Lacey made her way toward the camp fire, toward Ayanna who was
now sitting up, staring at the fire. She sat down next to Ayanna
on a small moss covered rock. Ayanna turned to meet Lacey's face
and looked at her with those violet eyes. "She is wonderful
isn't she?" Ayanna inquired.
Lacey smiled indeed Shiva was. "Aye she is, no doubting it,
a great friend at that." Ayanna looked up at Lacey for the
first time seeing her as an equal.
Ayanna was proud that she was not a servant girl anymore. Being
free was all she had ever asked in her life and now she had it.
But where to go from here? Lacey looked into Ayanna's eyes.
"You will find a place in this world that suits you, I will
make sure." Lacey said to her and then put out the small
embers that were left of the fire. "Why don't we get some
sleep, we have to travel a long way tomorrow.
Ayanna agreed and they both went to sleep.
Rufus paced his tent. They had to find Gea and the key. "How
did you lose them general!??" he shouted at Tseng.
Tseng just shrugged as he spit away his cigarette butt. "The
woman was on a chocobo in a small group, we were easily out run!"
Tseng stepped out of the tent to leave Rufus alone in his fluster.
"Everything is not lost." Rufus thought. "We have
the bond, and I can sense her to the north. She is leading us
right to the city of Ancients." Rufus thought allowed. After
he was done grumbling he went to his pallet and slept, with
dreams of all that would be his.
Lacey awoke and began to pack up their things. She carefully
placed the packs on the chocobos and fitted them with reins.
Ayanna woke to help Lacey and by the time Gea was up they were
ready to go. They all trotted northward following the edge of the
forest.
They all traveled this way for a week, and they were about a
couple days ride from the city of Ancients. Finally after a long
day Lacey decided to stop, before the chocobo died right under
them. Lacey untied all of the heavy things that were on the
chocobo and let them graze. That night Lacey sat by the fire
alone, letting the girls sleep. She knew this was rough and
strainful on them. Lacey had been used to this-for she grew up
riding chocobo every day for a living since the morning.......
Lacey stopped her thoughts there. She had shed a lifetime of
tears over her parents and promised a long time ago she would not
cry like a small child anymore.
Lacey's thoughts went directly toward Kristin. Where was she? Was
she OK? Lacey picked up her crystal and stared at the glassy mako
surface. Lacey took the chain off her neck and rubbed the smooth
surface. She shut her eyes and concentrated on her sister, and
her voice.
Almost instantly Kristin's image appeared in from of her. It was
amazing so clear and real was the image Lacey tried to touch it,
but when she did the image wavered and dissipated. She tried
again and watched her sister closely......
Kristin sat by the hearth of the small house drinking tea, and
thinking about her daughter. She was worried so very much-but she
did not worry about Lacey. "She has been a warrior her whole
life, she can take care of herself, but Gea is just a child...."
Kristin stopped talking when she heard a voice in the back of her
mind. "We're all right sis." Kristin turned to look at
the red crystal that lie on the table behind her. She slowly
picked it up and concentrated. Lacey appeared before her, and the
image of her sleeping child.
"Lacey!!" Kristin exclaimed. She almost dropped her tea
and the crystal, but she caught them quickly. "Are you OK?
Where are you?" Kristin asked with a spark of hope in her
eyes.
Lacey just smiled calmly. "We are heading toward the City Of
The Ancients-though I don't know why-but you had better get there."
Kristin shook her head. "No I am already here and I have set
up for when Rufus comes, there are traps for his army. Just you
wait we will get him, but I want to kill him myself!!"
Lacey yelled into the image. "No you can't kill Rufus!"
Kristin asked why and Lacey calmly explained the night they
kissed and about the bond. Kristin nodded in under standing.
"So basically if he dies you die, and vice versa."
Lacey nodded. This was going to be a truly rough mission.