Aerith waked up of sound of train when it started to slow down. It had arrived at the station. Small cabin where she had sleep had barely enough space to have her turn. But Aerith did not complain. Better here then in Shinra's lab.

Aerith did sit up and looked out the window, snowy mountains could be seen.

They have decide to take side route up the mountains after they left Kalm. These stations might not be guard that well as those that had more traffic. Shinra's presence would not be great in here.

She put clothes on, and just looked scenery. She have never seen this much snow, she had seen pictures about it in books and few times there had been snow in Midgar, but under steel-sky not much did rain down the under-city. Her mother Ifalna had said she had born in far north, but she had not spoken much about that. Too painful.

Later there was knock on the door and young girl did brought her breakfast that had been included into trip and cabin.

She eat the simple breakfast what was brought in her cabin to her by young girl and then waited. They did have change train, but Cloud had said it would be better if she would not be outside where more people could noticed her.

So she waited and looked outside the mountains and read some books that where in cabin. When afternoon started she put on thick winter hooded coat that Tifa had given to her and took her quarterstaff stepped out the train.

Aerith felt cold crisp air of mountain when she stepped into station. Snow did cover train station, but it was not very thick layer.

Cold-water station did read in wooden sign. This was small mining town at the mountains. Aerith remember that this town had produced some amount of iron ore and metals least that had read in travel guide book she had bought from Kalm, when they had continued the trip towards east.

Aerith looked around station and keep her face hidden in her hood.

There was not much people around. Cold weather and snowfall keep most people away. Some barbecue and dining canopy were open, but not many people were in them.

Then she looked side of the wall where was posters of last news, most were local news. Someone was looking help with cattle, some were looking new miners, some posters about missing people. Few did tell monster attacks that had strike some distant farm.

But biggest news where about President Shinra death and how Rufus Shinra was now new president. Terror strikes in Midgar, how Avalance had allied with Wutai.

Then news tell about how ceasefire with Wutai had broken in some places and there had been clashes in some places. Some naval engagements had also happen. War was about to start.

Aerith take deep breath and let then air come out. Her foster mother Elmyras husband was killed in last war. Aerith remember the moment when she had telled Elmyra that.

How many people would die this time?

Normal people have these things to worry, they don't even know what dangers threat the planet itself. Aerith did thought last fight against Jenova at the Shinra building. She shivered and not from cold weather.

Then Aerith did notice wanted posters, some of them were torn and old. Some were rough pictures of some beasts and people. Rough sketch of some horned beast that had chased some people. Warning of some bandit group in the area.

Then Aerith did froze. Picture of young women with her likeness. Wanted alive by Shinra. She took poster and torn it off from wall.

"Find something interesting miss?" Someone said behind her.

Aerith did froze, then she regain her composure. She folded poster quickly and turned around.

Front of her stand four men in furs and with various weapons.

Some kind of beast-hunters. Aerith thought. Or bounty hunters?

"Maybe something?" Aerith said and turn to face man what she think was group leader. Older man with thick black beard with horned helmet and spiky mace in his arms.

"You don't look like normal hunter?" Man said and looked her.

"Looks can be deceiving." Aerith said and smiled.

Then she turned her staff and show materia it did hold.

"You know how to use that?"

"Quite well actually." Aerith answered and then looked the group. Others men's were armed with spear, big crossbow like weapon and last one had some kind of strange pickax. They clothes were various kind of beast hides. Some were from animals that Aerith did not recognize.

Blackbeard walked to front of poster and looked at them.

"There had been quite few beasts lately."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah, monsters had come little more restless lately. Some people said that something has changed lately."

"What they say?" Aerith asked.

"Well there is always those that speak that some monsters are waken from it's slumber and stalk lands again."

"Well guess it good that there are those that fight against those monsters."

"Then there is also some wanted people." Blackbeard said and turned to look at her.

Aerith feel like poster she hold started to get hot.

"Guess there is then lot work for all of us." She said.

"Yeah, lot of hunting?" Man said turned to look at her.

"So what you intended to hunt miss?" Blackbeard asked and looked the poster that was Aerith's hand. Aerith did feel coldness to creep inside her.

