For Honor or Glory

Distance

Chapter 56 

Once they were out of the mountains, the group still stuck close to the range. There were fewer villages they would have to skirt and more woods to stay hidden in. The lower their profile, the less chance they had of being spotted. None of them said as much, but all of them were expecting pursuit.

Beyond the necessary conversation while setting up camp and such, things remained quiet within the group. Especially since things had not really been resolved after the last fight. Genesis made a point of staying a short distance away from the rest of them while they rode and even made sure to put his tent as far from them as he could. His body language made it clear that he was not interested in interacting with anyone.

His behavior was wearing on Alex, and she could tell she wasn't the only one. By the third day, Peter started jumping anytime anyone said anything, or at sudden sounds. It was easy to see he was expecting another outburst—they all were. She almost felt sorry for him. Not that she would ever say as much. No matter why he was with them, she could not look at him and not associate his presence with her incarceration.

None of that helped her current state of mind. She had tried to approach Genesis to at least clear the air between them, but he had pointedly ignored her attempts. Thankfully, her brother was close enough to step in and pull her back. She probably would have pushed until there was another fight if he didn't. Not that she felt that was an acceptable outcome, but she couldn't help but keep trying. Having the man that used to be her best friend at such odds hurt. Almost more than anything he had done once she had gotten to Midgar. That it was largely her own fault didn't help. Even if her brother repeatedly told her otherwise.

They traveled nearly two weeks like that before there was any change. The place they had made camp was less than two days away from Junon. That prompted Alex to bring up something she had been thinking about for the last week. She gave her brother a look that caught his attention, but she was speaking to the group as a whole when she said, "I've been thinking about the best way for us to make it across the ocean. There isn't really another way if we don't take the ferry. Still, that could be dangerous. However, I have a plan that might help—at least a little."

She was not surprised when Genesis continued to ignore her, but she was almost thankful that it was Sephiroth that asked, "I do agree that it will be dangerous. It would be best if we could sneak on somehow, but that could prove to be difficult. It is more military base than city."

Alex had to repress a sigh. She already knew he wasn't wrong. Still, she wasn't ready to give up. "I know, which is why I've been trying to think of a way that we can get on without alerting the guards."

For the first time since they left the mountains, Sephiroth had an expression that didn't include a frown. Alex was surprisingly glad to see it, but she squashed the urge to mention it and instead continued. "Honestly, even without an alert out for us, you three are probably the most recognizable people in the world. My plan isn't hard, but it will involve a stop before we get there."

As soon as she was done, Genesis spoke for the first time in days. "Of course, because your wisdom has gotten us so far already."

Alex managed to bit her tongue to keep from responding. She felt a little better when her brother frowned at Genesis and said, "That's enough. At least hear her out."

Alex could tell there was more he wanted to say, but he snapped his jaw shut and turned to her. It hurt to see that he was still uneasy about everything, but at least he had not abandoned her. She wasn't sure she could have taken it if he had. He was the one person she leaned on the most, even when it didn't look like it.

When all their eyes were back on her, she took a deep breath and continued, "Like I said, you three are going to be hard to hide. There is no way we can conceal your height, but we should be able to divert attention for now. They are looking for the famous Firsts. If we can alter your appearance, at least a little, then it should be enough for us to get on the ferry."