James Archer was once more on the run from the company that had hunted him his entire life. The company that cold-bloodedly murdered his family in the blink of an eye. For as long as he could remember he had been on the run, and now he once more taking flight, but there was one major difference between those times and now. Back then he had been alone, and now he was far from it.
It was about seven in the evening, and he found himself and the others camped out along the countryside. The sun was just kissing the horizon, and firey colors danced through the sky, fading into a deep blue blanket of stars, shining million of light years away.
He couldn't help but watch Yuffie as she joked with Reno and Tifa. He
sighed wistfully, wishing he could take back his outburst
from the previous night. He hadn't meant to be harsh, it had just…popped
out! I should just go apologize…yeah. That's it.
Just as he began to get up from his seat by the fire, a hand found its place on his shoulder.
"Hey James," Aeris's voice came from behind him.
"Aeris!" He turned around, greeting the other Cetra with a smile. "How
are you, you've been really quiet. I was beginning to
wonder if you hated us all."
"Hate you?!" Raising an eyebrow, she sat next to the younger man, turning
to face the fire. "How could I hate you, any of you?
James, you are the only other soul on the Planet that can possibly
understand what I've gone through! And the others, they helped save me.
I am forever in your debt."
The male Cetra gave her a long look before responding. "So why don't
you talk to anyone but me half of the time? The other's
don't bite you know. They're every bit as trustworthy as I am."
"I know… it's just…I'm not used to being around people that treat me
as though I'm equal. You saw the environment that I've
had to deal with for some time now. Even though you only spent a day
there, I'm sure you can imagine what is what like spending years there.
It wasn't easy."
"Well…I won't push to do anything until you think you're ready, but
just know that we're here for you, we all are. Anytime you
need us."
She turned back to face the young man, but was greeted with his back
as he walked off in the distance. "Thank you James," she
whispered softly to his fading form, "thank you."
***
Yuffie laughed heartily, along with Tifa, as Reno leapt into another one if his stories depicting one of his adventures with the other Turks.
"So, Laney and me are tied to the pole, and these guards are savages, I swear. And then in pops Rude, drunk off his ass waving his gun around like god knows what. Anyways, here comes Rude and he can't tell day from night and he's our only hope for being rescued, save for Tseng who would have rather let us die and hired new Turks than get off his butt and actually done something." He paused momentarily to cough into his hand and yawn slightly.
"So then, the guards, seeing Rude and the state that he's in, start
laughing so hard I swear I thought they were going to pass out.
Well, I guess we're lucky that Rude's such a good shot, because before
I knew it he stumbled and BAM! Two of the guards out of four go down and
don't get back up. The other two just stand there looking pretty freaked
out and decide to get out of there.
"Rude, still pretty out of it, stumbles up to us and belts out, 'Hey
Reno, Laney, why are you guys tied up?' That's about as far as
he got before he passed out. Luckily some Shinra MP had followed him.
Now, how he found us in that condition I'll never know, but I'm very glad
he did."
Yuffie and Tifa continued their fit of laughter for a few more seconds as Reno ended the tale.
"That is the worst story I have ever heard Reno!" Tifa exclaimed.
"Then why did you laugh?"
"Because it was so not believable!"
"Whatever! Every word I spoke was true!"
"Mmmm-hmmm," Tifa rolled her eyes in a joking manner. "Sure Reno."
Tired of listening to people bicker, even if it was just joking, Yuffie leapt up and took off in the direction she had just seen James go. She felt she needed to set things straight between.
How could I have been so insensitive last night? Gah! I'm such a jerk!
He probably hates me now…The teenager let out a
sigh. She wasn't used to dealing with people older than her, let alone
older men! She still had yet to figure out the teenage guy's
mind, how on earth was she supposed to be able to understand a man's?!
Life just kept on throwing her curveballs it seemed.
She silenced her thoughts as she came across a small cliff. James sat
at the edge, and Yuffie thought she heard him talking to
someone. Who could he be talking to? Himself? Oh wait, aren't Cetra
supposed to be able to communicate with the
Planet? Yeesh, I never thought that literally meant having a conversation
with it.
She quietly stole nearer to him, listening intently to him. The closer
she got, the more it seemed that her was just talking. Not to
anyone in particular, just talking. Finally, she drew near enough to
make out words. It seemed that he was reciting a poem…the
young ninja halted, listening to the words the Cetra spoke.
Sing me a song,
And I'll give you a kiss,
A kiss worth a thousand words.
