A/N Late post I know I am trying to cut down, but my beta reader is currently in the process of moving so you can't blame either of us...blame yourselves for all of the anticipation you built up yourself.
Its cool though, not much news on my end...guess we can just get on with this then.
Ch 31
"Is everyone ready?" Cloud asked. A unanimous nod of heads was his answer. "Alright then, let's go."
"Nathan, are you sure you don't need another day of rest?" Aeris asked as we started walking.
"It's okay; I hardly feel a thing anymore." The worst I had now was the occasional muscle twitch. "Although when I feel stuff its kinda... numb I think."
"I wouldn't be surprised if your nerves are a little more redundant now. You damaged your nerves well enough," Nanaki said.
"Wait... that means... this is actually a plus!" I smiled. Out of the corner of my eye Yuffie made a disgusted look at me.
"How the hell does frying your own ass count as a plus?" Cid asked.
"I can't feel pain as much; I can fight longer because the fatigue takes longer to respond..."
"Don't expect too much. You'll only feel a little less pain. It isn't as if you are able to brush off another stab, it will still hurt immensely," Vincent said, ruining what good I could think of about for my condition.
"I'm still surprised. You took that like a champ! How did you do it?" Cait asked. I thought for a bit.
"Well I have been drinking all of the sources I've been coming across. I do feel better than I was before drinking them." It takes time, yes, but I always feel just a little more clear-headed, faster, stronger, and tougher, my magic seemed a little more potent. I think the only ones that didn't seem to help were the Luck Sources; I never feel a change with those.
"You drink all of those? Eww," Yuffie said.
"What?" I asked.
"That's like taking a bunch of drugs to get better." She said. I would agree but it isn't like I'm taking mega steroids. I have not had an adverse reaction yet to any of the sources. They're like the miracle drugs Earth needed. You get stronger without putting something in you that causes problems.
"I never heard of anyone suffering from using sources too much." Barret said.
Cloud decided to explain. "Because people can't really buy them. Shinra rarely makes them available to the public anymore and the few you can get cost too much to really be worth the enhancement, Nathan's probably taken more than any other regular citizen, possibly much more than someone in their army." Oh so that's how MP's are strong, they drink what I drink. We kept talking as we walked through the sleeping forest, Tifa looking very nervous along the way.
"Do we still have the harp? I don't want to get lost." Tifa asked.
"We don't need it now." Aeris said, confusing Tifa. "The forest keeps intruders from the city; Ancients built the city, so they aren't considered intruders. Stay by me and you won't get lost." Huh, so that's how Aeris got in without the harp.
"Where should we go? Didn't we explore damn near the entire city?" Barret asked.
"We didn't explore one road. It had a broken building at the end but near the top of it there was some kind of cave. That is our ticket out possibly." Cloud said. We traversed the sleeping forest and got to the City of Ancients in record time. It was around noon when we got there, so we kept going. We eventually reached the cavern and saw the large spiky structure and a cave at the top.
"And we get up there how?" Yuffie asked.
"We jump." Cloud said, already taking the first few steps in a couple of hops. I went up a few and spied another chest on the side. I jumped over and opened it.
"Hey Cid, I think you might like this." I pulled out the spear and threw it to him. He dropped his old one and smiled.
"Finally, something decent!" I smiled. I still remember Cid complaining about finding a mop at the dig site. I knew it was technically better but it would be too hard to convince Cid that an old broken mop was better than a sharp and pointy spear with materia slots. The group hopped, skipped, and jumped until we were at the top of the cavern and going through the tunnel. It had some rainbow looking textures and with what sunlight it let through, brightened the room with different colors. It was a nice sight, but I still like the Mythril Mines better.
"How are we getting up now?" Barret asked when we got to the walls with large cracks in them.
"I guess we have to free climb." Tifa said. I heard a couple of the others groan. This was going to be murder on anyone who didn't have gloves and a ton of weight. So Aeris, Nanaki, Barret, and Cait would all have the short end of this. Thank god Yuffie gave me my gauntlets...wait, a materias missing...
