This one's dedicated to my dear, patient friend who waited nearly half a year for the other story update, Riley Rose!! XDDDDDDDDD Ah, the things people put up with when the author is lazy…
Also, thanks to stars amongst dust for motivating me to get away from my biology book to update…
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As physically fit as he was, Cloud's breath came ragged after a while of sprinting, full speed, after the darting black shadow that was Alex.
"How long do this campground stretch??" he groaned plaintively, his muscles screaming in protest as she continued to run straight through the neat, endless lines of tents, "Geez, this noble sure is flashy to have this many tents…"
And even as he thought that, Alex stopped.
Confused, he quickly caught up with her and leaned over onto his knees to catch his breath.
"You…couldn't…just…have waited…could…you?" he managed to squeeze between breathless gasps of air, glaring irritably up at her as the campground came to life behind them with much clamor, "You'd better have…an exit strategy…'cause, man are they annoyed!"
Alex completely disregarded him, her pupils contracted in fear or shock, her body as tense as a snake about to strike. Fists clenched tightly, she swiveled her head in different directions like a fox, as if tasting the air for something…
And while she did so, Cloud noticed that the tents they had stopped at were a great deal larger than the others.
…and were dyed in the imperial silver and black colors of the royal family.
"Oh no you didn't," he whispered, searching upwards for the insignia.
A regal, elegant, four-taloned Eastern dragon pranced in the wind on the banner above, mouth agape, sparkling eyes glittering coldly and superiorly at him.
"Alex, you do realize that we would be killed on spot if we were seen right now?" he asked quietly, turning to where she stood.
…which was now vacant, replaced by nothing but an empty gust of wind.
Cloud blinked once and swore hotly.
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Alex sprinted, her feet barely brushing the earth. Her entire system was on high alert, every sensation increased in sensitivity tenfold…
And there it was, the huge black shadow wolf emitting a dirty, unclean energy stench, its jaws open wide, its guard let down in the giddy, brutal joy of the hunt and the kill…
"I don't think so!" she snarled under her breath, taking a long leap off of the ground to go save whichever poor soul had been targeted by the demon…
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Cloud stopped short as he saw a slight shimmer in the air outside of the tent Alex was rushing at.
"What the…"
As he stared, the image of a wolf slowly began to appear, starting with its faint outline and ending with the see-through gray coloring of its fur. He blinked to make sure he wasn't dreaming.
"A…demon?"
"Coryn, HELP!"
The desperate, screeched plea for assistance sent him into an automatic response. No matter what kind of investigation would take place because of his interference, he would not desert somebody in need just to save his own skin.
Drawing the Buster Blade along the way, he leapt up to attack the…thing, fully expecting the sword to go straight through the ghostly apparition.
To his ultimate surprise, it sunk wickedly into the gray flank of the creature with a sickeningly satisfying thunk.
It screamed an unearthly cry of anger and pain, and it whirled to attack its new opponent. Cloud dropped back to the earth, his sword still deeply embedded in the wolf's leg, and looked up in horror.
The creature's wrathful white eyes had no pupils.
Letting out a deep, guttural growl, the wolf dove for him, sharp, jutting teeth reaching for him. Reflexively he rolled out of the way, neatly dodging the attack and retrieving his sword in the same fluid movement. The blade made a nasty schtiick as it dragged out of its leg, and the wolf let loose another hair-raising shriek.
Hurt and angry, it turned slowly to face him, its injured hind leg dragging uselessly behind it. Blazing white eyes glared ferociously at him before it completely vanished, whistling away with a stray gust of wind.
Then Cloud felt a sudden, agonizing throb in his shoulder as the creature fled, and he just had enough time to vaguely realize that the wolf's teeth had managed to graze his shoulder before he passed out.
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"Cloud…"He heard Zack's worried voice call his name distantly, and he struggled to answer. But the blackness held him fast, like toxic, tarry black ooze that engulfed everything in its suffocating eclipse…
"Cloud, please wake up…"It was Yuffie now, her cheery voice truly forlorn. He thrashed more against the immense pull of the sickly darkness that poisoned heart, mind, body, and soul…
"Cloud!"
