Glad this received some love! I finished up Endwalker and most of Dawntrail in the meantime. Lots of new ideas. I hope I can do this story justice.
oooo
Rattled
oooo
Taking a quick break from his work on the farm, Zack found a quiet spot to sit down and have his lunch.
He spread out a cloth on the grass and carefully placed the meal O'lhah had prepared for him. The aroma of freshly cooked food filled the air, making his stomach growl in anticipation.
He picked up a piece of bread and took a thoughtful bite, savoring the simple yet comforting taste.
Zack couldn't help but appreciate the homemade meals O'lhah and his daughter provided him with.
After years of Midgar's military rations, and then scrounging for whatever food they could find when they were on the run, it was nice to have a safe place with a good meal for a change.
As he ate, Zack's mind wandered.
He thought about the past weeks spent here, the conversations with Ar'Ho, and the kindness he had received from O'lhah and his family.
Zack turned his gaze toward the approaching footsteps and saw O'lhah carrying his own bundle of food.
"Mind if I join you?" O'lhah asked, smiling with his eyes.
Zack gestured to the empty space beside him with a warm, wide smile. "Of course, please do! I could use the company."
O'lhah settled down next to Zack, and they began to share their meal together, engaging in conversation.
"Feeling restless, of late?" O'lhah asked as he took bites of his lunch, a knowing grin on his face. "Don't look so surprised. You're pretty easy to read."
Zack chuckled at the observation and ran a hand through his hair. "I've heard that before."
"It makes for a great laborer." O'lhah continued, appreciative. "Honestly, with the way you've been going at it, I may well find myself taking my leisure for the week's remainder."
Zack playfully raised his hands. "Well, I did want to repay you for helping me recover..."
O'lhah nodded, his expression warm. "You've done that and more, my friend. Having you here has been a veritable boon."
Zack nodded, grateful for O'lhah's words.
The past few weeks had been an odd journey for him. Not only did he need to recover physically and mentally from his past experiences, but he also had to adapt to the peculiarities of this new world.
One thing was for certain: he had indeed crossed into a different realm. The existence of various races and the presence of magic without materia was undeniable proof of that fact. Even the floating crystals known as Aetherytes— considered by the people to be commonplace, if not difficult to use— boggled his mind.
Had anyone known about anything like this, the President would have attacked entire nations for it. Zack thought, feeling quite a bit of resentment. It certainly wouldn't be left to a random settlement in the middle of a forest.
Zack had refrained from approaching the crystals, sensing something odd emanating from them. However, he was beginning to entertain the idea of investigating further.
There was nothing to do, after all.
It was then that someone else approached them from behind Zack.
"Gods give me strength." O'lhah said, suppressing a sigh. "It's Andellet."
Zack turned his head to get a better look, recognizing the tall, lanky man with pointed ears.
As Zack understood it, this man was of the Elezen race.
And though O'lhah had spoken highly of them, he did not seem particularly enthused to see Andellet. Zack couldn't blame his friend.
The Elezen man exuded an aura of annoyance that was hard to ignore, and his presence disrupted the tranquil atmosphere of their lunch.
"Is something the matter, Andellet?" O'lhah asked, which seemed to annoy the man even further.
"I was hoping you could tell me, friend." Andellet said, taking a hostile stance. "I've noticed that several of my chickens have gone missing."
A moment passed before O'lhah set his food down, understanding where this was going. He shook his head. "And you believe that it was I who stole them, I presume."
Andellet said nothing, crossing his arms and giving his neighbor an expectant look.
Zack observed the situation, sensing the escalating conflict between the two men for a moment before he intervened, placing his meal aside and rising to meet Andellet's gaze.
Despite his never-ending surprise at the need to tilt his head upward to do so, Zack disregarded that thought and focused on calming both men down.
"Let's not jump to conclusions, here." Zack urged. "Could we, perhaps, investigate the situation together first? It might shed some light on what happened."
His suggestion injected a pause into the heated exchange between O'lhah and Andellet, as both men paused to consider the idea.
"Very well." Andellet accepted, though he still sent O'lhah a dirty look. "You may come, but not him."
Zack turned to O'lhah, who gave an aggravated shrug.
"Zack will prove my innocence." O'lhah said. "He's a good man."
Zack trailed behind Andellet as they made their way down the trail, eventually arriving at Andellet's farm, which appeared to be of a similar size to O'lhah's.
