FF8 Presents The Thing

Chapter 7


Outside the corpse of the Chocobo and Rinoa are place laying on the snow. Seifer and Squall emptied a few cans of Fuel on the body. Zell awaits nearby with a torch.

Selphie, “ We should have some hot dogs for this!”

Both Seifer and Squall back away from the bodies. Squall’s face is hard to read but inside he grieves for Rinoa whom he shall never see again.

Squall, “ Lit it up. “

Zell lights the tip. Takes one last look at Squall before spraying the bodies with flames. The group is somber as they watch the flames work. Soon they all go back inside as it was still cold and bitter outside. The day changes to evening. Selphie and Dr. Kadowaki are tending the last remaining Chocobo. Selphie handles feeding them and Dr. Kadowaki drew blood samples.

Dr. Kadowaki, “ Selphie, did you notice anything odd about Chocobo Bob? Anything at all?”

Selphie, “ Well, Bob was a fast healer! I saw him in the Rec room. He had his bandage off and when I put a new one on, his wound seemed almost all way healed. “

Dr. Kadowaki, “ That same night?”

Selphie, “ Yeah. “ petting a Chocobo on its head.

Dr. Kadowaki, “ What was it doing in the rec room?”

Selphie has to think a moment on that question, “After I fixed him up I thought he could use a little nap. When I came back he was missing. “

Dr. Kadowaki, “ Where did he go?”

Selphie, “ Umm, beats me!”

Dr. Kadowaki felt fear slowly gripping her gut, “ So that Chocobo was wandering the camp until night, unsupervised?”

Selphie, “ Probably... Was that a bad thing?”

Dr. Kadowaki, “ Were you ever alone with Bob?”

Selphie , “ Only for an hour and a half... tops. “

Dr. Kadowaki glazes into Selphie’s green eyes a moment. Then she sighs and rubs her temple with one hand as she walks off back to the kennels.

Squall was also walking the halls feeling distressed. Raijin was trying to keep up incase Squall needed him to do anything.

Raijin, “ Think it coulda gotten someone?”

Squall, “ Huh?”

Raijin, “ That thing, I mean it coulda got any one of us, ya know.”

Squall pauses at the radio room where Fujin was still trying to reach someone. Fujin was frustrated by the results so far and one could read it from her face.

Fujin, “ NEGATIVE.”

Squall, “ Keep trying. There has to be someone out there who can help.”

Raijin’s dim light bulb actually brightens as something dawns on him, “ No.. no way! That chocobo was like all over, ya know! “

Before Raijin could elaborate on this further Kiros comes into the hallway.

Kiros, “ Squall, I got some bad news. I looks at the charts and our storm is only going to get worse. Nothings coming in or going out anytime soon.”

Raijin, “ Squall, you have to listen to me!”

Squall, “ Tell me when the weather calms some, I want to send Seifer out to get help.”

Raijin, “ But Squall!” Still unheard.

Seifer, “ Like hell! I ain’t risking my neck out there until I’m sure its safe.”

Squall glares at him, “ Yes, you will! “

Raijin, “ Guys! That thing didn’t wanna be a dog, ya know!”

Squall glares at the taller man, “ Raijin, we are scared enough without you spreading more hysteria.”

Raijin, “ We can’t let anyone come here, don’t ya know?!”

Squall in soft tone showing his stress, “ I have some dead Galbadians.. including my girlfriend, a wreck alien spaceship, and bunch of dead Chocobo... I don’t need hysterical men. Now get off my back.”

Raijin goes quiet and backs off. Seifer looked as if he was gonna tear Squall a new one but decides to let is slide this time. There was enough tension in the bade and Squall had the stress of being leader. But next time god help him. Instead he pats Raijin on the shoulder. His friends words roll in his mind.