Author's Notes:

Before I get into the actual disclaimer, I'd like to thank everyone who takes the time to review me. You don't have to do it, and it makes me glad when you do.

I don't own the rights to Final Fantasy or any of its characters.

Chapter Eighteen

Refuge

The three of them, Barret, Marlene and Red XIII departed Corel with a solemn air. Seeing his home town reduced to nothing once more left Barret more shaken that he was willing to admit, but he made sure to put on a brave act for his adopted daughter. Before they left, Barret salvaged what he could, and found travel provisions for them, as well as two mattocks for himself which he strapped in his belt at each side. The hammer he hooked into his saddle on the chocobo. If they encountered anything on the road to Cosmo Canyon, he would be prepared to fight.

There trip was hurried, but uneventful for the most part. They encountered no travelers at all, and that worried Barret. Worse, they encountered no monsters at all, either. It was if something had scared them all away to whatever hiding places they could find.

Red XIII scouted ahead of them at all times, sniffing the ground and looking for tracks. The ones that he did find, which were few, continued in the same direction that they traveled. After a while, they even discovered tracks from various wheeled machines, probably buggies, that were headed in similar directions, from the direction of Gold Saucer.

"I think we should check out Gongaga," Barret declared after their second day of travel.

Red XIII snorted, looking into the small fire of their campsite. "Foolishness. We must get to Cosmo Canyon as quickly as possible. Besides, it's closer."

Barret was about to object, loudly, but he saw the worry in his companion's eyes and shut his mouth. It was only fair. They had gone to his home. He should give Red's home the same consideration. So Barret stayed quiet on the matter and didn't push it further.

They started early the next day, the sun barely peeking over the horizon. Swiftly they journeyed, pushing themselves to go on until they reached a small river that blocked their passage further.

"Now what the hell are we gonna do?" Barret asked, looking at the rapid current. He had completely forgotten about the river, remembering that it had caused them no problems before because Avalanche had had a buggy on their last trip through this area.

Red looked as if he were about to answer, then stopped. He sniffed once at the air, then at the ground. He began to walk alongside the riverbank, following his nose to some unknown location.

"The hell you doin'?"

"Looking for the place where someone's been sawing wood."

"Sawin' wood? The hell you talkin' about?"

Red stopped, then turned to look back at Barret. "Someone's been working with lumber. And fairly recently. I can smell the sawdust in the air. As well as people."

"So what? Someone's been busy. Big deal."

"Busy doing what, though? I believe someone's made us a bridge. I intend to seek it out."

The feline loped ahead on silent paws, leaving Barret and Marlene to follow after on their chocobo. They didn't have far to go until the small party ran across a series of bridges being constructed by a group of men in ragged work clothes. The bridges that were complete held a steady stream of people crossing, with thousands more clustering behind, eager to get across. Not far from it all was a type of stage with a heavily muscled man on top, holding a microphone. He periodically shouted intructions, such as, "Slowly! Not too many at a time! That bridge won't hold if it's jammed tight!"

Barret squinted at the man, trying to make him out in the fading light. He wore traveling clothes, albeit nicely made ones. He had a bearing about him, almost regal, proud... and that of a warrior. He looked familiar.

"Who is that?"

Red XIII snorted. "Your human eyesight continues to amaze me with its lack of vision. Or is it your memory that's just poor?"

"You don't have to be insultin'."

"I'm sorry," the feline apologized. "I'm just tired, and worried for my people. I didn't mean to be rude. I am... on edge. Something is coming, more terrible than I can imagine, and I feel as if I am helpless. It is not a feeling that I am used to. At least with Meteor and Sephiroth, we knew what the danger was. Now? I am not so confident."

Barret nodded. "Yeah, I know how you feel. Whatever this is already got my hometown. I dunno if it's got to Cosmo Canyon yet. But anyway... you were saying earlier... who's that guy on the platform?"

Red XIII glanced back to the man supervising the evacuation to Cosmo Canyon, then answered, "Dio, of Gold Saucer. The man who ran it before this all happened."

"Makes sense. Prob'ly got his people out of there soon as it happened, and got 'em to the best place they could run. Think Cosmo Canyon will be able to support this many people?"

"I don't know. We've never attempted before."

Barret grunted. "Aw hell. Now's a bad time to try to find out. I'll go talk to Dio. See what he's up to. Maybe he needs help. Watch Marlene for me?"

Marlene made a sound, but Barret hushed her. Red nodded, "It will be my pleasure."

Barret picked Marlene up and placed her on the ground, then dismounted off his chocobo. The girl walked up hesitantly to the feline warrior, who placed his head under one of her hands, urging her to pet him. She cringed away at first, still uncertain at this animal who could talk. Red licked her hand a few times, and she giggled. Turning away from them, he moved to the stage to go speak with Dio.

The man spotted him right away and gave him a surprised smile. "You're that Wallace fellow, aren't you? The one I locked away in the desert then let go because Cloud won the chocobo race then explained to me about Dyne."

"Yeah. I'm the one."

Dio gave him an appraising look, settling down on his bionic hand. "I remember you having a gun-arm. You wouldn't happen to have that on you, would you?"

Barret shook his head. "Left it in Kalm with Cloud. Wanted a peaceful vacation at home with my daughter. Didn't expect all this."

Dio nodded. "I can understand. Bad time to leave it behind, though. Bad time indeed. Those damned albinos are crawling everywhere on this continent. Who knows where they came from or how many there are?"

"I've been to Corel. Looks like they came out of the mines or somethin'."

"So I heard from the survivors. Apparently it was a massacre. They came out of the mines while men were down there. The miners retreated, but those albinos chased after them. Luckily, they don't like the sun too much, so once the miners got out, they didn't get followed. They could've just fled like everyone else has who's encountered them... but the people from Corel are made of sterner stuff than most, I'd guess. They had the women, children and elderly head for Cosmo Canyon while the men went back into the mine and closed it off. Not many made it out of there. Probably twenty, maybe less."

"Ah hell. Y'think they live underground or somethin'?"

"They're albinos, and since where underground's where they're coming from, I don't just think it. But it doesn't matter where they're from. The important thing is surviving, and that's why we're headed to Cosmo Canyon. Best place to defend ourselves. Narrow canyons, high places to fight from. We might just live through this if there aren't too many of them."

Barret nodded. "Anything else I should know?"

Shrugging, Dio answered, "Not too sure. Silly things, mostly. People are getting superstitious. But some of the men I sent ahead to Cosmo Canyon came back with some weird reports. Apparently there's been some sort of... angel sighted there, and it's been fighting off the albinos. Single handedly driving away their probing attacks, as a matter of fact. Not sure how much credit to give these reports, but people keep saying he has weird glowing eyes, and fights with a glowing sword. Real long one, apparently."

Barret felt a chill grip him. That description. But it couldn't be... he was dead. Twice over.

Dio continued, "Anyway, we could sure use your help. You're strong, and I'm sure you could fight with the best of 'em. When it comes time to start killing those things, I'd like you by my side."

Barret nodded, answering that he would be there. He walked away, hurriedly moving to find Red XIII. When he found the cat, he saw Marlene sitting on him and rubbing his ears. He was purring contently, both of his eyes closed in bliss.

"We have trouble, Red."

One of the feline's eyes opened, and he asked. "Trouble? What kind?"

"Sephiroth."

Author's Notes:

Arg, sorry this took so long to write. I haven't been feeling well, and between work, this blasted flu, and my hands being screwed up, I'm not up to par at the moment. I'll try to post the next chapter ASAP, but no promises.