One week later
It seemed like the entire town was there at the Niblehigm graveyard. It was like everyone in town wanted to pay respects to the woman who brought so much joy to everyone's lives. Cloud and his mother of course went. Mrs Lockhart was so good to them, even after the Claudia's reputation had been tarnished. Mrs Lockhart and her family seemed to be the only decent people to them.
And now she was gone.
Cloud closed himself after Mrs Lockhart's death. No one could really blame him though. As far as anyone knew, Cloud witnessed her final moments. Mr Lockhart had found Cloud screaming in his back yard for someone to help. When he saw his darling wife motionless, he just shut down. Cloud tried to say something but couldn't think of the words. So he ran home.
When his mother returned he told her what happened earlier. At first she didn't think it was true, thinking Cloud must be mistaken. But then she saw through the window the doctor's arrived at the Lockhart residence. And then they left. With a body.
News traveled very quickly around town. It seemed like many people had the same reaction as Claudia. Denial. People would say that she is just sick, there was no way that she passed. And then Mr Lockhart came public with it. And it seemed like everyone was affected by her death. So much so that when it came time for the funeral, it looked like everyone in town showed up.
After the funeral Mr Lockhart was having people come over to his house for a memorial. Cloud and his mother were one of the first people to come. They were neighbors so it made sense to be there earlier. Mr Lockhart greeted them at the door. He looked awful. Cloud noticed the bags under his eyes and the stubble growing on his face.
" Hello Brian. I'm so sorry for you loss." Claudia said offering her condolences. Claudia reached out to give him a hug which he accepted.
" Thank you... I still can't believe it's real you know. Oh I'm sorry please come on in you two." Brian said as he welcomed both Claudia and Cloud inside. Cloud felt he should say something to Mr Lockhart. He was the last person to talk with Mrs Lockhart after all.
" Mr Lockhart. I'm... so sorry... we were talking for one minute and then she..." Cloud tried to explain but Mr Lockhart stopped him.
" It's okay kid... I'm glad someone was with her at the end." Brian said. A wave of relief washed over Cloud. He had thought that maybe Mr Lockhart would blame him somehow.
" Did umm...Did she say anything...at the end?" Brian asked. Cloud thought back to the moments he spent with Mrs Lockhart. It wasn't difficult for him since he thought of it constantly.
" She was worried about Tifa. She said she wished she could see her grow up." Cloud said. Mr Lockhart held back a sob and put his hand over his mouth to stop himself.
" Thank you son... If uhh, Your looking for Tifa, she's upstares in her room." Mr Lockhart said as he walked away. Cloud felt stupid. He remembered saying how she would be able to beat this sickness. And then she died. Claudia gave Cloud a little squeeze. Cloud looked up at his mother who gave him a sweet smile.
" Why not go see how Tifa is doing? I'm sure she could use a friend right now." Claudia suggested. Cloud simply nodded and his mother left to go help Mr Lockhart prepare for the guests.
Cloud wandered up the stairs a little before he heard what sounded like a piano. Cloud continued on up the stairs, the notes getting louder. Cloud passed by a few closed doors which he assumed was the master bedroom and bathroom and made his way to the only open door. Tifa's room.
Cloud looked inside her room and saw a few dressers against the wall, with a makeup table between them. Cloud didn't want to enter Tifa's room without permission so he knocked on her door and waited for the okay.
" Come in..." Tifa mumbled. She sounded so defeated. Cloud took a few more steps in and saw around the corner Tifa sitting on her bed while playing a few notes on the piano. Cloud's breath got caught in his throat at the sight of her. She was wearing a pretty black dress and had make up on. Lipstick and some eyeshadow to be more specific. Cloud couldn't help but think of how pretty she was. Cloud then cleared his throat, announcing that he was here. This startled Tifa a little and she looked over to see Cloud standing there in her room.
" Hi" Cloud said nervously. Tifa looked a little disapointed for a moment before turning back to her piano.
