As the light died down around him, Gladiolus lifted himself from the ground much more slowly than he would have liked. Everything was spinning. The world felt like it was forming around him, piece by piece, and he was stuck in the limbo of being real and not being real at all. He flexed his fingers, curled his hands into fists before relaxing them once more. Found his balance before pushing off the ground into a standing position as the colors swirled uneasily around him. He shifted his weight upon his feet, wriggled his toes, rolled his shoulders. This body was the same, yet entirely different as well. He stared at his dirt-covered hands as he pondered this strange sensation, looking over the creases in his palms and the hair along his arms. The Star Mark that still, thankfully, adorned his shoulder, sparkling as they caught the light like diamonds. The tresses of his hair that fell in long strands over his chest and shoulders. He looked like himself enough, but he didn't feel present in his own body. He felt as though he was watching himself, controlling himself, from somewhere else. As if this was all a strange dream and he couldn't seem to break through the haze. He didn't quite feel like himself. He felt weak, in this form.

Gladiolus looked out at the dark, rocky, ashen valley that lay just beyond his volcano as he took in a few steadying breaths. He could still feel the ground vibrating from the force of his transformation and Titan's will, even though it wasn't moving at all. His stomach flipped uneasily, as if he would vomit. He'd never vomited before, but he was far less than eager to discover what it felt like. He hated this form. With its breakable skin, brittle bones, and weak muscle tissue. He could already feel himself dying, slowly, the magic draining from him, evaporating into nothing. It was like an invisible force was unravelling him at the seams, piece by piece, in what would take many years to become his undoing. But, ultimately, it was there, just beneath the surface.

He was standing on his mountain but it wasn't his home anymore. He could no longer feel the plants breathe, couldn't hear the branches of the trees stretch and grow. He couldn't feel the Earth move, couldn't hear its creatures sing their praises. The rock beneath his feet burned and the heat of the lava at its mouth caused sweat to drip heavily down his back.

He could be harmed, in this form. Eventually. He didn't know how fast that would start nor how much time Prompto had either, so he had to be swift. He had to hunt the other man down as fast as he could. Only then would he be allowed to go back and into the safety and comfort of obliviousness from the humans. Only then would he be back in his lover's arms.

'Ignis…'

With a heavy heart, Gladiolus made work of climbing down the mountain. Each step he took was less hot than the last, causing an odd sense of relief to wash over him, but each step was also harder than the last. With every inch traveled he was becoming more and more separated from his world, his home, from Ignis. As if being in an entirely different plane of existence hadn't done it enough already… He never got to say goodbye, and the fact made his new, human heart feel like it was in a vice grip. Every time a breeze brushed his tanned skin, his heart lept, pulse pounding, expecting the other man to suddenly appear and chastise him with teasing words as he always did. To run his fingers through his hair. He didn't. He wouldn't. Alas, humans couldn't see Astrals. Even if Ignis was somehow there with him, he would not know.

Gladiolus frowned deeply as he swatted a tree limb from his path, the branch breaking feebly and falling to the ground in a dry clatter. 'I'll be back as soon as I can… I promise Iggy…'

As he reached the bottom of the volcano, he stood for a long moment, gathering himself. His body already felt oddly exerted, his muscles straining in protest. If he was going to find Prompto fast, he would need to track him. "Now… Where are you…?" The Star Mark on his left arm, the Capricorn constellation, glowed faintly, and Gladiolus closed his eyes, concentrating. He ignored the sound of scattering birds and animals, running in fear of his Astral Voice, not yet trained, not yet able to converse normally.

Nothing.

Not a scent. Not even the soft patter of his footsteps or the sound of his voice in the distance. Not that Gladiolus would even know what he sounded like, he'd never formally met the man before.

The Son of Titan growled low in his chest, opening his eyes. "…Damn…" The other Astral was too far away for his pathetic human body to track. His senses were dulled, his abilities limited. He rolled his shoulders, cracked his neck, thinking on what to do next. Up ahead, just a few miles away, was a small village. He could ask them for help, get clothes, borrow a car or hitch a ride… The thought of being around noisy cars and unnatural, fluorescent lights made his stomach flip with unease. He wasn't used to those things, he wouldn't know what to do with any of it. Hell, he wouldn't even know where to go even if he did get a ride… He wouldn't fit in, not as he was now.

Looking over himself, he sighed. Not a single shred of clothes to his name, nothing to cover his bare form. His skin was matted with dirt, his hair a tangled mess. The humans would think of him as some sort of abomination. A big-footed monster of legend, perhaps, some old wife's tale to be told in order to attract tourists. No. He'd skip the village entirely and try to make in on his own, on foot. He didn't need them. He didn't need anyone. He still had some abilities. There were other ways he could go about things, even if it would slowly deplete his magic. Desperate times called for desperate measures.

The hairs along his thick arms bristled, star mark glowing as fur began to coat his body. His form altered and twisted, grew and morphed. His color greyed, veins becoming visible just beneath the skin. Nails grew longer, scraping ditches into the ashen soil. His teeth elongated, nose and mouth forming a snout. Horns grew from the sides of his head, long and pointed, like that of a bull. Along his back, a thick, short mane of coarse hair, followed by a long, thin tail. Gladiolus now took the form of a Behemoth. Large, terrifying, and strong, just as he thought himself to be.

With a low growl, his new body wound up before pushing into a hard sprint. He didn't know where he was going, nor where Prompto truly was, but he'd use his tracking senses to find him through process of elimination. There were only so many places to go, in Eos without one of those human airship or boat contraptions. He'd keep running until the familiar scent of Astral would hit him, and then he'd be able to track Prompto fully. It would only be a matter of time until the other man would eventually turn up, this, he was sure of.

…

"Oi! Aint you got somethin' to say?!" The first man, tall and lanky, with scratchy facial hair and deep circles under his eyes, barked out loudly, as if the silence of the girl offended him. The hand grasping his dagger flexed, adjusting his grip as the young girl before him just continued to say nothing, mouth in a tight line, deep brown eyes glaring fiercely.

"Listen, Girly… It aint that hard. Just give us what you got in that bag there, and we'll let you off the hook!" The second man, shorter and with a crooked smirk and hooked nose, stepped forward. He smiled, pale green eyes glinting with amusement as the girl grimaced at the movement, pushing her frail form further against the tree behind her. Her hold on her bag only tightened.

