Taken (Semi-closed) (On Hiatus)

[K'nahli]

OOC Note:

 

 

This scene is mostly closed but if you think your character really can be an addition to the scene then please send me a message over the forum and I will see if it can be made to work ^^

 

 

The overcast, morning sky cast a dull and monochromatic shade of grey down upon the northern reaches of the Black Shroud this particular day. It's comparatively weaker and lifeless screen failed to subdue much of the rebelling forest's rich vibrance, though to the observer, the normally-beautiful scenery of which the land had to offer had been somewhat robbed of it's striking, emerald luster. Enormous, oaken branches croaked and groaned far overhead as a fresh breeze challenged the large canopies that sheltered the humble travelers below, rustling the many thousands of leaves which decorated their length and creating a swishing sound that mimicked that of small waves charging toward a sandy coastline. 

 

Andre's eyes slowly drew open as the sounds stole him from his shallow slumber. His afflicted vision painted a hazy replica of the majestic trees and lush shrubbery that he had become so accustomed to seeing from his many walks throughout these lands. He allowed himself a long and slow blink to clear his freshly-awoken vision before having a brief glance about his surroundings. It took only a moment for him to identify where they were as the caravan made a turn to begin it's ascent up a moderate incline. A small smile formed over his sleepy expression. There were close to home now, to Gridania.

 

 

Another chilling front of air raced over the domes of greenery above, disturbing the frail leaves that rustled nervously in response, and in turn, cautioned toward the wind's growing strength. Though the chill had yet to reach far enough down through the naturally-insulated woodland to be felt by the travelers, the sound alone caused the young hyur to unconsciously reach up toward his collar and draw it protectively higher over his neck.

He focused his sights forward now, his eyes briefly scanning over the others in his presence. Though his hasty retreat to sleep had deprived him of any real conversation with the other occupants, he could recognise at least one or two faces. The few that remained traveling with them at this point were mostly quiet; a thought, in fact, that led the young male to tilt his head sideward in search of his traveling companion, Clover Blake. As could have been guessed, the girl was also lost in her own thoughts, her eyes reaching up towards the breaks in the leafy branches above to where the dreary sky leered back down at her. He watched her for a short moment with idle curiosity as a softer and more modest smile slowly reappeared, briefly taking over his expression before he, too, drew his gaze upward, out past the fabric covering of the caravan and toward the unwelcoming sky above.

 

Though it were difficult to confirm from within the forest, a storm was undoubtedly approaching.

[Clover]

Clover had spent most of the trip with her back turned to everyone else, a leg half resting on her seat as she stared at the changing scenery. It was a familiar path, full of familiar colours she never got tired of. Brown to green, sometimes blue, sometimes grey. The sky was the sad shade today, though nostalgia hit the same no matter what the weather.

 

"This is where you saved me," she mentioned suddenly when the carriage crossed a certain spot, breaking the silence that had travelled with them. That was one of her memories; one that hadn't hurt so far. It couldn't. Not when she could simply turn her eyes to the side and find the same warrior there, as if time hadn't passed. And she did, smiling lightly at him. Had she been traveling on her own, she wouldn't have dared to even take a peek at her side.

[S'imba]

S'imba couldn't help but smile to himself as he sat on the seat of the caravan.  He had no idea what had possessed him to jump on right before it was about to leave. He had been terrified that he someone would have discovered what he was doing and that he would end up being drug back to Ul'dah and continue living that unending nightmare.  

 

Miraculously he had made it to the Shroud he had looked to a few of the other passengers nodding at the ones who made eye contact with him, before turning his attention to look at the forest surrounding him.  He had never seen anything like it before in his life, the cool air felt against his skin was a welcome change to the punishing sun of Thanalan.  He admired the trees around him amazed that anything could grow that big.  

 

He gave a sigh of satisfaction before sitting back and listening to the small tidbits of conversation the other passengers were occasionally having.  Things were finally looking up for young S'imba.

