Shadow of the Wolf

Part V

Rose was currently giving a bath to her son, lovingly washing his golden hair so he could sleep clean, in freshly changed linen bed sheets. If he would have been better she would have left him to play in the water, but Cloud seemed so out of himself right now, (probably a side effect of the painkillers, she was telling herself) that he could not be left without supervision. But it wasn't the only reason she was worried. The Nibel cold was a feared disease of the villagers here, the cold winds and something coming from the Mount Nibel had created a deadly version of the common flu, and Rose knew too well its effects. One year prior to Cloud's birth, her first son, Sapphire, who was only one year old, caught it. But he was only a young baby, and nothing the local doctor tried succeeded in saving him. He died in her mother's arms.

"Mommy…"

Her suspicions were effectively confirmed when she heard her son's voice. He was slurring, and seemed ready to drop anytime.

"Yes, Cloud?"

"I'm tired…"

"I'm almost finished," she said softly " Here, step out so I can dry and dress you."

Cloud did as he was told and stepped out of the tub, letting his mother dry him with the towel. He yawned, loudly, wrapping his arms around his mother's waist. He felt so tired, not cold anymore, but very, very tired. Something happened after that, but he wouldn't remember anything. Sleep claimed him in it's embrace and in its sweet oblivion he succumbed.


Sephiroth looked at Vincent in disbelief. He just couldn't do what his father was ordering him. First he didn't want to, and he felt he was just too weak to activate the materia. The Turk could see the weariness and the sadness in his boy's eyes, he just passed his arms around his waist and hugged him.

"I know it is hard for you to do this. But, if you don't, Hojo will think I let you go, and I'll be as good as dead. I want you to attack me with the ice materia, and then go to Cloud's home. Her mother will take care of you until I come back. Do it for us, okay?"

"You… you will be okay? You'll come back?"

"I promise… Now please, Sephiroth, hurry, and take care. Go to Cloud's, his mother is waiting."

Sephiroth took reluctantly the materia Vincent was tending him and clutched it inside his closed fist. The Turk stepped back. The silver haired child closed his eyes and raised his arm. The power filled his mind, the ice shot from his palm directly toward his father, who didn't move to avoid the blow. He fell on his back with a thud, and the youth knew that he had to be quick. Still clutching the materia his father had given him, he opened the window and climbed down the rope. He crawled under the bushes Cloud used to hide under. He could hear the guards running in his room, he could hear the ice shards shattering under their boots. He stayed hidden.

"The Turk is out cold! The kid knocked him out! Go get the Professor!"

When he heard this, Sephiroth's heart went totally berserk. Tears welled up in his eyes, and his legs ran, and under the pitch black sky, he was almost invisible. By the time he had reached the central water tower, his exhaustion caught up with him. He tripped and slumped down on the ground. His objective, Cloud's home, was so close…


Rose was waiting nervously in the kitchen. She knew that the little Sephiroth would be coming tonight. She was very anxious, Vincent had told her he was in pretty bad shape so when she heard a knock at the door, she bolted off, swung the door open and pulled the youth inside. He was covered by a dark cloak, but he was trembling all over. She crouched down and looked at his tired traits, tears marring his face and she just hug him.

"It's alright", she cooed, "you're safe here."

Sephiroth clutched Rose's skirt and squeezed himself on the woman and let his tears falls. He didn't know why, but he believed her. Exhaustion made him tumble down but Rose caught him before he could completely collapse. Unconsciously he shivered and the blond woman lifted him. Funny, he thought, he had always heard Hojo complain that he was heavy. He quickly found himself taken to a bed, muffled into a blanket and a bowl of steaming liquid was pushed into his hands.

"Here. You must be hungry. It's not much, but it will make you better in no time. It's a vegetable soup."

"Thank you, m'am.", he answered, not even bothering to use the spoon. He lifted the bowl and sipped the hot concoction hungrily.

"You're welcome, Sephiroth. Cloud will be happy to see you tomorrow, he was feeling lonely. Try to sleep, now."

Sephiroth tended her the empty bowl.

"Where is he?"

"Oh, in his room. He is hurting a lot, so the doctor gave him pills for the pain. But it tends to make him sick a little. Your father told me you were badly treated where you were. Does your chest hurt?"

Sephiroth did not know what to answer. He had been used to more pain when he was hurting, so… he just cast his head down. Although he didn't respond, Rose tended him a little pump.

"Your father gave it to me for you. Use it if you need it." She lifted the covers, easing the youth in a more comfortable position and covered him. "Good night, sweet dreams."

And Sephiroth promptly fell asleep.


When Cloud woke up the day after, he was overjoyed to see Sephiroth in his house. They played together most of the day, Sephiroth discovered the real meaning of being a kid. He was eating food, real food instead of rations, he could go everywhere in the house, but not outside, he didn't want Hojo to see him. And whenever he was feeling bad, Rose would take him upstairs, and Cloud would lie down next to him and keep him company until it would subside. And the blond seemed to recover faster at his contact. However, one day after his arrival, at sundown, soldiers came down from the Mansion, searching every house, and the Strife family was not spared. Rose quickly told Sephiroth and Cloud to go up in Cloud's room. The blond was supposed to throw a fit when the soldiers would come in, while the silver haired child would hide under the covers and pillows.

