A New Day
When morning came, Zephyr slept on in the tall grass, drenched with midnight dew. She looked peaceful, even pretty in her sleep, which was odd. Usually she acted so . . . strange . . . that her beauty couldn't be recognized even by the sharpest (or bluntest, for that matter) of eyes. She dreamt of something that brought her peace when the waking world could not.
…
Lhinx set foot outside the inn and looked around in the morning light. (Where could everyone else be?) She wondered.
Lhinx walked towards the woods, hoping to find some animal big enough for a decent breakfast. She found herself going along a mountain trail. Her ears twitched a bit, picking up the sound of water.
(There's gotta be something near there.) The Ronso thought and began walking slowly, making sure the pads of her feet met the ground before the rest of her foot.
Slowly she walked like this until she came toward a lagoon. The ground was wet and very cold, much to the Ronso's pleasure. The Ronso hunched down behind close by brush and looked around.
(Is that...?)
The Ronso nearly gasped, seeing the half Guado who had beaten her earlier just lying there, oblivious to what could possibly be a very deadly attack.
(My she looks peaceful, not at all like one who would wield a machina weapon or attempt to burn me alive...Now would be a great chance for revenge...Or instead...)
Lhinx walked over and pulled out a string of linen from her pocket. She carried some just in case she ever was injured. She tore a bit off and dropped near the half Guado's head.
(She should see it when she wakes up. Maybe I should look somewhere else for food.)
Lhinx walked off, leaving footprints in the wet grass.
…
Zephyr awakened shortly, when the sun finally fell into her closed eyes. She kept her peaceful visage, and her smile only widened when she saw the torn linen - a white flag - next to her face.
"Truce accepted," she whispered, stuffing the bandage into a pocket for safekeeping.
Enjoying the beautiful morning, she rose and began to walk back to the village, at her leisure.
…
Calix had found himself in his favorite spot on all of Besaid, the renowned docks, the tide high and the sun slowly rising to the east. The odd Al Bhed had been awake all night, and the day before. He was a nighthawk, mainly because he didn't like talking, but partly because there were some odd creatures that sometimes roamed the lands during the night.
Where he sat on the docks, the tide morning high, his now bare feet soaked in the cool salty water. As he sat with his other possessions around him, and his emitting an elegant tune, devised of a lot of finger movements and, a fairly long song. The song was one of his favorite songs that he made, but a few of the notes were incomplete for the purpose he used them for.
A light breeze caught his hair and whisped through his fingers as he played the quick but soft melody and the unwarning 'Cree from the gulls in the area. The Cree was in response to the music and Calix new this for the song he was playing was labeled 'Gulls Call'. He was good with music, and magic, but when it came to words the man was dumbfounded.
As he played the song over and over in the dew, Calix heard the noises of the town slowly, but surely coming to life. This was it, it was soon time to be heading off to the next city. To look, no, to find lady Yuna, and to clear the name of his people.
…
Zephyr heard a strange tune as she walked by the beach, and ducked between cliffs to see the Al Bhed from the previous day playing a tune on a peculiar electric flute.
" . . . And here we have some music with a purpose," she said under her breath with a smirk. She walked out onto the beach and waved.
"Hey! I never caught your name!"
Calix heard the Guado, shifter his spiral eyes to look at her from underneath his glasses, then turned his head, continuing to play his song. After a few moments he finished the song for a sixth time that morning and placed the Flute in his lap, and turned his gaze to the clear waters below.
" . . . And I guess you're not telling, are you?" Zephyr asked peevishly, hand on her hip. "I did apologize for . . . what I said . . . yesterday. I really didn't mean anything by it. Do you still want to hear about us? About what we're doing here?"
Calix wasn't at all mad at the Guado about 'spiral eyes', well not any more at least. He was just used to his life, how it always had been in Besaid, he would normally speak nothing to any one, just because he had nothing to say to them. He was silent most of his life and the other day was the last time he had spoke in actual sentence for quite a long while.
Zephyr walked closer, eyebrow raised, and sat down in the sand a few feet away from him. "Why won't you talk to me?" she asked, curious but also a bit annoyed at the silent Al Bhed. "I just asked for your name . . ."
"I won't talk... because I don't feel like talking." Calix stated out of the blue, as he looked towards the Guado, just a few feet away "My name is none of your business, and I do not intend on telling you. But what I would like top know is why you and your 'friends' are here..."
