Chapter Six

Ferin awakened to the first rays of sunlight that slipped through the curtain in his small room, the sound of waves splashing against whatever vessel he was on, adding to the peaceful atmosphere. As always, the Wolf did not immediately stir as he returned to reality from the world of dreams; he kept one eye peacefully closed, while the other scanned the entire room, searching for any sign of danger.

It was a small room, barely large enough to hold a single man, nevertheless half a dozen which it was obviously designed for. Ferin was at the bottom of a bunk bed, with another right across the room. To his left was the door; to the right a somewhat large cabinet of which one of it's draws was left ajar, with the sleeve of Ferin's trench coat hanging out from it. Edomfray stood against the side of the cabinet.

Sensing there was no danger on this vessel, which the sound of chuckling not far away from Ferin's room added to his assumption; Ferin threw his blankets off of him, and headed for the cabinet to dress accordingly.

After slipping on a plain t-shirt and black jeans, Ferin exited his room and took a left down the hallway, following the scent of fresh food allowing his nose to lead him down unfamiliar territory, although Ferin sensed it was a safe one.

Ferin found his rescuers around a dining table, laughing and joking while they ate some pancakes. Ferin assumed it was fresh by the scent, and for a moment actually grinned. If there was one type of breakfast meal he enjoyed, it was pancakes, and considering the fact that the only type of food he had for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for nearly a year was fried beans added to Ferin's happiness.

"Look! The man is awake!" Vargos hollered when Ferin first entered the dinning room, boasting a wide grin full of white teeth. Siegfred and Yuri turned back to face Ferin, both grinning, although not nearly as wide as the large fighter.

"Good to see you awake, Ferin. I was beginning to think the fall was too much for you" Siegfred warned, or perhaps congratulated with a chuckle. "Anyways, you're stomach must be growling like a mad dog by now. Come and eat!" Ferin, whose' stomach did indeed growled like a mad dog right then and there, happily obliged and took a seat around his fellow fighters. Vargos leaned over from his chair, grabbing a clean plate from the running sink, passing it to Yuri who passed it to the starving Wolf. Ferin served himself to about half a dozen pancakes, and it wasn't long until the four of them were caught in idle chatter.

"So Ferin" Vargos started, obviously not caring that his cheeks, full of pancakes, looked nearly as large as his own head, "Why did you jump off that prison?" Ferin shrugged, not caring about that venture a few days back at that moment. He was just glad to be alive, not caring how.

"Vargos, the better question is how did we survive?" Siegfred questioned, finishing the last of a pancake when he said it.

"Should I care?"

"Not really!" Yuri shot back.

"Just glad I don't have any wounds or anything."

"Yeah, like ruining that hair of yours!" Siegfred joked, a large grin on his face.

"Oh, that hurt Siegfred" Vargos sarcastically mourned. Everyone chuckled at the comment, not because it was humorous, but because they were just glad to have survived the fall. They all may be super soldiers, but even they doubted that they could have survived a twenty three story drop.

"Siegfred" Ferin asked a few minutes later, after having gotten comfortable with the gathering, "Just where are we?"

"A fishing vessel we, err, salvaged from Dollet some time ago."

"I didn't think you the fishermen."

"Who says we were?" Yuri grinned.

"Who says we're not?" Vargos shot back.

"Who cares?" Siegfred added with a sarcastic grin over his face.

"Regardless" Ferin interjected, wanting to talk about more interesting things than fishermen and the like, "Where are we going?"

"Balamb."

"Balamb?" Ferin said with an unexpected amount of excitement, his mouth slightly ajar as he spoke his next words. "Why the hell are we going there? SeeD and Galbadia are probably looking from heaven to hell and everywhere in-between for us."

"One of our brothers are there."

Ferin cocked up one of his eyebrows, somewhat confused by the statement. "There? I thought you told me they were free…"

"I never said in what way, Ferin."

"You all right?" Vargos asked, sensing some concern on the newest addition to their little brigade's face.

"Fine enough."

