Chapter 5

"Oh, almost had him!"

The beautiful young woman once again just missed snagging the plump rabbit she saw traipsing about near her camp in the full moonlight. Though she never cared much for game, she was hungry. The berries and nuts Cloud had left for her that evening had not fully assuaged her hunger, and she was dying for a bit of meat for a change. She plopped down on the forest ground in disappointment.

"Oh, well. Tried my best." She pulled her love's long dark cloak around her shoulders, relishing both the warmth and the faint scent of it's owner, as she saw a firepit dug with a stack of firewood next to a sleeping pallet made of dry leaves and fresh grass. She smiled. "He always takes care of me!" She laughed, though the gesture was more an attempt to stop the tears she felt gathering on her lids. She hated crying, having done so much of that the last couple years. The young lady pulled the cloak tighter around herself, drawing comfort from it.

"Miss!" The sound caused Aerith to jump slightly. She peered off into the darkness, trying to decipher who or what the noise had come from. "Miss, over here!" Aerith looked at the far side of the camp and saw the Wutaian girl from the other night tied tightly to the base of a tree.

Aerith stood up and strolled over. "I remember you!" She declared, smiling. Though she didn't really know this girl at all, it was nice to wake up to any familiar face these days. Besides, she had seemed harmless the other night. The way the wolf protected her, it seemed Cloud must know her. She felt a slight uncharacteristic surge of jealousy, but quickly dismissed it. Even after all the tragedy, Cloud would never desert her for another. "What are you doing here? Why are you tied up?"

The girl's face scrunched up for a moment as if in deep thought. Aerith stifled a smile as she realized a lie was coming on. "Well... the Bishop's men attacked me! I managed to drive most of them off, but one blindsided me and tied me up! I'm glad you're here now, so you can free me!" She smiled ever-so-sweetly at Aerith, looking at the ropes meaningfully.

"Oh, the Bishop's men!" Aerith smirked, playing along. "So why didn't they kill you?"

"Kill me! Heh!" The Wutain chuckled nervously. "I am a great ninja of Wutai, a princess among my people! My powers and skills are beyond understanding!"

"Oh, I see." Aerith replied solemnly. "Strange, though, to find a princess wandering around the trees all by herself. Where are your guards and servants?"

"Ah, well, I, uh, that is I mean they ran off when they saw the knights! They just deserted me, a poor, helpless girl! But don't worry, I intend to have them all flogged as punishment once I return to them. So difficult to find good help, don't you think?"

"Yes it would seem so." The corner of the flower-girl's mouth twitched in amusement.

"Oh, please just free me!" wailed Yuffie, giving up on her ill-conceived subterfuge. "These ropes are too tight, and I swear I'm no threat to you! Please!"

Aerith merely raised an eyebrow at her.

Yuffie sighed. "Please?" she asked as sweetly as possible.

Aerith sighed deeply and shook her head. "Well, you do seem harmless. Just don't try anything!" She grabbed the hunting-knife Cloud had given her and cut the lead rope. Suddenly the howl of a wolf rang out, surprising Aerith. She peered about nervously. "Listen, you had better stay close to me..." She looked back but the young thief had already disappeared into the night.

"Thanks so much milady!" rang out a happy, mischievous voice. "Tell Spike he ties a wicked knot!"

"Oooh." Aerith breathed nervously, looking at the trees guiltily. "He's gonna kill me..."

-

Yuffie felt a bit guilty having left the sweet lady who freed her, but she had no desire to stick around and help Spike with his mad plan. Now that she was free of Aquila and that accursed Bishop she had no intention of ever going there again. She hopped merrily through the lush trees, the moonlight guiding her way. She relished her regained freedom, the joy of which lightened both her steps and her heart. Just before daybreak she had managed to make her way back to the plains. Gazing out at brown-tinged grasses, suffering from the horrible drought, she judged the westerly direction and set off. Within a few days perhaps she could make it to the Mythril Mountains and then Junon beyond the peaks...