" Hey..." Tifa mumbled. Cloud walked a little closer before talking again
" I'm...I'm so sorry Tifa." Cloud said expressing his condolences. Tifa couldn't help but scoff at his condolences.
" That what everyone has been saying today...I'm sick of it already." Tifa said bitterly.
" I'm sorry..." Cloud cursed himself mentally for repeating the thing that was irritating her to begin with. Tifa understandably didn't respond to him. The two kids remained in an awkward silence for a moment. Cloud's mind races trying to think of things to talk about to get her mind off of everything. He quickly scanned the room to mention something of note. His eyes landed on the Piano that Tifa was sitting next too.
" I uhh...didn't know you played the piano." Cloud says. Tifa looks at the piano somberly before responding.
" My mom taught me how to play..." Tifa said
" I'm... sure she was a great teacher." Cloud said catching himself before he said he was sorry once again.
" She's...was the best teacher I could have." Tifa said catching herself. She needed to get used to talking about her mother in the past tense. The two grew silent for a few moments. Cloud didn't really know what to do in this situation. He had never had to deal with a someone grieving.
" Cloud... Do you know what happens when we die?" Tifa asked. Cloud thought about it for a moment. He knew the basics that his mom told him.
" No...My mom told me that when we die, we return to the planet or something. I'm not so sure that's true though." Cloud said.
" Returning to the planet..." Tifa repeated. She thought about it briefly before speaking again.
" Mom would say that when we die, our spirits travel up the mountain. And when the journey is over and they reach the very top, they get to go to the paradise." Tifa explained.
" That sounds nice..." Cloud says. He wasn't really sure if her theory was correct ether. It made about as much sense as the returning to the planet theory though so who knows.
" It does... Do you think that, we could go there?" Tifa asked. Cloud was a little confused by what she ment. Like go to this paradise or the mountain?
" I don't know. Maybe one day. When we are ready you know. Like when we pass on from this world.." Cloud said. This didn't seem to be the answer she wanted though.
" I know that, but... do you think if we climbed the mountain, we would see my mom?" Tifa asked as tears began to form in her eyes. Cloud could tell she was desperate for him to say yes. She needed to know that she could see her mother again. But Cloud couldn't give her the answer she wanted to hear.
" Tifa...I-!" Cloud began to speak, but was interrupted by a knock in the door. Tifa broke her eye contact with Cloud and stood up from her piano chair to see who was there. At her door stood Jenna.
" Tifa I'm so sorry for your loss." Jenna said as she wrapped Tifa in a hug. Tifa internally groaned at the condolence. She was absolutely sick of them.
" Thank you Jenna." Tifa said automatically. Cloud saw the two girls hugging and wondered if maybe he should have given her a hug as well. He didn't do it when he came in. Should he do it now? Would it been weird? No It would be appropriate today...right?
Behind Jenna walked in Gin and Rye. Two people Cloud desperately did not want to see today. They both offered Tifa a hug which she accepted.
" Sorry about your Mom Tifa." Rye said.
" Yeah, sorry." Gin said. Tifa just nodded at the two boys and walked back to her piano and sat down in her bed. Jenna went over with Tifa and sat next to her.. Rye and Gin on the other hand walked over to Cloud. Cloud looked them over briefly and saw that Rye had a few bandages still on from the fight a week ago. Cloud figured he must have done some serious damage when he threw him. He had to wonder just how strong these Limits were. Gin however looked no worse for ware.
" Hey Cloud..." Rye greeted as he out his hands in his pockets. Cloud said nothing.
" Okay then" Rye said as he walked over to Tifa with Gin following.
Cloud began to feel sort of like a third wheel. Jenna was talking with Tifa the most. She mostly just tried to take her mind off of everything by gossiping. Rye and Gin were talking amongst themselves, occasionally saying something to Tifa trying to cheer her up. But Cloud was left to sit by himself. Cloud did notice how Tifa barely acknowledged any of her friends. She just sat at the piano and played a few notes. Cloud realised that even though Tifa was surrounded by friends, she was just as alone as he was.