"Yuffie, can I have my fire back." I held out my hand.
"Dang it." She whispered. I smirked. I put the materia back in place and started to use the cracks to climb up. I got close to the top and looked around the edge, noticing the three chests.
"You know, does anyone else wonder how some of these chests got here, or why they even contain stuff?"
"Nope, more for me." Yuffie said below me and started jumping from ledge to ledge, taking what items were inside as well as the purple materia that I later found out was a Magic Plus. As we got closer to the top I noticed it was getting colder as we neared the exit. When everyone was at the top, Yuffie found another chest only to look a little sick when she looked inside.
"What'd you find?" Barret asked, tired from having to use one hand and jamming his gun hand into the wall. Yuffie took out the bottle and threw it towards me. Another Power Source.
"Sweetness." I opened the bottle and downed the drink. I made a happy sigh and looked over to see Yuffie looking a little green.
"So I drink this stuff, it's probably made from that all natural herb and vitamins crap. Stop acting like I'm drinking raw Mako." Saying that, she got a little greener and went to the edge of the wall to throw up. I snickered a little but stopped when I got outside. Looking around, I smiled.
"Hey guys, look." Everyone came out and they're reactions made me smile. The entire field was covered in snow for what appeared to be miles. No trees, no grass, there wasn't a speck of green in the place. The mountains around us were covered in blankets of snow. I took a deep breath of air before exhaling happily. We are defiantly in a higher altitude; I feel like I'm taking normal breaths again, it almost feels like Colorado... I missed that feeling.
"Fuck its cold." Were the first words I heard. I looked back to see Cid warming up his arms.
"I know it looks nice but we don't have time. Keep moving." Cloud said. Everyone started trudging through the snow. It was about a foot deep, allowing me to be satisfied with the crunch of freshly broken snow.
"We have to find a way around the mountains. Trying to go over will take too long." Cloud said to the group. For some reason I wasn't at the back of the group anymore. I was actually walking with Cloud at the front. The only other person up with us was Vincent. Everyone else seemed to be slowing down. I could hear some heavy breathing. When it came evening we stopped and I saw that everyone behind us was very winded.
"What's wrong with you guys?" I asked.
"It's hard to breath man... it's like I ran not too long ago." Barret said.
"I'm used to grass and rocks, not snow." Nanaki said, lying down. I realized that everyone else was from lower altitudes so they needed more air, and were used to flat or jagged ground instead of travel impeding snow. Cloud was able to get through all this since Nibelheim is essentially in the mountains, and Vincent slept there for thirty years so his lungs adjusted. I wondered why Tifa wasn't up with us only to see her and Yuffie hugging themselves and shaking.
"W-why d-idn't we bring ja-jackets?" Yuffie said, teeth chattering. I forgot those two were the least clothed out of the entire group.
"I don't see what the big deal is." Cait said. Earning a glare from most of the group. I bet everyone wishes his gears would freeze... I wonder if that is possible.
"Set up camp. They need to adjust." Vincent said, interrupting my thoughts. I opened my pack and started setting up a tent with Cloud's help.
"I'm surprised you are able to keep up Nate." Cloud said. I shrugged.
"Mideel is already tough jungle terrain, sure it ain't snow, but once you get used to one tough bit, the rest gets easier."
"Makes sense. The weather is tropical though, how are you taking the cold?"
"My nerves were shot remember? Snow numbing me doesn't feel so different, you see? I'm prepared." That, and living in Colorado's bipolar winter does help.
"I know. Once you get used to tough work, a different kind only hampers you a little." he had a small smirk.
"Exactly what I was thinking. Us country boys gotta stick together, right Cloud?" I looked up to see him with a very far off look.
"Cloud?" I asked. He shook his head.
"Sorry. You reminded me of..." He was about to say but something stopped him. He groaned and held his head.
