Moonlit Shadows
Escape
Yuffie anxiously paced the room, ringing her hands together.
Oh, she was so in for it!
Where in the world did she go?
If Uncle Dalmere finds out – Ohmygod! Let's not even go there!
Mary had told her Tifa had left for a walk during the afternoon- it was past nine in the evening, and she still wasn't back!
Yuffie pulled aside the curtains to look out her cousin's balcony. The night was dark and she squinted her eyes, hoping to spot the princess in her red cloak. But no luck.
She groaned and stomped back into the bedroom. King Lockhart could be heard in his office, there were other voices, too. Curiosity took over Yuffie as she tip toed over to the wall, placing her ear close to it.
"But your Highness, it is not confirmed."
"Tseng, what happened to Helena Strife and her kingdom was no accident."
"So, it's true…they're back?"
"It seems so…"
"We must notify the others"
"They…are already aware."
"And the princess, your Highness?"
"She must not know about any of this. She's not yet ready."
"I must agree, your Highness. If you will, I suggest you keep her safe inside the walls of Amortania."
"Yes, indeed. I was thinking the same as you, Rufus. Speaking of Tifa, where is that girl, anyway? I haven't seen her all day."
Yuffie's eyes grew to the size of saucers as a yelp escaped her. She quickly covered her mouth, but lost her balance in the process, crashing into the trash can next to her.
"What was that noise? It came from Tifa's room…"
Yuffie abruptly jumped up, panicking as she heard the King's office doors open. She grabbed at her short hair, unsure of what to do. As his footsteps became louder and louder, she shook her head and dived onto Tifa's bed, draping the duvet over herself.
"Tifa?" the door opened and Yuffie's uncle stepped in. "What was that noi—oh…she's asleep…hm." He stood there for a moment. Yuffie could hear him using his foot to move the trash can back to where it was. He sighed. "Silly girl, always dropping things."
Yuffie waited till she heard the door close, and the voices started again before she roughly yanked the covers off herself. Her hair was tangled and mussed, and she huffed, blowing the hair away from her face.
Oh! She was in for it for sure!
---
The forest was silent, with the exception of the sound of crickets. Tifa had not moved from where she had fell.
What a day, she sighed.
Her head was spinning. She was going to go home and make sure she slept in for a whole day.
If I ever get home, she thought bitterly.
She let out a tired sigh as she pushed herself off the ground. She pulled the hood of her red cloak over her head and ducking under the low tree branches, she gathered her dirtied dress from the sides as she stepped over the roots on to the green grass.
Her eyes wandered to her right.
Her eyes wandered to her left.
And all she saw were trees.
She didn't know her way back. Sighing once again, she trudged through the dark forest, looking for a way out.
She'd turn left, and then right, and then a left again, but she was met with nothing more than just more trees.
She tried again, and again, but she just ended up in circles.
Tired and out of breath, she let herself fall to the ground, leaning against a tall tree.
A sudden glow of blue caught her eyes. Her heart skipped a beat. Despite the fear inside, she lifted her eyes to meet its source. She gasped as she realized what it was. It was that wolf. So still, so alert. She wouldn't have noticed him if not for those eyes. Those strange, glowing eyes…
They were watching her.
He unexpectedly moved and she realized in horror that he was making his way towards her. Eyes widened as she scrambled behind the tree, seeking its protection.
Shutting her eyes for the millionth time tonight, she prayed the wolf wasn't hungry.
A soft grunt caused her to open her eyes. She slowly peeked from behind, only to see deep blue eyes staring back at her. The slight wind rustled his unruly coat of grey fur. She blinked as her gaze fell to his mouth; in between his sharp teeth dangled something that belonged to her—her mother's locket. She gasped as her fingers touched her bare neck. He bowed his head, leaning forward, and gently dropped the piece of jewellery near her feet.
She took in the animal's face once more. He...didn't seem so scary, now that he wasn't raging with fury. Oddly enough, she felt a strange sense of comfort in his presence. He seemed...nice...friendly...and loyal.
With another grunt, the wolf made to turn around and leave. Panicking, Tifa called out to him.
"Wait!" her arm reached out towards him, stopping him. Her cheeks warmed and her eyes averted to the ground. He was a wolf...would he even understand? "I...don't know – I'm not sure how to get back home..."
She didn't think he understood, for his attention was towards the moon. Sighing in defeat, her shoulders slumped and her head leaned against the tree trunk.
Guess I'm staying here for the night...let's just hope I'm not dead meat by sunrise...
To her surprise, his head turned to face her, and he came closer. He gently grabbed a hold of her dress with his fangs, lightly tugging it.
Slowly, Tifa stood up, adjusting her cloak. He waited till she fixed her dress before darting ahead into the dark thicket of trees. Tifa started before she followed suit, grasping on to her locket, hoping that trusting a wolf was the right thing to do...
---
The tiny princess was sitting on Tifa's bed, more annoyed than ever. It was almost midnight! Thank god Uncle Dalmere went to sleep, in fact, everyone's asleep! Wha- Wait?! What am I doing up, anyway? Why am I even wasting my time trying to save this one's ass anyway?! ARGHH! Stupid lady, where in the world ARE you?!?!
Yuffie let herself fall back onto her pillows. She became restless after a few minutes, as her eyes widened with horror. What if something had happened? What if she was in danger...? What if...it was "them"?
