7 months Ago
The group walked through the ruins of a former city. The buildings or what's left of them were reduced to rubble and ash. Their faces washed with sorrow and regret. The air around them was heavy and meaningless. Lyra led them in the front with Lorcan close behind. Her face looked like she had seen thousands of iterations of death itself. DIrt covered her and the shadow from her cloak hood blocked her eyes. Finally Aria broke the silence.
Aria: "Guys… I don't think we can keep going like this. We're just aimlessly walking and the silence is just pushing us farther from each other."
No one spoke back, not even Kairos. They kept their gazes low as they walked. Their strides barely a few inches apart. Aria looked down, twiddling her fingers.
Aria: "Please… Lets just take a break and talk! We need to after… After Elias.."
They all stopped. Lorcan's face sank, Kairos' hands trembled slightly, and Lyra's eye twitched. Lyra turned with a small but furious fire of anger.
Lyra: "Don't. Do not say his name!"
Lyra took a couple steps closer eyeing Aria down. She gritted her teeth before looking down.
Lyra: "We don't get to say his name. Not after failing him so badly…"
Arias face contorted as she angrily spoke back
Aria: "Why? He wouldn't want us sulking like this! He wouldn't want us walking around with no goal, no destination! He'd-!"
Lyra: "AND WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO! HUH? We've nowhere to go! And we can't fight that monster! Elias!... Elias was the strongest of us and he couldn't even put a scratch on Leviathan. We couldn't even stand and help him… He sacrificed everything.. Him and Gabriel both!"
Tears welled up in Lyra's eyes. Lorcan and Kairos stepped back watching the altercation. Lorcan wanted to speak but knew he had nothing of value to add. Kairos' hands trembled even more with anger as he knew Lyra was right. That they aren't strong enough.. He isn't strong enough. Lyra pressed her finger hard against arias chest as she spoke through choked down cries.
Lyra: "You didn't do a single thing! Kairos here nearly died protecting you twice. And now you think you get to speak about what I'm doing? Don't make me laugh.. Seriously."
Aria took a step back. She bit her lip slightly while looking down.
Aria: "I know… I'm not strong like you guys. I'm dead weight… But that still doesn't change the fact that what we're doing now is the same as throwing ourselves at the enemy! We need to stop, to take a break. More importantly we need to talk. If we don't and we keep going.. We're just going to slowly kill ourselves mentally."
Lyra was about to say something but Lorcan cut her off.
Lorcan: "She's right Lyra. We need to take a step back. Lets just make a fire and camp here for the night. Its a much needed break."
Lyra was speechless. She looked over at Kairos. He nodded as he spoke.
Kairos: "I agree. As much as I hate slowing down, we need clear heads if we're going to keep pushing without him."
Lyra sighs as she pulls her hood down.
Lyra: "Fine, I'll go grab firewood. Why don't you boys get it set up?"
A few hours later
The group sat around the fire. Their gear is sitting off to the side. Aria sat there staring at the fire burning brightly. She remembered back to the first time she met Elias. The flames burst from his fist as he saved her. His goofy smile and what he said.
Elias: "Don't worry I won't burn you!"
She curled her legs into her arms. Lorcan poked at the fire before he spoke
Lorcan: "Well, I think this is as good a time as any."
They looked at him confused.
Lorcan: "We've traveled together a couple months and we barely know anything about each other. I think we should if we're gonna continue traveling together."
Lorcan's words were trying to encourage someone to speak up but no one did.
Lorcan: "Alright I guess I'll go first. I'm Lorcan O'Cleary and I was the son of a pastor at a local church I lived near. I say was because He disowned me and forced me out of the house because I never accepted God. I always thought it was foolish to think this world and everything in it was created by some old guy in the sky… Now though, with all these demons running about, It seems I was wrong to think otherwise."
