The morning dawned without fanfare, Sephiroth's internal alarm waking him long before the sun breached the crest of the cliffs and mountains surrounding the quiet town. With a feline stretch, loosening his muscles and pushing the sleep from his frame easily as a man long used to calling his body immediately under perfect control, the silver warrior sat up. To his right, Zackary remained splayed out across his bed, both feet poking out from under the crumpled sheets while one arm hung down off the edge with bare knuckles brushing the worn wood floor. To the General's left, Strife remained curled halfway into the fetal position on his side, golden yellow locks skewed over placid facial features. It seemed that perhaps the WEAPON was not an early riser the day after releasing his skills, then. More observation would be necessary before the elite could conclude the truth of that hypothesis, however. Yesterday was likely a more stressful period of time that the blonde had been through in quite a while. Drawing his knees up closer to his chest, ignoring the scratchy slide of wool against bare skin, and resting both arms on the newly created perches, jade eyes watched the still WEAPON in the grey darkness of the inn room. He looked particularly vulnerable now, defenseless in his dreams and unaware of his surroundings. Like any human. If the General had ever expected the mythical WEAPON to be a true creature, he would never have fathomed this. Strife was not some enormous beast nor did he have an exoskeleton for armor or some defining feature such as Sephiroth's own slit pupils. He was not impressively muscular and his voice was soft and had some indefinable quality that the SOLDIER just knew could never command the attention of a room short of screaming; nothing about the blonde struck fear into the hearts of men. The WEAPON was utterly concealed among the common members of society. That made WEAPONs far more deadly than simple but powerful beasts. Strife was intelligent and planned out his methods with the classical efficiency of a genius tactician much like the ancient Wutanese military commander and author of The Art of War, Zhuge Tzu. Sephiroth had studied the man's brilliance with fervor, absorbing the knowledge for his own and building his tactics on top of that solid foundation. What he saw in Strife was the same uninhibited understanding of the nature of society and the multitude of battlefields present therein, blinded by neither youthful ignorance nor foolish prejudice. If Zackary was to be believed, and there was absolutely no reason to doubt him, then the blonde had not miraculously developed this understanding but rather had long trained and kept it hidden; much like that noteworthy ability to sense the identity of materia, which was also an impressive trait but still feasibly within the realm of humans. Should all WEAPONs be gifted with such insight, and should more than one exist at a time, combined with the inhuman strength and agility, mankind could be wiped from the surface of the Planet before anyone would know to put up a struggle. There was so much the SOLDIER did not yet understand and yet the questions were surprisingly satisfactory revelations on their own. The blonde knew what he was doing – he had to know or he would never have fooled the entire world for so long.

Abruptly, feline eyes blinked and turned away from the still WEAPON. How long had Strife been in this world? That was something worth focusing on in the early morning. Members of such a tiny community as Nibelheim would well be aware of the surname and there was no harm in information gathering. Resolved, the General turned the sheets from his body, stood barefoot on the chill floor, and soundlessly padded to his bag of belongings. The light drizzling patter of early rain persuaded the silver warrior to forgo his leathers and don the customary uniform of a SOLDIER elite; sleeveless ribbed turtleneck, trousers baggy enough to allow uncommon flexibility and aerial feats, and worn combat boots slid on much like a second skin. Masamune's harness was quickly secured from back to hip, the sword latched comfortably to his side like another limb, and the rag he used for quick field cleaning was unceremoniously stuffed into his pants pocket. Taking off the hair tie and securing it to his brush, the silver warrior quickly combed the lengths of his hair, ignoring the slight crimp at the end caused by the tie, before picking up his usual gloves and bracers from where they had rested to dry out for the night.

Zackary made a muffled murmur into his pillow but otherwise did not twitch as the General slipped silently from the room. The WEAPON appeared to be sleeping just as heavily, allowing the SOLDIER a quiet early morning on his own. The old stairs were noisy as he descended, wood grinding against wood as he made his way to the first floor. The innkeeper's wife was busy in the kitchen from the sounds clattering through the wall, and one of the sons sitting slack in the chair behind the registration desk reading what appeared to be a comic book was the only other person apparently awake at this time. Hazel eyes glanced up at the stairs, sighting the silver warrior and causing the young man to scramble into proper seated position before the General touched the final step. The awkwardness was dismissed as the elite gracefully stalked to the counter with an inquiry about food. The young auburn-haired male stuttered that the hot meal would be ready in less than an hour but surely something could be found if Sephiroth required it. Declining the unnecessary offer, the General turned toward the front windows and gazed out at the still dark grey town. There were a few individuals milling about, but both the rain and the lack of light were contributing to the scant number of mountain dwellers out this early.

