Moonlight waited for thirty seconds and yet nothing came his way. The feeling was familiar but he couldn't put his hands on it. The one thought was Cloud and that was it.
'Maybe he's also heading to the light and is been attacked.'
He lingered, thinking if to go or to stay, but chooses to go on his own mission after a thought passed his mind, 'What if I interfere with whatever he's doing?'
Crossing the lake was no biggie, the ground was shallow and Moonlight's bare legs dipped into it gently. Moonlight still held that rowl while passing through.
The piercing light stood as a landmark, a place where the two brothers will meet. There had been no thought of Moonlight once doubting his brother's survival and now he knew Cloud was close by.
The weather, sky, sun, did not change at all as the sun glow still stayed. But, the forest looked to be having a change of its own. The energy flowing in this place was enormous, massive and natural.
So natural, Moonlight could see green all over lights fluttering around him. Despite the sun's gaze this area does not seem affected in the slightest. In fact, its color rejected the sun totally.
'Maybe it's the light.'
….
'But still, if my mother is Phoenix, then who's my dad? Moonlight thought. 'I hope I don't find myself in a reunion session. Just meeting with her is enough.'
Moonlight shivered at the thought of having a conversation.
'But, there's something about that woman I still can't put my hands on.'
This time, he hugged himself.
"No no!"
BAAAMMMM!!!
Moonlight turned.
The sound was close, too close. Ahead, something was coming at full speed, but this time the thought of reacting did not pass Moonlight's mind.
"What's that?"
A gust of wind blew Moonlight's hair. He blinked. A familiar presence filled him, it was close. Instantly, he realized.
"Cloud"
He said.
"Moonlight"
Cloud stopped just right near Moonlight. His clothes were still same unlike Moonlight's own that was remaining only trousers.
"You're alive."
"Of course I am." Moonlight replied smugly. "Did you think I was gonna die or something?"
"No no…and besides what's this with you?"
Cloud eyes fixated on the bag on Moonlight's hand.
"Oh this…is a rowl?"
"A rowl?" replied Cloud. "Why are you with a rowl, in a bag?"
"Well, this specific rowl spoke?"
"Uhhhuh…"
"I'm not joking, it's true. It really spoke. It said 'stop' or something."
Cloud paused and stared at it. "Not my business, I've seen enough for today. The light is still shining, up till now."
He turned then murmured. "...."
Moonlight looked at the rowl in his hand and wondered if it was okay to carry it around like this.
Nevertheless, he still followed after Cloud.
'What's that?'
Cloud walked casually ahead of Moonlight, his arms flailing through the wind. Right at his back-waist, Moonlight noticed something resting there.
It was the size of a palm, had a wooden shade on its side and is not that wide.
Moonlight asked. "What's that, Cloud?"
"Huh." Cloud stopped and turned.
"That, at your waist..." Pointing to its location, Moonlight replied.
Cloud checked, found and brought it out. It was a book, a small one painted brown.
"Oh yeah, I forgot I had this or did I?"
He glared at it for a bit and chucked it down his cloth again and happily went on his way.
Moonlight could not take this for an answer as he gained the need to know what is in that book. If he doesn't, it will cause problems for him and he knows it.
"Um Cloud?"
"Yes…my little brother."
"W-wh-what is—did you do all this time?"
Cloud stopped. "Hmm, I could have asked you that but here's is a quick rundown on how things went."
"Well, we got separated for starters. And I met with weird rock monsters, plants, and more that I can't even describe them that easily…and oh! Each one of them I left alive somehow came back in bigger numbers, and somehow they all become better than what they used to be."
"Wow." Said Moonlight in amazement.
"And—what did you even encounter?"
Cloud asked.
Moonlight answered quickly. "Well, I met with some fluffy creatures, they moved to a small pond and I followed. They arranged in a straight line and one by one, they got in the pond…"
Cloud thought, 'Aww… he's life all sunshine and rainbows.'
"…and then they were killed by some monsters in that pond. But soon, a bigger version of them then came and brutally killed that monster, letting its blood spray and its organs split out…"
Moonlight continued.
Cloud's face darkened.
"…and then before I knew it, rowls lunged at him and even I can't explain it, my body began to do impossible things and bam, bam I defeated all and kept this one alive for that reason—huh."
Cloud pulled Moonlight closely and hugged him. "I'm sorry. You've endured."
"Huh."
"Besides, how old are you?"
"Six."
His expression screamed shock but later changed to one that read, 'I understand, makes sense.'
"Okay…."
"Why do you ask?" Moonlight asked.
"Well, you look like some warrior built for hunting monster that was reincarnated into the body of the child. I mean, there's a literal souvenir in your hands right now."
Moonlight narrowed his eyes to his hands. "Oh…you believe in reincarnations?"
"Well, not that is my fault. Let's get this over with…yawnnnnn….and go rest for the night." He stretched his hands and stared at the sky. "I'm not sure that much time has passed."
WHEEVE
Moonlight lifted his hand and set the bag to his back, and followed Cloud.
They walked for a long distance without encountering any single monster and this time both were not affected by the strange stillness of noise. At this moment, the rowl began to shake slowly.
"Cloud, I don't mean to pry, but you encountered monsters right?"
"Yea, I did." Cloud replied.
"Then why are you still sparkling neat?"
"Huh"
"I mean all my clothes are torn and you are just the way you are."
"Humhum" Cloud turned, adjusting his collar. "It's just that I've discovered the source of an Adna's power."
"Source of an Adna's power?" questioned Moonlight.