Final Fantasy IX copyrighted 1999 Square-Enix. No copyright infrigement intended.

Home, how the rain washed streets and echoes of playing children in the streets of Burmecia sounded that morning I’ll never forget, it was as every sound, every rain drop sought to impose itself up my mind as I made my way to stables near the city gates, my wide rimmed hat guiding the deluge away from my face to pour off my shoulders in a torrent.

“Leaving early this morning ms. Crescent?” The stable guard asked me, his long coat drawn tight against the cold rain this fell this time of year, his hands loosely gripping a crossbow, the bolts razor edge glinting in the few traces of morning sun that still fought thought the mist and rain to bathe Burmecia in light.

“Yes, Ridel, I feel a need to stretch my legs and explore some.” I told him, adjusting my supply-laden pack upon my shoulders and gripping my pole arm more firmly. “I may be gone for quite sometime though, make sure my stable remains in order during my absence.”

“Of course my lady.” He responded, bowing politely, his tail swaying ever so slightly to maintain his balance. Heading over to my Choboco I quickly saddled him, ruffling his feathers playfully as he chirped in happiness.

After adjusting myself in the saddle I nodded once to Ridel and rode out to the main gates, barely pausing as the gate guard stepped to the side to let me pass. As I passed under the stone gate house I felt a mixture of fear and betrayal coupled with the exhilaration of finally pursuing my true love, something I should have done since the beginning...

The never-ending rain swept across my choboco and me as we raced across the rolling plains, amidst out lying farmsteads and a few lone travelers journeying along the perpetually wet roads and moist soil.

Running along these open spaces suited my choboco Threnwin well and we kept a steady pace throughout most of the morning and well into the afternoon, Burmecia vanishing from view amidst the grasslands and signs of civilization quickly dwindling until at last we neared the foot hills of the mountains, and passed beyond the circle of never ending rain that covered most of Burmecia’s territory.

Pausing in a clearing I dismounted Threnwin and stretched my stiff legs, wondering if maybe this clearing would make a fair place to camp for the night or perhaps I should head deeper into the forest.

As the wind blew across the yellowed grass, I glanced up at the reddish gray mist, catching fleeting glimpses of the sky in between. The cold autumn wind ruffled my knee length dress and billowed my red leather and trench coat out behind me like a cape, the faintest hint of apples mixed with smoke drifting towards me.

"I wonder if Sir Fratley came this way?." I whispered to Threnwin, who merely ruffled his feathers and pecked at the ground briefly before cocking his head to look at as if puzzled.

As I glanced at him, I was once again amazed at how capable chobocos were at overland travel. We’d covered an enormous distance in under a day, a journey that would have taken nearly a week by foot, at yet he seemed barely winded, as if the full out run had been but a light jog to him.

As if sensing I was staring at him Threnwin lowered his head and scratched behind his neck feathers and whined cawed in embarrassment. "Sorry, just remembering how I ran across you way back-" my reminiscence was interrupted by the alarming sound of leaves rustling to our left.

Dropping to a crouch I tore my pole arm from my saddle and thrust it towards the tree line, thankful the swiftly approaching darkness wasn’t upon us yet. Threnwin had already retreated behind me to guard my back, in a lightning fast blur and I knew was ready to leap upon whatever was lurking in the brush at my command.

The slanting rays of the setting sun struck through the bare tree branches and fell across the leafy ground like a scattered spot light, illuminating the bushes with a tired yellow incandescence, and glittered off the brownish yellow scales of a eight foot rattler.

Its right eye glinted in the setting sun, like a jewel, the flicker of a forked tongue the snakes’ only movement. With a chill I realized the distance between the reptile and me was maybe ten feet, and if it chose to strike the chances were I’d be dead before I could swing my pole arm.

Scarcely breathing I adjusted my grip and aimed carefully as the snake swayed slightly let to right, its tongue flickering in and out, the shining eye fixated on me.

Being careful to keep my movement to a minimum I slowly angled my weapons blade until it was dead center with the snakes’ head, its swaying back and forth carefully matched by the movement of my pole arm.

Slowly I crouched, preparing for a springing leap, tracking the serpents swaying as it increased in pitch, understanding anything less than a direct hit could sent the mutation spasming towards me, possibly plant a shattered fang through my armored chest and kill me as sure as any sword.

