UnShaekable (FFXII)

XVIII) Giza Plains

"Are we ready to set out?" I ask upon coming across the others at the gate.

"Well yeah, we were waiting on you," Vaan teases, nudging me with his elbow. I roll my eyes, though I can tell he's telling the truth. The rest of the group looks terribly impatient. "Ashe was thinking about leaving you behind. Too many sky pirates and all that."

"Not leaving her behind," Ashe corrects. "Merely getting a head start. We're in a bit of a rush."

"And to think I offered to guide you through the plains," I reply dramatically, shaking my head. "Nevermind; I'll keep quiet if you so wish."

"Some days I wonder if you're not a day older than Vaan," Basch mutters.

Huffing, I push past him and lead the way from the city path to the muddy grasslands of the Giza Plains. The marsh floor is soft, lined with sunbaked grasses and dried skeletons of trees. Rain falls steadily overhead, soaking into every inch of clothing and hair possible. There's an unfamiliar chill in the air as we continue our trudge through the rainy climate. I offer my insight as we cross narrow bridges and swifter waters. Once Penelo slips and falls face first into a shallow river; twice Basch has to dig his feet free from the mud; thrice I snap at Balthier for being nothing but insufferable.

The sun begins to sink after we fight off the fourth pack of wild dogs and the second woolly gator. Even Ashe looks exhausted, and rightly so. We've been on the move practically nonstop since we left to find Raithwall's relic. Fighting a haughty bastard and his father's empire really takes it out of you. But camping out in the marshes would get us no rest, and so I encourage them to keep moving until we pass the stormy plains. With tired groans, sidelong glances, and attempted jokes, they comply.

There's not a light to be seen anywhere when we cross from the Giza Plains to the Ozmone Plains. We stumble into the soft, dry grass and take a breath of air that isn't heavy with moisture. Basch is the first to search for shelter. Ashe holds the Dawn Shard up to the dim moonlight, thinking as she watches it glimmer.

I wander a bit away from the others in search of firewood. It's not hard to compile a good number of dried logs and set them up on a patch of dirt that Vaan points out. Wanting to be useful, Penelo creates a circle of stones around the logs. Finally, I use a weak fire spell to ignite the pile. A steady fire has grown by the time Basch returns.

"There are no resources nearby to create any sort of shelter," he announces, scanning our faces from across the hot, leaping flames.

"It's alright," Vaan yawns, clasping his fingers behind his head. "I'm too tired to care."

"Majesty?"

"This place is fine," Ashe replies, shaking her head. "I'll just..." She turns around hesitantly, searching for any sort of bed. I laugh, walking past easily and reaching up toward a branch of a towering tree that hangs over our small resting place.

"You'll have to get dirty eventually, Princess," I call over my shoulder, pulling myself up and reaching toward the next branch over. It's much wider, much sturdier. I sprawl out on the rough bark, legs dangling and arms cushioning my head. "Goodnight, you sorry lot."

"I like that idea," Vaan laughs, climbing to a branch over my head and leaning against the trunk with his ankles crossed. "Night!"

"Be careful, Vaan!" Penelo calls.

I grin, watching the princess sigh and curl up on the packed dirt next to the fire. Basch sits across the from her, cross-legged with his sword balanced across his knees. Fran and Balthier rest at the base of the tree, weapons just within their reach. Giving a contented sigh, I ignore the wood stabbing my ribcage and close my eyes, easily sucked into a deep sleep.