Forever - Final Fantasy XII, Fran/Penelo, Becoming a Woman (1/2)
Daylight reached out over the rough landscape of the Giza Plains, slowly drying up further the land during its Dry season. In the distance, a Werewolf howled, vicious and hungry, waiting for the sun to warm up the ground further before hunting. Giza Rabbits scrabbled from their underground burrows to seek food before the Werewolves began to roam for theirs. In the small settlement of nomads, the inhabitants and the odd wanderers began their day, securing their borders from the creatures that roamed the Giza Plains and preparing breakfast as the Cockatrice chirped for food.
Fran was up long before anyone else, cleaning her bow and making sure her arrows were clear of sand and dust, things that could throw off the trajectory of her shots. In the tent behind her, Penelo slept soundly, even when morning light touched the Plains and the others were moving about. The others in their group had gone ahead two days prior, eager to hunt the Kaiser Wolf in the Westersand. Fran and Penelo stayed behind after a Hyena surprised Penelo as she was exploring a ditch in Warrior's Wash and tore into her leg with teeth and claws. If Balthier's quick hands hadn't gotten off a head shot at the Hyena, Penelo may have lost her leg. As it was, the wounds were easily healed with Cura, but it left Penelo completed drained and in dire need of rest. So she slept, on and off, mostly on, for the last two days. The others had wanted to wait here with her while she healed, but Penelo had urged them on, saying she was fine.
The viera stayed behind with the girl, sensing the extent of Penelo's fatigue. A fever had taken hold of Penelo last night, but Fran had herbs from Eruyt Village and mixed them with a potion to break it. Still, Penelo was wrapped up in blankets despite the heat, her body fighting off an infection that a healing spell couldn't get rid of. At noon, the sick girl finally awoke to Fran sitting beside her, a bowl of food at her side. Blushing, Penelo sat up, throwing off all the blankets but one - having been nude underneath it.
"How are you feeling?" Fran inquired, pressing her cool hand against Penelo's forehead.
"Better. Much better," the teen answered, stretching her previously injured leg out from under the blanket. "My leg's not itching anymore either."
Grasping a pale ankle carefully, Fran observed the spot on the side of Penelo's calf that had nearly been ripped out whole by sharp teeth. Small indentures were the only proof of what had happened and the viera traced them lightly with her finger, making Penelo blush even more. On various places on the leg were faint pinkish-white marks from where the Hyena's claws had scratched at flesh. With no hint of embarrassment, Fran also traced these with her fingers before withdrawing her hand and handing the bowl of food to the teen.
"Eat so your body will have the strength for travel tomorrow. We'll head back to Rabanastre in the morning and wait for the others to complete their hunt."
"Shouldn't we join up with them and help?"
"No, your leg may be better for travel, but fighting is something you should hold off from another few days."
Silence encompassed them as Penelo knew better than to argue with the viera woman and resided herself to the food which her stomach growled for hungrily. Red eyes watched Penelo, captivated by how far along Penelo had come during their adventures. Fran had met a child months ago, seventeen years old, orphaned, caring, and very willful despite her lot in life. Over the past months, as they drew closer to bringing down Vayne and his corrupted Judges, the viera watched the child become a woman of eighteen, strong and powerful in her magic, still caring, and still so very willful. Fran had observed similar humes in similar situations and had seen them grow twisted, corrupted by hate and pain. Those that did not become twisted, died before the seed could properly be planted. Even Vaan had fallen under the seductive allure of becoming a sky pirate, traveling the world and plundering everything he could, which while not necessarily wicked, could easily become so one day.