We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.

-Thornton Wilder

Fang ransacked the creature for the final pieces of copper they needed to fix the airship. Taking an additional circuitry board, she tossed the items to Light. "Those things are finicky, never hurts to bring an extra."

Reaching high above her head, Fang stretched out with a satisfactory sigh,"well, that's that. Hopefully your boys can repair the ship with this."

Lightning nodded as she glanced over the parts. It wasn't impressive, but it'd have to do.

The huntress came up behind Light, her voice soft, "how's Bhakti movin' along?"

Reading the data, Farron shrugged, "he's in the eastern plains. Almost 65 percent covered."

With a nod, Fang turned to the sun. She raised her hand above her eyes and squinted. "We have around three hours until the sun sets. Let's turn in at Oerba for the evening. By the time we get anywhere new to map, it'll be dark. Not to mention the fog will be rolling in and all the nasties along with it."

The soldier nodded once more. She wondered how anyone survived to adulthood on Gran Pulse. There was danger to be had around every corner.

"Light," Fang began before stopping herself. She knew something was on her mind but couldn't tell what it was.

"I'm going for a walk. I'll meet you back at Oerba before nightfall."

Dark brows furrowed as green eyes studied the woman across from them. Lightning refused to meet her gaze. Fang ran her fingers down the sergeant's arm, her touch warm. Light's eyes flicked over Fang's features before she moved away. She paused beside the huntress, brushing her knuckles against Fang's. Before Fang could react, the pinkette was on the move.

Watching as the soldier disappeared, she sighed to herself whilst thrusting her lance deep into the soil. She didn't know how long she'd be gone, but if she weren't back in two hours she'd go bring her back herself. The Pulsian understood Light needed her space, however this was not the safest time or place for it.

Lightning searched all around her with each direction looking the way to go. She had only been gone a couple hours and the fog had blown in at an alarmingly fast rate. She ran a gloved hand through pink bangs and scratched the back of her neck; a mannerism picked up from her partner. She had left to clear her mind of all the things that have happened in such rapid succession. Their mission was a fluke, whatever it was going on between her and Fang made her anxious yet warm, and another set back on account of the weather was really just the cherry on top.

A deep growl sounded behind Lightning. She groaned irritably, "and now my imminent danger. Of course."

Turning around, Light's eyes slowly climbed the massive creature's physique and came to rest on its vicious canines. Shadows formed on both its sides as two smaller fiends slinked up from out of the fog. The soldier's gaze made a triangle from all three beasts as a heavy sigh escaped her, "great."

With a snap of her fingers, Light activated her Grav-Con. She bounded backwards, unsheathing her gunblade in one swift motion. All three beasts lunged toward their prey, snouts snarling. Demonstrating dominance and possession, the largest creature swung its massive paw at the lesser fiends, swatting them away from its meal.

Seizing her chance, Light jumped forward, spinning her blade around, connecting with each menace. The smaller beasts howled in pain as the behemoth shrugged it off. Countering quickly, it swiped at Light, knocking her back a couple meters. As blood trickled down her arm, the soldier scrambled to her feet. The wolves pounced at her in sync. Dodging one attack, Lightning fired a round into its shoulder. The other Gorgonopsid side-stepped hard, managing to pin her down. With only the gunblade keeping the beast at bay, Lightning struggled for the upper hand. She felt the steam of its breath on her face and the hot saliva spraying off its sharp canines. Behind them, the behemoth snatched up the wounded wolf and snapped its neck in two. The body fell to the ground with a sickening thud.

Farron rolled to her right with all her strength, pushing her blade into the heaving chest. The edge sliced through dense skin, revealing crimson muscle. The beast recoiled, allowing Light to ram her blade into its heart. Two down. One to- The behemoth barreled its massive body into Light and heaved her high into the air. The sergeant's vision went dark. She shook her head, inhaling deeply, trying to regain her sight.

Free falling, Light conjured a fire spell and threw it into the eyes of her adversary. She snapped her fingers and landed softly on the earth, behind the monster. With all her might, she cut the legs out from under the creature, making it fall to its knees. She fired two rounds at its bobbing head. One grazed the temple and the other ricocheted off its horn, causing shrapnel to shoot back toward Light. The fiend bellowed a dark roar. Swinging its fist back and connecting with Light, the soldier flew back into a fog-hidden boulder.

