Forgotten Earth

Chapter 3

Gaia woke up the next morning to the sunbeams shining on her eyes and the token cool against her hand. Somehow she hadn't let go of it during the night. She wasn't even sure why she had held it.

She stretched and got out of bed, then repacked her bag, tucking the token in the bottom snugly. She decided she should leave today. She'd been away from home long enough.

Gaia stepped out into the hallway and went through the door to the small kitchen. Basira was already there, sipping a cup of tea. She looked up at Gaia as she entered, her gaze unnervingly accurate.

"Good morning," Basira said. Gaia murmured a greeting, then sat down at the table and took a piece of bread from her bag for breakfast. After she had finished eating, she got up and packed her bag.

"I really need to go home now," Gaia explained. "I've been away for too long." Basira nodded in understanding. "Thank you," Gaia said genuinely. "For everything."

"You're welcome," Basira smiled. Gaia smiled back, despite Basira not being able to see. A moment later, she left the house after murmuring a goodbye.

Gaia wandered cautiously through the city, making her way through the crowded streets to the gate she came in. As she weaved through the crowds, she saw a young woman dressed in an army uniform struggling with some packs. She watched as a bag fell off the top of the precarious pile, spilling all over the ground.

"Can I help?" Gaia asked as she approached the woman. The woman looked up from where she was picking up her scattered things.

"Yes, thank you," she said gratefully. Gaia bent down to help, and soon everything was back in its place.

"Would you like some help carrying that?" Gaia asked, eyeing the tottering pile.

The woman smiled sheepishly. "Yes. I had no idea how I was going to carry this all," she said with relief. Gaia smiled at her, then reached over to take some of the things.

"I'm Saria Ebequi," the woman said.

"Gaia Caiseran."

Saria pointed Gaia to where she was headed, and they set off across the city.

"Where are you headed?" Saria asked as they walked.

"West. My family's farm is near the Zuclor border."

"My regiment is heading that way!" Saria exclaimed. "You could probably come with us if you wanted. I'd have to ask, though."

Gaia considered the offer. She would be traveling alone otherwise. And the trips always seemed faster when she had company. "Ok."

Saria grinned, the expression stretching across her freckled face. "Great!"

As they drew closer to their destination, Gaia could see a group of soldiers, waiting by the gate. She assumed it was Saria's regiment. Gaia could just barely see the hilts of their swords, hidden beneath their dust-colored coats. She was surprised they weren't overheating in the hot Eojama summer.

Gaia and Saria approached the group, a few of the soldiers getting up from where they were sitting or leaning to greet them.

"Thank you!" Saria said, turning to Gaia. "I don't know what I would've done without you to help." She turned to the rest of the soldiers. "This is Gaia. She's heading to the Zuclor border as well."

The soldiers nodded, and Gaia gave a little wave. She waited while Saria went to talk to a soldier who was obviously her superior. After a few minutes, Saria came back, grinning. "You can come! Colonel Luric isn't unreasonable, I knew he would allow it." She grinned again.

Gaia waited as the soldiers packed up their things, and when they were done, she followed them through the gate.

As they walked, Gaia talked to the soldiers. It was a nice change from the solitary walk on the way there. She learned that the soldiers had been sent to the Zuclor-Eojama border because of some Zuclor soldiers coming into Eojama and burning farms, most likely trying to slow the food supply and give them a boost in the war. Her heart clenched with worry for her family. They'll be ok, she thought. The farm is far enough away from the border.

A few hours of walking later, the sun was getting close to the horizon, its tired rays peeking through the branches of the nearby trees lining the road. The group decided to turn in for the night, and brought out bedrolls to lay on the side of the road, in the shelter of the trees.

Gaia gazed up at the night sky, unable to go to sleep. She could hear crickets chirping in the grass, and the shuffling of soldiers in their bedrolls. It was odd, sleeping with so many people nearby. In the past, it had just been her and Mama and Papa, or just herself.

She absent-mindedly rubbed the X mark on her neck, then pulled her hand away. She didn't want to irritate the wound. Gaia turned her head and saw the silhouette of the soldier on watch, a figure of dark in a sky filled with stars.

She sighed and closed her eyes, trying to get to sleep. She wasn't sure how late it was, but by her internal clock judging, it was after midnight. She knew she should rest so she could continue walking in the morning.

As the sun rose over the horizon, Gaia and the soldiers packed up their things and set off. As they walked, they talked with each other. In a lull in the conversation, Gaia looked around, and realized she recognized the landscape from her journey to Fidoan. She thought the group was around the place where she had been a day away from the city. They were making good time. Gaia started walking a little faster, eager to get home.

I recommend reading the clouding effect by @kata_the_cyborg https://www.wattpad.com/story/270875070-the-clouding-effect which is not completed but pretty far in (18 chapters (16 chapters in part one, 2 chapters in part 2))

She's also writing a new book called the eighth sea which currently has 4 chapters

The world building for both of them is really good and so is the wording :)