(Wowsies, thank you so much Slickman and Alex! A game, a movie, a book…I can't believe you guys think it's that good! Thank you, thank you so much! I couldn't do it alone.)
More Planning and Some Twilight Fun
"I think that makes sense," Silver said. "That old geezer Maechen once told me about a songstress from Zanarkand a thousand years ago. Lenne, I bet all of you have heard that. Vegnagun was a weapon from Bevelle... and Bevelle still claims to be the city that protects Spira. Maybe in the past it was true and Vegnagun was indeed created as a good guy. And now it's out as Serenity said. Maybe Lady Yuna went to find something to replace Vegnagun and protect Spira..."
...But then what if she uses herself for that? You know like the Final Summoning from the Time of Sin...
A Summoner must do what a Summoner must do...
She isn't a Summoner anymore you idiot, I'm not letting anything to happen to her... I wouldn't stand to see Serenity shed anymore tears...
Again to your puppy love, little Silver?
Shut up!
"... To equal the balance. But there is no one with enough power to do that, I mean this has to be more powerful than Sin itself. There is no notice of something like what we just saw happen before. And those creatures may be the clue. And there is the Farplane, too. Maybe we should take a trip to Guadosalam as we go, the..." Silver hesitated a second. "The Moonflow isn't far from Djose." Silver looked down and then smiled, scratching the back of his head. "Oh don't listen to me, I'm talking nonsense. Remember, I'm not the smart one here."
Lucine gasped. That must be it! She thought. The High Summoner Yuna must be looking for a way to fill in for Vegnagun! "Like Silver said, it does make sense. I mean, before Shuyin came, very few people even knew about Vegnagun. And before him, it hadn't done anything to hurt anybody. Vegnagun took on the destructive feelings from Shuyin and became evil, but it was never made for that purpose."
"I think our best course for action should be what Silver suggested, if nobody has any problems with that. We can travel to Djose and see what's going on there." Here she stopped, bending down to the ground, and drawing a crude map of Spira. Then she drew a little line going from Kilika to Djose. "Then we can travel up the Highroad to the Moonflow. But I don't know how much we'll find there." Again, a little line from Djose to the Moonflow. "And then from there, Macalania to check out the Temple. Then," she continued, with another line from the Moonflow to Macalania, "we'll walk right up to Bevelle, to see if we can get any information about this from the Yevon Priests." She finished with a line from Macalania to Bevelle, then stood up.
She looked at the others, to make sure they understood all of the babbling she had just finished with. "But like I said before, if anyone has anything they'd like to add or change, I'm open to suggestions."
"Lhinx would like to go to Mt. Gagazet. Elder Kimahri worries about Lady Yuna daily. If we get information, we must ease Elder's mind." Lhinx said. This had been the first time she spoke up for a while. She still felt a bit of pain here and there along her body, but thanks to Zephyr and Tallulah she was feeling much better.
"Elder Kimahri also explain about Ronso to Lhinx when Lhinx was Ronso pup. Ronso not originally speak like humans but like fiends because Ronso and fiends more in touch with animal side rather then human side. This why Lhinx and other Ronso not speak well." Lhinx paused and recalled the rest of the Ronso elder's lesson.
"As Ronso begin to interact with humans, they learn to speak like humans. If Ronso around humans more then fiends, Ronso speak human better, but Ronso around fiends more, Ronso hard to understand. Lhinx talk to fiends, half-fiends in temple speak better then whole-fiends."
"Just like pureblood Demons like my old man," Silver said. "Although most Tiger Demons look a lot like humans covered with short white or golden fur and black arrows like mine." Silver pointed to the lines on his arms, just like those the tigers have. "That's why I can lose control over myself when in a battle."
Silver looked at Serenity like he was still apologizing for what happened at Besaid and the way he literally ate the throat of that monster. Then he looked and smiled at Lucine. "Most likely we will be following the same path of a Pilgrimage... not my first time going that way so I might be useful for first time there." He laughed and knelt next to Lucine. "Once we're at the...Moonflow I'll check something on the sunken city, ok? You can all cross in a shoopuf meanwhile and I'll catch up with you in the other shore."
