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Enjoy the chapter!
When dawn arrived, it arrived hesitantly and full of trepidation. Its glow did not stretch across the sky with brilliant pastels, nor did it dye the dry land gold beneath it. Instead, it limped from cloud to cloud in tired smudges of gray and violet. Morning mist hugged the land. Trees cut ghostly silhouettes in the fog. Dew clung to spiderwebs like pearls, and Cloud couldn't help but squint at the ominous landscape, his blue eyes bleary with sleep, as he readied Rain for their long ride east.
Today was going to be a hard, exhausting day.
He just hoped that he was ready for it, and had just finished up packing his riding bags when he heard quiet footsteps approach the stable. It wasn't long after when Tifa peeked inside. A rough blanket was wrapped tightly around her shoulders, and her long hair spilled over its faded pattern as she slowly blinked at him, her tired mind struggling to catch up with what she was seeing.
"Leaving already?" she eventually murmured.
Her voice was rough with sleep, and it held such a mournful undercurrent – a lonely undercurrent – that something inside of Cloud cracked. Setting aside his canteen, he made his way towards her and gently wrapped her in his arms. "You should be asleep," he murmured as she folded into him, sighing with contentment. She was warm. Warm enough that he could feel the heat of her body through her blanket and his clothes, and he closed his eyes and rested his chin on top of her head. He suddenly felt a bit brittle. Fragile even, like he was a small cup of china resting o n the edge of a table, and one small bump could send him crashing down.
But he had shattered enough for single lifetime - more than enough, in fact - so he pressed a chaste kiss onto her forehead and slowly pulled away. Tifa made a faint noise of protest as he did so.
"What are you doing up," he continued, brushed a stray hair behind her ear. "It's early."
Too early, the sleep-deprived part of him complained as Tifa looked up at him. Her carmine eyes were dark and wandering, almost as if she was still lost in her wild, blue-sky dreams, but then she blinked and the fog in her expression cleared. "I wanted to say goodbye," she told him, tiredly, still waking up. A hand formed a fist into his shirt; the other was held behind her back. "And I also wanted… to give you something," she slowly added. "Before you leave."
Cloud arched an eyebrow. "Give me something?" And in reply, Tifa wordlessly pulled out the small paper bag that she had been hiding behind her back.
He glanced towards her, and it was only when she nodded did he open it. His eyes widened. "Chocolate?" he murmured, and looked up at her in confusion, struggling to comprehend. "How..."
A small smile curved her lips. "Do you like it?" she asked, then wrapped her arms around his waist and pulled him in. She buried her face in the soft fabric of shirt, and her voice was muffled when she added, "Thought you'd want some on the road."
She certainly wasn't wrong, but… "How?" Cloud repeated. "Where? When?" He couldn't fathom when she had boughten some. The nearest settlement was Rocket Town, and that was a half day's ride east – more so if the weather was bad, and he knew for a fact that she hadn't been out that way. She didn't have a horse, and she certainly didn't walk it. So… "How?" he asked again, incredulous. "When did you have the time..."
His voice trailed off, and Tifa chuckled at his perplexed expression. "Aerith gave me some yesterday," she explained. "She didn't think that Zack would share with you on the trail, so she had me deliver it in person."
"That was… generous of her," Cloud managed, sounding a bit strangled.
Far too generous. Chocolate wasn't just hard to come by… it was also expensive. A luxury that they couldn't afford. That Zack or Aerith couldn't afford either, for that matter, as they had a baby on the way.
"That's what I said, but she insisted," Tifa said when she suddenly yawned, eyes squeezed shut and one hand covering her mouth. The sky took on a rosy hue as it crept between the uneven rafters. "And," she continued, wiping her eyes, "I…. have something else for you, too."
Cloud's brow furrowed. "Something else?"
"That's right." Her gaze dropped down to his lips, and before he could react, she lifted herself onto her tiptoes and her lips brushed against his. Her lips were a shock of heat that sharply contrasted to the dewey, crisp air, and yet the touch was gentle... almost painfully so. It told him of all the reasons why he should stay, and reminded him of all the reasons why he needed to leave: to earn money for their home; for their future; for the chance at a better life. And when she grabbed the collar of his shift and pulled him down, they crushed together, two bodies intent to merge into one. Her smaller hands wrinkled his shirt and his larger hands splayed against her back, pulling her in. They held each other tightly. Desperately. As if they were holding the whole world together, and one slip could have everything fall apart around them.
