BU - RE - SU

By Tenshi no Ai

(C) Square Enix

V. -Chill-

-0-

The vast fields of Mandalia Plains were liberally dotted with giant, gleaming white stones that jutted out of the ground like tusks, giving the land its nickname as the 'Beast Plains'. It was not a fertile land, yet monsters roamed these fields due to its extensive use as a direct route from Igros, the capital of Gallionne, to Gariland, where one of the most prominent military academies in Ivalice stood. In other words, it was a monster's hunting ground for the delicious goods humans tended to ferry around, as well as the humans themselves.

Beowulf knew this place well; not only was it just a week's journey from his home in Lesalia, but there were large packs of dragons that roamed these fields. He had watched as red dragons warred against their blue relatives, ice blanketing the fields even as blood splattered against the pure stones. Their brutality amazed him, and it was no small relief to him that Reis had never found herself here during the years she had spent as a nomadic dragon. Or perhaps she had; she was always vague whenever he asked her about her journeys in that other form.

He didn't want her to be here now, not as the curious creature known as the dragoner. Even if she retained the use of her draconic breaths, she was still perfectly human in appearance. However, Ramza had asked them to hunt today, the last day there would be a need to before their journey would take them to Murond. Beowulf had wanted to protest, but the young Beoulve looked weary from his revelations about his family in Igros and didn't need any additional stress at the moment. Though, considerate as he might be, the hunter couldn't hide the dark look on his face as he left the campsite with his lover in tow.

There were no monsters in sight when he glanced at Reis, who was walking beside him stealthily even as her skirts rustled through the short, dry grasses of the plains. Her expression was blank, though her eyes were rapidly scanning the area. The sun was setting, giving her creamy complexion a lively glow that warmed her features. He smiled briefly at that, their job a distant memory in his mind. She had always had that effect on him.

"Beowulf." Her voice was lower than usual, snapping him out of his pleasant reverie. "There's a monster just northwest of us."

He barely nodded to acknowledge her statement, turning to face the direction she had indicated. "Good job, love. Just stay behind me." Unsheathing the Defender he had retrieved after Dycedarg had dropped it to transform into Adrammelech, the knight sword's weight was a minor comfort to the former Temple Knight.

"Um...it's just a chocobo," he heard her say. He didn't turn around.

"Chocobos can be dangerous creatures."

"It's just a yellow chocobo."

He had to turn around at that comment. "How do you hear color?" he asked, raising one eyebrow in bemusement.

Reis shrugged. "I've hunted chocobos for years. It's just something I know."

For a second, he wanted to take that comment in another way, as a reference to her life as a hunter on Bariaus Hill. But then he looked in her eyes, saw the peculiar flatness he had seen in the holy dragon's eyes, and sighed instead. "All the same, I'd appreciate it if you stayed behind me."

Slight irritation crossed her face, but instead of replying she pointed north. "It's moved that way. It's grazing, but it's almost done."

Wisely, he decided to focus on the matter at hand. Without a word, he turned the way she had pointed and began to walk. Behind him, he heard her sigh and resolved that later they would talk about this, as well as future hunting trips. It wasn't that he didn't think her capable in battle--unfortunately, he had to admit the opposite--or that she would just get in his way. However, his need to protect her was greater than his unwillingness to hurt her feelings.

The image of her, blood flowing from her nose and streaking through her golden hair, still haunted him years after the fact.

Before Beowulf's current mood nose-dived from the memory, he saw the chocobo. Not surprisingly, it was bright yellow and appeared to be a juvenile in growth. After considering it, he figured it was enough to feed all of them. The only problem was approaching it, as all chocobos except for their red counterparts were very skittish when alone, and this part of the plains had no 'tusks' in satisfactory range. But before he could even formulate a plan, he heard the dry grass crackle under the weight of Reis' skirts as she moved forward. "Reis?" he whispered as she moved past him, but she didn't acknowledge him.

As she walked towards the chocobo, the way she moved gave rise to warring feelings inside him. On one hand, the way her hips swayed back and forth hypnotically in time with her measured steps caused his breathing to hitch; on the other hand, there was a rigid quality to her arms that whispered of the same violence the edge of a sword would sing as it whistled through the air. Held in place by desire and something he would never admit was fear, he watched her.

The chocobo raised its head when she was mere inches away. "Hello," he heard her say, and the avian monster chirped in reply. It sounded happy, which added to the hunter's muddled state. Reis giggled, causing Beowulf to smile automatically. "Is that so? Well, yes, I am a strange sort of human." She moved so that she stood just before its beak, then she reached out and began to touch its head, weaving her fingers through its feathered crown. "And you're a strange sort of chocobo, but that's not a bad thing at all."

Well, if she's going to make friends with our food, I suppose that means we shouldn't get this one, Beowulf thought, amused by the sight before him. Reis had always gotten along more easily with monsters than with humans. His odd paralysis gone, he shook his head and turned away, a smile gracing his handsome features. It's getting dark, but we should find another monster easily around h--

A loud crack rent the air, the sound resembling the explosion of noise from one of Mustadio's guns. In fact, that was what Beowulf had thought the sound was as he instinctively prepared himself for a fight. He looked at Reis, ready to protect her at a moment's notice, and froze. The dragoner had settled onto the ground, as had the chocobo. She was still stroking its head, a small smile touching up the corners of her lips.

The chocobo's neck was unnaturally twisted, its eyes closed as its tongue lolled out of its open beak.

Beowulf saw this, saw the light smile on his lover's face, and his blood ran cold.

-End to Chill-

Think of this as an extended version of Predator. There's an obscure reference to WHW that I couldn't help; for the most part, I'll be trying to stay away from that, though this is a sequel. For all the skeptics: One, Reis is tied for strongest female in-game and two, having spent years as a dragon, she would know best where the weakest parts of her prey are.

--Mandalia's rare battle pits enemy red/blue dragons against green guest dragons, but green dragons aren't so interesting to write about.

Reviewers!

Hey, Evil Mina. I like 'The Lady or the Tiger' just because I have a fierce analytical side that loves to figure out things like that. Though, I don't think I liked the writing style.
Thanks for your comments about the story. You know, reading your review, I think I should stop picking on Beowulf's brave. By all accounts, he and Rafa do some of the bravest things in the game, while Agrias and her high brave ran right out of Lionel Castle and left Ovelia behind (and now that I said that, someone's going to yell at me). But anyway, Beowulf's human.
Here, I'll write something bad: Through magic (and someone spilling soda on the console), two girls are transported to Ivalice! Ramza/OC and Delita/OC.
...I kid, I kid. People should write whatever they want.

Good job, TruebornChaos. Next time, I'll hope that you write the first review, just so you don't take the easy way out. :P Reis isn't necessarily timid, she just takes a long time to actually decide to do anything. Revenge is a dish best served piping hot by the use of dragonfire, after all.
Good luck about your interview. What job were you going for, if I may ask?

Hello, TobyKikami. Glad the skit was of some use. I hope you're not implying that someone's actually written conclusive fanfiction to 'The Lady or the Tiger'. Somehow, that doesn't seem right.

Yo, raitei. I'm happy you liked the story. Heh, I think most people like Beowulf. There's a lot of reasons to, after all.

Sorry, Solitary Confinement, I just have a habit of pointing out things that strike me as odd. Anyway, the very fact that Beowulf spent such a long time looking for Reis shows his strength and integrity, as well as his love for her. That's something that takes more skill to get across than what I currently possess, and I can only be happy if only a bit of it does. So, thanks.