There was a pause before he continued
Lorcan: "Anyways, I don't care what happened to that guy. He was a real asshole and never cared about me. He wasn't my real dad anyway. Since I wasn't going to school I went out into the wilderness. Something about the woods always calmed me. I taught myself how to use a bow and I found an old cabin to live in. I fixed it up and then I met someone really special. Her name was emilia… We hit it off quickly, and before I knew it she started living with me. She was a runaway from a bad home. We shared everything together. Then that night.. That fucking night.. Those things killed her.. I was out on a hunt and didn't make it back in time…"
Lyra noticed his hands balled into fists and he was trying to hold back tears. She shuffled closer and put a hand on him.
Lyra: "I suppose I'll go next. I'm Lyra Ohara. I was born to a Japanese father and an American mother. They had such high expectations for me. My father always said I was going to be a successful surgeon making six figures. He was relentless with his pushing and prodding with my schooling. Straight A's throughout school and anything less I'd be punished. No matter how much my mother tried to comfort me, the worthlessness I felt never went away. I never even wanted to be a doctor.. I wanted to train in Kendo. I snuck out every night to practice but my father never would've approved… They weren't even home when the attack happened. Now I don't know what has happened to them but, one thing for certain… My father is probably still disappointed in me.."
Lyra cleared her throat and straightened her slouch.
Lyra: "And you Aria?"
Aria was unprepared
Aria:"Oh well I don't know if there is much to say. My name is Aria Smith and well, I was a pretty normal girl. A bit of an outcast at school. Though I had my small circle of friends. My father died when I was about four and… Well my mom and brother kinda.. Hated me.. The night everything started I was getting into a fight with my brother… when I defended myself my mother started to yell. I ran and ran as fast as I could.. Then I bumped into Kairos, he was rigid and kinda mean then."
She and Kairos exchanged a glance. His face is trying to say sorry.
Aria: "That's when I went home and what I saw.. My family was killed right in front of me. My brother.. He was a jerk but he didn't deserve that…"
There was an air of silence before Aria broke it.
Aria" Kairos, What about you?"
Kairos: "Well i-"
Before he could speak some rustling made them all jump up as Lyra and Lorcan grabbed their weapons. Suddenly a man stepped out,
The Man: "Sorry! Sorry, Please dont hurt me, I dont mean to intrude, I just.. I was walking around scavenging when I saw your fire. I'm Aaron, I have a small camp with a few others a couple miles from here. I heard some of your guys' stories and I was wondering if you'd like to come back with me. You all seem strong and we could use some people with a little experience against these things."
They all looked at each other a little surprised.
7 Months later - Present Time
A decent sized camp was bustling with people walking about doing chores and tending to crops. There was a large building in the middle with some banners hanging from it. Inside some people were just waking. Lorcan rolled over in bed, opening his eyes.
Lyra: "Good Morning sleepyhead. You do realize it's the middle of the day. Some of the people were asking for you. I had to tell Aaron to keep them busy. That was three hours ago."
Lorcan tossed and turned
Lorcan: "Man.. I was hoping we could lay in bed a little longer but, duty calls."
Lyra: "Awh poor thing, I know it's so hard being in charge of 300 people everyday."
Lorcan rolled his eyes.
Lorcan: "Where's Kairos?"
Lyra sat on the edge of the bed.
Lyra: "Oh you know him, Always out by that cabin of his training till his heart stops."
Lorcan sat up and grabbed his shirt. He yawned a moment then stood grabbing his belt.
Lorcan: "You know him and Aria have kinda gotten close recently. Suppose they've found a bit of comfort in their shared shitty childhoods."
Lyra: "It's nice that they're spending time together. Finally Kairos is starting to open up. It was so obvious how head over heels he is for that girl."
Lorcan laughed
Lorcan: 'Really? I couldn't tell but, then again I am pretty oblivious to myself."
Lyra chuckled as she got up and hugged Lorcan from behind kissing his cheek and resting her head on his shoulder.
Elsewhere
Elias: "You said you have an idea of roughly where they're at? Im ready to go find them Gabriel. No more wallowing"