Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles

Caravan Tale

*

Lora was already on the road to the mines as the sun rose. Before she left, she had sent a letter to her family about the myrrh collected and other caravans she had seen. She didn't mention anything about what had really happened at the pass or what rumors had been spreading about monsters. She didn't need Cedon to worry or panic like last time.

Mog joined Lora as she drove the caravan. She wasn't in the mood for walking. He snuggled up against Lora knowing a lot was on her mind. Lora scratched his ears happily. Mog looked at the horizon, "So are we there yet, kupo?"

Lora chuckled at Mog, "No we have two days after this haul. We can rest up for now after the catastrophe at the pass."

Mog puffed out, "If only I hadn't fallen asleep!"

Lora looked ahead, "It's alright Mog. We got out fine didn't we? It's just the life of a selkie."

Mog grumbled next to Lora, but soon fell asleep. Lora swore she had never seen a moogle sleep so much.

Four days later, the Cedon caravan arrived at the Mines of Cathuriges right on time. Lora tied up Helon and gave him a pat for behaving. She looked at Mog who had the chalice ready to go, "Shall we?" Lora asked Mog.

"Onwards! Kupo!" Mog cheered as they entered the mines. Lora wasn't fond of being underground, but her senses were sharp, which was a big reassurance. As she walked through she had a strange feeling when no orcs or other monsters had attacked her yet. She continued on and began finding dead orcs through the mine. She looked at Mog, "I didn't see another caravan, did you?"

Mog shook his head, "But we best hurry to the tree just in case!" Lora nodded and began sprinting down the old mine tracks. She followed the trail of dead monsters until it curved to the left. Lora looked to the right and sniffed the air. She decided to head to the right, into a new cavern. All at once two large orcs ambushed her. She ducked low between the two and tripped one with her racket. She dodged the other orc's blow and sent a power attack to the one on the ground making sure it wouldn't get up. She then circled the orc running around and making him dizzy. She then jumped and bashed him in the face. The orc fell to the ground. Lora grabbed its pouch which contained a key and 300 gil. She continued her sprint through the cavern bashing heads as she went. Finally, the main gate was in view. She hoped she had made it first if there truly was another caravan. Yes! It hadn't been opened. Lora quickly put the key in and ran hopefully towards her second drop of myrrh.

As Lora entered a smaller cavern she found herself face to face with the orc king. She gritted her teeth and waited for his move. The king was faster than she had thought as he came running at her with his hammer. Lora had barely dodged it! Lora couldn't use her usual tactics on this one. The idea of a competing caravan had thrown her off focus. She quickly grabbed her magicite and applied it to her racket as she evaded the king's hammer. "Blizzard!" she yelled as an icy crystal formed around the king's leg. He was frozen to the ground. Lora then decided to make a daring move. As the king focused on his leg, she jumped up his arm and smacked him in the face, taking out an eye. The king yelled in pain and swatted Lora off his shoulder. Lora was hit and slammed into the cavern wall and slid to the ground. Mog yelled at her frantically as the orc king finally freed his leg and was headed straight towards her, but Lora couldn't move. All was a haze, she hoped this wasn't how it was going to end. she Then her ears began pick up on over voices shouting besides Mog. Suddenly multiple bright lights were flying around the cavern and Lora felt a loud vibration as the orc king fell to the ground. She saw someone run towards her and she felt a cool sensation all over. Her senses were coming back and the haze was becoming less and less.

"She's going to be fine. Quick! Get the myrrh so we can get out of here. I hate these mines!"Lora heard her healer say as her vision cleared.

She blinked a few times at the realization of who her healer was and anger rose to her face, "YOU!? Get away! This was supposed to Cedon's myrrh!" Lora looked over at the now empty tree and two young clavats, a boy and girl holding a now full chalice of myrrh. Lora tried to get up but the pain was still there, Tobias forced her to sit back down.

He looked at her not knowing what to say or to feel. She was so stubborn it angered him, but he pitied her at the same time, realizing she was alone. "That is going to the village of Pora. It is almost as small as Cedon. Don't forget we helped you clear the way to the tree as much as you did."

Lora looked away she couldn't stand this man. The two clavats came over. The girl kneeled down in front of Lora, "I'm sorry, we had no idea another caravan would try the mines this year. My brother and I are new caravanners; we needed all the help we could get, so thank you."

Lora just sighed, "Just get me out of this place." She tried to stand up but fell to the ground, "Guess I hit the wall harder than I thought." Tobias helped her up, "We are all out of cure, so bear with me." Lora leaned on him, "This doesn't mean I'm gonna thank you." Tobias just looked at her and chuckled at the glare she was giving him. Mog flitted extremely close by Lora. She looked at the worried moogle, "Mog, don't be such a worrywart, I'll be fine."

"But you just laid there! And I c-couldn't do anything, kupo!"

"It comes with the territory." Lora said matter of fact to Mog.

The clavat girl looked at Lora continuously. She was fascinated by the strength of the selkie. Lora could feel the girl's eyes on her, but decided not to say anything, but to just focus on walking with the pain. Eventually all five made it out of the mines safely. Tobias helped Lora to her caravan. The two clavats ran to theirs hidden by brush and drove it over to Lora. Lora was sitting in the grass leaning against her caravan. Once she was outside the pain subsided greatly. The clavats walked up to Lora and handed her a bottle. Lora looked and knew exactly what it was. The boy cleared his throat, "That's an apology from the caravan of Pora. I hope next time we meet on better terms." Lora nodded at them, "Thank you, but wouldn't it be better next time we meet if I already knew your names?"

Both clavats flushed. The girl held out her hand to Lora, "Kima Nens and this is my brother Jasper Nens."

Lora shook Kima's hand, "It's Lora Li."

Kima bowed to Lora, "If it wasn't for you and Tobias our caravan would have been a failure for Pora." Lora looked up at Kima puzzled. Kima couldn't hold back her admiration any longer, "We saw you bash in that king's face! He was almost finished by the time we got to him. I wasn't sure if we were going to make it out of those mines, but you definitely helped out."

Lora stood up to get a better look at Kima. She was very young for a caravanner. It seemed Pora had similar problems with Cedon in finding suitable caravanners. Lora wasn't sure what to say, but just ended up with, "Feel free to write me anytime."

Kima smiled excitedly, "I will. I promise." With that, the Pora caravan departed for home to celebrate another year of protection from the crystal.