Final Fantasy XVI - Thunder's Torrents

Ch. 23 - A Habit Of Coming Back

"Whoa, whoa! Take it easy, we wouldn't want any misfortune to happen."

In front of Erie stood a boy who, by Erie's estimation, had only just reached manhood. He raised his hands as a sign he had no intention of attacking her. Erie eyed him hesitantly. A young but strong-looking lad with short blond hair and green eyes, looking at her reassuringly in turn. As they stared at each other in silence, Erie's raised arm began to tremble under the weight of the sword.

"Erie, isn't it?" he asked with a slight smile on his lips, his hands still raised.

Relieved, Erie lowered the sword immediately to put it back in its sheath.

"Oh, fuck," she gasped, dizzy from the simple effort of lifting a sword. Wouldn't have been able to do anything against him anyway. Hands on her knees, Erie leaned forward to take in a lungful of air before asking, "You can only be Gav then, right?"

"Guilty as charged."

"I've never been so glad to see a person in my life." Giving a strained sound, Erie straightened up. "I really thought my last hour had come. What on earth are you doing here in the middle of nowhere?"

"It seemed as good a place as any." Gav's gaze grew worried as he watched her sway back and forth. Erie herself had so many questions, she didn't even know where to start.

"What..." she began, but Gav cut her off.

"We should take you to the hideaway first so that Tarja can take a look at you. You don't look like you'll be able to stay on your feet for much longer."

"I'm fine," Erie insisted, "can you really live here?"

Gav frowned. "Cid already said you'd want to ask your questions right away. He also said he plans to go buying grapes when you arrive...whatever that means."

Erie's ears perked up as Gav mentioned Cid. She'd been so focused on the simple fact she was in a place where she'd almost died that she'd forgotten who was responsible.

"When I catch that old geezer, he'll be in for something. He really could have been more specific than just giving me 'Central Storm' as a pointer to where I could find you. I would have known how many provisions to buy. He can keep his grapes." Another curse escaped Erie before the strain of excitement made her sway again.

"I have the perfect idea: we take you to our healer, she gets you back in shape, and after that, Cid is there for you to beat the crap out of him. Win-win, right?" Gav grinned in amusement at Erie's, admittedly half-feigned, anger at Cid and his whole plan.

"All right, I'm done. He'd better have some answers ready later. Lead the way, I'll follow you. Hope it's not too far."

"It's not." Gav motioned for her to follow him.

Erie had barely taken a step when her legs buckled under the weight of her own body. She would have fallen to the ground if Gav hadn't caught her.

"Okay, looks like you really need a good night's sleep and a proper meal. And hup."

He put her arm around his shoulder to support her as they walked slowly but surely side by side into a ravine where the dry wind was no longer blowing in Erie's face.

As Gav half-supported, half-guided her, Erie felt dizzy again and again, yet forced herself to stand upright. She wanted to see where he was leading her. The entrance to a cave loomed before them. They entered and walked through a short tunnel.

Soon Erie heard signs of life. Next to them, some chocobos squeaked, a woman taking care of them. She looked up as Gav passed by with Erie in literal tow, and greeted them, regarding Erie briefly, but quickly returned to her task. Then, Erie smelled something that smelled like stew. They reached the belly of the cave, a huge vault. Erie managed to look up. Ruins of the Fallen reached up to the ceiling. Further back, she could hear water splashing. She quickly felt dizzy again and suddenly slumped, clinging to Gav.