As she passed over a whitestone outcropping she stopped suddenly in her tracks. There was a campsite down below with a few red-clad soldiers mulling about. The Bishop's men. With a hiss, she back up preparing to flee, but hit an obstruction. There was a flash of red at the corner of her eye. Nervously she felt behind her, her hand feeling cloth and metallic armor. A gauntleted hand grabbed her shoulder causing the young kunoichi to cry out in pain.

-

Not far away, dawn broke out the horizon of a small clearing in the trees. A young, black-clad warrior sat on his chocobo, feeling both intense joy and sadness at the sight. He had lived to see another day... but would he ever live long enough to see another day... with her?

The cry of a hawk broke him out of his reverie. He raised his gloved hand and allowed it to land, his eyes looking at the dark-feathered bird with a gaze full of both relief and regret.

"Good morning." he gave a slight half-smile to his avian friend. "Well, let's go find Yuffie."

-

"Well, well." laughed Perrault harshly, as he strode up to his Wutaian captive. "For a ninja you're not all that hard to catch. We'll have to wait to celebrate your return properly until we got back in Aquila, but I'm sure we can have some fun until then. This time the drinks are on me." His grin faded as he grabbed the young thief's tunic by the neck. "Where is Strife?"

"Strife? Strife who?" The knight's other hand shot up to grab her neck, squeezing it hard, causing the girl to cough in discomfort. "Oh, you mean Cloud Strife?" she choked out as he relaxed his hand a bit. "Big sword, black chocobo? I saw him riding north... towards Aquila."

"Ha!" laughed one of Perrault's men in scorn, his cold, gray eyes mocking the young thief. "Then we should ride south, sir."

Yuffie gave him an angry look. "Hey, are you calling me a liar! Haven't you ever heard of honor among thieves? I was just answering your question!"

"A question you knew we would ask..." muttered Perrault. "And you knew whatever answer you gave we would disbelieve." He smiled evilly at the young ninja, having scored a point. "Let's follow our honorable thief's advice and head north. To the chocobos!"

Yuffie looked to the heavens in disbelief! "Hey! I told the truth Lord Leviathan! You're supposed to reward me for that!" She stumbled forward as one of the guards pushed her on. "How can I learn any moral lessons, if you keep confusing me like this! Huh!"

-

Cloud drove Sleipnir into the plains, his dark silhouette clashing against the dim light of late day. The hawk perched on his arm, but this time it's presence was not giving him a peaceful feeling. Yuffie's less than well-concealed tracks had led near here, but then abruptly stopped near the remains of what looked like a camp. He was becoming worried about his young Wutaian friend. He knew from past history how dangerous the Aquiline Guard could be when out in force.

Cloud battle sense suddenly perked up. He felt eyes nearby, as if awaiting his approach. A small muffled cry alerted him instantly to danger. He threw the hawk into the air where it took wing just as a cadre of knights poured out from behind a small copse. Two knights fired materia-created fireballs at him, which Sleipnir deftly dodged. Two more came out drawing their swords with a tied-up and gagged Yuffie on the saddle of one. Seeing Cloud, she pushed herself back out of the saddle and landed hard on the turf, deftly beginning to free herself from the bindings. Cloud readied his own materia, and fired a bolt of lightning at one of the spell-casting knights and launched a small quake attack at one of the swordsmen, dismounting him. In fear, the swordsmen backed off as the spellcaster fell stunned to the ground.

The other spellcaster was ready as he aimed an ice-spell at Cloud. Sleipnir thrashed about in an effort to dodge, nearly unhorsing him, but Cloud knew the range was too close to avoid this time. Suddenly, however, a rock thrown by Yuffie, who had managed to untie her bonds, caused to man to misfire the spell, sending a jag of ice into the air. As it went up it pierced the wing of the circling hawk who screeched in pain.

