Polathrin's Ruins

Zak kneeled close to the ground without touching it. The dirt was less clumped. It was a sign of cleaner land, which could be beneficial, or it could be trouble. He trudged forward, keeping a sharp eye on his surroundings. There was rubble, discarded remains of houses perhaps, with water stains and dirt covering scattered belongings. He continued with caution, noticing the bases of some buildings were still standing, a few were taller than him and would make the perfect conditions for an ambush.

He was in search of a new location for the group. The ship was great, but the Fibbers and Fleshers seemed to be getting pushed closer and closer to the area. Zak was finding it hard to justify staying in such a dangerous place. The fence and chemicals would only keep people at bay for so long. He refused to lose anyone on this transfer, so he decided to scout before the move became absolutely necessary. The last thing he wanted to do was move Rozmo and Mia before he had a place ready.

Zak had previously scouted as far as the great forest a couple days sudray of the ship. It was the last resort if nothing else worked, but he was hoping not to go so far. The group had moved to the ship after an exhausting twenty-day journey sudray from their previous location, and Zak had learned the group didn’t do well on long trips. It happened over five years ago, but Zak didn’t want to try another long trip without knowing where they were going and being extremely prepared. They had emergency packs that could last a while, but it wouldn’t be enough if they had no shelter as a base. Rozmo and Mia were also too weak to be wandering the desert for too long.

Zak felt it was far past time for Rozmo and Mia to be trained properly, but he knew Ramza and Akio were more hesitant. He even had his own reservations, ten years was a long time to watch them both grow into adults, but he knew better than any of them the true nature of Polathrin. A threat was bound to place them in danger before long. They were the last to pick up a weapon, but they’d be the first to die if they didn’t.

Trying to be silent, he crept through the debris. Although dirty, it seemed to be recently moved, almost as if someone was searching through it. As Zak took a step half in thought, he caught a piece of glass under his foot and snapped it. The trickle of glass pieces against stone and other glass made him shiver, and his heart skipped a beat. He balled his fists and watched his surroundings. There was no sound, not even the slightest shadow.

Zak started to continue forward when a bellowing interrupted him. Barely catching sight of an attacker, Zak jumped back as a rock slammed into the ground, making more noise. Zak looked up to catch the wild eyes of the attacker. The man had mostly matted hair, with a black gap for a mouth open and yelling. There was an anger on his face that almost startled Zak. For all the times he had come across a Flesher, this one stood out, literally. The man lunged forward awkwardly on two feet with a deeply arched back. He held another sharp item in his hand, but Zak easily moved out of the way.

He turned fast to kick the wild man from behind the knee, watching him buckle. Zak grabbed another large stone as the man turned around, still yelling. His eyes were clouded but filled with such rage. He was about to get up, when Zak lunged at him with the rock, bringing it down repeatedly on the matted head. Once, twice, and three times, until there was no movement beside a small twitching. Zak stood up. The rock was warm and wet, so he dropped it.

Without pausing, Zak raced to the top of the hill behind him. Turning around, he could see an array of faces peeking from the shadows below. Most were men, but there were a few soft faces of women and children. They looked out with clouded eyes and confused expressions, searching Zak’s form as though he was the oddity.

Zak shuddered. He had never seen a Flesher child, yet alone a group of Fleshers. The man he had killed was defending them. Not only had the man been standing on two feet, he had attacked Zak, and he was in a tribe of sorts. Everything they had known about Fleshers was turned on its head in a moment and a deep fear rooted in his chest.

Zak shook his head, taking steps back. This place was becoming even more dangerous than he had thought. How was he supposed to keep the group safe now? Fleshers on the attack, Fighters ready to attack, Fibbers sprawled out and growing more in number. His heart was racing, but he tried desperately to clear his mind. He had to stay focused.

A few Fleshers drifted out from the shadows below, and one pushed himself up to stand on two feet. He held a large slab of wood in his hand, and his dark eyes drifted to Zak. Two more came out from the shadows to join the first. He could try to outrun them, but if they ran on four limbs instead of two, he’d lose. He grounded his feet, noticing a long, rusted pipe nearby. Zak scooped it up as the three Fleshers started up the hill toward him.