Birth of a Legend
Chapter 6: Uneasy Morning
Ty is stirring awake from the sound of a moving cart, when a fair gruff voice said "Guys! He's coming awake!" Two pair of footsteps scuffled on the wooden cart, suggesting that at least two more individual's is on the cart as well, when another voice, a youthful male, said "Oh man… I hope he didn't have a trauma; that village we picked him up was reduced to a pile of burnt rubble." A third one, an older voice than the other two, replied "I checked him over and he didn't receive any physical trauma, but the way he was shuffling, he was having a bad nightmare. As for any personal effects, all I found was a hatchet, but it was alive and it said—"One of the individuals replied with a guess "'Buzz off?'" The second then said "'I'll chop you like sushi?'" The third voice then replied in an annoyed tone "…Put me down, please. He said 'Put me down, please.' *sigh* I do not know why we had to travel that far from Falana, but we have a code to follow. This young lad, on the floor of the cart, was the only survivor as far as we know. How did he survive an attack like that?" Ty then replied that made the 3 individuals jump "It's a thing called 'Self-Defence'." Ty opened his eyes and saw 3 soldiers with their helmets on their laps, staring at him in surprise: They had steel heavy armor, One of them is a Cat Warmblood, has hazel blue eyes and had short, black hair; another is close to Ty's age, he is also a Wolf Warmblood, has brown eyes and he had short blonde hair; and the third is older than the two, he's a bear Warmblood, has yellow eyes and unlike the two soldiers, he has a long, deep brown hair. Ty then noticed he's with them on a cart through the forest, but doesn't recognise the area he's in. Ty then got up and sat down next to the veteran soldier, who lets him on the bench. Ty then asked "I'm sorry for prying, but who are you guys?" The veteran soldier then said "Me and these two are former members of the army of General Gaius, a genocidal man who views the race known as Moonbloods as 'wastes of creation'. We followed him to eradicate them, some of us, including me and these two lads, aren't in agreement with General Gaiuss, but we couldn't do anything but follow his orders, including, much to our reluctance, killing our own he deems 'Moonblood Sympathisers'. Only two months ago, General Gaius was beaten by a different Warmblood named Dust; the Moonbloods dubbed him 'Seh-Mithrarin', but was perished from the lava as well. After that, we've defected from loyal followers of Gaius and started to help the Moonbloods, mainly from redemption and sympathy. Until a week ago, they were beginning to prosper again and began to set up trading with us Warmbloods." The veteran then expressed concern and Ty felt there is something concern in his expression. The veteran then continued "Then, about a week ago, strange creatures began to appear; they've attacked Warmblood and Moonblood caravans and left no traces after their pillages: no footprints, no signs of scuffles, no wounds on the corpses, nothing. We knew the Moonbloods weren't doing this, but now they've had recently attacked Aurora Village last night… the same night YOUR village was attacked. There was no casualties, thank the Life-Thread, but we know they'll be back." Ty looked shocked and slumped on the edge of the cart, pondering on what the rebel veteran just said: Did the shadow monsters attack just to find him or are they on a genocidal campaign like the late General Gaius was? Either way, Ty knew he can't let them hurt anyone else…
Meanwhile, in Aurora Village, Ginger is sleeping in her bed in a house she had bought from Mayor Bram after the events at Everdawn Basin. She then felt something on her shut eyelids; it was soft, fluffy and snoring… "Fidget…" Ginger mumbled drowsily, but Fidget didn't stir awake and slept on. Ginger then said again, a little louder "Fidget…" The little, orange nimbat then yawned and stretched her little arms; Ginger hoping she was going to get up, but was annoyed when she just slumped to sleep. She then raised her voice "FIDGET!" The nimbat woke up startled and fell off the bed, when Ginger grabbed her tail, looking at Fidget unimpressed "Morning…" Fidget crossed her arms and said sternly whilst upside-down "You too, Ginger…" Ginger then sighed and dropped Fidget on her bed with a *Flump!