[Chapter 2] A Trip Gone Interesting

Hoping to accomplish something at the only near-by town, Bane sets off with is friend, only to be reeled in by the possibility of something more interesting.

“Welcome back Bane,” Cale said from out of sight.

Bane abruptly stopped running and scanned the area around their home for his friend. The collapsed chimneys, and felled wood walls were still and silent. Years old dust and crushed tile were still settled in their undisturbed piles. Rubble from past blasts still lay scattered about, unmoving and crumbled. Giving up on the search, Bane opened up the hatch to his home and jumped in.

Setting the container down beside the table, he sat down on the floor and waited for Cale to enter. Moments passed before the sound of footsteps echoed in from the outside. Then finally, Cale dropped in. the room was dimly lit, only illuminated by the opening of its doorway.

Cale had recently turned seventeen, and was a little over a half a year older than Bane. A set of brown apathetic eyes that contradicted his personality acted as a starting place to take note of his many features. His body was strong and lean from the years of working to survive with Bane; he had his labor strengthened arms bare to the elbow, with a hand always resting on the hilt of an iron Jian sword. Unlike Bane however, he carried an actual backpack that was missing one strap.

“So you find anything interesting on your walk for water?” Cale asked as he sat down beside Bane.

Bane did not answer; instead he removed the crystal from his pack vest and handed it to his friend. Cale raised an eyebrow before returning the thing.

“What’re you going to do with it?” Cale asked.

“Don’t know. Maybe we can sell it at Llanda and get some better tools or equipment,” Bane tossed the thought out for consideration.

“At Llanda? But that’s so far away…” Cale sighed.

Bane rolled his eyes and gave Cale a look that said “well?”

“I guess I don’t care. You found it, so you can do whatever you want with it. Just remember, we can’t be recognized by the guards. The Liersonians still don’t know we’re alive,” Cale said nonchalantly.

“Then you’re coming with me. We stay in this lifeless hole of a home too much anyway,” Bane said, shoving the crystal back into his vest. “Let’s go.”

“We didn’t even get to eat yet…” Cale whined. Bane stood up and grabbed his friend by the arm, forcing him to follow. “It’s so hot…” Cale continued as they drew farther from their home and closer to the town.

The soft footing beneath them occasionally sucked them in and desert predators peeked out at the pair as they passed their dens. Carried by the wind, loose sand and dust battered their unprotected faces. The afternoon trip was much less pleasant compared to the calm mornings.

Halfway through Bane assured Cale that the trip would not be much longer, though he was wishing he had brought some water. Almost immediately after Bane’s assurance, Cale pointed off to the right and asked: “Hey…what’s that?”

With nothing better to do but look, Bane let his eyes drift to the right. “Don’t know,” Bane replied; whatever it was, it was too far away to make out.

“Oh well,” Cale shrugged and kept walking.

Bane kept his gaze on it for a little longer, reluctant to let something of possible interest pass him by. “Want to check it out?”

Cale let out an overly big sigh. “You just can’t pass up something that might be interesting…can you?”

Bane smiled and took off running. Cale followed soon after, already a dozen or so meters behind. It wasn’t long before they could hear what was going on.

“Don’t let her get away!” a gruff hoarse man called out.

“Kill her!” another added.

Cale took a quick survey of the situation as he caught up to Bane. “Bane, those are guards�",” Cale had begun saying. He immediately regretted it.

“Please accept my regards from Shiva!” Bane cried as he knocked over the guard closest to him. He drove his blade hilt deep into the man and let his death howl ring out across the desert.

“You’ll pay for that brat!” the hoarse man from earlier cried swinging his sword. The point of Cale’s Jian found itself protruding from the man’s chest moments before his weapon would’ve found its mark.

“Damn it Bane, you can’t just go attacking them just because their guards,” Cale said, exasperated.

“I know you have my back,” Bane smiled and freed his blade. The two remaining guardsmen quit their pursuit and turned their attention on the strangers who had just murdered their friends.

“What have you done you b******s!?” the one to the left cried and charged in.

“Wait!” the other guard cried trying to stop the reckless man.

“A tad too late,” Bane smiled a bit and crossed with the charging guard. Cale dropped to his knees and lunged forward.

“Guess that leaves one…” Cale sighed. “Sorry, I have nothing against you personally,” Cale added and lunged forward to clash with the guardsman. Bane ducked to the side and swung for the kill. Sword met dagger and Bane’s face lit up with surprise.

“Let’s have some fun guardsman,” Bane smiled.

“Let’s�",” the man’s words were cut short by the knife point extending from his throat.

“What!?” Bane took a step forward. The guard sank onto the sand and died, revealing the girl to be his killer. Bane sighed, “So much for that…”

“Thanks for saving me…but who are you?” she asked.

“I did it for the fun of it…” Bane said slightly disappointed.

Cale sighed and spoke up, “I’m Cale and this is Bane,” Cale introduced. “And you?”

“Cale and Bane…” she repeated and held silence for a moment.

“Uhm…?” Cale uttered awkwardly.

“Ah, I’m Mihna,” she answered finally.

“Nice to meet you Mihna,” Cale said and walked over to her. Bane followed shortly after, still disappointed.

Author's Note

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