A sudden flash of white burned away his bonds, and he was freed, heading straight for the sound of their voices…
…He awoke with a sudden intake of breath on his back, his eyes snapping open to survey the ebony tapestry of the sky, studded with diamond stars…and of course, the anxious faces of his friends.
Yuffie, for once, had glimmering tear streaks marking her cheeks, her nose rather comically sniffly and red from crying. Zack's mild expression was set in a steely frown that looked like it would leave a permanent wrinkle on his brow, and even Reno's lax, easy-going face had managed to pull a terse look of worry.
"Cloud!"
Yuffie smacked him—hard—across the head, sending him back into a dizzying spiral before choking him with one of her killer hugs.
He spluttered and coughed, choking for air before Reno and Zack dragged the little girl off of him.
"Remember, Yuff, he just got done with being mauled by a wolf," Reno cautioned in his familiarly irritating manner, "He doesn't exactly need to be mauled by a crazy Yuffie, either."
Yuffie shot him a scowl and turned back to Cloud.
"Hey man, you look like you just came back from the dead," Zack grinned, smacking his best friend on the back with his hand, "Did you miss the chance to see the pearly gates?"
"Ha, ha, ha, we both know that I probably wouldn't make it three steps there, seeing as how I'm not a 'noble'," Cloud replied sarcastically, slowly rising to his feet, "Where's Alex?"
"She went over there," Reno shrugged, jerking a thumb casually back at a crowd that thronged around one of the tents, "to take care of somebody else. Apparently he got a really bad wound from the wolf or whatever it was."
When Reno said 'wound', Cloud remembered the gash that had knocked him out in the first place. His hand flew up to touch the shoulder—but, to his surprise, there was nothing there. Yet it did ache sorely, like somebody had managed to land a really good hit on him while jousting.
"Is there something wrong with your arm?" Zack asked, concern creasing his brow yet again.
"Stop frowning, buddy, you'll get premature wrinkles," Cloud snorted, poking his friend's forehead. Zack rolled his eyes.
Reno stared thoughtfully as the crowd began to disperse, enthusiastically encouraged to leave by two menacing knights dressed in strange, flanged black armor, wielding bizarre, slightly curved swords.
"Hey guys, don't you think we should go visit that guy that Cloud saved?" Yuffie piped up, her normal sunny attitude miraculously restored.
Zack took one look at the silently looming guards that stood on either side of the door and answered promptly.
"Absolutely not."
Yuffie pouted cutely and crossed her arms tightly in front of her chest.
"Well, why not? Whoever he is, he should be grateful to Cloud for saving his life, noble or not! I'm going!" she declared, stomping off towards the tent before Zack or Reno could do anything to stop the determined little squire.
Cloud chuckled and trailed along behind the three of them, wondering how the scene would play out…
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"Excuse me."
Yuffie stood adamantly in front of one the knights, her feet planted, her arms crossed in determination.
"I believe that the resident of this tent owes my friend a thank-you," Yuffie declared, motioning towards Cloud, who was cautiously bringing up the rear of the group.
One of the black-armored knights turned its head to look at Cloud. Silently it turned to exchange looks with the other knight before turning back to Yuffie.
"You will have to wait," the knight replied firmly, "He is currently unavailable. Please return at a later time."
"I don't think you understand me," Yuffie plowed on, her eyebrow furrowed, "Coryn Valentine saved this person's life. He should be so grateful—"
"Again, apologies, but I can only ask you to return later. He is currently unavailable," he repeated blandly.
"Uh…Yuffie, it's okay, we can come back later, you know…" Cloud trailed off hesitantly, anxiously observing Yuffie's steadily increasing indignation. Zack and Reno restlessly edged away from the little vixenly squire, hoping to escape the impending—and inevitable—explosion of her wrath…
Yuffie was an inch away from physical violence when a voice called from behind them.
"It's all right, Tseng. I can vouch for them."
They turned, and Cloud recognized the woman in pink that he had met at the spring just a few hours before. What had Lady Lockheart called her again? Aerith?