Cloud wasn't sure who let go first.
All he knew was that his eyes were suddenly fluttering open and he tasted something bitter, something that reminded him of mornings waking up alone and open skies.
"Hurry back?" she asked him, a bit breathless. Her hands remained tight around his collar.
Cloud thickly swallowed, the bag of chocolate heavy in his hands. "I promise."
Silence descended upon them as they watched each other. The air between them became heavy and cold.
She let him go.
Rain was impatient to leave once she realized that they were riding to the Fair property, and had pawed the dirt while Cloud saddled her. Then, with final wave and heartfelt kiss to Tifa, they were off. Morning mist parted for them as they tore through the field. Stalks of grain, heavy with dew, brushed against them as they passed. Eventually the sun clawed its way above the jagged horizon, and the world glowed gold as if lit by a lamp: the trees were dipped in copper, the grain looked burnt instead of tan, and the wispy clouds high above had the same auburn shade as burning embers or smoldering coals. When the first birds began to sing to the sunrise, and Cloud had to adjust his hat to hide his smarting eyes.
It wasn't long until they reached the Fair property. Zack was already waiting for them in the pasture when they arrived, and saddled on top of charcoal-colored Spirit, he cut a striking figure against the landscape. The sun rose behind him, and his shadow stretched long across the rolling hill while the distant mountains cut unevenly into the pale sky.
"Mornin'," Zack called as Cloud got closer. Rain happily neighed when they approached, and Spirit enthusiastically snorted in return.
Cloud's dawn ride did a lot to help wake him up, but he still yawned and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. "Barely," he muttered, squinting at the pasture… and the herd of cattle grazing in its center. "Ready to earn some gil?"
Zack slowly exhaled. "Earning money, yes," he stated. "Ready for this ride... well, I suppose we'll find out." He turned in his saddle to get a better look at his herd, and though he was clearly just as tired as Cloud, his eyes were bright with excitement. "How long d'you think it'll take to reach Rocket Town?"
Cloud lifted his gaze towards the sky. The auburn shade was beginning to brighten as the sun rose higher, and he knew that the stifling, midday heat wouldn't be far behind it. It remained cold now though, almost uncomfortably so, and he shifted in the saddle as he said, "Probably half a day. If all goes well."
Zack snorted. "If all goes well," he repeated, like it was some sort of joke. "Well, we both know that it won't go well, so let's double it to one whole day."
"One and a half," Cloud countered, praying that he was wrong.
Zack chuckled. "One and a half," he agreed, albeit hesitantly, before he suddenly grew somber. He sat straighter in the saddle. Held the reins with a little more strength, and said, "Well, you ready or not?"
Cloud turned back to the herd and slowly exhaled. He wasn't sure if ready, was the right word, but…
"I'm ready," he said, and clicked his spurless boots against Rain's flank. She knew the order, and with a toss of her head – undoubtedly to show off her silky mane – she took off down one side of the herd. The cattle startled. They groaned as they climbed onto their feet, protesting every inch upward, but eventually pushed themselves in the direction Cloud wanted – East.
Zack worked the other side of the herd. He made sure that there were no stranglers, that the calves were keeping up and staying beside their mothers, and that none decided to wander too far the other direction. None did; all obediently moved eastward, though they loudly complained all the while.
And so began their long trip east.
The land east of the Fair property was arid and dry. With the exception of the few oak trees clawing towards the pastel sky, or the rolling hills that peaked out of the smoking morning, the landscape remained flat. Untouched. They stomped through the long grasses that grew out there, some so tall that they tickled Cloud's legs and streaked dew across his pants. There was also a new chill to the air, one caused by the lack of hills and a wide open sky. It was a chill so deep that Cloud shivered on the saddle, but he didn't mind; he knew that the moment the sun climbed a bit higher, the morning mist would burn away and they would all burn with it.