"My home." Andellet stated.
Zack took a moment to appreciate the surroundings before offering a polite comment. "It's a nice place."
Andellet, however, seemed more focused on the task at hand. "The chicken coop is this way."
He led the way without much acknowledgment of Zack's words. Shrugging, Zack followed, eager to assist in clearing his friend's good name.
As the two got to the chicken coop, Zack took his time inspecting the area, occasionally muttering to himself as he searched for any signs of disturbance.
He found none.
Andellet crossed his arms, looking increasingly smug.
Another minute passed, with no luck. Andellet, at that point, could no longer contain his impatience and finally spoke up. "Well, have you found anything suspicious, as of yet? Or are you just wasting my time?"
Zack didn't react to the provocation and continued his examination. "I'll need a bit more time to be thorough. Missing chickens could have a number of explanations."
Andellet huffed in frustration but let Zack continue.
"Did you notice anything unusual or suspicious around the coop recently?" Zack asked.
"I have not." He said as Zack finally noticed something odd. One of the wall planks was tilted slightly to the side.
Zack nudged it with his hand, shaking his head as it opened up a large gap, big enough for any predator to slip through.
"I think I've found the issue." Zack says, gesturing at the wall. "I can even see the faint scratches on it. Whatever did this was fairly stealthy."
Zack's discovery intrigued him, but Andellet remained stubborn. "That could be anyone's doing. Maybe you and O'lhah set this up to throw me off."
Zack sighed, growing frustrated with the man's accusations. "Look, I understand you're upset about your chickens, but we're just trying to help. If you don't want our assistance, that's fine, but don't accuse people without proof!"
Andellet took a step backward, surprised at Zack's vehemence. He looked like he was going to say something before he calmed himself down with a shake of the head.
"I offer my apologies." The man said, giving a bow. "It has been a grueling time for my family— this is the third time this moon that this has happened."
Zack raised his eyebrows. "The same thing, multiple times?"
Andellet nodded, and Zack could now tell that the farmer looked truly stressed.
He felt bad at misjudging the man. He probably wasn't a bad guy; just stressed about trying to keep his family fed.
Zack's empathy for Andellet grew as he realized the man's predicament. "I'm sorry to hear that. If it's happening repeatedly, maybe there's something more I can do to help you ."
Andellet sighed heavily. "I appreciate the offer, but it's been a perplexing situation."
"No worries." Zack claimed, pressing his thumb against his chest. "I can track things, no sweat!"
"No... Sweat?" Andellet seemed confused at the turn of phrase.
"Oh." Zack said, slightly embarrassed at the slip of the tongue. "It means that it'll be easy."
"Easy." Andellet mused, eyes lighting up in understanding. "Ah, so simple that you do not exert yourself, and therefore sweat?"
Zack nodded. People in this world really over complicated their language, didn't they? That was one of the biggest things he'd needed to acclimate to, here.
Focus.
"I'll be going now; these critters won't find themselves." Zack said. With that, he set off in search of animal tracks, leaving Andellet behind. It took him the better part of an hour of following the trail. He trekked through the woods, making sure to mark a few trees on his way so he knew how to navigate back to the farm.
Finally, he found where the tracks lead— a burrowing hole as large as he was tall.
Approaching the hole cautiously, Zack's senses were on high alert as he meticulously inspected the area.
The hole, dark and foreboding, loomed ahead, its entrance easily large enough for a large predator to enter and exit freely. He knelt down, taking a closer look, and observed every detail with great care.
The ground surrounding the hole bore clear signs of disturbance, with dirt and leaves scattered about haphazardly.
Several tufts of coarse fur lay strewn nearby, their colors a mix of brown and gray.
Feathers, once vibrant but now dulled and lifeless, were also scattered around, clearly indicating a fierce struggle had taken place at this location.
As Zack turned to leave, he was met with the shocking sight of a creature approaching him. It was unlike anything he had encountered before, a strange amalgamation of man and rodent features.
The creature's body was covered in coarse, mottled fur that ranged from muddy brown to dark gray, with patches of wiry, matted hair protruding from its hunched back.
It stood on two legs, but its limbs were more reminiscent of a rat than anything human. Its long, bony fingers ended in sharp, claw-like nails that glinted ominously in the dappled forest light.