"Come on, Hun… It's the least you could do for us! You've gotta have some money in that purse of yours…" The third and final member of the group, a woman with a deep red mohawk and thick eyebrows, shifted on her feet. Tone and body language friendly enough, the war axe she had slung over a shoulder said otherwise. "Listen. We've come all the way out here, lookin' for our target, and some other group has already taken our kill! It would be rude of you to have us travel all the way back home with nothing to compensate our wasted time…"

The girl shook her head defiantly. Finally, she spoke, "It isn't my fault someone got your hunt before you. Let me go. I have no money for you." She swallowed the lump in her throat glancing between them all.

The first man scoffed, angrily stomping a foot. "What makes you so sure of that, eh?" He could see the way she was putting on a brave face, but he also didn't miss how her thin little legs and arms were trembling like a small, scared rabbit.

"You've got plenty to offer us, Sweetheart…" The woman smiled predatorially, causing a glimmer of fear to shine though that steely mask the girl was metaphorically wearing. "…You've got that body, don't you?" It took a few seconds for what was said to seemingly be comprehended, but when it did, the girl's eyes widened. She attempted to make a run for it but was stopped short by a large hand grasping at her arm, fingers digging in hard enough to bruise.

"Where do ya think you're goin', eh? You're giving us somethin', one way or the other, so pay up already!" They laughed aloud, and she yelped as she was yanked, hard enough to bring her sprawling to the ground. Tears brimmed her eyes as she looked up at her attackers, and as the group drew steadily closer, she prayed for someone to save her.

…

'Please…!'

Gladiolus, still in his Behemoth form, stopped. He had heard something just now, hadn't he? A voice. He hadn't heard or seen a single person since beginning his journey, choosing to stick to the dense forests. Exhaustion was settling deep in his bones and as his body halted, he almost couldn't muster the strength to twist his pointed ears, seeking out the source of the voice. The moon was steadily rising over the forest now, painting its way through the sky to cover the tracks of the sun. He had been running for hours on end, perhaps even a full day at this point, but his memories from before his descent into the Human Realm were a bit hazy, and he couldn't accurately put his finger on what time of day it had been to begin with. Where even was he by now, anyways? Cleigne? Duscae? He was pretty sure it was Duscae at this point. The thick, humid air from the distant wetlands hung around him like a net.

His large, beastly body sat as he struggled to pay close attention. Perhaps he was delusional, weary from traveling and using so much magic to remain in a faster, sturdier form. Perhaps his human brain was betraying him, causing him to hear things that were not there? He wouldn't put it past it, at tis point. The human body was strange and uncomforting. With a heavy huff of breath, Gladiolus shook his head in dismissal. He hadn't heard anything after all, and he shouldn't be taking a break. Not yet. He should still be searching for Prompto.

'…Please…! Somebody…! Anybody…!'

The Son of Titan perked up, the hair of his mane bristling. There is was again. Louder, this time. A girl's. Playing in his head as if the source of the voice was directly in front of him, yet there was no one to be found.

'Titan, Ramuh, Bahamut, Gods- something! Please! Protect me!'

Ah, of course. A prayer, one directed partially at him, one begging him for his mercy. It had been so long since he had been close enough to a human, he almost forgot what a prayer sounded like. His ear twitched as he began picking up the sound of shuffling, a little less than a mile away, northeast from his current position. Three humans… No- four. One of them was small, her steps and sounds being covered by the loudness and carelessness of the others'. Perhaps, this one was the one who was reaching out to him? His nose twitched as he began picking up their scents next. Two men, two women. He could smell blood, he could smell distress, he could smell sweat, fear, malicious intent.

It had been so long since he had heard a prayer. So, so long since he decided to keep to his mountains, away from the cold, noisy machines of the humans' creation that tore down his forests and set fire to his blessings. Something within him began churning, causing him to be restless even though he was tired. Strangely, he wanted to help; felt the urge prickling him like pins and needles. He discovered, slowly, that he wanted to loan this human his protection, for whatever reason. Perhaps it was that part of him that needed to feel needed, important, wanted, and feared, like all the other Astrals and their Lessers. The part of him that he gave up in order to remain in his peaceful Eden, undisturbed by human hands. In any case, it ate away at him quickly, his heartrate curiously increasing at the thought of smiting those who dared to threaten his worshippers. And with a small snarl, he set to it, faster than his own mind could comprehend.

Prompto wasn't going anywhere in particular, not to his knowledge. One little detour, and he'd be back on track. He would promise himself that. One side quest, and he'd continue the main story.

'I will answer your prayer, Little One. I will come for you.'

…

It happened like a whirlwind, sweeping the world as she knew it away from her. Like a horror movie, filling her vision with blood. Like some sort of twisted fairy tale from the books she used to read.

One of the men and the woman forced her down onto her back. They sat upon her arms and legs, her protests and struggles all for naught as their much larger, heavier weights held her firmly, not allowing her much room for movement. The second man cackled as they did so, his friends smiling amusedly in response, and he snatched her bag from where it had been forcibly abandoned next to her.

They would do horrible, unspeakable things to her, she was sure. And all for what-? Whatever she had in her bag? She told them she had nothing of interest to them. Had told them to just go away and leave well enough alone. She should have known they wouldn't listen. They may not have been Nifs, but they were all the same, weren't they? Brutes who destroyed everything in their paths and hurt people for the hell of it. As the thoughts crossed her mind she grimaced and screwed her eyes shut, tugging once more at her human restraints. But of course, yet again, they didn't budge.

Perhaps she should have just listened to them from the start. Handed her things over and said, 'Take what you need!' with a fake smile plastered to her face until they inevitably left. But her bag held lots of invaluable research material that she had scoured for days to find! She didn't want to hand it over so easily! It was going to be a surprise for Sania!

The girl was all too aware of her labored, erratic breathing and the wet tracks making their way down her cheeks. The way the backs of her thighs shifted along the ground, smearing them with muddy dirt, making her skin crawl. They way her skirt was riding further up the more the tried to kick, allowing her attackers a lovely view of her panties. She swallowed back another sob as she could feel their eyes roam over her.

'Please…!'

She shook her head in a frantic despair. '…Please…! Somebody…! Anybody…!'

Her mind churned, strugglingto remember any or all of The Six. Gods, had it really been that long since she prayed to them? She could barely recall their names, especially with the whirlwind of distress collapsing on top of her like a glob of wet cement. But she had to try. Her parents used to tell stories of The Astrals' blessings. Her mother would stay up late, Cosmogony in hand, talking and preaching about the wonderful things the Astrals could do and had done in the past.

It was stupid. She gave up believing in those stupid fairy tales long ago. Where were The Six when the Nifs attacked? Where were they when her parents were ripped from her life, left to rot in the rubble of a broken city? No… She had given up believing there was any form of an almighty, benevolent watcher. Her faith died that day, along with her parents. The Six were dead to her, now.