[Siha]

The blonde Miqo'te woman sat quietly with her hands neatly clasped around the simple crook in her lap, knuckles white over it as the caravan jerked at each bump or disruption in the path in front of it. Her brown hat was pulled low, obscuring the violet eyes that watched the ground pass beneath her hanging legs, normally she would have done anything she could to look around in awe at the trees around her but with the circumstances of her trip she felt it more prudent to keep herself as small a target as possible. She was in the Shroud to study Conjury yes, but she was also there to hide, this time she'd had no choice and her lips tightened at the thought of how futile her protests had been on the matter.

 

A particular rough patch finally brought her attention up, the leaves rustling ominously above them and warning of a storm, she was used to rain but never as much as happened here in the Shroud. Her eyes searched the muted leaves for glimpses of the grey skies and she let out a soft hint of a sigh, if only she could have had Kahn'a here with her to show her around, but she knew he was busy with his duties in Ul'dah and it wasn't his place to escort her around whenever she felt the need for his comforting presence. The same went for the others she'd left back home and she briefly catalogued their faces in her minds eye, eyes closing and looking away from the dreary clouds overhead. The chill hadn't affected her yet, her long robe doing a good job of chasing most of the chill away, the brown leather quite warm.

 

When she opened her eyes again her fingers idly brushed at the feathers at the end of her crook while she looked around, she didn't know any of the people that had boarded the caravan with her. To even get on had been a last minute decision, but traveling along with a group was just safer, even if she hadn't been under the circumstances she was it was just safer to travel in a group. A pack. Her eyes danced over a pair of Hyur, the female briefly speaking, before she met the eyes of another Miqo'te and then looked away again to her lap. It seemed most of them were perfectly content to stay silent and for once so was she, best she not meet anyone if she could avoid it for now, maybe when they got to Gridania...maybe.

[S'imba]

Leans forward taking a more careful examination of individuals that seemed to stand out to him.  The two Hyur who were engaged in conversation.  Then he returns his attention to the female Miqo'te.  Noticing her white hands he stares at her a moment taking in her overall appearance before asking. "Are you all right?" Even though he knew better then to draw attention to himself. He never could stand to see anyone in distress and not do something.

[Siha]

Her eyes were studying the designs and flaws along the surface of her coat when she heard a voice sound to her side and she jumped just slightly, one of her hands releasing her staff to clamp onto the edge of the cart. She looked up quickly, glancing over the male Miqo'te, his voice held sincere concern and she swallowed, smiling in both an apolgetic yet appreciative way. It looked like no matter what she'd resolved herself to she was going to get a conversation before their arrival, she nodded to him, thick lashes dropping to half lid her eyes as she glanced to her lap and eased her white handed grip on her staff.

 

"C-Cart rides make me a bit nervous, but I'm alright" she reassured him and then shifted in her seat so she could look over at him. She reluctantly removed her hand from the edge of the cart and offered it to him, "Siha," she introduced quietly and smiled softer now, her eyes warmer now that she had a distracting from her racing thoughts. She glanced to the side for a brief moment, towards the direction they were going, "Looks like we're both headed to Gridania, it's my first time" she admitted and patted her staff with the hand holding it to denote her own reason for going there. Her head tilted curiously, wondering if it would be rude to ask him why he was heading there himself, in the end she decided it was best not to. If he wanted to tell her then he would.

[S'imba]

S'imba gave a little grin as she jumped in surprise before leaning forward a little and resting his arms on his legs, assuming a posture to listen to her words better. "Nice to meet you Shia, I'm S'imba" he would reply. Then looking around to the scenery around him he looked back to her.

 

"This is the first the I've ever seen a forest. I've heard about it from the adventurers who come to the quicksand though I'd never believed it would be this amazing." He would say eyes beaming with excitement and face breaking into a childish grin. He could barely sit still the more he talked the more excited he was to be here in the Shroud.  He looked back towards Thanalan and what he was leaving behind he turns back to her tears of joy in his eyes. "I'm so happy to finally escape that place!" He said before wiping his eyes dry.

