Even after being petrified for a century Seto was still full of energy, and the effects of "Battle High". The black wolf, Lavantos he named himself, had reluctantly supplied Seto with a brief detachment of the years since his apparent death. Sephiroth sensed deceit in the rugged black wolf's words, but Seto seemed to intent on returning to his village and seeing his son to notice. The three made their way back to the village, Cosmo Canyon.
"I have much to do with the elder chief when we arrive, and I still don't know your name outlander."Lavatos spoke.
The words 'much to do' seemed as an omen to Sephiroth, it was still to much of a foreign matter for him to tell just yet what it was the dark creature was conspiring. Seph remembered the name of his previous life well but failed to understand what reviving the name alone could bring.
"Seph." He replied.
The wolf had taken aback half a step, then continued to walk ahead as though he was never disturbed by the name at all.
"What is it you were doing on the hills? Certainly you didn't come looking to revive our fallen leader?"
The image of the young woman with emerald eyes shot through him like hellfire. Blood ran from the open wound in the center of her chest. Her sun-touched skin and forest willow brown hair seemed to fade- overcome by the face of a large red furred wolf.
"Well? How did you end up in the Canyon" Seto asked; his interest peaked.
The girl...
"The g-I'm looking for someone." Seph blurted.
The villages human elder was a tall, lean and rough necked man appearing to be in his late sixties. For an old man he was in excellent shape. This was in no small way thanks to his practice of the martial arts. So it did not surprise Lavantos nor Seto when they entered his meditation room to find him executing the Five Forms. The old man had caught sight of Seto, and his eyes widened from beneath his scraggly white beard.
Utter silence.
Reno and Tseng approached the Candle's Mouth river followed by two dozen shinra soldiers. They attempted to ford it but where stopped by a pack of scouting wolves. The soldiers trained their weapons on the pack.
"I told that fool : a landing team of no more than five. They probably think we're here to collect tithes on their village." Tseng threw at Reno.
"I'm not the president, stop toss'n accusations at me!"
One of the four dogs barked loudly in Reno's face.
"How cute." Reno replied, without moving an inch.
"Don't take another step! One more and you will be in Tribeland territory." The lead wolf growled protectively.
"We don't want trouble we ju-"
"Don't want trouble! Well if that's so then I suggest you take your hind quarters along with your ronin elsewhere!"
"There is a spy that has done great damage to our nation, who has fled beyond these borders. We need to-" Tseng started, but to little avail.
"I don't care. If it is so important than you'd best take it up with our chief. I cannot give you the authority to cross into our borders, but I Will make sure you do not cross until then. "
"How are we to talk to your Chief if you will not allow us to pass?"
"That's not my problem"
The attention of several soldiers were now on the tree canopy. A soldiers head whipped back suddenly, the silvery gleam of a shuriken petruded from his forehead and he fell to the ground dead.
"NINJA!" One of the soldiers screamed while opening fire on the tree line.
"Dammit, they set up a trap!" Tseng cried.
The scout wolves took cover. One of them roared "They're attacking us!" To which another replied "You'll regret this!" and they vanished. The smoke of gunfire cleared as Reno raised his hand in the 'cease fire' hand signal.
"This isn't good; they think we were shooting at them!" Tseng reflected with a foreboding tone.
"Who was the dumbass who opened fire?" Reno demanded.
Tseng shook his head.
"It doesn't matter now"
The meditation room was filled with a cool soothing cinnamon scent. The reunion between the old warrior and his tribe members was heart warming, but too short. Lavantos gathered the hunters for a gathering .Seto lowered his head and spoke.
"It's been many years, I understand?"
The human elder, who Seto had known as Bughenhagen, waved his hand in dismissal.
"Not so long that your son doesn't miss you still." The old man smiled.
"Nanaki! Where is he now?"
"He is out hunting for the tribe."
"Ah-ha, that's my cub!"
"Who is this tall young man with you?" Bugenhagen asked.
"He's got Mako poisoning, doesn't remember a thing." Lavantos snorted.
"I was flowing through a warm underground stream, then I found myself in the cave at the mouth of Seto's canyon." Seph explained.
"Interesting. Yes, now that I think about it, there were springs in that cave that connected with the Life Stream. That is one of the reasons that the GI wanted to trounce our village…"
"You said you were searching for someone?" Seto inquired.
"I would like to know where our old chief has been all these long years." One of the hunters spoke.
"I-"
"Will there be a change of command?" Another younger wolf inquired.
"Listen! We will discuss this later. I believe the return of our greatest warrior is a good omen; he brings a sign of power to our tribe. Tonight we celebrate!" Bugenhagen cried out.
"Celebrate indeed!" A wolf called.
"To the return of our savior!" Another bellowed.
"We'll feast on the human!"
"NO! He saved Seto!"
"Then we'll feed our own to him!"
Several of the wolves broke into laughter. Sephiroth shifted nervously on his feet. Something still wasn't right. The way Lavatos stared at Seto; there was rivalry, perhaps even hatred. The stars bored upon the canyon and set forth foreboding shadows across the blood red stone.
Sephiroth winced.
The smell of blood ,he thought, why hasn't it caught their attention yet?
Seph tried to gain the attention of Seto, but was interrupted by a large explosion in the direction of Gongaga. The wolves all perked their ears and turned their heads to face the direction of the noise in unison. There is a brief moment of silence followed by the sound of sustained gunfire. Bugenhagen turns on his heels and sprints down the stairs, with feral speed the wolves pass the old master with ease.
They reach the forests and are stopped by a pack of scout wolves.
"What hap-" Seto began
"The Shinra, they tried to enter the canyon!" A scout replied hastily
"What was that explosion from, I see smoke?" Lavantos asked.
"It was Kov, he cast a fire spell to hold them off. The brush is all fire now."
"Why were they trying to enter the canyon" A winded Bugenhagen breeched.
"They said something about a spy." The scouts replied.
"They're accusing us of spying?" Lavantos raved
Lavantos turned to his rival.
"We will push them back to Gangaga." Seto growled.
Lavantos stepped back indignantly.
An order? You dare give me an order? Still…taking Gongaga seems like a good idea. You win this time. Or maybe…when your guard is down…
"Alright" Lavantos replied with a smirk.
"We'll use our forefathers tactics." Seto lowered his voice
"It will be a glorious victory." This time the smile on Lavantos' face was real.
BR
A Shinra soldier with gaping claw wounds sifts through the river. He drags out the corpse of another soldier, and sets it out on the shore.
"…"
Reno and Tseng approach as the man removes his helmet.
"Sirs, the Tribelanders…"The young man speaks as he brushes long black hair out of his blue eyes.
"They've chosen to harbor the spy. We know." Tseng replied.
"They slaughtered everyone. Those fucking wolf things know powerful magic cough and they appear from all directions"
"They know this land well. We aren't suited for guerilla warfare." Reno said reluctantly.
"I saw their new leader tear through our formation. Seto, he was … the size of an adult horse, just a damn monster. Luke never stood a chance." The soldier replied while staring down at his fallen comrade.
Tseng flipped open his PHS:
"Tseng here. They've chosen the hard way, Mr. Presidnet. Yes. Yes of course, as soon as Sephiroth is finished in Wutai, My thoughts exactly."
Tseng put the phone in Reno's hand.
"Call the chopper."