"I think not Brother!" Yuri said, not at all convinced by Ferin's lack of emotion in his response.

"That's the last place I wish to go now" Ferin mumbled after drinking away some orange juice he poured for himself. "But I have no choice in the matter. I promised to help, and I will."

Siegfred stared back at Yuri and Vargos, all three of them concerned by Ferin's attitude towards Balamb. Even though they barely knew the man, they all had a sense that something was amiss with the Wolf. When Siegfred had first met Ferin at the missile site, the black haired warrior seemed to boast an aura of pride and honor to his status as SeeD.

It was not an uncommon sight for a SeeD member to be proud of his position. SeeDs were respected through out the entire world as the best of the best when it came to military operations. After all, it were the SeeDs who practically single-handedly fought the Sorceresses in the Ultimecia Incident, although with a high cost of human life. It were SeeDs who's interjection in many conflicts between nations prevented wars that would have had undoubtedly taken many lives.

But Ferin's honor that Siegfred encountered at the missile ruins was different. It went beyond having a sense of pride, beyond loyalty before dishonor that so many professional armies boasted in their military academies, beyond even preserving the cause of SeeD so that other generations could smile and equally be filled when a member of SeeD crossed their streets, even if they didn't set a gaze on the youngling. No, the honor Ferin boasted off was something much greater: it was honor of a family, of a fellowship, a loyalty gained after having gone through horrendous trials that you could not of have gone through alone. It was the pride of being in a family.

And for whatever reason, Siegfred suspected that that honor was stripped from the Wolf. Some horrible thing took that great love of family and fellowship from the depth of the warrior's soul, and crushed it.

Then the answer hit the man like a stone brick; Squall. When Ferin mention the Commander's name, he released a sense of pride from within. It was obvious to Siegfred that Ferin looked up to the Commander, although that was not so uncommon a case with many SeeDs who were Squall's fellow students. But the wave of feelings that Ferin must have been slammed with when Squall dealt that finishing blow on him, it must of tore the poor soul in half. His hero, his living legend struck at him.

Although Siegfred wondered how much of a hero Squall seemed to Ferin for him to perform the first strike against the Commander, Squall must have been a hero to the Wolf nevertheless. After all, what other explanation could there be to Ferin's sudden change of attitude towards Balamb Garden?

"How are we going to get in there?" Ferin said, interrupting the silence, a stern and cold stare frozen on his face. When they didn't respond, too caught in their train of thought to notice the question, Ferin shouted it.

Siegfred turned towards Ferin in a shock, released from his thoughts. When he processed the question, Siegfred grinned with obvious pride of the plan he had to infiltrate Garden.

"We draw them to us."

"What?" Ferin said in disbelief.

"We draw them to us" Siegfred said plainly, as if it was a normal topic of conversations.

"Are you freaking serious? Aren't we supposed to be hiding?"

"Yes."

"Then why are we going to lead Squall to us? Can't we just sneak in or something of the sort?"

"And how do you propose we do that, Ferin?" Yuri questioned the newest warrior of their brigade. "The Garden is hundreds of feet in the air, its Centra Technology allowing it to go for weeks without any additional energy. And when it does land for supplies, it's usually for only an hour, or less. But if we draw it to place where the only place it can pursue us is by landing, it's terrain to uneven and rocky to send in hover crafts, then it will be forced to land for a large amount of time. Enough time for us—"

"To get the man we want and get out before they have a chance to do anything" Ferin said, finishing the sentence, realizing Siegfred's plan of action. The three nodded in approval. "So, how are we going to get them to wherever it is we want them to be?"

Siegfred rose from the table, motioning Ferin to follow him. Siegfred led him down a hallway, past a few doors, to a locked door. Siegfred unlocked it, and opened it, stepping out of the way so that Ferin could plainly see whatever was inside it.

When Ferin stepped inside and flicked on the light switch, he saw the only person he may have very well hated more than the Betrayers.

Alladra was chained to the wall, a meager plastic plate of random food at her feet. On the walls were anti-magic orbs, obviously meant to keep her from escaping.

