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[xnotyetaherox.livejournal.com]

Characters: Denzel, Tifa, Cloud, Shelke and Eiko
Progress: Complete
Summary: Making his way to Treno
Location: Between Midgar and Treno
Date: January 1804
Warnings: None; other than a little pain



Denzel stared down at his Skyphone for a long time after his switched it off. Treno? He knew what direction to go in, which was a good start; but he wasn’t sure how long the journey would take or what he would meet along the way. He crouched down, emptying out the contents of his pockets – a piece of string, a few marbles, 3 gil, half a chocolate bar and a bottle top. All the things an eight-year-old boy needed for an adventure, except, of course, for a weapon.

He stuffed his belongings back into his pocket, as well as a handful of pebbles. He then pushed himself to his feet and exited the remains of the church, looking around in the moss and rubble for anything of use. Eventually, he curled his hand around a long, rusted, metal rod, freeing it from the debris. It wasn’t much, but it would work.

Weapon in hand, he gave the fallen Midgar ruins one last solemn glance before heading out. “Right… Treno…” He let out a sigh, looking up at the darkened sky. “I’ll see you soon… Cloud.” He began to jog along the plains towards the ominously dark city in the distance. It was darker and more miserable looking than his own Midgar. Where was the sun? Maybe it was night already?

He stayed in the shadow of the surrounding mountains as much as he was able to, not wanting to run into any unknown fiends. However, his luck soon ran out when he stumbled – quite literally – upon a Mandragora. A surprised gasp escaped him and his grip of that metal rod tightened as he struck the oversized vegetable with teeth over the head. He pushed himself to his feet and began to run as fast as his legs would carry him.

He ran, and ran, not pausing until he was inside the gates of Treno. Once safe, he slid down the wall, chest heaving as he panted hard, trying to catching his breath. As he began to calm down he was gripped by a sudden pain from both his head and his arm, causing him to double over, whimpering through gritted teeth. Blackness dripped from his wounds, damping the cobble stones beneath him. He had never had an attack of his stigma this bad.

Comments

[tinymakoaddict.livejournal.com]

Shelke almost smiled to herself at Cloud just scooping Denzel up mid-conversation and hauling him off to the spring. She was standing off to the side a bit, leaning her hand against the wall without even realizing it, but she suspected she could manage this on her own.

A quick survey had her removing her sword holster belt and setting it on the stone, and then her phone and such. A glance over at Tifa, just for a moment, her eyes considering before she turned to the spring and moved over to the edge, slipping down onto her rear and then sliding into the water. It wasn't quite as deep as she had expected, though it was still up to her chest on her tiny frame.

She sucked in a breath once she was adjusted to the water, and promptly disappeared beneath it. Splash!

[heartofheaven.livejournal.com]

Tifa stood by the side of the pool, watching anxiously. She was ready to jump in if there were any problems.

Would it work?

[lastsummoner.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, he died. But the black mages call it 'stopped.' They weren't made to last forever." For a child so young, Eiko had a rather decent handle on death and how it works.

And in contrast to her managing the concept of death, there was the prospect of a good swim in the hot spring. She took a running leap into the water with a loud squeal. Once in, she paddled around, and then started splashing everyone with it.

[xnotyetaherox.livejournal.com]

Denzel flailed as Cloud picked him up mid-conversation and took him into the water. He held onto Cloud tight with one arm, using his other hand to touch the water, scooping some up in his palm to trickle over his head, and more importantly over the stigma mark on his forehead.

He didn't particularly feel anything - other than wet. He splashed his most affected arm, frowning a little. "It's still black..."

He scrunched up his nose a little and wriggled out of Cloud's arms with a sad look on his face, but as Eiko began to splash everyone, he forced a smile, hiding his sadness and splashed her back.

[loveandstrife.livejournal.com]

Keeping an eye on Shelke as she slid in, Cloud managed to keep himself from holding onto her as well. However, the water wasn't working on Denzel and he didn't see any change in Shelke.

Sighing angrily at no one but himself, Cloud stepped past the children and pulled himself out of the water, moving towards Tifa.

"It didn't work. We'll have to try the Iifa Tree, like Aerith said." His voice would show how mad he was at Gaia for taking their children away from the Planet when there was no way for them to remain alive and well. No obvious way, at least. "We'll let them play for a while then see about getting to the Tree, okay?"

[heartofheaven.livejournal.com]

Tifa's heart sank when she heard Cloud's words. So they had come here for nothing. She nodded, smiling, though her eyes were bright with tears.

"Yeah."

Crouching down, she scooped some water into her palms, and drank. The water refreshed her - this spring certainly held some healing power. But not enough.