"Are you okay?" I asked, stopping so I could prepare if he fell.
"I'm fine, just a headache." He waved me off and continued setting up his tent. Who did I sound like? ...was it Zack? Now that I think about it, he would say something like that...
Eventually the tents were set and we sat around a fire and ate. Nobody was really talkative, then again, the wind picked up and the most talkative people, who were Yuffie and Aeris, were both shivering from the drop in temperature.
"If we don't find a village soon, so help me..."
"Cid, be a man and take the cold." Barret said.
"I can take that shit just fine. The fucking cold and wind keep blowing out my cigarettes even in the tent. Its pissing me off that I can't get a decent smoke out here." I laughed a little.
"They are bad for you." Said Aeris, now curled up in her sleeping bag, Cid just snorted.
"So does anyone know where we should go?" Nanaki interjected.
"I remember there being a village in the mountains. Icicle Inn it was called, mostly just a place for people to vacation though." Cait informed.
"What kind of dummy wants to vacation here?" Yuffie said, in a similar state to Aeris.
"I hear snowboarding and skiing is becoming popular these days." I say.
"I heard that too." Tifa agreed.
"Alright everyone get some sleep. I want us in that village by tomorrow." Cloud said. Everyone nodded and went into their respective tents.
The next day went better for everyone now that they were warmed up a little and traveling again. It wasn't until late noon though that we were able to reach Icicle Inn.
Much like every other village, it was much larger than the game portrayed it to be. But it didn't have that same feeling all of the others gave off. The other villages we went to had troubled pasts with Shinra and had an air to them. Knowing that Icicle Inn was actually a place where one of the very few good people in Shinra worked was comforting.
"I'll pick groups of two. Pick a location and start asking questions. Sephiroth can't be too far." Cloud said. When everyone drew straws, I was surprised to see I was grouped with Cid, I wasn't surprised when the first place he wanted to go was the bar, in fact I laughed.
"I want some decent hot tea, and make it quick I'm thirsty." He more or less demanded from the bartender.
"We're supposed to be asking around dude," I said sitting next to him.
"When I am good and ready. Just ask around here, I bet we'll hear something." I shook my head and looked around the bar. I got up and started walking around.
"Dude, do you know what the Cetra was?" I looked over to see three guys sitting around and talking.
"What was the Cetra? ...oh yeah, they're the same as the Ancients right?" One responded to the other.
"Yeah, did you know a Cetra lived here a while back? Her name was Ifalna, and she knew a lotta things..."
"What do you mean?" The third asked.
"I heard she was abducted by Shinra and taken somewhere." The other two at the table looked shocked.
"Shinra and the Ancients... I smell something fishy."
"Excuse me," I called out. All three turn towards me. "I couldn't help but overhear, an actual Ancient used to live here?"
"Yeah, I moved here around that time," Said the first man.
"Do you know where she lived?" I asked. He scratched his head.
"Wasn't her house next to that sleepy old guy's?" He thought out loud.
"The one with all those bright lights, right?" The second asked.
"Yeah, that's the one. I think she lived there."
"Thanks, have a nice evening." I come back up to Cid. "An Ancient lived here at one point; maybe it will be useful to see her house."
"Dang, all I heard was there's some snow bitch out there that hates hot springs." So all he talked to was the bartender. Well at least he didn't sit around.
"Come on four eyes, let's go tell everyone else." I sighed, but followed. Back outside we saw everyone start to get back into groups. I also noticed that Tifa and Yuffie were now wearing some jackets and... Are those leg warmers? Seriously? It would so much more worth it to get pants and they settle for leg warmers? ...Sigh, I will never understand other people's thoughts sometimes.
"So what did everyone get?" Cloud asked.
"The slope is the only way down, every other way is blocked. So you need something to take you down." Barret said.
"I was told we needed a map to get around, I got one." Yuffie held it up. She probably just took it from that one guy who was an explorer around here.