So he didn't complain as they drove the cattle to a dry riverbed. The riverbed's steep banks provided a natural wall, a pen to make sure the cattle continued moving in the direction they wanted. Cloud, as it was, ended up leading the herd. It was a position that he was most comfortable with; he had been something of a scout once upon a time, and now his piercing blue eyes scanned the landscape looking for any sort of life – friendly, or unfriendly.
Meanwhile, Zack trotted at the back of the herd. Here he could keep a better eye on the calves, which were slowly picking their way through the dry undergrowth that grew within the riverbed, and could also split his attention between the older members of the herd and the herd's flanks - just to make sure that none of the cattle got the idea that they'd be better off going a different way.
Eventually, the dry riverbed spilled into what had once been a lake, though now it was little more than a wide, stretching crater filled with rich earth and sharp, red stones that shifted uneasily with every step. Rain's hooves kicked up dust as she crushed fossilized seashells and tiny, bleached bones. Tall pillars of rusty, needle-like stones pointed skyward. Like the great marble columns of a cathedral, they seemed to hold up the domed sky while simultaneously trapping them beneath its pale, painted ceiling, and did very little to protect them from the sun that was rapidly ascending above them.
This was Cloud's least favorite stretch of the trip. Alone he could have passed through the section well before midday, but that just wasn't possible while driving the cattle. In fact, and he had no choice but further slow his pace until he was on one side of the herd and Zack was on the other. Together they carefully guided the cattle through the dead, rocky stretch of cracked earth, and Cloud squinted towards the horizon the entire while, struggling to make out the end of the lakebed. But they weren't quite there yet.
The blistering heat didn't help their slumping morale either. The sun, now shining high above them, baked the rusty gravel they trod over and the rusty stones shimmered with the intense heat. Sweat beaded on Cloud's forehead. He took a lengthy swig of his canteen as he kept his gaze focussed on the horizon, and even though he rationally knew that the distant mountains were a bit closer, they seemed just as distant and unreachable as ever. The thought had Cloud internally wilting. Yet the mountains now had some definition to their rocky faces; they weren't just jagged smudges of violet, but instead were stained with blacks, reds, yellows, and greens. Their white-capped peaks scraped against the clouds. Pine trees dusted their striking valleys and sloping hills, and he could just make out a waterfall spill down one of the mountain's many cliffs. A lake pooled beneath it, and from the lake spilled a river that snaked through the sharp crevice and disappeared behind a hill.
Cloud licked his dry, cracking lips. Rocket Town was somewhere near the base of the mountains; maybe a half-day ride away, or perhaps longer. They weren't yet close enough to make out the small town's red rooftops peeking above the sloping, green landscape, but they were close. Close enough that it warmed something with Cloud and he reached down into his saddlebag, meaning to grab some of the chocolate that Tifa had given him. An early celebration, he'd call it.
But, just as his fingers managed to undo the first clasp, he changed his mind and grabbed some dry fruits and nuts instead. The chocolate would taste better once they made it to town, the herd was in one of their pastures, and he wasn't on a saddle. Besides, he would hate to open it in this heat only for it to melt all over his hands.
"How much further?" Zack called from somewhere behind him. His voice sounded almost raspy – undoubtedly from the heat that currently smothered them, and Cloud turned just in time to see Zack take a long swig from his canteen. His other hand held a piece of dry jerky.
"We..." Cloud cleared his dry throat. "We should reach Rocket Town by sunset."
"And until we're out of this slice of hell?" Zack grumbled.
"Soon."
By mid-afternoon the rusty, hellish landscape gave way to far kinder, less rugged scenery. The loose gravel and rusty rocks collapsed into lush, hilly meadows. Leafy trees stood in place of the thin, pointed pillars that guarded the dry lakebed. Babbling brooks replaced the haunted melody of wind whistling through stone, and as they worked their way deeper into the hills, they came across a small stream trickling through a meadow.