 

He then looked to the staff she was holding and looking to her in amazement. "Are you a healer?" He would ask he always had a great respect to those who knew how to mend a broken body. "Are you going to become a white mage?" He was always to curious for his own good.

[Melodia]

Ruru looked at the others in the caravan quietly, a touch a smile hitting him listening to the others as they talked. He always found himself in a similar state when he went to the Shroud, as his native Ul'dah roots would always cause him to be impressed by the lush greenery the scene offered. He glanced out and sighed. It had been a busy period for him and taking a few days away from Limsa Lominsa to visit the Archers Guild in Gridania was something he was looking forward to.

 

He allowed the smile to finally take over and he closed his eye, taking in the scent of the woods and leaning back a bit, relaxing and enjoying the ride.

[K'nahli]

The girl's words came softly, arriving in the quieter moments between the rustling, gusts of wind with a natural delicacy that blended fittingly with the humble sounds of the forest's stirring fauna. Andre blinked slowly, his eyes still not detaching themselves from the greyed blanket that lay beyond the entangled greenery above. Clover's sudden comment, that she broke her silence so unexpectedly alone, was enough to cause him to hesitate, uncertain if he had merely mistaken the voices of the other passengers for her; though when her words indeed sank in, it would be the context of which that'd especially catch the blonde hyur by surprise.

 

Even through his thick hair, the tiny splinters that laced the sun-bleached wood on the back of his seat, on which his head had been resting, managed to cause a prickly sensation as he tilted his head slightly until he found himself looking at the girl as she, in turn, returned his gaze with a gentle smile. He paused for a second as he reflected on her words, a smile of his own eventually following before, shyly, he lowered his gaze down to the caravan floor and then took his glance forward into the direction of the other passengers, his eyes, however, looking beyond them as he searched his thoughts for a fitting reply.

 

"You..." he tried to speak, though was stopped mid-sentence as a wider and perhaps noticeably-more, embarrassed smile formed over his features. It was not the first time that she had reminded him of that memory - a memory that somehow felt like it had been drawn from a time long past - nor did he believe that dismissing it as something insignificant would work with her. Though, to him it wasn't modesty... at least he didn't believe it to be. It was his duty as a warrior, as a person, to assist; no less than it was of the Wailers of whom had also been present.

 

"....did more rescuing than I" he finally continued with half a laugh, still struggling to speak freely on the matter. He waited a moment before allowing his sapphire eyes return and meet with Clover's, seeking to quietly assure his sincerity and appreciation with a simple exchange of eye contact. A thought of mild relation crossed his mind as he looked at her; though embarrassed as being indirectly commended had made him, such words would never make it as far as his lips.

[Clover]

It was like she already knew what he'd say. Andre had always been a very humble hyur, always trying to hide from any sort of recognition. Even with his side open from an Ixal's blade, he'd still try to reassure everyone that he'd done nothing worth mentioning. That day, Clover did nothing but heal his wounds, while he bled for every passenger in the carriage. And yet...

 

(Andre will always be Andre.)

 

Her smile didn't disappear just yet. She looked at him for another moment, silent, before her gaze returned to the green scenery of the Black Shroud. If she hadn't met Andre that time, perhaps she wouldn't be traveling today.

 

"It was a good day in the end," she added afterwards, and said nothing more.

[Siha]

The lie hadn't been intentional to the young male but it was best this way, she had been to Gridania only a few times and never beyond the Carline Canopy when she was there. Here she had met C'kayah, a fond memory, and then here she had also learned of the sickness that had sent her into a spiral of fear and doubt she'd thought she'd never climb out from. She had though and it sparked a flame of pride within her that made her smile all the more bright when she returned the enthusiastic one of the boy next to her. "Yes, it is quite amazing, I can't believe it rains so much here...f-from what I've heard anyways" she mumbled and cleared her throat, violet eyes jumping towards the road behind them.