…
Serenity looked down at Lucine's raw drawing of a map of Spira. "Sounds good to me." Serenity looked up at Silver as he explained about why he loses himself in battle, and smiled slightly, accepting his silent apology. She then looked over his and Lucine's shoulders as Silver knelt down beside her and mapped out what he planned on doing when they reached the Moonflow. I didn't there was a sunken city in the Moonflow. Interesting…
Serenity leaned to one side, bringing a hand to her chin, her other hand holding onto her elbow. It was like following the path of a pilgrimage…She felt somewhat secure now that they had a makeshift plan, but the whole implications of it…she didn't like it at all. Is that it, mom? You left to sacrifice yourself to save Spira again? "But you disappeared…and the half-fiends are still here. So something doesn't add up…" Serenity said softly to herself.
"I—I remember something that dad told us once, about the pilgrimage on the quest to destroy Sin," Serenity said a little more loudly. "Mom was taken, 'kidnapped'… to the Al Bhed Home on Bikanel Island…It was to protect the summoners…to save their lives. Maybe that's something that could have happened now, too… There's so much we don't know yet, I don't know what's going on," Serenity added sadly.
…
"Sure, Lhinx. I wouldn't mind traveling to My Gagazet." Lucine drew a line from Bevelle to Mt. Gagazet. Then she saw Silver kneel beside her and say, "Most likely we will be following the same path of a Pilgrimage... not my first time going that way so I might be useful for first time there."
"Hey, yeah! That is the pilgrimage route, isn't it?" She laughed and rubbed the back of her head. "I guess that's how I came up with it. It was all those stories about the High Summoner Yuna's pilgrimage that my mother used to tell me."
She listened to Serenity's story of how Yuna was kidnapped and taken to the Bikanel Desert. "I don't think that's possible now. I mean, it was destroyed during the time of Sin. Of course, now my Dad, along with more Al Bhed are planning on building another one." She stood up, stretching her legs. They hurt from bending down so long. "And anyway, I thought the High Summoner Yuna traveled off into the ocean when she was last seen."
…
Moonflow. The one place Tallulah didn't want to return, at least not along with Silver. But there was no other choice and if they were going to find Lady Yuna she would have to fight her own feelings. Last time she was there she committed the worst mistake of her life and break the heart of some tiger boy that have always been true and loving. And now, she was would be able to have him back if it wasn't for that girl.
"Yes, she went to the sea," Tallulah spoke. "There could be an undiscovered island, or a temple no one but Lady Yuna knows about. Or maybe something the Yevonites want to hide. So many explanations but non of them seem to make any sense."
"You may be right, I won't trust one single hair from my tail to those so-called priests. Oh well, no use on thinking about that now. The only thing we need to know is where we are heading and that's settled." Silver smiled and stood up, then look at a tree "Oh yeah!" he jumped and landed on a branch where he took several apples and began eating two at a time. "I love apples!"
When he was finished with the one on his right hand he took another and threw them down at his companions, then another and another. "Here are my thousand apples, that's why I love Kilika. The sweetest fruits are here not to mention the best fish in all Spira."
…
Serenity leaned onto her other side and switched her hand positions. "Yes, Home was destroyed, and they did disappear in the ocean…I didn't mean that they were taken to Bikanel Desert…" She nodded over at Tallulah. "Maybe they were taken to some place over the ocean. Maybe it's something like what Tallulah said, like some undiscovered island or temple no one but them knows about." Serenity rubbed her temples again. Each possible explanation lead to things that couldn't even be possible. Oh, my head hurts… "Silver's right…Let's just…sleep on it. This is too much to try and solve in one night."