"Do mind to move?" Cold voice asked from behind them. They all turned to look.

Man with cape and ragtag armor stand behind them. Great sword was in his back. Few materia did glow dimly in his belt and sword. Sword-man had muscular and fit body. His eyes were now in hunters, like some dire-wolfs who looked possible threat... or prey?

Unlike some others blue eyes Aerith remember from past, this swordsman glowing blue eyes were cold. There was not much warm in eyes of Cloud Strife. Knowing his story like Aerith did, it was not surprising.

"Soldier" One of the hunter with crossbow said and took step back. Giving Cloud more space. Even here in hinterlands people know about Shinra's elite warriors. Maybe this man had actually seen real Soldier and recognize glowing eyes. Then he might have seen himself what they were able to do. Fighters beyond abilities of normal humans. Hunters did look him cautiously. For a while only wind could be heard.

"Are you done looking at the posters?" Cloud asked again. Now he sounded more irradiated.

"Yeah… we already find something." Blackbeard said and took poster about horned monster.

"Miss." Man said and nodded to Aerith. Aerith did return to gesture. Then the hunters turned and walked away.

Cloud walked front of the posters and started to look posters about monsters. He did not look at her, Aerith also turned and walked further from bulletin board. She walked near the rail of the station. She looked the mountain view, sun had started shine and snowy mountains could see more clearly. Scene was actually quite nice, despite the cold and wind.

She should have know that Cloud was nearby, they have agreed that it would be dangerous to be seen together. But there was always someone who was near her, mostly it was Cloud.

Well he is my bodyguard. Aerith did remind herself.

Little later Cloud come next to her.

"You okay?" Cloud asked and looked her little worryingly.

"Yeah, they just managed to surprise me."

Then she take poster on and showed it to Cloud. Cloud face turned more serious. Then he turned and looked around.

"We can't stay here any longer."

"Yeah." Aerith said quietly.

So much from little rest in this station or local inn.

"I will go warn others, we should leave next train." Cloud said and then turned to look at her.

"Go that small barbecue place, take some food and try to stay out of sight."

Aerith noded.

"I will come pick you up later, before we leave" Then Cloud left. Aerith stand there for a moment, then she noticed that clouds over the mountains started to go front of the sun. Weather started to change more dark and it would started to snowing more.

Aerith did looked poster of her for moment, then she collect little of her power and reach fire materia at her staff. Poster started to burn in her hand and next moment it was ash that wind and snow did take away.

Then Aerith turned and went to look shelter. She waited day in that small cafe-place if it could called that. She eat little and read her travel guide. Keeping eye of people that came in and looked life at station. She soon noticed Cloud from the window he was sitting at nearby bench cloak on his holders and his sword in next to him. He did few times looked her direction when he noticed her in window, but mostly he did ignored her. Aerith did know it was in purpose, they all know that avoiding attention was now wisest move.

One moment Aerith noticed that Barret had show up and was sitting next to Cloud. Big man did wear cape and fur-hat, but he was not there long. They change few words and then Barret did left thought he had left cloth bag next to Cloud.

She didn't see Tifa or Red anywhere, that might be good sign. Red would draw attention and that they try to avoid now. Then she waited again.

After sun has gone down Cloud did walked in, he had big cloth bag on his hand. He walked the counter and took something to eat. Some soup of local recipe.

At one point they eyes did locked. Cloud nodded to her. Aerith did understand, stand up and left. She waited a while outside. It was getting colder and darker, but the snowfall was over. Some people were using shovels to clean the station.

Some oil lamps were lit. Here people had no access to mako-energy Aerith thought. Using mako had terrible price. But without light or warm people would die here.

Few people were starting to get near to train, it would leave soon. Aerith looked bulletin board where train schedule was.

Then Cloud come outside. He was carrying cloth bag his other shoulder and he walked next to her to watch schedule.

"Others should be in train by now, we stay separated so we don't draw attention, least until we get farther from this place" Cloud said quietly.

Aerith nod, then she looked calendar and she realized what day it was and laugh little.

"What is it?"

"Nothing, it just…"

"What…?" Cloud asked again and this time looked at her closely.