But he didn't want that for her.
Cloud wanted her to feel better. For her to know that he was there for her. But he didn't know how to express this. He could just say it but he figured that words weren't going to reach her. Actions spoke louder. Cloud wondered if maybe she was thirsty. He could grab her a glass of water? No that was too little. Maybe she would like to go out for a little while. Take a walk? Get away from all the sad faces. Maybe he could introduce her to Fenrir. Maybe that would work. Cloud's train of thought ended when she heard Tifa begin to raise her voice.
" I DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING. I JUST WANT TO SEE MY MOTHER" Tifa yelled catching Cloud's attention. Jenna, Rye, and Gin looked shocked at the outburst. Cloud wondered what they could have said to make her angry. Tifa quickly rushed out of her room. Jenna followed suit, not wanting her friend to be alone. Rye and Gin followed a moment later. Cloud just stood there for a moment stunned. What happened? Sure she wasn't exactly chipper right now but she wasn't angry. Cloud figured he better go after them so he rushed out of the room.
Quickly rushing downstairs, Cloud looked around the now busy living space of the Lockhart household trying to find Tifa And her friends. Unfortunately only the adults of the town were around. No other kids in sight. Where did they go. Cloud wondered if maybe they went out to the back yard. Maybe Tifa wanted some space. Cloud looked out the window to see if Any kids were there but there was no one. Cloud tried to think of where they would have gone, and a thought came to his head.
"Do you think if we climbed the mountain, we would see my mom?"
Cloud's eyes widened in realisation. They wouldn't go to the mountain. Would they? The place was crawling with monster's. The mountain trail was super dangerous on its own too, never mind the monster's. Could she really be that desperate to see her mother? Cloud thought about it for a moment, and thought of his own mother. What would he do if he could see her again. Probably anything. Cloud knew he couldn't let Tifa go out there. He had to stop her. Cloud quickly rushed past many of the guests and rushed out of the door. This sudden action didn't go unnoticed by Claudia however.
Cloud rushed out of the house and looked around for Tifa and her friends but it looked like the town square was completely deserted. Everyone must ether be at the memorial or at home. With no sign of Tifa and the others Cloud continued down the road until he made his way toward the end of town.
The town officially ends just after the largest building in the whole town. The Shinra manor. It has been abandoned for years now and it is apparently completely off limits to everyone because Shinra still owns it. As Cloud passed by the creepy looking manor he thought he saw something inside the building through the window. Cloud stopped to try and get a better look but whatever he saw was gone.
Cloud wondered what he could have seen there, but thought maybe it was just his eyes playing tricks on him. The place had been abandoned for longer then he had been alive. No point in thinking about it when Tifa was still missing. With his mind back on the task at hand Cloud rushed down the path toward the mountain.
A little ways out of town the paved roads turned into dirt roads making it much easier to see any sort of foot prints. Cloud hoped that he wouldn't see any prints but to his dismay, there were at least 4 sets of foot prints on the dirt road. Cloud had the most basic of tracking skills, he learned it in school, but even he can tell that they were running down the path. They were still a little ways a head of him. But Cloud was getting closer.
Tifa finally had reached the mountain proper only now stoping to take in just how massive the mountain is. She had ran and ran and didn't think once about stoping. She didn't want to. She wanted to see her mother. And she knew she was on the other side of the mountain. She just knows she is there. Tifa continued forward but stopped when she heard a voice call out to her.
" Tifa wait!"
Tifa turned around to see her friends Jenna, Rye, and Gin. She was surprised to see her friends had followed her. When she left her house she kind of zoned everything out and ran. She couldn't be more grateful to them for coming. But then she noticed that Cloud wasn't with them. Suddenly she began to think that maybe he didn't care as much as she thought he did. Maybe he thought she was crazy. Maybe he was scared?
