The Restful Calm of a Journey’s End

I exited the medical tent, Yara supporting my right, and the crutch supporting my left. Walking had never been so arduous before, not even through the blizzards.

I immediately caught a glimpse of Gin-me, down the T, striking some training dummies in one of the circles, langess messer in her right, kleine in the left. She was training ferociously; using her blades and acrobatics in tandem.

"What time is it, Yara?"

"Early morning."

"Wow." She's as impressive as always.

I noticed Yara was staring at her just as long.

"Is she training to be a ranger?"

"Yeah, she is. I just hope she doesn't work that arm too hard."

I nodded, and turned my head to Captain's tent to the right. She noticed and helped me turn that way.

Nearing its flaps, I heard Soras's voice. "I know what Yara said, but what if he doesn't recover?"

"Soras?" I heard Captain's voice, a twinge of surprise. "Are you doubting?"

"I just hope he'll be alright is all."

"I'm worried too. We all are, I suspect."

We entered.

Soras's face lit up, teeming with more emotion than I'd ever seen in him. "You're standing?"

I nodded slightly. "Sort of."

Captain smiled, a half smirk full of pride and joy. "Welcome to the land of the living, Ladon."

"Thank you." I looked at Soras. "For a time, I saw one of Morana's owls."

"Another reason why we should consider you most fortunate to live."

I chuckled lightly. "How's Gin-me's training going?"

"You ask of that now? When you are finally awake?" he laughed to himself. "She's quite talented. Unlike you when you began, she has much in the way of experience. Most of her skills came from her training herself, apparently based off her father's skills, so there's still some to teach. Much like you, she trains the devils out of herself. I doubt it'll be long until she's ready for her mission. Once we have one lined up, that is."

"Good."

"So," Captain began. "How are you feeling?"

"Terrible, but alive."

"I could've guessed that much."

"Yara, what do you think?"

"He should be good to travel so long as he stays off his feet and rests until he's recovered enough."

"Very well. We'll leave after lunch. Soras, if you could make the announcement for me, I have papers to look at before then."

"Very well, Sen." He left without hesitation, nodding as he passed me.

"Now, Ladon, I have a question for you."

"What?"

"How did it feel to slay a dragon?"

"W-what?"

"We saw the damage. Only the neck was done by Abraxas. He may have gotten the finishing blow, but you got the claw, wing, eye, ankle, and scale. Most of the effort goes to you."

"..."

She stared through my silence. "I know whatever you feel about it is negative, but think of all the people you saved. All the towns and villages of this region are no longer threatened by Gerickst. The half of Moltenbell you saved will remain safe. Tulas of Therrin's End is safe from him. Mothers, fathers, sons and daughters can live their life free from his destruction now."

"..."

"What you did was a good thing—"

"A terrible deed."

"For a good outcome."

"Do the ends justify?"

"Do they?"

"I don't… know. If there was another way…"

"You would've found it. I know your judgment."

"I'm not sure."

She stood up from her desk, and met me halfway. "Then you doubt yourself." She placed her hand on my shoulder. "You fought a dragon, Ladon. A fucking dragon. And you almost beat him at that. Don't doubt yourself."

"..."

"Anyway, I'm sure you have some people to talk to now, so don't let me keep you."

"Didn't you say you had papers to do?"

"Did I?"

"Yes."

"Hm. I guess you better get going then."

I nodded. "Weird," I muttered under my breath.

I turned and walked to the tent's flaps, slowly, with the help of Yara.

"You know…" she grunted. "You're heavy."

"Am I? Dannas said the same once."

"You're build is somewhat more muscular than his, but you're way heavier."

I stopped at the flaps. "Sorry to trouble you."

She laughed at me for a moment. "That's the trouble you're sorry for? Do you value your life?"

"I value what I can use it for, I guess."

"Then use it for living, not dying."

I nodded.

I heard paper flap. "I can't help but notice you're both still here."

"Oh, sorry Captain," Yara answered.

We walked out, one step, as a cacophonous cheer roared, "WELCOME BACK LADON!!!!"

