Welp...there ye go. Here's Chapter Eight. It's shorter than you all deserve, and I apologize. Still, I hope you like it. And without further ado...

Note: In what seems like eons, I must again reiterate that I own nothing of this story or characters. I am only expanding on them as I please.

Chapter Eight: Fight or Flight

I will be there seeking for liminality

No destinations to see, I wander

In quiet places so dark as eternity

I'm crying, calling your name

I'm searching for you

- Yuki Kajiura, "Liminality"

"So…you're saying there's a high chance we're gonna come across these Z'ra…ahhh…?"

"Z'rahul." Fang looked amused at his stumbling of the name. "And I said probably. Lower layers are crawling with 'em." She casually twirled her spear and added, "I remember that they made wonderful bedtime stories in Oerba. Vanille wouldn't stop whimpering herself to sleep as a kid. They still scare her."

Noel scratched the back of his head as they continued walking in the verdant field. "Well, who could blame her? Soul-stealing creatures from the Unseen Void? Yikes," he said.

Fang grinned at him. "Shivering like a little girl, are we?" she asked teasingly.

He couldn't help but return the grin, waving the question off. "Nah, it's just the breeze." She lightly grunted while he stretched out his arms and asked, "How far off's the distortion?"

"'Bout a few miles, I'd say. Just past those hills." She pointed at the rising green earth in the distance in the direction they were headed.

Noel surveyed the area. It very well could have been somewhere on Pulse. The scenery before them—a grassy field with white and golden and scarlet flowers popping out from the greenery, rolling hills surrounding them on all sides in the far distance—could have been pleasant. But the overcast sky illumined the earth in a gloomy lighting, as though purporting an approaching apocalypse, which it very well could be. Also, where there was flora, there lacked fauna. Silence replaced the once lively hubbub of nature—the dragonflies darting past to care to unknown errands, fat bumblebees buzzing from flower to flower and partaking of the reservoirs of golden ambrosia that was the nectar these flowers no doubt possessed, and naturally the cries of long guis and uridummus in the distance.

Noel sighed to himself. Wishful thinking in a chaotic world, he told himself.

Are you lost, boy?

He stiffened apprehensively. Casting a discreet glance at Fang, he knew she hadn't heard the voice, and that, more than anything, told him that the being who had commissioned him had returned. However, he made no mention of the matter to her, preferring to see what this being wanted first. He responded to the question with another, Have you been watching me the whole time? And if so, why hadn't it offered its aid?

There are matters far more important than you that need overseeing. However, from what I have seen, you have cast aside my guidance, wandered from the path I have paved for you.

Paved for me? he asked with incredulity. You left me on my own to figure things out while I fought for my life! If Fang hadn't come—

Ah, yes, the former l'Cie…or eternal l'Cie, depending on how one views it. I suppose I shall acquiesce to your partnership.

Suppose? He let out an irritated breath. Look, if you haven't noticed, I'm hunting down Caius like you wanted me to. But he's not my only objective. The being would definitely disapprove of who else he planned on finding. But he wasn't about to mention it.

Mortals and their agendas…well, you shall incorporate this into yours. There is a village not far off. Go there and seek Frigga.

Frigga?

The patron fal'Cie that protects the village from the Cie'th and otherworldly creatures. Through him I may more properly speak with you and elucidate my intentions.

That made him wary. It's your intentions that make me wonder whether I should even listen to you. You've barely told me anything to go by.

The entity seemed not to hear him, or chose to ignore him, as it continued, The village lies due north. Whether or not you wish to travel thither will decide if you will be a tasty morsel.

What?

If you head north, you will find two chocobos to aid your travels. That is all I offer you.

Wait, what'd you mean—?

Until later, traveler of the timeline.

So engrossed in the conversation had he been that he did not notice Fang staring at him curiously. "What?" he asked, although he knew exactly "what".

Fang arched an eyebrow. "You were like that for the past minute. Mister Godkiller got lost in his thoughts, hmm?"

Noel winced. "Don't call me that."

"Oh sorry. Goddesskiller's more like."

"Dammit, Fang…" he said, even though he wasn't as upset at it as he would have expected. A small smile was tugging at his lips for some inexplicable reason. Maybe he had gained some kind of twisted sense of humor in this twisted world.

"Listen," he said, focusing himself as they resumed walking. "That god-being visited me again."

"What for?"

"It wants me—us—to travel to a village north of here."

"What, so we can get mauled by whatever's inhabiting it now?" she asked dubiously. "I mean, sure it's a higher layer, but I doubt there'll be much of a village left."

"According to it, there are people there. A fal'Cie's protecting the village," he said.

"Huh. Well, it makes sense…if it's true, anyway," Fang said slowly in reply. After a small pause, she continued, "We may as well travel there. Not like we have a lead to go on in the first place besides jumping through layers. Still, doesn't hurt to be cautious. I'm still not sure if I trust it."

"Same here," Noel said warily, his hand on his chin. Then he suddenly perked his head. "You hear that?"

Fang was already whipping her head behind them. "Yep," she said lowly. "Sounds like we have company."

