Disclaimer- I do not own Final Fantasy 7 or any characters related to it.
Sleeping Cetra
Chapter 5- Dangerous Ride
Aerith lay in bed, too excited to sleep. She had made a friend, a very handsome friend, but a friend nonetheless. It was almost too good to be true; finally one of her long-awaited wishes was granted. Of course, she had Nanaki and Cait Sith; however neither of them were someone she could confide in.
They were more like her bodyguards, rather than friends. Nanaki was always worried for her safety and would travel close to her, eyes darting in every direction when they walked deeper into the forest. Cait Sith was more happy-go-lucky, always playing tricks or something; he was not the type you could take seriously. She loved them, but this man, this Cloud, was someone she could talk with.
She giggled softly and turned in her bed to look out the window. The moon was high, its glow spilling over her from the window. She closed her eyes, hoping to sleep soon so, when she woke up she could see him. Yet, as she slowly drifted off to sleep, she wondered if Cloud was thinking about her as well.
X, X, X,
Cloud sat on the edge of the balcony near his room. The gentle breeze tugged at his blonde locks as he breathed deeply; the night was peaceful. Ever since he had returned from the forest, all he could think about was going back there to see Aerith. She was amazing, and not just by her looks, either. Cloud could tell she was a kind and gentle person who was easy to talk to and understanding. No one around the castle understood him at were always too busy judging him as a Prince. The high-class children he was supposed to grow up with were anything but friendly. They wanted to be chummy with Cloud so they could get higher titles when he became king. They bragged as well, about knowing about the prince, and even exaggerated about it. It was quite annoying to Cloud.
I never asked to be a prince, he sighed inwardly. If he could have, he would have thrown his title, his status, and everything out just so he could be a regular person. His title was like shackles, binding him forever in his cage, the castle. Cloud looked up at the sky, noticing the stars, and sighed again.
He wondered if Aerith liked the stars. Maybe he could stargaze with her, but then again, he would not be gazing at any star but the one right beside him. He wished she were here now, next to him. He could talk with her for hours. Just then, a horrible thought struck Cloud. He was E-N-G-A-G-E-D He hung his head low and cursed a string of swear words. How could he tell anyone that he made a friend who was a girl?
As the morning sun appeared over the horizon, Cloud stepped off his balcony and changed quickly into his riding clothes. Once he was dressed, he slipped silently from his room and down to the stables where his chocobo was chirping with annoyance. Cloud petted him gently, holding out some food, which the bird instantly gobbled up, and quickly saddled him up, before riding off to the forest to meet his new friend.
Friend, he thought. He liked the sound of that.
X, X, X,
Aerith sat by the bank, anxiously waiting for Cloud. She was excited about riding Cloud's chocobo, Choco, yet nervous too. Nanaki and Cait Sith waited at her side. She had been waiting for almost half an hour, wondering if Cloud was even coming. She never had a friend, so she wondered if she was doing it right. Moments later, Cloud appeared, riding the golden bird. Aerith smiled, clearly relieved. She approached Cloud, when Choco stretched out his head to hers; Aerith patted his beak.
"Hello," Cloud said, breathless. She was there, like a dream. The young prince was happy, he was glad he did not imagine her up.
"Hello," she smiled.
Cloud slipped off Choco and patted the bird gently.
"Ready to go for a ride?" he asked.
"Are you sure it's safe?" Nanaki intervened. He had sensed Aerith's nervousness.
"Choco is really tame and he likes Aerith, which is a first. He has never thrown me off before; even when I was little kid." Aerith nodded and watched as Cloud stretched out his hand. She meekly took it and Cloud guided her over to the bird.
"Don't worry," he said gently. He picked her up by the waist and seated her on the bird. Next, he climbed up, taking the reins. Aerith gasped at how high she was.
"Hold on to me," Cloud said. "Choco is pretty fast."
Aerith found herself blushing madly as she wrapped her arms around Cloud's waist, her body hugging his closely as she sat with legs on the side of the bird. Cloud swallowed hard, as he felt the slender girl hold on to him. He had never been this close to someone, not like this anyway.
"Ready..." Cloud asked.
"Er... yes..." Aerith answered softly.
The moment she said yes, Cloud urged Choco to move. The bird trotted but then turned it into a gallop. Aerith gasped, hugging Cloud even tighter. Cloud chuckled; this was slow compared to when he and Choco really moved.
Nanaki looked at Cait Sith and sighed.
"Let's follow them," the cat spoke.
