Random Short Stories

The Aftermath

They saw the ruins long before they got there.

Collapsed, rotten wooden buildings.

People roamed the area, repairing or taking down the structures.

Some of the people saw the three visitors, and ran away.

A heavy curtain of grief hovered over all the people. It showed on their sorrowful faces, their slow movements, their hunched, defeated shoulders.

"What happened here?" The girl asked.

"I'm not sure. The call we heard.... Perhaps we're too late. Perhaps the war is already over."

"That can't be... we heard the call yesterday."

"War is unpredictable."

"Are you three here to see Her Majesty?"

They turned to see a man behind them.

"Yes. And her generals."

The man shook his head sadly. "I'm sorry.... All three of them...."

"They are all dead." A woman joined the man speaking to the visitors. "Our Queendom is without a Queen...."

"They're.... Dead? How?"

"General Amephire died protecting our injured, Queen Sapphire was killed while escaping the battlefield after a severe injury to her legs, and General Tide used too much power trying to remain as a water serpent to save all of us."

The three were in shock. How could those three.... Three of the strongest, bravest people they'd ever met... die?

The man spoke again. "General Tide saved us all. He killed all the rebels that attacked us, and we have been able to recover and defend ourselves since."

The three were silent.

The woman spoke. "Scott, Aura, and Pacific, right? You once loved them, correct?"

Pacific spoke. "We never stopped."

"I see.... I'm sorry you had to arrive to hear such a cruel revelation."

"What will your civilization do now?" Scott asked.

"We will rebuild our homes, and elect a ruler."

"No one from their bloodline is left?"

"No. Amaranth, Elaine, and Eliana died on the battlefield. Agate died trying to save a rebel soldier and himself from falling off a cliff. General Amephire tried to save them.... But Agate slipped from his hand. The General.... Was quite traumatized. He became quieter, his orders harsher.... Eventually he recovered enough to return to normal...."

Aura spoke next. "Who will be elected...?"

"It will likely be a unanimous decision. Illumini will probably become Queen. She's willing to..."

The three were satisfied. They said goodbye to the man and the woman, and then left the Forest.

They couldn't believe their beloveds had died... they would never be able to see them again.

They returned home, relayed the news of their deaths, and retreated to their rooms.

Their house held the same dark curtain of grief as the one they felt in the recovering Forest.