Yuna summons Ifrit, who is quick to cuddle up next to Aten, softly breathing fire on him.

“Should rest. Zanarkand can wait.”

“Agreed. Let’s get down off this pass.”

"There's a cave down there we can shelter in," Raeli points, and takes the lead.

Yuna follows, checking back every so often to look listlessly at Aten and Ifrit. 

Lulu keeps pace with her, urging her on. 

Aten curls tight in against Ifrit, trying to steady himself.

Anri stays close to Yuna.

Yuna takes one of Anri’s hands and one of Lulu’s. She imagines she’s drawing on their strength, boldening her. 

Anri squeezes her hand, trying to impart some strength.

Masquerade and Raeli make short work of building a fire, and a flint sparks against the tinder before anyone can think to use a fire spell. The cave is tucked away and well sheltered.

Yuna remains close to Ifrit and Aten, watching over the aeon carefully. 

Auron posts himself near the front of the cave, and is staring out across the wreckage of a once great city, the memories nearly too much to bear. This is where he died. 

Masquerade settles near Auron, a silent attempt at support, at solidarity.

Aten seems a little better here in the cave, but he's still unsettled.

"I lost my two closest friends here, to treachery. And then she killed me for daring to question her," Auron says quietly to Masquerade, once he's sure everyone else has settled.

"My summoner never made it to Zanarkand. I came on my own, after my death, to see what was left. To see what Aten had told us of."

"And was it everything you feared?"

"Everything and worse. Aten has a way of understating his own pain."

"As does Yuna. I'm glad they have each other." 

Auron sighs, and shifts slightly. "Your oath was to protect him. Why weren't you at the spring?"

"How do you know I wasn't?"

Auron nearly smiles at that. "You've been following us for some time then."

"It seemed wise. Lady Yuna had convinced Aten to go with her, but I needed to be sure."

"Did you know him? When he was alive?"

"No. He's older than that."