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 Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2010 8:23 pm
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 [ ... crossroads ... ]
It had been four days since the two had traveled into town. They had only meant to be here over night for a respite before returning to their journey. The only problem was a local girl’s illness that left both parties stumped on what to do. Marijus was not the typical kind of doctor to leave well enough alone, he did not believe in fate. In so doing, he knew there was a way to save the young girl, but the procedure could also prove fatal. As a result of this, Cadaver did not approve. “It makes no sense to go through with it without consulting her family! I don’t approve papa!” The teenage dust wailed at the top of his lungs, a normal act in other circumstances but this was a serious matter. He did not understand the ideas his father had suddenly been exhibiting as of late. As if he had a death wish himself. The girl was too young to understand that her chances of living were low, at least if she were given better guidance she would understand that it was better to simply live. To enjoy her last days as a girl should. She had a better chance with her condition as it were now rather than risk further injury or worse yet, lose her life far sooner than anticipated. “I won’t allow it!” Cada argued, following swiftly behind his papa as they headed toward the girl’s family home. “Why won’t you address me? This is serious, we cannot do such a thing without consulting—“
“Shut up already! I heard you before.” Marijus bellowed. The attention he drew was unwelcomed but neither gave mind to those watching. They were too focused on the matter at hand and on each other. “I get it! I understand but I will not watch her waste away either. That’s no way for a girl to live.” He argued, huffing harshly to catch his breath from the yelling. “She’s young, she doesn’t understand but I’m sure if we give her the benefit of the doubt…she’s been ill since birth. Isn’t it crueler to allow her to go on living with worry? I don’t like it anymore then you but wouldn’t you hate wondering if today were your last days, or tomorrow or even a month from now!?” Cada looked to the ground, a trail of ants marched by carrying their meal of the day. How simple it must be. He understood, he could relate to how his papa felt but it didn’t make the situation better. Why risk the girl’s life so prematurely? With fists balled he glared at his papa, this was a man he once looked up to, surely he understood his disposition. “Papa, if you continue this madness I will not remain at your side.” It was an ultimatum perhaps a final farewell but it made no difference. Life was so much more precious than wasting it away on a gamble. He could not approve! After all wasn’t he put on this world to protect life?
“I don’t expect a wretch like you to understand. You’re one to talk about life Cadaver…nothing about you, nothing remotely akin to you speaks life. You’re nothing but a walking mass of death!” The words slipped from his drunken tongue too fast to halt, Marijus knew the moment he had said it that his son was lost to him. While he felt strongly of his decision and circumstances, he had no right to take it out on the boy. Not after all this. Cada on the other hand, said nothing. Fists balled he bite down on his bottom lip enough to draw blood. Sucking in air and swallowing down the pain he simply turned and headed back toward the inn. “If you feel this way, there’s nothing more for me to say. I won’t be at the inn when your return.” With little more to say the teen dust took flight, running as fast as his legs would carry him. He had hated the idea of it his whole life. Knowing without anyone really saying but it was true. For whatever reason the goddess felt, she had made him out of something that could not hope to save life. Was it to humble him? How much more humbled could he be? If he remained around humans long enough they grew ill, sick with all kinds of ailments. He couldn’t hope to help them if he were the cause but…
Slamming the door behind him as he made it to their room, he quickly gathered his things. Stuffing them haphazardly into is duffle bag Cadaver didn’t waste being tidy. He didn’t want that man to see him like this. The tears the pooled from his eyes were thick with pain, he could barely keep himself together thinking about those words. As if on repeat they continued to circle his mind, continuing over and over. Why was he even here? He didn’t understand and if he had special powers to protect others then why didn’t they work? “I hate this! I hate it!” He shrieked. Pulling on his coat and zipping his bag he hurried out of the inn not bothering with the front desk. That he would leave to the doctor to fix, he had no need to pay them.
The woods weren’t too far away; he could slip through them easily enough. By day break he’d be long gone and out of sight. While he wanted to return home, to see Sable and hope that Krinn would be near, he knew his place back home was no longer necessary. Everyone was following their own paths now; he needed to do the same. Whatever that path would be, he didn’t know but he did understand that his life with Marijus was no more. “Goodbye papa.” He whispered on the wind sliding through the thicket of trees and shrubs by morning he was gone. |
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Posted: Wed Sep 29, 2010 6:30 am
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[ ... boneyard ... ]
It had been a week since Cadaver had left his papa in the previous village. Pondering on what to do next, he hadn’t thought to go very far, watching the old man from afar. It simply wasn’t in Cada’s nature to just up and disappear or disown anyone but he couldn’t bring himself to understand his papa any more. News of the girl’s condition traveled easily to his ears, she hadn’t pulled through, as the dust had suspected. It was a fruitless attempt to save a life that was cut shorter then was necessary but at the very least she no longer had to suffer. Only now her family suffered the wound of losing their only child. Cada wondered about these things, how humans reacted to loss in such a way. They couldn’t seem to let go once someone was no longer in their lives, how does one go on once the person they lost is gone?