" Tifa what's gotten into you? Why are we out here?" Jenna asked.
" Yeah Tifa, it's not safe out here, we need to go back." Rye said.
" I'm not going back...My mother is somewhere over the mountain. I'm...I'm going to find her." Tifa said. She knew she probably sounded crazy, but she couldn't help but feel like she was being called here. Like her mother was calling her. Whenever the wind hit her just right she felt the pull to continue on again.
" Tifa, You can't climb the mountain, that's crazy!" Gin said.
" You don't have to come. I'll do it alone." Tifa said with confidence. Jenna was begining to get really worried about her. She had never seen her like this before. Tifa with out another word marched onward.
"'Tifa!" Rye called out. The three kids all have each other worried looks but they decide to carry on, for there friend. All except for Gin. Gin continued to stand there is his friends continued on down the mountain path. He looked up at the intimidating mountain and couldn't help but shiver in fear. Rye noticed his best friend wasn't beside him.
' Gin lets go!" Rye said.
" N-n-n-no way man...The mountain is super dangerous." Gin said.
" Gin, come in we need you!" Jenna said hoping he stayed to help them. Gin once again looked to his friends and then to the mountain.
" Now way. I am not dying today.." Gin said and turned around to. go back to town. Rye couldn't believe his friend abandoned them. Jenna huffed in annoyance and continued onward down the path to Tifa. Rye looked back once more before continuing as well.
Cloud was just about at the mountain path. He had been running non stop trying to catch up with Tifa and the others. To Cloud's suprise. the trip up to the mountain path had been rather smooth. He had figured he would have seen some sort of animal or monster by now. He did notice the wind picked up a bit though. Maybe that scared the monster's away? Lucky him.
Cloud continued running and running but stopped when he saw afamiliar face running back toward him. Gin.
" Hey Gin!" Cloud called out but the boy just wouldn't stop. Gin kept running and running and then passed Cloud without acknowledging him at all.
" Why did he...?" Cloud wondered out loud. Was there a monster? Or was he just scared of the mountain. Cloud figured Gin was the type to scare easily, considering how he acted in the forest and the cafeteria when he use that limit break power. But to leave a friend when they needed them, that was cold. Cloud couldn't think about that right now though, he needed to keep going. So with no. more distractions, Cloud continued on to the mountain path, hoping to get to Tifa quick.
Tifa had not stopped since her friends caught up with her. She continued walking down the path even as it grew more and more dangerous. The path was growing more narrow but she didn't care. Tifa would simply continue as if the path was the same as before. She was on a mission, and she was going to see it through.
Her friends on the other hand were not. As the path grew more and more treacherous Rye and Jenna's resolve to help there friend was tested. Upon reaching the narrow path Jenna and Rye paused. They looked down from the path and saw the potential fall that awaited them if they lost there balance or the wind picked up and blew them away.
" Maybe we should turn back?" Rye suggested.
"We aren't leaving Tifa out here on her own." Jenna said as she continued down the narrow path. Rye looked down once again seeing how far the drop was he decided to not go. Rye turned around to leave Jenna after going across looks back to see Rye walking away. She couldn't believe her eyes. How could he just leave.
" Are you serious right now!" Jenna yelled out to Rye who turned around to respond.
" Look Jenna. I'm sorry. But I you have to admit this is crazy. I don't want to die today. I will get help though. I promise." Rye said as he turned to leave once again. Jenna couldn't believe that he ditched her and Tifa in the middle of the dangerous mountain path. Jenna couldn't help but feel a lot more vulnerable then before. She had firends to help her before so she figured she could rely on them. Guess not.. Jenna looked down the direction Tifa was going and reluctantly continued.
