Fandom Final Fantasy: The Age of Ophiuchus [Closed]

[Lucyfer]

While Didymus and Kikiti were going towards the town, Cleon and Reva had finished setting up the camp – getting the tents up, preparing a fire, and much else. That left food to gather so Didymus could make something for them to eat. “Cleon,” Reva called to him, “we need to go find food.”

She didn’t want to leave him alone at camp.

This was also the first time they had been alone since it all happened in Ucantis. It wasn’t that terribly long ago, and yet it felt like it had been an age, as well. They had not been able to process it, and likely wouldn’t find it easy to do so around the others. Reva had her moment before Kikiti, but…she doubted Cleon had much reprieve.

“I can show you what is good to eat and what is not,” she offered, her way of inviting him so he would also be useful in the future. She was aware that right now, he would not be too good at this. He might be good at taking down an animal for them to eat (sans her), but identifying tasty plants? Probably not.

In either case, she wasn’t leaving him here alone while she did that. There was still a chance that someone would notice the camp, and recognize Cleon. He could fight, yes…but not so well as he needed to. Certainly, not well enough for Reva to trust him against multiple Arkidian soldiers.

 

[Arcanist]

Preparing a campfire wasn't hard. Setting up a tent, though, now that was hard. Cleon put it down to never having to put one up before in his life, but he found the task so damn fidgety that he couldn't set it up without Reva's help. At least she was there to keep him right, to teach him these things.

He wasn't sure what he would have done had Reva not been with him.

Now though, it seemed they had to go find food. Cleon already had a horrible experience of trying to search for food long ago, but at least now with Reva beside him, he wouldn't run into that problem again. He nodded to her, getting up from the fire he had been stoking absent-mindedly. Reva still needed to eat too, and much more so than the rest of them, seeing as she barely had anything the night before.

"Yeah, that would probably be a good idea..." Cleon said with a smile small, walking over towards her. He did worry briefly about the chocobos, though, they were well trained beings. They stayed put when the Arkidian soldiers left them at the stables, so he doubted they would be spooked easy or they would go very far.

So, Cleon followed Reva away from the camp, being sure to keep an eye out for anything that could possibly count as food. He was sure he'd at least be able to take down an animal, or he'd make a fair attempt at it. He just hoped it wouldn't be as hard as pitching a tent.

All the while as they walked, he couldn't help but think of home. Ucantis was all that Cleon had been able to think about since they had fled. It would have been nice to explore the rest of the kingdom. Though, he wished it didn't have to be like this. That it didn't have to end as bloody and chaotic as it did.

 

[Lucyfer]

In time, Cleon would master these skills. In time, he would know more about living in Ucantis than many ever would, and know his land well. It was not something Reva had wished on him, though she held hope in her heart that the knowledge would make him an exceptional king – because one day, he would be king. Reva would see to it.

Right now, though, it was simply a part of their unfortunate reality that they had to get through this part.

That they had to suffer being out in the wilderness like this, but at least they were together.

There was silence as they walked, Reva straining to hear what she knew she no longer could. At least, not as clearly as before, but there were still rivulets of whispers that reached her, ideas and feelings she could use to shift her steps.

“Here,” she paused, seeing a set of familiar foliage. She knelt, and took the leaves in her hand, “You see this red leaf, with the white streaks?” She asked, a group of them near her, “These are wild turnips,” and she pulled the one she’d shown him up deftly, “These we can eat safely. I believe we can also find some mushrooms nearer to the trees,” there was no forest here, but still the occasional tree, “and camas bulbs may be in season, too.” A blue flower that they could eat.

They would still no doubt need a meat for them, but for her? These things would be enough, especially the mushrooms.

She could tell Cleon was thinking, distant, even as she offered the distraction of plants. She would not tug on that yet.

 

[Arcanist]

Cleon could almost see Reva trying to listen around her. She had told him that once before she had left her home, she had been able to hear the wood. Though, now, all these years later, she couldn't hear it as well. The sounds of the outside world only helped to deafen her to it, with only a little bit of room to hear some of it. He always found that rather sad, even now. But then she never seemed to regret leaving to wander, even if she lost being able to hear the woods.

He stopped with Reva, who had interrupted the silence to point out some plants that would have been edible for them. Cleon did kneel down beside her, and though he had been listening to what she was explaining, his mind did drift somewhat during it. Not that what she said wasn't something he wasn't interested in or disliked, but...well, his mind had a habit of doing that, as of late.

