Welcome Home

The suns hung low in the sky once more. Bard looked out at the pass, the final one of their journey. Father’s forest would be just on the other side. The days leading up to this had been exhausting. Endless shades, night after night. Despite good time some days, they had bad luck at other times and were forced to stop. Their reserves and resources were getting scarce.

With Kai heaving and gulping in deep breaths, Bard shook his head and pulled back, having his friend stop.

“Bard? What’s wrong?” Sen asked. He moved to dismount.

“We won’t be making it through the pass before night hits,” Bard remarked. He moved to where the bag of light sticks were and frowned as he rummaged through. Their stock was almost nonexistent now. His gaze turned to Sen as she dismounted, searching the tokens around her neck. Noticing his glance, she smiled sadly and pulled them out more to see it.

“He seems to be holding on,” she said, her voice nearly a whisper.

Father’s token had started shading. The process was far more gradual than any of the others. Two days had passed, and yet only half had turned black. And despite the shading, his song still sung through the token, gradually diminishing in volume.

Bard turned to look once more at the pass.

“Just one more day...” He hummed, a prayer on his lips. He felt Kai nuzzle him, hard, and he moved to rub his snout, chuckling. “Buddy, you’re not fooling anyone, though I appreciate your willingness.” He paused as his mind began to explore what options were around. As his eyes looked upon the familiar landscape, his expression softened and he smiled ruefully. His mind made, he spoke.

“I know a place not too far from here that should be easy to defend tonight.”

“Are you sure we shouldn’t keep moving?” Sen asked, taking a swig of water from their skins.

“Yes.” He said, and Kai nuzzled him with a determined look. Bard put his hands on his hips. “I know this area well, and I doubt we’d be able to get through the pass with night approaching, even if Kai was rested.”

Kai suddenly tilted his head and then raised it as he looked in the same direction as Bard.

“That’s right, Kai. You know the place. Want to lead the way?” he smirked. As Kai began to move, Sen climbed up and then helped Bard.

“What place?” she asked, pulling him up.

“Home.”

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Sen was silent as they passed the ruined walls and entered, passing destroyed buildings. This was not the grand structures of the ruined cities, but small humble cabins, barns. Bard felt her grip him a bit tighter as Kai padded in.

“Bard?” her voice trembled for a second, and he looked back. “Is this the place I think it is?”

“Ya. This was my village. My home,” he answered softly. She gripped his clothes a bit and hugged him a bit more. “My memories of that time are fuzzy, but I think that was my house… there,” he paused briefly as his eyes scanned before pointing to it. Only a few walls remained of the structure. He let his eyes roam. It was strange to be back, and like this, after so many years.

“Here should be good, Kai.”

Bard quickly dismounted as Kai stopped. He then helped Sen down. They began to untie some of their things and make camp.

“Kai, try and see if you can find something to eat. Sen and I will get things set up here,” he said, and Kai shook, the sounds of his tack rattling. “I know you can still hunt with that on. Just go for slower things.” Bard quipped. Kai harrumphed, but then was bounding off.

“That cliff face…” Sen muttered, coming closer. “What do you think?” she asked. His eyes moved over and he smiled.

“That would be a good place,” he agreed. “We better gather what wood we can, though. There is enough on the old structures that should be decent once we get a blaze going.” Sen nodded in agreement, and they began to prep the fires, gathering what they could before scavenging.

Kai returned, dropping a small animal in front of them and licking his lips with satisfaction.

“Good work, can you help break some of these?” Bard said, and Kai tilted his head with a skew. “You can rest after we’ve got enough for the fires,” Bard said as he noticed the tail start to wag at the word ‘rest’. Kai made quick work of a few structures, smashing the wood down to manageable sizes. Afterwords, he cozied up in the middle and quickly fell asleep while Bard skinned and seasoned the meat with what little he had left.

“You said you remember about this place?” Sen asked, as he moved the pieces of meat over the fire. Bard’s brows raised and he shrugged.

“Sort of. I can remember someone who I think was my father. Mostly I remember my mom, and how she weaved and made clothes. She made me a blanket that I still had till it wore out in father’s woods. Guess rough housing and rolling in the dirt wasn’t the best thing for that,” he hummed.

“It was you he took after then,” Sen chuckled. Bard looked surprised, and Sen snuggled next to him. “Do you… do you think Zak is alright?”

“Yes. Amir and Elwood will take care of him.” Bard answered. The silence returned, except for the cackling of the fire and the cooking meat as the fat fizzled. The suns finally dipped below the horizon, casting the darkness. Bard looked past the fire, anticipation growing.

The shades rose from ever small shadow, every nook and cranny. But instead of swarming them, they just lumbered slowly out of range. His eyes grew wide, his teeth gritting. There was a visible perimeter between them, beyond where the light cast.

“They’re acting strangely,” Sen voiced.

Bard’s eyes scanned the shades, catching a glint of gold before it vanished. Something was out there. Was it like the Harbinger?

The shades began to circle, making it more natural, but no less ominous. When they stopped and stared, Sen drew close to him, even Kai roused. The meat on the fire sizzled, drawing him partially out of this spell.

He reached down and grabbed a stick. “Eat,” he said. “We’ll watch in shifts.”

Sen swallowed hard and then forced herself to start eating. They wouldn’t let this get to them. Bard understood they needed to be wary, but frozen? That would only wear them out and make it harder to get to Father tree tomorrow.

He and Sen ate in the silence, Kai’s eyes watchful. Once they were done, the large beast rolled over, facing the cliff, and went back to sleep. Bard took first watch.

The hours and rising of the shattered moon were the only things that moved. The shades were like a painting, a picture, frozen as if captured. It was odd, but at least that meant they wouldn’t be fighting. He kept his flute handy and waited, but with nothing happening for this shift, he tapped Sen in and let himself slumber.

The following morning, he found Sen quiet, staring at the pass.

“No movement for you either?” he asked, stretching and rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.

“They went through the pass before the sun rose,” she answered, before turning and giving him a hug. He felt her trembling against him, and he embraced her and stroked her head till she calmed. Kai roused and nudged them, eager to be off. After packing up, they climbed on Kai and headed into the pass.