Chapter Six: Three Saviours

"... It was a miracle she hung on..."

"... If we hadn't of came along, she'd of been a goner for sure..."

"... Let me get another Hi-Potion down her, Luzzu..."

Her chin was gently tipped up and a stinging liquid poured down her throat. She hacked and settled down. Her eyes didn't want to open, they felt like lead weights... wait, did she hear voices?...

"Do you think she'll pull through? That stab wound wasn't pretty," a female voice asked timidly. People...talking...

"I'm not sure Elma, I only work Chocobo healing, I could be doing it all wrong on a person," a nervous voice replied.

"I think it was lucky Clasko came along with us today, or this person wouldn't be looking as good as she is now," interjected a far calmer stronger male voice.

... Elma... Luzzu... Youth Leaguers?...

"Say, does she look familiar to you? I think I've seen her talking to Lucil before," Elma realised and a shadow fell over Seymel's shut lids.

"It cannot be... Seymel? She trains the younger members in defence," the shadow grew darker and Luzzu's voice louder and by her left ear.

Seymel's face twitched – she could feel that Hi-Potion kick in and strengthen her. Her eyes opened and she groaned.

"Ohhh...man..." she moaned and gripped her stomach.

"Seymel! You feel better?" Elma asked soulfully, laying a hand on Seymel's arm. Seymel managed a weak smile and tried to move into a sitting position. A hand clamped on her shoulder and helped her. She looked up to see Luzzu with his vibrant red hair give her a gentle smile as she supported herself against the rock from earlier.

Seymel looked around. Clasko was crouched next to her with various potions in his hands grinning sheepishly and Elma was standing by him with an expression of concern on her face.

"Much better than dead," she croaked and still felt woozy.

Clasko offered her another Hi-Potion and she sipped it gratefully.

"Thank you all so much, I'd of died if you hadn't of found me," she rasped, her throat felt unbearably sore.

The three all became embarrassed, but Luzzu recovered and chivalrously said while extending his hand to help her up, "It was a stroke of luck we here at the right time to save you." She took his hand, but her grip was pathetic and Luzzu hauled her up as delicately as he could. She still screamed in agony – Luzzu almost let go when she almost deafened him.

She handed the potion back to Clasko and looked at her stomach.

There were rough strips of material bandaging the wound she noticed as she made it to her feet. Seymel swayed slightly and leant on Elma for support.

"Come on, Seymel. We better take you to the nearest inn and fast," Elma told her and the four of them slowly made their way along the Moonflow path to the inn.

Seymel still felt very woozy and her mind was now fixed on a very important topic.

"Do you know where Baralai is?" she asked Elma hopefully. Elma's usually cheerful face darkened.

"Why would you want to know? As far as I know he'd be in Bevelle, right?" Elma shrugged and carried on aiding Seymel while Luzzu supported her on the right.

"... I need to see him. He's my... we go out," Seymel replied. She didn't care what they thought, she needed him, now.

Luzzu frowned and Elma looked surprised. "You're in the Youth League but you go out with the Praetor of New Yevon?" Elma sounded unconvinced of Seymel's commitment to the League. Seymel picked up on it immediately.

"You can't choose who you love," she softly countered. Luzzu nodded wisely and they continued in silence. Clasko was fiddling with a rucksack as they went, probably Chocobo stuff, Seymel didn't know.

All was quiet for a while until Clasko gave a small cough and the three turned to face him.

"I can send a message to Bevelle, if you want," Clasko spoke quietly. Seymel brightened considerably.

"Really? Would you do that for me?" she eagerly asked and Clasko gave a shy nod. Seymel hobbled over to Clasko and gave him a hug.

"Thank you so much, Clasko, this means a lot to me. Will you get Baralai to come over to the inn?" she pressed him urgently.

He nodded.

"I can catch a Chocobo from around here and get it to take a message over real quick. They like me," he helplessly explained and wandered off into the brush, leaving the other three to stare for a moment.

"He does have a gift with Chocobo's," Elma admitted and they continued on a while until giddiness from the lack of blood sent Seymel resting on the side of the path. She fell asleep for a while, but woke to leaving thumping footsteps.

