Chapter eight:Close to crazy.
By Mako Eyez
After waking at an uncertain time, she deduced that it was at least midday as her one good eye surveyed the heavens. Her other eye continued to sting but the pain brought comfort by reminding her that she was still alive. Which was some blessing.
Still tired, she looked around in a daze for Lani when she was visited by memories of the previous day. She remembered the moment she had shunned Lani's advances and made the poor girl cry.
She now had no idea where her best friend was. Silently she said a prayer in the hopes that the hand of fate may guide the teary eyed warrior to better days.
Thoughts of Lani were beyond her. Her mind now lay focused on her own situation. She knew that she would have to get to Alexandria for treatment but she also had to bring the body of the brave soul that was General Gogo with her.
Using the sword of legend, Save the Queen, Beatrix cut a length of rope into pieces. The rope which had been stored in a pouch carried by the chocobo was of Dragoon make, strong yet yielding. The tent which housed Gogo's body had been collapsed into a makeshift body bag.
Piercing holes in the tent with Gogo's sword Beatrix proceeded to thread the rope through the holes. The rope was then tied to the chocobo's reigns. Now Beatrix could only hope that the canvas tent would be strong enough not to tear on the harsh terrain.
A mental image of Gogo's body rolling across green plains came into her mind. She quickly dismissed the thought and carried on with her plans.
The sun had fallen slightly when Beatrix had completed her task.
Below the cloudy skies thick grass rustled loudly as the chocobo tore across the earth, almost as if he knew of the urgency that Beatrix required.
As she came into a clearing of trees she noticed something moving in the bushes. On closer inspection it seemed that there were several bodies shifting around in the foliage.
"Bandits." She said to herself.
As Beatrix came close to the band criminals, one of the thieves leapt out at her holding a blade menacingly in his hand. The chocobo darted to the left of the criminal as a cloud of red fell behind the speeding bird.
Screams rang out behind her as the arm which held the bandit's sword fell to ground, still clutching the blade. The rest of the bandits fled. Leaving their literally unarmed team member alone with his wounds.
Monsters fell one after the other behind her as she rushed to Alexandria.
As the proud chocobo, once again stained with human blood, entered the town of Alexandria Beatrix lost her composure.
And then her balance.
And then consciousness.
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Guilt consumed her tired body. With every ache came the same question; Should I have left her?
Lani knew all too well that Beatrix could handle herself. There lay no doubt there. The guilt came from the emotional bruising that she had inflicted on her dear friend.
As step followed step she was soon passing the entrance to the ice cavern that lay within the mountain walls close to the forest. As she passed, she could have sworn that she heard a faint kupo.
But of course, that wasn't her problem.
The constant feeling that she was dragging lead weights persisted as she made her way to her destination.
A destination unknown.
In a feeble attempt to distract herself from her own thoughts and feelings she began to sing a song that she had heard a long time ago during one of Alexandria's annual performances.
How can I think I'm standing strong?
Yet feel the air beneath my feet.
How can happiness feel so wrong?
How can misery feel so sweet?
How can you let me watch you sleep?
Then break my dreams the way you do.
How can I have got in so deep?
Why did I fall in love with you?
This is the closest thing to crazy,
I have ever been.
Feeling twenty-two, acting seventeen.
This is the nearest thing to crazy,
I have ever known.
But I was never crazy on my own.
And now I know.
That there's a link between the two,
Being close to craziness, and being close to you.
The serenity that accompanied these heart felt words was shattered by the sudden appearance of a speeding chocobo carriage.
As the insane bird charged Lani dived to the left while the beast turned to the right and came to a halt.
"Are you all right?" Asked the driver of the vehicle as he peered out from under his beige cloak. Locks of orange hair fell from underneath the hood as he turned his head.
Glancing up from the earth with mud on her face Lani replied;
"Oh I'm perfect."
"Your tone tells me different. You sound like a noble who was mugged of their riches. You lose something?"
"Just a diamond."
"Bad luck."
"My luck."
"Where are you heading now?"
"I don't know, wherever my feet take me, I guess."
"Well my chocobo could take us to Treno. Would you like a lift?"
A green hand crawled out from under his sleeve as he offered it to the unfortunate girl. Her light brown fingers gripped the stranger's hand as she was pulled onto the carriage.
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End of chapter 8
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I have to say sorry for the lack of update. I've had a lot of problems lately. I'll see this story through to the end if it kills me..... of course the insomnia will probably kill me first.
I'm also sorry about the length of this chapter but please bare with me. I'll update again within the next two weeks.
Joe.