Then… Why was she trying to pray? It was stupid of her. The only thing that could get her out of this situation was herself, she knew. She could only trust in herself and Sania now. But she was weak, unable to break free, forced to lay down and take whatever the hell those hunters planned on doing to her. And from the sick, twisted smiles and telling gleams in the hunters' eyes, she could assume what those things would entail. Sania wasn't around, and she was quite a way from home. There was no other option for her. Nothing else she could try. The only thing there was left to do was to pray, foolishly, and hope that, for once, The Astrals would hear her.

Gathering the remining remnants of hope and belief, she continued, 'Titan, Ramuh, Bahamut, Gods- something! Please! Protect me!'

She felt as if she had been lying down with her eyes closed tightly for a long while and, hesitantly, she cracked them open to try and figure out what was going on around her. Silence rang in her ears, deafening, not alluding her to a single clue, and she strained to overcome her own fears in order to study the man's lips and 'listen' to his words.

"Now, let's see what we got in here, eh?" Through bleary eyes, the girl watched his mouth move, forming words and she continued to struggle, futilely, as the latch to her bag was popped open and the flap pulled away.

"Hey, I call dibs on half of it!" The woman grinned, poking fun at her friend.

"Oi! Charlotte, that's no fair! There's three of us, you daft bitch!" The man holding the girl's arms leaned forward and spat, the thick glob of it landing mere inches away from their captive's midsection to settle in the grass.

Charlotte rolled her eyes as the other man began rummaging, too concentrated to care about their pointless arguing. "Chill, Ralph… She's just a child. There won't be much to split, she can't possibly have much… Aint no noble, either, from how stupidly she's dressed… You can have her instead." She shuffled and grit her teeth as the small girl tried to kick and tightened her grip on her legs after seeing those words.

Ralph scoffed, meeting the girl's frantic and tear-rimmed eyes. "Pretty puny, this one… A little young too, ain't she…?"

"That's never stopped you before, has it?" The other man muttered, slinging the bag to the ground. A few eggs rolled out, a number of them cracking and flooding the ground with its innards. Feathers scattered on the wind, and a few stray claws scattered about. The girl hiccupped and blinked furiously, looking away from her findings. All that hard work, half-destroyed and lost. The wonderful things she had collected for Sania's research- ruined. "This bitch ain't got nothin'. "

"Ya see, Dave?" Charlotte shrugged. "Told ya."

Dave grumbled before pulling his dagger back out of his pocket. "Shut up…" His eyes met the little girl's and he licked his lips, smiling darkly. "Looks like you'll be paying us all with that body o' yours, Darlin'…"

The girl's eyes widened impossibly as she watched the man's mouth move, dread and fear coming to a crescendo inside of her gut, before she screwed them shut and doubled her efforts in struggling and straining, trying her best to somehow break free.

'Oh, Gods, please! Please don't let them do this to me!' She could feel the wetness of her tears leak down her face, matting her hair a bit, and she bit down on her lip, tensing in anticipation for what was surely coming next. She could feel the man's steps along the ground, signifying that he was getting closer, bit by bit. A hand fell to caress the bit of exposed skin on her stomach and her skin crawled. She didn't know who was suddenly touching her, didn't care to find out, and the sensation of foreign fingertips along her body made her skin crawl and bile threaten to come up.

But then, suddenly, it was as if there was an earthquake. At first, small rumblings, like that of a heartbeat. Then the tremors grew worse, heavier, 'louder', shaking the Earth around them and causing the grip on the girl's limbs to loosen as her attackers were startled. She risked cracking an eye open, trying to see what was going on, and as soon as she did, she witnessed a massive beast jump above her, knocking the man with the dagger off his feet and far away from her. She gasped, and the other two attackers lept to their feet instantly, running towards the sudden beast as it tore into the 'Dave' guy's chest, tearing flesh from bone. Before she could even register it, she was suddenly free. No one holding her down, no one touching her, all forgotten in favor of saving their comrade.

The girl took the opportunity to scramble onto her hands and knees as the others ran towards their fallen comrade, weapons in hand. She sat, paralyzed except for her trembling, back against the rough bark of the tree once more as she watched the creature- a Behemoth, she realized- massacre the man who was once threatening her. Blood covered the Behemoth's snout as it snapped bones in half with its sharp teeth and pulled organs from its prey's chest. The breath caught in her throat as the sudden realization that the Behemoth wasn't eating any of it dawned on her. It was ripping the man open, obliterating him, without having the reason of feeding behind it. The beast was simply out for blood, to satisfy its lust for destruction and death.

Without looking away, too afraid to do so, her trembling fingers brushed along the ground next to her, blindly reaching for her discarded bag. The woman attacker screamed out in anger and loss for her comrade, attempting to strike the beast with her axe. But instead of cleaving the Behemoth, the weapon bounced back as if she had impacted stone instead of a mound of flesh and muscle. The weapon clattered to the ground uselessly and the Behemoth's attention was attracted to her now, amber eyes ablaze with rage at the attempt on its life.

With a mighty roar that shook the girl to the bone, it used its tail to knock the female hunter off her feet and into the brush like a ragdoll. The Behemoth shook its head, as if dizzy, and right before the girl's eyes it began to shift and shape, the horns retracting and the paws with its sharp claws becoming more like the hands and feet of a human. It was odd- impossible- right?

Iris blinked furiously as she looked on, her brows furrowing in confusion, and suddenly the need to find her things and go escaped her almost entirely. She watched in a mixture of curiosity and horror as the Behemoth continued its assault anyways, using its strong mouth instead of its- now human- hands and feet to forcibly rip an arm off the woman, who screamed and struggled only for a moment before falling silent and limp. Dead. Again, the creature didn't eat. It merely threw the detached limb aside before searching for the last attacker.

The man had given up all desire to kill the beast, fear gripping his heart as instead he dropped his weapon and tried to run away as fast as he could. The girl watched, heart pounding and chest heaving, as the beast continued to change and transform right before her eyes. It grew smaller and stood on its hind legs, like a man, and its mane grew into long tresses of human hair, the snout melting into a face. It was a man. A large one- possibly the largest man she had ever seen- but a man all the same. He was tall, muscular, with tanned skin and amber eyes under thick, bushy eyebrows.

What was this man? This thing? Where did he come from? Why was it helping her? Was it even helping her, or was she just going to be next? All these thoughts and more ran circles through her head as she watched, frozen like a statue or a deer in headlights, still too frightened to try and more. Only now she was mainly too scared that she would scare him away, of forcing her gaze off him. The more realistic fear of having herself become the next target of his bloodlust was still present, beating at the recesses of her mind, but she ignored it.