So, when she did look back up at him, almost to gauge as if he had been listening to her, Cleon glanced up and felt the heat rise up on his face. "Oh, uh...camas bulbs..." He repeated after her, humming for a moment. "We just need to look out for...blue flowers then," he recalled. He thought she mentioned something about mushrooms too, but he couldn't have been entirely sure.

Though, he didn't go to search for that right away. Instead, he said, "I'll help you gather these." Cleon reached for one, pulling it out, before moving onto another one. Anything to keep his mind and his hands preoccupied for a moment. Once he moved onto another one, he mused, "I wonder what we could find for meat around here..." As much as he expected birds to be a common meal, he had hoped they wouldn't have to snack on one every night.

But then, who knew? He might come to enjoy them instead of the Twelve knew what else landed on their plate...or, uh, bowl. The fact they couldn't even afford plate said a lot about their current state.

He guessed it was a humbling experience for them all.

 

[Lucyfer]

The preoccupation was obvious, but Reva let him stoop to help, and she pulled out the turnips from the ground and added them to their pile. Ten ought to be enough, but she thought twelve to be on the safe side. When they had reached that number, she set her hands over Cleon’s, “That is enough,” they needed to only take what they would use.

They did not seek to ruin the life here, nor carry more than was necessary.

They would find other food along the way.

She had brought a bag along, so she tucked the turnips away into the bag, “Come, we will go see what more we can find,” she rose to her feet, and would offer her hand if Cleon needed it to get up, or just wanted the help up. Something familiar.

“I think there are mostly birds, but I am not certain. Flat plains like these, there may be rabbits as well,” which was somewhat odd to think of. She had no natural affinity towards rabbits, though people seemed to think she would. Nonetheless, seeing her traits in such a small creature was odd. She knew the rabbits considered it the same.

“Small mammals or large birds are likely to be the fare here,” hiding away in the grasses, the bushes, and the trees. Fishing was a possibility, but they were further from the rivers and streams now, and had no fishing pole. Stabbing at the fish to catch them was possible but awkward.

“Tell me, what are you feeling? You are distant today.” He had been for a bit. Expected. But Reva wanted him to talk about it.

 

[Arcanist]

Cleon was likely to keep on pulling if Reva hadn't put her hand over his to stop him. He looked up, blinked, and upon realising, nodded, pulling his hand away from another turnip he would have ripped from the ground's clutches. He had almost forgotten Reva was collecting the same thing too.

Once they had stashed away what turnips they had, Cleon accepted the helping hand, despite not really needing it. Somehow, it was comforting, just having her hand there as an offer. They soon moved on ahead, to see what else they could spy.

Reva explained what kind of animals that could be roaming around here that they could easily feast upon, though Cleon had taken as much in as he would have with a droll tutor on a sweltering day; very little. He had just hummed to at Reva's words without really taking in their meaning, a guise for him to seem like he was listening.

Cleon stopped by what he thought he recognised as the blue flowers Reva made mention of. He stooped down beside them, staring at the petals to confirm his findings. Only, he just stared at them, not really determining anything about them. He did reach further down the stem, pulling the flower out to see if they were the bulbs they were looking for.

But he paused at Reva's question and her insight. She was no fool, not that he ever thought she was. She had known him for long enough to read him effortlessly.

Cleon stayed silent. He stared at the bulb in his hand, rotating it between his fingers, without even thinking of it. He answered, after a moment.

"I'm not sure," Cleon started. He was, though, he couldn't pinpoint just one thing he was feeling. "Maybe...a lot of different things. I'm...upset. And I'm angry, viciously angry, and yet, I...I feel guilty too." He hadn't glanced around at Reva, still focusing on the bulb that he wasn't even sure was the one they were looking for. He swallowed back, knowing the answer he would get for making such a statement, but he decided to come out with it anyway.

"I'm starting to think leaving Ucantis was a bad idea," the young man murmured, only then turning his head, glancing at Reva's feet, "that maybe I should have just given myself up. Right at the beginning. Maybe if I had just been stubborn enough to stay behind, then maybe they would have spared..."

But there really was no way of knowing, was there? The Empire was unpredictable. Maybe they would have killed his mother right in front of him, whether they surrendered or protested. Cleon moved his gaze away from Reva's feet, biting his lip. That was the pain he had to live with now. Never truly knowing what decision he could have made to completely drive them all on a different path.