Turning feline eyes back to the nervous young man behind the front counter, Sephiroth decided he might as well see what he could derive from this individual.

"Does this town keep a record of those who live here?"

Hazel eyes blinked but the SOLDIER stayed completely still as he awaited the response.

"Erm, I dunna' believe there be any tomes about our hist'ry. If'in there's something particular ye be looking for…?"

Frowning, the General nearly sighed. Nibelheim might be inside Shin-Ra territory, but the people were still very set in their ways. Any information would be by oral report, full of bias and rumor and unlikely to be useful at all. Still, it was a starting point if nothing else could be gained from it.

"I am looking for some information on the family Strife."

Hazel eyes lit up, the potential for rumor practically hanging like a sign over his head in his excitement. Jade eyes narrowed but he said nothing as the young man spoke.

"Ah, the prophets."

Gesticulating in an attempt to get the youth to expand his topic, the elite stifled a derisive snort.

"Strifes be witches, the whole lot of them. Ma says they all be crazy, talking to the dead or some such. Family's down to its last two. Ain't likely to be anymore kin in that line. Not after the accident."

The innkeeper chose that moment to walk in from the door behind the counter, a scowl firmly on his age-worn features.

"Boy, finish ye chores and stop yappin' like a woman."

The young brunette blushed in embarrassment, scurrying into the back without another word. Pale brown eyes watched the SOLDIER before the unshaven man sat heavily in the now vacant chair his son had recently occupied.

"Strifes be a strong group. Ain't no denying there's something not right about them, but they been here longer than any of the other families in town."

Sephiroth nodded, more interested in learning about this "accident" that had befallen the family.

"I've no doubt that they are strong. What about them makes them so special?"

Snorting, the grizzled inn owner crossed his arms in a clear sign of irritation.

"I ain't interested in gossiping like some old woman. The Strifes be Odin blessed, keeping track of the town's heritage and speaking the old tongue better than the rest of us. They be the ones who keep the hist'ry. The school doesn't teach half what that family knows."

Mildly curious about the staunch defense of the clan name when it was obvious from the man's son that at the very least his wife was prejudiced, Sephiroth shifted his stance but refrained from crossing his arms, knowing better than to deliberately project menace when attempting to glean information from common civilians.

"I never meant to imply disrespect."

The door to the inn swung open behind the SOLDIER, cutting him off, and jade eyes turned to watch two figures in heavy brown cloaks trudge in, one carrying a hefty-looking sack as the other shorter individual closed the door behind them.

"Ah, thank ye for helping, Rory. I'll leave the rest to ye."

The figure holding the satchel pushed the cloak fabric down, revealing one of the older progeny of the innkeeper. The boy nodded once to the, judging by the voice, still cloaked woman, before trudging off into the back areas. From behind the counter, the older man grunted once.

"All be mended now?"

The cloaked woman turned her head before small hands reached up to move the hood back. Bright golden hair was pulled back and tied away from a young face, revealing softly glowing azure eyes and a gentle smile.

"Ah, good to see ye, Jonas. None of the blankets be tearing, now?"

The innkeeper respectfully changed his posture before replying.

"Never once, Missus Strife."

Feline eyes narrowed, surprised by the title and briefly wondering what age Nibelheim natives married. The woman couldn't have been older than twenty; she was far too young to have a child that claimed to be sixteen. That the two remaining Strifes were related as siblings was unpredicted as well. Before him, the woman tutted and took off her cloak, hanging it by the door and taking a moment to smooth out her heavy skirts. The General noted with mild interest that her hair was quite long, fully braided and draped around her neck like a loose scarf.

"I'm told ye be running low on mead, now?"

Waving his hand in the direction of the bar, the unshaven man spoke.

"It be inevitable. Winter just left the mountains."

Grinning, blue eyes crinkling in amusement, the woman nodded.

"So it be. I be making some reserves, unless ye need help in the kitchen."

The innkeeper frowned, sending an incredibly unsubtle glance toward the SOLDIER, before turning his focus back on the woman. Bright blue eyes had followed the gaze, locking eyes with the General and smiling politely.

"Good day, Mr. Shin-Ra. How ye be liking Nibelheim?"

Feline eyes narrowed, surprised by this young woman's daring.

"It remains unchanged from the last time I was here."

The young blonde laughed, a sound just as vibrant and gentle as the rest of her.

"We would be boring to ye big-city folk. Now, ye have a good day, Mr. Shin-Ra."