The man-thing staggered momentarily, as if trying to muster more strength, as if he was fighting the urge to just collapse, before picking the axe from the ground. He wound his arm back, muscles flexing, before he threw the weapon after the running man. It flew through the air, spinning in deadly circles and cutting through thick branches of trees before lodging deeply in the escaping man's back. And with a pained cry, he fell to his knees, blood flowing from his wound like water before he slumped over completely. Dead, just like the rest of his hunting mates.

The girl's heart hammered away in her chest as, slowly, the man turned to meet her gaze with his own, hot amber meeting deep brown. He mind continued to scream, telling her that the smart thing to do would be to run, to get out, but she didn't. She remained perfectly still, hands digging into the ground and pulling plants by the roots in her tense clutch. The man opened his mouth, then, lips forming words, and she struggled to read them.

"I have answered your prayer."

The statement caused her to blink, brows knitting in confusion. Did she 'hear' that right? Had he said that he answered her prayer? She opened her mouth to reply, but as she did so the man wobbled, stumbled, and then fell.

…

Gladiolus blinked his eyes open slowly, feeling far better than he had before he passed out, but still sore and tired. Just as before there was a fog or sorts, a haze, making what had happened before now hard to dissipate and grasp. It came back to him slowly as he looked around, taking in the scent of still blood and forest. He was lying on the ground, he realized distantly, watching the stars twinkle through the canopy of leaves above. Nightfall was upon him now. A day, wasted, without so much as a hint to where Prompto could be. He sighed before catching movement from the corner of his eye. Fingertips, small and soft, feather-light and hesitant, tracing along the constellation on his shoulder. Slowly, he turned his head, eyes watching the small hand before travelling up a thin arm to rest on the face of the girl he vaguely remembered saving on a whim.

She was young. Not a child anymore, but not yet a woman either. Her face still held a small amount of chub, cheeks rosy. Her dark, brunette hair framed her face, bangs stopping just short of even warmer, brown eyes. Gladiolus blinked, transfixed in them for a moment.

A human. Touching him. Staying beside him. Curiously petting him as if he was some large animal. With an inward grumble, he supposed that's what she had thought him to be.

"H-Hello…?" A voice to match the form. Soft in his ears. Vaguely, Gladiolus thought that her voice sounded much nicer in person. "A-Are you… okay…?" She was unsure, perhaps a little scared as well, but he was surprised. Why had she not left? What was she still doing here? Perhaps she was dumber than he thought. No one in their right mind would have stayed after seeing him deal all that damage, ripping people apart as if they were mere chew toys. He remained silent, not knowing what to respond with. His body ached, and his head throbbed, and the need for sleep was pulsing through his every muscle.

"Your skin…", the girl supplied after the short silence, withdrawing her hand to rest in her lap, legs crossed. "It glows, like starlight." Gladiolus stared at her face a while longer before, ultimately, nodding. This was strange. He hadn't expected the girl to stay, hadn't expected this bold curiosity. He wasn't used to conversing with much of anyone other than Ignis and the occasional Ravus, and any thought of words were falling flat on his tongue.

The girl nodded back, slowly, and he could see her mind working on pitting the pieces of some intricate puzzle together. "Earlier… You said… that you answered my prayer." Gladiolus nodded. "You… Are you… an Astral?" Gladiolus frowned. Suddenly, he wasn't so sure that he should be answering these sorts of questions. Astrals were to be heard, feared, never seen. Humans weren't supposed to gaze upon him, weren't supposed to scrutinize his existence as she seemed to be doing. Weren't supposed to touch him with curious fingers.

Without saying a word, he sat up, and the sudden movement made his head spin. With a groan, he cupped his face in his hands, trying to steady the uneven swaying of his vision. "H-hey! Don't try to move so suddenly!" The girl called out, frazzled and worried, hands hovering in the air in front of her as if unsure if she was allowed to touch him still. Funny, considering that she already had. "I thought… that maybe you had a fever? You passed out, earlier… Um… Are you okay?" Gladiolus stayed silent, only paying half attention to her towards as he ignored her instructions to remain still and tried to stand up.

He turned to look at her again and was surprised to see that she was closer now, somehow, on her feet as well and staying just out of arms' reach of him, as if hoping to catch him if he fell. Furrowing his brows, tried to will his body into motion. This was ridiculous. It was frustrating and stupid. He shouldn't be wasting time being babied. He had a job to do, an assignment to complete. His magic had not regenerated fully, so he couldn't shift again as of yet, but he could still walk. He needed to keep moving. With very passing hour, Prompto could be further away from him. With every passing day, Prompto's window of time before he would be stuck in the Human Realm forever grew smaller, as did his own. He didn't want to be here. He wanted to go home. To see Ignis. To be on his mountain.

"W-wait! Hold on!" The girl moved alongside him, attempting to follow, but he ignored her, pushing onwards and forgetting his own pain and discomfort in order to continue his mission. "Hey! Wait up!" She jogged, coming to meet his stride, trying to get him to look at her. "You saved me, yet you won't tell me what you are. Why?" He opened his mouth to reply. Perhaps to say something and finally brush her off, ask her to leave him alone, but closed his mouth almost immediately after. Even if he did say something, it would only hurt her. Humans weren't attuned to his Astral voice. They had no way of deciphering it, of understanding it. He hadn't even tried to use his voice as the humans did, didn't know what to do or how to make it sound anything buy scratchy and stupid. Though he didn't care for humans, unlike Ravus he didn't hate them. He didn't wish harm upon her.

After a few moments of awkward silence, the girl let out a frustrated breath before jogging a little further in front of him, turning on her heels to walk backwards so that she could look him in the face, eyes jumping between his lips and eyes. Her hair bounced and her short, plaid skirt swayed with her steps as she clasped her hands behind her back and looked up at him. "I'm Iris. What's your name?"

Without warning, Iris stopped, causing Gladiolus to stop as well so as not to bump into her. She extended a hand, eyes glinting as a smile split across her face. The Son of Titan stared at her hand, eyebrow cocked. What was this for? What was she even doing? She was confusing him and giving him a headache. He just wanted to rest, to pull himself together and try again at his mission. But when he tried to walk around her, she merely moved so that she remained in front of him, hand still out as if asking for something. Sighing, the Son of Titan looked around. He had nothing to give her. What was she asking for?

"What, do you not know what a handshake is…?" The teasing, incredulous tone in her gentle voice made him inwardly cringe at himself. He looked stupid. He felt stupid.

Fine. If she was going to be a bother, she only had herself to blame for the consequences.