Serenity quickly disbanded her arm positions and held out her hands to catch the apples Silver was now throwing at them. She laughed, remembering how he tried to order a thousand apples back on Besaid, and took a bite of one of the apples. "Hmm, thish ish good," Serenity said, covering her mouth for she was speaking with her mouth full of apple. She swallowed quickly and spoke again. "Oh, I want to go fishing! I want fish for dinner tonight!"
Silver blushed. Maybe Serenity didn't know that a man giving an apple to a woman was a sign of eternal love. Or so his mother had told him when he was just a pup.
Come to think of it, I never gave Tallulah an apple...
Yes you did, you bought a candy-covered apple for her at Luca once, remember?
Yes but that doesn't counts, it has to be a fresh apple...
You call me an idiot and you are right... I am you so you are an idiot...
Tell me something I don't know yet...
"If m'ladies want fish then your humble servant here is getting some," Silver joked and stood on the branch, gathering some more apples inside his bag and pockets and jumped down the tree. He sniffed the air and smiled. "The beach I used to go fishing isn't far from here. You can either come along or go wait at my place."
"Yay! Apples!" Lucine yelled happily as she ran around trying to catch them. She got caught two, then sat down under the tree. She bit into the first one, and it was delicious.
Then she heard Silver say, "The beach I used to go fishing isn't far from here. You can either come along or go wait at my place."
"Oh, Silver, may I come with you? I've never fished before and I'd love to learn!" She looked over at him with pleading eyes.
Serenity giggled as Lucine pleaded with Silver to go with him. "I think…Kai and I will go and find our own fishing spot. I don't want to be a crowd, we might all scare the fish away." She laughed again, scratching the back of her head somewhat nervously. She looked about the rest of the group, unsure of what they wanted to do. "I guess we'll all meet back at Silver's place."
"Sure you can," Silver said. "It won't get crowded, it's huge and still my ways of fishing aren't very common." Smiling and walking down a dirt path that led straight to the edge of a ten meters fall, Silver took off his scarf, belt and boots. Since they were new clothing he didn't wanted them to get wet so early and took off the vest and pants as well. "Ok, here I go." He jumped down, avoiding the rocks down there like for a miracle. Lots of fishes around and he caught once with his mouth, the others with his claws and even one with his tail.
He swam to the surface and placed the four fishes he already had on a rock, then went down for more. Repeating the same thing over and over he managed to catch over twenty red-colored fishes. The problem now was...how to get them up there.
…
Lhinx had never been much of a fan of fruit, but the Ronso had always had a soft spot for fish, yet right now she wanted something filling. She trekked towards the forest, looking around at the entrance.
(I better find a tree to hide in. That'll be a good spot.)
The Ronso looked up at a rather stout tree.
(Perfect. I can find a meal.)
Ronso ate a lot at one sitting, but it would last them for a week. Unfortunately for Lhinx, the breakfast at Besaid had worn out during her time in the temple.
(I could go one more day, but I dunno when the next chance I'll have at hunting so freely will come.)
The Ronso jumped up toward a high point on the tree and found her way to a strong branch. Her yellow eyes looked about the area, looking for any large movement. The tree was near the river, a choice spot to find any large game.
Five minutes passed, all the while the Ronso not making any movement so as to not stir any leaves or chip any of the bark and cause it to fall to the ground.
…
Lucine watched as Silver dove into the water. "Um...I think I'll find a spot that's not so...high." She said, looking for a way to get down. After a few minutes of searching, she finally found a suitable spot. It was just off to the said of the falls, still steep, but easier to climb down.
So she made her way down the side of the waterfall, almost loosing her grip once or twice, but managing to stay on. When she got to the bottom, she found a nice little beach, perfect for her to wade in the water. Quickly she took off her boots, skirt, and top, revealing a bright yellow bathing suit. She always wore it under her clothes, just for such an occasion.
She waded in, until she was about knee-deep in water. She stood perfectly still, not wanting to scare the fish. Soon there were three or four around her, swimming about. "Yippee!!!" She yelled, diving headfirst into the water. Unfortunately, the fish were scared away by her yelling, but she managed to get a hand full of seaweed. "Yuck!" She said, sliding the mud off. Well...best to leave the fishing to Silver. For now she'd just enjoy the water.
