1 month, 11 days
“This is getting annoying.” The sludge covered her shoes.
“I wonder what the point is?”
“Probably to get to that light.” She tossed her head towards the claw-shaped thing. At this point she realized it was indeed claw-shaped, and yet she’d made no movement forward. She’d started closer this time around apparently.
“Yes, but why? What will it give us?”
She pulled her foot from the sludge, starting forward. “Sleep, hopefully.” She dropped through.
When Euri was no longer in need of more hands, and Alexi had relaxed his monitoring, Cal slipped away. She wandered toward the center of the Farm, where most of the civilians gathered to do their own tasks and socialize. Mona’s headscarf and red hair stuck out.
“Hey, guardian.” Mona looked up as she approached. Her tone sounded much softer than their first meeting, and it made Callisto smile. “You look more alive.”
“I’m trying.”
“Cheers to trying. You look like you need something.”
Cal sat on the stone bench she currently rested on. Mona cleaned her rifle, raising an eyebrow and leaning closer. She was almost as good at reading a room as Euri was.
“Do you know where Suraya is? Usually, at least? The leader lady?”
“Oh, is that all? Yeah. She’s with her bird up on the barn balcony.” Mona gestured behind her. “What’s up with you? You’re different.”
“I’m just healing. Tired. Do me a favor, don’t bother mentioning I asked to anyone.”
Mona tilted her head. “You’re suspicious, you know that? But I guess I owe you a little trust. Don’t fuck up, guardian.” She cocked her rifle with a pointed glance.
Cal just chuckled and wandered towards the barn. Nothing new, at least.
“Hey, Hawthorne?”
She turned to face the voice, pushing down her poncho’s hood. Her hair was a sleek dark brown, skin tanned dark like Euri’s, deep brown eyes like Nalim’s. Dark painted dots circled her face. She was pretty. Her expression looked kind, a little nervous. Despite being the default leader of a refugee camp, she gave off no intimidating aura. She just felt benevolent. Cal hoped her impression was right.
“Hey! You’re the surprise Guardian, aren’t you? Your friends were sure you were dead.”
Cal smiled. “That’s me. I had a question, if you have time.”
“‘Course! And you can call me Suraya.” She gestured for Cal to come forward. “Louis won’t bite, he’ll just sniff you. He’s a good boy.”
She felt very safe. Maybe that’s why Suraya was unequivocally leader. “That big thing out in the distance. What is that?”
“Man, don’t they have a Guardian school? That’s a piece of the Traveler. Shard is the fancy name. I think it's funny to call it the Crumb.”
Cal raised her eyebrows. "Why's it...?" She mimed separation.
“Oh, it’s mega corrupted. I think the Traveler shucked it off and left it behind because it was corrupted. The place that surrounds it is super dangerous. You don’t go in there if you want to come out alive. If you’re mortal, at least. Don’t go touching it.”
Cal stared off at its silhouette. “What corrupted it?”
“My guess? Darkness. That’s usually what does that kind of stuff. Although I did play hooky a lot, so.” Suraya gave an amused shrug. “What’s up? It making you nervous?”
“Can’t say I enjoy its presence.”
She gave a sharp laugh. “Now that’s where we agree. That thing gives off bad vibes. We’re too far away to be affected. Don’t worry too much about it.”
Cal wished very much for her to be right.
Argo materialized over her shoulder when they were far enough away from the barn. “Do you think that’s it?”
“It has the same shape. I thought it was a claw before, but now look.”
They stood at the edge of the field.
“I can’t say that shard doesn’t feel familiar. And not in a way I enjoy.”