This is where they took their first stop of the day. The cattle, sick and tired of walking, immediately took to the shade. They grazed on the grasses, drank from the river, and were overall as content as cattle could be. Rain happily shook herself when Cloud slid off of her… but while Rain continued to trot where she pleased and graze where she wished, Cloud just about collapsed right there. His knees were wobbly from the bumpy riding and his legs felt stiff and sore, and it took all of his concentration to stumble to a nearby tree and slide himself beneath it.
Gods, he hurt. He just about groaned when he stretched his legs fully out, and the heel of his boot dug into the soft earth as he arched his arms high above his head. Joints cracked. Everything creaked like he was an old chair carrying too much weight, and with a harsh exhale he let himself go limp on the ground.
"Well, someone looks comfortable," Zack smirked as he hobbled towards him, having left Spirit in the company of Rain. He grunted as he eased himself against the tree, and the back of his head dully thudded against its trunk as he leaned back and closed his eyes. "Remind me again," he said after a lengthy pause, "how you convinced me to ride all the way out here?"
Cloud huffed a breath. "Because," he managed after a lengthy pause, "I'm doing you a… favor." Lying sprawled as he was, he had the perfect view of the tree branches splaying proud above him. Sunlight peeked through the thick foliage and dappled the grasses, a splattering of golds and greens that danced with every breeze, every rustle, every bird that flitted from branch to branch. A cricket chirped. The stream tricked down the hill and spilled over its smooth stones, darkening their usually dull shades into rich hues of reds, blues, and violets.
A leaf drifted from one of the branches, and Cloud closed his eyes as it gently landed against his temple.
He wasn't sure when he had dozed off, but Rain nudging his shoulder shook him back to awareness. He blinked at the sky above, broken as it was with splayed branches and broad leaves, before he remembered where he was. With a stiff groan, he pushed himself onto his elbows. He hadn't been out long, maybe fifteen or twenty minutes at the most. Zack was similarly passed out against the tree beside him; his eyes were closed, his breathing was even, and his mouth was hanging open so wide that for a moment, Cloud considered dropping a cricket into it.
But he quickly pushed the thought aside; having Zack angry at him would only make their long ride longer.
"Zack," he croaked, his voice dry. And when he got no response, he said a little louder, "Zack."
Zack sighed, eyes still closed. "But Aerith..." he muttered.
Cloud scowled and, using the leftover water from his canteen, flicked it at Zack's face. Zack was awake in a moment, sputtering jackknifing upward in something of a panic…
… only narrow his eyes at Cloud, and the canteen he held.
"I ain't your wife," Cloud told him before Zack could get a word in. "Now git up."
Zack's gaze remained sharp before he sighed and, with what looked like monumental effort, pushed himself back onto his feet. He groaned as his legs accommodated his body weight.
"You've turned into a hard-ass, Strife," Zack said matter-of-factly as he hobbled towards his riding equipment, which was lying in a heap beneath some tree. "A bona fide hard-ass."
"You used to be worse," Cloud replied, just a sore as he shuffled his way to his own equipment. "Far worse."
Zack only grinned, because he knew that it was true. Back in their Ranger days, Zack really did whip all of the new recruits into shape – and, once upon a time, that had included Cloud as well. "It was good for you," he grunted as he stooped over his saddle-bags. "Built character."
"Built character," Cloud mockingly echoed as he repacked his bag, and checked that the chocolate was still safe and secure. He moved just as slowly and purposefully as Zack, if not more so as this was his second trip east in less than two weeks and his entire body screamed against it. "You almost killed me."
"Built character," was Zack's only reply.
It wasn't long before both horses, having drank and grazed to their liking, were once again prepared for the trip east. Thankfully the herd had stayed nearby while they had rested, and it was easy to round them back up and continue their cattle drive.
From here on out, the landscape remained relatively the same. There were no more dramatic shifts from golden prairie to rocky lakebed. No more stone structures holding up the sky. Just grassy hills, leafy trees, and somewhat cooler weather. Unlike on the Strife property, where the dry heat burnt the earth and dried out whatever grew on top of it, the small streams and brooks allowed the grasses to grow short and full. Taller weeds hugged the tree trunks. Mushrooms, all different colors and shapes, lined fallen trees and formed circles around broken stumps. The occasional flower dotted the path, and Cloud couldn't help but wonder if one would survive the trip back home – a flower would add some color to their dusty, brown house. Tifa would like it, too. She had always liked flowers.