Perrault turned to charge, but Yuffie threw another stone at his chocobo causing the bird to rear up and wark in pain. As Perrault tried to get his mount back under control he glared at the kunoichi who stuck her tongue out at him. The spell knight hurled another icejag at Cloud, this time hitting him in the shoulder, the left one, same as the hawk. Cloud bent back in pain at the force of the blow and looked up. Seeing the hawk circling lamely, it's injury seriously impairing it's flying, his expression became desperate. "No!" he shouted fearfully. He watched as the hawk landed hard to the ground where it remained still.

Cloud grabbed the icicle lodged in his shoulder and pulled himself up. The spell knight drew his short sword and charged, whirling it with expertise through the air. With a grunt of pain, Cloud yanked out the ice, and stabbed his attacker in the stomach with it. The knight dropped his sword and rode off, holding his wound in pain.

Perrault by this time had calmed his chocobo and prepared to charge his enemy. Cloud glared at him and drew the Sword of Navarre. Hefting it in the air, his drew back Sleipnir's reins causing his mount to fly up several feet in the air. Perrault halted his own chocobo, a look of fear on his bearded face. As Cloud charged at full force, he threw down his sword and galloped off at full retreat. Cloud reined in, having won the field.

"And stay gone!" Yuffie yelled triumphantly at the fleeing knight.

Cloud, however, swiftly rode over to where the hawk lay painfully in the grass. Dismounting, he drove his blade into the ground and rode over to the fallen bird. With a sigh of relief he discovered it still alive, but badly injured.

"You're all right..." he whispered intensely. "You're going to be all right..." He looked at where Yuffie was staring at him with a puzzled expression. "Get me some cloth from my saddlebag!" he ordered her.

Yuffie brought back an old ripped tunic. Cloud carefully wrapped the hawk in the material, soothing it gently all the while. He then stood and turned to Yuffie. "Take her. Find help!"

"Me!" cried Yuffie, shaking her head.

"You're the only one I have." Cloud answered grimly.

"But, she's done for! I'll never make it in time-"

"Don't you say that!" yelled Cloud, his panicked tone startling the thief. Cloud made a visible effort to calm himself. "It'll be dark soon, but you'll make it if you hurry. Head west along that nearby trail. You'll find an old ruined fortress. There's a hermit living there named Imperius. Give him the hawk. He'll know what to do."

"But I have to get back to Wutai..!"

"Get on my chocobo." the warrior growled.

Yuffie swallowed in fear. She hated riding chocobos. "Sleepy doesn't like me!" she protested.

Cloud drew his face closer to hers, his brilliant blue eyes blazing like azure fire. "You will do as I tell you. Get on my chocobo. Now!"

Yuffie saw further protest was useless. Slowly and awkwardly she got up on the beast. Cloud lifted the injured hawk into her hands cautiously, and then peered up at the ninja. "Remember this. If you fail, or run off, I will follow you until the end of my days." He glared at Yuffie with such intensity she nearly gasped. "And I promise, I will find you. Now go." he gently slapped Sleipnir's hindquarters sending the chocobo darting forward with Yuffie holding on for dear life. Cloud watched them gallop over the horizon as he came to stand by his friend's sword. He peered down at it in sorrow.

"Use this sword of my family, Cloud. It belongs to you now. Take it and protect... Aerith..."

Cloud dropped on his knees next to the sword and looked up at the heavens. "I have no right to ask..." he whispered in prayer, his worry evident in his tone. "But please keep her safe. She has never done wrong and deserves a better protector than I. Please, take my life, do what you will with me, but just let her live." He bent his head in sorrow as the sun began to fall deeper into the horizon.

The ride along the trail to the ruined fortress Cloud had named as her destination felt like days, though it really only took a couple of hours. But fear of Cloud's wrath as well as a dislike of riding made it an insufferable voyage. At last, just as her motion sickness seemed about to consume her, Yuffie spotted the dilapidated edifice where the enigmatic Imperius resided.

"Hello!" she called, leading Sleipnir up to the great wooden gate of the ruin. "I say hello! Is there anyone here? Imperius! Show yourself!"

