(A/N: I'm workin' on it! haha, sorry, packing for college and saying bye to friends is getting in the way of any writing. Well, leave lovely comments and such or... whatev' XD Read, Review, Enjoy! Much love - Peace! For now anyway hehe)

Chapter Eighteen

No More

Hitting the ground with such a force to cause her to wake and cry out in pain, Ren rolled to her side and clutched her bleeding wound. A horrible screech brought her senses back to her and she nearly jumped to her feet, forgetting the old aches and pains that felt like tons of pounds weighing down on her body.

Aucifer, wings back, struck out toward a large cat-like fiend. "Aucifer!" Ren cried out. Blood pumping, she rushed the fiend and it turned to her, swiping out with a large paw. The ex-summoner stumbled backward and the cat leapt at her. Rolling out of the way, she scrambled from the feline fiend on hands and knees. It rushed her, catching her leg with sharp claws. Crying out, Ren kicked at the beast. It released her and barely dodged an oncoming attack by Aucifer.

Cradling her wounds, one on her side and the more recent on her leg, she took a breath and attempted to cast a spell. Her strength was faded, nothing came of her mana. Even on the Thunder Plains with Baralai, she had at least been able to cast something, though the spells were weak and unusually basic compared to what she used to use, it was still magic of some kind. Ren growled in frustration and clenched her fists. She tried to concentrate again, but the magic still failed her.

Pushing to her feet, she watched, helpless, as the fiend struck out at Aucifer, and the chocobo fought back as hard as he could. Ceka, the stocky chocobo, suddenly appeared at Ren's side, nudging her. He looked from her, to the fight, and back to her. He stepped toward Aucifer and then back to Ren and she quickly removed the luggage from the stocky chocobo's back. Ceka ran into the fray to help.

Once more, it was simply too much. The stress on her mind and body had rendered her helpless to the point that she had to rely on her chocobos to do her fighting. Realizing suddenly that she simply stood there, she glanced around, confusion strewn over her face. Where could she go? Did she leave the bags where they were? Did she help the chocobos?

An explosion of pyreflies brought her attention to the fight and she sighed with relief. The great yellow birds slowly made their way back to her and she threw an arm around each of their necks. She cried into their bloodied feathers and cursed herself. Releasing them, she slid to the ground and her gaze slid up to them. Aucifer lowered his head and nuzzled her cheek. She stroked his neck and absentmindedly as she stared past the bird to the stars above. The slim runner chocobo suddenly wavered and collapsed to the grass. "Aucifer?" Ren questioned. The bird made no noise. "Aucifer?" She lightly placed her hands at the base of his neck and gently shook him. Releasing him, she found her hands coated in blood. "Auci—" the name choked in her throat and tears brimmed her hazel eyes. Eyes wide in shock and horror, she slowly leaned down and placed her head behind his, upon his yellow-feathered neck and simply stared out into nothingness. Ceka made a soft noise and lowered down next to her, setting his head on her side to comfort her.

She didn't sleep, merely lay awake the entire night, nothing coming to mind, nothing passing. The tears ceased before they could fall. The light of the sun didn't move her. The smell of warming blood and the stench of death didn't even drive her away.

Ceka, an awkwardness about him, stood after a while and walked away. She didn't even move, didn't even notice the chocobo was departing. He returned hours later with an Al Bhed man to view no change in Ren. The Al Bhed, Daska, whose hover had been taken by the praetor, knelt down next to the curled up ex-summoner and frowned. With a sigh, he led the remaining chocobo to the bags and packed them on the bird's back. Walking to the woman, he stooped down and took up her limp form in his arms. "Come Chocobo," he said to Ceka and left the deceased.

"Personally," he said to remaining chocobo as he walked from the Calm Lands, "I think I'm gonna miss this girl."

The chocobo tilted his head curiously, questioningly.

Daska frowned. "Don't play dumb. I know you're thinking the same."

Fluffing out his yellow feathers, Ceka let out what sounded like a sigh and shook his bird-head.

Reaching Bevelle, Daska left Ren with the guards at the entrance to the city and returned to the deceased for a proper burial. The soldiers were confused. One was sent running to retrieve the praetor, the other remained with the woman in his arms.

Come dawn, Baralai sat at Ren's bedside, leaned over her in concern. Her hazel eyes were open, yet void of everything. As if she were awake, but no one was home. The mind was away, and the body wouldn't eat; wouldn't drink; wouldn't attempt to sustain the bit of life that was left. As the day passed and the praetor had run out of all logical ideas, he finally left the room, unable to remain and bear witness to the ex-summoner withering away.

It became evident rather quickly that Bevelle was not a secure place for information. Within the second day, news of Ren's condition had spread all over Spira. Citizens swarmed about the temple, trying to catch the praetor or his advisor to question.

Day three led a mysterious cloaked traveler to the city of Bevelle. As he strode up to the temple, the citizens slid away from the traveler and the other three who traveled with. A powerful fist knocked upon the door and it slowly opened. "No visitors today," said an old man. As his old eyes slid to the face beneath the hood, he suddenly froze and opened the door for the cloaked group to pass within.

They were led to the praetor's living quarters, where the praetor met them in the dining hall. Standing by his chair, arms crossed, Baralai frowned at them. "Remove your hoods," he said.

"To survey the summoner is our goal. We owe thee no patience and we shall not obey," said one to the right of the one whom had banged upon the temple door. It was a masculine voice that the praetor imagined he had heard before, once upon a time, but figured he in fact had not.

The praetor frowned. "Follow me," he replied and led them to the room of the ex-summoner. "Hurt her, and feel the wrath of Bevelle."

A slight mocking laughter was stifled beneath one cloak. Baralai chose to ignore it. As they entered the room, a stillness swept over them at the sight of Ren, laying in the bed, close and distant at the same time. The leader of those in cloaks crossed the stone floor in quick awkward steps. Baralai watched the strange gait of the strange one now at Ren's side.

The leader in the cloak sat on the edge of the bed, the others watched. Gently setting a tender, gloved hand against the ex-summoner's cheek, the stranger sighed, "There is nothing left..."

For sure Baralai had heard this voice, yet he kept his mouth closed, deciding it best to listen.

A strain entered the masculine voice of the leader and his head lowered, "End it..."

The one who had first spoken removed a long black-bladed sword from somewhere within the cloak and tension rose through everyone within the room, except the executioner, the leader, and the void ex-summoner. The four in cloaks had come with a mission: not to let the ex-summoner suffer any longer.

Chapter Nineteen