hey folks, sorry for the long wait for a new chapter. Damn muses bit me into writing another couple of stoies. They always do that….slaps cid and Vincent…bad muses but I forgive.

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Nanaki ran carefully up the bizarre rock formations that had been formed in the creepy and warm cave. His nose tingled with all the different smells intermingling and the dryness of the cave.

It was almost impossible to discern the scents of his friends, Vincent was the most recognizable of the missing three because of all the chemicals in his frail form.

The lion creature sniffed the air, hoping to pick out at least one of his friends. As much as the group hated admitting it, they were all family now. Bound and tied by the fate the planet had deemed onto them.

Cloud's words entered his head, 'At least we'll die quicker than the rest of the planet if we don't make it.'

That was true, if they failed, if they were killed at the hands of Sephiroth and Jenova. However…they could win. They could defeat the threat of death to the planet.

However if they failed…they would all be part of Sephiroth. The ultimate evil and the most powerful being in the known universe. Had the Cetra, when they had defeated the evil Jenova been this afraid?

Nothing of the Cetra had survived the thousands of years that had passed. Very few remnants remained to see, the last ever half Cetra falling once again by the hand of Jenova.

But the ancient beings had won, the few that had gathered and joined forces had managed to save their civilization. Perhaps, AVALANCHE was repeating the mission and would be graced with the good fortune their predecessors had.

The simple thought made him speed up his search, three people couldn't take the evil on. All seven of them could…it should have been eight of them.

The human, Cid, abandoned them at the last minute. Scared by the godlike form of Sephiroth. Why had he returned to the Highwind? Why had he said those comforting words to Vincent, only to turn away?

It didn't matter, not now. If they survived this battle, he would perhaps inquire as to why he had ran.

"Vincent, Yuffie! Cait Sith!" he called out into the darkness.

No response, not that he had actually expected one from the absent trio. He had to rid himself of the horrid feeling of loneliness that had been creeping up on him. What if the trio had fallen?

"Who's there?" a female voice shouted back.

Yuffie? Yuffie! Nanaki felt a surge of relief flood his system. At least they were okay, that they were alive.

"It is I, Nanaki. Where are you?" the son of Seto called back.

The response was slow in coming, as if his friends weren't quite sure that he was real. Did they recall how Sephiroth had tricked them weeks ago by changing into Tifa? Vincent was always cautious to the point of callousness.

"Ahead of you, I think. Thought you guys would be at the second meeting point," Yuffie sounded dubious as to the lion's claims.

"…I was sent to help you," Nanaki sniffed the air, trying to locate the young ninja.

He heard some mutterings in front of him. The words had to be said by Vincent, he barely spoke louder than a whisper.

"By who?" Yuffie shouted back, "And…what's the secret password?"

Password? Are they really that distrusting? the warrior from Cosmo Canyon slowly padded forward, he caught the unmistakable stench of blood. Was one of his friends wounded?

"Cloud. There is no password, not to my knowledge," the lion narrowed his yellow eye, he felt like the walls were watching him. He did not like the smell that was being distributed around the cave.

That seemed to satisfy the nervous teen, she stood up from her hiding place. Cait Sith had been a little harder to hide, the large white mog had been rather unceremoniously shoved flat on it's face to hide behind the largest rock. Vincent was the hardest to locate, he remained in the shadows.

"It's Red," Cait Sith beamed, "He's probably got potions. So, we can get down to where the others are in no time."

Vincent stepped out from his hiding place, "Why did Cloud send you?"

The lion was surprised at how flat and toneless his friend's voice was. Granted, the dark man very rarely spoke passionately about anything but he had more life than that.

"He was concerned. There was no sign of you making your way down," Nanaki spoke truthfully and honestly. He took the chance to look at how his friends were baring up.

The three before him looked tired and battered. Cloud and the others had encountered monsters but not to the extent of his friends it seemed. Had they encountered Sephiroth and not told the others about it.

Vincent looked back at something, "We had things pretty easy. We just stopped of for some coffee."

The comment should of elevated the groups mood but the tone was once again flat and lifeless. It sounded more like and accusation rather than a playful joke.

The lion's answer was cut off by a muffled explosion a few levels above them and a surprise earthquake that rocked the small area of the cave they were in.

Yuffie yelped in surprise as Vincent tackled her before he was lost in the rockslide from above. Nanaki leapt back, barely avoiding the teen that had been thrown his way. The small cat that controlled the white mog scrambled out from a small crack that had formed.

The ninja screamed for Vincent, hoping he'd change into Chaos and break free from the rocks. She waited for what seemed like an eternity, hoping that any minute that he'd made good.

"……Holy crap…" Cait Sith muttered, "I think he's dead."

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Chapter 5 up. There ya go kids. Dang…another cliff hanger. Really should learn how to finish them off. Hope u enjoy.

Hey spoony! Damn muses wouldn't let me update. The pair had me writing another fic. Return of the highwind. Hope this quenches ur thirst.