[Red XIV]

For All to Join (loosely FF7 based)

Red XIII walked down the path, following the footsteps of the one who intruded into his village. The intruder had stolen something precious from his grandfather, Bugenhagen. Red chased the intruder through the Canyon, but lost him in the Back Lands, the area of the canyon filled with the Shadow Cretins, monsters created by the Okage, the Shadow Ruler of the Back Lands. No one ever dared enter the Back Lands because of the Okage. Many a traveler has entered, but few return. But on this day, Red XIII noticed down the trail another traveler...was it the thief or maybe someone else?

Jess had been walking for hours, her legs ached, she decided to have a break and sat on a few rocks by the side of the path.Earlier in the day a man wearing a dark cloak had knocked into her and she had only just realised that her fathers black materia she was bringing him was missing.

[Red XIV]

Red XIII walked up to the girl sitting on the rocks. She looked very tired.
"Who are you and what are you doing in the Back Lands?" Red XIII asked. The girl didn't answer, obviously shocked that the animal could talk. "Are you awake?" Red XIII yelled, his fire tail getting larger. "Answer me!" After a moment the girl told Red all about what had happened. "Black Materia? What would you do with that?" Red asked with a worried expression. The girl didn't answer. "Well, come with me, for I have lost something, too...maybe that black figure who stole your materia is my thief," The girl, Jess, nodded and the two walked off, not knowing of the figure that loomed on the top of the cliff.

Jess looked at the creature, she was confused, one way it looked like a dog, one way a wolf and another like a lion, she thought for a long time but still couldn't work it out, "Sorry if I seem rude but.. What are you?"

[Red XIV]

"I am Red XIII, one of the last surviving creatures in this canyon" Red replied.
The girl looked shocked. "I hail from Cosmo Canyon," Red said. "Have you by chance seen anyone else on this road?" The girl still didn't answer, obviously dumb-founded by Red's intelligence. "Really, someone stole something precious from my grandfather and I need it back," The girl started to talk when up in the canyon a Shadow Lurker jumped between the two. It was a giant shadow soldier, carrying an electric sword and shadow shield.
"LOOK OUT!" Red yelled, and with that the creature attacked.

Jess took one look at the mysterious creature and ducked behind a rock, Red looked at her and she mimed to him
"What should we do?!"
Her father had only taught her how to use a sword and to fight with her bare hands, she had never properly used materia.

[Red XIV]

As the girl hid behind a rock, Red fought. Red jumped onto the creature, biting the top of its dark head. The creature bucked, knocking Red off. Slowly, Red managed to get up and rammed the creature with his headress.
It fell to the ground. As Red was about to finish it off, it blasted a ball of shadow energy at him, knocking Red out. It was up to the girl, now.

Red XIV

If you continue to leave your signature on in these forums, your posting privileges may be suspended in this forum. Please re read your posts every time you post to double check if your signature is on or not. I cannot stress to you enough how frustrating this has become. Thank you.

~Yuna

Upon hearing the scuffle only a few trees and rocks of a walk away, ken races toward the noise, he had been lost in this dang place for days, with no food or water left, hopefully the people partying will have some nourishment. just as the trees cleared he saw a light flicker and a red dog thing fly backward and a girl hiding behind a rock...(oh great whats she gonna do against that thing...if i help the'll be sure to feed me) ken dashes out from beind the rock, the girl looking more bewilderd and suprised by the second, "HEY BIG AND UGLY!!" the creature turned just in time to see ken jump and punch it in the face, his brass spiked knuckle sinking into his eye. Ken trying to be cool attempted to kick off of the monster to backflip but the dissoriented giant made him loose balance as he kicked off but landed on the red dog, just then the monster got his compuse in time again for kens shortsword to land between its floating ribs, the creature collapsed and returned to energy...exausted, "i cant go on" falls flat on his butt, hey lil lady you alright...of course you are now as payment for my services i expect...no demand, food!"

Jess stood up and went over to Red, she tapped his nose and whispered into his ear, upon hearing the man demand food she up at him, "Why aren't you the cheeky one?" There was a pause, Red was still un-consious on the floor she took a pouch of water and splashed it over his face, she looked back at the man "And what if I where to refuse to give you food??"

Ken sitting on his arse after hearing the reply for all his hard work, his energy spent and it becoming aparent in his voice..."well if another comes back...ill jus let it eat you......" just then the world became a spinnig blur as his eyes from fatigue and exaustion roll backwards and his back falling against the tree.

Leaving her to care for 2 obviously needy protectors.

