Sorry to say but he was 100% missing. Zack was even starting to consider putting up lost chocobo flyers. Okay, maybe not but it felt strange to not have his friend there even if he was unconscious. Cloud was someone to talk to on their trek across the Planet, his constant companion and Zack's responsibility to look after ever since they met and bonded. To think that maybe he'd left his spiky-haired friend in ShinRa's clutches was not something that sat well with him so he was worried and wouldn't be appeased until he saw Cloud again.

His search of the ground proved near-fruitless since he didn't find his friend slumped somewhere waiting for him. Except someone is calling his name and caused him to look up. There, walking and talking like he had been before Sephiroth was the familiar Infantryman. "Cloud?"

Really he should be happy that the blond was mobile again but it was also very confusing. Zack moved through the crowd until he could throw an arm around the other male. Definitely not the kid he pulled out of the mako tank or hauled around for months. A grin broke out across his face. "Of course I'm here! Couldn't leave you here alone, could I?"

He'll worry about the differences later. Just enjoy being able to talk and get a real response back from Cloud right now.