Rye was running back to town as fast as he could. This whole thing was crazy he thought. Why were they even out there. He was all for going to dangerous places but the Mountain was next level. There was no way they could make it to the top. Why Tifa was trying so hard was beyond him. He should have gone back with Gin. He had the right idea from the start. Jenna was crazy to think they could make it up the mountain on there own. Rye thought all this as he ran back to town. But he never expected for anyone else to come out here.
Cloud was running as fast as he could toward Rye. He didn't even really notice him until he called out to him.
" Cloud?" Rye said confused as to why he was out there. Cloud looked to the source of the voice and stopped.
" Where's Tifa?" Cloud asked. Cloud wasn't surprised to see Rye tucking tail and turning back. He always figured he was only out for himself.
" She's up ahead. The path started getting crazy dangerous and she just kept going. I tried to tell Jenna to come back with me but she wouldn't listen. So I decided to go back to town and get help." Rye explained. Cloud scoffed at him trying to make himself seem like he was helping. Cloud saw through it. He just wanted to save his own skin.
" Your a coward." Cloud declared. Rye's eye twitched slightly at that. It looked like Cloud touched a nerve.
" What did you call me you little shit?" Rye asked Tring to intimidate him, but Rye didn't scare Cloud in the least.
" Your a coward. You left two girls out here in the middle of nowhere. Monster's could get them or they could fall. And at the first sign of trouble you tuck tail and run." Cloud said.
" I'm going to get help. That's why I'm going back." Rye defended himself but Cloud wasn't buying it.
" Sure you are. Go back to town and tell everyone how I somehow made Tifa come out here, or how you bravely climbed the mountain but turned back when I came and caused trouble. Tell them what ever makes you feel better about yourself. I'm going to go help my friend because she needs me.' Cloud said as he takes off down the path once more. Rye wanted to be angry at Cloud for calling him out bit he couldn't. Cloud was right about him. He was a coward.
" Tifa come on. This is crazy!" Jenna called out to Tifa. But Tifa just kept walking on. Jenna had been trying to get through to Tifa. Saying the mountain was dangerous. and they would get in trouble for being here, or possibly die. But Tifa just didn't care. She kept going without saying a word. It frustrated Jenna. Why was she so dead set on climbing the mountain. Was this something she always wanted to do with her mom? Jenna just didn't know. She decided on this so suddenly too. One minute Jenna was sharing ideas for what they could do to get her mind off of everything and then the next she is running out of her room and toward the mountain. it didn't make sense.
The path ahead of them became treacherous yet again when they reached a long rope bridge. Tifa stopped just before the bridge and examined it. This have Jenna some hope. Jenna looked over at the bridge and saw it did t look very safe. The boards looked old the ropes were frayed. It looked like it could break soon. Maybe Tifa was drawing the same conclusion.
" Tifa, that bridge doesn't look very safe. Let's go back. You gave it a shot now let's just go." Jenna basically begged her friend to turn around. But to Jenna's dismay, Tifa stepped forward onto the bridge. Tifa walked slowly across the bridge but Jenna couldn't follow. She tried to follow her friend but she just couldn't. She looked down from the bridge and saw nothing underneath. There so much fog, she couldn't see the bottom. Jenna wasn't brave enough to get on the bridge. She jumped backward to more stable ground and fell to her knees.
" Tifa please...come back!"'Jenna called one last time...but it fell on deaf ears as Tifa continued on. Jenna couldn't help but cry. She failed her friend, and now, she would return to town, with out her. Just as Jenna turned around to leave, Cloud arrived.
" Jenna, Where's Tifa?" Cloud asked.
" Cloud she won't listen, she...she just keeps going." Jenna said as she looked back over to Tifa who was still crossing the bridge. Cloud saw her and knew he needed to get to her fast.
" Get out of here Jenna. I'm going after her." Cloud says as he begins down the rope bridge. Jenna was speechless. Cloud didn't even hesitate to get on the rope bridge. Jenna couldn't help but think Cloud was ether really brave, or really stupid. Ether way she felt admiration for the blond boy. Deciding she would do as Cloud said, she turned around and began the trek back to town.
