Hojo looked down into the box of village funds, counting and recounting with his eyes the piles of silver and copper and gold. Would it be enough?
The Father stared at the coin for many minutes. Tomorrow, the Agents would leave unless given coin, but this was coin for the winter months, when food was low and medicines were rare … they needed this money here. For emergencies.
It was the people's yearly savings, the village gave their all to provide even a copper coin between three households. To be stored and held in the hands of a trusted official for the aid of the community in its hour of need.
Just last winter, a box of similar coin had provided the treatment for pneumonia when half the village had suffered from cold and contaminated sustenance. There were no herbs in the winter to treat the condition, supplies lowered and lowered until the healers asked for outside aid. Brave men had marched through the snow to the towns nearby and spent the coin, and swiftly marched back with their salvation in hand. Edea had worked tirelessly with the new medicines, Quistis at her side, and Father Hojo recalled how they had thanked him for putting the money to good use, saving the lives of Genesis, Mr Heartily and so many more …
Sephiroth was asking for their life saving coin.
Hojo shut the fund box with a sharp snap, sweating at the thought of being found contemplating handing over their village lifeline.
What had come over him? How could such thoughts have taken such root in his mind? They had grown since the Father had seen the little black book, and now his mind was a tangled vine of doubtful thoughts.
How was he to convince the Agents? Was their salvation within this box after all? Or was it foolish to provide something so depended upon by the community? Would there even be a community left if he let the witches run wild for much longer?
He left the office and went to the Altar of the church, a simple table with a cloth and candles. Sephiroth wanted money, Hojo had frantically promised to provide in a frantic bid to buy more time, but time was nearly up. Father Hojo despaired and pulled his rosary from his neck to count the beads, asking for a sign.
"Pater noster, qui es in caelis,sanctificetur nomen tuum ..."
They needed help, his village was suffering ungodly curses; wolves, sabotage, a lack of faith! The Malleus Maleficarum, recently delivered to his providence years after being published, had opened his eyes to new possibilities … they'd sickened him. He looked, and found the sinful, the wretched and the devilish in his village- hiding behind kind smiles and hard working hands, hiding in the woods, hiding in the pews every Sunday ...
He'd kept the food supplies out of everyone's hands, unsure who to trust, to protect the village. His flock would not Starve at the hands of a Witch! Letters asking for help went out to seek guidance for their blight, using up valuable coin for a trustworthy messenger, Father Hojo humbling himself before the eyes of experts and preparing the case to aid them …
The Father covered his face. He just wanted help.
His village needed him, needed aid! Dearest Father, what do I do?
Hojo's knees ached and he barely convinced himself to keep standing. He had made his joints sore with how the stone rubbed raw his skin, begging God for forgiveness, to alleviate his punishment; for he could only be in this situation of agony if God willed it.
Hojo bowed his head, he was a worm ...
I am at a crossroad. God has placed me upon the road and I must walk. But which path is correct, my Lord? Give me a sign, for I am your servant, lost in the world and seeking to lead my flock to the safety of your embrace- though we are not worthy of your love-!
Hojo fumbled with his rosary and the beads fell upon the table, encircling the bible Hojo left upon it.
The Father was stunned.
Hesitating, he reached out and opened the book to a random page. He saw the page number and blinked in surprise, he knew of a passage near this number! He had looked at it many a time over these few weeks.
He let the leaf thin pages flutter out from under his thumb.
"Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live." Hojo murmured, seeing the line in his mind before he saw it upon the page.
Hojo pressed his hands upon the book. "And so it shall be. My faith is in you, my God, who has shown me the way."
Hojo hurried back into his office, stumbling in his haste and fumbling with the lock upon the door!
He lifted the lid to the box of money and counted the coins with his eyes. It would be enough, if every copper and scrap was counted then it just might be enough.
Hojo smiled. Sephiroth and his holy Agents of the Vatican would be satisfied and carry out their justice in his province. The Father reached down into the box for the first handful of precious metals-
"Father."
Hojo jumped, looking behind to see Genesis standing in the doorway, hand on his gun and wearing his cloak. Genesis's shrewd eyes examined the guilt in the good Father's face and his expression melted into a scowl, arms crossing imposingly. "What do you think you're doing?"
