Cloud jerked his head up. He thought he was in pain. No, he thought someone else he knows was in pain.
Where did I get that sensation?
Slowly, Cloud shook his head and tried to clear it. He felt quite groggy as if he had been drinking. The muscle in the back of his neck felt strained and side of his forehead burned.
What happened?
Cloud tried to focus his vision. For a moment, he felt with a pang that he had gone blind. But, as the surrounding slowly adjusted itself in his eyes, he relaxed.
…Wait a minute…
Cloud quickly got up from his position. The disturbing sensation crept back at the pit of his stomach as he looked around the place. His heartbeat quickened.
Is…is this where I had been last?
There was no mistake in what he was seeing. It was the city of Ancient all right but something has definitely changed. The deserted place seemed almost…lively.
"Aeris? Barret? Tifa?" Cloud feebly called out, deciding to find his friends first. He took a step forward. "Where is everyone?" He wondered, glancing around once more.
How’d he get here? The last place he had been was the altar with Aeris. Whatever the reason, he was no longer there. He was standing alone in the sleeping forest. The thick trees looked down at him. The vast sky peeked in at him over their heads. Sighing, Cloud leaned on one of the trees and tried to sort through his mind.
He couldn’t understand what was going on nor did he comprehend the disappearance of his friends.
Am I being too paranoid or is someone watching me?
Cloud looked around. He certainly felt like someone was there, among those dark hovering trees.
No, I am being ridiculous.
But his instinct as SOLDIER kicked in his blood, making him realize that there was indeed someone else other than himself.
And it didn’t feel like friendly one. A hostile creature. It felt like numerous monsters he fought before.
Suddenly, a sudden light burst right in front of him, knocking him down to the ground. He was being attacked!
"Damn!" Cloud quickly leapt to his feet and drew his huge sword in a single motion.
Another lightening flashed. Cloud was far more ready than last time.
To the right! His head screamed.
Cloud dodged the light in a nick of time, falling to the ground in the process. "What the hell is going around here?" Cloud cried, bracing himself from yet another blow. This was insane! Whoever it is, they were attacking like crazy, obviously thinking he is the enemy.
He posed himself to get up. At this rate, it was just matter of time before he meet his doom. Gripping his sword, he looked up.
His heart froze. His eyes widened.
His eyes traveled further and further up until his neck couldn’t take it anymore.
It was obvious that he missed to notice the assailant because he failed to realize that the giant trees standing around him was –alive.
They were not only alive but they were also attacking him!
"