Zephyr spoke softly, so that no one would overhear. "We're looking for information about the High Summoner . . . Lucine is Rikku's daughter, and I think Kai and Serenity are Yuna's kids. The whole gang is worried about the Gullwings, so . . . we're looking for them."
Calix looked away from the Guado as she finished speaking, his eyes caught the glimpse of the water as thoughts rushed through his head. Why the hell does this sound too much like a coincidence? Why are there so many people looking for lady Yuna? Wait... what am I thinking... I can't continue with my search, they will all then find out my intentions, and my life will be a failure... A complete failure. But if I no longer quest for her, then I will fail the same... I must travel on my own and find lady Yuna myself... Yes I must! His facial expression changing with each thought.
…
Serenity awoke the next morning to find a blanket had been placed over her overnight. She turned groggily until she was on her side. She wasn't particularly a morning person. Serenity blinked, slowly realizing she must've fallen asleep in Wakka's hut, and they had come back and put a blanket on her. She let out a cry as she felt something poking into her, and pulled out the movie sphere Kai had given her last night.
"Kai hasn't watched it yet…I think I'll save it until we can watch it together," Serenity said to herself, curling the sphere in her hands. She then sat up and stretched, wondering what the sphere contained.
"That's if ya live to see it," a voice said suddenly, scaring her for she screamed. She held out her arms in front of her to fend off any incoming attacks, but felt the softness of a pillow hit her in the head, and a hand reach out and mess up her hair. "Ah, you're still easy to scare, Seren," the soon familiar voice spoke again, and Serenity opened her eyes to see Wakka.
"Wakka! Don't scare me like that!" Serenity said, sounding serious but she was laughing. "But I guess I do deserve that after what I did…" Serenity added.
"Ya, you do! Scaring us like that. You had me really worried, ya? Especially after what's goin' on with your parents." Serenity looked down, but Wakka patted her on the shoulder. "Don't worry about them. They're strong, just like you." Serenity smiled, and hugged Wakka tightly. "Thanks, Wakka."
…
Kai awoke in the morning refreshed in his own room for the first time in a long while. Kai looked around his familiar surrounding but got up deciding that he was gonna go check up on Serenity. He walked out of the hut and made his way over to Wakka's hut and overheard Wakka and Serenity talking. "I figured you fell asleep here," Kai says walking into the hut. "Its good to see you again Wakka."
…
Silver awoke when he rolled on his side and fell of the branch he was sleeping on. "Whoa!" He slammed against the ground, and then his blitzball fell on his head. "Not my day..." He stood up and grabbed the ball, walking back to the village. It seemed it was still early for nobody was outside, although he knew he wasn't the only one awake.
Could she be awake yet?
Silver shook his head, his ears being able to listen to a conversation inside a hut. A man with a funny way of talking and a woman... a girl.
That answers it... but it's better if I go first check on Lucine and find the others...
…
Serenity let go of Wakka, and smiled at Kai. "Yeah! And I got attacked!" She said, hitting Wakka lightly with the pillow he threw at her.
Wakka laughed, scratching the back of his head as he did so. "Yeah, yeah, I get it!" He stood and made his way over to Kai, patting him on the back. "Kai, where ya been? How ya holdin' up? The Aurochs been missing ya tons."
Kai laughed. "Well, I warned you that you would if you fell asleep here." Kai was propelled a little forward from the pat on the back. "Ah well, I have been here and I have been there. Mainly just trying to find out anything about Mom's and Dad's situation." When he says the Aurochs have been missing him he nearly busts out laughing. "Really? Why would they miss the bench warmer? The bench getting cold or something?"
…
(What can I do now…?) Lhinx wondered. (I can't go anywhere without the others...I know where the Guado girl is, or was rather, she has to have awoken. But where are the tiger man, Al Bhed and other girl?)
Lhinx walked towards the village again, seeing Silver walking near a hut. Her ears twitched a bit, hearing what she thought to be the same voice as that Wakka guy that had sent her into the Chamber of the Fayth.
(I should tell him what I found at least.)
The Ronso strolled over and stood near the tiger demon.
"Going in?" She asked.
…
Serenity stuck her tongue out at Kai. She didn't want to admit he was right. Wasn't the sisterly thing to do. She stood up yawning and stretched again, holding onto the sphere. "I'm going to get something to eat," Serenity told them, and walked out of the hut still as groggy as she was when she got up, which was easy to tell, for she almost bumped into the crates that were beside Wakka's hut.
Wakka laughs again, going and sitting down where Serenity was sitting. "Haha, nah, it's nothin' about you warmin' the bench. You good for team morale, ya? Keeps their spirits up." He looked up at him. "You found a new team yet?"