X, X, X,
Kadaj traveled the streets of the Kingdom of the Cetra, finding no word or trace of the princess, other than the gossip that she would be returning at midnight when she turned sixteen. Kadaj left the city for the outskirts, where he met up with Loz and Yazoo. Loz had been traveling the smaller villages around the kingdoms, while Yazoo had searched in the kingdom of Nibelheim. They were no closer to finding the Princess of the Cetra's whereabouts than he was.
"This is a fool's errand," Kadaj cursed. "She could not disappear without a trace."
"Big brother is going to be mad," Loz sobbed softly.
"Don't cry, Loz," Yazoo said, tilting his head to the side. Just then, a black dog-like creature, a creeper, appeared at Yazoo's side. He growled, its nose sniffing the scents in the wind. Suddenly, several more creepers appeared, all growling menacingly.
"How do you suggest we find her?" Yazoo asked, pale face expressionless.
Kadaj held out a small pink blanket. "When I sneaked into the palace, I saw the Queen holding this, muttering for her sweet little girl," Kadaj mocked. "If the Princess's scent is on this... our little pets will find her."
Kadaj threw the blanket to the ground and the creepers tore at it. They sniffed the blanket, picking up and memorizing the scents around it. Kadaj waved his hand and the pack fanned out in every direction. Loz grinned while Yazoo just tilted his head to the side.
X, X, X,
"OH! OH! CLOUD, NO!" Aerith wailed as Cloud urged his bird to jump over a small cliff to the other side. The bird landed with the thump and continued running. Aerith's grip on Cloud tightened increasingly throughout the ride. Her body was pressed against his back, her eyes now shut tight. Several times during the ride, Aerith felt her body slip off the bird, only to fly off and land back on it.
"CLOUD, PLEASE STOP!" Aerith begged.
Upon hearing her protests, Cloud tugged on the reins making his bird slow down into a gallop and then a trot until it came to stop. Cloud slipped off Choco, patting the bird's beak.
"How was that?" Cloud asked. He reached up taking Aerith by her slim waist and helped her down. She wobbled for a moment, still shaken by the not-so-smooth ride.
"I feel sick," she said.
"Are you all right, Aerith?" Nanaki asked as he and Cait Sith came running up. Cait Sith plopped down, completely tired from trying to keep up. Aerith nodded and sank to her knees. Her heart was racing. Her idea of the ride was a slow steady ride, not a break neck race through half the forest.
"I didn't mean to scare you, honestly." Cloud admitted. "But Choco and I race like that all the time."
Aerith sighed. "Its okay, I'm just not used to it, but it was fun!"
Nanaki rubbed his nose against Aerith. She patted him gently, knowing he was concerned for her. Cait Sith waddled over to them, muttering at how annoying that was.
"So, shall we go on?" Cloud grinned.
"How about we rest for a while?" Aerith asked, her heart still racing. Cloud sat down near Aerith. She was so different from other girls he met, and that was a good thing. Most girls would not have even tried to get on a chocobo and race like that. He sighed inwardly, wondering why she could not be the princess he was sadly engaged to. He would not have mind having her around at all. As the two chatted, they did not notice the clouds turning grey.
X, X, X,
Not too far from Aerith and Cloud's position, a creeper was sniffing the ground. His claws scratched the ground as it paced, trying to catch the scent it was to track down. For a moment, it stopped sniffing and then took a big whiff. A low growl escaped him and he dashed off, teeth bared.
X, X, X,
"Cloud," Aerith spoke hugging her knees to her chest.
"Yes," Cloud replied.
"What's it like to live in a city?"
"There are houses, shops, and a castle; nothing exciting. It's okay, I guess, but it gets boring. The people never do anything but work." The blond-haired boy sighed as he leaned back on the ground. He rested on his elbows and looked at Aerith.
"Must be more exciting then here, nothing cool EVER happens here," she groaned.
Cloud sat up slightly, "Better than being trapped and told what to do. Also, better than people telling you how to act and how to dress."
"Well, it must be better than not being able to go anywhere, and never seeing anyone," Aerith challenged. "It must be better than having someone to tell you not to travel far, because you'll get lost, and not to talk to anyone, and being alone for your whole life without a friend to play games with and to talk to."
Cloud blinked and then answered her challenge by saying, "Having no choices."
"Not a single one," Aerith sighed.
The two looked at each other and laughed. The two had been arguing over who lives in a better place. Of course, given their situation the two would have gladly switched places. Cloud was tired of his palace life and wanted to be away from people. Aerith been trapped in these woods her entire life with no other contact besides her family and Nanaki and Cait Sith.
