Beauty
When entering the Forge Lands, one would be hard-pressed to see something revealing that it was in the twilight of its life. It was too verdant, too teeming with life and nature to notice it by the naked eye alone.
But Death saw it, and he also saw his namesake being fought off, as well.
"Ho— Hold on! A little further to the left, or the rope's going to break!"
The weather was fair, but the sun was harsh to anyone who remained under its rays for too long— So he stayed in the shadows of a stone wall, arms folded as he continued supervising the construction.
Or, more specifically, the girl aiding the Makers in their efforts.
She'd felt, unduly to be sure, responsible for the near-ruin Tri-Stone had been left in their wake. The Pale Rider had been asked to escort her back to the wild, lush world so she could lend whatever help she was capable of. He'd failed in dissuading her— "What would a little girl be able to do for the Makers?"— and since that argument didn't work any better than the last time he'd used it, he gave in.
"Whoa, whoa. Thane, cool it a little. You're going to break the pillar if you don't release the pressure slowly." He blinked back to attention just to see that tiny female wag her finger at a being about fifteen times her size. He huffed bemusedly as the Maker scowled, but did as he was told anyway.
Someone telling a Maker how to build something? Death could have laughed. They must favor her terribly, or the wizened people wouldn't have put up with something so closely resembling insolence.
"All right, Valgus. Cut your lines, and Thane— Loosen your grip the further it goes, okay? I don't want it rocking back at you."
The silent, hulking forge-brother obeyed, and snapped the twined cable between his hands. Pressure released, the Pale Rider watched as the repaired pillar was slowly pulled upright, its base settling in its former place snugly. Then, the warrior-Maker let his own rope go, the counter-balance removed so it would stay where it was.
Wiping the sweat glistening on her forehead, the smallest of them all cheered and applauded them. "See? That's how the humans did it. Entire empires were built with only hands and stone, no glowy magic lifting things into place or constructs to do the heavy-moving." She giggled at their thoughtful, tired expressions, and then squealed as she was taken by surprise— Karn had approached from behind and plucked her from the ground like one would a dandelion, setting her onto his shoulder with a crooked grin.
"Yea yea," the Maker drawled, giving her a little jostle. "Ye had some o' the finest Makers at yer service, lass. How many o' Man would it'a taken?"
The work-worn girl pushed her hair back sheepishly. "At least fifty, on each side." She admitted, squinting under the sunlight. Then she laughed. "Are you trying to get me to say how great the Makers are, or how weak the humans are?" It was asked teasingly, and the Maker shook her a little bit more with a particularly happy face.
"Oi, now." Once more, the girl was picked up like a bird hatchling, but this time she was set back onto her feet. Alya gave the pup a slightly reprimanding look, a hand idly patting down the girl's mussed hair in the meantime. "Handle the lass with care, Karn."
The youngest Maker rolled his eyes. "Ye don't need to tell me, I know. But lil' one can take a bit o' fun, though, can'tya?"
The flushed girl chuckled, while the red-haired forge-sister continued fussing.
If Death didn't know any better… He'd say that this looked like a family.
One like he had, where she'd carved her own niche and settled down in it unapologetically. This may have been an easier family to accrue, however. The Makers had already lost so many young ones to the Corruption, and only time would be the deciding factor if their race were to continue or die out.
Suddenly, his charge caught his eye, still standing in the shadows and waiting… Smiling, she nodded just once, if in thanks or agreement to something unspoken he didn't know.
Death saw colors, and it was a question he had no answer for, whether something as cancerous as he was allowed them.
But he found himself nodding back, which made that smile grow, flashing in the bright sun, against grey walls and a blue sky—…
He didn't mind a little color.
