A human man dressed in mining gear saunters down an open plain. He holds his head up high, following the sun as if it's his only compass.
"Baldrick!" A voice shouts from behind him.
"What're you doing! C'mon let's go to the Pub, it's finally your day off!"
The man turns around to see his lifelong friend and business partner, Bryam Keppler, waving his hand from a distance.
Baldrick raises his arms in defeat and shouts back, "You caught me! But I want to get more supplies for tomorrow! You used a lot of iron on that one brute's commission!"
"You should be glad! We're becoming best sellers in town! Stay jealous though, it's cute!" Bryam flips his dirty blonde hair mockingly.
Baldrick rolled his eyes and yelled, "Whatever! I'll see you this evening!"
They both said their goodbyes and went their separate ways.
A ways further and Baldrick saw a mountain ahead, Surston Rise. Perfect, while he's here maybe he could snag some emeralds (If there is no officer around that is).
When he finally got to the foot of the mountain, the sky was cloudy.
Ah great, he thought. Baldrick always hated rain, all that comes from it is rust and mud on your boots. Though Bryam would also always counteract by saying rain is what fueled flowers and blessed farmers with crops. The thought made Baldrick grin. He began by mining some exposed ore on the side of the mountain, then went looking for any caves that could be near. While he circles the mountain, drops of water start to fall from the sky. It trickled delicately before quickly hitting the ground like a whip moments later.
Baldrick rushed around looking for a cave to take cover in, but before he did lightning struck nearby and thunder grumbled. Then, he heard a piercing wail on his right. The crying got louder and louder the longer he stood wondering what to do next. He followed the sound, careful not to slip in the mud puddles forming on the ground. He approached the place where the sound was coming from, a cave not attached to the Surston Rise. This cave was like a hole in the ground.
Baldrick took cover in the mouth of the cave to light a torch and then proceeded into the darkness. The crying was still going strong. At this point he had processed the situation enough to know that it was a baby. Which just made him more anxious about what he was getting himself into.
When he got about halfway through the neck of the cave he found the source of all that racket.
"My god" he breathed.
A child sprawled out on the floor only wearing a cloth diaper. Beside the child was a toppled basket with a thin maroon blanket inside. Baldrick immediately used materials in his backpack along with his torch to make a fire, and then scooped up the child, wrapping it in its blanket and holding it close. The child looked to be less than a year old and had a brown lock of hair on its head. The child calmed down after a few minutes of holding it. "You've got some vocal chords kiddo." Baldrick whispered as he caressed the child. The child's pained expression he saw just minutes ago is now more relaxed. With the heat of the fire and the security of Baldrick it fell asleep with ease.
"It'd be ironic if I named you Iron or somethin'.", Baldrick mumbled.
Baldrick held the child for what seemed like hours until the rain stopped. This cave was already cold enough on a normal day, but with the wind blowing and the rain pouring like that? Must've been freezing. When the rain stopped it was already the afternoon. What a productive mining trip, Baldrick thought. As the rain started to clear, Baldrick caressed the face of the child with his thumb.
"Poor thing" he breathed.
The child finally woke from its comfortable slumber. Bright brown eyes met Baldrick's pale blue. The child smiled and cooed, Baldrick gave a big sigh and grinned. His arms were burning from holding the child for so long, he could put it in the basket it had probably been in before it started wailing but it needed his body heat in the cold. He felt a sense of protectiveness over it.
The child screamed happily and grabbed a fistful of Baldrick's black beard. "Ay, oww! You got some grip, kid" Baldrick said, rubbing his jaw.
Since the rain had stopped and the sun shone through the parting clouds he knew it was time to go back. If he started now he'd be back before dusk (as it was noon at the time). He took off his hat with one hand and placed it in the basket for extra padding. Then, he slowly lowered the child into the basket. The child just looked at him. He got himself together, stretching because damn his arms were sore. He could become a bodybuilder solely off of carrying this baby.
Finally, he put on his pack, grabbed the baby basket and headed back out into the plains. It was partly cloudy and still pretty cool outside. On the walk back he slowly rocked the basket back and forth.