 

[Lucyfer]

Cleon had indeed found the right bulbs, and Reva crouched down a few seconds after asking her question. He seemed dazed still, but he did begin to put things into words, bit by bit. It was hard. She could see that. He was keeping it back, likely so it didn’t disrupt even more. They didn’t have the luxury to devote time to healing, and working through the feelings.

It couldn’t go ignored, though.

All of Cleon’s emotions and reasonings were familiar to Reva. Did she not wonder what may have happened if she stayed, especially knowing now what the Empire was looking for? Did she not feel angry for what they had done? Yet, these emotions did not help her, although they gave her things to think about. Alternatives. Perhaps options for the future.

“I wonder, too.”

Reva said, “What would happen, if I stayed? If you stayed?” She reached out to one of the flowers, and plucked it at the stem, “I know Inara would not have wanted it. Even with…her fate as it is, if you stayed, the Empire would hold her hostage. The Empire would use her, to manipulate you.” Threaten Inara while she lived, “And we know they wanted you for what you have,” she reached forward to settle a hand on his shoulder. “It is…I wish that Inara had told you before.”

Yet, she had not.

Reva continued to gather the bulbs as she spoke.

“We do not know what would have happened, for certain,” Reva said, “but we know we have done what Inara wanted. There is some solace in honoring her wishes,” and Reva believed, Inara knew what was likely to happen. Even weighing that possibility in mind, she had chosen this. She had sent them away.

 

[Arcanist]

Cleon wanted to feel better in knowing that Reva thought the same. That she knew his mother would never have allowed him or her to stay. That the Empire could have done much worse with her, with him, even with Reva, had anything changed.

And yet, he couldn't.

He almost didn't want to feel better. He wanted a right to curse at the earth and the twelve for what had happened. He wanted to be selfish, for the world to stop spinning and acknowledge what he knew to be the greatest injustice done to him and his own mother.

Cleon wished she could have told him more. So much more. It was hard not to shake away the feeling of comfort when Reva had laid her hand on his shoulder as he thought of such things. Why had she never told him? What made her keep something like that from him, for so long? If he had known, then perhaps...

No. He refused to think ill of her, of keeping secrets out of malice. Surely she had kept it from him for a reason.

Cleon had reached out with the intention of picking more bulbs. He at least wanted to be useful to Reva. Though he barely managed a tug at the stem of another flower, and he gave up with following through on his intentions. He had thought over Reva's words. Perhaps there was solace, in doing what his mother wanted them to. In giving them a chance, and some hope to carry with them out of Ucantis.

Still, the very thought of it, leaving her like that. And with how things turned out...

"She didn't deserve it," Cleon uttered, barely below a whisper. The more he thought about it, the way he was told of her death, he wasn't sure if he wanted to scream or sob. He felt the bulb push hard against his hand. Then, those hot, fierce tears came quickly. "She didn't deserve to die like she did. She didn't deserve to die at all," his voice broke, trembling under the weight of such words. "They took everything from us. I won't forgive them. I can't forgive them..." He shook his head, almost like he wanted to refuse to accept any of it was real.

Cleon felt so small, so childish. Like he was having some emotional tantrum.

But he felt it was warranted, for once.

 

[Lucyfer]

A scream wouldn’t have truly been louder than Cleon’s agonized whisper. There was something far more deafening in the quiet, something Reva had years of experience with. His words were true. They were the same as what Reva thought, and knew, to be true. No matter her faults, Inara had not deserved to die right then. Not alone, not afraid, not uncertain, in front of the Empire. She had deserved a long life and to be surrounded by friends. She had deserved so much better than what she was given, throughout her life.

Reva squeezed Cleon’s shoulder as emotions broke down, shattering his focus, and shattering his logic with it. She settled her knees into the ground, losing her perched position to kneel, and wrap her arms around Cleon. Even if he fought it, she was going to embrace him.

There was nothing they could do to fix the past, but they could remain present for each other.

“You will never have to forgive them.”

One day, he may even be able to take revenge against them, and put an end to their spread. Certainly, in Prumoor, Escander, and the other lands, there remained people who wanted revenge on the Empire for coming in and taking over their homes and changing their ways. It wasn’t that long ago, from what Reva understood. Only a couple of generations of human lives.

Things could go back to how they were.

Only…without Inara.

And so Cleon could not set things right – but he could make things better, one day. Right was now entirely out of their grasp, and she wouldn’t dare to say such a thing. Saying too much invited argument, as it was. His fury had a place, and she would accept it – but right now he only needed understanding for the raw feelings, not any placement for them, not logic for them.

It was why she wanted to wrap him up in her arms and just hold him through it.