Jess sighed, "Ok, I'll give you food, but we dont have very much anyway."
The guy didn't stir.."Not two!!!"
She went over and splashed water over the other guy then shouted in his ear.

[Red XIV]

Red stirred.
"Ugh," he stood up. "What happened." He looked around. The Shadow Creeper lay in a pile of its own purple blood. Another man lay on the ground. The girl stood next to the man on the ground. A bloody sword lay next to him.
"Hey, girl, what happened?" She explained. Red told her that he eats rarely and hunts his food.
"Food is scarce here," Red explained. "My species is able to survive weeks or even months without food," The girl was shocked.
"Anything else?" she asked.
"My race has long life span, I myself am 42. (BTW Red Trail is before FF7)"

Her eyes widened. Red looked at the man again.
"I'll go try to find some food, there are some normal creatures in the canyon, if the man will eat salamanders... Try to wake him up..." Red told her as he leaped of into the canyon...

Jess kneeled down by the man and tapped his cheeks... she had a tiny suspition that he may be faking. "Oh look food and transport we're saved!" there was a silence, he was out alright... she sighed and said right next to his ear "Er.. Hello in there? Wakey Wakey, rise and shine."

Kens eyes weakly opened, And met with hers...he was silent for the duration of his eyes focusing. "an, angel..." he presses his back against the tree the lil bit of rest giving him a small amount of energy to help, "But, you are ok m'lady?" He stares at her smile his body numb from exaustion..."am i dead?" the world looking like a dream, after all he was just an average man.
The woman just stared at him looking slightly agitated, he attempts a step, and rests his foot steadying himself, the second step towards her sends him falling forward toppling onto her.

"A-Are you alright is more the question.." The guy toppled onto her she put out her hand to help him up

Ken smiled weakly, "im ok..." His hand loosely reaching into a side pocket of his pants, and gripping a small vile of clear liquid he squeezes it until the glass fragments and dissolves immediately, the liquid is a potion, more of a solution made for healing, it activates healing cells already natural to the body, this chemical burst only lasts for a short period of time, followed by a warming sensation in the heart. ken stands almost fully healed, nothing a short nap couldnt cure. Kens ears were fully sensative to his surroundings, a sound keps getting closer to him leaf after leaf crunch then a branch. CRACK!!!

He grabs the woman in front of him by her arms and covers her mouth before she could make a sound. Ken pulls her quickly off of the trail they are on and ducks down forcing her to kneel with him. A black foot followed by another...SOLDIER!!!! SOLDIER, had been conducting trainig exercises in these woods for a long time, but never here, not in this particular location. His voice almost to a whisper..."shhhhhhh, dont give us away, im taking my hand off of your mouth now, are you gonna scream?" the woman shakes her head no, and he lets go. The thought kept crossing his mind, he knew they were looking to retrieve him, but he wouldnt go back to that place, his ripped sleeve uniform missing spots from tworn ranks and patches, nothing remained but his fatigue and his dog tags. "Come with me" he slowly and silently backs away from the open trail, "we dont have time to wait for your wolf, im sure he'll find us." He backs until he dissapears careful not to step on anything solid to alert them hoping the woman will do the same, but he doesnt have time to wait for her, afterall shes responsable for her own destiny.

Once they had gotten quite away from the trail and from SOLDIER she whispered in his ear, "W-Who..What?"
She couldn't get the words out. "Why...Why did we run from them?" She said trying to keep up with the guys pace.

Ken didnt answer he just kept walking, she woldnt stop asking...its not that,I...I just dont have an answer for her...ken get it togeather ol man its not right dont get her involved in your life, this is your problem...he thought to himself looking back at the girl just to see if she was still with him...silence followed them for awhile his stomach growling...its not right for me to allow her to get into this anymore then she already has... "its just not right!" he stopped, he didnt mean to say that outloud. He looked at her and threw up his hand, while walking off "do what you want" she stopped, he looked at their surroundings he had just made a huge circle again! But he pressed on thinking to himself yet again i cant just leave her here, shes even as lost as i am he turned and made his way back to her staring at her agitated, "you know what?! your becoming a big problem! I cant take care of you, Do you know how to get out of here?" Looks around again "gah!" And he stomps off

"Look, if you don't want to tell me I wont ask!" She turned and looked to where they had just been "I don't need looking after." Just ditch me like everyone else then.. She whispered to herself, He was starting to sound like her dad always calling her a big burden and saying she should be more independent. Jess rubbed her eye, she wondered what the hell could be going on in his head he seemed so..angry. Had it been something she had said.