Taking a deep breath, he readied himself for the screams of agony his voice would cause before opening his mouth and speaking. "I do not have a 'fever', whatever that is. I have nothing that would interest you. I saved you because you asked for me to and I simply felt like indulging your request. Don't expect it to happen a second time… My name is Gladiolus... Now, kindly remove your hand and step aside. I do not know what you're asking for, but as you see, I have nothing to offer." Gladiolus expected a flinch, a cringe, a scream. Perhaps he even expected her to fall to her knees, pass out, or flee. But to his mild surprise, Iris did none of those things. She just watched his lips move, smile steadily growing, rocking on the balls of her feet as he spoke and nodding her head in understanding. It caused him to pause, perturbed.

Iris eyed him, up and down, before shaking her head and retracting her hand. "You're… not from around here, are you? You don't even know what a handshake is. Or a fever..." Gladiolus shrugged, unable to find a decent response to her findings. "'Gladiolus', you said your name was…?" The Son of Titan nodded, hesitantly, and she beamed, jumping a bit. "Cool! That's, like, my all-time favorite flower!"

Gladiolus rolled his eyes and grumbled, pushing past her suddenly. "I don't care what your favorite flower is, now go away. I have a mission to complete."

Iris bounced back from the small shove relatively quickly, missing the first half of what the mystery man said before catching up to him and reading his lips once more. She ignored the way he rolled his eyes upon seeing her once more. "…So, like… What's you mission? Hunting? That's what those guys were doing- well, trying to do- before you ripped them apart like some kind of super hero!" The man cocked an eyebrow. 'What's a… super hero…?' It was lost on him. "Thanks for that, by the way."

"Something like hat, yes…" She had shown him rather clingy and curious body language so far, he could only assume she wouldn't be leaving him any time soon unless he made a run for it. If he was feeling a bit better, perhaps he would have. As it was, he was still recovering and wouldn't be able to shift again for some time.

"…You don't talk much."

Gladiolus shrugged at that statement. "I'm trying not to… Usually, when I talk, people get hurt. Or, at least, they will for a while. Until I learn how to control my voice."

Iris watched him intently before nodding. "So… your voice hurts people, then?"

"Not you, apparently." He stopped, narrowing his eyes. Finally, it was time to turn the questioning back at her. To put her udert the spotlight for once. "…I wonder why that is?"

Iris' mouth formed a tight line and her eyes turned downcast for a moment, foot making lines in the dirt as she took in his accusations. "…Oh, me? I, um… Well, I had an accident a few years back…" She paused, gathering her words. "I'm deaf. So, I can't hear. I have to read your lips."

Gladiolus' brows raised. Oh. Well. That explained things. His amber eyes shown with a shallow empathy before his face went neutral again and he began walking once more. He didn't get two steps before his legs gave out on him abruptly, sending him crumpling to the ground with a gasp and a groan. 'Fuck!' His legs felt like they had static inside of them, roaming through his bloodstream, and he rubbed circles into the muscle, attempting to coerce them into life.

"Oh my gosh! Hold on, I got you!" As he would have assumed, Iris lept into action as soon as she could, grasping one of his arms and slinging it over her shoulder. She attempted to stand, to tug him up alongside her, but he was far too heavy and her miniscule strength couldn't support him. He watched, dazedly, as she gave up for a moment, breathing slightly labored and sweat forming along her pale skin.

What was he doing? It should be no concern of his how this little girl could understand him without feeling like she was being split in two. He shouldn't even be entertaining her in the first place. He shouldn't have gotten himself in this position of weakness. She could do that all day and they'd both go nowhere. "Hey. Stop that. You're too weak. It's a lost cause." Gladiolus frowned as he realized she hadn't heard him, focused too intently on attempting to lift him again. With a grip that was probably a little more forceful than necessary, he grasped at her chin, drawing her face towards him so that she could read his lips. "I said stop. Leave me. I'll be on my way as soon as I am able." He felt pathetic, needing and almost relying on the strength (or lack thereof) of another in order to keep going. Whatever this was, it was sure to pass. He'd get over it.

Iris ignored the man's frustrated frown and the lines in his forehead as she shook her head furiously in a childlike protest. "No way! Leave you?! Like this?!" She huffed out a small, tired breath as her questioning was met with nothing in means of an answer yet again. His silence was growing more and more frustrating by the minute. But she couldn't just leave him. He had saved her. She had to repay him in some way, no matter how small the gesture. He was probably perfectly capable of handling himself. Or- at least- he was. As the man was now, in this state, she wasn't even sure he could defend himself in a predator came strolling by. And he had just enough meat on his bones to seem like an enticing meal. With a distressed pout, she continued, "Do you even know where you're going?!"

Iris' voice, that question, caused Gladiolus to pause. No. He didn't know where he was going. Well, he knew where he was… just about. Kind of. No- definitely. He knew where he was, just… not where to head to next? He had no leads.

The young girl released his arm and walked around him. "I'd like to thank you for saving me, if you'd let me…?" Their eyes met, and he kept his face decidedly neutral as he listened on, head cocking with wariness. "We live in a cabin not too far from here- Sania and I. You can stay there for a while, if you'd like? Sleep on an actual bed and get some rest?" She frowned, looking the man over with a worried gaze as he suddenly seemed to grow tense and on-edge, eyes cutting away to focus on something insignificant off in another direction. She swallowed, continuing in a much softer, less desperate voice, "…You look tired… Please...? It doesn't have to be for long- just one night! You can leave first thing in the morning, after some rest and a warm meal, promise! Sania makes a mean stack of pancakes!" She couldn't hold the small smile that appeared as suddenly Gladiolus' stomach began to rumble loudly, startling him and causing him to flush with embarrassment and frustration. "Haha… See? Your stomach is saying 'yes' already!"

Gladiolus thought on it, long and hard. Already, he could feel the life coming back to his legs, though he still let light-headed and weak. His gut pulsed with a dull kind of something that didn't quite resemble pain. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to spend just one night… Just to get back on his feet and regain his strength… After a long while, Gladiolus sighed, nodding.

Iris bounced up and down happily, squealing with glee. "Really?! You will?! Great!" The Son of Titan started as suddenly her tiny hands grabbed his own, tugging him once more, and this time his legs were able to support him. He straightened, taking a few testy, wobbly steps that made him frown deeply at his own incompetence. They began walking, slowly, in the opposite direction of where he was originally going. "You're gonna like it there, I promise! Let's go, slowpoke!"

