Chapter 13
The man smiled as he walked home in the pouring rain. After he had dashed around a corner, he had felt the need to once more look back at the people that had saved him – saved their people. Carefully he had crept back and watched as the Ring of the Ancients had suddenly glowed blue. The leader of their world's rescuers had turned and with a look of happiness to his posture had stepped through the ring. Right behind him had followed the woman and the man holding up their friend. Then the other group with a wounded friend had followed and finally one by one the final four. They had come to this world and had saved it. Then they had left through the Ring of the Ancients. The man knew that he would not rest until he had told this wondrous tale to the rest of his world.
He was surprised to find himself so soon on familiar ground, but smiled even more. Finally he rounded a corner and was at his small residence. Softly he pushed open the door, relieved to find the entire dwelling was still standing.
The inside smelled of dirt and illness and he left the door open, allowing the clean fresh scent of rain to wash out the fear and the hurt and the hopelessness. Carefully he kneeled beside his daughter. He breath came like butterfly wings, but at least she still breathed. Almost reverently he opened the container and poured some of the water in a chipped cup. Ever so slowly he lifted his child's head and held the cool water to her lips. Instinctively she drank the water and he nearly cried with relief.
After a few moments he rested her head back on the pillow. Now only time will tell. Never really taking his eyes from his child, he picked up his wash basin and jug and put them outside to gather the rain. This seemed inadequate and he emptied every available container and placed it in a row next to the basin and jug. As he put the last jar outside he lifted his head to rain, feeling the sorrow and worry of the past wash away.
"Daddy?" a soft voice called from inside. Turning he found his daughter's eyes were open, watching him. "Daddy, is it raining?" she asked. He smiled at her.
With joy in his heart he went to sit beside her, offering her another sip of water. "Daddy, is that rain?" she asked once more. Carefully he wiped her hair from her damp face.
"Yes, poppy, it is raining," he told her. She turned eyes big with awe on him.
"It is magical," she solemnly told him. Once more he wiped her hair from her face.
"Yes, poppy, it is magical. And one day I'll tell you about the men and woman that brought the rain back to our world," he promised as he held her close to his heart.