What struck Zack most were the creature's facial features. It had beady, obsidian eyes that gleamed with intelligence, set deep within a grotesque rat-like snout filled with yellowed, jagged teeth.
Its pointed ears twitched with every rustling leaf, as if constantly on alert.
The creature was clothed in crude leather that looked to be sewn together from various animal hides. This bizarre attire made Zack question whether the creature possessed a level of sentience beyond that of a mere beast.
With each step it took, the creature's gaze remained fixed on Zack, revealing nothing of its intentions.
In a swift attempt to communicate with it, Zack made a sudden gesture, but before any words could escape his lips, the creature lunged at him with alarming speed.
Reflexively, Zack tried to evade the attack, but to his unpleasant surprise, his legs remained immobilized.
Glancing downward in alarm, Zack discovered that another one of these rat beasts had clamped onto his ankles with a surprisingly strong grip.
Its sharp claws dug into his skin, preventing any movement. Trapped and vulnerable, Zack would have been easy pickings, had he been anyone else.
With a quick and calculated motion, Zack drew his small work knife and plunged it into the neck of his attacker just as it reached him.
The rat-like creature emitted a high-pitched shriek, blood spurting from the wound, and attempted to slash Zack's throat.
Zack intercepted its arm and expertly used its momentum to throw the creature into a nearby tree. The impact was forceful, causing the branches to jitter from the collision, dropping a few leaves in the process.
Turning his attention to the second beast that had been trying to attack him from below, Zack quickly assessed the situation.
With impressive strength, Zack lifted one leg, ripping the rat-like creature out of the ground.
Realizing its predicament, the beast immediately let go of Zack's ankles and attempted to dive into the hole it had just popped out of.
Oh, no you don't.
Before it had a chance to escape, Zack grabbed hold of its hind leg and pulled it up. Using the new momentum of its rise, he plunged his fist into the back of the monster's skull, driving it back into the ground and filling the air with the sound of bone being crushed.
The creature convulsed for a few moments before going limp.
Zack was left standing victorious over his fallen adversaries.
Breathing heavily, he took a moment to collect himself, surrounded by the silence of the forest once more.
That fight had been slightly more difficult than Zack had anticipated. It seemed he hadn't recovered nearly as well as he had hoped.
As he was right now, he wasn't sure he could go up against half of what he normally could… No, three quarters.
Zack shook his head. Focus.
He checked himself over, noting that the worst injury had been a few scratches on his ankles, but nothing serious.
He would, however, need to fix his pants bottom, torn up as they were by his enemy's claws.
"Hopefully O'lhah won't be too annoyed by this..." Zack muttered.
Zack examined the corpses of the rat-like creatures and sighed. He needed to find some evidence to back up his story for Andellet. As he carefully inspected them, thoughts raced through his mind.
Maybe I should collect a sample of their fur or claws as evidence. Zack thought. That might convince him that I had to fight these things.
A moment later, he shook his head. Andellet was too suspicious for that sort of thing.
With the decision made, Zack hoisted one of the creatures onto his shoulder and began his journey back to Andellet's farm. The weight was significant, but he was determined to prove O'lhah's innocence.
The trek back was a bit cumbersome, but Zack ignored his discomfort. It wasn't the first time he had to hoof it while weighed down, after all.
Twenty minutes passed before he approached the farm again.
"It's about time you returned. Have you made any—" Andellet greeted him from a distance but stopped halfway at the sight of what he was lugging around.
Zack approached Andellet with the slain rat-like creature slung over his shoulder, its lifeless body a testament to the recent struggle.
He noticed the mixed expression of surprise on Andellet's face as he took it all in.
"I figured you'd need proof." Zack said, his tone firm but not confrontational. He gently lowered the creature to the ground, careful not to damage it further. "These things were the cause of your missing chickens."
Andellet examined the creature for a moment, clearly taken aback by Zack's determination and the evidence he had provided.
The farmer's initial suspicion began to wane as he considered the situation.
"I... I didn't expect you to bring anything back." Andellet admitted, his voice tinged with surprise, and then remorse. He gave Zack a bow. "You have my apologies for doubting you earlier."
Zack nodded in understanding. "No hard feelings. Let's just get this sorted out."
With the evidence presented, Zack hoped that the misunderstanding could be resolved, and O'lhah's innocence would be clear to everyone.
