Moonlit Shadows
Evoking Dreams
She sat on the stone by the little pond. The skies were darkening and the sun had set only minutes ago. She sighed restlessly as her fingers twiddled with the hem of her blue dress.
He hasn't come yet. He said he'll be here in fifteen minutes. He doesn't even live that far away! Why is he taking so long?!
Giving a groan, she stood up and began pacing around the stone. Thank goodness her father had left for important business early morning; he did not like the thought of her alone in the forest after sunset.
It's not like there are monsters here, she rolled her eyes. I'm a big girl. I can take care of myself.
As if right on cue, a sharp snap rang out from within the deep forest. Tifa jumped and spun her head around, eyes frantically searching for its source.
Cloud isn't playing tricks on me, is he? She inched closer towards the trees, peering into the shadows of deep green. There was no one there…all she saw were trees and dark green leaves, the forest was so thick it was hard to see anything else.
But then she froze. Her breath caught in her throat, and her eyes widened in horror.
Red. That's what she saw. Eyes piercing with hunger. With thirst.
She could hear it breathing…she could each ragged and heavy breath as she hastily took a few steps back. She could hear the desperate longing, a sickening craving dripping down its sharp canines.
"Tifa."
She shrieked and stumbled back as she turned around again. Moving her hair away from her face she looked up to see Cloud standing there, looking confused.
"Cloud!" she cried as she stumbled back onto her feet and flung her arms around his waist.
"Err.." he said as he slowly reached around his back and pried her arms off him. "Why are you scared?"
Heart was still beating hard. "It's nothing…I just thought I saw someone in the woods…that's all." She closed her eyes tightly as she forced out a small laugh. "'Must have been my imagination."
Cloud furrowed his brow in concern. Squinting his eyes, he peered through the woods.
"There's no one there." he said as he turned around. His eyes landed on the golden locket hanging down her neck, it was tightly clutched between her hands. "Why do you wear that thing?" he asked as he motioned his head to her hands.
"…It was my mother's. It makes me feel safe…when I'm alone." She said. She cast her eyes towards the sky, the stars were slowly appearing now. Her gaze remained there for a few moments. "…She's up there, you know?"
Cloud nodded as she glanced back at him. She smiled. "So is your father, Cloud. He's watching you, too."
Cloud lifted his head up to meet the painted sky of dark blues. He sighed, "I know…" He swallowed before continuing. "You're…not alone, Tifa."
Her wine-coloured eyes flickered back to his and she sent him a warm smile. Unfortunately it lasted merely a second before her eyes narrowed into sharp slits.
"You idiot! You are so late!" She yelled as she smacked him hard.
"Ow!" he whined as he rubbed his chest. "Sorry…Jeez."
"Yes, you should be sorry, you procrastinating, lazy moron! I've been waiting here since sunset and now look!The moon is out and –oh!" And there it was, hiding behind the smoky, grey clouds; the moon, so bright, so breathtaking.
"It's beautiful" breathed Tifa. Cloud let out a hiss as he clutched his head in pain. "Hey! Are you alright?" Tifa asked as she made to grab his arm, but he fell to the ground as a groan escaped his lips. "Cloud!"
Tifa watched helplessly as his fingers dug deep into his scalp. His body was shaking. Scared, and unable to do anything else, Tifa gently rubbed his back and murmured words of comfort. It was a few minutes until Cloud was able to calm down. The meadow was silent, with only the gentle whispers of water stirring around them. Tifa hesitated before lightly touching his forehead and whispering his name.
"I-I'm okay" he muttered and managed to sit up.
"We should go home." She said, her voice laced with worry. "Mary will make sure you're okay. And you can rest for a while, Papa will—"
"I'm fine." he growled. "I don't need your help."
"…" Tifa merely stared, hurt evident in her eyes.
Realizing what he said, he quickly looked up to meet her eyes. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say it like that." He mumbled, averting his eyes onto the grass.
"Of course you didn't." she bit out.
"I said I was sorry…"
" Words spoken can't be taken back…saying sorry doesn't take anything away, so stop apologizing." Tifa replied, her face stiff as she looked away. " It's getting late, you should go home, then." She used her hands to push herself off the dirty ground but his hand caught her dress.
"Don't go."
"…"
"…Please." He pleaded.
She sighed in defeat as she sat back down. She was still worried about him. I guess it wouldn't hurt to forgive him this once... She looked up at him after a while. "Are you sure you're okay now?" she asked.
Cloud's lips twitched as his eyes flashed towards her. "Why do you worry so much about me?"
She huffed in response. "I wouldn't be so worried if I knew what was wrong."
Cloud didn't say anything. He just watched his friend as she leaned forward, reaching out to grasp a daisy but—
"Oww!!" she wailed.
"What's wrong?" asked Cloud.
"It's my back—oooh! It hurts!"
He placed a gentle hand on her back. "You must have twisted it or something"
"No, I think I broke it!" she complained. Cloud rolled his eyes, it wasn't likely to break your back while picking out flowers…
He sighed and shook his head. "You and your flowers…"
"Hmph. Cloud, it hurts!"
"You're getting old, Princess." He smirked.
"Shut up, Chocobo." She retorted, and smiled in satisfaction when he did shut up.
Still, that didn't stop her from wailing.
Cloud let out a frustrated groan. "Come behind my back, it should help a bit." he offered. Tifa gratefully accepted and crawled behind him and rested her back against his. "Is it better?"
He felt her nod her head. He waited a minute, before sighing in relief.
"…Cloud?"
"Hm."
"Can we make a promise?" she asked.
"What do you mean?"
"Whenever I'm in trouble, or if I'm feeling lonely…you'll come save me, alright?"
"…"
"Promise me?" her gaze fell back over the glimmering stars.
"I promise." He replied softly.
They stared at the stars in silence before Tifa lightly murmured "thank you" and closed her eyes.
---
Ruby eyes snapped opened to a dark room. Tifa turned to see the wind blowing through the curtains. Rolling out of bed, her bare feet met the cold floor. She walked over to her balcony, drawing back the dark curtains. A cool gush of wind rushed in, blowing her hair away from her face. Sucking in a gulp of air, Tifa stepped towards the railing and gazed into the murky night. The deep sky was embedded with stars once again…just like that night. But the moon had not made its appearance.
Tifa closed her eyes and sighed. She had always kept herself away from their memories. She had tried so hard to distant herself away from him. She pretended to think he never existed, that no promise was ever made, and she did it so often that she came to believe it. But these dreams…they were haunting her. They reminded her of those childhood years, and she didn't want that. She didn't want to look back into her past…she didn't want to cut open her wounds again.
Sharp blue eyes flashed in her mind…
His soft blonde hair…the way it always stuck up in odd directions…
His small smile…it always made her feel safe…
"Where did you go?" she whispered. There was no answer. Tifa let out a frustrated sigh before leaving the cold night air, allowing the warmth of her bed to swallow her into a world of blue eyes and blonde hair.
A/N: Hiya! So sorry for the extreeemely late updates... I know I'm not doing a great job. There's just been so much going on, and it's my last year in highschool...I'm stressing out! That's why as soon as the winter break hit, I hit my fanfics! I've still got my other fic, 'Out of it' and this one...and not to mention another one I started, called 'Can you feel the Love Tonight'(it's a one-shot). As for Moonlit Shadows, I knowww it's going extremely slow! :( Sorry! Im still planning what's going to happen...I've got a pretty good idea...still I'm nervous about how it'll turn out.
Oh! and btw...in case you're confused...the italics part is the dream...and during the dream...Tifa's thoughts are non-italics. It's the opposite during present time.
Okay, well until next time then!
GossipGirl
