(A/N: Alrighty, just thought I'd finally get this chapter up. Yes, it's very short, sorry about that, it's the most I could get done since I've been busy with work and with school coming up soon. Hehehe, sorry about that. The next chapter might be short too, but I'll try to get something better/longer for ya'll. I'm not too proud of this chapter because I just couldn't get into writing it. Sorry again. Well, Read, Review, Enjoy.. Tell me what ya think, Peace out! XD )

Chapter Seventeen

Voices of...

For a week, the brunette ex-summoner lay unconscious within the care of the Ronso. When her eyes finally opened, she found herself laying in a bundle of furs within a large beige tent. A female Ronso knelt at her side, dabbing the ex-summoner's forehead every few moments. "Fever finally broke," she said and Ren merely groaned in response.

Eyes drifting about the room, Ren mumbled, "How long have I been here?"

"A week," the Ronso replied, placing a cold, damp cloth on the brunette's forehead.

"Ceka? Aucifer?" Ren questioned, trying to sit up.

Holding the woman down with one hand on her sternum, the Ronso said, "Chocobos are fine."

Ren grunted and slightly squirmed back and forth, attempting to leave but too weak to accomplish anything. "When can I go?" she said, lying still and staring at the pointed ceiling.

"When fully recovered," the blue creature stated, as if it were common sense.

Pushing away the furs that covered her body, she rolled onto her side and curled up. The Ronso let her.

Taking a breath, the Ronso stated, "Elder Kimahri heard Great Mountain speaking of you."

Rising up on her elbow, the ex-summoner stared at the woman. "What did it say?" she asked, blinking curiously.

"That is reason for ex-summoner to get well," the female Ronso grinned. "You may ask when you can stand."

Aching, Ren pushed herself upright, sitting with her hands drawn into her lap. Her body hurt; it was stiff, as if she'd been frozen and was now in the process of thawing. Taking a deep breath and wincing in pain as her lungs expanded and forced her ribcage to do the same, she tilted forward and set her hands on the fur bed. Stretching her legs out behind her, she paused when a lightning bolt of harsh sensation shot up from her feet to her neck. Bringing her legs up under her, the ex-summoner slowly stood, wavering back and forth slightly. Toes clenching inside her boots she took a moment to recollect herself andd then dropped her steely hazel gaze upon the Ronso woman. "What did the mountain say?" she asked, defiance in her voice.

The Ronso smiled a grin filled with fangs but easily friendly in expression. The blue creature stood and exited the tent. "This way," she told the ex-summoner.

Slowly turning, body still stiff, Ren took a slow, solid breath, and lifted her right foot. She took a step and it hurt. It burned through her entire body, but she moved on. She wanted to know what the Great Mountain had said of her. She wanted to know if it had spoken of her worth. Did she continue to have any worth on Spira? Did the mountain know what should become of her now? She simply wanted to know something, anything, from such a wise creation as Mount Gagazet, that only spoke to the Ronso.

Exiting the tent, her boots crunched over the snow and she quickly came to stand at the left of the female creature. Ren watched as the shorter-than-the-other-Ronso-males walked toward her. His eyes glanced her over and she felt tension sing through her body. She could feel in an instant that he did not trust her very much. "Elder Kimahri," Ren said and bowed her head respectfully, hazel gaze dropping to the snow at his Ronso-feet.

"Lady Rensan," he said with his deep voice.

"Please," she said, "just call me—"

"Ren?" he questioned and she froze, her hazel gaze lifting quickly to him.

Even the Ronso knew of her new choice in name. "I'm beginning to rethink my decision in claiming my name as Ren," she sighed.

The Ronso Elder grinned, fangs glistening. It was also a friendly expression, yet he held a sense of tension and distrust. "Mountain has name for you."

"And that is?" Ren questioned, head tilt slightly to the side as her eyes watched him with curiosity.

"Unworthy," Elder Kimahri said.

Ren stared at him. "W-What... What do you mean?" she asked, confusion taking the present expression upon her face.

"Mountain say summoner unworthy of praetor's love. Mountain say summoner unworthy to share future with praetor. Mountain say summoner only worthy to protect praetor." Kimahri watched as the ex-summoner calmly took everything in. "Also say summoner need seek Farplane. Seek closure. Not move on so quick. Slow down. No need of rush. Mountain say look to past. Need one from past for future hope." And with that, he ceased in speaking.

Ren blinked a few times. Something had made sense in what the Ronso had said, but at the same time, it had all passed clear over her head. One word stuck with her. Hope. Hope for what? Hope was one thing she lacked and simply had no use for. What did she have left to hope for?

With a sigh, she nodded. "Thank you, Elder Kimahri." She bowed her head and when she returned her gaze to him, he was was walking away and her two chocobos were striding up toward her. "Auci, Ceka," she said, "let's go."

Aucifer gave a shrill noise and Ren struggled to pull herself upon his back. She slumped forward against his neck and didn't even bother grabbing the reins of either bird as they began to return toward the Calm Lands. She didn't know where Aucifer was leading her, but she didn't care. She didn't know what she had to do, but she would try something, anything.

Eyes drifting closed, she nestled her cheek against the yellow feathers and drifted to sleep. Her body ached and she simply couldn't take much more of anything at the moment.