 

The tears of joy in his eyes when she looked back surprised her and concern rippled across her face before she spoke and she smiled gently, her hand starting to reach out before she stopped herself. She couldn't just touch strangers, she had to mentally chastise herself, being friendly right now was something she wasn't supposed to do and touching implied familiarity. She couldn't have that right now. She swallowed the feelings that rose in her belly and forced a smile at him, "Well you have very much escaped, Gridania is nothing like Ul'dah" she said reassuringly and nodded at him, offering what comfort she could.

 

His question had her clamping her hand tightly on the staff in her lap again and she looked down to it, studying the grooves in the wood. "I...well I do quite a few things, I'm trying to discipline myself in all aspects of aether, but yes. I do heal, it comes in handy to know" she said softly. She didn't mention that it was nearly essential for her to know with the way her luck ran, now was not the time to mope, things would get better and focusing on her studying was supposed to distract her anyways. That was the whole reason she came wasn't it? Her face was uncertain and she barely caught his last question, shaking her head and pulling her eyes from the staff, "Wha-, Oh, um...well I don't think I could ever become a White Mage, but I'd love to become very good at Conjury, I've always been fascinated with the raw connection to nature that it holds. It's very different from the ways of Arcanima" she answered finally with a small smile and shrug.

 

"Are you here just to get away from Ul'dah? Or are you planning to learn from one of the Guilds?"

[S'imba]

Smiles softly as he turns his head to listen to the other voices in the caravan reflecting on her words. "Arcanima" He asks not knowing very much about magic.

 

He looks forward toward where they were going.  "I'm just trying to escape Ul'dah mostly." he remarks looking to his wrists examining the scars that remained there. Quickly shifting his hands trying to hide them from any prying eyes.  He didn't want to draw any attention to what he was running from.  Still it was impossible to hide the collar that was bolted around his neck.  At this thought he couldn't stop himself reaching up and touching it wondering how he was going to get it off, once he was officially safe.  

 

He then goes continues "I can fight I want to become an adventurer see the world."  He looks around again thinking about the stories he's heard about it and everything in it.  "I don't think I could be more excited!" 

[Melodia]

Hearing the words, "I'm just trying to escape Ul'dah mostly," makes Ruru smile and he nods, speaking in a low voice, directing his words to the man. "Trying to escaping Ul'dah....aren't we all?"

 

He furrows his brow a bit, slightly rubbing the eyepatch he wore and looked at the man somberly. "Trouble with Ul'dah is, city has a way of dragging you back whether you want to go or not." He laughed softly at the irony of his own situation. "I've escaped twice myself...and this is currently the third attempt. A better prison Eorzea could not have made, in my opinion."

 

He realized he hadn't introduced himself and didn't want to be rude. And yet he didn't want to put himself at risk. "The name is Vivikuso. Vivi for short." He remembered his lessons in Limsa well, giving the false name as he smiled.

[S'imba]

The lalafell's words struck S'imba harder then he expected.  He looked back toward the city a frown breaking his face. He didn't bother introducing himself he had assumed he would have heard his name.

 

He looked back to the lalafell his ears falling slightly.  "Third time?" He asks "What are you running from?" He was always to nosy for his own good and was hoping the answer would be different enough from his own flight he would be able to take comfort that his chances would be slightly better.

[Melodia]

He smiled softly with a touch of pain and sighed before he answered. "Myself. My past. My friends. Take your pick. Any answer is applicable. But don't despair...my pains are my chains and they are my own in the case of Ul'dah. You may be luckier than me."

 

He looked out again and then back. "I am excited to be going back to the Shroud, though. I spent months there and it's such a beautiful place. I miss it at times. Everything was simpler then."