Cloud shifted in his saddle, trying to ignore his sore ass and stiff legs. Maybe he could ask Aerith for some gardening tips. Growing flowers, after all, was an entirely different matter than growing grain. Grain grew easy; the rain watered it, the sun helped it grow, and all he had to do was cut it down and bundle it up when it was ready. But flowers… that was something else. Give them just one wrong look and they withered.
The image of him growing flowers, of all things, had him chuckling. If someone had come up to him ten years ago and told him that he'd be growing flowers…
… Well, he'd probably shoot them before they had the chance to ask.
The thought sobered him as the trail descended into a valley, and he pushed it out of mind when they reached a broad river. Yet while it was wide, it certainly wasn't very deep, and the horses had no trouble crossing. But even so, both Cloud and Zack had to carry the calves across, one at a time, until every single one had made it safely to the other side.
Cloud wrinkled his nose, knowing that he'd be smelling like cow for days.
By the time they made it across, the sun was hanging low in the sky – low enough that the heat had finally, fully faded away. The bugs had come out full force too, and Cloud wiped his brow and swatted mosquitoes as he squinted off to the distance. They were close to Rocket Town now, close enough that he could just make out the faint pricks of light emitting from the houses. The soft glow beckoned them forward, and even the cattle seemed eager as they made their way out of the valley and onto the flatter, tree-spotted grasslands that surrounded the town.
When they finally did arrive, Cloud pushed himself off of the saddle so quickly that spots floated in his vision for a moment. His legs felt stiff and sore, as did pretty much everything else, and he pressed his hands against the small of his back and arched himself backward, groaning as he felt his muscles pull and stretch with the motion. He nearly went lightheaded with how good it felt, to be standing on his own two legs instead of bouncing around on the saddle's hard leather.
"Reckon they got room for us?" Zack asked, walking just as gingerly as he was.
Cloud grunted his response and, with the vague motion to stay, hobbled his way towards the town's shared stable. One short negotiation with the stable-master later, who found Cloud's state and quick return to their town hysterical, the cattle were penned in a spare plot of land for the night and the horses were stabled and taken care of. Rain and Spirit were placed beside each other, of course.
With that taken care of, they made their way to the Shanghai Inn, a cozy place that also doubled as the town's bar.
The door creaked when Cloud pushed it open, and the floorboards groaned when he walked across its threshold. Unlike many of the bars, taverns, and saloons he had passed through during his travels, the Shanghai Inn was clean. Tidy. Cozy even, with a rug spread beneath the circular tables and the cheery fire crackling against the wall. It gave the room an almost smokey scent, one that blended nicely with the heady tang of drink and the hot meals steaming on every table.
But it was also busy this time of day. Bodies occupied nearly every chair, and mismatched companies pressed tightly together on shared tables. Revolvers were casually placed next to mugs of ale. Muddy boots remained firmly on the floor. Cloud's own boots squeaked against a sticky drink that someone had spilled earlier, and he was grateful for Zack's presence against his back as he picked his way towards the counter. Zack may be one of the most peaceful man that Cloud had ever met, but going off of the way people were staring, no one else seemed to know that – a small fact that Cloud was grateful for.
The bartender, an older woman with a suspicious gaze, looked them over with a practiced eye as they approached the counter. Yet when her attention landed on Cloud she paused, as if surprised, before her lips thinned with displeasure.
"You again," she dry greeted.
Cloud grinned crookedly. "Ma'am."
Her hard gaze flicked to Zack, and she pursed her lips as if further disappointed. "And I see that you brought a friend this time."
"That I did."
"Name's Zack," Zack greeted, subtly shifting his weight against the hard barstool. "I'm Cloud's neighbor."
The bartended only huffed, which strangely reminded Cloud of Rain… though he quickly shook his head to dispel the image. "Don't care," the bartender only said as she deftly poured the two men their drinks – she didn't even bother asking, not that either one of them complained. "You see," she continued as ale sloshed into the thick glass, "I get paid to serve you. Don't get paid to listen to yer life story, you hear me?" She moved onto the next mug, not even bothering to look up at them. "That costs extra."
