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It’s almost winter in the Nibel mountains. The bitter cold always blows in early, so regardless of what the calendar says, locals know that it’s winter when it’s winter.
The trees lack any leaves at this point in the year, not that most of the trees in the mountains aren’t pines. The lack of color from other flora leaves the mountains a cold gray, it would look lifeless from a distance.
Nonetheless, lifestream flows freely through the mountains, much stronger now with the reactor finally officially decommissioned. Gray though the mountains may look, it’s been a long time since they were this alive.
Unfortunately for Cloud, a strong and thriving lifestream means for strong and thriving monsters as well. Theres no longer any of Hojo’s creations from the reactor, but the increase in the local dragon population isn’t exactly favorable even if it is a native species.
All bullshit Barret is always spewing, as if he ever comes up the mountain to deal with it. Cloud does at least appreciate what he’s getting at, Hojo’s fingerprint had left itself on the Nibel region like a sickness. Now, the planet was fighting back at the damage left by Jenova, and almost nothing remains of neither her nor Hojo. So the local monsters that have been here for centuries, probably longer, are actually a good sign.
Unfortunately, nobody wants to move to a town that runs the risk of occasional monster attacks. Cloud doesn’t forget the fact that ‘occasional monster attacks’ were what started all of Nibelheim’s tragedies in the first place.
Dealing with monsters has been Cloud’s job for the last two years, she doesn’t mind it. Even without Jenova’s cells, she still has plenty of skills that more than make up for it. Her expertise of wielding materia is rivaled only by Yuffie, who’s been more interested lately in finding ways to slack off than help with the town.
It was getting further into the afternoon when Cloud decides she’s been able to properly document potential monsters that could become issues. About nine miles up the main path a pack of Nibel wolves have been frequently hunting, she figures so long as nobody wants to start keeping livestock on the north side of town, they won’t risk getting that close to anyone.
Halfway back to town, she takes a break on a log. She takes a deep breath of the cool mountain air, bringing the fresh scent of pine as it fills her lungs.
A faint flash of pale green light wisps past her, a thin strand of lifestream. It swirls up near her hand and slowly dissipates. The area begins to light up with similar, very small stands of lifestream.
“Thought I’d find you here,” It’s not a voice, no one is talking, but it speaks to her all the same.
She feels air move beside her in the imitation of someone moving to sit next to her on the log. Long grass at her feet whips against her leg in a way that mimics a skirt brushing against her pants.
“So, how goes the patrol?” Her voice asks.
If Cloud doesn’t turn her head to the empty space beside her, she can almost see a flash of pink fabric, or a strand of brown hair flowing in the wind.
Cloud sighs, looking up at the mountains, “Same as usual, I suppose.”
“Nothing exciting?”
Cloud restrains against turning her head, a part of her daring to catch a glimpse at something she knows isn’t there.
She closes her eyes and shakes her head.
She- Cloud doesn’t dare think her name, as if the thought would be some kind of heresy- hums out a sigh next to her, a nearby rustle in the grass sounds like fingers combing through hair.
Cloud keeps her eyes closed and feels a weight lean on her shoulder, or more so a phantom sensation of weight. Resembling more of a memory than a true feeling.
She aches to wrap an arm around her, to hold her closer, but she remains still, slowly breathing in the mountain air. Her eyes sting as she opens them, she won’t cry here, but the burn will remind her how badly she wants to.
“How’s Yuffie? She figure out what she wants to do yet?” She asks, the feeling on Cloud’s arm shifts and dissipates.
Cloud glances at the sword next to her, briefly recalling that it’s holding less materia than usual, even if nobody had asked if they could borrow her materia.
“She’s thinking about spending a few weeks at Cosmo Canyon with Nanaki, she’s curious about what she can learn about materia from the researchers there,” Cloud explains.
“Good, I was just checking in on him, he seemed a little lonely over there. It’s been a while, but of course he still misses his grandfather,” She replies.
Cloud glances to the sky briefly, making sure the sun isn’t getting two low. The cloud cover currently obscures it, doing nothing to answer her query.
“You do that often, checking in?” Cloud asks.
“Of course, got nothing better to do.”
Cloud knows that isn’t true, she caught the faintest glimpse of it in the Northern Crater, she knows what’s waiting beyond the lifestream for her. Promised to her, would be more accurate.
Or maybe she’s the one who’s waiting.
“Probably about time you start heading back, huh?” The wind moves again, “Come on, I’ll join you.”
Cloud keeps her gaze to the ground as she uses her sword to stand, she tries to ignore the pangs of pain from every move. It had been a long day of walking and she’d felt good when she had headed out that morning, it wouldn’t be the first time she misjudged.
She watches a wisp of lifestream flow in between her fingers and she feels something draw her forward. She sighs and starts making her way down the mountain.
As she walks, she occasionally hears a very faint sound of a second pair of footsteps crunching through the gravel next to her. She doesn’t ever turn her head to look, but she chances an occasional glimpse out of the corner of her eye, sometimes she can almost see another hand holding onto hers. She remains in that silence through most of the trip back, not daring to break something that felt so delicate.
The dull pain in Cloud’s legs subsides while her presence is near, it always has. Her focus drifts off as she treads the familiar path home. The walk is nearly an hour, she knows this on instinct by now, but she hardly notices the rapid passing of time. Before long, she spots the roofs of houses.
“Well,” her voice begins, as clear as it always was “Looks like we made it back.”
Cloud says nothing in response as that jovial voice rings out behind her.
“Guess this is goodbye for now. See you around, Cloud.”
Against all her better judgment, Cloud turns to face her, hoping to catch even a glimpse of the smile she can hear so clearly in her voice, "Aeris, I-"
Cloud's voice catches in her throat. For a moment, just a wisp of a second, she catches that knowing grin. She’s just as warm and radiant as she’s always been.
And in the blink of an eye, she’s gone.