[S'imba]

"I can only hope" S'imba replies before once again glancing back toward Thanalan as if expecting someone to be persuing him.  Now that he thought about it he realized it had been to easy.  He now became a little more restless and shifted in his seat tapping his finger on his leg.

 

Trying to take his mind off of it he returns his attention back to the female momentarily before going silent trying to stave off his growing paranoia.

[Siha]

The blonde fell silent as the man spoke, her violet eyes watching him with concern appearing in them despite her earlier reservations not to get involved with any of the passengers. Thick, dark, lashes shaded her eyes as they narrowed with said concern and she almost spoke up to reassure him before a Lalafell she hadn't noticed before spoke instead. She turned her attention to him briefly but when the conversation turned dark she found her chin dropping to her chest so that the hat once again obscured her features. Ul'dah did indeed pull people back but it wasn't the city itself, more so the connections one seemed to make there, she knew that only too well as she'd made her own friends and family among it's people.

 

She lightly frowned and reached over when the Lalafell was done speaking, her delicate fingers resting on S'imba's shoulder with a grip firmer than one would expect from the lithe Keeper female. "We all have different chances S'imba, if you try your best and keep hope then your success will be greater. Don't let despair consume you, it is not a good path to walk" she said gently and squeezed his shoulder again before sliding her hand away, though she remained with her gaze on him a few seconds longer hoping the warmth and reassurance would ease some of his tension. Her eyes traveled to the Lalafell next, looking him over, "And despite what he says, he doesn't look all that worse for wear, at least we are still living yes?" she remarks and laid her staff to the side so she could scoot further on the edge of the cart.

 

She had to repeat that in her mind for herself once, at least they were still alive, and that was something.

[S'imba]

S'imba felt the firm grip and jumped a little in surprised to feel the warm reassuring grip on his shoulder.  It gave him a feeling of safety that things would work out. He returned the smile to her and giving a sigh. "Thanks." He says softly he still had a feeling of tightness in his chest from the anxiety but that would pass once they made it further away.  "I guess things just haven't gone in my favor very often and it tends to make it hard to have hope." He says remembering recent events wishing things could have gone different.  

 

"Your both familiar with this place." He said. "Is there anything I need to know about it?"

[K'nahli]

Andre offered the girl an appreciative smile as she seemed to read into his discomfort with the topic and moved away from the subject. Humble. That was surely how Clover viewed him; though that was but a convenient answer to his personal feelings on such matters. His blue eyes wandered down toward the floor for a moment in consideration before he then allowed himself to lean back into his seat. The cool, morning breeze glanced over his face as he did so, teasing his eyes to a close and bestowing a returning sense of comfort within the male.

 

"It was... truly" he replied.

 

 

Interaction among the caravan's participants seemed to quickly grow as a young and curious miqo'te struggled to retain his own excitement for making it as far as Gridania. Unveiling his sapphire irises, Andre diverted his gaze outside of the caravan once more as he, in part, feigned an interest in the world that lay outside. He couldn't help but listen in on the conversation that was occurring among the other passengers - for certain aspects felt a little too familiar for his own sense of comfort. His smile slowly faded now, bringing about a more neutral expression as he looked on past Clover, turning his head conveniently enough as he dared listen in, curiously, as though the innocent chatter had any real relevance to him.

 

 

 

 

"Woah....woah!!" a male voice called suddenly yet soothingly from near the front of the caravan as the carriage drew to an eventual stop. Snapping out of his idle state, Andre turned his attention toward the front of the caravan, the source of the voice however, remaining out of sight for the moment. Without needing to study their surroundings too carefully, he could already tell that they were still a distance off from Gridania - so why stop here? Some faint mutterings could be heard from ahead as the driver quietly cursed his own luck before plopping down from his seat and landing in the leaf-littered path with a soft crunch. Leaning back further in his seat so that he may get a better view, Andre peered out toward the male as he strode begrudgingly toward them with his face turned down toward the ground as though attempting to hide his disgruntled expression.