Feeling a rib crack, she pushed through the excruciating pain, attempting to find her weapon. Her eyes searched frantically through the fog as the beast stomped toward her fallen form. The sound of metal on nail clanked. Light saw her gunblade kicked aside by clumsy paws. Casting a fire spell, she once again threw it into raging eyes.

With the fiend distracted, Light darted her way to her weapon, only to be tossed aside. Pain shot through her body as she rolled away from the claws hammering down. Her shoulder swayed loose in its socket, dislocation apparent. With her good arm, Farron grabbed the gunblade as she sprinted past it. A barrage of bullets lit the fog, each one connecting with thickened skin.

Falling to the ground, the monster began to shudder and glow a bright emerald. Its fierce howl echoed through the land as it stood on its hind legs, towering over the soldier.

Lightning wiped the sweat from her brow as she cursed under her breath. Taking advantage of this free moment, she knelt down and popped her shoulder back into place. She swallowed a potion from her pouch and rotated her damaged arm. Though it wasn't 100%, it was all she could ask for in this moment.

An enormous serrated blade sliced through the air, splitting the ground as it missed its target. A pink blur dashed around the beast, fira spells and bullets peppering its hide. The behemoth circled its sword around, forcing Light to jump in an effort to avoid it. Whilst airborne, it grabbed her with jagged claws and reared back the blade. Struggling to free herself, Light's exertions were futile. The grip tightened around Lightning's form. The pressure made her feel as if her head would explode. The blood ringing in her ears was deafening and her vision faded in and out. As her consciousness waned, she pleaded one simple name. She closed her eyes as the sword raised even higher into the sky. Light's breath shuddered as she prepared for certain death. The release never came.

The cleaver remained motionless as the beast's eyes deadened to a dull crimson, the fire within them extinguished. The pressure lessened around her body as she fell, no sound around her. The beast toppled forward, Fang riding it into the dirt. Her lance was deeply embedded at the base of the skull. The sparse fur was swirled around the hilt; indication of the blade having been twisted into the spinal cord. Thundering into the ground, the jaw hit with such force that it snapped with a nauseating crack. Hopping off the deceased, Fang made her way to her partner. She pried open the massive claws to reveal Light's bruised form. Internal bleeding evident, Fang lifted Light's head to her lap. She held a potion to the soldier's parted lips, tilting it slightly so as not to choke her. "C'mon Lightning, down this," Fang whispered, her voice thick with worry.

Lightning's head fell to the side with only half the vial being finished. "Damn it! Please be enough…come on Light. Stay with me."

Fang pushed back the matted bangs from her partner's face. She wiped the smudges of blood and grime off pallid cheeks, studying her features for any sign of improvement. Occasionally she'd turn behind her, watching for more fiends in the fog.

"Light…please…"

A dull heat enveloped the younger woman's battered body as a tiny wave rippled under her skin. Color returned to her lips as she whispered Fang's name. "Yes Light! I'm here. I'm here. Finish this!"

Holding the vial once again to parted lips, Fang poured the potion into an eager mouth. She popped the cork off one more vial and in a second the contents were depleted. The bruising on Farron's body lightened, her breaths deepened, and her cuts diminished. Slowly she opened her eyes, a verdant gaze veiled in moisture met her azure stare. "You're not leaving my sight again."

Light gave a weak smile to Fang's comment as she closed her eyes once more when the huntress placed a quick kiss on her forehead. She felt the pad of the brunette's thumb as she stroked the soft spot behind her ear. "Can you sit up?"

The question took the sergeant out of her daze. She immediately attempted to, regret strong on her face. "Easy Killer. Let me help you."

Gently, Fang assisted Lightning. "You ready for another potion?"

A hoarse "yes" was all the pinkette could muster through her swollen throat.

"Bottoms up, yeah."

Light took the bottle from Fang and downed it in one smooth shot. Her head clouded as the liquid ran through her, repairing torn muscle and cracked ribs. Her headache lingered but at least now the pulsating behind her temple was manageable.

Hearing the howl of another behemoth in the fog, Fang shifted her weight and stood. "Let's go babe. We gotta move."

Using Fang for support, Light shakily got to her feet. She stumbled toward her gunblade and sheathed it. The two headed into the abyss, retracing their steps back to the village.