I flinched, forcing myself to take just a moment, until I saw everyone, maybe as many as the celebration, if not more, crowding around the tent. Dannas was front and center, smiling the sun in my direction. Vice captain Soras stood taller than everyone, just next to him, arms crossed, grinning.

Somehow, maybe it was the tiredness, I wasn't uncomfortable. Almost without realizing, I returned a grin.

"What's this?" I asked.

"YOU'RE ALIVE!!!!" Dannas shouted.

Everyone cheered, a cacophony of screams blasting my weakened ears. To the left I saw Lon and Roann smirked, almost in symmetry. Past the crowd of heads peaked the two red and black horns of Lili. I couldn't find Mi anywhere.

"Can I… sit you down somewhere… please?" Yara grunted.

"Oh, yeah. Sorry."

We walked through the parting crowd, hands lightly grasping my shoulders and head as I passed, eyes grasping mine with pride. Before long, we made it to a stump by the same campfire I played with before my mission. Yara helped me sit down. 

Soras's heavy steps came from behind. Over my head, he lifted my scabbard, with the hilt of my sword, undamaged, peeking out of it.

"I told you not to damage it, did I not?"

I grabbed it, holding it by the hilt and scabbard. "You did. I tried not to."

He chuckled. "I'll let it slide, just the once. It was this sword, that I had reforged during this past week, that cut him. As far as last resorts go, I'd say it's quite worthy."

"Thank you, Soras."

"Of course." I heard his feet shift. "Now, everyone! It's time for lunch!"

The crowd cheered and rushed to the mess tent. I turned my head as far as I could to see Lili standing still with Karik as rangers rushed past them. As soon as the crowd passed, she calmly walked over, smiling all the while. Dannas wasn't in sight.

"I'm glad to see you've made it."

"Thank you, Lili. 

"I'm sorry I couldn't help you more."

"You did a lot for me. I wouldn't ask for more."

"True enough. I'd never puppeteered a dragon before. Doing it just once took quite the toll, not to mention I did it twice."

"Makes sense. It was really impressive."

Her smile grew. "Thank you."

"Where's Mi?"

She stared off into the distance. "I'm not quite… Gin-me's tent. She's asleep."

"Could you—"

"Of course." She walked off without hesitation.

Karik didn't go. "I'll be back, I need to grab food for Lily Pad, and myself." He turned and walked away.

Looking at the mess tent, I saw Dannas balancing four bowls, with a piece of bread in his mouth, spinning and twisting through the crowd almost impossibly. He finally got through the last of the crowd, and stopped to talk to Karik, who spoke few words, then moved into the crowd. Dannas shrugged and rushed over.

"Hope you're hungry!" He already made it. "I got food for Lili and Karik, but he said he was getting food so I guess we have two extra bowls."

"You only got four," I said.

"Yeah."

"You would've needed to get five."

"Oh." He shrugged it off. "One extra bowl then." He handed one to me. "And one for you." He handed another to Yara then broke off pieces of bread for us.

I saw Lili pass the last line of tents, holding Mi's hand.

The second my eyes met Mi's, her face lit up. "Ladon!!"

With Lili's help, she rushed over to us. "You're okay!"

"I'll get there."

"Yara wouldn't let anyone in aside from the captain and big guy. Also Rone?"

"Roann?"

"Yeah, him."

"Why him?"

"She said he assists her from time to time."

"Oh." So he helped me. I'll have to thank him.

Dannas thrusted a bowl in between us. "My math wasn't so wrong now was it?" His voice changed to a whisper. "This is for you, by the way."

"Oh! Okay!" she whispered back.

Lili sat down with her, both of them to my left. "It might be quite the wait for Karik to come back. Those poor cooks."

Just as I was going to move my bowl and speak, Mi did. "Want some of mine?"

"No no," Lili answered, smiling. "You still have much strength to regain. Much more than I." Her eyes met mine. "No to you too."

I nodded.

"Oooh I'm so excited!" Dannas exclaimed.

"Why?" I asked.

"We're finally gonna go back to Heurithkə. I haven't been there since last winter."

"What is this Heurithkə like?" Gin-me asked from behind me, with her own food in hand.

