The hot desert wind washed across Tifa Lockheart as she marched resolutely
towards the looming steppe.  She held the right hand of Marlene Wallace tightly,
keeping the little girl upright and moving forward.  The sun slowly descended
into the western horizon, but the wind was still as strong as ever, doing its
best to discourage Tifa from her goal.  The buxom young woman hugged her grey
cloak closer to her body, she bent herself down to keep her hood upon her head. 
The wind blew across her back, flapping the edges of her cloak as she reached the
foot of the immense step.  Tifa began the climb up the gentle slope of the steppe
just as the sun disappeared in a blaze of red purple light.  Marlene watched the
sunset with wonder, until Tifa tugged her forward.

The two girls eventually reached the summit of the steppe with night fully upon
them.   They stumbled up the last few steps to the entry arch, then halted to
catch their breaths.

"Halt!  Who goes there?" asked a young man with a stout spear.

"My name is Tifa Lockheart, and this is Marlene.  I'm here to see Nanaki."

"Tifa Lockheart?  One of the Heroes?  I must alert the elders at once!   Please
wait here a moment!" shouted the boy before he sprinted back into the village.

"Tifa, I'm hungry and thirsty," murmured Marlene through cracked lips.

"I know, honey.  So am I."

Tifa continued to hold Marlene's hand until the young guard returned with an
elder of Cosmo Canyon.

"Please forgive the delay.  I offer you the hospitality of Cosmo Canyon," said
the old man with a beckoning wave of his hand.

"Is Nanaki here?" inquired Tifa, with Marlene close behind her.

"Oh, yes.  He's patrolling outside of town right now.  He always checks the
perimeter of Cosmo Canyon at dusk.  He should be back soon."

"Is there somewhere with food and drink, we've been traveling quite a while."

"Of course, Miss Lockheart.  We have several excellent taverns, I shall treat you
to a fine meal myself."

"Thank you, elder," nodded Tifa gratefully.

The small group entered one of the first level eateries, where Tifa and Marlene
gorged on roast chicken, corn, and freshly baked bread.  They drank sweet wine
and devoured several rich pastries for dessert.  Marlene sighed contentedly,
sitting back in her chair with a pretty smile.  Tifa sipped from a mug of wine,
listening to the elder's tales of life in Cosmo Canyon after the fall and
destruction of Meteor.

"Someone is looking for me?" growled a deep feline voice from the doorway of the
tavern.

"Nanaki!" exclaimed Tifa happily, jumping from her chair to rush forward and hug
the large, red furred cat.

"Tifa," purred Nanaki, rubbing the area between her neck and shoulder with his
warm muzzle.  Marlene rushed to Nanaki's other side, hugging his neck with her
small arms.

"It's so good to see you again," whispered Tifa into Nanaki's ear.

"Where's Cloud?"

"He's..gone," murmured Tifa before she broke away from Nanaki, her eyes sorrowful
and downcast.

"While I'm honored by your visit, I don't think you came all this way just to say
hello."

"No, I didn't.  Something's happening, something strange, and I think Aeris is
involved."

"Aeris?  That can't be, she's dead," replied Nanaki with a shake of his mane.

"After the planet destroyed Meteor, there was a massive deposit of Mako energy
around Midgar.  Plant life began to grow at a phenomenal rate, births increased,
it was a burst of fertility, an explosion of life.  Cloud seemed to feel the
massive pool of Mako around us, it made him stronger.. more virile," hesitated
Tifa with a deep blush.

"Go on," encouraged Nanaki with a toothy grin.