"I'm sorry," Cloud apologized. "I just don't think my life is one I would wish on anyone."
"Is it that bad?"
"Let's just say having a privileged life is not the best thing. I envy you, Aerith."
Aerith smirked. "I envy you, Cloud."
She then smiled warmly at him, making Cloud blush ever so slightly. Nanaki shifted, glaring at Cloud. Nanaki was protective of Aerith, and he was not as trusting to humans. If Cloud made one wrong move, nothing would stop him from tackling him and ripping his arm off. Just then, Nanaki jumped up, letting out a low growl. His tail twitched and his ears went back.
"Nanaki?" Aerith spoke, wondering what got him riled up.
Suddenly, bursting from the bushes, a large creeper came, running straight* for Aerith. However, Nanaki jumped in the way, meeting the creeper head on. His jaws clamped on the neck of the creeper, but the creeper wiggled him off and snapped at him, taking bites at Nanaki's own neck.
"Get out of here!" Nanaki yelled as he fought.
Aerith screamed as the two beasts began fighting. Cloud stood up, dragging Aerith to her feet. He hoisted her up onto his chocobo, but Aerith was struggling.
"NO! Nanaki, please help him!" she cried.
Cait Sith jumped on the creeper's back and began tugging at his ears and punching it on the head. The black creature growled and used its large paw to smack the cat off his back. By now, Aerith was in tears. Cloud saw the fear and pain in her eyes, and quickly unsheathed his own sword: a large sword that looked nearly as big as Cloud, and was most likely very heavy.
"Choco, get out of here!" Cloud ordered throwing the reins up at Aerith. He hit the bird to make it run away.
"NO!" Aerith cried out. She wanted to stay, but Cloud could not bear* her to see anything happen, not to mention risk her getting hurt.
He spun around and held up his sword, a glowing materia inside. He closed his eyes and a large bolt of lighting struck down hitting the creature. The creeper yelped and whined as it moved away from Nanaki, who was now bleeding from his leg. Nanaki limped next to Cloud, as did Cait Sith.
"What is that?" Cloud asked, assuming they knew.
"I have never seen a creature like that before", Nanaki muttered in a low growl.
"Nor have I," Cait Sith admitted.
The creature let out a growl after recovering from the blow. He then looked around, and instead of going after the three, it ran away. Ran in the same direction as Aerith was sent riding Choco.
"Why is it going after Aerith?" Cloud muttered to himself. "We have to stop it!"
Nanaki was about to run when he collapsed, whimpering softly in pain. Cloud rushed to his side along with Cait Sith.
"You're badly injured; we need to help you, Cloud said preparing to help.
"NO!" Nanaki snapped. "Find Aerith and protect her, Cait Sith will help me."
Cloud stared into the beast's eyes unblinking. Understanding, he nodded. He picked up his sword and ran, heading in the same direction the creeper went.
X, X, X,
Rain began to patter down on Aerith and Choco. The young girl had been trying desperately to get the bird to stop running. She pleaded, she yelled, and even tugged on its golden feathers. It took her several minutes to remember how Cloud controlled the bird, and then she took held of the reins and tugged them, making the bird stop. The bird chirped as Aerith tried to maneuver the bird to go back, but he would not budge.
"Oh, come on," Aerith sighed hopelessly. "Now you're just being difficult."
Just then, Aerith heard* a loud growl and the sound of crashing from behind. She whirled around to see the large creeper jump out. It landed not too far from Choco before it attacked, sending Aerith off the bird. Choco screeched and began flapping wildly. The bird began to peck angrily at the creeper but with one swift strike, the bird was sent sprawling.
Aerith screamed, drawing the creeper's attention. She backed away using her feet and hands to push herself along the ground. The water was beating down on her and the mud clung to her dress. Her brown locks now sent astray from her thick braid.
Oh god, it's going to kill me! Aerith's mind screamed.
The creeper lunged at her. Aerith threw her hands up in front of her, waiting for the attack, but it never came. She heard a loud crash and an equally loud, if not louder, whimper. Her emerald green eyes slowly opened to see the back of Cloud. The rain was patter on him causing his shirt to cling to his incredibly sculpted physique. His hands gripped his sword tightly as his blue eyes glared at the creeper.
The creeper howled as it struggled to stand. The creature's arm nearly severed from the single blow and sheer force that Cloud had dealt. Instead of trying to fight, the creature backed off, eying Cloud carefully. Once it was a good distance away, it turned it back and fled from the scene.