With a sudden thrust I launched into the air, slamming my pole arm into the head of monstrosity with all my force, the impact transforming its head from the jaw upwards into a welter of blood and gore. Spraying it over the landscape, the remainder thrashing in tangles, the contents of its stomach flung wildly across the clearing.

I wrinkled my nose in disgust as the acidic stench of bile filled the air and a mostly dissolved rabbit landed next to me with a sickening squish. Climbing to my knees I wiped my pole arm on the wet grass the and brushed specks of blood off my fur.

Glancing around first to make sure nothing else threatened me, I let out a low whistle to Threnwin and smoothed out my coat, the specks of snake blood lost amid the vibrant, almost sunset red leather.

With scarcely a sound Threnwin hurried over to me, nuzzling my shoulder with his beak. "I would have let you kill it but I couldn’t risk letting you get bit, even if the poison didn’t effect you those fangs were long enough to run you through." I told him in response to his questioning glance. "Besides, your razor sharp talons would have ruined the meat."

With a low coo Threnwin seemed to agree with my reasoning and rubbed against my muzzle. his feathers warm against my face. "We’ll head on and look for another clearing to make camp, this one’s covered in snake puke, and the stench is likely to attract all kinds of attention." As Threnwin crouched down to allow me easier mounting I shouldered my pack and gathered up the huge snake body, which was thankfully much lighter than I had feared.

I continued to travel through the hilly forest for the next hour and a half, the twilight descending into darkness until I discovered the perfect place to spend the night.

The large stone building sat nestled next to three wooden lean-to's and overlooked a breathtaking view of the countryside, which spread out below the cliff like a tapestry, the rising moon lending an ethereal beauty and turning the winding river far below into a ribbon of silver. A faded sign marked this place as Maplewood hunting lodge with an even more faded bulletin listing the meeting times for trappers and reminding visitors not to litter.

"This looks safe enough." I told Threnwin, who rubbed affectionately against my leg and looked meaningfully at a rotted out house that listed drunkenly to one side in between a stand of huge pine trees, the words “the crap never ends” painted on the door in bright red letters.

"Don’t worry we’re not spending the night in there." I said quietly, dumping the body of the snake off my shoulders and heading over to the cabin door, surprised to find it firmly shut and still intact.

Lowering my pack gently to the ground I slid the pole arm off my back and readied it. Carefully I lifted the latch on the door, ordering Threnwin to watch my back with series of soft whistles.

As Threnwin melted into the inky blackness beneath the trees I thrust the door open with my foot and swept my gaze across the room within. Dead leaves covered the floor near the glassless windows and a small wood table huddled in the corner along with two crude benches that looked to have been carved from logs with a axe. Aside from that my quick glance revealed a gaping fireplace, woodbin and several spider webs in the corners.

Giving the standard all clear whistle to Threnwin I hauled my pack and the rattler carcass inside, surprised to find the woodbin still a quarter full. In less than ten minutes I had a warm fire burning and was busy preparing the rattlesnake for roasting, Threnwin lounged in a window and gazing at the moon after he finished squeezing his way in the door.

"It’s beautiful out there isn’t it?" I asked him, gesturing to the mist shrouded night with my knife. “I hope he still remembers how much our love means to me.”

In response Threnwin let out a loud screeching yawn, his bright pink dagger shaped tongue sliding over his smooth beak. With a lazy cat stretch Threnwin ruffled his feathers and began to preen himself.

"I’m sure he’s fine and watching this same sky. I’m sure of it." I whispered softly to myself, stopping my preparation of the snake long enough to pour him a healthy meal of grain from the saddlebags.

By the time Threnwin was finished I’d not only managed to cook myself supper but smoked the rest of the meat and stored it safely in my pack. "Ready to rest?" I asked Threnwin after answering the call of nature and making sure the front door was secured shut with a bench wedged firmly against the frame. I’d barricaded one of the windows with the table and the other with the woodbin earlier.

He only eyed me lazily and twitched his tail feathers as if in a shrug. "Suit yourself." I said unrolling my sleeping bag next to the fire and arranging my weapons in easy reach. I then slid into the sleeping bag with a sigh of happiness, the anxiety I’d had over missing my true love fading ever so slight. It felt good to be doing something besides waiting, even if the search would prove difficult.. After a half hour of relaxation techniques I’d used for two years, (ever since I was Sir Fratley left,) I dropped off into a restful sleep, awakening to the morning cawing of Threnwin, which plowed though my dreams like a battering ram.