"Cloud and I didn't find much." Tifa said.
"I got a snowboard, so I'm prepared for when we have to leave." He held it up. It looked pretty sweet. "In fact we'll leave tomorrow, so I want everyone to have something to use to go down the slope." Everyone nodded.
"We heard that Shinra has been spotted around here." Nanaki said for himself and Vincent.
"We didn't get anything." Cait said while Aeris nodded.
"I found out something interesting. A Cetra used to live here." Everyone focused on me now.
"Another Cetra? Are you sure?" Aeris asked. I nodded.
"The guys I heard said she lived in the house next to the item store. Her name was Ifalna."
"Mother?" Aeris gasped. Everyone looked shocked at her outburst.
"Your mother lived here?" Tifa asked.
"I never knew... I didn't know this was her home..."
"They said Shinra came at some point and took her." I added.
"We should investigate, maybe we'll find clues." Cloud said. Surprisingly Aeris started for the house and led most of the way. When we got inside, we found it had been abandoned for some time. There were several dusty machines around, a small table with a book on it, and a stairwell going down.
"Look around, maybe we'll find something." Cloud ordered. I went to the machine closest to the door and pressed the largest button on it. Suddenly the room was illuminated by some light from an odd opening in the ceiling.
"Let there be light." I said simply. I went downstairs to see the bed with books scattered around it and a dresser off to the side. I decided to look at one of the books.
"Mako condescension and Materia theory, whoever was here must have been a scientist or something. These kinds of books are too high level for the average person."
Aeris pondered. "Mother was smart, but not a genius. These books are for someone else."
"Hey guys, I found something." Cait said upstairs. Coming up he pointed to one of the machines and flipped a switch. It had a list of videos with varying names.
"Maybe they have something we can use." Cait said.
"Play original crisis." Aeris said. The machine started operating and a video feed soon came up. It showed a man in a lab coat working on the same machine and a woman with long brown hair in a red dress.
"That's her..." Aeris whispered.
"Camera's ready!" The man in the video said. He turned to Ifalna. "Then, Ifalna, please tell us about the Cetra." She nodded.
"2000 years ago, our ancestors, the Cetra, Heard the cries of the Planet. The first ones to discover the Planet's wound were the Cetra at Knowlespole."
"Tell us Ifalna, what is this land called Knowlespole?"
"Knowlespole refers to this area. The Cetra then began a Planet-reading... It's like having a conversation with the Planet. It said something fell from the sky making a large wound. Thousands of Cetra pulled together, trying to heal the wound. But because of the severity, it could only heal itself over many years."
"Do the Ancients, or rather the Cetra, have special powers to heal the planet?"
"No, it's not that kind of power. The lifeforce of all living things on this planet become energy. The Cetra tried desperately to cultivate the land so as not to diminish the needed energy."
"Even here, so close to North Cave, the snow never melts. Is it the planet's energy is gathered here to heal its injury?"
"Yes, the energy that was needed to heal the planet withered away the land... Then the Planet... It tried to persuade the Cetra to leave Knowlespole, but..."
"Ifalna... let's take a break."
"I'm fine... When the Cetra prepared to leave the land they loved... that's when it appeared. It looked like our dead mothers and brothers. Showing us specters of our past."
"Who is the person that appeared at North Cave?"
"That's when the one that injured the planet, or the 'Crisis From The Sky', as we called it, came... at first it approached as a friend, then deceived them, and finally... gave them a virus. The Cetra soon went mad, turning into monsters." She fell to the ground.
"Then, just like the ones at Knowlespole, it approached the other Cetra clans, infecting them with the virus."
"You don't look well... let's call it a day."
The video cut. Everyone was just as silent as when the video started.
"So the Planet's been injured already?" Asked Tifa. Everyone seemed to agree.
"I still can't believe my mother used to live here... but who is that man?"
"Professor Gast, former head of the Shinra Science Department." Everyone turned towards Vincent.
