Chapter Five

Cleaning House

"We're lost, you know that, right."

The trio moved down the Oldroad, Jonas leading the way, "Are we? Is it that bad? I thought we were on the right path…" He said, looking back and forth for the trail.

"Put it this way." Sain explained, pointing straight up to the top of the cliffs. His voice became more irritated as he spoke. "You see up there? Way up on top of this little canyon? That was the path we were originally walking on. How in Yevon's name you got us all the way down here is anyone's guess, but the fact of the matter is, you have managed to take us on a detour that miraculously ended us up at the bottom of a freaking ravine!"

"Hey!" Arthas piped up, "What're ya gettin' all worked up for? We'll just head back until we're higher up."

Sain was just about to argue, when his words were cut short by a piercing scream coming from behind him. "That was a woman's scream." He said, though Arthas had already pushed past him by the time he had made that observation. He and Jonas brought up the rear with Arthas barreling straight ahead.

The woman was cornered at the canyon wall, eyes bulging at the gigantic creature closing on her. It was all battered and bruised, and one of its enormous arms hung limply and trailed behind him as he plodded. "Ramb sa!" she pleaded, "E's kuehk du tea!" The fiend pulled its good arm back and stopped. Something was coming, some kind of screeching fiend. He was confused; was a squatter monkey attacking here? Before his simple mind could ponder it further, he felt a sharp pain in his trailing arm. He whipped around; one of those pink-skins was stabbing his arm. He roared and snapped for him, but the annoying little creature leapt off at the last second, and he got a mouthful of his already sore arm.

Arthas took a step back as the fiend roared in pain. "Sain!" he called out, "Torch him, freeze him something! Jonas! Get her away! We can keep this overgrown lizard busy for a while."

Jonas nodded and ran to the woman's side, trying to calm her down. Sain, more than a little peeved at Arthas' spat as group leader, still opened his spellbook and muttered the first cantrip he saw.

Three males, thought the fiend. He hadn't had much luck with pink-skins lately. He saw them all moving at once, one moving towards him, one breaking off to his prey, and one who stood still, staring at some weird object. His mind became flustered, and he jumped to his original target.

"Miss, please try to calm down." Jonas tried to reason with the inconsolable young lady, "We need to get you out of here quick before…" His face drained of color as he felt hot, moist air on his back. The creature towered over the pair, gave a long, triumphant roar. Arthas scrambled to get to them, and managed to close the gap halfway when the fiend attacked.

Time stopped. Jonas had heard about time slowing down in situations like this, but this was ridiculous. He could move normally, but he noticed no one else could. The fiend, the lady, Arthas and Sain weren't moving.

"Pathetic"

Jonas spun around at the armored warrior that calmly walked to him. He towered over the summoner, around twice his height and three times the width, and was dressed in Japanese armor far too ornate for the average samurai. "Y-Yojimbo?" Jonas asked, incredulous.

"The one and only kid. Can't believe I have to step in for you. However, I owe you one after that incident at Luca, so…"

He drew his sword and stood in front of the still frozen fiend. He got into a defensive stance, sword held diagonally in front of its face, just as the effects wore off. (Or when he turned it off, Jonas could never tell which.)

The fiend was overjoyed: the prey was frozen with fear, the other males were across the clearing. It seemed perfect, until he got a sword across his mouth. The Aeon slashed, leaving a crimson trail on its face as it backed up screaming.

The woman reacted at around the same time as the aeon appeared. She reached into her belt loop and pulled out a silver revolver. The creature bust into flame as Sain finished his spell. Crack! The gun fired off, hitting the immolated fiend where its ear would be. Arthas got the last blow, leaping at his opponent with sword drawn and scoring a solid his in its chest. The creature flailed on its back, roaring in pain, and then finally fell limp.

Arthas sheathed his weapon at the very instant the woman ran up to her, giving him a big hug and chattering excitedly in Al Bhed.

Arthas turned to the woman and drawled, "Lyms tuzh yht damm sa fryd rybbahat" The lady nodded, surprised to hear him talk in her language.

Jonas and Sain, oblivious to the other two, took a good look at the body.

"It's a Chocobo Eater." Sain explained, "From what I can tell from it, it was pretty beat up before we ever got here." He pointed to a large bruise on it's back.

Jonas dismissed his Aeon after profuse thanks. "So you think the lady did it?"

Sain shook his head, "Couldn't be, not if that machina weapon was the only thing she had with her. It looks like something big hit it, or he hit something big. My guess is he fell from a pretty big height." He pointed to cuts on the body, "These ones aren't natural; these are sword marks here, and it looks like some kind of stabbing object was used over here." He looked at Jonas, "I think this fiend was engaged by other humans, possibly Crusaders or a cadre of elite guards."

Jonas was quite impressed by the time Sain had finished his description, "How do you know all this?"

Sain couldn't mask the boyish smile creeping across his face, "I know a few things about bodies." He remarked modestly.

Arthas approached with the Al Bhed lady, "Her name is Zafam" Arthas explained, "She says she is a white mage, and she wants to help us." He then switched over to Al Bhed, "Oui tet cyo oui fyhdat du ramb?" Zafam nodded meekly.

"She's Al Bhed?" Jonas asked.

"Yes."

"You speak Al Bhed?" Sain raised an eyebrow.

"Do you think my free time is nothing but naps and fights?"

Sain was about to argue, but Jonas interrupted with, "Well, I think it's a good idea, but only if she agrees to not use that machina of hers."

"What?" Sain burst, "But she's an Al Bhed. What're people going to say when they find out you have a heathen in tow?"

Jonas waved his concerns away, "I was taught you don't refuse help, no matter how small. Heathen or no, if she can offer help and she is willing to assist a summoner, than I cannot refuse."

When Arthas translated to Zafam, she beamed, chattering again her thanks.

"Fine," Sain huffed, "If we hurry, we may get to an inn before nightfall."

The quartet went back along the path, their new ally trailing close behind the warrior.