Father Hojo hurriedly shut the box, alarmed at the guilt he felt for doing God's work, "Checking the coins, old friend. With the Witch about I needed to be sure it was safe."
Genesis kept his stony expression, "The Agents will be leaving soon, if they don't think that there is a witch here, then I don't see why you need to continue to guard against them." He jerked his head over his shoulder to indicate the rest of the village, "We're beginning preparations for a Hunt, wood cutters have been hard at work. There's a winter to tough out, Father, I ask that you remember the real threats before you tackle those of Faith."
"You blaspheme!" Father Hojo hissed, shocked by Genesis's words.
The Hunter opened his arms in an angry shrug, "Perhaps, Father, but we won't have a village to keep faithful if we all starve and freeze to death. Please, come out of your Office and help your people the way we always have, the air is colder than expected and soon the snows will be here." He pointed up at the cross, "God is always here with us, to help and guide us and demand a Faith that we willingly give, but we cannot remain helpless to the seasons."
The man's eyes were still sharp, but Genesis's words were blunted soft with practicality. He held open the office door, a peace offering, "Come, my hunters would feel better with God's words blessing us before we hunt."
Hojo hesitated. It was true that he had neglected the usual winter organisations, they were left with purely the guidance of Genesis; realistic and dependable, able to adapt at short notice and with the interest of the village's wellbeing at his heart. Hojo guided their Faith's, answered their questions and listened to their woes, blessed their ambitions and their rewards. He handled their money, letters, justice, writings. They were missing a vital wheel of their community without him.
However, the image of the book opening to the exact page where God condemned witches flashed in his mind. Father Hojo knew that his people would have to cope for just a few weeks longer, as he was called to a higher purpose!
A condescending smile curled Hojo's lips. Genesis's face fell into a deep frown as the Holy Man began to speak; "Genesis, I am doing my best for the village. God's work, as have our guests. Have you not considered the intelligence of the Agents, to draw the Witch out by acting oblivious; they spy from the shadows, protected by nonchalance to see our situation without masks or acting."
Hojo put his hands together and looked to the cross in the room, "These men are our salvation, I will show you, they have not left us yet when they could have walked out immediately. It is part of a larger plan. Have faith," he finished, patting Genesis on his shoulder and making the red haired man cringe at his touch.
"Will you not have as much Faith in our people as you do in your Agents?" Genesis asked sourly.
Hojo chuckled, "Once this Witch has been caught, out land will be of Milk and Honey for all eternity, this I promise you Genesis."
The Lead Hunter merely grunted and tucked his gun under his arm, "We shall see." He stepped behind Hojo and herded him to the door, his kind edge had sharpened with his words; "Now I insist that you make some kind of presence to my Men before continuing with your path of Faith. A speech of Goodwill cannot be much to ask for the men who will hunt your dinners and feed your fires, Father."
His title was spoken with a hint of venom. Hojo tensed.
Genesis subtly kept himself between the office door and Hojo as he spoke again, not giving Hojo any wriggle room to refuse; "While you plot and plan, my Men grow restless. An afternoon of comfort is more than a fair exchange," he attempted to persuade, annoyed when Hojo took far too long to agree. The Holy Man hummed and tapped his brow in thought.
Genesis's hand tightened upon his gun, but thankfully the Priest nodded.
Hojo patted down his black robes and retrieved his rosary and bible, "Very well, I shall come to read the words of the Lord to our village. As you have said; you expect to be very busy in the face of this winter. So I will try to keep my words brief, yet powerful," he smiled, ignoring how displeased Genesis looked as his own argument was used against him.
Hojo would soon be free to arrange payment as soon as this errand was complete. Genesis, on his Hunt, would be too far to interfere …
Silently, Hojo thought he would suggest to the Agents to investigate Genesis's lack of trust to his Faithful self. Not for Witchcraft, but for signs of Heresy. The Hunter had been far too combative as of late.
They were supposed to be co-leaders.
In a show of comradery, the two stepped outside and made their way to the crowd of Hunters all inspecting guns and tools for the purpose of skinning and killing. Nonethewiser to the tensions between their leaders and plot of their coin.