She let the lines float through her mind, painting images, and creating sounds like she'd never imagined before.
Tell my your tale,
And I'll give you my heart,
To hold forever in your hand.
I lose myself so quickly,
In those wondrous eyes of yours,
Shining with the brilliant hopes
Of tomorrows brand new dawn.
Shaking her head lightly, Yuffie began to advance once more, no longer disguising her steps, but the Cetra did not take notice of her.
.
You've changed my life,
For all time,
Never to be the same again.
Even if forever should fade,
Into time passed,
You'll still have
A special place
In my heart.
James stopped. Yuffie waited for more, but none came. It was over, the poem was over. She waited a few moments more to see if James had taken any notice of her at all, but it seemed he hadn't, so she decided to speak up.
"That was really pretty, that poem you just said."
The Cetra jumped, indicating that he truly hadn't known that the ninja
was behind him. "Thanks," he murmured, not turning
around.
"Umm…James?" She finished her trek to the edge, sitting cautiously next to him.
"Yeah Yuffie?" Still he didn't look at her, staring off into the distance, at the stars above.
"I'm sorry about being so…inconsiderate. I know that I haven't the slightest clue as to what you've gone through so…forgive me if I say anything that you think-"
"No, Yuffie, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be so harsh last night. I was
just…tired? I don't know, but I didn't mean what I said.
So…let's just forget it, ok?"
He didn't see it, but it felt it. He could tell. She smiled. A genuine smile.
"Ok James."
***
It wasn't more than a few days before the weary travelers came across a small farm along the countryside. A few were hesitant at stopping and asking for help, but the majority of the group was ecstatic to see a sign of other life out in the desolate wastelands outside of Midgar.
"YES! PEOPLE! WHERE THERE'S PEOPLE, THERE'S FOOD!" One couldn't have stopped Yuffie from her sudden swirl of energy if they tried. She was on a one-way track for food.
"Yuffie! Wait up!"
"Hey! Kid! Don't do anything stupid!"
"BITE ME, RENO!"
"No thanks!"
"Yuffie, please! Wait up!"
"HEY! SORRY, JAMES, BUT I CAN'T HELP IT IF YOU'RE A SLOW-POKE!"
Tifa rolled her eyes at the three. They could be so immature at times. At least Yuffie had a reason, she was immature. She was a teenager, it was only natural, but those two guys just egged her on. It was awful. She had thought that Reno would be able to act his age, but no. He was every bit as immature as Yuffie, and James…well there was something about Yuffie that made James act like a kid again. Which Tifa supposed was all right. She figured he had never been able to act like a kid while he was one, so why not now? At least they don't seemed to be worried, much. I must admit Yuffie is handling this better than I thought, maybe she isn't just some immature teenager.
***
"Hey," Yuffie halted in her tracks, nearly causing a pile-up with two
men behind her. "What kind of farm is this? I don't see no
fields or nothing! Aren't farmers supposed to raise crops?"
Reno scratched his head, then pointed over to a barn some ways off.
"There's some stables, maybe it’s a farm that raises
animals."
"What kind of animals do think they raise with no fields? Cows need
lots of room and chickens don't live in barns, they live in
chicken coops."
James shook his head and shouldered past the other two, heading for
the farmhouse, "Let's see." Without a so much as a glance
back, he began to sprint towards the house.
"Huh? James? James! Wait up!" Yuffie and Reno hurried to catch up to the Cetra, surprised at his sudden burst of courage.
"Sorry, but I can't help it if you two are slow pokes!"
***
"Should we catch up to them, or let them make complete asses of themselves
at the chocobo farm?" Reeve inquired from Tifa,
who was trying desperately to hold back a fit of laughter that was
threatening to bloom.
"Hmmm…let them make idiots of themselves, then we'll catch up."
***
James was rapping softly on the door to the house when the other two caught up to him. There was no answer.
"Here, lemme try!" Yuffie nudged her way in front of the Cetra, giving the door a hard pounding. "Open up!!"
"Excuse me," a voice came from the side of the porch. "Can I help you three with anything?"
The small group turned to see a woman of about twenty-three standing
next to the porch. Her cat-like green eyes flashed as she
spoke, and her lipstick covered lips twisted into a disdainful smile.
"Oh umm...well, we're here with our friends," Yuffie turned her head
back to the field that the others were still slowly walking
over, "and umm…"
"And Yuffie here decided," Reno chided in, "to come running up and make an ass of herself." He ignored the punch in the gut that he received for that comment. "I'm Reno," he winked at the girl, who still had yet to tell them her name.