Zack shot Cloud a nervous look, who only met his gaze and shrugged.
"And take yer hat off when indoors," the woman sharply added, and when both men complied, continued, "Your kind come out of th' open country thinkin' that basic manners no longer applies, don't you? Well, not here in my establishment." She gave the two of them a long, hard look. "I betcha didn't even wipe your boots off by the front door, did ya? Think it was fine dragging mud all over my nice rug?"
"We wiped them," Zack promised, almost a bit franticly. Cloud only took a long drink of ale and prayed that it did its job quickly and admirably. "We did, swear it."
The woman hummed, still staring, before she suddenly stood fully upright with a huff. "Well, good then. So you aren't total barbarians, I reckon. But enough of that." She leaned forward onto the bar counter, gaze piercing. "Am I correct that the two of you will be needin' dinner?"
"Yes ma'am," Zack said quickly.
"Alrighty then." The woman leaned back and wiped her hands down the front of her apron. "What will you two gentlemen be havin', then?"
Cloud nearly snorted. First they were barbarians, and now they were gentlemen? But he was wise enough not to comment, and only said, "Corn bread and the hashed beef for me, thank you."
"Same," Zack said, not even bothering to ask if they served anything else.
The woman huffed, and off she went. Zack leaned closer to Cloud the moment she was gone.
"Damn," he muttered under his breath. The wide rim of his hat shadowed his eyes. "Did we offend her, or somethin'? Did you offend her?"
"I think that's just the way she is," said Cloud, his voice just as low. He took another sip of the ale. It was room temperature and had a bite to it, but after their hard day, he didn't care at all. In fact, the moment he finished this one, he was determined to order another. At least until he couldn't feel how sore and tender his body was anymore. "Plus," he added under his breath, "I don't think she likes me."
Zack's cheeks blew out with his exhale. "Knew it," he said. "And why not?"
"I just have that sort of impression on people," Cloud said, as innocently as he could.
Zack shot him a long, dry look. "Why not really?" he asked, which had Cloud grinning into his mug of ale.
"Her husband..." He took a sip. "Well, he cheats at cards."
The corner of Zack's lip twitched into a smirk. "And you found out."
It wasn't a question, and Cloud's grinned broadened. "I did," was all he said, and then the bartender returned to the counter with two steaming plates in hand. There was no missing the glare she leveled Cloud with as she set his plate in front of him.
"Enjoy," she said, with the same tone as one said, Choke.
But Cloud only smiled sweetly in return. "Thank you."
She huffed and walked away.
"You best be careful eating that," Zack muttered as he grabbed his cornbread. It was light and airy, as good cornbread should be, yet not so delicate that it hopefully crumbled in his fingers. Taking a bite, he continued between mouthfuls, "You know… jus' in case she spit on it, or somethin'."
Cloud grinned as he did the same. "I don't mind," he replied, earning him an odd look from Zack. "At this point, it's just extra flavor."
Zack just about choked on his cornbread.
Cloud only laughed.
The meal came and went quickly, and it wasn't long before Zack and Cloud retired for the night. Tomorrow would be another hard day. Cloud intended to reach the base of the mountain range by tomorrow's sunset, the one that divided the continent right down the middle, and then begin the arduous task of actually crossing it the next day. It would be brutal, especially with the cattle. They would have to take their time crossing the steep passes.
Yet before Cloud turned in for the night, he made his way back to the stable, just to check up on Rain. He quickly realized that he had no need too. She and Spirit were already asleep, both leaning against their shared wall, though Rain did crack an eye open when he walked up. She snorted at him when Cloud stooped down to her level.
"They treatin' you right?" he murmured, reaching through the stable bars to rub Rain's head.
She snorted once more and closed her eyes, happy and content.
"Good." Cloud forced his stiff muscles to rise, and with a final, tired good night, he made his way back to the inn.
Only to go still as he ascended its short steps. He was familiar with Rocket Town's notice board, as he had ridden past it enough times this week to recognize every poster nailed into its hard wood. Yet there was a poster nailed that he did not recognize. It was a wanted poster, and a new one at that considering that its paper wasn't creased and its inky letters remained crisp and dark.