"As the vegetation around Midgar continued to blossom, Cloud disappeared for long
periods of time.  At first I thought he was helping the city militia clear the
area of stray monsters, but then I found him in a deserted church, watching two
small children tend a wild indoor garden.  Cloud didn't respond when I called
him, he seemed to be in a strange trance.   He finally woke up, then he pushed me
away and stomped out.  For a second, at the edge of my vision, I thought I saw a
transparent image of Aeris, kneeling next to the border of the garden.  I
followed Cloud back home, where he said he had to go somewhere.  I asked him
where, but he wouldn't say, he just grabbed Ultima Weapon and left.  I waited for
days, then finally I found Barret and told him what happened.  He left Marlene
with me while he went looking for Cloud.  Neither one of them ever came back. I
didn't know what else to do, so I came here.  I hope you can help me find them."

"You're right, this is strange," replied Nanaki while he sat on the floor,
twitching his tail idly in thought.  "I've modified the Planetarium to scan the
planet for anomalies, I'll use it to look for Cloud in the morning.  Cloud has a
unique Mako signature since he's the only SOLDIER left on the planet.  Don't
worry, Tifa, I'll find him and Barret."

"Yay, Nanaki!" clapped Marlene happily.

"Thank you, Nanaki.  I knew you could help us," smiled Tifa before she leaned
down to kiss the big cat on the forehead.  Nanaki stammered in embarrassment,
then offered to show Tifa and Marlene to their temporary quarters.  Tifa and
Marlene walked on either side of the red feline, keeping up with his quick pace
until they reached the observatory at the top of Cosmo Canyon.   Nanaki settled
Marlene into bed, then showed Tifa to her room.

"Rest well, Tifa.  I think that we shall have to find some of the others before
we begin our search for Cloud.  He and Aeris are tied closely to Mako, and Mako
is the lifeblood of the planet.   If something strange is happening, it must be
very serious."

"You're right, Nanaki.  I think Vincent is in Nibelheim.  I heard rumors that he
returned to his home in Shinra Mansion."

"Then once I discover where Cloud is, we shall go collect Vincent," nodded
Nanaki.

"Good night, Nanaki," murmured Tifa before she kissed him again on the forehead. 
She rubbed her nose in the big cat's thick, musky fur, then broke away when she
felt a stirring in her sex.  It had been a long time since Cloud had vanished,
her body yearned for attention.

"Tifa," growled Nanaki as he nuzzled beneath her short black leather skirt,
licking her pussy through her thin white panties.

"Nanaki, don't," panted Tifa, her cunt becoming hot with arousal.

Nanaki gently pushed Tifa backward into the bedroom, then knocked her against the
foot of the bed, making her fall onto her back.  The large cat slid between her
bare legs, slicing her panties apart with his sharp fangs.  He lapped at Tifa's
cunt with his rough tongue, caressing her tender pussy flesh until it dripped
with her juices.

"Nanaki, please," moaned Tifa, her large breasts pumping for air. She closed her
eyes, relishing the sensation of Nanaki devouring her melting cunt.  She pulled
her white shirt over her head, releasing her tits from confinement.  Tifa fondled
her own breasts, her hands caressing and stroking the warm, smooth flesh.  Nanaki
purred softly as he ate Tifa out, his wet nose pressed into her vagina, his
tongue insistently probing her womb.  Nanaki removed his muzzle from Tifa's
pussy, then briefly licked her creamy inner thighs.  He climbed on top of Tifa,
lowering his maw onto her bare breasts, licking her large nipples until she
groaned with pleasure.  Nanaki bit Tifa's nipples gently with his fangs, then
licked up and down the cleavage between her tits.  Tifa buried her hands in
Nanaki's mane, moaning blissfully as he suckled on her throbbing melons.  Tifa
felt Nanaki's cock slide into her pussy, she spread her legs wider apart so he
could shove himself deep into her moist slit.  Nanaki growled while he pumped in
and out of Tifa's cunt, his shaft thrusting far into her warm belly. Tifa held
tightly onto Nanaki's furred body, she pressed her thighs against his flanks as
he rammed himself into her yielding pussy. Nanaki stopped nursing on Tifa's tits,
he raised his head to lick the girl's smooth shoulders and graceful neck.  Tifa
giggled as she felt the sandpaper tongue slide across her skin.  She pursed her
mouth open, inviting Nanaki to kiss her passionately.  The cat covered Tifa's
lips with his mouth, his tongue slid down her throat, caressing the girl's
delicate tongue as it entwined with his.  Nanaki's thrusts became more forceful,
they rocked the bed as he plunged faster into Tifa's tight vagina.  Tifa's legs
trembled as she felt her orgasm approach, her hands dug into Nanaki's fur until
both lovers climaxed together, the cat's seed spurting into her empty void. 
Nanaki rubbed his muzzle in Tifa's sweaty hair, then climbed off of the panting
young woman.  He quietly left the dark bedroom, closing the door behind himself. 
Tifa lay limply on the disheveled bed, her legs spread apart, her bare breasts
heaving.  She fell asleep with the taste of Nanaki's tongue on her lips.


