Ash woke with a start as he saw someone leave his tent. His brain was parailized with sleepiness for a moment, but then he recovered his senses, and ran after the person that had just been in his tent.

As he jumped out of his tent he caught sight of something just vanish into the trees. He turned and quickly gave persute.

Ash ran as fast as he could, but for some reasion he couldn't catch up with the mysterious, shadowy figure. He tried to follow it as best as he could, but soon he lost his breath. He slowed down realizing he couldn't catch the figure. Breathing heavily, he turned to go back to the encampment, and heard a gun fire.

With renewed energy, he sprinted off in the direction the shots came from. It was a few more seconds before the next shot was heard. The sound seemed to be urging him on. After what seemed like an eternity, Ash ran into a clearing. He then stopped at what he saw.

It was a monster. It had three heads, big claws, and wings. It moves in swift, sharp, bobbing movemonts. And all it eyes glow with evil.

Although Ash thought he made a lot of noise, the monster's attention was attently focused away from him. Ash looked at what the monster was attacking. He was slightly shocked at what he saw.

The monster was attacking a small figure. The figure was dark, and kept firing a gun at the monster. It was then that Ash noticed all the small red dots of blood on the monster. The monster was moving quickly, but appeared to be slowing down.

Even though the monsters mover were quick, the figure moved with lightning reflexes that were so persise and lethal. It was almost as if it was a trained robot killer.

This thought frightened Ash. Being so close to two killers was very unnerving for him. Especially as he saw the giant beast fall dead at the figure's feet. The figure fired one last shot into the head of the monster, gave Ash a quick glance, and disapeared into the shadows.

Ash released a breath that he didn't realize he was holding. After a few moments of collecting his nerves, he realized that it was almost morning. He turned and slowly began walking back to the campment. It would be morning when he arrived back, and he could tell everyone what he saw.

Cloud looked at Ash skeptically. "Are you sure this was the place?"

Ash looked at the others pathetically. He'd gotten everybody up when he got back to the camp. They thought that the story was pretty far fetched. Ash had tried to find the mini gun, but as he searched, he realized the figure had taken the gun.

Then Ash tried to show the body of the monster to the others. After a long exhausting walk, they came to the spot, but there was nothing. They searched some of the surrounding area, but nothing was found.

"I know it was here. I know what I saw. That person must have moved it." Ash yawned. "Why don't you believe me?"

"Well, mabey you were sleepwalking. You had the dream while you were sleep walking, found yourself here when you woke up, and assumed that what you saw was real. But when it was in fact a dream." Everybody looked at Cait.

"I suppose that it's possible. But if this really did happen, some traces must be left behind." Cloud turned to Nanaki. "Do you detect anything around here?"

Nanaki was sniffing around, and looked up at Cloud when he was addressed. "Actually, I do smell something."

This perked Ash up. "See! I told you."

"However the sent is faint. It is probably faint because of age. The person that was here is long gone. The sent is not strong enough for a man to have been here reciently."

"But he was small! Mabey that could account for it." Ash was desperate now. He thought he was looking like a fool.

"That is possible, however improbable." Ash was confused. Nanaki continued. "You described someone with awsome fighting skills that only compare to the best fightes. That is why I believe it is a man. That person would have needed to go through years of training to reach half of the skill you described. And to be training that long he would have to be big. Big enough to stand against the monster you described."

Ash looked down at the dirt. Areis went over to him, and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. This almost made him jump. Not only had he not been expecting that, but he felt a lot of strength in her hands. Mabey she wasn't as wimpy as he first thought. "Everybody makes mistakes," she soothed.

Nanaki took another sniff. "There is something very familiar about this smell. It almost smells like Vincent. But different somehow . . . " There was a semi confused look on Nanaki's furry face. "It's probably just the age. Vincent is dead now, anyways."

As Cloud led the group back to the Highwind for departure, Ash took one last look where he saw the figure vanish. He sighed to himself then caught up to the group.

Victor watched the group of people leave the clearing. He was hiding in a tall tree. As the group left, he found that he was facinated with the talking cat-dog thing.

He had also been suprised that the beast would be able to smell him from the last night. H thought that he had removed every trace of his being there. Apparently not.

This was an increadibly amaizing creature. And although Victor knew he probably shouldn't, he wanted to learn more about this beast.

He knew that he would be following these people, but he overheard something interesting that night.

The group would be dividing into two parts. One to go find the people that were trying to hurt the children they had with them, and the other group, would take the childern into hiding. Supposidly for protection.

At first he thought that he would follow the group that was going the find the kidnappers. However, after this mornings little revelation, he decided that he would follow the beast, Nanaki.

Victor smiled to himself. Earlier in his life he wanted to meet people, to know if they were all like his father, or anything. But now he wanted to know about this animal, not the people.

He finished gathering his thoughts and jumped down from the tree. Even though the people had gotten a head start, he could easily make it back to their ship before they even neared it.

That was improtant to Victor. Before they reached it, he could board, and hide. And they wouldn't even know! He chuckled to himself as he took off at a run.

Jet was cranky. He was still stuck in the control room. The parents had said that all of the children were to stay in the small room. Jet had asked if that rule applied to him too. It did.

Not what he had wanted. He wanted to be up in the cockpit helping his father pilot this aircraft. Or even be able to tinker around with the comtrols. But instead he had been in this room for two days, with no machinery to work on. And on top of that, there had been nothing for him to work on for the entire week of this crazy escapade!

He was glad they were landing. When they were let out, he saw that that they were at Mideel island. This was where the kids would be hiding.

It was time for some goodbye's. The parent's would be leaving, and the kids would be staying.

Jet looked up at his father who was smiling down at him. "You take care of yourself, boy. I promised your mother that you would be returned to her. I hope that you can help me keep that promise."

"I'll be ok, dad. You need to go save the day. It's be just like old times for you."

"Jet. I don't know if this place is 100% safe, so I want you to protect yourself." Cid gave Jet a weapon then. It was his father's Flayer. A spear with great attack power. "It was one of my weapons, and I want you to keep it. It kept me safe, and I want it to keep you safe."

"Thanks dad," Jet said as he held the weapon. It felt powerful within his grasp. "I'll be safe. I still need to keep the Highwind in tune, remenber?"

Cid laughd at this. Then he ruffled his son's hair. "See ya latter." Jet watched as his father walked back into the Highwind, to prep the craft for take-off.

Only then did he look at the others. They were having similar good bye's, and recieving something special from each of their parents.

Aeris had gotten her fathers first sword. She took a few experimental cuts. She weilded it like an expers swordsman. Or swordswoman.

Then he looked at Ash. Ash didn't get a weapon, Jet noted. It was a walking stick. Ash handled it carefully, as if it was very precious. His father, Reno, pointed to something on the handle. Probably some sort of family mark, Jet thought.

Then the parents all moved into the Highwind. There were no tears. They all said their final good bye. Then they turned to follow Nanaki into the woods.

Chapter 4