With that, the young woman turned and glided right through the open frame into the bar area and around behind the counter without sparing the General another glance. Intrigued, the SOLDIER trailed after her, all but ignoring the call that breakfast would be prepared in a half an hour at most. The other room was large – surprisingly so – and the elite decided it was in need of a better cleaning job as the sole of his boot stuck to a tacky spot on the floor. The woman was nimble, weaving through an array of empty mugs that had not been cleaned the night before and pushing empty barrels out of her way; she was decently strong, as well, hefting up a half-full keg that sloshed noisily onto the countertop without much of a struggle before curling around the newly made passageway to push through a door. The blonde paused as her small hand touched the smooth wood, her other hand brushing down the fabric of her skirts just once.

"I not be one to care about such things, Mr. Shin-Ra, but ye might wish to eat before ye start drinking this morn."

Blinking once, feline eyes narrowed before the silver warrior stepped over to the door that Strife exited through. Although it felt somewhat foolish to stand facing a closed door, the SOLDIER could tell that he was not intended to pass beyond the threshold and held his conversation with that barrier between them.

"I was not particularly interested in drinking so early, madam. Rather, I have been told that you are the one whom I should seek to learn about the town's history."

There was a shuffling sound from the other side of the wood, followed by a quiet murmur.

"What ye be wanting, then, Mr. Shin-Ra?"

His fingers curled, not quite menacingly, as the silver warrior held stance in front of the closed door. Sephiroth knew that he needed to begin with a general enough topic that could be narrowed down slowly to the family Strife or he would risk closing off his access to this "accident." Being such a backwater town, unless it was catastrophic, Nibelheim was about as likely to have reported the incident as the many terrorist factions were to suspend their distaste for the Shin-Ra company to have a world summit to discuss Shinra senior's good, upstanding nature.

"I would be most interested in the effects of Mako on this area."

Another slight shuffling noise followed his statement before the door swung back open, displaying the tiny blonde woman now in an off-white, well-used apron, pale eyes narrowed suspiciously while the line of her pink lips bowed in a subtle frown.

"I appreciate ye respecting that ye dunna' belong in the back, but ye may as well join me if we be having any discussion, Mr. Shin-Ra."

Stepping past the threshold, feline eyes quickly scanned the room, taking in the distillery-like atmosphere with a raised silver brow. It should not have surprised him that the townsfolk multipurposed their buildings and yet the General could not help but think it odd that the inn was also where the alcohol was manufactured. Before him, the little blonde woman set about her tasks to prepare more of the town's beverage of choice and the SOLDIER took a second cursory glance about before stepping off to a side that looked as though it would keep him out of the way, propping his sheathed sword against the wall to keep from accidentally catching her on and consequently damaging anything. As something of an afterthought, the elite responded to her words.

"I am General Sephiroth, madam, and my current inquiry has no bearing on my assignment here."

Although she did not turn to look back at him, the young woman continued to hurry about her morning activities with all of the skill of an individual who had grown up with the task. Over a dozen vats lined the room in two rows, waiting to be filled with water one by one by the woman carting large buckets from the taps lining the far wall; it was work that looked to be much more difficult than such a tiny form could possibly be capable of doing for long, but there was barely any strain in her voice as the female Strife spoke.

"That be as it may, we be seeing about such things later. Now, ye dunna' seem to be a man interested in our religion, so perhaps ye might wish to narrow down the scope of ye question."

Feline eyes narrowed, following the tiny form traveling back and forth from taps to vats, but the silver warrior was only mildly confused, not offended, by the statement.

"I fail to see how Mako would be a religious experience."

A breathy, light laugh broke from the woman's parted lips, but she did not cease the pattern of her work, made more expedient by keeping the water running to fill the whole line of nine ten-gallon buckets as she carted them to the farthest tanks from the taps one at a time.

"The Lifestream be the blood of the gods. Without that blood, there be no life breathed in us. But ye not be interested in that. I be a reasonable woman, Mr. General. I raised me son on me own. I have a thick enough hide for ye to ask what ye really want."

Feline eyes blinked in disbelief, glancing over the woman once more but there was no true indication of age – no wrinkles, no thinning skin or graying hair, no prominent veins – she could not possibly be a thirty-something mountain dweller. The SOLDIER crossed his arms over his chest and appraised the young woman more sharply.

"Son?"

Taking a moment after pouring a full bucket into a thick metal vat, the young Strife turned and flashed a quick smile at the elite before trekking back to the taps.

"Me boy. Cloud. He be in the military, Mr. General."