Grateful smiles and pleased ears greeted the Father and the Hunter. Father Hojo smiled upon his flock, God will protect us all through the Hand of the Agents, I shall fail you no longer!
While Hojo gave a speech about perseverance and blessings, on how this was God's world and he would reward the faithful, Genesis noticed a figure of red emerge from the woods with armfulls of what appeared to be dead animals …
He glanced at the crowds. They were thankfully all focused on Father Hojo's words, and had not noticed Edea's child. Their cheers and their bloodlusting eyes ...
Genesis did not look the boy's way again. But thought; Get out of sight you oaf! as their meeting began to draw out the best of their Hunter's spirit, their competitive nature. But, if some of these restless Hunters saw the fruitful hunting of the village curse then they might lash out; they had waited to be blessed, this brat had rushed ahead- faithless yet successful!
Genesis sighed. And I said I wouldn't intervene … it's on his own head if his actions cause trouble. Edea should have taught him sensewhile she had the chance … God Forgive me. Forgive us all.
Squall saw the crowd gathered by the Church in the distance. He paused as he left his hut, attempting to solve the mystery of their gathering from afar. He saw the cloaks and the shine of guns. There was gunpowder in the air, oils and leather stinking the freshness of the Autumn morning.
A smell this potent suggested a large party of Hunters ...
Squall warily approached a few paces, keeping other tall buildings and farm equipment between them and him. He carefully watched them, but not drawing their attentions. Thankfully they were all focused upon Father Hojo.
This looks like the entire village? Did I miss another meeting? Squall cringed slightly at the thought. Trouble would surely follow his absence.
Squall refocused upon the crowd.
Cheering had started now. Men raising hands and guns, invigorated by the Father's words. To be heard, the Father spoke louder, and Squall finally heard enough to put together the reason for this mob: The Blessing preceding A Hunt!
Deciding that he'd seen enough, the young man turned back. He took up his axe after stashing his kills and pulling his hut door firmly closed, and ran to returned to the trees! Squall had left his Wolfe lover and his friends not far from here, they were close, much too close; In a dangerous proximity to a volatile village being riled by a Holy Man's vows.
He had to get there first.
Squall had to reach them and convince them to vanish for the day, until their anger and eventual frustration had died out. The Hunter's wouldn't catch much game with their loud ways, and they certainly wouldn't catch a wolf.
Yet that did not make this area safe for the Wolves.
Squall didn't even bother with the paths and he stepped into the treeline and hastily retraced his invisible journey back to them.
Despite the cleansing fresh air of the natural forest, the stench of oil and gunpowder clung to his throat as he rushed to beat the hounds; who knows how long they'd wait to release them. Their riled roars of agreement to the Father's blessings of success and Godly guidance worried him, if he had merely stumbled upon them at the end then their hunting dogs could be on his heels within minutes!
Fear that the hounds would catch their fresh scents had him sprinting!
Squall dashed through the undergrowth and almost toppled over Yuffie in his hurry!
The pup just nimbly side stepped his wobbling legs. Squall staggered, struggling to regain his balance!
Yuffie yipped and swiftly tugged upon his cape to equal out his footing.
"Whoa!" Squall firmly planted his feet.
Yuffie wagged her tail, and Squall leaned upon his knees, out of breath. He patted her in thanks as she leaned against him. He'd returned to the clearing where they were all gathering fallen wood for chopping.
Now to keep them safe … the hard part; convince them to leave.
Up ahead, Zack and Cloud hoisted another few logs onto the pile, and Tifa casually snapped the thinner logs in two over her knee- creating quite the impressive sound as she did so, like the crack of a broken bone. Their teamwork was fluid and fast. Squall's short time away from them had yielded a lot of work, their respective piles were massive!
Tifa noticed his return first, offering him a smile when she saw his axe, "That wasn't too long. We barely have enough for one of us," she gestured at their handiwork. "You didn't need to rush, Squall," Tifa assured him when she took note of his deep breathing.
"You're making quick work of this limited supply without tools," he remarked warily, his mouth smirking in playfulness as she merely cracked another on under her foot, and upon her knee in an impressive display of physical might. Tifa laughed at his response.
However, this wasn't the time for jokes. Squall set his axe down and sighed, making Tifa pause.