 

[Arcanist]

Even if Cleon had wanted to, he lacked the energy and the resolve to fight back against it. So, instead, he let Reva bring him into her arms, and even after a bit, held onto her. He was afraid of what was to come, angry and devastated by what had already passed by them. All he was able to tell himself was that she didn't deserve it. None of them deserved it. And yet, repeating it, over and over again in his head had done nothing to make him feel better. It was truly agonizing.

Reva was right. He nodded, still sobbing. He never had to forgive them. He never intended on forgiving them how could they, after all they had done? And not even just to him, or Reva, but anyone else they had trampled upon in their desire for conquest?

The thought petrified him because he wasn't sure it was even possible, but he knew deep down, he would fight against the Empire. Somehow and in some way, he would have to refuse to back down if it meant ever returning home. It would be different, never the same. But he knew he could not be driven from his own home, from Reva and Kikiti's home too.

They just had to get to Elcid. They just had to find him, and maybe then he could help them. How Cleon still didn't know, but he had faith in his mother's words that Elcid would be able to help them.

For now though, all he could do was sob, let himself feel vulnerable, just for that little while. Mourn his mother and his home for just a bit, before he had to swallow that lump back and push ahead. He could do little else being weighed down with such a burden on his mind.

Cleon's eyes burned and reddened from all the tears he could possibly give. There was the occasional shuddering gasp, a fear he might start all over again, but he had already sacrificed enough of his tears that he wasn't sure he could make any more of them. He could have sat there with Reva's arms around him forever. If he just refused to acknowledge the world outside of them existed, then perhaps they wouldn't have had any reason to move from this spot.

Reality was harsh. It wouldn't allow for so long a reprieve. Why else would they have been running with barely any time to come to terms with what had happened?

"You were always there when something happened," Cleon mumbled. He had said it to break the silence, to speak his thoughts aloud ever so briefly. But he said it because he knew it to be true where Reva was concerned. "Always. And I don't know if I ever really thanked you properly for that..."

 

[Lucyfer]

Although they did not have an eternity to spend in grief, Reva did not rush Cleon. She did not shed her own tears, although her thoughts dwelled on Inara, and all that was ahead. The unknown was worrisome, but she had faced it before. She had faced loss of family before. It was inevitable, a truth the viera knew, and held to.

Except they had the lie of a constant.

She had shaken herself from that lie, only to be harshly reminded of the truth as she held the sobbing and shaking boy in her arms. A boy she had seen through so much – illness, scraped knees, terrible vegetables – and now she saw him through the loss of his mother, as she knew, she always would.

Eventually it settled to shaking and gasping.

And then, silence, before he started to speak, to thank her. It wasn’t necessary, as she slowly pulled away, and ran a hand over his head and down his back – over the hair. No, it was never necessary for him to say it, but that did not mean it wasn’t appreciated. “You may have said something when you were seven or eight,” she allowed a touch of a wry smile, “Maybe fourteen.”

It didn’t matter.

She would always be there. It was the burden of her own long life, right then, to be there.

She leaned back as she finally, fully, disentangled, and reached for another bulb, “Now we must be there for the others, so they can eat,” a gentle reminder, and a way to press him on again after his moment. It would not be his last, she knew. This was no easy process, no loss of life to natural causes.

The anger would fester while he was not able to act directly.

But they would get through it.

 

[Arcanist]

He always did find Reva's touch comforting. It had always managed to center him, even just slightly, when he had gotten himself in such a state. He was always a 'sensitive child' as he had heard others refer to him. Cleon was glad of Reva's comfort, and of his mother's too, of course, when he truly was having such 'sensitive' moments.

Cleon did find it in him to smile at Reva's comment, even manage a chuckle at it. He no doubt did give his thanks a few times during his life. But he knew there was so much more he had to thank her for and that there would be more to thank her for too.

He knew the two of them couldn't sit mourning and reminiscing forever, though. And Reva was the one to tell him that, though, in a much gentler manner, which he appreciated.

Cleon nodded then, after her touch left him. There were still things to work through, he knew that. One hug and a cry never solved everything, after all. But much like Reva's thinking, they didn't have the luxury of time to spend their days mourning.

There would be consequences for what the Empire had done. He would make sure of that.

For now though, he silently went back to helping Reva gather up some more bulbs. At least now Reva could have something substantial to eat, and they had much more than simply meat on offer to them. He hoped gathering for food would mostly be this successful. Though, they had the latter and colder months ahead to think of too.

