the moon slumbering. There was no light to guide him.
Sweat poured from his brow as he steadily worked his way over the rocky terrain. And finally... Success. He had reached his destination, only to be greeted with a spear point held to his throat.
"Intruder!" A guttural voice said angrily. "State your purpose. Now!" The voice held the promise of a slow and painful death if it did not like his answer.
A small shudder ran throughout his body, before he replied. "I come with a proposition for your leader." He paused hesitantly. "Can you... Take me to him?"
There was only silence as the guard considered his words carefully. The man before him was unarmed and obviously winded. He could easily handle such a soft one. The guard sneered in disgust. There would be no harm in taking this one to their powerful and wise leader, Gi Nattak.
The guard simply grunted after a few moments and stepped around behind this pathetic excuse for a man, and mercilessly pushed his spear tip into his back, forcing the man forward.
The man stifled back his outraged protests at such unnecessary roughness. He was getting what he wanted. It wasn't like he could expect gentile behavior from such Savages. He was led down a slightly declining, narrow path before finally reaching the tribe's village.
It was obvious this tribe was used to the Night Life. Everyone was out, busy contending to their daily--or nightly--business. Even children were out, scampering about the small village. He noticed that they played harshly, many of the children covered in bruises, scrapes, and even scars from past injuries. Dogs barked and growled viciously at each other as they fought over small scraps of food or a bitch. The women sat outside their tents, sharpening spears and knives for their husbands. It was all too obvious these people were aggressive and war-like by nature.
Finally, after being paraded through the village, they reached a large tent. More massive than any of the other surrounding ones. His 'friend', who had been so kind as to escort him, momentarily stuck his head inside and muttered something. Withdrawing from the tent flap with a smile, he rudely shoved him inside.
"Ah, Outsider. You have a proposition?"
He openly stared at the leader of the Gi Tribe. The man was immense! Never had he seen such wild adornments on a person either. The tribal leader had red designs tattooed onto his face. Majestic swirls crisscrossing and meeting each other. He had black, soulless eyes. The black so depthless it seemed one could drown in them. The headdress was the most awe-inspiring part. Feathers so brilliant and radiant any Phoenix would be rightly jealous. Upon seeing all of this, his first impression was of the man possessing a fiery aura.
"Well?" Gi Nattak was becoming restless and impatient. He had allowed the Outsider to stare at him long enough.
The man quickly scrambled for words. "Er, yes. I am Settan." He nervously cleared his throat before continuing on. "Indeed, I do have a proposition. One, I think, that would most interest you."
"Do you care to share it with me, or must I slowly pull your worthless intestines from your cowardly gut inch by inch until you tell me?" Nattak let free a deep and reverberating laugh.
Settan got the clear picture that this man would enjoy performing such tasks. "No, that's quite fine," he managed to reply smoothly. "My proposition concerns Cosmo Canyon."
Nattak instantly sobered up, his seemingly depthless gaze settling intently upon Settan's face. "You have my attention. Continue."
"I would like to help you arrange the extermination of Cosmo Canyon and all its residents."
Author's Note: This fanfic is tied into my other story The Truth Behind Midgar. However, it should be entirely possible to read this one separately and have no problem following the storyline. With the exception of a few references made to the previous story.