Jade eyes glinting, the silver warrior shifted his weight on his legs but showed no other physical acknowledgement.

"Indeed. Then, perhaps you might inform me of your own family history, madam."

Although her shoulders tensed, the female Strife otherwise did not show any signs of being bothered by the seemingly callous statement.

"Me boy be me pride and joy, Mr. Shin-Ra. If he be a problem for ye then I've no doubts that he end up doing the dangerous work on his own outside of the service. That being true, I must ask ye at least be a good enough man to get him back home before ye leave him to rot."

Frowning, the SOLDIER uncrossed his arms even as he strode toward the buckets sitting full at the taps, waiting to be carted to one of the vats.

"Cadet Strife is not in any trouble. I have merely overheard something that may or may not pose an issue should he enter SOLDIER."

Picking up a ten-gallon bucket per hand, the elite headed to the third in the line of vats that apparently needed to be filled and began the task. Azure eyes gave him a subtle, appraising glance, vastly unlike the normal stares that he was subjected to, as Sephiroth dumped the buckets and returned them to their places, picking up the next two. Picking up the edge of her apron to dry off whatever water had splashed onto her hands, Strife hummed thoughtfully.

"I knew me boy had the strength all along. Well, I suppose the gossips in this town are just as efficient as anywhere else. No use in making ye wait."

With that the young woman smoothed out the apron again and picked up a bucket, carting it along as she spoke. Bemused by her insistence, Sephiroth watched her drag the heavy plastic container past him and waited for a pair of buckets to fill again. Once she reached the vat that was currently being filled, Strife's head lowered into a semi dejected pose and her lips pursed, a long pause settling silently between the two inside the distillery before thin shoulders pushed back and her head raised again.

"He was six that year. Now, I don't rightly know what of the town ye know and what ye dunna' know, but we aim to keep our lot away from that machine ye put up in our mountain and ye can hear a lot of ghost stories to that effect. Me boy never cared for the tales, not when there's so much work to be done, and as the man of the house he took his duties seriously even then."

Dumping the bucket, she returned it to a tap and waited patiently for the next bucket as she tilted her head and locked her gaze with feline eyes. There was not a single flicker of the usual fawning expression in her clear azure eyes, but rather a world-weary look that comes from seeing more than you want sooner than you should. It was a look that the General was well acquainted with after his studies under so many war veterans and it didn't suit the image this woman projected around herself.

"That year, he went into the mountains to gather some berries and didn't come back. Mr. General, ye be knowing the effects of long term exposure to the Lifestream, do ye not?"

The elite inclined his head, acknowledging her statement, before he replied.

"Extended exposure has both psychological and physiological effects, including but not limited to behavioral changes and rapid muscle development."

With a mirthless smile, the young woman turned to pick up a sloshing bucket and Sephiroth glanced down at the taps himself to take note of a pair of filled buckets. Picking them up, he followed Strife down the isle.

"At least ye not left wholly in the dark."

Dumping the water into the vat before her, the woman pursed her lips and cast a wary glance at the SOLDIER before turning to face him, bucket dangling loosely in both small hands. The high clang of a warning bell startled the young woman out of her thoughts abruptly, cutting off whatever she might have desired to say. Hastily setting down both buckets, no longer concerned with dumping them, the elite left Strife to her duties and hurried from the back room, snatching up his blade on the way out. The bell grew shriller with less barriers but the SOLDIER paid that no mind as he swept through the first floor of the inn and came out into the town square. The light rain from earlier was now barely a drizzle although the streets had long been reduced to a horrendously muddy state. Already inside the town gates, several adolescent Nibel wolves bounded through the streets in crazed abandon. The white froth at their mouths implied that they were deranged and therefore an uncommon threat. More unsettling, however, were the three green-bellied dragons circling up above, not yet casting shadows in the grey dawn. They were high enough up that they may well not be planning to attack, but the SOLDIER did not survive so long in life by underestimating opponents and so kept his eye on them as well. From the mountain side of town at least two nests of kyuvilduns had descended into the village, heading towards buildings that were being shut up in obvious attempts to lessen the damage caused. In all likelihood this was a regular occurrence and the town was always prepared for it. Sephiroth, however, was not pleased with the idea that a township under Shin-Ra law and protection was so used to attacks that none of the faces he saw in the windows were panicked.

