Date: Tue, 30 Jun 1998 10:35:39 -0600 Subject: [ffml] Fw: [MW] From: "Jaana" Jaana was glad to be back. The incident at Crystal Peak had not gone well, and the minute she emerged from the caverns into base camp, she immediately felt better. She was relieved to see that things in the camp went on as normal. Soldiers were sitting by their tents, throwing dice and drinking mead. There would be a big feast tonight, the camp cooks had already begun to prepare it. The smell of cooking meat turned her stomach. A soldier caught sight of the returning warriors and shouted greetings. A cheer rose from the camp. Jaana watched ahead, as Bacca, hand-in-hand with Lady Paladin, greeted his troops. She scowled. She had a headache, not to mention the burning in her stomach that had only gotten worse since they descended the peak, and was in no mood to deal with a crowd today. She ducked behind a barrel, and when the path was clear, began to make her way to her tent. As she approached her tent, she remembered that Sephiroth was probably still in there. They had been forced to leave him behind, after her attempts at curing him had failed. "He'll have to do it on his own, Jaana." Lady Paladin had said, "We don't have time for me to perform the healing ritual..." She hoped that he wasn't awake. She was in no mood to relay the story of what had happened, and she knew he would want to know. She dropped her helmet and spear by the opening to her tent and peered in. Sephiroth was lying on the bed, sleeping. Jaana sighed with relief. "Thank the gods," she whispered to herself as she quietly entered the tent. She was exhausted. She pulled off her armor, trying to make as little noise as possible. The cool air felt good against her skin. She pulled on a light robe and sat down in the chair opposite the bed. She studied Sephiroth. His fever had obviously broken and his wounds had almost completely healed. She was glad. She would ask him about his time at Mog's palace when he awoke. Before she could form another thought, Jaana was asleep.