"Oh man, it's the coolest. It's a big building made of stone and stuff. A ton of rangers come and go."

"Any good places house-wise?" She sat to my right.

"In Heurithkə?" He laughed. "No, not at all. It's a castle, or fortress of sorts. There's living spaces, but no houses. Now if you want houses, then you'd have to look around the city."

Gin-me, Mi, and I spat in unison before shouting, "CITY?!?!?!"

"Yeah. It's pretty cool. It's like the only one or something like that. The houses are expensive though."

Gin-me looked contemplative, holding her chin, staring off into the distance.

"How long will it take us to get there?" I asked.

"Probably a month or two."

"That long? How far is it?"

I heard tiny footsteps from the tents.

"Yeah, we usually make a bunch'a stops along the way. You know, towns, and villages and stuff. Gotta make sure everyone's okay until the winter squads come out. But we always try to get there before the first snowfall."

"I see."

"Sissy… I'm hungy." Gin-me's little sister said, just past the closest tent.

"Oh shi—" She placed her food down. "I'll get some more, hon."

"No need. I've got three," Karik said from behind.

She looked confused. 

He walked past us. "I usually eat a lot. I can spare one." He leaned down to the little girl. "Here."

She stared, at first curious, but her expression quickly turned to fear, almost on the verge of crying.

Lili quickly got to his side, grabbed the bowl from him. "You're scaring her, Kare." She gestured him away, then leaned down to her. "Here, little girl. You must be hungry like a—"

She started crying.

"Oh gods. Ohh gods… Uhm…" She turned to us. "What did I do? H-How do I—" She walked back over to us. "Could you take over, Ladon?"

"Why me? Gin-me's right here."

Gin-me sighed, and gestured to the girl. "Nari, come here, girl."

Lili handed the bowl to Gin-me.

Nari rubbed her eyes. "Okay…" She sat down between Gin-me and I, closer to her.

"She's scary…"

Lili couldn't look more hurt.

"It's okay. The scary people aren't so bad." She fed Nari a spoonful.

"I understand," I said to her. "Strangers are scary. And there's a lot of them here."

Nari looked at me, her soup staining the side of her mouth. "I wike you. You saved my sissy."

I smiled lightly. "She saved me first."

She giggled.

"Come on now, have some more," Gin-me offered.

I finished my food. Dannas was already done.

He sighed. "I guess I'll go pack up the tent." He walked off, his head hanging low.

"Oh gods," Yara exclaimed.

"What?" I asked.

"I still have to pack all my stuff."

"Need help?"

"Not from you, Ladon. It's a big tent, with a big table, drawyers, et cettera. You'll just make yourself worse."

I nodded, already knowing her answer before she gave it.

"Karik and I can help after we take care of ours. Isn't that right, Kare?" Lili said.

"Sure," he said with a mouthful of food. His two bowls were already empty.

"I could help too, when I'm done," Gin-me added.

"Thank you. I'll see if Roann can as well."

Yara walked back to her tent. Lili and Karik walked in the direction of theirs. And Gin-me and Nari walked to theirs.

Several rangers were already rushing back and forth from the wagons and the camp, preparing the horses, and mules, and loading their things. I saw Enrick running to and from his tent and a big wagon, carrying armfuls of bows in their various stages.

Only Mi stayed behind.

"It's weird," I said.

"What's that?"

"I have nothing to do but watch everyone else do stuff. I've never been so incapable."

She moved close to me. "It's not so bad. Doing nothing; slowing down."

My head felt heavy. "Yeah."

"Rest is important, y'know."

I yawned, slowly nodded.

She chuckled. "You look so tired."

"I am."

"Want a shoulder?"

"What?"

"To rest your head."

"Oh. Are you sure? I thought…"

"I can try."

"Okay."

I slowly lowered my head to the side, to meet her shoulder. She, equally as awkwardly, put her hand on my back and started rubbing it.

"That's… nice."

Even though I couldn't see it, I could feel her smile.

Between her warmth, and soothing backrub, I couldn't stay awake much longer. I closed my eyes and sleep came quickly.