*, before getting up and stretching her arms, yawning deeply. (The background music is playing 'Come and Get Your Love' by Redbone) Ginger went to the small kitchen area and got out a bit of Louta Flake cereal, a jug of warm milk and a ceramic bowl; she then made her breakfast as Fidget finally got off the bed and flew in the kitchen to get a Feeble Fruit from the fruit bowl. Ginger had her usual auburn hair, but it was messy because she had uneasy sleep lately; Fidget then said "Still not having better sleep, Ginger?" Ginger shook her head, not replying because she is crunching a mouthful of cereal. Fidget then continued after having another bite of Feeble Fruit "Well… I'm not having so much luck finding Dust or Ahrah… or both for that matter. I KNOW they're out there somewhere, I've even checked The Sanctuary… but he's not there either. Reminder: don't go in the house because—"Ginger cuts in after swallowing her cereal "'It's a 24/7 rave party in there.' Yes, you've told me at least twice. *Ginger puts down her spoon and turns to Fidget* Besides, just because Gaius is dead doesn't mean all of his soldiers aren't continuing their work. If anything, Dust is searching for them and ending them; fortunately, not every unit of Gaius felt the same way as he did." Fidget nodded and she finished her Feeble Fruit and threw the seed in the bin as Ginger finished her bowl and washed it clean in the sink along with the spoon before drying them and putting them back. Fidget then said "Still no luck for the Moonblood Refugee's near the village?" Ginger tilted her head and sighed before responding "No… no luck. Calum is insistent that they cannot be trusted, but Bean is the opposite effect. Until there is approval, they're residing outside the walls." Fidget then said "But—"Ginger then replied "Fidget. Calum isn't convinced that they're harmless and much less so when they've got weapons. Believe me, he's so adamant." Fidget tried to say something, but she can't think of anything else; Ginger then sighed and went to the bathroom with her daily clothes under her right arm. She then filled the tub with fairly tepid water and dressed down into her undergarments and putting her pyjamas in the basket, before slipping in the warm tub, sighing in relief. She had a few minutes to ponder… until the front door knocked and Moska's voice rang "Ginger! Are you in there?" Ginger then narrowed her eyes and yelled in response "I'm having a bath, Moska! What is it this time? If it's about Sarahi again…" Moska then yelled "No, actually it's a message from the squad who left last night. The messenger told me to take it to you, personally!" Ginger then sighed and replied "Put it on the kitchen counter, Moska! I'll check it shortly!" Ginger then heard the front door open and heard sandals clipping in the kitchen, then they stopped for a brief moment and they clipped back to the front door and Ginger yelled "Thanks, Moska!" The front door then shut as Ginger said to herself "Well, better get dressed." She then got out of the tub and dried herself with an orange towel and got dressed in her usual attire, before stepping out of the bathroom and noticed a scroll near the sink. She then picked up the scroll and it read ("Found the village; burnt to piles of ashes; found only one survivor, one male Warmblood; found at base of elderly willow tree near sawmill; has an unusual item of interest; bringing him in the morning. Veteran Captain Geoffrey.") Ginger is sceptical about the 'item of interest', when she was startled when Fidget said behind her "What's that about?" Ginger caught the counter just in time, her right hand close to her chest as it rose and fell quickly, then she snapped at Fidget "Will you please stop that! I swear, you'll get me a heart attack if you kept that up." Fidget then drooped her ears and said with a saddened expression "Sorry Ginger, I didn't mean to. I just want to know what the message is about." Ginger looked at Fidget, then sighed and stroked her small head, saying apologetically "I'm sorry too Fidget. I didn't mean to snap at you, just please don't spook me like that." Fidget then looked at Ginger and hugged her; Ginger complied by stroking Fidget's back gently, smiling gently as Fidget smiled as well. Fidget then flew off Ginger and sat on the kitchen counter as Ginger said "Anyway, the message says that the squad heading west last night found a village outside of Falana burnt to the ground, with only one survivor: a male Warmblood. *Fidget looked at Ginger with an unbelieving look on her face* He has an 'item of interest' as well, so they're bringing him sometime from now." Fidget then clapped her paws together and said "Well, let's go to the west side of the village; I wonder what he looks li—uh what the ITEM looks like. *nervous laugh*" Ginger gave an unbelievable look at Fidget and they went outside to see Aurora Village still being repaired, despite being sieged lightly from last night. Ginger and Fidget then went to the west gate, wanting to wait for the squad to come back.
Meanwhile, Ty had just explained to the three rebel soldiers about his backstory and how he had acquired Chrom, who is floating in midair, meditating. The veteran soldier then said "So, you don't remember what happened on the night at Edgecliff Village 12 years ago?" Ty then shook his head and replied "No… but I have this nightmare for 12 years; it feels like a memory, but when I wake up, I cannot recall it." The veteran and the other soldier had a concerning expression, when Chrom said suddenly "Master, we're nearing Aurora Village." Ty and the soldiers leaned on the sides of the cart to see Aurora Village in the distant, as well as dozens of tents on the outside of the village. Ty then asked "Why are there tents?" The veteran soldier then said "It'll be easier to show you, lad."