"Squall?"
Cloud turned his head around at once, and Zack a moment later when the blond's attention refused to return to their bantering. Yuffie stopped wagging her tail as Tifa asked what had Squall so tense.
The young Hunter explained that the village was coming out on a Hunt, incredibly last minute though it was. "Their guns are ready, and soon their hounds will be released. I'm sure their priority is hunting for food, however," Cloud moved closer as Squall spoke, and Squall put his hands protectively upon Cloud's waist. "However, if they spotted you, any of you, even just a footprint, they would ride their heightened emotions and they'd be on a Warpath straight for you ..." Or for me …
Squall tried to repress the memories of previous encounters with the Hunting Party. Their mob-bloodlust robbed rationality and apathy from the village Huntsmen more than alcohol ever could. A bad day for them could easily be a worse day for Squall if he wasn't careful enough to avoid their paths.
Despite his attempts to mask his unease, he knew at once that the wolves sensed his own anxiety. Cloud most acutely as his hands coiled around Squall's body to guard him, Tifa stood by his side as if declaring allegiance, and Zack's nostrils flared while his keen eyes and ears watched their surroundings for the slightest of changes ...
The Pup among them whimpered. The Hunter worriedly looked at Yuffie, and her ears went back, scared.
Cloud kneaded the small of Squall's back and whispered encouragements to stop Squall from becoming too stressed. The young hunter leaned into his touch as much as he dared, also worried that he'd lose composure before he'd convinced the four to escape. But their moment was ill timed; the pair held each other tight as they heard the distant sound of the Church bell ringing, signalling the start.
Each toll of the bell undid Cloud's comfort, remaking Squall into a tense pale version of his normal self. "They're coming."
Zack's face was grim, his eyes distant as he focused upon another sense, "We're too close to their hunting grounds, we can't stay …"
Cloud's response was predictable. His face twisted into a snarl and his hands tightened on Squall's body, the blond was tense, and ready to argue. But Squall agreed, "Exactly, you four need to leave here, and tell your pack that the wood's are not safe today."
Agast, Cloud turned from Zack. "I can't leave you here, come with us," Cloud begged, taking Squall's hand. Tifa took his other hand.
"We can hide and wait this out, all of us, it won't take long-"
"I can't."
Yuffie growled in protest but Squall stuck to his words and explained that he'd never be able to keep up, also he was far more likely to leave tracks than they were and he'd be endangering them all if he tried. He wasn't going to risk their safety. Squall unintentionally met Zack's eyes while he spoke, addressing the future-alpha and silently asking the man to agree with him; to protect Tifa, Yuffie and Cloud while he stayed behind ...
Zack gave him an apologetic look … then agreed. Squall's heart filled with gratitude.
"We do not leave wolves behind!" Tifa snarled, turning on Zack in rage. The raven haired young man took a step back from her fury.
"I'm not a wolf," Squall countered coolly.
She growled at him next, as did Cloud. The blond gripped his face and hissed, "You're my mate, Squall, and I am a wolf- I'm your wolf. We're bonded." Cloud's eyes, as well as his emotions, were a swirling vortex centred around a single calm point- the eye of his storm; to protect Squall at all costs. He pressed his forehead to Squall's: "I will not leave you behind."
Squall held him back. He meant it … Cloud meant to stay even though it would put him in danger, he'd happily risk himself. After doing it for so long for Squall's sake, the brunet realised with a slight frown, it would be second nature to the blond to throw himself into Squall's fight to protect his Mate.
It saddened Squall to realise that he'd have to use their deep bond against Cloud. "I know … so I will go where you won't follow me."
Cloud's eyes flew wide.
Silvery eyes softened as Squall tucked a lock of Cloud's blond hair from his face, brushing a thumb as light as a feather across the pale and smooth skin. The Hunter steeled his resolve and picked up his axe again.
"No!" Cloud clutched at his arm, preventing him from taking another step. "You're not going back there! Not to them!"
Tifa covered her mouth, Yuffie stood in his path and whined. Zack just stared, "Hunter …"
Cloud pulled him back and growled in his face, shaking and hot like he was about to shift forms any second, he started to threaten, "You think I won't follow you to that place?"
Squall huffed softly, "I know you won't."