"I'm Zoë," she reached forward, extending her hand. "I take it
you," she nodded to Yuffie, "would be Yuffie, and you are?" Her
gaze lingered on James, giving him a questioning glance.
"Um, James. James Archer, pleasure to meet you miss."
"Miss? Don't call me miss," She stuck out her tongue a little ways, wrinkling up her nose. "Makes me sound old."
"Sorry Zoë."
Yuffie, annoyed at not being in the middle of the attention, jumped back into the conversation. "So what kind of farm is this? Is it a farm at all?"
"Yup," Zoë answered. "It’s a chocobo farm."
"So…you grow chocobos?"
"No…they raise chocobos," Reno answered for Zoë.
"Oh…that makes more sense."
***
"So…you grow chocobos?" was the first thing Tifa heard as she approached the farmhouse. Yuffie…oh my word.
"No…they raise chocobos."
"Oh…that makes more sense."
"Much more sense," the blonde girl that stood next to them replied, giving Yuffie a weird look.
"Thanks for waiting for us guys," Tifa grumbled, making sure the others noticed their approach.
"No problem, sunshine!" Reno exclaimed, a huge grin on his face. When he received only a deep frown, he bit his bottom lip and stepped off of the porch. "Umm…sorry?"
"Much better." The pathetic look on the Turks face made even the annoyed bartender smile slightly. "So who's this?" Tifa asked, nodding to the chocobo farmer.
"Oh, Tifa, everyone, this is Zoë, she owns this farm," James introduced the young woman to the others.
"Nice to meet you all," Zoë said, not bothering to ask all of their names. "Is there any particular reason you guys came out here?"
"We followed these three numskulls," Wedge pointed to Reno, James, and Yuffie who stuck her tongue out in reply.
"Well, now that we're here," Reeve concluded. "We could use some chocobos, how many do you have, uh…Zoë was it?"
"Yes," the farmer answered, dusting off her blue jeans and stepping
out from the side of the porch. "I'm afraid our herd got hit by an extremely
bad epidemic of Mad Chocobo Disease, so we only have about half of them.
We have a little over enough if
everyone doubles. That's including me by the way. I insist on going
if over a certain amount of our herd is taken."
"Well um…I dunno if you really want to get involved with this," Reeve continued, choosing his words carefully.
This seemed to amuse the young farmer. "And why is that? What, are you guys fugitives are something like that?"
"Something like that…" Biggs answered for Reeve, his eyes on the ground.
Tifa cast her eyes to her old friend, he'd seemed
distant all day. She'd have to ask him about it later.
"Well folks, I really don't care. You can be Avalanche for all I care, I'm not taking a risk with those birds." She looked around at the others, who seemed to exchange a conversation with their eyes. After a few moments, Tifa spoke back up.
"Well, then I suppose you should know what you're getting involved with.
Zoë…allow me to introduce us, we are Avalanche, I
take it you've heard of us?"
***
Wedge grunted and kicked his chocobo in the side. Stupid bird, go faster.
He longed to pull ahead, out of hearing range from
the nearest groups. He wasn't at all happy with the riding arrangements.
"Damnit Biggs, why'd I have to get stuck with you?"
His partner groaned as well, shaking his head. "Look, I'm sorry you couldn't ride with Tifa, but it could be worse!"
"How?"
"Umm…." Biggs couldn't think of an answer that would satisfy the man who rode along with him, so he decided to stop trying.
Wedge didn't seem to notice though. "And to think of who got partnered with her! Who she partnered herself with!"
"Wedge, you know Tifa still isn't sure if she trusts Reno or not! She's most likely just keeping a watchful eye on him!"
"Watchful eye my ass…I swear if he makes one move on her…"
Biggs just rolled his eyes and tuned him out. Sometimes Wedge wasn't worth listening to.
***
"Yuffie, is anything wrong?" Aeris raised a questioning eyebrow at younger girl in front of her.
"I'm fine. Why do you ask?" Though it was obvious from the look on her face that she anything but.
"Oh, just the fact that you haven't said much except 'I don't trust that farmer-chick,' and you've frowned the whole trip."
"Well, since you asked," the young ninja muttered, "no I'm not."
"What's the matter?"
"I DON'T KNOW!"
"Yeow…anything you want to talk about?"
"How can I talk about something that I don't even know what it is?!"
