Rust and Water: Part Thirteen - Small Sanctuary

Part 13: Small Sanctuary The village was small, cobbled together from what appeared to be pieces scavenged from larger, greater buildings. All to the good, no one lived in those buildings anymore, and those that remained needed all the protection that Golden Age construction could afford. The people there walked quietly, most with a haunted, almost hunted look in their eyes, but pressing on despite that. Even the children, should they play at all, played quietly. They did so in a patch of dirt just inside the gate, some complex game involving sticks and stones, their smudged faces intent on the action before them. One looked up and tensed, nudging his companion. One after another stopped what they were doing to stare at the apparition that appeared at the gap in the loose wall of debris that surrounded their dwellings. It was dirty, but so were they. It wore an odd covering over its head and shoulders made of some light silvery material that shifted at the slightest breeze, revealing a female form clad in mostly maroon, but with odd bits and pieces strapped to its arms and legs, likely for protection. From their vantage near the ground they could see glowing silver eyes staring down at them. Her face was slightly round, with high cheeks and slightly down-tilted eyes, which would make her look sleepy if she weren’t staring so intensely at the gathered children. She held a staff in her hand, but not as one would a weapon. One child broke the circle and ran deeper into the village, quickly disappearing between the ramshackle buildings. The blue woman’s gaze never wavered. One girl got to her feet slowly, folding her arms to cover her fright. “Why are you blue?” She asked, sticking her chin out belligerently. One of the other children hissed and reached to tug her down but she shook him off. “Why are you not?” The woman asked, voice low and a little husky. “Because we’re human, silly.” The girl explained, relaxing slightly. “I see. And are you also the gatekeepers?” “Pauly went off again.” The girl explained, her tone indicative of what she thought of the absent sentry. “He’s not a very good guard.” “So you’re filling in.” The woman nodded, her eyes flicking away. The girl turned to see the village men hurrying up, though still some distance away, most of them holding weapons in their hands. “You better not be here to make trouble.” The girl continued. “Or you’ll be sorry.” “I will certainly keep that in mind.” “Why were you staring at us like that?” “Was I?” The woman sounded surprised. “I apologize. But I haven’t seen a living soul in…months. I was beginning to think I was the only one left.” “You didn’t see any…” The girl glanced around before whispering, as though saying the word any louder would summon the boogeyman, “Fallen?” A strange look flickered over the woman’s face, turning her eyes flinty for a moment. “Oh, I’ve met a few of those.” “You did?” The boy who had tried to pull the girl down asked. “How…how are you even alive?” “Your eyes glow.” Another small girl chimed in, the boy glared at her for interrupting. “They do?” The woman asked, again seeming genuinely surprised. “Uh-huh.” The children chorused. “Well, fancy that.” She murmured. “Toby, why didn’t you tell me?” The children stared at her as she tilted her head, as if she were listening to a voice in her ear. “Well, how would I know? It’s not like we’ve passed any mirrors.” A glance went among the children. “Touched?” The girl whispered to the boy next to her, glancing over her shoulder to see what was taking the elders so long to arrive. They had stopped in a huddle in the middle of the village, seeming content to let the children keep the stranger talking. She sniffed contemptuously. He nodded in agreement, shifting nervously from foot to foot. She grabbed his arm to keep him from making a break for it. The blue woman had followed her glance. She looked back, glowing silver eyes glinting in amusement. “I see.” She said enigmatically. She and the girl stared at each other. A flicker of something passed between them, an understanding perhaps. “I’m not here to make trouble.” She said, her eyes moving to scan the trees surrounding them. “Have you had trouble with the…Fallen lately?” The girl hesitated before nodding. “Then your, Pauly, was it? has put you in danger by leaving his post.” “He’s not the only guard.” The girl felt obligated to point out. “He’s just supposed to watch the gate.” Her eyes narrowed. “How did you…?” The woman tilted her head again and smiled a small, fierce smile. “They had an outpost nearby.” “Who?” “No, I’m not being overconfident, Toby.” The woman said, eyes flicking aside. She turned them back to the girl. “The outpost is gone now.” “The Fallen…” She couldn’t help but whisper the name, “have gone?” “In a manner of speaking.” She replied. “If you send one of those archers in the trees about three clicks north you’ll find where they were.” The woman shrugged, and the girl caught the slightest wince in the movement. “But they won’t find much. Are they ever going to come over?” She jerked her head in the direction of the elders. “They’re not cowards.” The girl felt obligated to defend them. “I’m sure they’re not.” She shifted her staff from one hand to the other and reached up to push back the hood of her cloak. “I’m Alia. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” The girl fingered her own curly red locks, eyeing Alia’s silky silver blue hair with some envy. “Mali.” She finally said. “Children, come away.” Both Mali and Alia turned in the direction of the new voice. The village’s best hunter, Doredo, approached from the edge of the forest. He had a bow, arrow nocked, held at ready in calloused square hands. Mali glanced nervously at Alia and found her attention on the bow, not the man who held it, her eyes speculative. Without thought Mali dashed out and placed herself squarely between the hunter and the woman, not sure, for a moment whom she was protecting. She put her hands on her hips, looking defiantly up at the hunter. He stopped short, tip of his arrow dropping slightly. A gentle hand, shaking slightly, was placed upon her shoulder. For a moment she was transfixed by the flowing silver threads beneath the pale blue skin. She looked up to see Alia smiling down at her. “You don’t need to protect me, little warrior.” She said gently, moving her to the side. She and the hunter sized each other up. Doredo was a whipcord thin man, his slim frame hiding a lean sort of strength. His shoulders were broad, a cloak of rough earth-hued material slung over them. His face was mostly covered by a wild beard that even now had bits of leaves and twigs woven through it. His dark skin had been tanned even darker by constant exposure to wind and sun, and his even darker eyes were nearly hidden beneath a heavy brow. Mali couldn’t help but compare them to the earth and the sky, so different were they in appearance. But even so there was a similarity to them, a watchful stillness and eyes that missed nothing. The silence became stretched and tense. “There’s something strange about you.” Doredo finally said. “I…think I’ve seen once such as you. A long time ago, it was.” “Blue?” “No.” Doredo made a broad gesture with his bow, tip of the arrow weaving through the air. “I see.” Mali looked between the two. Alia seemed almost sad, Doredo watchful. Doredo sighed and lowered his bow. Mali relaxed, releasing the breath she didn’t know she held. “You’re following the tales.” He commented cryptically. “I believe them to be true.” Alia said. “The encampment…that was your work?” She nodded. He shipped his bow across his shoulders. “Then you will be welcome as you rest for your journey.” Mali reached up and grabbed Alia’s hand, tugging her towards the village. “You can stay at my house.” “My thanks.” She replied, voice thick, before allowing the child to lead her into the settlement. --- Part Fourteen: https://www.bungie.net/en/Clan/Post/1371758/228876231/0/0 Table of Contents: https://www.bungie.net/en/Clan/Post/1371758/226526566/0/0