"Hello, hello!" growled a deep, sonorous voice. A rotund, shabby old monk appeared at the buttress above the gate. His wild, unkempt gray hair framed a round-nosed, bulbous face, red from too much wine, Yuffie concluded. Indeed he took a hit from a wineskin as he peered down at the young Wutaian. "What do you want!"

"I've brought a wounded bird!"

"Oh, indeed! Well done girl, a fine huntress! Come up, we'll dine together!"

"You can't eat this bird!" Yuffie cried in horror. She was beginning to have a sinking suspicion about who this bird actually was, and knew no corner of the world was far enough to escape Cloud's wrath if it ended up in a cookpot!

"Well, why not!" yelled Imperius grumpily. "Oh, wait is it fasting week already! Damned holy days, keeping a man from his dinner!" He finished his blasphemy with another pull of his wineskin.

"This is a special hawk!" Yuffie cried angrily becoming impatient with the scraggly hermit. "It belongs to a man name Cloud Strife!"

All trace of drunken idiocy disappeared from the priest's face as he paled like a ghost. "By the Cetran God, no! Bring her in, girl, bring her to me!" He used a nearby lever to lift the gate. "Hurry now, lass, hurry!"

Yuffie climbed the stone steps where the priest awaited. He looked at the bird with concern immediately. "Yes, yes it is her..." he muttered, his face sorrowful. Bring her into the keep. But careful now..." he stopped Yuffie at a small wooden bridge overlooking the castle dredge. "Stay to the left on this bridge." Yuffie did so, and rushed into the keep.

Imperius followed and lit a torch to brighten the coming darkness. "Lay her gently on that pallet. Very carefully!" he warned. Yuffie did so, then felt the old priest grab her tunic. "Now wait outside."

"Can't I stay to help!" yelped Yuffie.

"Get out girl!" Imperius demanded, nearly throwing her through the door and onto her face. He went back and examined the wounded bird, gently running his fingers near it's wound where the ice jag was still lodged. "Cloud was right to send you here, my dear friend. I know what to do... But first, some healing herbs..." He grabbed his herb pouch and headed outside to find what he needed in the overgrown garden he had planted, locking the door to avoid unwanted intruders with a large padlock. As he wandered off, he never noticed a thin short-black haired girl jump from a overhead ledge, twirling a small tool in her hands. Yuffie noticed the last bits of sunlight go down over the horizon as she deftly picked the old monk's lock.

As she entered the room, she was surprised to see a young auburn-haired woman lying where the hawk had been with an icicle sticking out her left shoulder. The same placed the hawk had been wounded! Yuffie paled as she realized her suspicions were true. The lady did not seem to notice her as she lay staring at a dingy wall...

Aerith felt like she flew home from where Cloud dropped her off at the city gates. She nearly skipped with joy and excitement over her first kiss with the young squire. From the first moment she had seen him bravely defending dear old Sir Simon on that tournament field she had liked him, and now she realized she was falling in love with him. Despite his solemn manners and scowling features, she knew from the first a truly noble and generous heart beat within his strong chest. Now she had seen just how tender and loving he could be. And he had loved her gift to him! Aerith was so happy that she could bring some joy to his life, as he had brought so much to hers.

And while she worried a little about the Bishop, she believed in heart they would find a way around him. Perhaps they could leave Aquila, her and Cloud, with Aunt Elmyra of course. She would miss Zack, but the Bishop's stares and touches had become more and more forward, and she began to fear him even more as of late. She had tried to convince herself there was nothing wrong with his behavior, that she read too much into it, but by the intensity of his eyes she could see that her hopes were in vain. Escape seemed to be the only answer, and while she hated to drag Cloud into her problems, she could no longer imagine life without him. She wouldn't force him to come along of course, but she hated the thought of leaving him. Besides in her heart she could feel his love, even if he could not quite say it yet. She knew he would never willingly leave her side.