 

"Is everything alright?" Andre asked with uncertainty, his gaze briefly swapping to the man and then to the front of the caravan once more in an attempt to discern the issue.

 

"E-yeah... sorry folks, but it seems that a bit of debris has scattered down across the path" the man explained while scratching the back of his head irritatedly. Andre followed the man's gesture as he nodded toward the hill that lay adjacent to the path, suggesting that the debris had sourced from there.

 

"If ye don' mind then I'd appreciate if ye'd give me a hand clearing it."

 

Andre blinked as he gave himself a moment for the driver's words to sink in, his mind still partially distracted by all of the talks of Ul'dah. Blinking again, the young male stood up from his seat and turned forward, stealing a quick glance about the caravan and smiling lightly at his fellow passengers in encouragement before turning back to the driver and offering him a firm nod in reply.

[Melodia]

As the caravan came to a stop and he heard the voice mention debris and ask for help, Ruru leaned forward, looking toward Andre and asking, "Need a hand? I'd be happy to help."

[Clover]

Traveling around Eorzea had always been a game of chance. Sometimes, the trip would go smoothly and without mishaps. It didn't seem to be the case today, though there was still hope for this small delay to be the only incident. Whatever would happen, it was a small adventure already, a new trip to remember.

 

"I'll help too," the female hyur said, standing up to jump her way out of the caravan without asking for Andre's approval. She wasn't very strong physically, but perhaps there might be anything she could do. Anything was better than simply waiting for others to do all the work.

[S'imba]

As everyone eagerly jumped off to help S'imba hesitated being stopped in the middle of a busy road didn't seem like a a good a idea to him.  He'd been gone long enough that someone must have noticed by now and if that was the case someone would surely be on his trail by now.  He'd come to far to be drug back to Ul'dah. The thought of that made his heart sink.

 

As he climbed off the wagon he looked back down the road.  How long would it take for someone to catch him?  He looked toward the debris and the eager volunteers helping to clear it.  He started towards them his imagination running wild what would happen to him if they caught him.   Eventually the image of him being drug back with a chain around his collar this thought would prove to be too much for the young miqo'te he would not be degraded like that.

 

Waiting until no one was looking he slipped into the trees.  He'd wait here until the road was clear then if anyone came he'd slip away if not well he'd jump back on the caravan.

[Siha]

Siha rocked gently with the cart, a sudden breeze tossing the bangs from her forehead despite the hat holding them, she took a minute to breath deep the damp scents of the forest and earth around them letting S'imba ask his eager questions while she did so. A smile lit her face that was gentle and understanding, he was so much like her when she had first left Limsa to come out into the world, so curious and alive with wonder. The very similarity softened her and she let out a light laugh, opening her mouth to answer that she had no idea what was and wasn't acceptable in the green city state when they jerked to a halt and stopped her before the words could pass her lips.

 

Her violet eyes moved to the front of the cart with some concern as she heard the frustrated words and sighs from the man up front, she even went so far as to remove her hat and toss it into the cart so that one blonde fur covered ear could flick in his direction and hear anything that he cursed. It made her just as nervous as it did S'imba at first but when it was revealed to be nothing more than debris blocking their way her frown eased into a light smile and she eagerly hopped from the cart to follow the others to help. "I'll help as well, the more hands the faster we can get moving" she nodded and moved along behind the others, glad she had worn gloves today though her fingers were still exposed at least her palms would avoid any splinters.

 

She only barely noticed S'imba slip into the trees, his expression almost bordering panic and her steps faltered for a moment, but when he didn't move farther she decided against going after him. The boy was probably nervous and the faster they moved the debris the faster he'd cheer up and they could move along. Her boots crunched some wood underneath it's heel and she sniffed again, Gridania smelled so different, of wood, wet earth, and here and there traces of the animals that wandered it. She wiggled her nose briefly at a strong scent before ducking her head and reaching towards the debris pile, to gather what she could in her arms and toss it to the side of the road.