…
Silver was surprised when he saw the Ronso girl behind him. He didn't even hear her. "Yes..." He blushed a little, fixing a smile.
…
Kai just gives Serenity a big smile. "Ok sis, have fun. And I may meet up for a bite to eat as well" He says sticking his tongue out at her mocking her like a big brother should. Then after she walks out he turns to Wakka.
"Actually, I have this guy Silver is working on remaking the Zanarkand Abes. But the thing is only those born in Zanarkand will be on the team and even though I wasn't born there, pops was, so naturally I am on the team." Kai gives Wakka a second to understand what he said even though Wakka had to of known that Kai would have joined another team sooner or later.
"So Wakka, you're gonna have to let the team down gently that they won't have the bench warmer any longer." Kai says this with nothing but fun in his voice showing to Wakka there was no hard feelings about the bench warmer thing.
…
Serenity made her way towards the inn, and waved to the Aurochs team, who stayed in the inn, as she sat down at one of the tables in the front room. She put her arms on the table, then rested her head on her arms. She could hear the innkeeper laughing as he always did when she came waltzing in, saying, "The usual?" Serenity smiled, though the innkeeper couldn't see, and nodded her head.
"The Zanarkand Abes?" Wakka repeated, surprised that someone was thinking of starting it up. He then laughed. "Ah, your father would be proud! I'll let the team down gently. They'll miss you, but they'll have to get used to a cold bench, ya?" Wakka laughed again. "And hey, maybe we can blitz against each other someday."
…
"Ya," Kai laughed. "Dad would be proud. And once a teams together, sure, but don't feel too bad when you guys lose." Kai says this all joking around with Wakka. "Well, Wakka, it was good talking to you again but I am starving so I think I am gonna go get some food." With that Kai walks out and heads toward the inn to fill his belly. "Man I am so hungry!" Kai says as he reaches the inn and walks through the door to see Serenity with her head down on the table. "What are you doing sis? You just woke up?"…
Silver just saw the brothers into the inn, and decided to go with them. The others would be awake soon, and he already had found the Ronso girl. "Feeling like having some breakfast?" he asked her, smiling as he always did when talking to a Ronso, for only their race treated him like one of them. "I'm just starving, haven't eaten something decent in months."
(Now he's talkin'.)
Lhinx nodded, a small smile on her face.
(Food...I hope they have eggs.)
Silver smiled back and walked towards the inn, knocking the side of it before stepping inside and finding the siblings sitting together. "Good morning," he called. "Had a nice night?"
…
Lhinx followed Silver to the Inn.
(I wonder if it costs money...)
Before entering, the Ronso caught sight of Wakka, the man who had sent her into the chamber of the Fayth the earlier night.
"Wakka." Lhinx said, getting the blitzer's attention.
"Oh, it's you." Wakka said, looking over at Lhinx when she was about to enter the inn.
He strolled over.
"Didja find anythin'?" Wakka asked.
Lhinx nodded and pulled out the same ring she had found within the chamber.
"There claw marks in chamber. Done recently." Lhinx said as she handed the ring over to Wakka.
"Whoa, this is nice. You find this in there, too?"
Lhinx nodded.
"Well, not much to be told by that. The claw marks, however, those are a bit suspicious. You might wanna check other Chambers in other temples."
Lhinx nodded, receiving the ring back from Wakka.
"Now go in an' get some breakfast." Wakka said with a smile. "You guys got a big journey ahead of ya."
…
Silver took a seat in front of Serenity. "How early is it? Lucine and the others aren't wake yet and we are leaving today as far as I'm concerned." He smiled and took the scarf off so it wouldn't have food spilled on it by accident.
…
Lhinx entered the inn and found Silver, Kai and Serenity.
"Where others?" Lhinx asked as she sat down somewhat near them, but at the same time keeping respectful distance.
"Asleep I guess," Silver said. "And that's good, they need all rest they can get. You and me will be fine because we aren't humans but they need more rest." He looked, at Serenity who really looked like she could use another hour of sleep.
(I never really thought about it that way. Okay.)
"We go to Kilika?" Lhinx asked.
(Wakka said to check in all of the chambers. But I heard Kilika is the fire temple...Still, I need to check 'em all. Maybe they can help me.)
"Need to go in temple."
"That would be good, my house is at Kilika. Would be good to visit it and re-stock myself for whatever we need," Silver said, suddenly longing to see his house one last time, because if anything happened, and he was killed then, he would regret it forever.
