The End Of a Job.

It had been a hard couple days for Stella as she tried to help rebuild the ruined village. She was working to such an extreme that the days started to blend into a single day with a couple of breaks sprinkled throughout them. Her mornings started with her usually waking up from the short nap she could range from the previous day. After she shook off the morning sluggishness she would then help clear some of the rubble from around the village sorting out the lubber that could reclaim from the lubber whos only use at this point was for firewood to help keep them warm at night.

Once a small area had been cleared away she would then start working on the frame for a new building whether it had walls or not didn't matter, all that matter to her was getting a roof erected. Once the roof was up she would help some of the people who decided to try and rebuilt though those few have started to become scares. However, while she would work she would need to drop what everything once in a while to help defend the village from Grimm that had wandered close to the village.

But those attacks had become rarer as people decide to leave the village to either head back to Atlas or another village located somewhere else. The first couple days there would be waves of people that would leave. Then it seemed to stop with only a few people trickling out of the gate either joining with a passing transport or striking out on their own. Though it had started to pick up again with many people leaving the village saying that between the Grimm attacks and the state of things that they had a better chance starting over again somewhere else.

However, that didn't deter Stella from trying to rebuild this village that she felt she had failed though ever mourning she admitted to her self that maybe this was the end for this place. But she kept going determined not to give in till the end, when either this village was built back up or till everything fell around her into memory.

"How's she going, Stella?" A voice erupted behind her causing her to snap out of the trees she was in.

Stella turned her head to see who was behind her and there walking towards her was Rus walking towards her. "Well it's finally standing up without shaking too much," she responded as she turned back to her work.

"I guess that's about all we can ask for about now," Rus said as he looked at the structure that she had been building. "This might work for a nice soup house or something along that line."

"What about the families that are still sleeping in the tents?" Stella asked with a confused look on her face.

"Everyone who staying around has a roof over their heads." Rus calmly explained

"What about the one couple that was in the tent last night?" Stella asked again with the confusion in her voice.

"One of the over families just left today so the couple moved in to there. Heck, there aren't too many people here anymore," he responded with the last few words holding a grim tune in his voice.

Stella stopped and just stood there before she spoke up but her words where almost whispers, "How many are still here?" She asked

"Not many. I'm even thinking of leaving myself." Rus answered, "What about you?"

"I intended to stay," Stella answered with determination in her voice as she went back to her work.

"You might be the only one." Rus replied "I pretty sure everyone else is planning on leaving with the next transport to where ever. Heck, even your friend Aaron is gone he just left this mourning."

"We weren't friends" Stella sharply stated, "But, did he at least say where he was going to?"

Rus looked up towards the sky before he answered, "Nope, just up'n left I didn't even know till a few minutes ago myself."

Stella stopped for a few moments as she let the mallet that she was using to build the shelter rest against the support beam as she thought over everything that had happened in these past few days. From the recent memorial for Grey, the Grimm attack that devasted the village that she was supposed to protect, and to now as she tried to help rebuild the village it seemed that everyone else was leaving for anywhere else.

"Well, then I guess this will work for a soup kitchen," Stella admitted as she let the mallet fall to her side.

"Hey don't sound so down," Rus quickly jumped in, "you have done more then most people can ask for. Just look at what you're doing, here you are building a shelter to rebuild this village while everyone else is packing up to leave. In my opinion, you've done more then enough for everyone if they choose to leave it's not on you it's just the way of life."

Stella didn't say anything to that but she did let his meaning sink in. But for her, she felt like she could have done more. She could've stayed to help defend against the bandit attack, to help prevent the Grimm attack. but she never voiced her thoughts to Rus as he stood there. Instead, Stella turned away from the structure she was building and left it and Rus behind as she moved on to the next thing on her list.

Stella walked to what remained of the front gate hoping to start her guard shift earlier to help her organize her thoughts. But she arrived at the gate she saw a group of people gathering next to the rood. Beside them was a pile of sacks and suitcases.

"What are you doing?" Stella asked even though she felt she knew the answer.

"We're leaving," A lady from the crowd responded. "We're leaving this ruin of a town."

Stella looked over the crowd counting silently in her head to figure how many had decided to leave. As she counted she realized that this wasn't just a small group from the village, but it was the remaining people from the village.

But before she could speak a small transport truck came into view from over the hill and as it got closer it slowed down. As it came to a stop a driver poked his head from the cabin, "Do you all need a lift?" he asked the crowd.

"Yes we do." a man from the crowd responded to the driver.

"Well I got some room in the back might be a tight squeeze." the Driver stated as he pointed to the back of his transport.

Stella stood back and watched as the people started to get inside the transport either with their bags or without them. Before long everyone was inside the transport as it went on its way disappearing over another hill. She still stood there for a few minutes as she thought about what to do next.

After a couple minutes, Rus came up behind her and looked around at the empty spot. "They all left now right?" he asked as he kept looking around.

Stella didn't answer but instead nodded her head giving Rus the answer he was looking for.

"Look, I was planning on heading to Vale soon, see if any of the fishing ports would take in a new fisher" Rus said as he stretched the back of his head. "If you want, you could hitch a ride with me there or you could stay here."

Stella still did not answer for a few moments as she thought over the offer. "Sure, why not?" Stella Responded with sadness hanging in her voice.