"If you think I'm about to let you enter that den of murders alone-"
"You will stay here, Cloud. Because you know what they'd do to us if they saw me with a wolf," Squall cut him off, his level voice silencing Cloud's and making the blond seethe in defeat. Tears were shimmering in Cloud's eyes in anger.
It hurt to see … Squall touched his shoulder, Cloud hit his hand away and Squall sobered, he lost his calming smile to face his lover with the sadness that always came with their separation. "I'm sorry, Cloud. But I'm going to go back there if you don't leave and make yourself safe. Because, like you, I also will do everything I can to protect my Mate."
Cloud shoved him and howled something animalistic and pained to the sky before screaming, "I hate this, I hate this! Damn you, Damn-" his clothing split at the seams, and his words of fury turned to howls of pain.
The grey wolf thrashed free of the clothing, and thrashed some more as his companions backed away. Tifa held an arm out over Squall, wincing at what the blond was currently screaming through their link, Yuffie whimpered too and ducked behind Squall. Her blue eyes begged for someone to tell her that it would be alright …
Squall laid a hand on her head, and did just that.
"Cloud, stop this or I'm leaving," he spoke as if to Cloud's human form.
The wolf turned to glare at Squall, thinking all kinds of angry thoughts. Squall touched Tifa's arm and she let him approach, patting him once on the back as he passed in front of her.
Squall fondled Cloud's ears without hesitation, easing the hurt and fury from those incredibly blue eyes as he sat by the animal, and simply encouraged him to breathe and be close. Cloud's anger was over almost as soon as it reached it's peak; emotions getting the better of him.
It was almost touching.
But Squall couldn't help himself, and teased; "You throw impressive temper tantrums."
Cloud half heartedly thwacked him with his tail. " Ass."
Squall smirked and gestured at Cloud's current form, "You can't tell me otherwise after you got so mad you transformed." Cloud had the decency to duck his head a little and look away, embarrassed.
"It happens …" he protested. The other wolves barely hid their amusement.
It made Squall laugh. That in turn cheered up Cloud very slightly.
Squall pressed a kiss to the top of the wolf's head, and patted his neck in a final sort of way, "Go on. Go with them and calm down completely. We've wasted enough time here as it is."
"But what about you?"
Cloud's concerned look, those puppy eyes, were enough for Squall to add "I'll make myself scarce too. I'll go to Edea, we can do this again in a few days … hopefully with less tantrums," the hunter flicked Cloud on his nose.
"You- Fine. But I'm still mad at you," Cloud told him. He licked Squall across his face and the Hunter cringed in disgust.
"Uuugh! Cut that out!"
"Don't be such an ass then!" Cloud smugly, grudgingly got to his feet.
"You like his ass just fine, Spike."
The pair turned to give Zack identical looks of irritation.
Zack rolled his eyes, "We've got to move, I can hear the dogs now." Tifa and Yuffie stood in wolf forms behind him, Tifa's clothing clamped between her teeth. Zack held a hand out to assist Squall to his feet. Zack had taken charge, Tifa and Yuffie were standing either side of him, and Cloud was ready to join at a moment's notice.
But, the alpha-to-be had a final suggestion: "We can test the stones this way, right? Leave a white circle at the edge of the trees, like Aqua said. When it's safe to contact you again seal the circle again."
It was a good idea, Squall realised. Zack released Squall's hand as the hunter nodded, "I'll leave this one close to Edea's. I'm not sure if I'll hide out there for the whole time, but …"
"Whatever keeps you safe," Cloud insisted, pressing against his leg.
"I'll be careful," Squall promised, touching his ears again in that special way that made Cloud's eyes contently close. Yuffie and Tifa nosed against Squall's other leg, and he gave the same farewell to the girls too, Yuffie's tail back to wagging hard enough to blur. "I'll see you soon," he promised softly.
The three followed Zack out of the clearing with many sad lingering gazes backwards.
Squall on the other hand, turned to the clearing and picked up the scraps of Cloud's clothing, planning to bury or burn the scraps so that the hounds and their Hunters had no scent to track. Once gathered, he made his way in the opposite direction, towards Edea's home.
Luck willing, he'd arrive there without running into anyone familiar.