[K'nahli]

OOC Note:

 

 

Sorry for the late reply, everyone. I had written one up earlier before Siha and S'imba had even posted but my laptop was giving me problems. I hope that it won't prove to be a recurring issue ;

 

Also, you can imagine that most of my tag takes place either before or after some of you get off in case it causes any confusion.

 

i.e Since Siha follows the others she could have gotten off after but made her way toward the debris before my character did (^^)

 

 

 

Andre's eyes returned to the curious lalafel briefly as he turned and offered him a slight and appreciative nod. As his gaze lingered on him for a moment, the man's eyepatch, as well as the scar that dragged out beneath his right eye, stole Andre's attention briefly. On some level, the lalafel's wounds intrigued the young hyur - as improper as they felt when considering the man's outwardly, polite nature -, bringing him to wonder what kind of past and present affiliation he had with their shared home city.

 

"If it is no trouble then it would be greatly appreciated" he replied warmly without allowing too much of a delay.

 

 

His glance hopped over to both Clover and the miqo'te, conjurer-in-training  respectively as they, too, quickly responded and expressed their desire to help with the benign situation. As with the others, he offered them a nod in understanding, smiling friendlily in the process.

 

"Many thanks, you lot" the driver hummed in with a slightly happier tone as he made his way back to the chocobos to tend to them for a moment and settle the excited birds down.

 

Andre took a few steps forward as he made his way out of the caravan, stepping down on to the ground carefully when he reached the end of the carriage. His tired muscles, still somewhat sapped of energy, gave little recognition to the consideration he offered them and complained loudly regardless. The hyur grunted with discomfort as he stepped a little further away from the caravan to take a few moments to pause and roll his shoulders and stretch his limbs. He wasn't particularly used to these long carriage rides and sleeping for so long in an uncomfortable position took a toll on his body, negligible as it truly was. Having been preoccupied with alleviating his mild aches, the male miqo'te, S'imba if he head overheard correctly, managed to escape the hyur's attention as he was chased into the woodland by his own paranoia; the faint sounds of snapping twigs and rustling of leaves merely being dismissed by the hyur as harmless animals shuffling, unseen through the brush.

 

Still rolling his shoulders, the hyur's head gently tipped sideward as he glanced over toward his female acquaintance whom stood but a couple of yalms away.

 

"Shall we go?" Andre posed the question to her humbly though with a subtle eagerness to hurry on with the task.

[Clover]

When Andre turned his head to Clover, he met with eyes that had been silently observing him, perhaps for a while, as he’d stretched his shoulders. The girl answered his question with a simple nod. Now that he was ready too, she went ahead of him and hurried to the front side of the carriage, where the debris was. Acting as a barrier in the middle of the path, there was a bunch of rocks and branches. None of them seemed too large, but together they posed a real obstacle for the poor chocobos.

 

Clover started by grabbing one of the long branches. It was heavy for someone like her, but she still managed to lift it. She walked with it to the side of the road, clumsily enough to almost hit anyone with it by accident.

As she dropped it to the ground, a familiar voice that only she could hear made her stop every movement.

 

“Clover…! Clover…!”

 

Abruptly, she raised her head in the direction of the sound. He was standing between some trees down the hill, staring at her with his huge, unblinking eyes. No one else seemed to be able to see or hear that little black cat, likely because he didn’t even exist. And yet, his presence was always alarming in Clover’s mind; real or not, she’d always pursue him. She had to.

 

“Clover, follow me, quickly!”

 

With no explanations whatsoever, the girl started running downhill toward the trees, her eyes glued to something invisible.

 

“Wait…” she’d whisper, barely a breath, when the cat ran as well. He took her away from the carriage, away from everyone she was supposed to help.