When my eyes opened, I found myself sitting shoulder to shoulder with her, under our apple tree on top of the hill overlooking the orphanage. The sun wasn't far from setting. I could feel dry drool on my face. I felt like I woke up from the deepest sleep of my life.

She yawned.

"Hey, Dawn?"

"Yeah, Red?"

"I just had the craziest dream."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah. I became friends with a dragon. I fought some monsters, and people too. I met elves, and spirits. I even saved you from some people who locked you away. It was really fun, and scary. And sad…"

"That sure sounds pretty crazy."

"Yeah."

We stared at the sunset for a moment, feeling the light breeze as we enjoyed each other's silent company.

"I think we should go back inside—"

I gasped. "Granny's gonna kill us if she finds out we're here!"

She jumped up. "Let's go!" And she ran down the hill.

I chased after, leaning back to not fall.

She gained more and more distance, running with far less caution than me. "Come on!"

"Okay!"

Just as I threw away caution, the toes of my shoe hit a small rock, and before I knew it, I was tumbling.

"Re—AHH!!!"

I tumbled into her, causing us both to fall together until we reached the bottom. She quickly sat up and started laughing. I started to cry.

"Red…" she whined. "We gotta go, remember?"

I sniffled. "Okay…"

She helped me up, and we walked to the orphanage.

I heard a voice echo somewhere around me. "Ladon? Ladon?"

We reached the back door to the orphanage. And just as she opened it, my eyes were met with darkness, and I felt a light shaking from my back.

"Ladon. Wake up." I heard Mi's voice.

My eyes slowly opened. Her sweet scent entered my nose as I realized I was still on her shoulder.

"Hi there sleepy head."

"Hi." I picked up my head and sat straight. "How long was I out?"

"I think… about an hour." She rolled her shoulder slowly.

"That long? It must've been tiring." I can't believe she let me stay there so long.

"Yeah. But it's okay. You must've had a nice dream."

"I did."

 "Want to tell me about it?"

"Sure."

"Oh wait, actually, we gotta get up. Everybody's almost ready to leave. I guess you can tell me in a little bit."

I looked around. All the tents were gone. All the campfires were gone. The training area was gone. The furnaces were gone. The only sign the rangers ever were here was on the ground, in all the spots that lacked grass in the patterns of the tents and training circles.

"LADON!" I heard Dannas scream.

I turned behind to see him waving in the distance, next to a medium-sized wagon among maybe fifteen. There were also a few large wagons, all having a canvas cover except ours. Just about every ranger was over there. He ran over to me, crossing the distance in an impressively short time.

"Are you ready to go?"

 "My armor, bow, cloak, and my tools. Where are they?"

"All of it's in the wagon, except the cloak. We got a new one for you. Oh! And the scale. The dragon scale's in the wagon too."

"I don't even know what to do with that thing."

"Ah you'll figure something out. Come on!" He tried to lift me up. "Oh gods. How in the Hels did Yara do this?"

"Beats me." I stood up with my crutch, using Dannas's shoulder on my right side.

We walked over to the wagons, now being moved into a long line. Each of the large ones were separated by several little ones, probably to keep the chain of command tight. Our wagon was four from the back, and two away from a big one. Our wagon had long, shelf-like benches on both sides, almost all of the middle was taken up by our rolled-up tent, bedrolls, and equipment. There was just enough room for some to sit, but not more than a few at most. I looked over to the large wagon to see Yara climbing onto its front seat.

Dannas tried his best to help me up our wagon, to no avail, until a separate pair of hands pushed against my back, every sense minus sight finding familiarity. Before I turned, I knew it was Gin-me.

I sat down on the left side. "Thanks."

"No problem friend!" Dannas responded.

Gin-me said nothing.

Mi climbed up with Gin-me's help, and sat on the other side. 

Dannas climbed up onto the front seat and Gin-me climbed to the seat of hers just behind. Her sister was expectantly sitting there already.

Dannas turned to us, smiling like the sun, tempting me to close my eyes. "Are you ready?"

I nodded slowly, staring south by southeast, where Abraxas would be sleeping.

"I am!" Mi cheered.

"That's the spirit!"