And as much as he didn't like to think about it, they may have been unable to return home for quite a time.

 

[Lucyfer]

The bulbs were soon gathered in enough number to add them to the bag, and Reva then led Cleon on towards more of the trees, where the shade and dead wood attracted fungus to begin to grow. There were some mushrooms that Reva was willing enough to add to the rest, though there were also tracks, and signs of life here.

“You should find some dreamhares ahead,” Reva gestured with a long finger beyond the trees a bit. “There will be a warren underground, you should see their holes. You may be able to bring them out. If you start to fill one hole, many will try to exit through another in fear of being trapped.”

It was not the easiest thing in the world to do for one soft-hearted, but they had no dog to cause them to scatter, and meat was a necessity for many humans to retain their strength. Reva would not shirk at it simply because she could not eat them, and Cleon needed to learn how to hunt and capture game.

If he failed, they would simply try again.

“I will finish with the mushrooms, and assist if it is needed.”

The mushrooms were mostly for her, and she knew she wouldn’t find quite enough under that one tree – but she would have Cleon well in sight as she moved about gathering what she could for her own meal. She would still be sure he did not leave her sight during this.

 

[Arcanist]

Soon enough, they had gathered plenty of the bulbs, and they would move on to gather some mushrooms, though, Reva had pointed ahead, past some trees. She had made mention of dreamhares, and Cleon shifted at the word. He knew what she wanted him to do before she even had to explain it.

Of course, they needed meat. Cleon wasn't averse to eating dreamhares. To gather and kill some, however, that was a different story. They always had someone to do that for them, so he supposed he never had to think about it.

Now though...

Cleon just managed a slow nod. "Al-alright. I'll go look for some..." He murmured. He soon moved off into the direction Reva had pointed, all the while as he walked, tried to psyche himself up for what he was about to do.

Once he got past the trees, he started picking up the holes in his vision that Reva had gestured too. He had spotted a few holes, which he figured was a good start. Which one to start with, and how to fill them, was what he was wondered. Eventually, he picked a hole, simply the closest one to him. He got down on his knees, trying to discern how big the hole actually was, and after he had done that, he figured using his hands and pulling apart the dirt and rocks that had been in the hole. It took a little bit of time, not forever, but it hadn't been an easy process either.

When he believed that hole was adequately closed, he waited, patiently. In that time, he wondered what he would even catch them with, how he would catch them. How he would kill them. He didn't like to think of it before he had actually caught one. Cleon had already killed a human before, so anyone would think he would be able to grab a dreamhare and wring its neck. Those, however, were for two different reasons, and neither of them had made the killing easier.

Cleon's thoughts ceased at squeaks. He felt his throat tighten at the sound, mainly due to how he still hadn't figured out a way to catch any yet. Slowly, and carefully, he took off the coat he still had, thinking maybe that would help with quite literally netting some, as he watched for the source of the squeak to appear. He noticed a few emerge from another hole, braving it to escape.

Hearing his own heart beating in his ears, he tried his best to stay silent as he approached behind some of them, coat in hand. They were seemingly unaware, for the most part, still hanging around together. If he could just catch them...

But a twig snapping underfoot completely gave him away. Panicked, Cleon practically launched himself forward with the coat. He landed, catching two under his coat, though, the second had managed to wriggle out and run off with the other one before he could trap them properly. That left one, squeaking and pushing up against from under the coat. Cleon, though, wasn't sure as to what his next course of action was. Smother it? Break or cut its neck? He wanted to make it quick - for both of their sakes.

 

[Lucyfer]

Reva remained alert and aware as she moved about the trees and bushes, gathering what she could of mushrooms, and trying not to draw too close to Cleon. She knew what she was asking him to do was unpleasant. He may have eaten hares before, but he had not had to kill them on his own, he did not see them before their life was extinguished.

It was different.

Reva knew this, although it had been many years since her first kill. Hares were not uncommon in the woods, and they were hunted, not for meat, but for other aspects. They were necessary for the illusion of the Faded Timberlands, for it to go unseen by others.

He did a good job at the outset – Reva would give hm that.

Unfortunately, a small error ruined it, and the hares noticed him, and split. He was able to capture one in his lunge and forward fall, and Reva figured she had enough mushrooms as she approached while he was struggling to keep the hare caught. Reva set the bag down some ways, and crouched near Cleon.

