UnShaekable (FFXII)

XXXIII) Identity

"How many days has it been since we left the mountain?" Penelo yawns, stretching her arms over her head after hopping off her chocobo.

"Six," Basch replies, scratching at his rapidly growing beard. "I could use a razor and a good bath."

"I second that," Balthier mutters, glancing over at Fran and tracing the unkept edges of his facial hair.

"You know it's bad when Basch complains," I tease, plopping down into the sand.

"I need you to get firewood," the knight replies, hitting the back of my head gently as he walks by. I groan, falling on my back.

"I just sat down, big guy."

"You know Shae's just fine when she complains," Vaan mutters. I swipe at his ankles and miss, leaving he and Penelo laughing. Pouting, I throw a fist full of sand at them lazily and drag myself to my feet.

The journey through the Salikawood was exhausting. The wetlands leading up to it were bad enough what with their giant snakes and malboros. After that, we spent two days venturing through the Salikawood, running favors for moogles and opening paths. The air was heavy and a massive bomb chased us through the second half, but we finally made it to the sandy shores of the Phon Coast hardly an hour ago. The closer we get to the city I ran from, the closer I feel to suffocating.

Fran leans back against a palm tree, sharpening a handful of arrows. Penelo sits on the bright grass, watching with great interest gleaming in her eyes and speaking to the viera. Vaan, Balthier and Ashe continue with their usual banter. I give Basch the firewood he needed and stand at the edge of the ocean, feeling the cool waves wash over my boots. I hug my arms to my body and look up at the bright moon. Far down this beach, tucked down beneath a cliff, is the ruins of Jonan's childhood home. The standing memory of the destruction that follows my carelessness no matter where I go.

"Stargazing?" I turn to see Vaan meandering up to my side, wearing a lazy smile. "It's pretty cloudy for that tonight."

"It's nothing I can help," I shrug, narrowing my eyes on that moon, wondering if it's the very same light beaming through Jonan's window right now. If it's the same light casting harsh shadows across Vayne's bedroom. If Balthier looks the same tonight as he did all those nights ago in the jungle.

"Aren't you hungry? Basch and Balthier are cooking those hares we killed earlier."

"Are they now? And is Fran eating as well, or would that be considered cannibalism?"

"That's quite rude, you know," Balthier calls across the beach.

"Quite," Fran agrees with a nod, though her eyes hold something far more gentle than anger. And when they meet mine, she leaves Penelo's side and strides toward us. "Go back to Penelo, Vaan," she says calmly but sternly.

"Fine, fine," the thief breathes, running off. The viera stands beside me in silence, staring up at the moon. Finally, she speaks.

"It's odd," she murmurs. "Jote can see this very moon, just as we can. Perhaps even clearer."

"I was just thinking the same thing," I nod, shivering against the cool night breeze. "Why'd you send Vaan off?"

"To talk adult speak," she replies, a teasing tone in her voice. "Not for children."

"Oh?" I smile. "And what's that?"

"I feel that you have a question for me. Perhaps even two." I sigh, nodding and turning my eyes back to the deep blue waves.

"I suppose I do. I was wondering... Back in the Golmore Jungle, why did you let me hear your conversation? You knew I was there; Balthier did not."