…

The house, Gladiolus was thankful to notice, wasn't too terribly far away, tucked into the outside rim of the rows of trees and overgrowth that made up the forest. It was small, and older than a lot of the buildings one would find in the city. But it was quiet. Homely. And most importantly, not anywhere notably close to an outpost or city. Two floors tall, and the outside was surrounded by a porch and a small greenhouse sat off to the side of it. Small lanterns hung from the rim of the roof, lighting the space around the house like a beacon in the otherwise darkness around them. It was easily seen, even while traversing through the thick trees. Surrounding the house and greenhouse were a few small structures, sticking straight out of the ground with blunt blades that spun as the wind caught it.

Iris helped him up the steps before producing a small key from her vest pocket and unlocking the front door. "Well, here we are! Home, sweet home." She stepped inside and turned on her heels, small hands clasped behind her back as she excitedly watched the Lesser Astral's face for any sort of reaction.

Gladiolus stepped inside and allowed the door frail, screen door to close behind him with a soft click. The inside was dimly lit by the overhead light that Iris turned on shortly after entering, casting a warm, yellow glow on all the furniture. All of it seemed old or home-made in some form or another, carved from wood with little notches and imperfections here and there. A well-used couch, a creaky rocking chair, a small, blocky, square contraption with a black screen sitting atop a small stand, and then a low-rising table in the center. A large, knit rug sat beneath their feet and off in the distance, along the wall, a small space heater. There were a few doors leading to other areas of the house, but the particulars were lost on him, as the doors were all closed.

Distantly, though the silence, he thought to look at Iris and as their eyes met, her smile widened, and she rocked back and forth on her heels in anticipation. "…Well? What do you think?"

Gladiolus' brows furrowed as he took one more look over the space. He didn't know anything about human homes. Was this one sufficient? Was it dull? He had noting to compare it to. But the hopeful glint in the girl's eyes clutched and tugged on his heartstrings a bit and, if only to appease her, he offered up a small nod. "It is… a home… Yes."

Although odd, Iris welcomed the praise. "Thank you! …Okay, then! First thing's first- you need a bath."

The Son of Titan raised a thick brow, though his face remained flat. Did she seriously expect him to know what that was? Well… perhaps she did. "…What's a bath? And why do I need one?"

"Seriously?! You don't know what a 'bath' is?!" She watched as Gladiolus shook his head. "Um. Ok. It's- um… It's like… You sit in some hot water and clean the dirt and blood and grime off your body. And you wash your hair and stuff."

Gladiolus recoiled at the sound of a 'bath', furrowing his brows and frowning deeply. That seemed like a horrid idea. He quite liked the earth and blood of his enemies crusted onto his skin. He enjoyed smelling like the wild, like freedom. "No."

"Dude! You smell! You're covered in the blood of those hunters!" Iris baulked, flailing her arms dramatically. "If not a bath, then at least a shower?", she reasoned with a pout, hands resting on her hips as she looked up at him beneath small eyelashes.

"What's… a 'shower'?" It didn't sound any better than the bath.

"Basically, the same thing as a bath, only you are standing up and the water rushes over you- kinda like rain? Only warm. But, I mean, if warm isn't your deal, you could go with cold I guess? Generally, showers are faster, too… I guess? But then you don't get to use all those amazing bath bombs!"

That explanation didn't sound any better, and the Astral inwardly cringed at the thought of getting bombed inside of whatever the hell this 'bath' was. He wasn't very keen at all to wash anything off of him, but he supposed that since this young girl had taken him in for the night that he could do at least this small, insignificant task for her. After all, he could always just go back outside and roll around in the dirt. Then he'd be almost as good as new.

With a resignated sigh, he nodded. "Fine… Take me to this 'shower' and let's get it over with…"

Iris tried as best she could to keep her strict, mother-like pout but she couldn't help but crack a smile as laughter bubbled inside of her and spilled out. This man, three times her size easily, was more of a stubborn child than any she had ever seen. "Cool beans! I'll show you to the bathroom and get the shower started. Follow me!" Without awaiting a response, she turned and skipped away, disappearing up a small flight of stairs.

…

"…I smell like every fruit and flower on the planet just vomited onto me…" Gladiolus grumbled, opening the sliding door of the shower slowly and regretfully, once again exposing his naked body to Iris, who had been waiting patiently on the bathroom counter. Iris's hands flew to her mouth, her small shoulders shaking as laughter threatened to overtake her. With a frustrated growl ad a more than small, embarrassed blush, Gladiolus snatched up the towel that was sitting atop the toilet next to her. "Don't laugh! This was your idea in the first place."

Iris hopped off the counter, grinning. "But at least you're clean now, right?" Looking over the man, she pursed her lips. "Hmm… I don't think I have any clothes here that will fit you, unfortunately…"

"Are clothes really necessary? I'm fine as I am."

"I'm sue you are, Big Guy. But unfortunately, Sania would bite my head off if she comes in the house to see some big, naked man walking around- Ooh! Could sew you something! I've got some fabric in my bedroom! It should be just enough to at least make you a decent pair of pants!" Eyes sparkling, she didn't wait for a response and turned on her heel to skip off down the hall to her bedroom.

…

"Where is this… 'Sania'? You keep mentioning her, yet, I see no one here but you." Gladiolus sat patiently as he awaited a response, but none came. Iris was working diligently on his 'pants', head downcast as she pushed and pulled her needle and thread, over and over, through the soft, floral-printed fabric. She sat in the rocking chair, legs crossed in the seat beneath her.

Gladiolus frowned from his own spot on the couch as he remembered soon after that the girl was deaf and could not hear him. He leaned over and tapped her shoulder as gently as possible, gathering her full attention before repeating himself.

Iris paused her sewing at the question and smiled, noting how awkwardly he sat, sitting on their couch that looked much too small compared to him. It was almost as if he'd fall of it entirely if he wasn't careful. "Oh? Yeah, I guess I haven't really told you much about who she is, have I?" Gladiolus shook his head in agreement. "Well, I guess you could say she's kind of like… My mom now? Yeah- I guess that would be it. Although, to be honest, she's more like a best friend and mentor."

The Lesser Astral listened, nodding. "Why I it that you live in the forest? Most humans I've observed live in large cities, or near outposts."

Iris shrugged with a small frown, going back to her work as she replied, "It's… kind of a long story…"

Tapping her shoulder again, Gladiolus pushed on. "Does it also have something to do with why you can't hear…?" When Iris didn't say anything for a while, staring at him with a troubled face, he quickly added, "You don't have to answer… if it upsets you. I was just curious."

The girl shook her head. "No- it's okay. It's just… been a while since I've thought about it, I guess. You're fine. I don't mind telling you." She smiled, small and unsure. "Tell ya what- I'll answer and afterwards, I get to ask you some stuff and you have to answer. Deal?"