For a moment, there was no sound but the rain falling. Finally, Cloud struck his sword into the ground and heaved a heavy sigh of relief. He turned around to look at Aerith who was still frightened, soaked, and dirty from the ordeal. Without asking if she was all right, Cloud scooped her into his arms with ease and began walking. He whistled and Choco followed, squeaking in pain.
"W-where are you taking me?" Aerith stuttered.
"I saw a cave nearby," instructed Cloud, "We'll wait out the storm in there. No sense in getting sick."
Aerith nodded but then a horrible thought crossed her mind. "NANAKI! CAIT SITH!"
"Are fine," Cloud said, as he entered the cave.
Cloud set her down on a rock and squinted. He then pulled out a glowing materia and aimed it at the back of the cave. Suddenly a large stream of fire shot out. This allowed Cloud to see how deep the cave was, and soon, he found old sticks and dry leaves. He quickly gathered the natural debris and made a quick fire. Once done, he moved toward Aerith and reached for her coat.
"What are you doing?" Aerith blushed.
"You can't stay in that, you'll freeze."
Aerith indeed felt how cold she was, her body was numb even. Without thinking, she let Cloud slide off the jacket, and watched blankly as he hung it on a rock. Aerith looked up at Cloud and found herself blushing even more. The way his shirt clung to him and defined muscles, showing how toned he was, was breathtaking. She knew he was handsome, but not this handsome. He casually ran a hand through his blond locks and turned toward Aerith.
"Are you…" Before he could finish, he found his voice lost to him. The pink dress, although a little dirty from being thrown in the mud was wet, clung to every curve on her body. Her long slender legs looked even longer. She had a slender waist, shapely hips, and a flat stomach, which led up to her round breasts.
Aerith turn her innocent, doe-like eyes at him, not realizing exactly how good she looked, even like that. Cloud quickly undid his leather cloak and handed it to the girl. He would never be able to talk if she sat like that.
"It'll keep you warm," he said, trying to hide his blush.
Cloud sat down, shivering. He held his hands out to the fire and then rubbed his arms. Aerith took note, slid the coat off, and handed it to him.
"It's not fair if I'm warm," she said. "And look, your shirt is soaked! You'll catch a cold, too. You should… should…"
"I don't want to if you're uncomfortable."
"Of… of course not!" Aerith tried to hide it. She never actually did see a man other then her uncle when he was working in the summer, with a shirt off. However, he was family and that was nothing.
Cloud shrugged and took off his shirt. He placed it on the rock. He looked over at Aerith, noticing her body was trembling.
"Come here." Cloud said.
"What?"
"Sit in front of me."
"What, why?"
"Trust me."
Aerith looked at him and slowly sat down in front of him. Without warning, Cloud placed his hands on her shoulders and slowly began to rub them. Aerith's eyes widened. His touch sent shivers down her spine, shivers that had nothing to do with the cold. She pulled away and faced him.
"Stop that!" she protested, her face hot red.
"It's warming you up, right?" Cloud said. "If you don't warm up, you could freeze."
"So will you," Aerith whimpered.
Cloud lifted his leather jacket and draped it over his shoulders. He looked at Aerith who blushed and turned around. Cloud slid his hand up her arm and slowly rubbed the cold from them. Whether Cloud knew it or not, Aerith's heart was pounding in her ears so loud that she thought she was going deaf.
The blonde haired man looked at Aerith. Her soft skin felt so nice against his rough hands. He felt like he had to be gentle with her. She looked so beautiful, even like this, cold, mud-stained, and wet. Suddenly, he felt the girl tremble and try to move away, but he brought her back against him. He wrapped his arms around her, pressing her gently to him.
"C-Cloud…" Aerith gasped.
"You're so cold, you're shivering," he said. "Don't be afraid."
"Cloud…"
Aerith turned her head to look at him. Her emerald eyes met his sapphire ones. He looked so handsome. The first person she ever met, and she was already falling for him. She closed her eyes as he moved closer. Aerith was terrified, she never even kissed anyone, but she wanted to kiss him so much. Just as their lips were about to touch, a loud cough interrupted them, followed by an angry growl.
"Getting comfy?" Nanaki growled.
Aerith and Cloud turned away from each other, both rather embarrassed from their compromising position.
"The rain stopped," Cait Sith explained.
"I think you should head home Aerith," Nanaki growled, glaring at Cloud. "Your family must be worried."
X, X, X,
Author Note- Sorry for taking so long on this update. School, work, and amongst other things have been keeping me busy. Anyway, hope you enjoy and thanks for the reviews.
Revised- Thanks for Zexion for editing this chapter.