Unsheathing his sword in a smooth motion, the SOLDIER immediately took offensive stance and first focused on taking out the deranged wolves before they could infect anything else. Even in madness the beasts were intelligent and quick, never grouping close enough for long enough to warrant a wide range ice attack. Annoying, to be sure, but Sephiroth was not interested in playing games and instead waited for them to strike. Swift and accurate, Masamune's edge met the wolves in mid lunge, severing four into two halves and disemboweling the fifth, who had been clever enough to attempt to dodge. The effort was in vain for the creature as its pink innards tumbled to the murky ground moments before the rest of its carcass fell. Nudging a decapitated wolf head out of his way with a black boot, the elite next turned his attention to the insects invading the town. Being the only live meat outside of a building currently, he was the prime target and there was no question in his mind that he was about to be surrounded. Luckily, kyuvilduns did not boast to be intelligent creatures and therefore stayed clumped together close enough for the General to take out a third of them with a single ice cast. The rest briefly scattered before bounding around to circle their prey intently. Sephiroth held stance, his breathing even and his mind sharply focused on the task at hand.

The clicking and chittering of at least two dozen insects attempting to coordinate a strike erupted around him – feline eyes narrowed before the silver warrior shut his lids, highlighting in his mind the frantic sounds surrounding him. With a slow, composed breath, Sephiroth took a half step to the right and sliced through the kyuvilduns that attempted a strike from behind. A fluid twist of his waist and flick of his wrist brought his blade back to slash through the carapaces of the insects to his left before the SOLDIER gracefully flipped out of the way of an attack on his other flank that he couldn't intercept in time. Drawing himself back into a neutral pose, bright feline eyes opened to survey his remaining attackers. As of yet, the dragons were only circling high above.

Dark green legs scuttled back and forth, producing a drunken weaving pattern as the insects thinned out to surround him again. Nonplussed, the General went on the offense and sliced straight through the kyuvilduns in front of himself. The rest of the insects lunged all at once and the silver warrior could not help but smirk as he stopped his forward momentum on the fall of his right boot and redirected all of that thrust in the slash of his sword as his torso torqued to give him full range in a strike that severed all of his attackers in two. Up above the trio of dragons circled one last time before gliding off into the mountains silently; apparently whatever they were looking for was not here. The present threat taken care of, the elite flicked his blade to be rid of any chunks of bone or innards that may have attached themselves and pulled his worn-out rag from the pocket of his standard issue pants. Swiping Masamune carefully, at the same time checking for possible nicks or other irregularities, Sephiroth kept his eyes distinctly targeted on his blade even as he consciously picked up the sounds of townsfolk exiting their houses to begin their morning routines.

Satisfied that his sword remained undamaged, the SOLDIER sheathed the blade and turned back toward the inn. The female Strife was nowhere to be seen; the General surmised she was still tending to the alcohol production but he doubted she would be any more receptive of him than before. Turning sharply as he stepped beyond the threshold of the entry door, the silver warrior strode confidently to the stairwell. It would still be some time before added forced arrived, but Sephiroth did not plan to sit idly. Thinning out the monster population in the Nibel range would do some good and had the added bonus of giving the elite more opportunity to observe the WEAPON in his somewhat restricted role. Pausing briefly at the bottom step, feline eyes turned to regard the innkeeper sitting behind the counter polishing a little ivory figurine held too awkwardly to discern precisely what it was created to mimic.

"How frequently do those sirens go off?"

Without raising his head, the old man inspected the smooth surface in hand meticulously as he responded.

"Every other day, about. It be worse in a few months, when the eggs hatch."

Turning without acknowledging the man's words, the General strode purposefully up the stairs, ignoring the ominous creak of the wood underfoot; the inn would not be open for business if it were rotting. Passing into the room rented for their stay, jade glossed over the WEAPON seated on the edge of his bed securing his combat boots before redirecting to Zackary, who was clearly mourning the loss of his shirt although he had at least managed to change the rest of his uniform. Seemingly oblivious to the silver warrior's presence, the brunette spoke almost somberly about the torn material in his hands.

"Man, why'd it have to be my lucky shirt? I mean, I even wore it so we could have a better chance at finding some clues and now it's never going to see another mission. Plus it totally broke! I got gored!"

Strife stood in a fluid motion, picking up his gloves and putting them on as he turned to face the oddly depressed SOLDIER.

"You're alive. Your shirt still seems lucky to me."

Sapphire eyes blinked slowly before a grin suffused the unhappy swordsman with new vitality.

"You're right! Aw, but it's not suitable uniform attire anymore, is it, Sephiroth?"

Uninterested in inserting himself in the current conversation, the elite declined to respond to the question posed.

"When you are ready we will head out."