"You knew him?" I asked, just as surprised as everyone else.
"I was his bodyguard when assigned. He was one of the most brilliant men that Shinra had."
"What happened to him?" Nanaki asked.
"Hojo killed him; at least I suspect he did. There was never any conclusive evidence. He then became the new head of Science... that was many years ago." He explained.
"I think we should watch the next video." Aeris said. The second one on the list played.
"Ifalna, if you could comment on the thing called 'Weapon'?"
"Yes, the one the professor mistook for a Cetra... was named Jenova. That is the 'Crisis From the Sky'. The Planet knew it had to destroy Jenova... you see, as long as Jenova exists, the Planet will never be able to fully heal itself."
"Back then, Weapon was a weapon the Planet produced of its own will?"
"Yes, but there is no record of Weapon ever being used. A small number of Cetra defeated Jenova and confined it. The Planet produced the Weapon, but it didn't need it."
"So the Weapon no longer exists on this Planet?"
"Weapon cannot vanish, it is hidden somewhere in the Planet. Even though Jenova is confined , it can still come back to life at some point. The Planet hasn't even fully healed. It is still watching Jenova."
"Where is Weapon?"
"I don't know, I can't hear the voice of the Planet that well. Times have changed...that Planet is watching closely."
"Thank you Ifalna, that will be all for today." The video feed was cut again.
"So Jenova isn't an Ancient?" Barret asked.
"I kinda figured that out when Aeris didn't turn into a giant demonic mass of flesh Barret." I said. He seemed annoyed but ignored me.
"So he was the one that thought Jenova was an Ancient." Nanaki stated.
"He was told otherwise afterwards," Cait said.
"What are in the confidential files?" Aeris asked. Cloud pressed a few buttons until the file opened with videos labeled 'Daughter's records'.
"He had a daughter?" Cloud asked. He looked towards Vincent who just shrugged.
"I don't remember him even having a lover. But that begs the question, who is his daughter?"
"Let's find out." Yuffie said. She pressed the button, but no video came up. The audio worked fine however.
"What are you doing prof... I mean honey?" Came Ifalna's voice.
"I'm thinking of taping it on video, but it's not working right..." Gast replied.
"What are you going to tape? Is there something I haven't mentioned?"
"No, that's not it. I'm going to record my beautiful daughter. When she's sleeping... her face looks like an angel."
"First we have to decide on her name. You can make the video later." Ifalna said.
"I've already decided. Her name will be Aeris. That's that." Everyone held their breath at the name Gast mentioned.
"You are so selfish. But it is a good name." Ifalna giggled. "Yes a good name, considering it came from that forgetful head of yours." The video stopped. I looked over to see Aeris looking at the ground.
"I never knew who my father was...Mom always told me he was smart, but forgetful. He was kind and humble... I'm happy I get to know who he was." A few tears ran down her face. Cloud decided to play the last file. This time it had the video working.
"Another video? We just got through taping."
"Please don't say it that way. It's our lovely daughter, both yours and mine! Don't you want to capture her childhood on tape?"Gast said.
"If you keep doting over her like that, she will never grow up to be strong. Aeris is different from the other children. I wonder what dangers await her..."
"Never say that. I will protect you and Aeris no matter what! You and Aeris are my treasures; I will never let you go!"
"I feel so much better darling... If I hadn't met you..." Both got close and were about to embrace when a loud knock was heard.
"Who could that... I was about to... How dare they intrude on our private time together!"
"I will send them away." Ifalna walked to the door only to run back to Gast.
"It's them!"
"I've been searching for you Ifalna. Or should I say, Cetra! Long time no see professor Gast." Everyone was infuriated when Hojo came into the video.
"Hojo...how did you know?" Gast gasped.
"Believe me I had to turn over a stone or two to find you... Two years I waited. That's how much I wanted this new sample."
"New sample? You don't mean Aeris!" The MP's with Hojo pointed their guns at Gast.
