Chapter Nine: Returning

Rend set out soon after, returning to the last place he'd seen his friends. Not too surprisingly, they'd left the area, but a distance furrow in the ground indicated someone with blade or bow had left him a trail to follow, in a northwest direction. Rend trotted along it.

At this rate, they might intercept the healers' wagon, Rend thought with a bubble of amusement. Wouldn't that just be a shock. 'Shadow? Is that you?' 'I just spoke with Rend this morning.' A chuckle slipped out, and he picked up his pace a bit, feeling considerably lighter of heart than he'd been before.

With typical Warforged endurance Rend traveled all day without stopping. He was alone with his thoughts, most of which were wonderings such as Was grass always this green, or did I just never take the time to notice? Or I wonder what I'll find to do now that it's nearing spring. Aren't there lots of festivals in the spring? But always lingering in the back of his mind was thoughts of what lay immediately ahead. This would be a new experience for Rend. Those who ran out on their units like he had were typically shunned upon return, if not punished outright.

What now, that they were like a unit but at the same time not one? Would he be shunned? Would he be accepted back? What was that word the other races used? Forgiven, that was it. Would he be forgiven for arguing with Hunter, then running from Scout and staying away all night, probably at the very least causing some concern.

The more he ran, the more that thought overshadowed all others, until that feeling grew in him again, the same one that had formed all those months ago when he'd seen the gnome surveyor. Dread, Hunter had called it. And it doubled when, as the sky had just about gone from sunset to that sunless-yet-light time known as twilight, he saw a campfire directly in his past atop a small grassy rise. The sensation was so strong and sharp that Rend stopped right in his tracks, unsure.

These are my comrades, he told himself, then he corrected his thought. No, they're my... my friends, my truest friends. No matter what happens, how this turns out, they'll always remain that at least to me. I made my choice, and now, good or bad, it's time to face the consequences. Never before had the philosophies felt so real as in that moment, and later on he'd recall it as his finally giving himself to his new, living life. After a brief moment to steel himself, he approached at a walk.

It was his friends all right; Scout, Sever, and three others Rend didn't know, most likely from yesterday, those that remained behind. Hunter was nowhere in sight. The five sat around the campfire, Scout with her back to him, Sever across from her, and the three newcomers sat to Rend's right. A space had been left open opposite them, perhaps for Hunter. Scout was prodding the fire with a long stick, her shoulders and posture slumped a bit as if dejected, which caused Rend a pang of guilt. He gave a small, silent sigh and approached the rest of the way up the rise. But before the wayward Warforged could say a single word, Sever seemed to sense him and looked up from his spell book.

"Rend." Scout turned and jumped up, then darted over to hug him.

"Oh Rend! You came back!" Rend returned the hug, smiling.

"How could I not?" he teased, before pushing her gently out to arm's length. "Scout, I'm sorry I ran away from you. I'm sorry to all of you, for my recklessness."

"Heh, I thought it was a good show," Sever replied, nodding to the empty spot for Rend to sit. Knowing their forgiveness, some of Rend's dread unknotted itself.

Some, but not all.

"Where's Hunter?" he asked as he and Scout both sat down.

"He's over there," Scout pointed past Rend to where the rise dropped gently back away down below view, as she added, "Meditating."

"Ah." Rend knew that meant he'd have to wait. Although it had never been verbally stated by Hunter, none of them liked to interrupt when he took a little time to himself to think over some situation or another. He always told them what he'd been thinking on, once he figured it out for himself.

Rend was introduced to the three new 'Forged: Cutter and Reaver, both sickle users, and Sentinel, a pole arm wielder who was often posted as a guard back in the War, all of Thrane commission. Rend, in turn, told of Elimaya and finding Shadow, and of his offer to meet in Nowhere. And the three Thrane 'Forged told of themselves, how they, like Rend, Scout, and Sever Brave, had been in the same unit and had stuck together after they'd been freed, and how after listening to Hunter they'd decided to tag along, to learn from him too. They were all so enthralled in their storytelling that none of them heard his approach nor even noticed him until he was standing right behind Rend and had placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Rend," Hunter said, "we need to talk."

After a small steadying breath, Rend looked over his shoulder and nodded, standing and following Hunter back the way he came, down the side of the rise. About half way down they each took a seat upon the grassy slope beside each other, and for a few moments they were silent. Then Rend took a deep breath, eyes focused on the horizon before him as he couldn't bring himself to look at Hunter, to see his reaction, and spoke.

"Hunter, I'm sorry for being so reckless against Savage. It was foolish and risky, and I realize that now. I was wrong."

"Before you go any further," Hunter interrupted, "maybe I'd better say this." Rend fell silent, ready to listen. He felt Hunter turn towards him. "Look at me, Rend." Rend forced himself to turn his head to look at the Warforged he most admired and respected and trusted. "When you walked away, I didn't stop you because I knew we were both angry and upset with each other. We needed to space to calm down and think clearly. Yes, what you did was risky, and potentially deadly, and..." Hunter paused, then gave a small laugh as he let the subject drop. "Anyways, Scout told me what you said to her, before she slapped you, and it made me realize you were justifiably angry with me. You see, I'd forgotten in my own fear and anger to say one thing to you, and that's Thank You, Rend. For standing up for me against Savage, and being so willing to defend me, and more importantly claiming me as your brother. Although it may not have seemed so last evening, that means a lot to me. Thank you." Rend for a moment was stunned, then smiled.

"I was – and am – very proud to call you my brother, Hunter. There's no one I more trust in this world. And I do apologize for doing something so stupid like wanting to fight Savage."

"Sometimes our most foolish actions, whether it's threatening a very deadly warrior, or letting fear push away gratitude, teach us the most valuable lessons."

"I definitely know I learned a thing or two."

"Such as?"

"Think before I jump into situations like that again, to avoid Savage at all costs, and that Scout has a strong left hook." The pair burst out in a brotherly laugh, and Hunter tugged the side of Rend's cloak.

"So, where'd you get the clothes?"

"Remember the mother in the camp, with the little girl whose eyes were bandaged? From her. I carried her daughter to the healers' wagon for her, and helped her break down her tent when the healers said the two should go with her."

"I'm glad the lady and child are taken care of. And the look suits you."

"Thanks. Speaking of the girl -" Rend pulled the wolf out of his pack, having decided on this the instant he'd seen it sparkling in the sun. "She's the one who told me I should apologize, because I don't know what may happen from one moment to the next and might miss out on the chance. Very wise, for one so young." He handed the carving to Hunter. "I believe I heard a custom amongst the other races where one friend gives the other a gift when he apologizes." Hunter accepted the wolf with a smile, then handed Rend a length of intricately braided black, brown, and white leather strips.

"Funny, I once heard the same thing." Rend grinned and, in a sudden burst of inspiration, tired it around the band of his hat.

"This is one lesson I don't intend to ever forget."

"Hmm... Perhaps you'd like to share this discovery with our new friends."

"Huh?" Hunter patted Rend's shoulder as they stood.

"Just tell them what you told me."

And that night, for the first time ever, Rend found himself telling the story, teaching the group instead of Hunter, who sat close at hand to give his insight. And Rend knew one thing that he realized would be true forever: As long as he was with his friends, no matter what, he was home.