Ever After, Part 8

The trees in the area barely clung to life. Their leaves were more gray than green. No birds perched in the trees, and as far as Zidane could tell, no creatures had been foraging on the forest floor either. Just when he thought the hunt was hopeless, Zidane heard a terrible screech to the south. Perhaps they would have something other than vegetables tonight! With a hopeful heart, Zidane wove through the thick trunks and scraggly undergrowth.

He peered into a wide, roughly circular clearing when he reached the spot from which he thought the screech originated. Nothing. The area was absolutely clear. Perhaps it had just been a small animal? Still trying to maintain his optimism, Zidane stalked into the clearing and pushed back a curtain of vines. To his surprise, those vines felt cool and fleshy. One lashed out to grab at his arm, but already expecting something was amiss, Zidane somersaulted backwards into a ready stance. In a blink, his Ultima Weapon was unfastened and in his right hand.

Two stories above the ground hovered a mass of tentacles and a gaping maw full of jagged teeth that could only belong to a malboro! Before Zidane could think of cursing his luck, the malboro reared back for a breath attack. Zidane dashed to the right and a noxious cloud of zombie breath followed after him. If he waited for it to dissipate, the malboro would have another chance to attack, so Zidane gulped down a lungful of air and leapt directly for the levitating monstrosity.

One sweep of the Ultima Weapon severed a mass of tentacles and opened the foul creature's soft underbelly. Zidane's follow-through would have carried him safely behind the malboro, but as he passed under the injured monster, two spade-like tentacles latched on to the side of his face and the middle of his back. Instant, excruciating pain followed as the malboro literally sucked the life out of the young genome. Zidane couldn't hold his breath any longer. He screamed and writhed in the malboro's grasp, trying to somehow wriggle free. The pain had numbed his arms, so any strike he made against the creature clumsily fell short.

The genome felt the world slip away, one drumming heartbeat at a time. His arms dropped to his side and his legs went limp. Tha-thump. His body didn't give up completely, though. Tha-thump. He could feel the heat building from deep within. Tha-Thump. All that pain, anxiety, and hunger drove him into a familiar rage. Zidane tranced!

The sudden explosion of energy caused the malboro to withdraw its vampiric tentacles. Zidane dropped into a crouch and felt the glow surround him. Suddenly, he was covered in pink fur and fueled by fury. He stood, turned, and faced the malboro with a knowing smile. "Suck on this big, green, and bloated." Then Zidane focused all his trance energy into one, devestating attack. "DYNE!"

The flood of power tore through the clearing. Zidane watched the malboro's silhouette flake off in large cinders with the flow of destructive energy. Trees in line with the blast bent backwards and some even broke but every one of them was charred and smoking when the attack passed. Zidane remained in trance for a few minutes afterwards, revelling in the power and warmth. Then, as quickly as it had come, the trance left him in great, arcing wisps of energy.

With a clear head, Zidane glanced at the destruction about him and shook his head. He fastened Ultima Weapon on his back and scratched his hip. "Good luck finding anything in this forest now, Zidane. Smooth move." With his mouth pressed into an angry, straight line he turned and began to walk out of the clearing. His second step sent him stumbling. There was a squeak and Zidane recovered by pinwheeling his arms. What the hell had he just tripped over? Most tree stumps don't squeak. With one hand back, ready to draw the Ultima Weapon again, Zidane turned. A moogle was sprawled in his path, peering up at him with horrified eyes.

"Don't hurt me!" It squealed. "I'm a friend, kupo!"

"Morrison?" Zidane stepped forward and helped the moogle to his feet. "What are you doing out here?"

The moogle dusted himself off and then reached into the bag on his hip. "Making deliveries for MogNet, kupo!" He handed a letter over to Zidane. "That monster, kupo, had been chasing me through the entire forest. Thanks for saving me!" he chirped appreciatively.

Zidane turned the letter over in his hands. "Uh. No problem. Glad to help." He tore one end open and pulled out the parchment inside.

Zidane, Lani found in Mountain Path. Badly hurt. Please help!
~Mogako

Zidane quickly turned the piece of paper over. There was no date and it looked like the letter had been quickly scribbled in the first place. "It doesn't say where in the Mountain Pass! Morrison, how old is this letter?"

Morrison shrugged casually. "I just deliver the mail, kupo. I don't date it or sort it."

Stuffing the letter into his pocket, Zidane grabbed the moogle by the shoulders and peered intently into his eyes. Just above his head , Morrison's pompon bobbed with a quick shake. "Do you know where Mogako lives?! This is urgent!"

The moogle squeaked in protest. He looked around desperately, either trying to find a way out of the situation or trying to remember where exactly Mogako dwelled. "Kupopo! I-I don't, but Mogimi who lives just south of here would. K-kupo, he's her cousin!"

That was all Zidane needed. With a hasty word of thanks, he rose and set out through the forest in the direction Morrison had pointed. Luckily, his path was mostly cleared from the Dyne earlier. He could hear Morrison squeaking after him as the moogle tried to keep up. Zidane didn't have a moment to regret how he treated the moogle. He'd apologize later. Right now, he had to find out where Lani was on the Mountain Path.

After a few minutes, Morrison called to Zidane from overhead. "Po! Kupo! To your right, kupo!"

Zidane stumbled slightly as he changed direction. He lept over a fallen tree and slid down a moss-slicked stone. There was another surprised squeak and as Zidane landed in a large pile of leaves a moogle peaked out from behind that moss-slicked stone. "What's the big idea? Kupo! I don't come sliding down YOUR roof!"

Morrison landed behind the other moogle and gave him a soft bop on the head. "Kupo. Zidane needs help!"

The other moogle blinked and gazed up in wonder at Zidane. He chirped, "He's Zidane? Po-kupo-kupo!! Can I have your autograph?! I'm the president of the Zidane Tribal fan club, kupo!"

Bewildered and then amused, Zidane shook his head. Morrison beat him to the explanation, though. "Later, kupo! Zidane's friend is dying! We need to know where Mogako lives, kupoppo!"

Mogimi jumped up with surprise and looked between Morrison and Zidane. "Cousin Mogako had to move, kukopo, after the roots retracted," he chirped nervously. "I don't know where she lives now, kupo. Um, um, I can draw you a map, kupo, to where she used to live- - if that will help?"

Zidane nodded, trying not to let his disappointment show. "Sure, sure. Just hurry, okay?"

Morrison peered over Mogimi's shoulder as he scribbled out a rough sketch of the Mountain Path. Morrison offered suggestions here and there and finally things degraded into the two moogles chirping at each other in agitation. Zidane shifted from one foot to another, anxious to get going. When the moogles showed no sign of resolving there argument, he held up his hands. "Look, forget it! Thanks for your help, but I'll try and find her on my own."

Morrison flitted forward and pulled on Zidane's cuff. "Kupo! Wait. I have some items that might help." He unshouldered his bag and offered it over to Zidane. "Potions and stuff, kupo. You're going to need them."

Zidane smiled and accepted the bag. "Thanks Morrison. I won't forget this. Catch you later."

Both Morrison and Mogimi waved to the young man until his waving yellow tail could no longer be seen through the trees. "Do you think I should have warned him about the zombie dragons, kupo, that moved into the region?" The moogles stared at each other in a pregnant silence and then Morrison cuffed Mogimi hard on the head.