"Aeris? ...what a nice name." Hojo just laughed. Gast shouted at him.
"That's it! I'm severing all ties with Shinra! Hojo, please leave." Suddenly, Ifalna knelt before Hojo.
"Please, Aeris has nothing to do with it! All you want is me, right?" Ifalna pleaded. Hojo shook his head.
"I need all of you for the experiment. You understand don't you, Professor Gast? We can change the future of the Planet!"
"Don't worry Ifalna, I'll take care of this." Gast hugged his wife. Hojo sighed.
"Please don't put up a fight. I don't want to damage my precious sample... hmmm" Hojo looked in the direction of the camera. It sent shivers down my spine how it looked like he knew we were watching.
"An interesting camera. Guard, destroy it." The MP fired and we lost video feed, but the audio was intact.
"Be careful with her!" He laughed out. Signs of struggle could be heard in the background.
"Ifalna, take Aeris and run!" A single gunshot ringed through the speakers. Ifalna's cries could be heard.
"Oh and don't forget the child! ...what is this? The Ancients? Weapon? Yes a mountain of treasure! Thank you professor! The last video went down. Aeris had even more tears now than before.
"That Hojo fucks everything up." Cid put bluntly, I couldn't agree more.
"Let's just get some rest. Be ready tomorrow." Everyone started to file out of the room. I had forgotten Aeris never got to see the videos, so it's only natural she would start to cry knowing her father and mother were killed by the same person.
I went over to the item store next door; I needed something to pick me up after that.
"Grandpa, you have a visitor!" A little girl next to the shop owner said, hitting him in the arm, waking him from his nap.
"Ugh, oh welcome! What do you need?"
"Do you have any kind of candy?" I asked. As simple as candy is, it's my one comfort food.
"We have some in stock." He pulled a few things out from under the counter. It was the same brands I had been eating, so I bought a few. When I was about to leave, I caught something from the corner of my eye.
"Is that...?"
"Huh?" he looked over to a shelf. "Yes that's one of our towns own brands. Quite a few kids love the stuff, even my granddaughter." I threw my gil on the counter.
"I'll take ten." When I got the first can, I popped it open and savored the flavor.
"How you guys can make cola this good I will never know." I had completely forgotten the cola from Gaia was from Icicle Inn, but then again Yuffie told me back at Costa Del Sol. Oh well, I get a tasty drink before we leave for the Crater... speaking of Costa Del Sol, do I still have most of my junk from there? What's in my backpack?
I started rummaging through the pack. I had most of the rings that the team came across... Come on, I have it somewhere I had no reason to throw... There it is! ...Damn, its gunna take all night to get this up... Better start then.
The team was starting up the slope. Cloud had made sure that everyone had gotten something to go down the slope with. Aeris had calmed down since her discovery of who her father was; in fact she seemed happier in a sense. Right now all of them were going to the slope with their sets of transportation.
It was funny seeing the different choices everyone made. Vincent had bought a snowboard much like Cloud's which surprised nearly everyone. He didn't comment about it though. Barret had paired with Red and bought a sled big enough for the both of them along with Aeris and Cid getting ones for themselves. Tifa and Yuffie had opted to use skis. Cait had said he would use his mog's body to slide down . Nathan had come up to everyone out of breath and holding an inner tube of all things.
"Nathan, where did you get that?" Yuffie asked.
"I had it... since Costa... Del sol. I knew I was gunna use it someday... so let's go down that slope." He said, finally catching his breath. All of them started going up the incline when a man stopped them.
"It's dangerous down there; I don't think you should go."
"We're fine, we can handle ourselves." Cloud said.
"Are you sure? You can get lost."
"We are perfectly fine sir." Cloud said more sternly than before.
"Okay I wish you lu... Wait, who are those guys over there? ...Uh oh, looks like trouble." Cloud turned to see the line of MP's in blue with one of those dark blue suits running at them.