Oblivious to the dismissal, the SOLDIER stood from his seat on his bed and swaggered to his duffle, flashing the usual charismatic grin toward his superior officer.

"Food's ready?"

Declining, once again, to respond, the silver warrior turned his focus to the blonde. With a few minor adjustments, the WEAPON was fully situated in his trooper uniform sans helmet and rifle. Gesturing with a faint nod in the blonde's direction, the silver warrior spoke levelly.

"What happened to your rifle?"

There was no semblance of hesitation in Strife's voice as he replied.

"Shortly after I was left at the Mako I was attacked, sir."

This caused Zackary to immediately hurry over, new shirt still in hand.

"You got attacked?"

Dismissively, the little blonde shrugged off the obvious worry in the SOLDIER's voice.

"It wasn't much. The wolf looked like it might have been rabid and it was emaciated – I think it got stuck in there. My rifle jammed –"

"Again?"

The brunette fumed, crossing his arms and sending a leery eye in the elite's direction.

"I told you Scarlet's skimping on her products again. Probably because of Heidegger."

Frowning, the General glanced toward the younger SOLDIER in acknowledgement before returning his focus to Strife. Without further prompting, the WEAPON continued.

"I used it to keep the wolf back for a while but then he bit into it and wouldn't let go. We were close to the Mako and he lost footing while trying to disarm me, sir."

Sephiroth's expression remained neutral but he internally debated the validity of the statement. There was no way to question the blonde further without raising Zackary's suspicions, however. It was, undoubtedly, partially true to an extent, just as the report on the new strain of monsters from yesterday was a mixture of fact and fiction.

"So you've been without a weapon practically since we left you? Shiva's tits, Cloud!"

With a bland look at the brunette, the elite interceded.

"Perhaps you have forgotten, Zackary, but the troopers have metal plates installed in their assigned gloves to assist in boosting damage should they be disarmed."

The General had never been content with how little the main army was given to keep themselves alive. Granted, such measures were unnecessary for a SOLDIER, but every small accomplishment in redirecting funds and aid helped to keep his army intact. The WEAPON bestowed a similarly bland stare on the elite before turning to the brunette.

"I'm fine, Zack. The troops all know martial combat skills. And there's a martial teacher in town, too."

Perking, the brunette leaned over to place his head at the same level as the little blonde.

"Really? Did you ever take lessons with him? What's his name? Can I meet him?"

As per usual, the questions rambled out without any pause for a response. Used to such behavior, Sephiroth ultimately turned away and stood at the tall, narrow window letting in the grey morning light. Behind him Zackary moved about, most likely to dress and get ready, while the blonde responded.

"He lives near the inn and you can ask Master Zangan yourself."

The brunette made a noise muffled by fabric before the scrape of metal against wood alerted the silver warrior that his colleague was now armored and likely armed.

"I will. What's he look like?"

"Wutanese."

The brunette hummed, stomping his feet to adjust his boots, before trudging over to Sephiroth's side.

"Where are we off to today?"

Jade sharply turned, focusing directly on azure, before the General spoke in a rather abrupt tone.

"Cadet Strife, do you know where, precisely, the kyuvilduns nesting grounds are?"

Pale eyes blinked once before the short blonde nodded sharply.

"There are several locations in the mountain ranges."

Absently nodding, the elite glanced briefly at the younger SOLDIER before turning to the door.

"We will eat now. Afterward you may acquire any materials you feel you may need from the stores and Cadet Strife will guide us in the mountain ranges. Our purpose until we receive more troops is to thin out the Mako monster population in this area. The alarms go off almost daily and that is unacceptable. This will be an all day venture. Be prepared."

Zackary nodded, at once eager for combat and affronted for the people of the village, while the WEAPON saluted crisply.

"Sir, yes, sir."

The brunette picked up his speed, obviously planning to gorge himself before he went to gather a few odds and ends. Sephiroth held back, waiting for the blonde to pass his side before quietly speaking again as his left hand passed over his right bracer.

"Cadet Strife."

Azure eyes turned to regard him silently, a spark of question in his otherwise expressionless gaze, even as the body went completely rigid in mixed fear and concern. The WEAPON was a terribly good actor and Sephiroth was realizing this more and more now that he was aware of what he was observing. Dismissing the thought, the General extended his left arm, closed fisted, and waited for the blonde to hold his hand out. Once the smaller male complied, the elite dropped his mastered ice materia in the gloved palm and retracted his arm. Blue eyes momentarily flashed, but the SOLDIER did not doubt that his intention was recognized. For Zackary's benefit, since the man held back from racing down to eat largely for curiosity's sake, Sephiroth elaborated.