Reva did not ask as she reached forward, and under the coat, to grasp the hare and quickly snap its neck. It was sudden, but the squeaking stopped, and the hare went limp. Reva offered it back. They would need more than one to be sufficient for the day. “Dreamhare are used by the viera,” Reva told him, to explain her ease with it, “they are used to produce potions, of a sort. Bones and fur were useful to us.”

And so the hare had to die.

“We will find others.”

 

[Arcanist]

Cleon thought he would be holding down that coat forever if Reva hadn't approached. Every time he tried to get him to pull that hare out and to do something with it, he faltered. He knew he had to do it, but he just couldn't.

It was different with that soldier. He didn't really give him a choice to run away from it.

To Reva, it was nothing. She simply grabbed the hare from underneath his coat, and without much warning, snapped its neck. Cleon flinched when he heard and watched it happen. Obviously, Reva had done this before, and so it was a lot simpler, but he still felt amateurish compared to her. He nervously took the hare back into his hands, unsure of whether to look at it or not. He opted not to, for the moment, at least.

"Ah...right..." Cleon murmured, nodding a little. Of course, she had done this before, and with dreamhares specifically. Unfortunately, this was not the last time this day they would be doing this. "Yeah...you're right..." He hazarded a look down at the animal in his hands, and he grimaced a little at the sight. "Sorry..." He couldn't help but murmur - both to Reva as an apology for his squeamishness and to the hare for its untimely end.

Cleon looked back up to Reva again, sheepishly asking, "Would you...teach me how to...you know..." He gestured with a nod to the animal, obviously referring to the method in which it was killed.

 

[Lucyfer]

Cleon was still uncertain, still nervous. He couldn’t look at the freshly killed hare. Reva did not sigh, but she did feel some small exasperation with it. However, that faded as he asked to be shown how to do it. Reva nodded, “Yes,” it wasn’t hard, though it did require speed. That would be the hard part to show him.

She would try with a live one, and if necessary, show again with a dead one so he understood the method.

“Let us go see if we can find the dreamhares that ran,” finding another warren may be difficult, and there were certainly more than three in a warren. Many must have been out grazing. They would not be too far. At least, Reva hoped they would not.

“I can trap them with your coat,” she suggested, reaching her hand out. Putting the dead rabbit in with the vegetables didn’t seem like the best idea to her. It wasn’t bleeding, but she still didn’t want it to start that, which it could from the mouth, and mess up her vegetables.

This way Cleon didn’t have to drop the hare just yet. They would need two more, ideally, maybe four. Kikiti ate a lot.

Eventually, they did come upon a few that were grazing together, peacefully eating clovers. Reva set the bag of vegetables down, and would begin a slower approach, never once tripping up over branches or snags of grass. Still, hares were alert creatures – they noticed, and though many did scatter, Reva was still quick enough to cover yet another one in the coat and get it pinned down well, before she would reach under and pull it out, squirming though it was, and wait for Cleon to approach.

 

[Arcanist]

Cleon had wished he was harder than he was, that hunting could come so easily to him as it did to others. It was embarrassing how amateurish he was at this. He was sure most others, even other nobles, would have had participated in hunts all the time. Cleon counted his graces, however, that only Reva had to be witness to it, and that Didymus and Kikiti didn't have to see how...soft he was around what had been food to him before.

He nodded though as way of thanks, glad that Reva would at least show him how to do it. If he did it enough times, perhaps he wouldn't be so squeamish when it came to hunting game. At least, that was the goal in all of this.

Cleon gave up his coat to Reva, just about the only thing they had to catch these hares, all the while still clutching onto the dead one he had in his hands. Somehow, it didn't feel right to carry it by its neck, or at least, it didn't yet. Eventually, he would have to when they inevitably gathered more. One for him and Didymus...two maybe for Kikiti. For someone so small, she sure could devour a lot.

He kept following along behind her, keeping his eye out for any more, and trying to keep himself quiet in the process. He and Reva did spot some dreamhares soon enough. Cleon kept back and watched as she slowly approached the grazing animals. He was always impressed by how quiet she was on her feet. She had snuck on him more than enough times. Well, walked to him, but Cleon refused to believe that.

Few, naturally, had spotted Reva, and split. Though, she was still quick enough to net one and pin it down, before she grabbed it from under the coat. That was Cleon's cue to approach, and that, he slowly did. Once he did stand in front of Reva, still clutching that hare in hand, he looked to Reva, and nodded, signalling he was ready to see it.

He would force himself to watch, as much as the thought of it could have made him squirm.