As night fell, she approached her auntie's well-tended if meager home. Flowers grew everywhere in the small yard, but then that was no surprise. Wherever Aerith went flowers followed. She picked a few, hoping to give them to Cloud the next day. Though he certainly wasn't the flower type, she knew he would enjoy them if they came from her. Smiling brightly, she hurried inside.

"Aerith!" her aunt yelled, the sound muffled a bit by a rough hand trying to cover her mouth. "Run! Ple-" her words were completely cut off by a rough-looking man in a spotted woolen tunic. The man peered at her with an ugly-looking eye, it's twin having been cut out and replaced with a fiery scar. He smiled toothlessly at the flower girl as she entered. He then nodded to someone behind her. Immediately another man closed the door and approached her grinning evilly.

"Who are you!" cried Aerith fearfully. "What do you want?"

"We've come for you, pretty little Aerith. We've come to take you home!" The scraggly man who shut the door laughed, his handsome face twisted in a sneer. "You've been a bad, little girl, haven't you?" He grabbed the flower girl and held her close. Though young and good-looking he reeked of sour sweat and ale, causing Aerith to gag at his smell and presence. She lifted her booted foot and came down hard on his own causing him to cry in pain.

"Get your hands off me! You stinking swine!" She grabbed a nearby flowerpot and crashed it down on the man's head. He howled in pain and rage, but the blow was not nearly enough to stop him. Rushing Aerith, he tried to grab her again, but she ducked away, throwing a chair in his path.

"That's enough missy!" cried the one-eyed one. "Just stop yer nonsense, or yer ol' auntie here's gonna go nighty night... fer good!" He raised a blade to Elmyra's throat.

"Don't worry about me, Aerith!" cried the older woman, struggling against her captor. "Just run far away! Find Zack and Cloud!" Squint-Eye cut her cheek with the blade causing her to cry out in agony.

"No, leave her alone!" yelled Aerith, throwing another flower pot at her own attacker, causing him to stagger back holding his wounded head.

"Come wit' us and I will!" The man brought the blade back to Elmyra's throat. "Or else yer aunt'll be a head shorter!"

Aerith slumped in defeat. "All right... Just please let her go..." She allowed the other attacker, who had recovered by this time, to grab her arms.

"No, Aerith! Please, you have to get away! You have...!" Elmyra's voice was cut short with a gurgle as her captor sliced her throat clean through with his blade.

"Noooo!" screamed Aerith, her eyes flooding and her face turning deathly pale.

"That takes the fight outta her." growled the one-eyed man with satisfaction. He looked up at Aerith without a trace of remorse on his ugly face. "Just one less ol' woman in the world. Yer jus' lucky the Bishop wants ye so bad, or I'd let ol'Golagros there have 'is own fun with ye too! Now let's go! Set fire to this place first, tho'!" He overturned a candle on a bundle of laundry Elmyra had been working on, starting a blaze. "Come on, then, Bishop's waitin'." his frog-like mouth curled up in a sneer.

"No, Auntie!" cried Aerith, still in shock. "Don't leave her there! Please!"

"Heh, she's dead, let the fire 'ave 'er!" the man holding her laughed. They dragged the struggling flower girl out into the dark streets. He looked around. "We've got a few minutes, Gustav! Why don't we have some fun with this one first?"

"Nay, 'is Grace's orders. 'E wants 'er clean." He motioned for the man to bring her towards the manor, but Golagros never had time to reply. A gleaming slash of metal cut deeply into his back, causing him to let go of Aerith as he cried out in pain. The man fell to the ground where another slash took his head.

By the burgeoning flames beginning their destruction of her aunt's home, Aerith could see the profile of Captain Zack standing over the corpse of her attacker. Gustav looked down at his fallen companion in shock, before lunging towards Aerith. Zack was too quick for him, though. He knocked the dagger out of the one-eyed man's hand and held his great sword to his throat.

"You mercenary dog! Who ordered this!" Zack roared, incensed at the atrocity against his friend and her last remaining family member. "Tell me who, dammit!"