"Now that you have cast once, it will be easier to draw spells. Since you no longer have long range capabilities, I want you to carry this and use it as needed."

Materia in hand, the soldier saluted.

"Sir, yes, sir."

Zackary grinned brightly at them both before barreling down the stairs, sounding like a heard of chocobos stumbling down a sheer cliff face and smacking into every gnarled dead protruding tree on the way down. Strife gave the silver warrior a short, appraising look before nodding once sharply, both in acceptance and in thanks. The two of them turned to the stairs and slowly made their way to the waiting breakfast. The WEAPON, Sephiroth noted, did not set off a single creak on the stairwell, while the elite with all of his feline grace and dexterity was barely any quieter than Zackary had been. Perhaps there was a trick to it. The silver warrior would have to watch other natives to see if it was simply a learned behavior from long practice.

In the barroom area Zackary was seated at a table filled with various foodstuffs, already set to eat everything before him. Sephiroth held in his amusement with the younger man's fidgeting impatiently for his companions to take their seats, instead smoothly inserting himself into the chair opposite his fellow SOLDIER and taking in the spread of their breakfast with minor distaste. Most of this meal looked terribly unhealthy but this was not a Shin-Ra compound and as such meals would not be quite so balanced. Zackary either did not realize this or did not care, instead digging into the piles of heavy morning foods with gusto, taking large mouthfuls of sausage and syrupy waffle at once. Seated silently in the chair to Sephiroth's right, putting his back to the bar and keeping the entryway into the room visible, the WEAPON picked at a plate of eggs, fish, and toast with a tense expression on his features. The elite took in his food choices with far less disgust, taking a similar collection for himself.

Aside from the scrape of cutlery on pewter dishes and the thunk of heavy mugs of milk or water on wood, the meal was surprisingly silent. The door to the back room swung open after several minutes, prompting a glance from Zackary but no noticeable reaction from either the blonde or the silver warrior. After a moment the soft tap of leather-bound feet padding across the floor drew the elite's attention to the female Strife making her way to their table with a rather sharp look in her eyes. She stopped silently behind the WEAPON, watching his head tilt back as he took a long drink from his mug.

"Ye been away awhile, boy."

Swallowing, the blonde lowered the carved pewter from his lips and set the mug on the table before turning in his seat to look at the woman behind him with a half-smile curling the edges of his lips.

"I don't get enough leave time to just drop by."

Laughing, the subtle ire in her body language gone, the woman flicked a finger of her left hand against the soldier's cheek.

"I wouldn't be asking for such. Ye too busy to drop in before ye leave town?"

Bringing an arm up to rest against the back of his chair, the blonde cocked his head.

"I tried yesterday."

Frowning, the young woman absently smoothed out her skirts as she spoke.

"Yesterday I was with Hilde, helping her tend the chores while her husband be sick in bed. Poor woman has a newborn and two younguns with no help to clean, cook, or mend a single thing. If'in I'd known ye be here, I'd made ye help."

Smiling outright, azure eyes bright, the blonde soldier replied.

"I'll help if you can get permission from my commanding officer; I'm on duty right now."

With a vivacious smile of her own, the woman turned her bright blue gaze to the other two men at the table.

"That all? Well, who I be asking? Ye the one?"

The last was directed toward Zackary, who had at some point given up on all forms of table manners and had stuffed an entire waffle into his mouth with a cheeky grin directed toward the blonde pair. Sapphire eyes twinkled upon hearing the question, but the brunette shook his head and pointed toward the other side of the table in lieu of his full mouth. The small blonde woman turned her gaze to the SOLDIER and the General found himself once again under the scrutiny of the little female.

"Ye be heading this trip, then? Well, ye heard me earlier. What ye say?"

The silver warrior frowned, not in the least pleased by the idea of losing any insignificant chance to observe the blonde in action. Acquiescing could have other benefits, but the elite had already sketched out their time for this trip to the best of his abilities.

"Our schedule for the day is unfortunately set, madam. However, I would not be adverse to other suggestions."

Pink lips curling down at the edges, the blonde woman strode the short distance confidently toward the SOLDIER.

"Ye need to speak clearer, Mr. General. I ain't spent much time with me boy in close to three years now. Do ye need him or not?"

One fine silver brow hitched, but the General was cut off before he could even open his mouth as Zackary dropped his mug onto the table and clapped his hands together sharply.

"Can we get a home cooked real Nibelheim meal? I bet you cook the best food! Man, I'm jealous; I wish I had a pretty sister like you do, Spike."