"Of course." Andellet said, kneeling by the corpse in amazement, which then turned to dismay. "To think that the Qiqirn have come all the way here..."
"Qiqirn?" Zack repeated.
"The creature you have slain."
Zack leaned in for a closer look at the creature, intrigued by the name. "Qiqirn, huh? I take it that they're not common around these parts?"
Andellet sighed as he examined the creature's features, shaking his head. "They are not. They usually keep to themselves in the East and South, scavenging and hunting. What could bring one so far from its home?"
"Well, there were two…"
Andellet's face swiveled to him in surprise. "Truly?"
Zack only nodded in response, ignoring the light sting in his ankles. "Well, at any rate. That will hopefully be the last of your troubles."
Andellet nodded in agreement. "Indeed. Thank you for your help, Zack. You've proven yourself a true friend."
Zack smiled, relieved that the misunderstanding was resolved. "No problem at all. I'm just glad we could figure this out."
But Andellet didn't seem satisfied with that. "Ah, would you mind waiting here for a moment?"
Zack watched as the man went back inside his home, coming back out a minute later with a leather pouch.
"I know it's not enough to repay you for your efforts, but please." He raised the pouch and Zack heard the jingle of coin. "Take it."
Zack was surprised by this, and raised his hands. "No, it's fine, you don't have to—"
"I insist."
"But..." Zack said and pointed at the chicken coop. "You already lost your chickens! I can't, in good conscience, take this. How will you feed your family?"
Andellet shook his head and pointed to the dead Qiqirn still at Zack's feet. "This one will be of value."
"You can't be serious." Zack said. "You're going to eat it?"
At that, Andellet balked before letting out a surprisingly deep chuckle.
"Of course not!"
"Then..."
"Their claws, fur, and organs." Andellet said simply.
Zack raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Their claws, fur, and… parts? What for?"
Andellet's smile turned into a knowing grin.
"Trade, my friend." He said as he lifted the creature's leg, showing its long claws. "These can be exchanged for some useful goods, or even gil in our village."
Zack nodded in understanding. "I see, so they have some value after all."
Andellet got up and patted Zack on the shoulder. "Indeed, and your help today will ensure we have quite a bit to trade with. It's a tough life out here in the Twelveswood, and every bit helps."
Zack nodded in understanding.
"You said that you were forced to engage another one, as well?"
"Yes. It's a bit of a walk from here." Zack replied, gesturing in its general direction. "I marked the trees on my way there. Want me to go fetch it?"
"Oh, no. That won't be necessary— I've imposed on you long enough." Andellet said, smiling in reassurance. "Go on to O'lhah, and please send my apologies, won't you? I'll take care of this, Zack."
"All right. Stay safe out there." Zack said.
And so it was that he bid the man farewell and made his way back to O'lhah's farmstead. The stinging sensation in his ankles had gradually faded as he traversed the forest trail, his footsteps crunching softly on the carpet of gravel and fallen leaves.
The chorus of birdsong and rustling branches provided a soothing soundtrack to his thoughts.
He couldn't help but ponder the recent events. He reflected on the encounter with the Qiqirn.
The forest held many secrets, and it seemed he was only beginning to scratch the surface of this new world's mysteries.
More than that, he was still fairly weak. He still needed to recover, but he didn't know what was wrong with him.
Oh, O'lhah said that he was as fit as a Chocobo in its prime, but the man didn't know what Zack was truly capable of. O'lhah didn't understand just how weakened he was right now.
Uncertainty clung to him, but a resolute determination burned within his heart. He had confronted the unknown countless times before and had always emerged stronger and wiser.
He would do the same here.
Zack approached O'lhah, who was diligently working on the front steps of his house, replacing the weathered wood. The sound of nails being driven into place echoed in the air.
"Need any help?" Zack asked, offering his assistance as he approached.
The farmer looked up, his eyes filled with surprise and warmth at Zack's return.
"Ah, you've returned!" O'lhah exclaimed, setting aside his tools and rising from his crouched position.
Zack offered a friendly smile. "Yeah, just got back. You look like you could use a hand."
O'lhah wiped some sweat from his brow.
"I appreciate the offer, lad, but I'm nearly finished here." He said, gesturing toward a plank that had been nearly split down the middle. "This old thing was on its last legs. No need to risk anyone's safety."
