One Small Step.
An eerie green glow illuminates a small space visible through the window of a collapsed building. The glow twitches slightly before darting out of view. Filled with dread after witnessing this strange sight, the man turns to his Ghost.
Looking up toward the sun, now high in the sky, the Ghost says, "They won't bother us if we keep our distance. There is still plenty of daylight left." Looking back at her visibly nervous partner, she continues, "We are almost at that checkpoint I mentioned. I'm sure we can find something there you can defend yourself with… Just in case."
Shifting his attention forward, the man changes the subject, "I just hope we can find something to eat. We've been walking for hours and I'm really starting to get hungry." The man stops for a moment to stretch.
"This place has been abandoned for centuries, so I wouldn't get my hopes up about finding anything close to edible," says the Ghost as she motions the Risen to continue.
"Tell me again why you can build a full outfit out of scraps and magic dust, but it's somehow impossible to make me a warm bowl of noodles?" he says in a near sarcastic tone as he finishes stretching.
"Reorganizing the matter of one set of clothes into another is a lot simpler than restructuring proteins in mud and swamp water into a form that won't leave you with a heck of a stomach ache…or dead," the Ghost says before stopping to look at the man. "Although I can ease the hunger pain if it is really bothering you."
The man waves her off and says, "Nah, I'll be fine I'm just-." As he is replying, the man takes a step forward and into a small pothole hidden under the scum ridden water. Without time to react, the man crashes forward with all the weight of his body, splashing into the foul muck below.
"I don't think you'll find anything to eat down there!" jokes the Ghost as she holds in a laugh.
Standing up from his somewhat embarrassing dive, the man replies sarcastically, "What, you didn't see that wild turkey sandwich wiggling through the water?" He looks up at his Ghost with a smirk. "I almost had it too. Real shame it got away."
"In all seriousness, you do need to be more careful," the Ghost says with concern in her voice. "There are very few safe places left anywhere, and that means one little mistake could have terrible consequences."
The man's smile fades as he moves his gaze from his little friend and swipes the mud from his coat.
"I'll always be there to help, even if that means resurrecting you again, but… sometimes that's easier said than done," the Ghost explains in a somber tone.
The man brushes off most of the filth from his coat and gets ready to continue onward.
"Sorry if I'm being a downer!" the Ghost says with a hint of nervousness. "What I mean to say is, I'm going to stay VERY busy if you continue being such a klutz!"
The man chuckles. "Thank you, Ghost." He pauses for a moment with a slightly puzzled look on his face. "Hey, is there something else I can call you? Something more personal than 'Ghost.'"
She stops and hovers down to meet the man's view. "I don't really have a name per say… Most of the others I've met just call me 'Ghost.' Although, sometimes these children I knew back home would call me 'Spark' when we played together!"
"So 'Spark,' huh?" asks the man while his smile returns.
"It's only something the little ones would call me, but I kind of like it," says the Ghost as she unconsciously rocks side to side.
"I like it too," the man adds, with warmth in his voice.
"So what about you?" the newly dubbed 'Spark' asks after a small lull in the conversation.
A little surprised, the man questions, "You expect me to come up with my own name?"
"If you haven't thought of anything yet, you can give it time. I'm sure something will come to you… Although, I do have suggestions!" says the clearly excited machine.
"What'd you call me after I fell just a bit ago?" the man asks his eager companion. "After I recovered from my totally intentional dip in the muck."
"…A 'klutz?'" the puzzled Spark asks after a moment of thought.
"That sounds fine to me," says the man before continuing forward toward their destination.
"'Klutz!?' You want to be called 'Klutz!?'" Spark says, stunned for a second before quickly following the man.
"It's as good a name as any," Klutz says with a grin on his face.
Looking at the man with intent, Spark replies, "Is it though?! Like I said, I have had a lot of time to think of names for you! All much better than… 'Klutz.'"
The man continues walking, seemingly happy with his new name. Or maybe just content with his new friend's distress over the matter.