Chapter 4

,,We should go this way, but be quite, if you don't want do end up as Behemoth food" Fang said while pointing at a hole in the earth in front of them.
There were so many Behemoths, maybe a whole horde, they were all sleeping, still. Fang knew that they couldn't win against that amount of this creatures, it would be difficult enough to take down one, but even this would be a pain.
She went ahead, step by step without making the slightest sound, the other L'Cie followed her, slowly but successfuly.
After sliding down the hole they were in a long tunnel, that was lighted by many torches at the walls.

,,Where are we now? Hope asked, astonished by the tunnels size.

,,This is an underground tunnel that extends in a way through the whole Achylte-steppe. Long time ago, it was a connection between the Mahabara stollen and Paddra, the ruin where we were as we looked around in the Yashas-Massiv. This tunnel is old and served the people as a save way from Mahabara to Paddra and vice versa, to evade the dangerous Achylte-steppe, even if the way to Paddra seems to be blocked by heavy rocks now, the other direction is still intact." Fang explained

,,Mahabara stollen? What kind of place is that?" Lightning asked.

,,It's a big tunnel system, made by the Fal'Cie Atmos, he is digging tunnels there for centuries" Vanille explained quickly, before Fang even had the chance to start talking.

Sometimes She's just to quick for me, it has always been like this She smiled barely visible.

,,Well and this Atmos thing?" Sazh involved himself in the conversation ,,What if it attacks us?"

"Atmos won't attack us, the Fal'Cies on Pulse are different from the Fal'Cies on Cocoon, most of the pulse-Fal'Cies are just working to expand and improve the nature here on Grand-Pulse, they are holding the balance of life here, actually they shouldn't be even interested in our buisnesses, as long as we don't provoce them." Fang explained to Sazh. He seemed to be relieved slightly now that he knows that they don't have to fight against every Fal'Cie they crossing ways with.

"Well, we should keep moving, it still seems to be a long way to Oerba and there is no time to waste, maybe we find a way to surmount our fate as L'Cie there" Snow said this, visible encouraged of the thought he could save Serah that way.

While going through the tunnel, Fang catches herself to be worried about Vanille.
Her friend might not have enough time to get there, Fang doesn't even remember hers and Vanilles focus yet, she wanted to avoid that Vanille turns into a C'ieth, but she didn't even seemed to worry about that, as if she wouldn't care about her own fate.
Another detail Fang noticed about Vanille was her sudden affection towards Hope, they were walking hand in hand and she sometimes clinged playfully at his arm while walking.
But he doesn't seemed to be annoyed of it, quite the reverse, Hope seemed to enjoy this too, this fondly gaze, that he gave Vanille said more than thousands of words.
Her childhood-friend seemed so happy right now despite their present situation. Fang was glad to see her like this, but nethertheless it was kind of unfamiliar, Fang never saw that kind of happiness in Vanilles face before, it was different from the happy and cheerful face that she had normally.
Fang could see that this was more than just a childish game, but nethertheless she wasn't sure in what direction this would go and maybe it was even better for her to know nothing about it.
Fang just wanted to forget those thoughts for now.
Maybe she just interpreted to much in this scene that plays in front of her eyes.
Or maybe she just felt a bit lonly.

No way...

Fang never really cared about things like that kind of love, she was more like a lone wolf, together with Vanille of course, Vanille always was like a little sister for her, that she loves and cares for. Fang still remembered those beatiful and carefree days they spend together before they became L'Cie.

Good old times...