A thousand series of emotions ran through Ferin when he laid eyes on Alladra, not hearing Siegfred's explanation that she attacked them when they reached the vessel, and the three of them subdued her and locked her in here. At first, Ferin was enraged at both Alladra and his pack. Alladra for her act of betrayal against all those years ago, the day after he swore he would love her and care for her until the day he would die, she left him for some pompous high ranking boy three years their senior. And then that act of rage pointed towards Siegfred for trying up his ex-lover, that he may very well still love, and throwing her into the closet as if she was a petty criminal.

Then that rage turned to gladness, for it had been so long since the Wolf – not the Judge that Alladra confronted in the missile base a few days prior – laid eyes on Alladra, the only person to truly give him happiness.

Then the memories of betrayal returned and a scowl formed on Ferin's lips. He did not hear her words of mercy, or rather perhaps he did not care for them. He just flicked off the switch, returning the small room to darkness, and closed the door.

"Is something the matter Ferin?" Siegfred asked when he saw the scowl on Ferin, not knowing the past history between the two.

"No" Ferin said plainly. "What role does she play in all this?"

"We're going to send a televised message to Balamb. I don't think they realize she's been gone. It's not exactly uncommon for SeeDs to drift away for a few days after such an attack."

"That explains why they're not looking for her now."

"Precisely. Anyways, we're going to challenge Balamb to search for her, and us, at Centra; the terrain is too uneven for them to send their aerial scouts. The Garden would be forced to land, and that's when we'll sneak in."

Everything seemed right to Ferin; get in, save their target, and get out before Balamb knew what happened. There was only one flaw Ferin saw with the plan. "What if they find her? She'll tell them that we're in Balamb, and we'll be trapped."

Siegfred sighed, all too aware of the flaw in his plan. "We'll just have to be quick the brother. This is the best plan we've got, and we can't just let her go now." Ferin nodded in agreement. "It's too late to turn back."

"So, when is the message going to be sent?"

"In an hour: we recorded it yesterday when we were too far from radio and satellite towers to be noticed by anyone."

Needless to say, Squall was not at all pleased when the transmission was relocated to his office and hour and a half later. "Damn them!" he swore, pounding his scarred fist on the desk. He immediately ordered the pilots of Balamb to set course for Centra at that very moment, putting off all plans that the order contradicted with and not wishing to speak with any of his advisors that Cid had when he was headmaster.

For him, it was time to end this. It was now or never, and Squall preferred the now over the never.

It is time to return to the thoughts of Ferin the Wolf:

The bunk bed seemed to be less comfortable than it was a day ago, if only because your mind if being filled with far too many questions. The presence of her, the person you pledged your life to so many years somehow managed to cross your path twice now: once as your adversary, now as a captive of your pack members.

Your mind wanders, bringing yourself to your masters' realm. It is a great forest, surrounded by massive trees and their trunks, the sound of chirping birds filling your ears and bringing your soul to ease. The forest path goes into countless directions, with each path equally capable of bringing you to your mentor. But this is not the first time you had allowed your mind to enter your master's realm. You sit on the ground, waiting patiently for him to appear.

Only a few moments slip past when your mentor appears. The Wolf leaps from the trees, landing one his two hind feet and pushing his fighting paw against the earth, softening the impact. His mane is the exact opposite of that of the green forest, a darkish white. Several scars are recorded across his chest, one of them closing his white eyes. A series of shamanic ornaments are strewn across his form, and your master speaks with a sense of pride that an ancient shaman would.

"I am Fenrir" the white wolf announced, to himself, you, or the entire forest is uncertain. You could care less. "Why have you come to my domain pup?"

"Alladra has returned" you say coldly. "And my pack intends to use her as bait to draw Balamb to us."

"I know."

"I once cared for her, Fenrir, but after what she did to me was certain she would never be a part of my life again."