Usually, Cloud ignored the wanted posters. He didn't like looking at them, yet he couldn't help but stare at this one. Stare and go cold, because he recognized that face. He would recognize that face anywhere: that thin jaw, those narrowed eyes, the cruel twist to the mouth, the long, straight hair that fell right off of the portrait.
Sephiroth.
Cloud's breath stuttered past his lips, and the world seemed to go still as his gaze sank to the description. Reading wasn't his strong suit; never had been and never would, but he managed to pick through the words, one at a time, slowly stringing their meaning together.
Reward for the capture, dead or alive, of one Sephiroth H. Simmel, was the first phrase Cloud read. The second was the sizable reward, which was a staggering fifty thousand gil. And then, underneath the striking image of Sephiroth, was the phrase:
For robbery, murder, evading the law, and breaking out of the Midgar jail. Last scene heading westward. A handsome young man, standing at 6'1" with silver hair, green eyes, and light complexion. Fine dresser.
And then:
Had often been seen with his younger brother prior to his arrest.
Cloud's breath stammered, and he tore his gaze away. The sky seemed to have gotten darker, the clouds thicker, and the small hairs on the back of his neck lifted. Yet even though he had every intention of returning to the inn – every intention of going to bed and forgetting he had ever seen this damn poster – he couldn't. The inked letters snagged his attention and pulled it back to the tangled, barbed words, and he had no choice but to keep reading.
The above reward will be paid for the capture or positive proof of Sephiroth's death.
Then written below it:
The reward will be doubled for capture or positive proof of the brother's death as well.
For a moment, all Cloud could do was stare at the poster. Stare until his eyes burned and it felt like his chest was caving in, like a weight had fallen on top of it and was crushing him. But then it was replaced by fire; a fire that licked across his bones and scorched his skin, and for a wild, desperate moment, he wanted to rip the poster right off of the wall. Rip it off and then ride away, far away, to where nobody knew him. Where he would never see another wanted poster again.
But then he only exhaled. It was a weak, shaky exhale, but an exhale nonetheless, and it calmed him. He forced himself to turn away. Forced himself to ascend the inn's small steps. Forced himself to pass through the front door and then go to its second floor, leaving the conversation and chaos behind him in the tavern, and slip down the quiet hallway. The floorboards creaked beneath boots. The nightly breeze rattled the windows. Somewhere in the distance, a coyote laughed at the moon.
Cloud pushed open the door to his room. The walls were thin, and he could hear Zack's snoring as if he was in the room with him instead of two down the hall. He knew that he should be getting some sleep. Should kick off his boots, take off his belt, and relax for a moment. Tomorrow they needed to reach the mountain, and he knew that the wilds - and the monsters that called the wilds their home - would not make the trip easy.
Yet he remained rooted in place, staring blindly at the wall – and then through it, to a point that only he could see. It was only after some time did he begin to move again; but instead of towards the bed, as he should have, he instead cleaned his revolver. He removed the bullets. Oiled the joints. Made sure it was in perfect shape, and then he kept it within arm's reach as he eased himself onto the bed.
But he did not sleep. He only leaned against the wall, one arm resting on a bent knee and the other gentle against his pistol. His gaze remained out the window. The moon was bright, and the world was stained pale beneath its silver sky. Goosebumps peppered his arms.
He couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched.
So I've been replaying ff7 og (both for this story and my other fic, Halcyon Days), and once again I really noticed how the map doesn't really show what the landscape looks like? Like sure, we got our smudges of brown and various shades of greens, and even the occasional bushy forest, but it's still pretty bare. So I took some, ah, creative liberties while describing the landscape. Like, a lot of them. Hope no one minds lol
I'm also Rand0mSmil3z on Twitter - feel free to follow of you'd like to see chapter previews, or just to yell at me about the story lol. A link to my Ko-Fi is there as well if you'd like to support my writing via coffee (though of course, there is absolutely no pressure to do so - if you're happy with the story, then I'm happy :) )
Until next update - have an amazing week, and I wish you all the best :)
