Incomplete

[statusnotquo]

Who: Ana and Cloud
Where: Outside of Zelda's hospital/sanctuary
When: Today - early afternoon
Summary: Ana is restless and so is Shyama
Rating: PG for a bit of potentially graphic detail (kick me, Eilidh, if I made any errors.)

Comments

[wolfsstrife]

Cloud usually returned to Zelda's hospital at least once a day, just to see if she needed any help. The Restore Materia had been one he'd held on to tightly, slotting it into the bracer he'd bought in Midgar. Maybe it wasn't quite Mastered yet, but he was grateful that it seemed to be casting a stronger Cure now. Maybe a regen later, which would help Zelda a lot more.

Freki bounded along ahead of him. She had grown in the past month, and was now rather larger than one would expect of a pup her age - maybe even for direwolves. She still had that almost unfortunate habit of coughing after she barked, and was now picking up one of attempting to bowl into people (read: Zack) when she saw them.

It was with no small thanks that Cloud watched her approach Ana curiously rather than vigourously, and sniff at Shyama. The only brother she usually saw was Seph, after all, and she seemed curious.

The polar bears on Ana's clothing were unfortunate, and made the gun and the wolf beside her seem completely out of place. "Might have some spare gloves, at least," he offered by way of greeting. "Don't have any snowflakes or polarbears on them." He didn't ask her if she wanted them, but it was as close as he would get. Freki sniffed vigourously at Shyama.

[statusnotquo]

Ana blinked as she saw the other direwolf approach. Freki was perhaps a tad bit smaller than her brother.

Shyama had smelled Freki before she approached. His head lifted slowly and his eyes flickered as he gazed at his sister. She was the first of his litter that he had seen since their birth. Curious and cautious, Shyama sniffed at Freki and then rose up to stand. There was no fear, anger, or malice. Simple, innocent curiosity. Freki's scent was familiar. He knew that she had to be his sister.

Hearing Cloud's voice, Ana lifted her head and grimaced slightly at the snowflakes or polar bears comment. "...Hello, Cloud," she greeted him gently. The Gods just seemed bring the most unique people to this place. "Gloves would be nice," she nodded and rose to stand as well. The last few days, Ana and Shyama have shared the same sort of demeanor - quiet and cautious.

[wolfsstrife]

Freki seemed satisfied with Shyama, and proceeded to try and tussle with him. It was all in good fun, and Cloud spared her no more than an exasperated, if affectionate, look before turning his gaze to Ana again.

"I'll see if they're still in the hospital," he said. He'd stocked up on them from Midgar, having a feeling that they'd want scarves and gloves that didn't have snowflakes and trees on them. He'd given them to Zelda to take care of when she had brought her furs and heavy fabircs over from Hyrule. Most of them, he imagined, had been shared out.

"Want to look?" he asked, deadpan, a sharp relief from Freki's rather loud ways. Of all the ones he had to scoop up, it had to be the bounciest. Maybe it was the Zack in him.

[statusnotquo]

Shyama let out a bark and yelp at Freki as she tried to tussle with him. He nipped at her ears and tried to tussle back.

Ana looked over and stared wide-eyed at the two wolves. Shyama wasn't very vocal a wolf, but now it seemed he found his voice.

Looking back at Cloud as he asked the question, Ana arched an eyebrow and nodded. But she smiled at Shyama and Freki. Siblings playing together had always been a nice sight.

[wolfsstrife]

The play-fight was well underway by the time Cloud had opened the door to the hospital. It was hard to feel wary around Ana if Freki was getting on so well with Shyama. He didn't know what it was. When Seph had snarled and Freki had lunged, he'd known Genesis didn't mean him well that time. Later, when she had licked Seph after Zelda healed him, he'd known that it was, for that time, forgiven.

Maybe the wolves were one huge metaphor to help him understand his reactions to others. Or maybe he was reading too deeply into their interaction. He'd found he'd been doing that since his last Dark Tower dream.

He led Ana inside, hearing the yips (and occasional coughs from Freki - he hoped that went away soon) and rummaged for a bit before pulling out a pair of plain grey gloves, perhaps not as thick as the wooly ones, but durable.

"These do?"

[statusnotquo]

Ana followed, looking over her shoulder for a moment to take look at the two as they play-fought. It was adorable and seemingly right.

She sighed as she followed Cloud, smirking to herself at yips. Ana stood off to the side, giving Cloud room, and rubbed her arms. Seeing the gloves, she nodded.

"Yes, they will. I truly appreciate it. And hopefully soon I will not be in these...embarrassing clothes." Then she asked, "How are you?" Deep down, Ana supposed that since they were from the same world then they would have more common in this strange place.

[wolfsstrife]

"Mm. They should be getting back soon," he replied. Hopefully before the world changed. He didn't know what would happen to them if it did. Would they all come falling down, because there was no plate? Or would they stay up there until the week was out? He hoped the latter, provided the fliers could catch the non-fliers. Zack would have a fit if he was deprived of Angeal for more than a week.

Her question took him slightly off-guard, and he blinked at her in silence for a moment before pulling himself together. It honestly wasn't something he had expected. Fleetling, he remembered feeling close to Elena, just from the way she looked at him. But her eyes were blue, not brown, and Elena had never been his sister anyway.