"I just realized that it's my birthday." Aerith said and pointed the calendar.

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"Some birthday." Aerith said and sighed. Here she was standing some train-station in mountains middle of nowhere, cold and dark all around her. Far from the steel-sky of Midgar. Far from safety she once had felt. Now thar was gone. Suddenly she felt so lost.

"Could you wait for moment." Cloud said suddenly and dropped cloth-bag into snow. Aerith watch for moment when Cloud did walk one of the cafe shops and moment later he came carrying two set cups on his hands.

"It's called glögi, it's drink from cold regions of the world. Messengers and postmen did use when they traveled through cold weather. My mother Claudia did make these for me during winter."

"Happy Birthday" Cloud said and handed her cup of warm glögi.

Aerith smiled

"Thank you Cloud"

Aerith tasted the drink it did warm her mouth and warm started spread her body, driving the cold away. Aerith tasted some herb and spices that give it strange but pleasant taste.

"Sorry that I could not give you something better."

"It's okay" Aerith said and give Cloud a smile.

"I will get you something better in your next birthday" Cloud said and smile at her.

Aerith smile turned frozen and she had to fight to keep it up her face.

Year from now, I would be...

Cloud did noticed that.

"Something wrong?"

Aerith did have to turn away get her composure back.

"I… just thought of my mother Ifalna."

Lie

"She give me small birthday cake and flower." Thinking of that moment over decade ago did not help either. Aerith started feel her eyes tearing up.

Aerith you are ruining the moment, Cloud is trying to cheer you up.

She turned to look at Cloud.

"Thank you for cheering me up, I appreciate it." Aerith said and took other sip, aftertaste was also a pleasant. She put smile at her face and after moment Cloud did too.

They did drink they drinks in silent snowy station. Cloud was about to say something but that moment train did whistle.

Cloud take cloth bag in his other hand.

"Let's go."

They left empty cups small snowy table and walked towards train. But when Aerith was about rise passenger car Cloud's hand grabbed her.

"I'm sorry we can't take risk that you would been seen in there."

Cloud put his hand on her hips and firmly started to guide her towards freight wagons. Aerith did feel Clouds body next to her and his arm around her. They have not been this close to each other since they left Midgar.

Aerith didn't have much time to think that because inspector was front of wagon and was check-in tickets. Cloud did show they tickets to inspector who was standing there. This man did not even look at them, he quickly watched ticket and just let them forward. Then they were next to freight wagon and they did get in.

There were boxes in there and some people they could see dim light. People did not look at them, but Aerith did still keep her head down. Someone could recognize her and then things would get difficult. She didn't want to think about what would happen then.

They did find quiet place in next wagon and go next to some boxes. Cloud put cloth bag on the floor and took small oil lamp out of there and light it. Then he took several thick blankets out of it.

"We sleep here don't we" Aerith said and looked the cold floor.

"Hopefully after next station we can get you passenger wagon and get you decent place to sleep. But now…"

"I understand…" Aerith said.

Then train did whistle and they started to move.

Later Aerith was laying on her blankets, least they were warm, thought cold mountain air was creeping into them. She listen how railway keep voice when train did go forward. Cloud has said when they get down from the mountains air would get warmer, but it would take a while.

This is my life now.

Here she was cold in the dark again. Then she remembered the moment in train graveyard in Midgar when black wind had taken her and that ghost creature had tormented her. He remember vision what she had seen. She was again little girl playing hide and seek, but no one would come for her.

Aerith turned little at the dim light she could see Cloud form against the boxes he was sitting position blanket around him. Aerith know that Cloud did sleep lightly and would wake up if something would happen.

My bodyguard. Aerith thought when she looked sleeping swordsman.

He was there still guarding her, but could he guard her at when end came.

Aerith looked moment of Clouds sleeping form.

I would just need to wake him up and ask. Aerith thought. Cloud would you like to come sleep next to me. This blanket is big enough that we both could sleep under it. We both could stay warm.

No I can't do that.

Aerith did turn her back to Cloud.

You know how this thing is going to go Aerith.

Aerith did feel how tears started to flow, but she stayed quiet so she would not wake Cloud.

Train continued its run down from the snowy mountains towards east.