"So, it's true…they're back?"
"And the princess, your Highness?"
"She must not know about any of this. She's not yet ready."
Yuffie quickly scrambled off the bed and began hastily pacing the room. Her hands came to cover her mouth as she shook her head in despair, Oh God, I hope she's okay! Please come home Tifa...
She stopped pacing, as she heard something behind the curtains. Leaning one ear forwards, she realized with a gasp that someone was trying to climb up to her room. Immediately, Yuffie made a run for the broom closet, yanking out a broom. Clutching it with both hands, she tip toed to the side of the curtain, waiting...
The curtains moved and she took her chance, and rammed her broom into the fabric, bumping in to something hard. A sharp intake of breath was heard from behind before the curtains were pushed aside.
Yuffie put a hand to her mouth as she realized it was Tifa.
"Oops."
"What are you doing?!" hissed Tifa as she grabbed the smaller girls shoulders.
"What?! How was I supposed to know it was you!"
"I mean—What are you doing here?!"
"Saving your ass, that's what!" she whacked her with the broom. "What—" she whacked her again, "did—"again, "you—" and again, "think you were doing?! Where in the world did you go anyway?! What happened to you? Why is your dress torn? Why do you have dirt in your hair?!" Yuffie proceeded on hitting her with the broom.
"Ow! Yuffie, stop! It's a long story..."
" Do you know how long your dear princess Yuffie stayed in your damn bedroom, waiting for you to come home? Your dad would have your head if he found out that you weren't home! You gave me a fright! After all this, I think I deserve to know what happened!"
"Shh!" Tifa quickly covered Yuffie's mouth. "You'll wake everyone up!"
Tifa frowned before sighing and grabbing Yuffie's wrist and pulling her over to her bed. She turned to her with a serious face.
"Okay, I'll tell you. But you cannot tell anyone, understand me?"
Yuffie nodded, eyes serious and wide.
Tifa took a deep breath before saying, "I think a vampire tried to kill me."
Yuffie gaped at her like a fish. "What?! Have you gone insane—"
"No, I haven't! I'm serious!" Tifa told her about her trip to the ruins of Romoldane, and how she later visited her and Cloud's meadow.
"But you said you think..."she pointed. "And a vampire?! Honestly?." Yuffie rolled her eyes.
Tifa sighed. "I don't know if it was an actual vampire. I mean, come on? Vampires don't exist, right? At least that's what we've been told ever since we were children...but he tried to bite me, and he had fangs...not to mention stark white skin, and," she shuddered, "red eyes...And then that's not all..."
"What?"
"A wolf saved me...and he helped me get out of the forest. I was lost, and...I'd probably have been dead if it wasn't for him."
Yuffie stared in awe. "Holy mother, this is absolutely crazy! Aw Teef, I'm jealous!"
"What?! Are you insane?!" Tifa asked incredulously. "I was scared to death! I thought I wasn't going to make it out alive..."
Yuffie let out a gasp. The conversation that she had overheard came flooding back to her.
"She must not know about any of this. She's not yet ready."
"I must agree, your Highness. If you will, I suggest you keep her safe inside the walls of Amortania."
Yuffie quickly informed her cousin about the meeting that took place in King Lockhart's office. Tifa felt herself sinking into the deepest of shadows, as if those cold, pitiless arms were around her again, tightening, and suffocating her. Things were beginning to make sense now...
Or were they? She couldn't tell.
One thing she was sure of,
Her father knew...he knew everything. But she wouldn't tell him what she knew...not yet.
She sighed as her head hit the soft mattress, staring up at the ceiling. So...she really was in some sort of danger...
She felt Yuffie do the same, and Tifa turned her head to meet her green eyes.
"So...what now?" asked Yuffie.
"I don't know..." Tifa murmured.
Yuffie flipped onto her stomach, propping her chin on top her hands. She frowned at Tifa, "You can't hide anything from me, and I'm with you on this one. Okay?"
Tifa smiled, grateful that she wasn't alone. "Thanks, Yuffie." She stretched her arms in exhaustion. "Now shoo! I need my beauty sleep," she yawned as she headed to her bathroom. "And please, please do not trip and fall."
Yuffie scoffed as she slid off her bed. "Yeah, yeah, I'm not even that clumsy."
Tifa rolled her eyes.
"Night! Sleep tight!"
"Good night."
---
Tifa lay in the warmth of her bed, but she wasn't feeling sleepy. There was too much weight in her mind to feel the need to sleep, though she was tired. Exhausted, to be precise.
Everything kept replaying in her head; the ruins of Romoldane, those two men, the vampire, the wolf, and what Yuffie had overheard.
Why was it that everything was happening at once? Why was she in danger? Why did her father know about this...and why didn't he let her know? Why can't she know?
Was it possible...that everything was linked? Did one thing follow another?
It was too much!
Suddenly, a pale white face flashed in her mind, and she found herself shivering. She turned on her side, covering her head with the covers. She was still frightened from what had happened earlier...
Sighing, she closed her eyes, waiting for sleep to overcome her...
Maybe things would be better tomorrow...
Maybe tomorrow, things will make more sense...
A/N: Sorry...I promise you'll see Cloud in the next chapter.
GossipGirl