Gustav smirked at the knight. "I t'ink you know who, eh? And ye had best be lettin' me go if ye value yer position, right?"

Zack brought his blade tighter against the man's throat and glared at him hatefully. "Don't think for a moment you'll get away with this..."

The ugly man chuckled darkly. "I already 'ave."

Both men turned as they heard heavy footsteps approaching. Commander Baigan came into view as he neared the still growing flames. He surveyed the devastation with an impassive eye.

"Baigan!" cried Zack, still holding Gustav. "Help me take this man into custody!"

"I'm afraid I cannot comply, Captain."

"What!" yelled Zack, becoming even angrier. "Why the hell not!"

"I have more urgent orders I must fulfill." He stepped towards Zack's rear side. "The Bishop has authorized me to execute a traitor." Drawing his sword, he slashed Zack across the back of his neck. The Captain cried out in pain and landed on his back at Gustav's feet. Baigan then planted his sword in Zack's chest, through the heart, and withdrew it, enjoying the look of pain and confusion on his captain's face. Aerith screamed in horror.

"Baigan... why..?" Zack struggled for breath, his eyes glaring at his former friend.

"Too bad, Captain." Despite his words Baigan's tone was unsympathetic. "You know the Bishop wants this little dove." He pointed to Aerith who had dropped to her knees in anguish. "Though the Cetran God alone knows what His Grace could possibly see in such a lowborn slut. Still you should have kept that commoner away from her. What belongs to the Bishop belongs to him alone." He smiled one more time as Zack's eyes closed and his chest dropped, then looked at Gustav. "Get the hell out of here. And next time, follow your orders better." Gustav rushed off into the night, a fearful expression on his face.

Baigan then turned to Aerith. "And now to deal with you my dear."

Aerith stood up, her face wet with her weeping. "I'll never go back to him! You might as well kill me right here!"

Baigan smiled grimly. "You read my mind. The Bishop may lust after you now, but he'll get over it. I can't have you influencing him against me. Now that the golden boy here is dead, you're all that's left in my way." He raised his sword high and approached her. "And I'm going to enjoy this."

Aerith watched as the blade glinted in the firelight. 'Oh, please keep Cloud safe!' she prayed, knowing there was nowhere to run...

A bolt of lightning streaked out and shocked the sword out of Baigan's hands, a growl of pain resounding out against the clatter of the metal on the stone pavement. Aerith looked and saw Zack had managed to fire off a spell from his materia gauntlet. Her hope died, though, when she saw the spell had taken the last of his strength. Zack fell back in pain on his back once again.

Baigan recovered his sword, shaking in pain and rage. "You traitor, you'll pay for that!" He rushed the fallen knight, but was stopped from delivering the final blow by Aerith tackling him. Baigan threw her off himself, punching her hard across the face. She dropped to the ground in pain as the commander moved back to Zack.

Suddenly a great wark rang out across the night and Cloud rushed in on Sleipnir, knocking Baigan to the ground. With a howl of rage the commander stood back up and tried to drag Cloud down from the saddle, but the squire drove a knife right into the his shoulder. The evil knight screamed out in shrill pain, and staggered off into the night. Cloud at first made to follow him, but then remembered Zack and Aerith. Dismounting his chocobo he rushed to her side.

"Aerith! Are you alive! Please be all right!"

The flower girl sat up and embraced her hero tearfully. "I-I'm alive! But Zack..! and my Auntie!" Cloud rushed over to Zack, Aerith at his side.

"Captain! Captain, please answer me!"

"Cloud..." the fallen knight whispered haggardly. "Good timing... you saved Aerith..."

"We'll save you too, Zack!" Aerith cried, laying her hand gently on her friend's shoulder.

"No... not this time..." Zack began to cough up blood. He breathed weakly and stared sadly at Aerith. "I-I'm sorry... I should have realized... about the Bishop..."

"No, it's not your fault! Please don't talk, you need to save your strength!"