…
(Yes!) Lhinx thought, her tail stirring a bit out of enthusiasm as she watched a large doe trot toward the river side.
The Ronso leaned in a bit, watching from her spot 15 feet off the ground in the tree. The doe stood far enough away to where Lhinx could just jump away from the tree branch and pounce the doe before it could run very far.
The doe looked around, making two glances to each side after one long inspection on each side of her. The doe then began to lower its head to take a drink.
(That's it...take a nice long drink....)
As the doe gulped in water, the Ronso waited eagerly.
(If I plan this right, she'll be logged down with water, making it easier to catch her in case she does manage to escape getting tackled.)
The doe's ear then twitched toward the tree.
(Did she hear me?) Lhinx wondered.
The ear went back to its original position, much to the Ronso youth's relief.
(Now!)
Lhinx jumped from her branch and pushed herself from the branch toward the doe. The doe brought its head up quickly and started to run before it was crushed under a rather large predator.
The doe let out a grunt as the wind was knocked from it. Lhinx quickly grabbed the creature's throat and cut off it's breathing with her large claws.
The doe's entire body convulsed before its body fell limply to the ground.
(Well, that's taken care of.) Lhinx thought.
The stripped carcass of a doe lay near the riverbed, bits of bloodied flesh lay about near it with armies of insect feeding off of them.
The skeleton of the animal was nearly bare, but the parts of it Lhinx could not finish were left to the scavenger fiends of the area. Lhinx sat near the riverside and was washing off her vest and shirt.
(I best clean up before I get to Silver's house.) Lhinx thought. (Who knows how they'll react if they see me covered in blood?)
Her pants, gauntlet, armlet, and shoulder guard lay at her side, leaving only her shin guards, cloth and bandages which covered her rather personal spots.
(I should've taken off my armor and vest before tackling the creature...) The Ronso thought as she lay her shirt and vest to the side and began to scrub her pants. (It'll take forever for these to dry...I better just hang out here for a while. Or....)
Lhinx looked around and brought her clean wet clothing toward a branch that conveniently was just high enough for her to put her clothes to where they wouldn't hit the ground and were in her reach.
She stepped back about 15 feet away from them. She turned to face them and began to focus.
(I really hate using this technique, but this is important.)
"Fire Breath!" Lhinx spat out a beam of fire that stopped inches away from the clothes, drying them with the heat it let off.
She finished the attack and walked toward the now dry clothing.
(Perfect.) Lhinx thought. (I think I'm becoming less squeamish around fire already.)
…
"Ok, give me a hand with these," Silver said as he gave Lucine four large fishes and went to get the other ones. He repeated that five times and finally looked up and shouted, "Serenity, can you and Kai take my things to my house? We'll meet you there in a while." He took as much fishes as he could so Lucine wouldn't have to carry a lot and began walking. "There is a path a few miles ahead that leads directly to the port and then to my place."
Lucine took the fish from Silver then walked over to her clothes. She picked them up along with the fish. She hoped nobody would mind if she walked back in her bathing suit.
…
Lhinx knocked on the door to Silver's home, fully dressed and stomach full.
(Ah, venison, love it love it love it!) Lhinx remembered the tenderness of the deer meat and hoped to come back to hunt again. (Kilika deer are good.)
Lhinx looked around absentmindedly and noted a Yevon guard giving her a suspicious look.
(What's his problem?) Lhinx wondered. She looked away and toward where some little kids were playing with a blitzball. (Aww...)
…
"Serenity, can you and Kai take my things to my house? We'll meet you there in a while."
Serenity stood up from the tree she was leaning against. "Oh, yeah, sure," she replied, and walked over to the edge where Silver dropped off his stuff. She carefully looked over the edge, and wondered how on earth Silver and Lucine had managed to go down there and come back up.