(Oh, that is convenient. The ferry should stop at Kilika before going on to Luca. Perfect.)
"Where food?" Lhinx asked.
(I am hungry. First things first after all.)
…
Tallulah stretched and yawned as she woke up and jumped out of bed. Her kimono wasn't in the best shape after she had slept with it on all night, so she took it off and put on her purple half-tee and matching sarong, along with her wristbands; A gift from Silver.
She put on her sandals and walked out of her tent, noticing no one was outside yet. Tallulah let out a sigh and walked into the inn, some of the Aurochs had shown her around when she got to the island four days ago. There he found Silver, sitting just in front that girl, Yuna's daughter. Next to her was her brother and just in front the Ronso woman.
"Good morning," she said politely and trying not to sound cold and harsh, to hide her feelings.
…
Lhinx noticed the songstress come in.
(Well she doesn't look too happy.)
Lhinx glanced at Silver.
(I wonder if he noticed. He should be in tune with his animal side, so he should be able to smell her anger.)
"Morning." Lhinx said. "You coming with us?"
…
Serenity merely mumbled something inaudible when Kai asked her if she just woke up. She only lifted her head when she heard someone take a seat in front of her, and looked up to see Silver. She smiled and sat up straight, rubbing her eyes. "I think…it's probably 7:30 in the morning." Serenity noticed him looking at her, and Serenity laughed. "I'm just not a morning person…" she explained. "But some nice cold orange juice should perk me right up!" Serenity moved her gaze to the Ronso and smiled. "Hi! I don't think I got your name. I'm Serenity."
"Ooh, we're going to Kilika? I can't wait!" Serenity smiled inwardly. I wonder what Silver's house is like… "And I, too, would like to visit the temple before we leave. Personal reasons." The innkeeper came to give Serenity her food, which was a Besaid dish that looked like pancakes with orange juice, as Tallulah entered the inn.
"Good morning," Tallulah said, and Serenity smiled warmly and waved. "Good morning. Sleep well?" The innkeeper hand put a hand on his side and looked at the group that had accumulated. "You guys want anything?" he asked them.
…
"I am Lhinx Ronso of the Ronso tribe." Lhinx said.
(My, she does look a lot like Lady Yuna.) Lhinx thought. (Wait...breakfast.)
"Eggs. Big plate." Lhinx said simply.
…
Silver smiled at the innkeeper. "You'll have me happy with a thousand apples for now... or maybe just the same Serenity's having." He smelled the food and his tummy growled, for he was real hungry. When Tallulah walked inside he just smiled and nodded. "Good morning."
…
(A thousand apples? Wow.) Lhinx thought. (I've eaten a side of beef for breakfast once, but I guess I've just been beaten.)
"Should get going quickly. After eat." Lhinx said.
"We'll wait for Lucine and the others," Silver said "Don't worry, the ship doesn't arrive till noon, we have plenty of time." The innkeeper put his plate in front of him and he took his gloves off, revealing his human-tiger claws and started eating as politely as he could. You can't let your Tiger side out for now...
…
Tallulah looked at Silver, feeling rather surprised his manners haven't changed in so long. He still tried hard to be polite even when his race was never one that care about things like that. "I'll take just an orange" she told the innkeeper.
…
Lhinx agreed, signifying her answer with a nod. When the plate of eggs arrived in front of her, she was a tad disappointed. She picked the plate up by the edge and allowed the eggs to slide down into her jaws. She set the plate down and swallowed.
"Any more?" Lhinx asked, receiving a nervous nod from the innkeeper. "Bacon too."
Lhinx then turned to look at Tallulah. "I like your singing. It pretty." Lhinx said.
…
Serenity sipped her orange juice, letting out a happy, "Ah," after doing so. "That really hit the spot." She looked back at Lhinx. "Oh, a Ronso! Nice to meet you, Lhinx Ronso. Do you know Kimahri?" Serenity hadn't met Kimahri, but of course had heard of many stories about him. She picked up a fork, and glanced at Silver as he took off his gloves and began eating with his claws. She watched in awe, wondering if it hurt him any to have claws. He sure eats considerately in front of others. She smiled to herself before beginning to eat her food.
…
She was amused when the Ronso swallowed the eggs just as if they were water. And she thought Silver ate a lot. "Thank...you" she said, trying to relax her surprised expression. "But I don't think it will ever be as good as Lady Yuna's..." she turned to Serenity "Maybe you should become a songstress too, you got your mother's beauty and voice."