What they had both heard was the rustle of grass in the distance—not the wind's passage through the blades, but a creature's passage. Or creatures, to be more precise. He gazed intently at the scenery before him, listened to the silence. Mere moments later he discerned movement—a flash of silver. Then he saw them: figures in the distance stalking through the grass.

"Silver lobos. A whole pack of them," Noel hissed. So that's what it meant when it talked about me being a "tasty morsel". Sometimes he wondered why it was that gods—as it claimed to be—couldn't wholly intervene in human affairs. Then again, he also had to wonder if this entity even had his best intentions in mind. But there was no time to dwell on that.

"Why is it we can't come across a friendly critter now and then? But of course—it's gotta be survival of the fittest," said Fang dryly, fingering her spear in preparation.

He could tell by her tone that she was still as tired as he was from their last battle, and so he figured Bahamut was similarly fatigued within her. "We can outrun them," said Noel, quickening his pace while glancing quickly behind. It appeared that the beasts had yet to notice them. "There should be chocobos where we're headed."

"The being tell you that, too?"

"Yup," he said shortly. "Follow me."

They took off in a brisk run in the direction the entity bade them to go. If there were indeed a village of people, that would also mean shelter. Noel made himself look as small as possible so as not to attract the attention of the beasts behind them, and Fang had done likewise. Any running, breathing object would provoke a predator into a chase.

Still, the beasts were known for tracking prey through smell. And from the yips and howls he heard in the distance, Noel could only surmise that their scent had been caught. Just what we need, he thought.

"Better speed up the pace," he said, darting past Fang.

"Don't need to tell me twice," she answered back, overtaking him seconds later.

Still, for good measure, he raised an arm in mid-run and summoned the blue light of Haste magic upon them. But he paid the price for his relatively effort, the slumbering weariness in his bones responding mere seconds later.

The feral barks grew louder and more frequent behind them, not to mention a fraction closer despite the magic. He only occasionally whipped his head back to get a glimpse of the proximity of their pursuers, since he could mostly rely on his ears to gauge their distance. A life of hunting and stealth for survival demanded such acuity of the senses.

"Damn," Fang panted. "If we don't beat these pups to the chocobos, those birdies'll likely run off. They're fierce without a doubt, but not around a pack like this."

Despite himself and the present situation, he couldn't help but quip with, "Not unless they're red." In which case we'll have more than the lobos on our hands. Honestly, he wouldn't put it past that voice to have that sort of wicked humor.

But then he caught a glimpse of yellow amidst the field of green in the distance. Seconds after came the movement that was unmistakably the flutter of feathers, coupled with an all too familiar warbling, avian cry. It was more than enough to erase any doubts he had harbored. Malevolent or not, the being had not lied to them.

"You see them?" he asked her.

"Without a doubt. Let's go."

The chocobos craned their long necks at their hurried approach, watching them calmly. As he was about to mount, Noel halted at what he saw on the bird's back.

"Fang—"

"I know. What does it matter?" Fang asked somewhat irritably. "We're being chased."

He glanced back at the saddle. "But these chocobos—"

"I'm sure they'd understand if they had silver lobos at their heels. We've got no time for this, Noel," she told him.

He drew a quick breath and clambered onto the chocobo without another moment's hesitation. With warbling cries, the chocobos darted off at the slap of their reins.

If they're here, that must mean we're close to—

Roaring came at their backs, far too close for comfort, and he cursed himself for wasting precious time before. He twisted his head to glimpse their situation, dread filling his veins. Now he could see those gleaming yellow eyes keen to prey on them. If they didn't act, it might just be a matter of time before he felt that virulent breath sear his skin.

"That does it," he heard Fang growl. "I've had enough of running. I'm summoning Bahamut."

"You're as tired as I am!" he reminded her. "You know that's crazy."

"Feel free to stop me if you have any better ideas," she retorted, and he was reluctantly speechless. For some reason, her stubbornness briefly but potently struck a chord, a memory, within him. A similar situation with a young woman that continued to exert herself, to continue journeying with him, despite his warnings, despite his pleas otherwise should consequences begin to show for her actions.

"Dammit, Fang," he muttered over the loudening roars. Then he merged his swords into his javelin, twirling it in his hands, as he told her, "Yeah, I've got a better idea. How of we fight 'em together? I thought we made a good team back there, didn't you?"

Noel wasn't at all surprised to see her smirk at him. "Well, then. Get ready, kid. We'll probably go through a lot worse than this, anyway." He couldn't help then but return her smirk.

And that was when he glimpsed the other chocobo rider.

Now to address a couple things. First off:

To the indescribable i: Jesus Christ. You're...well...indescribable. Your devotion and attachment to this story despite this long hiatus amazes me and renders me speechless. I also believe I once called you inspirational, and I still adhere to that. Your review also touched me. I can't thank you enough. And for you and whoever else may care, I will certainly try.

II'm also surprised to see that I still got follows for this story. Wow. All of you amaze me. That said, I'll reach a compromise with the lot of you. I'd like to continue this story and see it to its end. If I don't post the next chapter within two months, then I will post the summary of the ending I suggested. I think that sounds fair enough...? (Looks for approval)

Also, hopefully, my plan for the next chapter will return to Snow and see poor ol' Lightning's fate to that lovable bastard we know as Caius. Au revoir and forgive meeeeeee...*goes to continue her penance*