"But now that she is, you are stuck within two loyalties." You nod in approval, asking your old mentor and friend what to do now. "Ferin, I am a Guardian Force, one born from you. Although I was born wise and matured, while you a naïve young pup, I was still born from your thoughts. What I tell am about to advise you on will place you on a narrow road, a road that not even I may have returned if I followed it."

"What must I do?"

"Search your heart. You fought for many reasons over the years. First it was survival for yourself, and then it was for your pack. After that it was to prove to yourself and the world that you were born to be a SeeD, and you succeeded. You threw away that title, and took that of Renegade and Avenger, so that you could hunt down Betrayers in your mind. But there was one thing that you never once did fight for that you should have long ago."

You throw yourself from your seat, moving towards Fenrir. A set of eager anticipation is on your face, wishing to know the answer. For all these years you thought you for the purest of causes, and now you're old friend is telling you otherwise? "What is it?" you cry. "What have I never fought for that I should of?"

"Love of pack. You fought for your pack in the past that much is true. But just out of necessity, never out of love or fellowship."

"So I lend my loyalties to Siegfred and the others?"

"Follow that beating heart of yours Ferin. It will tell you more than I ever could. Now, be gone from my realm, and call upon me when the time comes." You watch as your friend turns from you and leaps into the woods, and as soon as he is gone from your sight, the woods flash an ivy green, and you are back on the vessel.

Alone with Siegfred and Alladra. And you still have not determined which pack to choose: your brothers who were tormented, or that woman who you pledged so many years ago to love for all eternity. You rest your head on a pillow, and fall into sleep, hoping your dreams would give you a more precise answer than Fenrir.

The breeze of the ocean filled Siegfred's face with a sense of calm that he had not experienced for quite some time. Not since he, Vargos and Yuri first escaped from the Balamb GAIA Labs has Siegfred encountered this same sense of peace.

'If escaping from GAIA gave me peace, why am I returning?' Siegfred chuckled when he realized the contradiction. He trusted his leader, but he still had some doubts. Not about the purpose of the mission: it was a good mission, with a good purpose, freeing Red, fulfilling an old promise to himself. But he doubted if he could handle returning to the Abyss.

"I have doubts" Yuri remarked as he entered the upper deck, resting against the small wall that separated the gunman from the salty sea. "About Ferin. Didn't you notice how tense he was after you showed him the girl?" Siegfred nodded in agreement. "Do you really believe he never did know her?"

"He's a horrible liar."

"So, he did know her then." Siegfred sighed to himself as he scratched his neck, his neck hair rising straight up from the way the wind hit them. "I wonder how this will end."

"I think how it will begin is the better question here." Siegfred raised his eyebrows, confused by what his old friend meant by that statement. "Will our new friend remain with her? Or will he follow us, maybe even form a secret alliance with the girl, or some other conclusion I can't think up of? This girl has brought up many variables that I did not consider."

"Should we dispose of her then?"

"Are you mad, Yuri?"

"No" Yuri said with a shrug. "Just very, very desperate."

"Eliminating her would cause Ferin to turn on us. But so could leaving her here at Centra."

"Then keep her!" the large Vargos suggested as he entered the semi-secret meeting. "Keep her in our company."

"And let her manipulate Ferin?" Siegfred questioned the large man.

"I doubt she has the capability to do that. She may be his daughter, but I don't think she's a manipulator like he is. She's too much like her mother I think."

"Good point Vargos" Yuri said agreeing. "Remember what she said? 'Don't touch him! He's not for you!' "

"And then we knocked her senseless" Vargos boasted with obvious pride.

"It was love, or at least that's what I think. I mean, why else would she come for us. Her eyes showed it."

Siegfred nodded. "I agree. She loves him too much to manipulate him. Love does tend to cloud one's judgment a tad too much."

"So, we keep her then?" Yuri asked. Siegfred nodded in approval, forming a sly grin on his face when he put his arms over his friend's shoulders.

"Don't worry Yuri! This may prove to be a good thing for us all, Ferin in particular. Come on now, we've got to get ready. Balamb will land in a few days, and we have to hide her and the ship good."