Cloud proceeded across the rope bridge slowly. His heart pounded harder and harder with each step. The cold mountain winds chilling Cloud to the bone. Cloud was well aware of how dangerous this whole situation was but he wouldn't stop. Cloud kept saying in his head that Tifa needed him. It kept him going. And now that he was so close, he was not going to give up.
Tifa made it about half way across the bridge when she stopped. She looked up at the rest of the mountain. The mountain still towering above her even after this long hike. It looked like she had barely started. Tifa couldn't help but doubt herself for a moment. Could she really do this, she was beginning to get tired and the cold was beginning to. get to her as well. She didn't even stop to get a jacket before she left. No, she made it this far, she was going all the way. Readying herself for what the mountain will throw at her she took another step.
" Tifa!" Cloud called out. Tifa froze. She turned around and saw him. Cloud was standing just a little bit behind her. He had come after all.
"Tifa, why did you come out here?" Cloud asked. He wanted to know for sure why she came here. Was it really because of her mother? Did she really believe that story that much?
" Go away Cloud..." Tifa said.
" I can't do that Tifa." Cloud said.
" I'm not going back okay... I'm gonna climb this stupid mountain." Tifa said.
" I know...for your mom right?" Cloud asked. Tifa looked into Cloud's eyes. Cloud began to slowly walk forward.
" I know your hurting...I know you want to see her. I would too. I can't imagine the pain your in." Cloud started. Tifa just listened to his words as if there was nothing else in the world.
" I wish I could make it better but I can't. No one can...this is just how life is." Cloud said.
" My mom can, if I see her again everything will be better! Everything will go back to how it was" Tifa said.
" Tifa she can't...you know she can't..." Cloud said.
"'But she can I know it. I will see her. I will go over the mountain, and she will be there..." Tifa stopped and stared at Cloud for a moment. Cloud gave her a sympathetic look. But it wasn't one of pity. He was genuinely sad for her. As if he shared her pain.
" She won't be Tifa...she's gone..." Cloud said somberly. Tifa didn't want to believe it. The entire hike up the mountain she told herself her mom was over the mountain. She refused to believe anything else. But there was one thing she also knew. Cloud has never once lied to her. Faves with the truth, Tifa then broke down crying.
" It's not fair... why did she die? Why did she leave me alone?" Tifa asked as she began to sob her eyes out.
"Your not alone...I'm here for Tifa."Cloud said but Tifa just continued to cry. Cloud saw once again that words wouldn't reach her. All he could do is show her that he was there for her. So Cloud reached out and hugged her tight. Tifa then clung to Cloud as if her life depended on it. They held each other for what felt like hours, until Tifa regained control of herself once again. Cloud let her go and she gave him a smile.
" Thanks...for being here." Tifa said. Cloud just gave her a smirk as a response.
" So...do you want to keep going?' Cloud asked. Tifa shook her head.
" No...let's go home." Tifa said. Cloud smiled and extended his hand for her to take. Tifa reached for his hand.
Suddenly the bridge began to shake violently. Cloud quickly grabbed Tifa's hand and balanced himself on the ropes.
" Whats happening?" Tifa yelled out as she held on to the Rope bridge. Cloud looked around trying to find what was causing the bridge to shake so much. And then he saw them. What looked like black ghosts were swarming around the bridge. Cloud saw some of them were ramming into the bridge. It looked like they were trying to break it.
" Tifa we have to move." Cloud said as he began to walk back toward solid ground with Tifa clinging to his hand. Tifa was confused as to what was happening. One minute there were no ghosts, and the next what looks like hundreds of them were flying around them. Were they monster's? What were they trying to do? As Cloud and Tifa walked back some of the ghosts flew toward them and a gale of wind began to push the two kids back.
" Ahh" Tifa screamed as the wind almost took her luckily Cloud still held onto her arm.
" I got you" Cloud said as he managed to pull her back to him.