Gladiolus nodded. Iris sat down her needle, thread, and fabric, taking in a small breath. Idly, she began rocking herself in the chair as she gathered her thoughts, staring up at the ceiling.

"…I used to live in Lestallum, actually. With my real mom and dad… They ran a hotel there. 'The Leville'…. Maybe you've heard it?" She glanced at him, a small smile and glimmer of hope gracing her tone, but it faded when he merely shook his head, signifying that he knew nothing of the sort. "…Oh… Well, we were taking a trip to the market one afternoon. You know, gathering ingredients for the kitchen and stuff like that. When out of nowhere, the Nifs attacked… " Gladiolus frowned, sitting a bit straighter. He had seen much death and destruction involving the ongoing distress between Insomnia and Niflheim, and he hoped that he was wrong, with where this story was going.

"There was no war anymore- at least- not officially. But sometimes, in the smaller cities, Niflheim soldiers would invade and stir up trouble…" She paused, offering a half-hearted shrug of a shoulder. "…Kind of hard to protect the people when all the Glaives are in the crown city… you know?" There was a bitterness there, one that she swallowed down a moment later as she began rocking herself once more.

"There was no one to protect us. Not for a long, long while… It happened so fast… One moment, we were looking at cute little Cactuar figures one of the shop merchants was selling, and the next…" Iris trailed off to a brief silence again, meeting the Astral's eyes for a second before breaking the contact and looking to her lap as she fidgeted with her hands. "…Before I knew it, there were bombs going off, guns firing,… People were screaming, running… I- I lost my parents in it all. I couldn't find them anymore…" Gladiolus leaned over, surprising her with a large, calloused hand atop her own. Iris smiled for a brief second, instantly feeling comforted. She waited a moment longer to continue.

"Everything was crazy… The Nifs were trying to take over our city. Show Insomnia that they were still a threat, even though their king died in battle during the war… Now that I think about it, perhaps the new king told them to attack us…? I can't be too sure, though. I… I ran. I didn't know where I was going, everything was chaos, but I just- ran." Gladiolus watched, frowning, as tears began rolling down her cheeks silently. She sniffled, wiping at her face, and her words became wet as she continued.

"Bombs began going off everywhere I looked, and then one went off near me, and I… I'm not sure… I don't remember much after that…" She shrugged, meeting Gladiolus' amber eyes. "When I woke up, it was by one of the Glaives, pulling me out from under the wreckage… There were bodies… everywhere and…" She paused, swallowing. Her shoulders were tense. "…I saw my parents' bodies as the Glaive carried me out…" Needing something else to focus on lest her emotions get the better of her, she picked back up her work, sewing the man's pants once more.

"I'm sorry that happened to you…"

She didn't hear him. Of course she didn't, she wasn't looking at him anymore, and he was an idiot for talking when she couldn't read his lips and decipher his words. Unaware of his soft words, Iris carried on, continuing her story and focusing on her work.

"It was then that I realized I couldn't hear anything anymore. I tried to get out of his hold, to run to my parents. I cried and screamed their names, but I couldn't hear myself do it. I couldn't hear the man try to explain what was happening, and after that I couldn't hear anyone call out to me, directing me of where to go, either… I was lost and confused. Asked multiple questions I couldn't even begin to understand. And after that, all of us survivors were rounded up and deported by airship, away from Lestallum."

She paused, taking a deep breath, and wiped the remnants of her tears from her face with a little sniffle, seeming a bit calmer now. "…They began rebuilding the destroyed parts of the city after saving who they could… King Regis had the Glaives bring all the refugees to Insomnia while our homes were restored… They housed us in the slums… I was scared- at first. I couldn't hear anything, and it was hard to read lips. I didn't know where I was, and I didn't know anyone who I stayed with… But then I met Sania!" Iris turned, offering Gladiolus a small, watery smile, and the Lesser Astral returned it gratefully. "She stayed with me. She taught me everything I know. And after Lestallum was rebuilt, she took me in… But… I couldn't go back to Lestallum… There were too many bad memories and I was always afraid that the same thing would just happen all over again and I'd end up losing Sania, too… So, we came out here. Got a house as far away from a city or outpost as we could, where we wouldn't feel scared or threatened. We grow our own food in the greenhouse, and we produce our own power through the wind turbines up the hill. Sania was a scientist before the city fell. She still researches whenever she can, and if often gone, but most of the time she lets me go with her!"

"Why are you not with her now, then?"

"She said it was too dangerous this time. There was a huge beam of light and a freak storm that happened in Cape Caem, and she wanted to be one of the first to get there and investigate. Since that had never happened but only once before, years back, she didn't know what would happen. So she thought it was better if I stayed home this time. But- hey! Did you see?! There was another one that happened at the top of the Rock of Ravatogh!"

Gladiolus tensed, mouth a tight line. The beams of light were because of Prompto. And before that, Amaryllis. And now, him. "Yes, I did see it. Perhaps Sania is right. You shouldn't go near those locations."

Iris rolled her eyes, but agreed. "Yeah. I guess…" She bit off the end of her thread before raising to her feet, holding the now completed pants up triumphantly. "All done! What do you think?!" She beamed down at him and he smiled, outstretching a hand to trail his fingers along the soft cloth.

"It's… nice. Should I put it on now?"

The girl shoved the article of clothing in his direction. "Duh! What if Sania comes home any minute and sees your junk hanging out?! Here- put it on, and then I'll make us some dinner. How does Cup Noodles sound?"

Gladiolus didn't know what 'Cup Noodles' were, nor did he know if he was really 'hungry'. He had never experienced the sensation before. But the happy glint in her deep brown eyes tugged at his heartstrings once more, and so he nodded. "Sounds good."

…

"Okay! So- it's my turn to ask you questions now." She sat their cups of noodles down on the dining table in front of them and took her seat across from Gladiolus. Gladiolus nodded, picking up the plastic cup and taking a few sniffs before crinkling his nose. "You obviously aren't human. I mean- you can transform, your skin glows, and there's that weird birthmark on your left arm. You also don't know a lot of really simple things… So, like, what are you?" Figuring chopsticks would be too difficult for him to use, she passed the man a fork.

'No beating around the bush with this one, is there…?', the Son of Titan mused to himself, and he took the utensil. "I'm not human, you're right about that… I'm a Lesser Astral."

