The Ranch

Carrier Pigeon (6)

Tih leaves the building at starts heading back to district A. It's already way past midnight and almost everyone's asleep, even the training junkies that like to train through the night.

Tih hops from roof to roof to save time, utilizing a combination of his night vision and the moonlight to see where he's going.  Crossing the center of the district, Tih hears faint grunting noise. He heads into the direction to check it out.

Tih comes across a sweaty and heavily panting Major Jax, swinging a heavy-looking sword. Tih watches for an hour, until Major Jax finally takes a break and crashes to the ground in a puddle of his own sweat. The man's chest heaves up and down as he stares at the vast night sky. Tih makes his way down to sit next to the man silently.

Major Jax's eyes can only make use of the faint moonlight to see. He's also too busy catching his breath to take notice of the quiet child.

It's not until he tries to get back up and bumps into something next to him that's he's startled and notices the faint image of a child.

The idea of a ghost pops into his mind before it's quickly shoo-ed away. Thinking of a familiar child that would pull this off, he apprehensively calls out," Tih?"

When he's met with more silence, the ghost idea surfaces once more. To put that idea to rest, he pets the child's head to make sure it has a physical form.

He sighs in relief when his fingers meet soft curls. He tries to relax his muscles as he talks," You took longer than usual. I guess it took you longer to find him this time." Major Jax seems unaware of Private Scott's regularly occurring fainting spells.

With another round of exercises yet to be completed, Major Jax gets back up and starts working out. Tih watches his controlled movements from the sidelines.

Many wonder why the seemingly lazy Jax is still so buff, even after "retiring" for so many years. A shame no one has spotted his nightly workout sessions other than the mute Tih. If they did, word would have spread, and the people would realize he's not as lazy as he makes himself out to be, recovering some of his bad reputation along the way.

Tih watches quietly from the side until he immediately notices something in Major Jax's current movement. Tih's images flickers as he rushes over, but he's a little too late.

Major Jax completes his movement and a popping sound comes from his ankle joint. He loses his balance from the sudden pain in his right ankle.

Tih reaches his side in time to catch the man two and a half times his height. He quickly sets Major Jax down, not knowing what to do after.

Major Jax curses under his breath, meanwhile panting heavily. He takes his time to calm down and check his injury," Sprain dammit."

Once his breathing slows to a normal pace, he tries to stand up and limp, but it only aggravates the injury. He sucks in a cold breath after putting most of his weight on the injured leg to forcefully walk. He sits back down to recover.

Major Jax feels a small head nudge through his right arm, telling Major Jax to lean his weight on him and off his leg.

Tih has seen someone back at the orphanage get a similar injury and this is what they did. What Tih doesn't realize is that if Major Jax were to stand up right now, his lowered hand wouldn't even reach the top of Tih's hair. This was the difference in height.

Major Jax also realizes this," You're too short kid." His voice holds hints of annoyance. Not for Tih, but for his own situation.

Tih understands and slides out from his side. He hears Major Jax sigh," Looks like I pushed too much. It's your fault kid."

Major Jax looks at the child through the faint moonlight," I wouldn't have...you're talent...ugh." He looks for the right words. "Ever since that trial we did, I started increasing my training workload. I always had a steady regiment, so I guess my body broke down on me. Wasn't used to the extra work."

The man lets out a self-deprecating chuckle,"Surprise surprise, the waste of talent actually trains. Those fools are really idiots, do they think anyone could survive for so long without training?

Fools who spread malicious rumors  aren't as bad as those asshole in the headquarters who make the trials a living hell. At this point, their killing intent is too obvious. The older each generation grows, the more adamant they are on killing off us bastards.

I'm probably one of the only surviving men from my generation and that's only because I'm still training. Ahh, just thinking about it is annoying.

If those asshole knew I was still working out, they'd probably make my trials even more of a nightmare." Saying his piece and venting some of his frustration, Major Jax tries to walk once again.

Tih was waiting until Major Jax stood up to grab onto his injured leg and hold it slightly above the ground. Now, he would have to press on his foot to walk.

Major Jax stares at the human crutch replacement wrapped around his leg. He wonder if the kid's stick-like legs won't cave in. Then, he remembers being pulled up during the trial by the kid's stick arms.

He tests it out, lifting the child on his leg and placing it in front. Tih's feet touch the ground and Major Jax puts his weight forward. Tih maintains his straight posture while gripping Major Jax's leg, so as to not let it touch the ground.

Major Jax takes a couple more steps with no incidents and starts quickening his pace to a normal walking speed. They only need to move a short distance to reach the central office, otherwise known as Jax's bedroom, because the only place he sleeps is the side couch in the office.

Major Jax falls back with a puff of air from the couch cushion. "Thanks kid, I guess I owe you another one. First the trial and now this."

Major Jax can feel a slight swelling in his ankle, but knows the kid's already done more than enough. Plus, it'll be daylight in a couple of hours," Go back to your apartment and sleep, I'll be fine here." He motions the child to leave.

Tih obliges, walking back to his dorm to sleep for a few hours before it's time to eat breakfast with the others.