CH 5 – SOLDIER'S PASSING
I've been tracking this woman for a day and night, Retsu thought sourly, No one can move that fast. Unless she ran all the way. He scoffed at that idea; she had only been a day ahead of him when he started. No one could have run the whole way to Lemuria. The city was on the east side of the Gondowan Continent on a small and insignificant peninsula. It would be at least a good week's journey from Ikken, which lay on the edge of the Suhalla Desert. This was getting tiresome. Why was he following this woman anyway? What could he possibly get out of doing so? He'd been pondering this ever since he had left. It's so I can release myself from this servitude. Once again his sour mood reflected in his thoughts. Retsu had never been one to run out on a deal. True, he'd made no deal with Chirari that said he had to help her, but he'd feel better telling her that he was leaving her little town nonetheless. It still bothered him that he hadn't caught up to the woman yet though. She would have had to stop and rest from time to time. Surely she was not used to so much travel as he was. Although, he was sure that if he pressed himself that he would soon be caught up to her. She can't be more than a few miles ahead of me. Wretched little wench.
"Might as well get a bite to eat," he spoke aloud. He would catch up to her though. He'd promised himself that. But what if in the time it took him to eat his lunch she traveled a few more miles. Impossible! He told himself. Just to be sure, he pulled out a wedge of cheese and bolted it down while walking. That ought to hold him 'til dinner. With the thought of overtaking Chirari in mind, he quickened his pace and focused on the day's march ahead.
* * *
His suspicions proved to be correct. The woman had only been just a few miles ahead. He quickly caught up to her and told her that he wanted nothing more to do with her. She hadn't even acknowledged him. Her sight was focused on a limp figure lying in the road. Without saying anything, she had run ahead. That had been at least five minutes ago, but it felt more like an hour. What had appeared to be a bump in the road to him, was an injured man to her. Chirari was applying every bit of healing knowledge she owned to use. Dried blood plastered his face in a grisly mask. Retsu would have taken the man from dead if he wasn't still breathing, or talking for that matter. It was more of an intelligible mumble, however; every once in a while he was able to catch a word.
"Hush now," Chirari spoke urgently, "You need to conserve your strength. The man wasn't listening. Ignorant buffoon, why doesn't he listen? All of her skill was going to waste. He was too far gone, the water adept stressed to herself silently. It was time for her to realize the truth. "I can't save him," she whispered.
"North," the man croaked hoarsely, "Go north. Black…. wall." What's he talking about? Retsu wondered. Obviously, he was a soldier of some sort by his uniform. Perhaps this black wall was some sort of army? He would have heard of it though. If it wasn't an army then what could it be? A disease? Possibly a plague? Surely not. Retsu glanced at the man, considering. Something was wrong with him. Could it be that his condition was becoming poorer? Impossible! Chirari was healing him, or trying to. How could he be getting worse? Suddenly, the man began screaming uncontrollably. What was happening to him? His skin was beginning to rot! Everything began to deteriorate. Scrambling, Chirari pushed the man's head off her lap, screaming. His form became thin and skeletal. It was as though something was destroying his innards, which in turn caused his skin to collapse inward. A claw with a last few dripping shreds of flesh raised itself skyward.
"Nor…" he whispered hoarsely. With that, his rib cage caved in and his futile efforts to survive had come to an end. Chirari looked up, her face stained with tears and smeared with the man's blood. She was taking this too hard, but what could he do? Retsu turned away from her to inspect the corpse. Swiftly, he turned his head and retched. There went my lunch, he thought trying to forget the thing before him. Gathering courage he peered at the carcass once more. Slowly, Retsu reached forward to remove the man's shirt. A sudden jerk on his wrist surprised him.
"He's my patient, therefore, it is my duty to inspect him. Not yours." Turning his head, he glanced the young woman up and down. She was visibly shaken and would need rest before long. Her pale white face stared at him challengingly from behind scattered strands of cerulean-colored hair. Blood and tears streaked down her cheeks and chin, causing her to look like a corpse herself, coming to take her own to the eternal slumber that awaited.
"You need to rest-" he was interrupted by her scowl. It caused him to realize just how alive she actually was. It she had beared her teeth in a snarl, he would not have been surprised. Lifting his hands, he backed away.
"Fine," he mumbled through gnashed teeth, "Just fine." As soon as his back was turned, Chirari began gently removing the topcoat, which the zombie-like remains wore. Turning her head for a breather, she began to wonder just what could have done this to a man. Once more she glanced at the rotted thing. All the internal organs were missing and all that appeared to be left was bones and the hanging flesh. Gently, she reached forward to touch the remains. The still form began quivering, as if making an attempt to come back from the afterlife. Jumping back, she allowed yet another scream to peal forth from her lips. Retsu turned hastily, only to see what was once a dying soldier, become a pile of ash in the soft soil.
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DR: A quick note for those of you who are reading. It may appear that I reviewed my own story, but that was ChibiSkunkSaria. Thanks!