 

[Lucyfer]

Reva waited patiently for Cleon to approach, and once she was close enough, she did offer him a sympathetic look. “I know. It is a cruel world that makes life devour life, but it is how it is,” there was no denying it. Even Reva ate life in the plants she took sustenance from. A cat sustained its life by the mouse.

Such was the cycle of things, it was how the world continued to rejuvenate itself. There was no shame in it, but Reva still understood that this was new to Cleon, to actually witness the taking of life to sustain his own. He had been sheltered so in that castle, as butchers and kitchen-staff tended to this.

He had little part in the aspects of life that, quite literally, kept him alive.

Things had been different for Reva.

“You will hold the hare up by it’s neck,” Reva indicated, “and then press the palm of your hand under its chin,” she did as much, ignoring the fretting of the creature, “and push it back until it snaps,” it was easier than twisting, really, though she was efficient with both methods. She did this one, pushing her palm into its chin and pushing the head back, until it snapped, and went limp in her grasp.

She offered it to Cleon.

“You will do the next one,” she would catch it – it seemed easier that way – but he would take it from her and try to do this himself.

 

[Arcanist]

It is how it is. Cleon supposed she was right. It had always been like that, and even more so with before he was even born with the war that had been raging for so long. Yet, he never had to face it. Even with one death of a parent, it had happened before he properly knew his father. If anything, it was like the war wasn't even happening around him. His mother didn't speak much of it, not until he was older.

Maybe that was the problem. And so he had to learn how life took life the hard way, and would continue to learn that way.

So, Cleon, not enjoying the lesson, but still willing to learn it for his own sake as well as others', listened to Reva. He watched her hold up the animal, showed where he would put his hand. He watched the hare squirm, though, tried to focus on the lesson rather than the poor animal who was unlucky enough to fall into their grasps. He waited for her to push her hand back, waiting for the snap. He forced himself not to flinch - at least, not too much - as he watched Reva snap the hare's neck back.

He had but a moment to take it in, before Reva handed him the animal, and insisted he would try the technique on the next animal. Cleon just nodded. It is how it is, was a mantra he had to keep repeating to himself, as much as the guilt of it made him feel horrible.

And so, Cleon rose again, with two dead hares in hand, and followed Reva as they searched for remaining dreamhares. All the while, he couldn't help but feel how ironic it was that he killed a man before he had ever killed a hare, and still, he had to steel himself for it.

 

[Lucyfer]

Cleon still flinched.

Reva would not hold it against him, although she still felt like sighing, or being a touch exasperated. It was far too early in all of this, for that, and Cleon wasn’t protesting his role to kill the hare next time. So, she would say nothing to his flinching. It was natural. He would grow out of it, eventually…maybe. Perhaps it might be good if he never forgot this, too. If he never enjoyed killing something that meant him no harm.

It would continue to make it something real to him.

It did not take too long to find some of the dreamhares, they hadn’t scattered too far – they never did. They wanted to be close enough to their home, to get back, after all. Reva was able to once again capture one under the coat, leaving the bag of vegetables on the ground nearby. She would stay where she was when she caught it, and wait for Cleon to approach.

Then she’d offer him the still-living and still fighting hare so he could do what was necessary. No matter how hard a task that was. At least then they would have three hares, and have to consider the fourth. She’d let Cleon decide if Kikiti needed a fourth one or not. And likely make sure Didymus was more on the hunting duties in the future.

Nonetheless, Cleon would know, so that when Didymus couldn’t, he would be able to. She supposed she might also have to teach Kikiti -- fair was fair. She'd ask next time to see what Kikiti knew of these things, and consider helping her learn a bit of this, too. Somehow, she imagined Kikiti might have an easier time, in spite of her age.

 

[Arcanist]

Cleon, as per this new routine of theirs, waited for Reva to catch another dreamhare. Once she had, he carefully approached, mentally preparing himself. He put the other hares down to, and took the live, squirming hare from Reva.

Cleon ran through the steps in his head first. Hold it by the neck. Put your palm underneath its chin...push back until…

He'd know when it was finished. He'd know when he didn't have to push any further.

Cleon got the hare and held it by its neck. The first part was easy. The second part, putting the palm underneath its chin, was easy enough to. It was the pushing that would prove difficult.

After a moment, he started the last part of the process. The hare squirmed under his his grip, and as uncomfortable as he was, and as much as he wanted to drop it, he kept pushing. It wasn't long before he heard - no, felt - the snapping under his palm. He felt his chest tighten at the action, though, he tried not to show the discomfort on his face after doing it.