Aeris decided it wouldn't be wise to point out that that really didn't
make any sense and restate her question. "I meant, is there
anything in particular that you want to talk about?" Anything or anyone?
"…I don't know. This whole thing is just really weird, ya know?"
"Yeah…I know." Boy do I know.
"I guess I'm just having a hard time adjusting to everything…and everyone."
The half-Cetra let out a small giggle. "Oh? Anyone in particular?"
Yuffie's brow creased. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Oh…nothing."
***
James shifted uncomfortably in his seat on his chocobo that he shared with the newest member of Avalanche, Zoë. He wasn't why he had been chosen to ride with her, but since he himself was new, he hadn't argued.
Still it rather bothered him. Zoë kept asking him questions about the group, and he didn't have answers for anything but the basics. As she had probed further he had finally just told her that he didn't know much about the group so she should just quit asking. He felt a little bad for snapping at her, but there was just something about this girl that got under James's skin. He couldn't put his finger on it, but it bothered him enough not to trust her.
Maybe it was eyes…they way they always seemed to be locked on something.
Never distant, like she was in thought, but it
obvious that she was lost herself in thought quite frequently they
way she chewed on her lip. Her eyes though…they never lost
focus, they were always flashing. And they were so green…it was almost
unbelievable. So green…they almost seemed like cat's eyes.
And James had to admit that Zoë was like cat herself. The way she moved…very quietly and swiftly. Her facial features were also incredibly sharp. If James wasn't so…wary about the farmer he would have found her most attractive.
Unfortunately I am wary of her…so I don't find her attractive. Oh why, oh why did I have to get out with her?!
***
Tifa grinned and rolled her eyes as Reno attempted to make small talk.
"So, beautiful, how are on this fine day?"
"Day? Reno, the sun went down an hour ago, I think its safe to say its night now."
"Ok then, how are on this fine night?"
The young woman chuckled slightly before replying. "I'm just dandy Reno, just dandy. How about yourself?"
"Couldn't be better! I'm out under a sky full of the most brilliant stars I've ever seen, I'm not being forced to kill anyone for once, and I'm saddled up on a chocobo with the girl of my dreams."
"Oh is that so?"
"Yup!" Tifa could just feel the cheesy grin on his face. "Although, one thing could be better."
"What's that?"
"We could be camped right now."
"Yeah, yeah. I was just about to stop everyone."
"Sure you were."
"Oh hush!" Giving the reins a small tug, she halted the bird. "OK EVERYONE! LET'S SET CAMP!"
***
"I hope the bar's all right…" Biggs murmured as he threw some more wood on the campfire.
"I'm sure it is, no offense Tifa, but there's not much to steal in there," Reeve said from the…comfort…of his makeshift bed.
"None," yawn, "taken, Reeve."
The group had been camped for nearly two hours now, and most of them were either asleep or close to.
"How soon do you think we'll reach Junon?" Biggs asked Reeve, who shrugged.
"Probably late tomorrow. We're going to have to be careful. Extremely careful."
"Yeah, we should probably have people with low profiles buy the tickets for the ship ride to Costa Del Sol."
"We should have people buy them in intervals. It's look suspicious if two or three people bought ten tickets."
"Yeah…that would probably be best. How are we going to get to Wutai from there?"
"I don't know if we'd be able to get a ship to…our best bet would be
an airplane of some sort…although I don't know where
we'd get one."
"Isn't there some guy in that town…Rocket Town I think its called, anyway, isn't there a guy there that has some planes?"
"Yeah, actually there is, I think his names Highwind, but I doubt he'd let us use his plane."
"Who says we need permission."
"Are…are you talking about stealing?" Reeves voice took on an incredulous tone.
"Reeve, we're wanted for bigger thing than that. I doubt grand theft…plane, is gonna hurt us anymore than we already are."
"True…well, I'm going to sleep. 'Night Biggs."
"'Night Reeve."
Authors Notes: Yes, I am starting to write notes at the end of these chapters. This chapter was only about Avalanche because it gets really difficult to switch back and forth from the good and bad guys in a chapter as much as I was doing. Jessie and Alli will be written on with the bad guys because, well Jessie works for a bad guy and Alli is a Shinra. Ok Email me your comments, what you like, what you don't like, and more importantly, and this is gonna sound stupid, who you want to hook up. I think I already know who James and Tifa will, but that will most likely change throughout the story. Anyways, I'll shut up and stop rambling 'cause my friend wants me to email this to her, bye!