[tinymakoaddict.livejournal.com]

Shelke stayed under for a good thirty or forty seconds really. The water was...soothing, and she could feel the edge of what was probably magic tinging the edge of whatever the water was.

When she emerged a few moments later, shaking her hair free, she felt...better. More awake, more alert. But she didn't know if that meant she was better or if the spring had just revived her the way a night sleep would do, for a few minutes. She stood there in the water, considering it. And then she hauled herself up out of the water, standing on the edge dripping.

"I am not sure if it..." She frowned as a wave of dizziness hit, and nearly toppled back into the spring.

[heartofheaven.livejournal.com]

Tifa rushed forward and caught Shelke, though the girl might have righted herself anyway.

Hugging Shelke, she whispered, "It'll be all right. We'll go to the Iifa Tree."

[lastsummoner.livejournal.com]

Busy with playing and splashing, Eiko barely caught the disappointment of the people around her. But with Shelke slipping, she stopped splashing Denzel and let her fingers trail in the magic water. What were they saying about Iifa? There wasn't anything that special there except for Seymour's Farplane.

She would have offered some healing magic, but this spring was the best source of healing she knew, and if it didn't work... nothing in Gaia would. That sobered her a great deal, realizing that her two new friends were going to die from otherworld sicknesses. So Eiko sloshed through the water to Denzel and did what any kind, compassionate child in the same situation would do. Tugged his hair.

[xnotyetaherox.livejournal.com]

Denzel was feeling rather disappointed, but he didn't want to let it show. Especially since Shelke was putting on a brave face.

As Eiko tugged his hair, he once more flailed and let out a rather girly squeal. In return, he prodded the girl's horn.

[loveandstrife.livejournal.com]

Cloud rolled his eyes at Denzel's sound, shaking his head as he reached out and hoisted his son out of the water, holding him against one hip and offering his free hand to Eiko. He knew she didn't like being treated like a kid, and he knew the same from Shelke, so he'd treat her like a lady.

"Don't be mean to ladies, Denzel. She was playing," he muttered to his son, his eyes on the girl with the horn.

[lastsummoner.livejournal.com]

Eiko took Cloud's hand, pleased as punch at being treated like a lady. "Yeah, I use it to hear eidolons. It's like poking someone in the ear." However, being treated like a lady didn't stop the child from reaching out and punishing Denzel with a good tickle.

[heartofheaven.livejournal.com]

Tifa smiled at their antics, though it was difficult to find any humour in the situation. She squeezed Shelke's shoulder gently.

"So. Are we off now?"

[tinymakoaddict.livejournal.com]

Shelke involuntarily leaned into Tifa after she was caught, her eyes closed until she was sure the dizziness had passed.

"I don't think it worked," she said softly, probably not loud enough for anyone but Tifa to hear. She missed most of the antics between Eiko and Denzel, though by the time Eiko was tickling him, she had half-turned, a bit more sure of herself on her feet...though she's still grateful for Tifa's arms.

"It seems unnecessary to stay," she admitted reluctantly.

[xnotyetaherox.livejournal.com]

Denzel gave yet another huff as he was once more scooped up. He was being nice! He only poked her!! Yet het words were once more confusiong to him.

"Eidolons? What are they? I didn't mean to poke your special ear..." He curled an arm around Cloud, fully intent on staying right there in his arm, at least until that tickling started.

He wriggled out of the man's arm and ran ahead, trying to get away from those tickling fingers.

[loveandstrife.livejournal.com]

Sighing slightly, Cloud put his hands on their heads, trying to pull them both apart, making sure not to prod at Eiko's horn or Denzel's stigma. "Enough. We have to go."

He was stern. Perhaps harsher than he really needed to be but Cloud wanted to just have Denzel and Shelke well again. He wasn't going to wait around. Besides, he never was the best with children. More often than not, back home, it had seemed like Marlene was the adult and he was the child. Especially when she lectured him. Sometimes, Cloud could see both Aerith and Tifa in that little girl.

Stepping away, he looked to Shelke and Tifa. "Let's go. There's no point in waiting."

[lastsummoner.livejournal.com]

Eiko made a face at being scolded like a kid. What was with adults anyway? But remembering Mother's stern talk that 'ladies do not stick their tongues out at their elders', stopped her from doing just that.

The mention of leaving got her interest though. "You're going to the Iifa Tree?" She'd been paying close attention. "There's nothing there but Mist. And Guadosalam now, but that wasn't there before."

[heartofheaven.livejournal.com]

Tifa nodded at Cloud, starting to move off. She glanced back at Eiko.

"That's not all there is, Eiko, at least according to Aerith. The Lifestream is supposed to be there. It's the only chance we have left."