This brought an all too familiar ache in his heart, a time when his best friend had simply vanished. Krinn. He could only sit and wonder what the raincloud dust was doing now. Sighing to himself Cada hoped never to have to go through such an ordeal again. While he may be at odds with his papa at current he wasn’t in the frame of mind to just abandon the man.
“I wonder what’s out there?” The dust mused sitting on a rock near hillside that over looked the village from below. He hadn’t left his papa, not yet at least. Some part of him was reluctant to just move on but he couldn’t bring himself to face the man..not yet. So while he watched from afar, Marijus gathered his things and began his journey to the next town. Some business there hopefully would take his mind off the fatal mistake he had made. Sighing to himself he looked to the heavens for any sign that he’d be reunited with that brat, where ever he was. He just hoped the dust teen was doing well. “Damn, brat!” He spat reaching for his familiar flask he took a long drink reverting to his typical drunken self. “I can’t stand it when he gets like this.” He muttered. Stumbling his way from the village, Marijus sighed to himself wondering where the kid was now. He could only imagine that Cada hadn’t gotten too far, at the very least he was in the next town by now but even so it would take a few days on foot to get there and there was no telling if the brat would even be there when he arrived. “I hate this.” He muttered again.
“You know you really should stop drinking like that.” Cada pouted popping up next to his papa with a frown. “I thought you stopped drinking?”
Startled Marijus yelped stumbling on in his drunken stupor to stay afoot. “What the devil… where’d you come from?” Cada only giggled smiling at his papa for always being the same. While he still couldn’t forgive his rash actions he couldn’t help but love the man for being who he was. Always as honest as the day they first met. Walking silently, Cada said nothing the usual smile on his face while he kept his hands firmly buried in his pockets. “Brat.” The doc spat but managed a smile placing his flask back in his pocket. “You know the first time we met you were just as stubborn.” Cada nodded happily. “Not talking to me.” The dust frowned but for the most part confirmed that he was not in the mood to talk. “Fine be that way, but you’re not getting any sympathy from me. I’m going into the next town, do what you want.” Marijus informed moving along at his own pace. It was silent for a moment while the two walked, seemingly unable to speak or unwilling to speak. They just remained in quiet company but after the silence began to grate on his nerves Marijus barked out, “Look! I’ll take you into consideration when making important decision like that next time. I’m just… I’m just used to being on my own so.”
“Papa! I love you! I love you so much so please don’t ignore me!” Cada eventually burst out tearing up at the thought. “She could have lived a longer life and came to terms with her death. Don’t rob people of that or… what’s the point of trying to save lives? You can’t save everyone but you can give them peace of mind in the end right papa?” Cada looked up to the older man with a firm expression, unlike his usual boyish charm he was turning into a man. Right before his eyes, Marijus wondered when Cada suddenly started growing up. With a wry smirk he ruffled the other’s hair, pushing back his hood. “You know these things don’t suit you anymore. You’re getting older, I can see it in your face and the way you’ve grown. Maybe you’ll be leaving me soon too.” Cada looked away with a blush. “Don’t worry if you have to go I won’t stop you but at least say goodbye first.”
“I will but… I’m not ready yet. Not just yet papa! You still have to teach me more things!” It was true he really wanted to move on but there was plenty of time. Right now he had a lot of other things to worry about before he took that faithful walk into the unknown. The last time he had left because he was scared, this time he would leave because of confidence. “Papa?”
“Kid? I want you to promise me something.” Looking curiously Cada listened, “There’s going to be a time in my sort life that I’ll have to leave you. I don’t know when and I don’t plan on it being any time soon but…”
Shaking his head Cada jumped at the chance to butt-in, hugging Marijus tightly. “Don’t say those things. I don’t want to think about it. I’m not going to promise anything! Never!” He protested strongly hugging tighter. No, maybe Marijus was mistaken, Cada was still very much that little brat from the first time but he could understand his pain. Maybe it was just as hard for a dust to lose someone they cared for as it was with humans. After all that had happened with Krinn, Cada hadn’t been himself much after that. Maybe it was better not to speak of such blasphemous things. “I’m sorry Cadaver; I didn’t mean to scare you.” Brushing back the teen’s hair he kissed his forehead reminiscent of times when Cada was left in his room after dark. He still hated the dark. And reminding him such a darkness of being alone was akin to a crime against his kin. He smiled setting Cada straight. “Fine then, let’s just get to the next town. I have an appointment to keep.”
“Yay! I’m going to help too right?”
“Yeah yeah… let’s go.” Running circles around his papa Cadaver proved to the man that he wasn’t quite there yet; but one day he would grow into a man. Until then… “Brat.” |
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