1st Year
"A year old already." Zilpher looked down at the sleeping child, "It's amazing how you can already walk and talk." Shones stirred a little."Zy?" "Hmm? Did I wake you?" Silence. Zilpher smiled and quietly left the room.
The living room was dark and the air smelled fresh and clean. The waterfall at the mouth of the cave roared softly in the background. Zilpher walked over to the window and looked out at the waterfall.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Zilpher jumped and hit his head on the window. "Don't sneak up on me like that!" Shones giggled. "Sorry. Breakfast?" Zilpher pointed at the table where a steaming bowl of oatmeal was sitting. "Aw, man. Isn't there anything else?" "No. Sorry." Shones crawled into the chair in front of the bowl. She ate a few bites and then turned to look at Zilpher.
"Zy, why don't we go to the market?" Zilpher looked at Shones, "You're too young and I don't feel like taking you anywhere." Shones jumped out of the chair. "Where's Tino? I wanna play." A look of confusion and disgust was on Zilpher's face. "You named it? That ugly mutt isn't worth it." Shones stuck her tongue out and ran out the door where Tino was waiting eagerly.
Zilpher watched Shones play with Tino for awhile, before getting bored. He walked over tho the table and looked at the bowl. Shones had left a smiley face in her food. "Ugh. She is so weird." Zilpher thought. "Am not!" Zilpher jumped and his hand landed in the bowl.
Shones snickered and Zilpher's face turned red with anger. "I've had it! Why don't you just disappear or just go away!?!" Shones's eyes got big. Slowly, she backed away and then ran, crying, out the door and disappeared through the waterfall. Alarmed, Zilpher ran after her. A loud splash sounded below him.
"Oh no! If Shinra finds her..." Zilpher dove off into the water. Tino sat on the shore growling at Zilpher as he neared. "Easy boy." Tino backed away to let Zilpher get out of the water. "Where did she go?" Tino barked and wagged his tail. Zilpher walked up on the shore. Tino sat down and waited for Zilpher to dry off. When Zilpher was dry, Tino took off toward Sector 6's Market. "Oh, for the love of..." Zilpher remembered Shones asking to go.
Tino slowed down in front of the playground. A growl erupted from his throat. "What is it?" Zilpher eased forward, hand on his gun. He could see the playground, which was empty. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw something move. Tino turned verocious, barking and snarling. A large snake-like creatue lunged toward Tino.