Her eyes slowly opened to see Clasko was back with a smile on his face. Seymel pulled herself up and looked around. "What's going on?" she sleepily asked looking to Luzzu and Elma who were quietly talking, but stopped when they saw Seymel was awake.

"I've sent a Chocobo on to Bevelle. He was a really willing, happy bird and didn't mind helping out," Clasko proudly explained to Seymel, who grinned. "Thank you so much, Clasko! How long do you think it'll take to reach him?" she enquired.

"A day or less – he was a quick bird. But Baralai will probably take a day and a half or so," Clasko mulled. Luzzu gave a nod and got up.

"You feel strong enough to go on? It's not much farther now," he kindly asked as Elma scouted ahead.

"A little. I really need to sleep, but the Moonflow's so close...let's go," Seymel finally decided. Clasko took over Elma's position and they slowly progressed along to the Moonflow.

With each step Seymel grew more and more exhausted – she physically couldn't carry on by the time they had made it to the Moonflow and had only a minute walk to the Shoopuf ride.

"Oh, okaaay!" Luzzu exclaimed when she folded up and went to crumple on the ground and swept her up off her feet.

"You're lucky I used to be in the Crusaders, or I wouldn't have the expertise to carry a damsel in distress," he joked, trying to keep her conscious.

She managed a frail smile to let him know she was awake as they boarded the Shoopuf.

"Nooo...I hate Shoopuf's and water..." she murmured and kept her eyes firmly shut the whole voyage, her stomach churning with fear.

Elma looked out and gave a cry.

"Hey, we're not far from the inn guys!" she exclaimed pointing excitedly. Clasko shivered and had a sickly green tinge to his skin.

"You don't like Shoopuf rides, Clasko?" Luzzu said quizzically, tipping his head in curiosity.

Clasko shuddered, "I hate them," he whispered.

Seymel went out cold and didn't reawaken until she heard the noise of a door creaking open and conversation. She could feel that Luzzu was still carrying her – they were moving somewhere...

She opened her eyes and realised they had arrived at the inn. Elma was explaining to the innkeeper what happened and he seemed to be sympathising with her.

"Of course we'll look after her, she looks like she's been through hell, the poor girl," the innkeeper said in a hushed voice.

Luzzu looked down and noticed Seymel was awake.

"You're back then?" he whispered and she weakly nodded.

"Elma's just sorting out your room. I'm going to stay with you while Elma and Clasko go and report to Nooj what's happened. He's not going to be in the least pleased," Luzzu told her and she feebly nodded again and closed her eyes. Her body was tired, but her mind was a little more alert than before and she could follow conversations.

"Take her to the room down the corridor on the left – you sir can go in the opposite one," the innkeeper decisively and she felt Luzzu nod and they began to move again.

"See you later Elma, Clasko," Luzzu said formally. Elma made a grinding noise in her throat as if she thought he was being stupid.

"See you Luzzu...Goodbye Seymel," Elma spoke softly. Seymel cracked her eyes open and fixed them on Elma's face. She feebly reached a hand out and Elma took it.

"Thank you Elma. For everything," she managed to say and Elma nodded, tears welling up in her eyes.

"You rest now, Seymel," she replied and gently squeezed Seymel's hand and left. Clasko stepped forward with a helpless smile on his face.

"Bye, Seymel. That Chocobo is going to reach Baralai soon," he said and put a brave smile on his face.

"Thank you Clasko, you saved my life and I won't ever forget that," her voice cracked and a tear escaped down her face. Clasko nodded silently, apparently not trusting himself to speak and left. Luzzu gave a heavy sigh and took Seymel to her room.

It was a one bedroom, light and airy as they all were and comfortably warm. Luzzu laid her on the bed and tucked her injured body in like she was a porcelain figure.

"The innkeeper is going to prepare some food that'll help get your strength back, so I'll be back in a couple of hours," he told her and left. She fell asleep almost immediately her willpower focused entirely on Baralai coming to her as soon as possible.