A Guardian Far from Home - from Roe

“It’s okay to be scared.”

Roe was in the corner of the camp, sitting behind a tree. Thinking she was alone and unnoticeable, she felt it was safe to be vulnerable – hands shaking as she anxiously stared into space. But she was wrong.

“What are you talking about?” she said with false indifference.

He lightly chuckled, and without asking permission, sat across from her on the grass. The way he looked into her soul made her feel uneasy, like he somehow knew everything about her already. That was impossible, right?

“I haven’t seen you around before. You must be a new recruit.”

“So what if I am?”

“I was scared too, first time I was sent out to fight. Terrified, to be honest. And you know what else?”

Roe waited. He leaned closer – a bit too close. The gall irked her, but it was either he didn’t realize or simply didn’t care.

“I’m still scared, and it’s normal.”

He pulled back, and her guarded pose briefly faltered in response to his confession. Fear was a taboo. More than that, it was something that was never meant to be felt to begin with. Yet there was this stranger, talking about it openly.

“It’s not normal, it’s a liability. You shouldn’t be proud of it.”

“Hmm? Who said I was proud?”

“You sure do look proud…”

He shook his head. “If I could, I’d be the bravest man around. But I’m not, so I’ve learned to accept it.”

“And you felt the need to tell me this because?”

“Nothing major. Just wanted to make the newbie feel better,” he placed his palms on the grass. “Plus, can you blame a guy for wanting to talk to a cute girl?”

…

“Okay, now you’re just being indecent. You’re both a coward and a weirdo.”

He laughed. It gave her an odd fluttering in her chest. “Then if I’m so bad, why are you red?” he asked jokingly.

Roe had thought it was just the weather, but the afternoon air was cold. Touching her cheek, she was horrified to find out it was warm. She must’ve had a fever or something. Her dumbstruck seemed to entertain him, but as he stood up, the conversation was nearing its end.

“Really, though. Being out with those anomalies… It’s nothing easy. No matter what the higher-ups say, we’re only human,” he started his way back to the campfire, and saying one last thing, “I’m Alec, by the way. Can I ask your name?”

“Roe,” she muttered.

“Rose?”

“Roe. R. O. E.”

“Oh, my mistake,” he smiled warmly, “I must’ve gotten you mixed up. Roses are quite pretty.”

Then, Alec left. It didn’t take long for him to become the most peculiar Guardian she had met, not having their typical stoicism or lack of fondness. And even worse, she couldn’t help but say to herself…

“I’m pretty?”

Since that day, he had left an imprint on her mind. At first, to her torment. But fast forward almost nine years later, and they’d be snuggled together in a field of lilies – in the middle of the apocalypse.

“Did you hear that?” Roe said, jolting up.

“That rustle? It’s probably just an animal.”

“Probably or definitely?”

“Hmm… Probably probably-hehehe…”

Roe crossed her arms. “I’m glad you think us getting jumped is so hilarious— Hey, Alec!”

Her back was laid on the ground again as she was overpowered by an onslaught of tickles by Alec, a jolly and mischievous grin on his face as his fingers traveled along her sides and abdomen.

“I-I’m going to kill you!”

“I’d like to see you try!”

There was another rustle. Roe maneuvered her way from underneath Alec, rising into a defensive stance – and without thinking, the threads of a blade began to take form in her hand.

“Roe, stop!” Alec warned, grabbing her wrist.

She remembered. Reluctantly, the spawning ended prematurely, the threads retracting back into her body. An innocent rabbit hopping into the clearing at least calmed her nerves.

“This is so annoying.”

“Maybe… But it’s what has to be done. At least for now.”

Roe dropped back down beside him. “I’m sorry, but you’re too optimistic. What do you mean ‘for now?’ Do you expect things to change in less than half a year?”

“I don’t know. It could.”

“It won’t,” she plucked a lily out of annoyance, “These ‘commons’ are going to stay afraid of us, and I don’t blame them. We’re the ones who hold the power of the tribes.”

They were easy to mistreat, the humans outside Section 1 – outside the tribes. Basic weapons could do little against people who could kill at the snap of a finger, or bend the environment to their will… In Roe and Alec’s case, the natural strength and prowess of Nexus warriors made their own skills look like child’s play.

Unless they wanted to cause a disturbance rather than live among them peacefully, blending in was the only solution.

“Speaking of the commons,” Alec said, “They have the food back in stock in town. Thought you’d want to know.”

Roe was already across the field before he finished talking. With a smirk, Alec followed. The place wasn’t far, only a 10-minute walk down the dirt path along the still brook. There was a vacant beaver dam, and a few months ago, salmon dominated the water. Now, a single bird sang a lonely song afar.

She missed the animals. Not that she ever cared much for them, but her stomach said otherwise. With agriculture obsolete, and most of the only fruits and vegetables left being a delicacy, the world became very carnivorous. Livestock and wildlife killed in waves, their meat preserved and given sparingly in rations. In the town, it was another of those times.

The square was crowded with clamorous commons, flocking around the stalls with hardly constrained patience. It smelled like beef and mutton, bags of them being thrown to the ravenous lot, who snatched them up like coyotes.

One of the only unperturbed, Roe sauntered past the people, making her way to the front. Slamming a hefty number of coins on the stand, she took her portion, ignoring the noisy complaints about her getting “extra.” Money talked, and having saved a sustainable amount from her wages, she always leveraged it. But before handing a bag to Alec, there was another stall that demanded her attention… In a breeze, she was there.

“Where did you get these?” she asked the woman, scanning over the flowers in crates – specifically, the purple roses she hadn’t come across in months.

“The bottom of that cliff a few miles south from here. Found them nestled by the rocks,” she picked up a daisy, twirling it between her fingers. “Thought I’d try and spread some cheer, since most of us don’t have these pretty things anymore... Are you interested?”

“Give me the purple roses. All of them.”

“You’re still worried about that?” Alec asked once she returned with a whole basket.

“You call it ‘worried,’ I call it ‘common sense.’”

“I understand that, but… Would she really come looking for you? All the way out here?”

“No idea. But she always gave me a bad vibe, and with what Steph said… I’m not taking chances.”

On the same night she freed Yohan from prison, Roe received a surprise. A manic Flier named Nix at her doorstep, who claimed to have a letter from a Reaper. She dreaded it, assuming it was none other than Dulcie – but it was signed by Steph. Her fingers tightened on the paper, as she read the ominous words…

“My grandmother wants you dead. Never return to the Cyrus estate.”

It was the reason for her and Alec’s move to Section 2. Steph had no reason to lie to her, and knowing his handwriting, she knew it wasn’t some impersonator. Dulcie knew her residence at Seris, and most of the time, she could demand to learn her whereabouts from an Elder. If she was determined about her intentions, nowhere in Section 1 would be safe.

So, she left. Without a word.

“Whoa, haven’t seen them in a while,” Alec said, pointing to the sky. “Kinda reminds me of home.”

Above, Fliers conquered the skies, their elegant wings shielding the sunlight. There had to be about twenty of them, with more figures spotted in the distance. As they lowered to the surface, the townspeople scattered, eyes wide with fear. Dust flew once they landed, talons planted on the dirt.

But Roe, picking up on their rigid energy… stood firm and ready.