Chapter 37, The Plains.

However terrible Giza had made them all feel, the sight of the Ozmone plains flipped it right on its head. Vaan stared dumbstruck. Never in all his life had he seen so much grass. He had seen deserts, savannah, sand seas even cities that float in the sky but this was just endless rolling hills of green. Basch grinned widely and took a deep breath.

"Now tell me that wasn't worth the wait." He sighed.

Ashe collapsed on her back in a bed of flowers. "I think we should rest here a while." She breathed. Everyone seemed to agree. Vaan and Penelo were already off, running down the hill laughing their heads off.

"To be young again." Basch murmured as he watched them go.

"You're more than welcome to join them." Balthier said lazily as he lay down. "No one shall judge you."

Basch shot him a look. "Shouldn't you be following them instead, I'd place you at twenty at the oldest."

"Twenty two I'll have you know." Yawned Balthier apparently unfazed. "Isn't that right my dear?"

"I have better things to do than keep track of your age." Fran said, though she smiled. At least for the moment they were all safe and happy.

-

Vaan and Penelo were racing to the top of various hills which Penelo was winning every time.

"It's all that heavy gear you carry round." She chastised. "You'd be faster than me if you just dropped that heavy sword."

"I could put it down." Vaan panted. "But then who'd save you if a monster attacked?"

Penelo put her hands on her hips. "I can take care of myself thank you."

"With some trick Fran taught you?"

"Cytos scerla mak!"

Vaan yelped as a sudden gust of wind lifted him off his feet flipped him over twice and dumped him on the floor. "That's cheating." He spluttered.

It took a while for Penelo to stop laughing. "If it's so unfair to you then use that heavy sword of yours."

Vaan whipped out his curved blade. "Don't tempt me." He said menacingly.

"Hvarith tuart."

Vaan yelled and dropped his sword as the blade became red hot. "Look at my hand." He bellowed, but Penelo didn't seem to be listening. She was starring over the crest of the hill.

"Aren't they beautiful?" She breathed.

Vaan hoisted himself to his feet and looked over the edge. There was a herd of animals, four legged with silky tails and great spiked heads galloping towards a watering hole. "Sure I guess," He said awkwardly. "If you're into that."

Penelo shook her head. "Sometimes I pity you Vaan. There's beauty in all the world around you, why can't you see it?"

"I don't know." Said Vaan indignantly as he sat down. "You just flipped and burned me, I'm not exactly in the mood to appreciate nature."

Penelo sighed and plopped down next to him. "I suppose." She said. "Forgive me?"

Vaan pushed her playfully. "If I didn't you'd probably think of something horrible to do to me."

-

The group spent the rest of the day lounging in the sun, but when it was time to travel again they discovered the plains were not as inviting as they once appeared. Ten minutes into their long trek west an enormous snake jumped up from the tall grass, although they killed it Balthier was bitten and had to be carried while the poison wore off.

"You have very nice shoulders, has anyone told you that?" He slurred.

"Thank you." Said Basch blankly as the pirate clung to his back.

Ashe stormed alongside. "You know you could have moved." She said. "You didn't just have to stand there and let it bite you."

Balthier's unfocused eyes settled on the annoyed princess. "Maybe if you had informed me there was a bloody great snake behind me I would have moved."

"I shouted, very loudly."

"Not clear enough for me."

"What do I have to do draw a picture."

"Yes that would have been very helpful."

Fran hit him across the face, breaking up the conversation. "It's not dangerous, He'll live."

Ashe huffed. "Oh thank goodness." Her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Fran smiled. "I'll take over for now, I'm used to him when he gets like this."

"Will you be alright?" Said Ashe, raising an eyebrow.

"Whenever we put into port, he always drinks himself to death. I'll be fine." She said reassuringly, at the same time slapping Balthier's hand which was going for a place it shouldn't.

-

Days later, Balthier still hadn't recovered, there was still no sign of the Garif. Fran continually insisted they were probably watching them but was at a loss as to why they didn't approach. Also more and more snakes were popping up, the grass was infested with them. Every day and night they had to live on a knife edge, or end up like Balthier who was now singing loudly about the women of Rozaria.

"The closer we get to the centre of the plains," Fran said softly round the fire . "The more likely it is we will encounter large monsters."

"To be honest I'm amazed they haven't come already." Ashe groaned. "Every creature on the plains must be able to hear that racket."

Vaan and Penelo were trying to calm Balthier down, rather Penelo was trying to calm him down while Vaan roared with laughter at his lyrics.

"Fran, couldn't we just put him to sleep?" Penelo whined.

Fran shook her head. "He needs to be conscious or the poison won't leave him."

"But it's been days and he isn't getting any better, can't you do something with magick?"

Fran though for a moment. "Not without knowing exactly what bit him. I need a sample of the venom."

Penelo jumped to her feet. "Perfect, those snakes were all over the place. All we need to do is find one."

Fran shook her head. "Not in the middle of the night you're not. In the morning maybe."

Penelo sighed and stared into the campfire, disobedient plans already dancing behind her eyes.

Holy crap, it's a regular weekly update. Welcome to normality. See you next week.