Iris' eyes widened, chopsticks falling from her hand and rolling off the table to clatter on the floor. "What?!" She hastily picked up her fallen chopsticks before running a hand through her short hair, eyeing her savior incredulously. "I mean- I knew you weren't human, but- an Astral?! What- How- What?!" Of all times, why now? Why was an Astral making his presence known? "Well then- why now? I mean- why are you here, now? Why not come down before?! You could have stopped the war before it even began! You could have-" She closed her lips tightly, withholding what she really wanted to ask. Instead, she grabbed another pair of chopsticks from a kitchen drawer before deciding to dig into her meal before it got cold. 'You could have saved my parents! You could have saved my hearing!'

Without saying it, Gladiolus heard her thoughts, and he frowned, feeling more than a mild sense of guilt. He waited patiently for her to meet his eyes once more. "I'm sorry… It just simply… isn't done. None of us were supposed to come down here at all."

"Well, why did you?", she fired back, brows furrowed.

Gladiolus paused. "…One of my friends is lost… He doesn't know what he wants or what he's doing… I'm here to bring him back. Then I'm going back as well."

Iris just stared, emotions unreadable. "Oh… okay…" She was silent for a long while, focusing on eating, and Gladiolus did the same. "…Those beams of light… were they from you guys?"

"Yes."

"…Ha. I guess that means I know more than Sania about something now, huh…?" She looked up at him though her bangs with a small smile.

Gladiolus smiled back, setting his finished cup down. "I'd say you know more than anyone on Eos, at this time. No one else knows of our existence."

"Can Sania know about your existence?"

Gladiolus frowned. He wasn't sure. It probably wasn't a good idea, though. "I don't think so. I shouldn't even be telling you this. Best not get someone else mixed up in the problems of Astrals."

Dejected, Iris slumped in her chair. Still, she understood, and she nodded before disposing of their empty noodle cups. "I understand. I guess it'll be our little secret, then, huh?"

"Yes. It does."

Iris looked out the window, staring up at the stars as they glittered in the night sky. "It's pretty late… We should go to bed."

"…Yes."

…

"…Hey, Gladiolus…?"

Sleep was not coming to him. He laid along the floor, small pink pillow beneath his damp head and blanket that was too small to cover him fully atop his muscular body. The floor was hard and uncomfortable. Nothing like the soft grass. Still, he could see the stars outside of the window ad could hear the shrill cries of the summer Cicadas and the trills of the pond frogs not too far away, and it made him feel slightly better. He had ben laying there for what felt like hours, until he was sure that Iris had fallen asleep, but started a bit when her soft, quiet voice met his ears.

Gladiolus turned his head, looking up at Iris' form as she laid upon the couch. He had been too large to sleep on it or a bed himself, and Iris wanted to sleep by his side. So, naturally, they agreed upon this arrangement. Her back was turned to him, pillow tucked beneath her head and legs drawn in beneath her own blanket. She didn't move to look at him, so he didn't bother replying.

"…Today… Even though it started off terrible… it was fun… you know?" 'Fun' wasn't exactly the word he would use. 'Tiring', 'exhausting', 'exasperating', 'confusing', 'trying'… Those words were much more accurate. Still, he nodded, listening on. "…I forgive you, you know… for not coming to me earlier… It's dumb. I know. I shouldn't have been upset with you about it… You had no control over it, and you're breaking the rules by being down here now. I understand that…"

Gladiolus closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. It was nice, knowing that she held no ill will over him. He had only known her for a short while, but the growing feeling of guilt and regret had been slowly growing since she opened up to him about her past. Perhaps he had been wrong to seclude himself. When he got back to the Astral Realm, perhaps he would try to come down from his mountain more often. Stay in touch with the people, be there to hear their prayers and help them out on occasion.

"…Can I tell you a secret…?"

He nodded, even though she still did not see it. "Yes."

"…My mom was pregnant when she died… It was only a few weeks in, and she hadn't even picked a name out for the baby. She hadn't even gotten the chance to tell anyone other than me. Not even my dad yet, but… I was happy that I would be a big sister… It's silly, but… Being with you today- giving you a bath, making you food, setting up a place for you to sleep, talking to you- I just… I was happy… It felt like I finally have the sibling I was so excited to see…"

Gladiolus' heart fluttered in his chest, and he clenched his hands into fists at his sides.

"…Anyways… I just wanted to say thank you, again, for saving me. And I'll try to stay out of trouble… And maybe, after you rescue your friend… maybe you could come back and see me one more time…? Before you go back home…?"

She still didn't turn to look at him, still didn't attempt to gauge his reaction or inquire as to what his answer would be. To be honest, Gladiolus didn't know what it was himself. He stayed silent, thinking over everything that had happened between them that day. The next time he looked over at Iris, she was still, shoulders rising and falling evenly with her breaths. She was asleep.

…

"Ardyn! My King!" Versteal barged into the throne room, doors sounding out and echoing loudly as they were pushed open, banging against the guards at its sides.

Ardyn peered down at him from his throne, straightening. 'Finally, something interesting.', he mused, watching the old man walk brusquely towards him. "What are you bothering me with this time, Versteal…?", he droned, boredly. Still, he had not received any word from Loqi about his message to Noctis, nor the whereabouts of his little 'pet', the Astral caught on their satellite camera.

"Another light appeared, accompanied by an earthquake!" In the man's hands was a folder, much like the one that had been brought to Ardyn the day before. Seeing this, the Mad King perked, eyes glinting.

"Another Astral?"

As Versteal finally made it to his king's side, he nodded, breathing hard from exhaustion. "Yes. We couldn't get a good look at this one, unfortunately. He took to the cover of the forest as soon as he appeared, but there's no doubt about it." He handed the folder over to Ardyn, who snatched it up greedily.

Ardyn opened the folder and grinned wickedly at what he saw. "Thank you, Versteal."

The older man bowed low. "You're welcome, Your Highness."

Ardyn shut the folder and snapped his fingers, calling a soldier to his side. "Put Loqi on."

…

The sun was not yet in the sky as Gladiolus stood up from his 'bed' on the floor. He felt revitalized. Strong, once more. Looking over to Iris, huddled into herself under her thin blanket, he picked his own off the floor and draped it over her frail body. Immediately, Iris stretched out a bit more, nuzzling into her pillow with a smile and a sigh.

It hurt, leaving her without any notice or word. But time wouldn't slow down, nor would waiting any longer help him get to Prompto quicker. He caught a small scent. Barely noticeable, gone in almost an instant, but it was there. Salt water and magic. He could sense Prompto's general direction, miles and miles away, near the crater where a meteor had fallen long, long ago. He couldn't let this opportunity slip by. Couldn't let the lead go to waste.

Giving one last, regretful look, he turned his back on her and walked through the front door as silently as he could, so as not to wake her. 'Prompto… I'm coming for you. I promise you that.'