As she got closer, he also realized that she, too, had one of the most gorgeous faces among the noble families. She had a flawless face—cream skin sprinkled with light ginger freckles, framed by thick, braided brown hair, gently sloping cheeks and nose, perfectly curved hunting-bow lips, and long, thick lashes softening doe-like emerald eyes.
But Cloud couldn't help but thinking that she was not Lady Lockheart…
The knight inclined his head in a reverent deferral.
"Milady Gainsborough."
"Would you mind letting them through, Tseng? I give my word that they would never hurt him," she appealed again, her voice soft but decisive. Yuffie frowned. She'd heard that name before somewhere…Tseng…
The two knights exchanged looks again.
"I would gladly, my lady, but unfortunately, he is actually…unavailable…," the knight replied in a perplexed voice, "We could host them tonight, if that would please you instead…?"
Lady Gainsborough smiled gently.
"Of course. Thank you very much, Tseng. And do give him my regards," she nodded graciously, turning to Yuffie, Cloud, and Reno.
"I'm sorry, but it appears that you'll have to wait a little while longer here for an audience with Sir Shinra. I presume you have no objections?" she queried, her lilting voice imploring them for a reply.
"Of course we wi—"
"—on't," Cloud replied, cutting off Reno's answer, "I think that it would be better if we returned in the morning, perhaps when he is feeling better?"
Reno gave Cloud a bewildered look that Cloud determinedly ignored.
"Well…unexpected, but it is thy decision. Tseng, could you await them in the morning? It looks as if Sir Valentine has gotten cold feet," Aerith said, an amused smile curling her lips, "Good night to thee."
As she floated gracefully past, Cloud swore she whispered, "And Lady Lockheart sends her regards to you as well…dear knight."
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"What was that all about?" Yuffie yawned as the trundled sleepily home, "You sounded so anxious to leave, Cloud."
"Yeah, really," Reno chimed in, his hands laced behind his head as he sauntered, "Are you feeling okay? We could have stayed in the lap of luxury for a night. And the Shinra is the ruling noble party—they're probably the richest of them all."
Cloud sighed.
"I don't think you understand that I wasn't supposed to be there to begin with. The only reason I didn't get caught was because everyone else was throwing a hissy fit," Cloud explained, his senses still jangling faintly from the adrenaline rush of his fight with the wolf. He frowned. What had that thing been, anyways…? He would definitely ask Alex next time—
Oh, wait. Alex.
Cloud froze.
"Did you see a girl with a black braid and full battle armor when you came into the nobles' camp? Holding a katana?" Cloud demanded, rounding on Zack. Zack blinked in surprise at the intensity of Cloud's sudden outburst, and he shook his head in slight confusion.
"No, why? Is she a friend of yours?" Zack asked, echoing Yuffie's yawn, "I didn't see anyone by that description…"
Cloud sighed. Based on her previous display of speed, she was probably on her way out of the Shinra camp right now.
…Probably.
He sighed again. Why was it that he was the only one that seemed to suffer from compulsive reactions to help damsels in distress?…even if Alex didn't quite fit into the 'innocent and helpless' type…
"I'll go visit tomorrow to make sure she escaped," he muttered to himself, trying to relieve the tight knot of guilt that was starting to form in his stomach, "I'll go straight to the Shinra tent and ask them if they saw her escape."
"What was that?" Reno asked sleepily, barely catching the end of Cloud's soliloquy, "Repite, por favor…"
"Ah, it's nothing," Cloud replied, hiding a smile as Yuffie staggered into Reno, almost unconscious on her feet. Unable to take the weight, Reno lost his balance and both of them fell in the street, asleep before they hit the ground.
Zack yawned drowsily and looked like he was about to face plant in the dust before sighing resignedly and yanking Reno's lanky form out of the dust.
"'M awake, I swear," Reno slurred fuzzily as Zack dragged him forward, "Heard every word you said…I agree with Zack…"
Cloud sighed and picked Yuffie off of the ground, and the two spiky-haired friends completed the journey down the street together, both of them glad for the burden of having an improvised—if not legitimate—family to take care of.