InsaneJournal

“Why do you stay?”

The beast sighs, his breath ruffling the fabric of her skirt as he shifts position to pillow his head in her lap.

Aerith sits quietly, allowing the creature to indulge in a few precious moments of rest. Slender fingers stroke the short dense fur on the beast’s jaw, explore the lines that are so similar to a dog or a large cat and yet so very different. She avoids touching the pattern on his throat, though; the likeness of a man is too unsettling, even now.

Will another beast come, wearing Zack’s face upon its pelt?

The creature looks up as she chokes back a sob, his eyes liquid-deep and far too wise. Rising, he shakes briefly, causing his chain of service to jangle as if it were a simple ornament and not a mark of the Goddess upon him. Never stepping so far away as to lose contact with the girl, he moves to stand behind her, resting his chin upon her shoulder and covering her with his great wing.

Aerith feels powerful arms enfold her in a protective embrace, just as she had held Zack so long ago when his mentor fell. Overcome with a sudden sense of dread, she turns to find herself face to face with the image of that lost angel, waiting silently upon the silky fur.

Throwing her arms about the creature’s neck, she pours her heart into her voice. “Save him. Please.”

A single white feather drifts down.