Chapter Text
“In the old days, when the gods walked the lands, there were three great spirit clans. First, the spirits of earth, so strong and steady; second, the spirits of fire, quick and clever; and third, the spirits of the heavens, who held so much magic in their fingertips that they could paint colors across the sky every night.”
Claudia smiled as the little toddler in her lap, who was staring up at her with big blue eyes, enraptured by her words. She continued:
“And the three great clans got along very well. They played with each other, and they shared with each other, and the gods were pleased. But one day, they forgot how to play, and they forgot how to share. Instead, they began to fight. Their fights were over such silly things, but they were very angry with each other.”
“That’s bad, mama,” Cloud earnestly informed her.
“I know, little storm,” she said, kissing his nose. “Hush and listen.
“Now, the great clans were very powerful, and they were so angry they forgot to think about the land beneath their feet. Their anger destroyed much of the Planet, and she grieved, not only for herself but for the children who had forgotten how to live in harmony with her and each other. So she called on the gods to restrain their power. She promised that once they learned how to play together again, she would return their power to them, and they would become the three great clans again.”
“And that’s how people got made!” Cloud burst out, excited.
“That’s right!” Claudia cooed, pulling her pendant from around her neck and holding it in one hand. “The gods took the spirits and made them into people, and then they tied members of each clan into heart-song packs, so that they could learn how to get along again. The great fire spirits became the clever Betas, and the strong earth spirits became the mighty Alphas, and the powerful spirits of the heavens became…?”
“Omegas!” Cloud said, clapping his hands. “Like us!”
“Very good, my clever boy. We are omega, the children of those beautiful spirits of the heavens that had so much magic in them that they painted the sky up in lights every night,” she said, closing his little fingers around the pendant. “And only we can hear the songs of the heavens that our ancestors left to us. Listen. Listen with your heart. Can you hear it?” His face was scrunched up in adorable concentration. She nudged the pendant, just a little, feeding it mana so it would sing high and clear.
Cloud gasped. “Mama! I can hear it!”
Claudia smiled. “It is the wisdom of all who came before us. They will lend you their strength and skill, one day, when you’re old enough to wield full materia. But for now—” she leaned down and kissed the top of his head “—learn to hear the song, and let it comfort you. No omega is ever alone. And one day, your pack will sing to your heart just like this, so that spirits of earth, and fire, and the heavens can play together again.”
Cloud turned in her lap, hands still holding the pendant, and frowned at her. “But what if it’s not a nice song and I don’t like it? Can’t we just be pack?”
Her smile saddened a little. “Oh, Stormcloud, it will be a nice song. I promise.”
“But it wasn’t a nice song for you,” he insisted, frown deepening stubbornly. “And that’s why we’re all ‘lone even though there’s ‘sposed to be more than just us.”
“Baby...that’s…” she sighed. “Alright, how about this? I promise you, your pack will sing very sweetly. But!” she raised a finger to head off his protests. “But, if they don’t, then you can come right home to me and we’ll be pack forever, no matter what anyone says. Okay?”
A beaming smile crossed his face. “Okay! I want you to be my pack, mama. Forever and ever! I love you.”
Claudia’s heart melted. What had she done to deserve such a sweet son? “Oh baby, I love you too,” she cooed, hugging him tight. “Forever and ever.”
There was a knock at the door. Claudia frowned, drying her hands on a dishtowel before going to answer it. She wasn’t expecting any visitors.
It was Cloud. Her heart lept in her throat, first in surprised joy, then in horror. He was leaning heavily against the door, dressed in clothes too large for his frame, covered in bandages. The scent of exhaustion and anguish burned her nose. His face looked drawn and hollow, and his eyes gleamed with unnatural light. A small, beat-up motorcycle sat in the road behind him.
“Ma,” he rasped. He tried to stand upright, but couldn’t. His voice was unsteady. “You s-s-said...you said I could...always come home and we’d be pack.” His eyes started to glisten. “Ma.” His voice cracked. Finally, his strength left him and he collapsed. If Claudia hadn’t reacted as quickly as she did, he would have hit the porch deck hard.
“Mama. I can’t— I can’t—” He broke off, choking on a sob. He felt so gaunt under her hands. This close, she could finally smell blood and the painful sterility of a hospital room clinging stubbornly to his skin.
“Baby,” she breathed, “what did they do to you?”