With luck, the duo made it into Oerba without any more altercations with the wildlife. Fang led Light to the bed and gently helped her out of her boots and equipment before situating her under the sheets. She sat beside the soldier for a couple moments, brushing her bangs from her face and watching for any signs of discomfort. When it looked as if the pinkette had fallen asleep, Fang stood slowly and turned toward the door. A weak hand wrapped its way around her wrist, holding her in place. "Stay."

The Pulsian swallowed hard and kneeled down to Light's level. Affectionate eyes met tired ones as she gave a small smile. "Shhh, rest now Sunshine. I'll be back in a few."

With that, Light released Fang's wrist and allowed her to leave the room without another word. The huntress briskly exited the home and made her way to a small and secluded corner of the town. She crouched down as she pulled her hair into her fists, distress displayed across her features. She managed to keep her cool in front of Lightning but now she could finally release her grief. Today was too close. It was too close a call and it scared the huntress more than anything. She felt her hands shaking and eyes burning against her will. She stood and punched the wall next to her, attempting to release the emotion within her. Decorating the wall with dents, blood dripped from the brunette's knuckles onto the floor.

A shadow hid in the darkness, watching the Pulsian destroy the integrity of the building. Lightning remained still, hearing the turmoil escape her partner's wails. Guilt flooded through Lightning's heart. This entire time she had been so worried and preoccupied about having to be responsible for Fang. She was so focused on having to take care of her and to return her to her friends, that not once did it cross her mind that perhaps Fang was doing the same for her. Light cursed at herself for being so blind. She chided herself for being so selfish. "Tch, idiot."

Fang turned quickly toward the sound. She squared herself up and challenged, "come out, come out."

When Farron shuffled from out of the shadows, the daunting glare Fang wore disappeared into doting surprise. "Fang."

"L-Light? What are you doing here? You should be recovering."

The younger woman slowly made her way towards her partner. "Fang."

Rushing to the sergeant, Fang held her shoulders and attempted to turn her back toward the common house. "Come on, let's get you back. You're still hurt."

"Fang!"

The huntress stopped and clenched her jaw before facing Lightning. Sky eyes bore into Fang's soul. They glanced down over bruised fists and a tinge of pain flashed through them. Light raised her gaze once more, Fang watching her expectantly. She tried to apologize, but the words wouldn't form. She tried to give appreciation, but her tongue laid heavy in her mouth.

Sensing the static between them, Fang nodded in understanding at what Lightning was trying to say and gave a weak smile. Her voice soft, she attempted once again to return the woman back to bed, "c'mon. Let's go."

Licking her lips, Lightning held her ground. "Fang I…"

Hearing her name as a whisper, the Pulsian swallowed hard. Her verdant eyes pleaded with Light's to allow her to escort her home.

With her words failing her once again, the soldier clumsily pulled Fang into a tight embrace. Though her ribs were still bruised, she crushed the older woman into her, hoping to convey what she was feeling. Fang felt her heart swell as she wrapped her arms tenderly around Lightning. She rested her cheek on her head and closed her eyes.

Farron felt her heartbeat against Fang's as she too closed her eyes beneath furrowed brows. It wasn't enough. She pulled back slightly and crushed her lips against Fang's, her hands gripping the brunette's clothes tightly. Pouring every bit of emotion she had into the kiss, Lightning stepped back feeling lightheaded.

Fang pulled her close after watching her form falter, holding her steady in her arms. She bent over and lifted the soldier with ease, carrying her back towards the common house. Once again she tucked the pinkette in for the evening. Only this time, she curled up beside her under the sheets.

Propping her head up on her hand, Fang watched Lightning sleep. Her eyes traveled over the cuts and scrapes that covered her face. Gently, she rubbed her thumb over the woman's cheek, causing a minute smile to briefly form on pink lips. Fang leaned down and caught the smile in a chaste kiss. She whispered soft words before pulling away and laying her head down onto the shared pillow. A timid hand found Fang's and interlaced their fingers, never letting go once throughout the night.

A.N. And wow...it's been a while since I've updated. I know this isn't much. Not really an excuse aside from writer's block and I haven't been able to play to game to keep them in character. I hope I didn't stray too much. Anyways, if you're still reading this, I thank you. Any critique or comments, please share. ^.^