New Purpose.
Subtle ripples move across the pond's surface under the light breeze of the evening wind. The surroundings are quiet. Even the animals needed to learn how to survive in the new world that was thrust upon them.
The black card rests in his hand as he sits alone, next to the small pond. His rifle rests against a rock beside him. Lost in thought, he examines the card with no particular goal in his mind as to what he's hoping to find.
A violent splash comes from the water, breaking the man's fixation on the strange card. He looks over to see what caused the disturbance and finds a small fish struggling in the gravel next to the pond. For a moment, he remains seated, watching the fish try to flop itself back to familiar surroundings. With seemingly no hope for the small creature to find its way back to the pond, the man gets up and moves in to assist. By the time he arrives, the fish has stopped flopping about. Only its gills move, slowly, as it works to avoid suffocation. The man takes the small fish gently in his hand and tosses it back to where it belongs. To his surprise, the creature doesn't swim away, happy to be home in its pond. Instead, the fish floats on its side near the surface with the same slow struggling movements it had made in the gravel.
"Y'know you're supposed to bring the fish home after you catch it, right?"
A little startled, Klutz turns to face the woman speaking to him.
"They probably won't say it, but folks back home would appreciate it if you brought 'em back something to eat when you get done with your 'patrol,'" she says, standing confidently with a hunting bow over one shoulder and a pair of freshly skewered rabbits on the other.
Klutz quickly walks back to his waterside perch and picks up his weapon, "I'm not so sure about that," he says, slinging the rifle over his back and moving to meet the woman. "Your people don't seem to want me around at all."
The huntswomen chuckles. "Of course they don't." A crooked smile on her face.
"I'm sure by now, Eyran and the others get that I agree with them about my position here."
Her smile disappears. "Can't speak for the blue guy, but you've made it loud and clear to the rest of us..."
They walk in silence for a moment. The rabbits sway behind the woman's back as she quickens her pace a little.
Klutz notices her change in demeanor and speeds up to match her. "Marin… I've been here over a month now, and you're the only one that's made me feel even a little welcome. I appreciate that… but this isn't really what I was sold on when I took the job. You know, 'patrol the surrounding area of a rogue settlement' sounds a lot more interesting than 'bird watch all day and get glared at by unfriendly villagers.'"
She slows her pace to a stop and looks at the man. "I like having you around, Guardian. I get what's out there, better than most people here, and if something were to happen I'd appreciate the help. Fortunately, this has been a mostly peaceful place for a long time. Folk have got used to the safety. They don't want the City's help. They don't want your help." Moving her view away from the man and toward the village, she continues, "I just wish you wanted to help them…" She adjusts the skewed rabbits and resumes her walk toward the village.
Klutz wants to say something, but he can't form the words to match his feelings. He hangs back and allows the space between them to grow.
Spark appears next to the frustrated Guardian. "So uh… how did you think that was going to go?" She looks at the woman shrinking in the distance.
He adjusts the weapon on his back and starts walking. "Didn't do a lot of thinking to be honest."
"Mouth moved before the mind?"
"Something like that." He shakes his head subtly.
"She really has been very kind to you since we arrived. And I don't just mean in comparison to the others…"
"And here I am venting at her like this crap patrol is her fault."
"I know it's been rather uneventful so far… but if Osiris says this patrol is important, then it must be important," Spark says with seriousness in her tone.
"I'm not so sure… the City is what? Two and a half miles away? From what I've gathered, that's well within the safe zone. No bandit or scavenger with any sense in their head is gonna try anything with these folks. I'm thinking the real reason I'm here is to make them 'feel' safe. Give them the idea that the City's looking out for them."
"What's wrong with that?" Spark asks as her shell moves in a concerned expression.
"Nothing really. But Marin is right about them. These folks are tough, and they didn't ask for help from no one. It's all for show and I'm just here as a mascot for a city I barely know."
Spark maintains her concerned look.
"My first day at the Tower- hell my second day out of the grave, you said I'd find answers. Said I'd find purpose." His voice trembles very slightly.
"Klutz I-"
"Well I've got a lot of answers to a lot of questions I didn't have and I've been given a purpose I don't really believe in. Don't feel like much of a 'Guardian.'" He pauses to take a breath. "There's gotta be something more…"
Spark thinks for a moment about something she could say to encourage her disillusioned companion. Healing his physical wounds was effortless for her, but patching his wounded morale called for skills she had little practice in.
Spark moves toward the low-spirited Lightbearer. Before she gets a word out, Klutz motions her away. She disappears and the man heads toward the village with heavy steps.
With the sun resting over the horizon, painting the sky with tones of amber and soft violet, Marin returns home with her kill. Although not much, the meat will make sure a few people don't go to sleep hungry tonight. She is warmly greeted by an older woman wearing an apron covered in butcher stains. The older woman takes the rabbits and the two exchange words through smiles before parting.
Klutz arrives shortly after, with little acknowledgement aside from a few uncomfortable looks.
Marin sits on the worn wooden step in front of the community hall, the largest building in the village. In smooth, quick motions, she moves a honing stone across the edge of a worn arrowhead. The fletching sits still behind her as she holds the shaft under her armpit. She grips the base of the arrowhead, knuckles braced firmly against her knee. She continues the practiced sharpening for a few moments before raising the head for closer inspection. Approving of the refined edge, she adds it to a quiver with the others and begins the process on another dulled arrowhead.
"I do want to help, Marin."
Her eyes don't move from her work as the Guardian approaches her. "That so?" She continues the stone's smooth motions.
"Yeah. Just wish I knew how…"
The stone stops for a moment. The Guardian passes by her.