Tifa slept soundly that night, then awoke when Nanaki padded into her room.  He
gave her a toothy grin, then waited as she washed her face in a water basin.  She
tugged her shirt back on and flattened her leather skirt with her hands.  Tifa
followed Nanaki into the dining area, where a local woman had brought breakfast
for Nanaki and his guests.  Marlene sat perched on the edge of a dining chair,
devouring a pile of scrambled eggs, sausage, and warm sliced bread covered in
honey.  Tifa sat opposite Marlene, wished the girl good morning, then took a long
drink from a glass of milk.  Nanaki jumped onto a chair between Tifa and Marlene,
then lowered his face down to chew on some sliced ham and toast with jam.

"Did you find Cloud?" asked Tifa before she raised a fork laden with eggs.

"Yes, Tifa.  I'm afraid he's in the City of the Ancients."

"Why would he be there?"

"I detected another Mako signature, it could be Aeris."

"How could she come back from the dead?"

"With enough Mako energy, anything is possible."

Tifa sighed, then ate quietly while Marlene regarded both adults with her wide
eyes.

"Did you see Papa?"

"I'm sorry, Marlene, I can only detect Mako entities with my equipment.   I'm
sure that if Cloud made it there okay, your father did too."

"Can we go get Papa now, Tifa?"

"We will soon, honey.  Uncle Nanaki and I have to go get some of our other
friends first.   Nanaki, can Marlene stay here until we get Cloud and Barret
back?"

"Of course, Tifa.  I'll instruct the elders to care for her."

"I want to go with you!  I want to see Papa!" argued Marlene.

"You will soon.  Just be patient for a little while longer."

Marlene scowled, then stuffed her face with more eggs.

Nanaki smiled sympathetically at Marlene, then turned to regard Tifa with his
bright eyes.

"Do you want to head for Nibelheim today?  To get Vincent?"

"Yes.  We should go at once."

"Finish your breakfast, Marlene.  Someone will be here to show you around the
village soon.  You can pick out a few things that you want from any shop in Cosmo
Canyon," offered Nanaki as he hopped down from his chair.

"Really?  Thanks, Nanaki!" smiled Marlene before she bent down from her chair to
hug the big cat.

Tifa grinned at Nanaki's generosity, then followed the cat as he went outside. 
The duo descended down to the first level of Cosmo Canyon, then made their way to
the entry arch.  The young guard stood at attention briskly when he noticed
Nanaki approaching.   Nanaki nodded a greeting, then began climbing down the long
staircase to the desert below.   Tifa adjusted her long cloak, raising the hood
to cover her head.  She walked down the steep staircase after Nanaki, then
stopped next to him at the foot of the steppe.

"It will be faster if you climb onto my back, that way I can run across the
desert."

"Alright," replied Tifa warily before she slowly climbed onto the large cat's
back.  She wrapped her legs around his flanks, then entwined her fingers within
Nanaki's thick mane.

"Ready?"

"Yes."

Nanaki sprinted forward, almost flying over the red sands as he raced north, in
the direction of Nibelheim.  ********************