Zack nodded, understanding the logic. "Alright, then. If you're sure."
"Of course. You're already working very hard." O'lhah said, waving his words off. "Speaking of which, what news of Andellet?"
Zack hesitated for a moment before deciding to share the story of the encounter with the Qiqirn. O'lhah listened attentively, nodding at various points during the tale.
"Sounds like quite the adventure." O'lhah commented when Zack finished. "You have quite the knack for finding trouble, it seems."
Zack chuckled. "It seems trouble has a way of finding me too."
O'lhah grinned. "Well, you've certainly earned your keep today. Thanks for looking out for our neighbor."
Zack waved it off. "No problem. Just doing what I can to help."
A moment later, Zack held up the pouch full of Gil which Andellet had given him. "Here."
O'lhah took the pouch curiously. "What's this?"
"The payment Andellet gave me for dealing with the problem." Zack said, shrugging. "He insisted."
"Did he now?" O'lhah said, somewhat amused. Opening it, he whistled. "This is quite the sum."
"It is?" Zack asked, curious as he leaned over to stare, counting up the coins. "Three hundred?"
"A bit higher, but yes." O'lhah confirmed. "Enough to eat well for a week."
"Good." Zack nodded as he moved back again, but O'lhah didn't let him, instead grabbing him by the wrist and forcing his palm up.
He pushed the pouch back into Zack's hand. "No. I must insist that you take this."
"I can't." Zack shook his head, trying to pull his arm back, but O'lhah tightened his grip, not letting go.
"No, lad." O'lhah said firmly, refusing to take no for an answer. "You've earned this. Besides, I can tell you're the sort to look for adventure. When that time comes..."
"O'lhah." Zack began, trying to protest. "I really appreciate what you're trying to do, but—"
"There's no need to deny it, lad." O'lhah interrupted with a reassuring smile. "You've already paid me back ten times over just by the work you've done around the farm. Consider this payment for your labor and for helping us even when your debt to us was paid."
Zack sighed, realizing that O'lhah's determination was unwavering. "Alright, if you insist. Thanks, O'lhah."
"You're most welcome, Zack." O'lhah replied warmly, finally letting go. Suddenly, his face turned grave. "Now, if you're up for it, there is something I could use your help with."
Zack raised an eyebrow, curious and perturbed by the shift in the man's demeanor. "Oh? What is it?"
"Well, you see..." O'lhah paused for a moment as his voice dropped. "Ar'Ho wishes to attempt to cook for you again."
Zack's eyes widened, recalling the last culinary adventure he had with Ar'Ho. It had been an… interesting experience, to say the least.
He wasn't going to sugarcoat things. The food had been dismal, but he couldn't bear the thought of hurting her feelings, so he had lied about enjoying the meal.
Just thinking about it made him shudder involuntarily.
"Say no more." Zack said with a determined expression, slapping his fist into his palm. He headed towards the front door of the house. "I'll be her assistant, no problem."
As he entered the house, he was greeted by Ar'Ho's excited and cheerful voice, making him smile.
SOLDIER First Class Zack, on the job!
oooo
Ar'Ho is such a cutie, isn't she.
oooo
To those who wish to remain anonymous, thank you!
A big thanks to Caroline, Deanna, Fabled_Redacted, Harrison, Jake, James, Jared, Jess, Joe, Mac, Marick, Moss, Xen for being Acolyte Supporters!
An extra thanks to Alan, Asibo, Johannes, Miles, Richard for being Mage Supporters!
Connor, Sayainprince, christopher! Thank you so much for being Somnian Remnants. The world fears you! I hope your confidence in me is well-founded.
A super thanks to my Alo-Ra supporters: the Big Bloodthirsty Bastard — Mand'alor; Myth the Shol'va, who probably grew his beard back a little; Mael, the Overman; The Second Primarch; Carson; Halfrican; Julie; Logan; Peter; ProfoundMagician; TheBerryMan; Trevor; Troy; Zirfala; sketerpot; suspicious.
And last but most certainly not least, my undying gratitude to my Dreamweaver supporters: Selminth; Adrian; Indigo; Juan; Zogio; Óisín. I am immensely grateful to you for believing in me. I won't forget it.
If you wish to become a supporter: "ZeroRewind", site-which-must-not-be-named. Go.
Or, you can use the following link.
linktr. ee/zerorewind