The blonde woman blushed in clear bemusement as she laughed, turning her focus on the brunette.

"Ye be flattering me, lad. Cloud be me son and I be plenty old enough to be ye mother."

Sapphire eyes blinked in the same disbelief that Sephiroth had felt earlier when he took in the female Strife's appearance, but the younger SOLDIER was less subtle in cases such as these where his charismatic personality glossed over the seeming rudeness of his words.

"No way; you're way too pretty to be a day older than me. There's no way you're grandma material yet!"

Bringing a hand up to cover her smiling lips, pale eyes crinkled merrily as the previously silent blonde soldier shot a harsh glower at the brunette.

"Don't be a pervert, Zack."

Failing to conceal her grin, the young woman placed both hands at her hips sternly.

"Cloud Strife! Dunna' be rude to that man. I be certain his intentions were chaste. Fine young lad must have a lady by now."

Grinning broadly, the brunette puffed up his chest and directed a childishly mischievous grin at the WEAPON.

"Yeah, Spike, don't be rude."

Bright azure eyes glowered at the SOLDIER, but the blonde remained petulantly silent. Sephiroth looked on quietly, mulling over the situation. Today was already set for monster hunting, but as long as they were efficient in their kills, there was nothing forcing them to return to the mountains come the following day. There were no leads on the missing soldiers, much to the General's chagrin, but they could not risk returning to the tunnels now that the WEAPON was lacking both a weapon and a night-vision helmet, which the elite honestly did not recall seeing the blonde equipped with at any point in time. Aside from monster extermination, there was really nothing to be done until the reinforcements arrived. Plus Sephiroth was far more likely to satiate some of his curiosity about the WEAPON by staying in town, where he could easily leave Zackary to his own curiosities if need be to do a little digging.

Crossing his arms, the silver warrior sent an apathetic look to the other SOLDIER before speaking. Zackary caught the look and settled himself, but continued grinning at the two blondes.

"Mrs. Strife, we are currently still on business. However, I am not without sympathy. Reinforcements will be arriving in a few days."

Sephiroth paused, noting the inquisitive expression on the brunette's face, before dismissing the look and continuing his train of thought.

"I require your son as a guide in the mountains today. For tomorrow and until the rest of the Shin-Ra personnel arrive, your son will be free to do as he pleases."

Clasping her hands in front of her, the woman smiled sincerely at the SOLDIER and cocked her head to the side.

"Thank ye, Mr. General. If'in ye be free, perhaps ye can join us and get that home cooked meal."

Arching a silver brow, the elite refrained from allowing himself further expression as he responded.

"Are you bribing me, Mrs. Strife?"

Those bright blue eyes glinted with humor as the woman pointed a finger at the silver warrior's chest.

"Ain't a bribe since ye already gave me what I wanted, Mr. General. I be paying ye back for ye kindness."

Feline eyes stared up into unwavering blue, hardly intimidated by such a small form, but nevertheless impressed by her gall.

"If we are to be working together, madam, perhaps it would do for proper introductions. My colleague is Brigadier General Zackary Fair, SOLDIER first, and as you know I am General Sephiroth, SOLDIER first."

Azure eyes glanced between the two SOLDIERs before the woman nodded to herself.

"Ye can call me Sigrun."

Zackary leaned back in his chair with an easygoing smile then, catching the female Strife's gaze briefly before she returned her eyes to the silver warrior.

"Alright, lads. Ye can help Cloud mend the Braundis's fence. Hilde and I be focusing on indoor chores and ye be paid in food and drink."

Turning to the WEAPON, the female Strife crossed her arms over her breast.

"I need be heading over that way now. Ye know where to go, boy. Bring ye big, strong SOLDIER friends when ye ready tomorrow."

Without another word, the small blonde turned and exited the room, walking around the silver warrior without sparing him another glance. The male Strife put his head in a hand, signifying exasperation, while Zackary's eyes trailed after the woman with no small amount of amusement. For his part, Sephiroth was so surprised that the woman had outright dismissed him that he was left momentarily speechless. Once the clack of the door to the inn opening and then shutting was heard, the brunette turned a wide smirk toward the WEAPON.

"Shiva's tits, Spike! I think I'm in love with your mother. Seriously, I want to marry her. She's perfect."

Jade eyes watched as the brunette degenerated into not so quiet chuckles, hardly seeing the comedy in the situation, while Strife rolled his eyes and went moodily back to his food. After an apathetic glance at the younger SOLDIER, Sephiroth followed suit.