Zack shook his head. "No... this is my last chance... to redeem myself..." He looked over at Cloud as his breathing became even more ragged. "Cloud... give me my... sword..."

Cloud complied, laying the weapon in his friend's dying hands. Zack looked at it thoughtfully, then back at Cloud. "See this... jewel... the ruby..?" Cloud nodded. "Remove... it..."

Cloud looked at the captain in confusion. "But why? It belongs on your sword!"

"Please... don't argue... I don't have much time..."

Cloud nodded and used his knife to loosen and remove the jewel. He handed it to Zack.

The captain smiled at it. "My father's... gift..." He brought the jewel to his heart. It glowed brightly and disappeared into his chest as if made of air, causing both Aerith and Cloud to gasp. "I... take it with me..." He looked again at Cloud. "This sword is now yours. You must not refuse..." Cloud began to shake his head, but instead nodded slowly, not wishing to dishonor himself by refusing a friend's last request. "Each holder... of the sword... is charged with a quest... when the quest is completed... a jewel will appear..." He pointed to a sapphire on the other side of the hilt. "This... was mine... now you must... complete yours..."

"I am not worthy of this." Cloud muttered, tears in his eyes.

"That... is for me to decide... not you." Zack smiled at his friend. "You are greater... than you know... I have complete faith... in you..." He coughed violently, blood streaking his chin. "The Bishop is evil... you must stop him Cloud... flee the city with Aerith and travel to Midgar... inform the Patriarch... what has happened..." He took off his black gauntlet with its glowing green materia. "Take this as well..." he whispered, handing it to Cloud. "It may prove useful..."

"Oh, Zack..." Aerith started to weep again.

"How sweet... a lady's tears... just for me..." Zack smirked in his old manner. Aerith stroked his cheek, but cried harder this time, instead of laughing at his antics like she usually did.

"You are always so smug..." she smiled through her tears.

The fallen captain turned back to his other friend. Zack looked up at him, his handsome face marred by blood and pain. "Use this sword of my family, Cloud. It belongs to you now. Take it and protect... Aerith..." His eyes closed for the final time. Cloud held Aerith tight to his chest as she started to sob uncontrollably.

Aerith started from her memories as the door of the keep was closed, a booming sound running through the ruined edifice. She saw the same Wutaian girl that had popped up the last few nights staring wide-eyed at her, especially at the jagged piece of magical ice still lodged in her shoulder. The girl looked like she would say something for a moment, then turned quickly as if to leave the keep.

"Is Cloud all right?" Aerith asked worriedly, her desperate tone stopping the short-haired girl.

"Yes..." the Wutaian whispered. "There was a huge fight! Spike fought like a... wolf." She hesitated at the last. "But we made it through."

Aerith breathed a sigh of relief and sank back into the pallet.

The Wutaian moved closer. "The hawk was wounded by a spell." The girl swallowed hard. "But you already knew that, didn't you?"

The wounded flower girl nodded wordlessly, her eyes turned back to studying the filthy walls. The emerald orbs were shining with unshed tears.

The girl moved a but closer. "Are you human... or spirit?"

Aerith sighed again, her beautiful face becoming forlorn and distant. "I am sorrow."

Before the visitor could respond, an old scraggly priest came in with a opened padlock in his hand. He confronted the girl. "How did you..!" He stopped, though when he saw Aerith on the pallet. His face dropped as a peculiar mix of relief and regret came over it.

The flower girl smiled lovingly at him. "Oh, Imperius... it's been so long..." she whispered, her pain dampening his joy.

The old priest stared at her a moment, a sad smile forming on his lips. It disappeared as he noticed the Wutaian girl. Turning back to her he pushed her out of the keep with a fierce warning of "Stay out this time!", and turned back to Aerith.

"My dear child... this may be painful for you..." He shook his head ruefully, as if the thought of causing her anymore suffering was hurtful to himself as well.

Aerith smiled at him reassuringly. "It's all right father. I'm ready."