Yatro: Second loss ~ Present

Even without walking such long distances, Raz’s feet already hurt.

In situations like this, Ases used to carry her in his arms, delicately, as if she were a princess, but he now had Mors in his arms and Herm tied on his back. Mors had asked to be passed to someone else, but no one wanted to be nowhere near her, fearing what being in her presence could cause them.

And in that situation, what else could be done? People were weak and hungry, and no one was in the condition to carry her to the mountaintop. The only way anyone could arrive to Yatro would be by themselves, and by themselves they all were.

The only consolation she had was Yke, walking by her side, as best as he could. The fact that the kid still had managed to survive this far was like a balm for her spirits. If she managed to bring him to the others, then everything would have been worth it.

The kid would be able to reunite with other kids, and leave the rest of his days with them… or at the very least, the few days they had left.

Because no matter how hard she worked, the limit was already clear, and nothing she did could change the final result.

Because no matter how much they run, fight or try, every moment that passed they had less time than they did before. And what a way to spend that time. Walking without stop, up a mountain, running from the second calamity they had had to face. And who knows how many more could follow in the time they had left?

Ases looked back at her again, as he did every few moments, making sure that she was there. That she was fine, wishing he could help alleviate her load in some way, but ultimately being incapable of doing so. He stopped for a moment so she could reach him, but soon enough he was walking in the front again. They had spoken all they had to say before the parted, and now there were no words left to say.

At least, until Yke finally collapsed into the ground.

Raz immediately went at his side, worried that he had fainted. He seemed barely able to keep his eyes open, as if staying awake was an unbearable effort.

“No, please don’t! We are about to arrive, don’t sleep, please!”

Mors didn’t delve into the details, but looking at Herm and all the people they have had to leave behind was enough of an indication of what would happened to those who slept. This could not be, they couldn’t have come this far just for nothing.

“Just… let me sleep for a bit.”

Was all he said, fighting an overwhelming sense of tiredness. One that wasn’t born only from the exhausting trek they were now forced to do.

“No, listen to me, hear me. We are about to arrive, please, just keep awake, please!”

She repeated again, but the kid was falling deeper and deeper in his sleep. Even talking seemed to be too much of an effort now.

“Why?”

Was all he said before closing his eyes fully. She shook him, but he did not react. She screamed, but the kid did not respond again. Ases was now behind her, crouched down and trying to console her, but she didn’t even notice his presence.

The people continued walking, too tired to bother looking at what was going on. He was not the first person who gave up along the way, and surely, he would not be the last. That was the life they now were facing and it wasn’t even worth stopping to look at it anymore.

Ases tied Yke at his back too, alongside Herm. The two of them were a quite heavy load, but he carried it as best as he could. At her side, walking even slowly, Raz had not stopped crying.

At the start, she had cried because of Yke, because even if she barely knew him, he was now as good as dead.

But soon enough, she was crying for herself. Because no matter how hard she tried she simply could not change anything. Because for all her efforts, all she got for the kid was an extra week of fear with no rewards for doing so.

Because just like with his father, and with Herm, people just kept leaving her side while she could do nothing, and the knowledge that Ases and her baby would soon join that group was an absolutely unbearable thought that made her want to give up right there and sleep to end it all.

She wanted to, but she could not, as Ases was still by her side, looking at her with worry, saying words she could not hear. At the very least, as long as she had someone, anyone at her side, maybe she could keep trying.

And so, the group kept walking in silence, hoping that once they arrived in Yatro, everything would be better.