" Hold on to me okay." Cloud said to Tifa, which she complied. Tifa wrapped her arms around Cloud weighing the two of them down. Cloud then pushed through the strong winds these Ghosts were making.
Cloud struggled to keep going as the winds grew stronger and stronger. They only had a few more boards to go but the winds were just too strong. It was as if the wind was trying to make them fall. Suddenly the winds stopped. Cloud looked around in confusion. The ghosts were beginning to dissapear. Not all at once but they were slowly fading away. Cloud was about to make his move and get off the bridge, but the rope snapped. Cloud and Tifa began to drop.
Tifa screamed at the top of her lungs as The two began to fall. Cloud thinking fast grabbed hold of one of the boards on the bridge. Cloud was dangling off the side of a cliff face on the remains of the rope bridge with Tifa still clinging to him.
Cloud looked up. and saw whatever remaining ghosts there were, were beginning to fade into little specks of light. Cloud wasnt wasnt sure what this ment but he had more important things to deal with. Like not falling.
" You okay?" Cloud asked Tifa.
" NO! What the hell were those things?"' Tifa asked.
"'I don't know, but there gone now. Do you think you can climb up?"' Cloud asked. Tifa looked up and saw how far they needed to climb, it wasn't too far, so maybe she could do it.
" I'll try" Tifa said. She then reached up for Cloud's shoulder and slowly began to climb up.
" You got this Tifa... just keep going." Cloud encouraged. Tifa managed to get off of Cloud completely and began to climb the bridge. Cloud then slowly followed behind. They climbed for a few moments then Tifa saw the top and smiled.
" Almost there." Tifa yelled out.
" Don't stop, just keep going." Cloud said. Tifa did as she was told but just before she reached the top the last board broke under Tifa's weight. With her grip lost, Tifa began to fall.
It all went in slow motion for Cloud. He saw the board break and Tifa lose her grip. He watched as she began to fall back toward him. Not even thinking about what he was doing Cloud jumped off the cliff face and wrapped Tifa in his arms. He wrapped himself around her as best he could and held her tight before bracing for impact.
For Tifa it was the oposite. It all happened so fast. One second she was climbing, the next, she was falling and then she was in Cloud's arms. Wrapped in his arms, Tifa couldn't help but feel at least a little safe. Cloud and Tifa fell. They fell for a few seconds until, there was nothing.
Tifa woke up a little while later. She wasn't quite sure where she was. She looked around trying to find anywhere familiar. She thought back to how she got there. She remembered going to the mountain, and then the rope bridge, but then...
" Cloud!" Tifa called out as she recalled everything. She squirmed slightly in pain from sitting up too quickly She examined herself and saw she had multiple cuts scrapes all over. They hurt, but she couldn't focus on them. She needed to find Cloud. She scanned the area they were in and saw him laying a little ways from her. Tifa sighed in relief and went to check on him. It looked like Cloud was still out. Tifa then tried shaking him awake.
" Cloud. Hey Cloud get up!" Tifa said as she shook him.
No response.
"Hey! Nows not the time to be lazy, get up." Tifa called out again, this time shaking him a bit more. Once again no response. Tifa began to worry. Shouldn't he have felt that by now. Maybe he was just a heavy sleeper.
" Come on Cloud stop playing around. This isn't funny!" Tifa yelled.
No response.
Tifa picked up Cloud's head and tried to wake him up by lightly slapping his face. This is when she noticed the blood on the ground. Tifa then looked at her hands and saw the same blood on them. Cloud was bleeding heavily from the back of the head.
" No...Cloud please!" Tifa pleaded for him to wake up. She didn't want to see it. She didn't want to even entertain the thought.
" Cloud! Please get up... Please don't leave me too!" Tifa pleaded as she tried shaking him awake again and again.
She don't want to think for a moment that he was dead. She didn't want to think for a moment that he died saving her.She didn't want to think that she had killed Cloud Strife.