Taking a couple of steps away, she squatted down and began picking up the scarf, belt, vest and pants, hanging them over her left arm. With that done, Serenity stood up and bent down to pick up the boots with her free right hand. Walking back to Kai, who had picked up Silver's weapons and whatever was left, they both made their way back to Silver's house.
Nearing the house, Serenity saw Lhinx there knocking on the door. "No one's home, but I think it's open," Serenity said to her, smiling. She readjusting her arms, feeling them getting weary with fatigue for being in the same position too long, and not really because of the heaviness of the items. She figured Kai would be having a bit of a hard time with that blitzball, though. "Did you have your own fishing excursion, Lhinx?"
Kai looked over to Serenity and could see that she was getting tired and snickered a bit. "Having trouble there, Serenity?" He said, messing with her. He was a little tired himself carrying the heavy blitzball but it wasn't that bad. Maybe I should ask Silver to let me lug this around more often to build up my strength. Kai continued toward the door and waited for Lhinx to open the door.
Lhinx opened the door for the exhausted Serenity and Kai. "Went hunting. Fish not filling, but good," Lhinx said.
…
They walked along the sand path for some minutes, Silver muttering some old song and whistling at times. He just couldn't wait for eating such delicious dinner, in fact he wanted to eat them right away but being in company of humans he couldn't let his animal side go out. He smiled as they got to the harbor, wooden steps ahead that he climbed with a jump. "Ok, now to the Lair of the Tiger," he joked. "I mean to my ol' house."
Silver kept on, looking around at ignoring the odd looks from the Yevonites. The villagers were already used to Silver's oddness, but now there was a cute girl in bathing suit with him. He smiled and went on down until they got to his house and he opened the door using his tail. Again he smiled when he saw Serenity and Tallulah weren't on each other trying to rip each other's eyes off. "Dinner time, ladies and gentleman," he called and left the fishes just outside his house. Since it was a bit apart from the rest of the huts in Kilika he thought a dinner outside would be ok. It was like a little, private platform next to the river, a good place to spend summer nights.
He build a fire and began cooking outside, still with nothing but his boxers. Silver went inside and smiled at Serenity and Kai, silently thanking them and went upstairs to get dry underwear and put his clothes on.
…
Serenity stuck her tongue out at Kai. "Not at much trouble as you, Kai," she said, smirking, then bowed her head at Lhinx in thanks when she opened the door for them. Piling the clothes on the side of the couch, Serenity stretched her arms out. "Hunting, was it? Hope you caught something good! If you still have room left, Silver and Lucine are returning with some fish. Maybe you can have some as a snack?"
"Dinner time, ladies and gentleman," Silver called. "Well, speak of the half-demon," Serenity laughed, and went outside the sit by the fire Silver had built as Silver went upstairs. "Oh, I am so starving…"
Kai laughed when Serenity stuck her tongue out, then bowed slightly to Lhinx for opening the door, lying the blitzball and the gunblade down by the couch. He then heard Silver call and say dinnertime, so he headed out after Serenity and sat next to her by the fire. "I'm hungry, too. I can't wait to eat some of this fish."
"Maybe..." Lhinx said in response to Serenity.
Lhinx walked outside to the platform and watched the cooking fish.
(It wouldn't be right to take any of the fish.) Lhinx thought. (But....)
Lhinx looked down at the river, noticing a rather fat looking crab.
(Yes!)
Lhinx pulled out her poleaxe and stabbed it into the water and into the crab shell. She pulled the weapon out of the water, the crab still on the end and pointed it into the fire.
(I hope Silver doesn't feel insulted by this, but a Ronso has to be independent at times.) Lhinx thought.
Serenity giggled and closed her eyes, shaking her head lightly. "Oh, don't say fish! I can feel my stomach growling and eating itself from the inside just at the word of food…" She held onto her stomach and opened her eyes at the sound of splashing. She looked to see Lhinx had caught a rather big and fat looking crab and was now holding it over the fire. She giggled again. "Well aren't you lucky! So innovative."