"Hold on!" Nathan groaned. Cloud could see now it was Elena. He sighed and waited for the rookie Turk to catch up, he wanted to just go down the slope, but he didn't want bullets flying past them at the moment.
"I... finally... caught up..." She said breathing heavily with her hands on her knees. "I won't let you down there!" Cloud just shrugged.
"What's down there?" Maybe she would slip on information like before.
"It's a secret! But that doesn't matter." Suddenly the two MP's point their guns at the group. "You'll pay for what you did to my boss!"
"You mean... Tseng? That wasn't us, that was Sephiroth." Cloud tried to reason, the blond girl just shook her head.
"Nice try liar, you can't fool me."
"Oh come on, I healed the bastard to avoid this!" Nathan yelled. Cloud would have laughed at Nathan's hopefulness, but now was not the time.
"I'm not lying, Sephiroth attacked him."
"Don't try to act innocent!" Cloud rubbed the back of his head.
"Oh man." How was he going to get everyone out of this one?
"Looks like talking alone won't do it. You're going to have to feel some pain! There's no way you can avoid my punch." Cloud saw Elena rail back her fist, she launched it at him only for Cloud to move off to the side and let her fall forward. The saddest part was that they were on the slope already, so she started rolling down the hill.
"E-Elena?" One of the MP's yelled before both ran after her. Cloud could hear Nathan and Yuffie laughing hard at the display.
"Shinra's here, so Sephiroth must be close by. Let's get ready guys." Cloud said. Everyone set up there items and looked down the mountain. None of them could clearly see the bottom.
"I'm starting to think there might be another way down." Tifa said.
"Nope, we have to go down this way." Barret said. Tifa sighed before looking back down.
"So, how are we doing this?" Asked Aeris. "Do we all count to three, or you yell go, or should we-"
"Why is everyone being such a chicken?" Nathan said. Cloud could agree, he just wanted to go down the hill as well and get everything over with.
"It's going to be a fun run, come on guys, let's go!" Nathan jumped into his inner tube and started sliding down the slope, laughing while going down. Everyone looked at Cloud who just smirked.
"Just go with it." He said, then started sliding himself. One by one, everybody went down the slope. Cloud looked around to see Red hanging onto Barret tightly before Vincent soon passed him.
"This is so fun!" Yuffie yelled, gaining speed with her skis.
"Onward!" Cait yelled, riding his giant mog on it stomach, holding onto its arms to steer.
"I want to go again!" Nathan yelled up front.
It wasn't long before things went wrong.
"We're coming into a turn, make a right!" Cloud yelled. Almost everyone nodded when he noticed Nathan trying to shift his tube with his weight, only for it to flop back down.
"Cloud! We have a problem, I can't steer!" He yelled. Cloud groaned. He went along side Nathan's tube and tried to push while riding down. But it was too late and both were sent through a completely different turn than the rest of the group.
"Shit Cloud we missed the turn!" Nathan yelled.
"We can still catch up just-" Before he could finish he was nearly rammed into by Tifa.
"What is happening?"
"Everyone is trying to turn back, but they keep going the wrong way!" Tifa yelled.
"Aw shit!" Nathan said. Soon enough Cloud was separated from the two and now turned onto a slope that had Barret and Red on one sled and Cid trying to slow down with his spear.
"Where the hell is everyone?" Cid yelled.
"Just keep trying to stay in groups!" However another turn came up and Cid used his spear at the wrong time and went down it. Cloud cursed and looked back at Barret and Red only to see them nearly miss a tree and go down another part of the hill. Cloud looked around to find only himself on this part of the hill. Cloud was sure everyone would meet up at the bottom, but now everyone was on completely different paths and only a few would end up in certain locations.
The whole group was lost now...they were all going to have to brave the snowy plains without certainty today.
Poll time! you have three votes on my page, who gets paired with Nate? any other pairs can be personally requested through your reviews, poll will close late thirday night! see you later.