Author's note: I do not own Final Fantasy VIII or its characters. This is AU.

Meanwhile Back on the Ranch

Rinoa was not quite as flighty as most people assumed she was. Yes, she was every inch a young lady of society, but she also had a brain and she knew how to use it. Besides, people seemed to forget that it could be useful to have people assume you can't understand their conversation. And she knew that when some man grabbed Quistis and took off with her, she had to tell someone. But would have to be someone she trusted. Rinoa knew that Quistis had some concerns due to recent events, and Rinoa trusted Quistis' instincts.

So she headed straight for Caledonia Canyon Ranch. Squall and the other ranch hands could be trusted. They were loyal to Quistis first and foremost, so they would be the best choice. Besides, they would also need to warm if whoever was responsible for all this was after the ranch. Rinoa knew how strong Quistis felt about her home, and since she wasn't there to defend it, they weren't going let it be taken away in her absence. No, if Adel Ultimecia wanted Caledonia Canyon Ranch, she was going to have to go through Quistis' friends to get it.

Her arrival caught the attention of Squall who hurried over to help her dismount.

"Rinoa, is there something wrong? Where's Miss Trepe? I thought she was visiting you today."

"Kidnapped," Rinoa managed to gasp out. "After Mr. Trepe was killed. A blond man rode off with her."

Squall frowned. "Go on inside. I'll take care of your horse and get the others."

So they convened their council of war. There were a handful of people they could trust in town, but other than that, they knew they would be on their own for the most part. The Trepes might be well liked, but most ranchers were not going to risk leaving their own homesteads vulnerable in order to help protect Quistis'.

"If Mr. Trepe is dead, then Miss Quistis owns the ranch," Irvine said, "and we know that she doesn't want to sell it. The only way they can get around that is if she's dead too."

"Then we can't believe anything they say about her unless they actually show her to us," Rinoa added. "It would be easy for them to claim she's dead and then not show us any proof."

Squall nodded. "All right. Who do we tell about this?"

Rinoa frowned. "Selphie. Other than that, maybe Xu and Nida. They might be willing to help."

"Hypatia," Zell suggested the school mistress. "She's in a position to hear the latest gossip in town, and that might be useful."

"Right," Squall nodded. "Someone should stay at the house at all times. No strangers are to be allowed inside. We can't let anyone get a foothold. The only way someone could really cut across the property is from the direction of town. The canyons keep people out from the west and south and the river from the north."

"I'll head back to town, get Selphie, and leave a not for Papa, so he knows I'm staying out here for the next few days," Rinoa offered.

"Irvine will go with you, so he can talk to Xu, Nida, and Hypatia." Squall looked around the table. "Are we ready?"

There were nods around the table. They weren't giving Caledonia Canyon Ranch up with one hell of a fight.