"Fine. Thanks," he said, "What about you?"

[statusnotquo]

Who? she first thought and then remembered. Sometimes Ana dreamed that she could fly without the aid of a helicopter. What would it be like to really have wings and fly?

Spending days recovering could be lonely despite having Shyama at her side. He was a comfort but not enough human contact. Ana felt detached from everything.

Mentally biting her lip, Ana nodded, "You're welcome." Then she breathed deeply and winced sightly. "I'm alive. I'm still here."

(My God... I apologise for all the typoes in the last post ::facepalms::)

[wolfsstrife]

"Good. Heard the rat-men got you bad."

It might have been insensitive, but it didn't cross Cloud's mind. He just looked at Ana, in her puffy, cutesy winter clothes, and felt awkward. Not that it was her in particular (though he knew Rufus and his Turks didn't care much for him), but more because it was a person he wasn't used to talking with. She was no Zack, or Aerith or Tifa - or Zelda. He simply didn't know what to say.

So he shrugged again, awkwardly, and said, "I've got a restore if you're still hurting. I mean, Zelda probably fixed you up good, but... it's there."

(it's okay. :) *pats on the shoulder*)

[statusnotquo]

Taking the gloves, Ana pulled them on and pressed the fingers of each hand between the other for a nice fit. Then she stopped and stepped back at Cloud's reply.

She looked up at him and yet restrained herself from crossing her arms over her chest or abdomen. It was still tender despite Zelda's amazing work. Yet this was the most awkward she had felt the entire time she's been in Purgatorium.

Settling down, Ana shook her head, "I'll be fine. Thank you though. Zelda is an amazing healer."

(<3)

[wolfsstrife]

"She is," he replied. The awkward silence (at least, awkward on his behalf) grew, until there was the scrape of claws on the floor, and Freki came bolting in. She stopped close by Cloud, and barked happily at Ana. Then she coughed. Cloud rolled his eyes and went down on his knee to rough up her fur.

"Yours make as much noise as she does?" he asked, fondness creeping into his voice even if he tried to keep it out. "What's his name?"

[statusnotquo]

Ana pressed her glove-covered hands together, trying to banish the cold and the awkward silence. Then she watched Freki come in and bark at her.

A smile softly spread across her lips at her and then Cloud.

"Sometimes...but it's only when he's around people he's suspicious of," Ana answered and then let out a high whistle.

"Shyama," she replied a few seconds before there was a scraping of claws and the black direwolf came jogging in. He sniffed at the air, not investigating everything knowing Ana wouldn't want him snooping too much.

Ana knelt down slowly, hiding the slight discomfort of her still-sore skin and muscles, and scratched behind Shyama's ears.

[wolfsstrife]

"I think Freki feels she has to make up for Seph's quiet," he answered, giving the pup an affectionate scratch behind the ears. She responded with a lick to his gloved hand. "Seph's the pale grey one that belongs to Genesis," he added to clarify. "Wolfgang's her only other sister, I think."

Reaching over, he held his hand out for Shyama. He didn't seem particularly vicious, but just laying his hands on a wolf which didn't know him was probably not the best of ideas. He doubted it meant harm though; Freki would have known.

"He a bottomless pit as well?" He asked. It was easier to talk about the wolves. Even fun. Even with a Turk. "I can't help but shake the feeling Freki is going to be at least the size of her mother. Rate she eats, probably sooner than later."

[statusnotquo]

Shyama drew closer to Ana, sniffing at her gloves and then brushing his nose against her cheek. He was definitely a protector, affectionate, but quiet most days. The young Turk listened as she continued to pet her direwolf.

The dark-colored direwolf turned his head as he caught sight of Cloud's hand moving towards him. Cautious, Shyama gave a look towards Freki for a moment, then Ana, and then turned back to look at Cloud.

Ana nodded softly at him. It's okay. Shyama stilled and bowed his head slightly to Cloud's hand.

"Definitely...in fact he needs to eat. I would take him out on a run, but...I'm not there yet," Ana replied, a confession tagged on the end. Then she bit her tongue and looked at Shyama's paws. "I think he'll be big as well."

[wolfsstrife]

Cloud scratched Shyama behind the ears, feeling inordinately pleased with himself. It was stupid, he knew, but he couldn't help but feel that way. Like he'd been... accepted and trusted, easily. It was a pleasant feeling.

"I can take him, if you want." It was a blunt offer, but meant kindly, "Freki'd like someone to run with, I'm sure."

He didn't doubt all of the direwolves would, quite simply, be huge. He didn't doubt they'd grow to the size of their mother. Something told him, however, that Freki was going to be really gigantic. Maybe it was bias, or maybe it was just the name. Shyama certainly didn't look small, and Seph was the biggest pup yet, he was sure.

[statusnotquo]

Shyama was indeed cautious, but if Freki approved of him and allowed him to be her master then he'd accept it. He looked up at Cloud every so often and then gave a soft bark to Ana.

Ana reached over and stroked Shyama's head. For the time that she was healing and resting from her wounds, he felt out of place and tired as well.

"Umm, perhaps, he hasn't been far from me since I took possession of him...," she replied.