The fight with the Ring Wyrm was not going well. If she could just use her power and actually see, it would probably go better. It took every ounce of willpower not to use it, which in turn made her unfocused. It was bigger than she was, her attacks were doing minimal damage, and she could not heal her wounds. Her shirt was torn, blood running down the side of her abdomen after the stupid thing managed to catch her off guard. Her knees were quaking from a close encounter with its dragon flames. Her vision was severely impacted by both the weather and her weariness. Her shoulder ached from its tail smacking her. Much time had passed and while she managed to hold her stance, she just did not know how much longer she would last.

Emiri was fighting a losing battle.

She was probably tired. She wouldn't know, her fingers were numb from gripping the blade so tightly. As the wyrm spewed its flames she ran, forcing her legs to keep going. At this point, even if she decided to use her powers, she was in no condition to use it. It would have been best to run, but she had no idea where she was and ran the risk of running into more monsters. Her thoughts were interrupted as she felt the heat of the flames getting closer. Looking back she threw up a Reflect, protecting herself from the heat, though she shot forward. As she held her blade above her head, only when it was too late did she notice its claw coming at her again. 

Her body went limp and she landed face down in the sand. Her body ached in protest as she made the attempt to get up. What was the point? She wasn't going to beat it no matter what she did. Was she going to die here, alone, in the middle of nowhere? Had the same thing happened to Jaakuna? Was he lost out here too? That thought alone got her to her feet. No, she wasn't going to die here, she refused to. She needed to see him one more time, she needed him. Emiri looked at the Ring Wyrm, not even bothering with her sword.

[i]What will you do?[/i] Chaos' voice asked her. [i]At this point, you will die.[/i]

[i]I won't. I refuse. I will survive. Jaakuna, I will find you, I swear it![/i] That thought alone was enough for her. The winds stopped around them, the sand hanging in the air. Slowly but surely they began to move round and around, forming a cyclone around them. She refused to let it end here. She would not lose. Taking in a deep breath, she closed her eyes. She held her hands out in front of her, looking at the wyrm before her. It was all or nothing at this point, and she was determined not to lose. Slowly but surely, the Ring Wyrm froze in place. It then let out a roar of pain. It started with its claws and tails, and soon spread over its entire body. It aged considerably and showed it. The Ring Wyrm collapsed on the ground, and as it did several scales flaked off of it. Her arms trembled and she stopped, clearly out of breath. The sandstorm came to a halt and the sand and winds began to fall. 

[i]Foolish child.[/i] Chaos reprimanded her as she held her head. She writhed in pain, every cell in her body screaming out. She flickered in and out approximately twice and she dropped to her knees. She didn't want to, but it had been the only way, didn't he understand that? [i]Now, now...you knew this would happen. Pain is physical, as is your body. You realize now that you can no longer rely on it, yet you use the power anyway. Still, it would be troublesome if you faded now with Zodiark on the loose. I would be free, of course, but that isn't what we want...Lie still, Scion of Time.[/i]

The sandstorm had died down completely at this point, and she spotted a familiar face approaching her. Jaakuna. It was him. Was she dreaming? She reached out for him and he approached her, dropping down next to her. "[b]Emiri, what's wrong?![/b]" He asked, clearly panicked. 

She smiled weakly, placing both her hands on his face. "[b]Jaakuna...[/b]" It was the only thing she could muster before her vision blurred in front of her, and she fell onto him.

As the unconscious brunette was held, it was not Jaakuna who she had seen. It was Grant and he didn't understand. Why had she called him Jaakuna? He looked at her, bruised and bloody, clearly exhausted from fighting. He looked at the deceased Ring Wyrm in front of him. Had she done this? He let out a whistle, and his chocobo wandered on over to him. The important thing was that he found her, but for some reason he was sure that whatever happened in the time they had been separated was not a good thing. He got on the chocobo, Emiri in tow, and they headed back to Rabanastre.