"Four days and I haven't found anything on the ancient sanctuary that Red was going to. Maybe it time to go back to my roots." He recalled the conversation with the stranger.

"Who are you?"

"Oh come on Denzel don't you recognize your best friend?"

"Marlene?"

"Yep, I had to come looking for you. I had to find my Denzel."

"It's good to see you too, Marlene. But why did you come?"

"I couldn't stand being alone anymore. I miss you Denzel."

"I miss you too, Marlene."

"So where are you going, and is it too dangerous for your girlfriend to tag along?"

"It might be, and who said you were my girlfriend?"

"I did, silly boy. And I don't care if it is dangerous or not I'm coming with you."

Denzel couldn't argue. He always had a weakness for doing whatever Marlene wanted, even if it got him into trouble, which it had on many occasions. Now here they were trying to find Red's sanctuary, as Denzel had nicknamed it, but they were getting nowhere. Denzel made a brave choice.

"We're going back to Cosmo Canyon. I'll just have to deal with Cloud and Tifa."

"Cloud isn't there anymore. He was kidnapped along with Tifa, and taken to a prison in Nibelheim. I thought you knew…"

"No, I didn't know. First, we've got to find Red. Then Amaroq and I will go after dad."

"No you won't, Denzel Amaroq is gone too. He went out looking for you after you left. He was trying to find you to tell you that Cloud wasn't mad at you and that we all wanted you to come home. He never returned."

"Great so my brother is lost, my dad is in prison, and my best animal friend is guarding some unknown sanctuary. Life is just great. Is there anything else that I should know about?"

"NO! THERE IS NOTHING ELSE YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT!"

Marlene ran away crying. Denzel was angry with himself for taking his anger out on Marlene.

"Marlene, I'm sorry I shouldn't have let my anger get out of control. I promise to be more careful next time. Will you forgive me?"

"Of course I'll forgive you Denzel," She gave him a kiss on the lips, "After all, what are girlfriends supposed to do?"

Denzel could still feel the weight of Marlene's lips on his as they walked side by side holding hands. Yes it was going to be a wonderful day after all he thought to himself.

They walked all day and all night, well Denzel did. Marlene fell asleep and Denzel carried her through the night. When the morning sun rose so did Marlene, alert and ready to walk some more. They sat and watched the sunrise. Breakfast was a rabbit and some vegetables that he found in the fields, as well as some mountain lion meat, cooked to perfection. Denzel liked that Marlene made him slow down and enjoy the little things in life. She loved that he was always gentle with her, no matter how mean or rude or annoying she got. On the third day, the cliffs of Cosmo Canyon towered ahead of them. They were home.