The firm knocks at the door announced the soldiers, and Rose quickly ruffled her hair and clothes. Then she opened the door. To her surprise, Vincent was part of the team.

"Good evening, madam. We believe one of our protégé has fled the Mansion and his hiding somewhere in the village. We are in the obligation of searching every house."

The soldiers made their way inside, and as on cue, Cloud began to cry out in his room, making a terrible ruckus.

"Pardon me," Rose said, shaking her head, "My son is hurt and sick, he's having terrible fever attacks. I'll be back in a minute."

Vincent stepped in front of the woman and gently pushed her aside.

"I know well the little Cloud, and I have received orders to search every house thoroughly. Allow me, madam."

Vincent then ordered the two other soldiers to search the yard and the first floor while he would be upstairs. The Turk entered the noisy bedroom and found a blond boy, sitting up in bed, a heavy bandage around his head, screaming and kicking. Occasionally he would cry out for his mother, coughing and hacking. After a minute of observing him, Vincent sat down on the bed, cooing at the child gently, coaxing him into a calmer mood. But upon realising who was talking to him, Cloud stopped immediately.

"…sniff… M-mister Valentine? Where-where are the soldiers?"

Vincent smiled.

"Downstairs. Relax, they won't come here." He looked at the mound beside the blond. "You can come out, Sephiroth."

The youth pounced on the black haired man, hugging him, obviously in pain and afraid. Vincent's eyes widened and he hugged back, quickly tucking back his son under the covers. Sephiroth had become limp.

"Hold on, Seph. Get some rest. Hojo is furious, I'll come for you when he'll calm down a little. Until then, listen to madam Strife, okay?"

Squeezing his hand one last time, knowing he hadn't much time, Vincent tried to reassure his son. Standing up, he gestured to Cloud to go to sleep and left the room, going to "search" the other rooms.


A few days later

"Oh by the Heavens, Cloud! It's wonderful! I'm so relieved, I thought… oh, never mind. Would you like some cookies?"

"Yeah! Chocolate chip cookies! I know Seph likes them too!"

"Then go wake him up, sweetie. Don't run, though, or you'll hurt your head again.", warned Rose.

A bright smile spread on Cloud's face and he finally got off his bed, letting her mother unwrap the bandage around his head. He was feeling lot better today, and the idea of playing with Sephiroth was very appealing, since it was still raining outside today. The youth saw his mother climb down the stairs to get breakfast ready (and cookies), so he trotted joyously to the guest's room, where Sephiroth was resting. Maybe, now that Cloud didn't have to take those awful pills anymore, his mother would let him sleep with him?

He could not see Sephiroth, the bed was so much bigger than his, so he climbed on it, going for the bundle huddled against the pillows. He seemed to sleep soundly so Cloud shook him awake until the silver haired child groaned and turned over, eyes glazed up by pain. His cheeks were bright red, his chest heaved quickly in shallow breaths. The blond knew immediately something was wrong.

"Seph?", he called softly, "You awake?"

"Yeah… Cloud?"

"Hum?"

"I… I'm scared…", he cried

"Why? Did you have a bad dream?"

"No… I-I can't feel my legs!"

Cloud gasped and ran out to get his mother.


Rose had installed the young Sephiroth in Cloud's bed. Since this morning, not only the silver haired child had lost the sensation in his legs, but his arms weren't responding as well. His breathing had become hitched, his forehead riveted with cold sweat. The good woman was completely puzzled; he had no fever, and yet he kept saying his chest was hurting very much. He wouldn't move or talk, Sephiroth seemed in pain. Cloud was drawing on the floor just next to him, and sometimes he was looking up and squeezing his hand a little, as his mother did often, too.

"Cloud, sunshine, go up and bring me a washcloth, would you?"

The blond immediately complied, bringing also a plush from his bedroom that he placed against Sephiroth. The silver haired youth smiled a little, closing his eyes as he felt Rose wipe the sweat off his brow. He heard the woman whisper to him that he should try to sleep, what he did with a soft sigh.

Rose brought the covers up to the child's neck, passing a hand worriedly in his unnatural silver hair. Cloud was now hugging her, both knew something was wrong, but as she had promised to Vincent, she would hide him, so calling the doctor was out of the question. All she could do was to take care of him the best she could.

"Dinner is ready, Cloud. Let's go eat." softly said Rose

"But, Sephiroth…"

"Cloud, your friend is very ill, he is better off sleeping. I'll keep a little something for him, promise."

"Mom… he's not going to the Promised Land, is he?"

Rose embraced her son, trying to soothe her child's fears.

"No, he's not. We'll let him rest, so he can get better soon, okay?"

"'k… "

But as they were to turn around, Cloud looked at the little yellow chocobo plush that Sephiroth had managed to hold and said, dead seriousness in his voice.

"You better not let him go see the Mountains, Ro. Watch him! Don't let him go!"

And Rose had to stifle her giggles.

End of part V

Notes

Hehehe… Next chapter will be the last. See ya then!

Htress