Cleon cleared his throat a little before he said, "There. That's three." He gathered the other two into his hands, trying not to seem too...uncomfortable by it. He was slowly getting used to carrying dead hares at the very least. He looked up to Reva, asking, "Do we...need a fourth? For Kikiti?"

Or well, any of them, they supposed. Maybe Lalafell didn't eat so big all the time.

 

[Lucyfer]

Cleon asked, and Reva, after a moment, sighed and nodded, “A fourth may be good, regardless,” they had not had much to eat. Travel continued to be a bit of a burden on them, without a stock of supplies. Buying rations down the line might be a good idea, but for now, they would continue to make do with what they could.

So, they went through the process of catching one more hare, before Reva would lead back towards the camp. Didymus and Kikiti were not yet back. Reva set the vegetable bag by the fire, and would gesture for Cleon to put the rabbits there, as well.

It wouldn’t be too long before Kikiti and Didymus returned.

Didymus raised his hand as they came close enough, “Good news, bad news,” he began, “We got the compass,” that was the good news, “bad news is there are Arkidians in the city looking for you – they didn’t seem to be looking for me or Kikiti,” he gestured over to her. “Not sure if they’ll find us here.”

“We will have to hope they do not,” Reva wasn’t inclined to leave. She had suspected that Arkidians would be near. With their chocobos and ability to move, they were always going to be close to them. It would be impossible to outrun them, so they just had to avoid them wherever they went, for now.

Perhaps she should feel sickened that the people weren’t fighting it.

“Is there anything else?” Reva inquired.

 

[Arcanist]

Part of Cleon wished he hadn't asked that, but he knew it was inevitable. They had to keep themselves fed and watered if they were going to continue running from the Arkidians.

So, that what they did. They did the same thing over again, the second time being slightly easier, though, still difficult by all means, before they returned to the campfire. It hadn't been long after that Kikiti and Didymus returned, though, not exactly the best news.

Cleon, though glad they had at least secured a compass, sighed at the news of Arkidians scouring nearby. Though, he had already come to terms with them always being a step behind them, so part of him wasn't surprised. At least they hadn't recognised either Didymus or Kikiti. Their plan to send them ahead had worked, and might work in the future, if this good grace keeps up.

"We'll just keep on the lookout," Kikiti reassured them all, "plus, we'll do our shifts anyway tonight, right? I'm sure we'll hear them coming before they see us." They could have done with a little bit of positivity at the very least.

"Yeah, maybe," Cleon said quietly, looking beyond their camp. Though, he glanced away. He feared any prolonged stare out there would suddenly make them appear.

When Reva had asked if there was anything else they wanted to tell her about, Kikiti almost felt as if she instinctively knew there was something else. The letters. Now, all of a sudden, she wasn't so sure if she should have sent her letter. And now, she wasn't sure whether she would have to tell Reva. What if a moogle showed up out of nowhere handing Didymus and Kikiti a letter? Was that how the moogles even operated? Surely, she couldn't lie to her about that.

But she couldn't drop Didymus in it either. He'd get just as much of an earful, or worse, from Reva. But she'd know how confidential moogles could be? And how secure a service it was. She couldn't get angry over the two of them sending a letter home to their families to let them though they still had all their fingers and toes, right?

 

[Lucyfer]

Didymus knew that feeling of guilt and being found out was one to ignore. He’d learned it countless times. Most people knew nothing about his activities, their inquiries innocent, and so Didymus shook his head. Maybe it would have been the ‘right’ thing to mention a letter, but it was their secret, their word back to their relatives.

Well, his assumed relative.

“No, that was about it, the people there don’t seem to really know what’s going on yet,” he added that, as if it were ‘something else’, though it just tied in with the rest of things. He gestured then to the bag and the hares nearby, “Is that the food for today?”

Reva’s gaze shifted a moment, and she nodded, “Yes.”

Didymus moved forward and bent down near it, “All right, I’ll get to work on figuring something out,” something that would be fair and proportionate for all of them…maybe a little more for Kikiti. It would probably be hilarious for anyone outside of their group to know the shortest member ate the most.

And the tallest ate the least.

What a strange group they were.

“Do we wish to maintain the same guard order as before?” Reva inquired, thinking they could change it this time if they liked. Cleon was in a bit better shape this time – not perfect, but not fresh from the situation and baffled, either.

He was at least now getting familiar with the situation and what it would entail. Killing for food, guard shifts, and lots of walking…not an ideal way to be, especially given they could not go into too many towns without concerns of getting caught.