The Barren lands.

chp 7

Wind and sand blew in all directions. sand stinged his eyes and burned his lungs. He could feel small cuts all over his body as he continued to limp through the storm. 

He could only hold the hood you made him over his face, keeping his mouth and nose as protected as he could. 

His throat would tighten and a call would release out as he still desperately called out for you. His mind raced as much as the gusts of sandy wind. 

'What if she's hurt.' 

He pushed himself to keep moving.

'What if she got buried?' 

 an irrational fear burned through him.

You were born of these lands, You knew them like how he knew how to build a gun from scratch. If anyone was to get caught off guard and buried it would be him. 

The wind picked up causing him to be toppled over, a panicked noise left him as he quickly fought to get back up not wanting layers of sand to slide over him.

He needed shelter. 

His eyes scanned through the dusty storm and through his watery sand, he could see a large shadow in the distance and relief filled him as he hurried to it. If they were rocks, he could make a sloppy den to just get out of the storm.

'Shelter, Rest, then search for her.' He repeated his goals over and over again trying to calm down his racing heart.

'She's fine. But you won't if you dont move it'

He could feel his injured thigh throb with each step, some steps caused him to hiss with pain.

'You could've lied..' 

A thought crossed him as he grew closer to the shadows.

'She wouldn't have known any different.' 

You wouldn't have known..He knew that, but even as he was stuck in this sandstorm guilt climbed his back. 

He couldn't have lied if he even wanted to…

Not with those eyes you looked at him with.

You weren't like others, you were different. You surely did not deal with his bullshit for one…He missed you…Being out here alone without your presence weighed down on his shoulders. It felt so wrong without seeing your shorter frame ahead of him calling for him to follow your lead. 

'heh…with all the soldiers I've led here I am wishing for her to lead me.' 

Had he been his human self he probably would've been discussed at himself, But he felt security in following you. Watching your back as you lead him through this burning hellscape.  

His hand hit onto the rock, however it bent into the hit. 

Miles' eyes widened as he moved layers of dust off the rocks, but it wasn't rocks, he was met with rusted metal…

A pulse of excitement sprung through him as he dragged his hand down the giant vehicle. Finding its back he pried the aircraft doorway open and sliding in. Sand blew into the crafts loading bay as he looked around. His green eyes saw the ship well in the dark. He moved through the reaments of cargo, of weapons, and old left behind rations and oxygen masks to the main parts of the craft. Heading to the control panels he stared at them. 

'i wonder if…' 

Miles moved his hand to the panel turning a key and pressing on an ignite button, The craft jerked a worn engine sputtering as lights came to life. Miles' tail swayed with excitement and a laugh left him. 

"So it has some juice." He said to himself and moved along the craft to the crew pit, opening up cabinets his mouth watered at the sight of canned food. 

"fuck.." He exclaimed as he grabbed a can of spam. Quickly heading to a table sitting on it he pulled the can open using his fingers he scooped out the processed  salty meat. Miles groaned at the salty meat on his tongue, chewing the meat was a delight, Out of habit he moved the can in front of him.

"'ea-"'...  

He stared at the empty room's wall, his ears slicking down as he realized there was no one to tell to eat. He could hear the wind slam against the craft and as he awkwardly brought the can back to him and slowly ate the meat. He wondered if you were safe..He wondered if you were here with him would you enjoy the spam? Have you ever had salt before? He wondered what face you would make as the salty meat hit your tongue. It made him smile slightly.

'repulsed.' 

He could imagine you screwing your eyes and trying to eat the processed meat while trying not to make a disrespectful face, you would fail. 

Miles hand moved to the weathered hood he wore that you made for him. Rubbing his thumb against the fabric….

"...eywa if you're as real as she thinks you are, Please….keep her safe.." Miles mumbled to himself feeling slightly silly for asking the mother. With a sigh he finished the can, crushing it in his hands before tossing it away from him and pushing himself from the table heading back to the control room. He sat in one of the pilot chairs sprawling out, he was nearly on the floor. 

As soon as the storm stopped he would come find you, hopefully by then you will see that he's trying to change

'id change completely for you y/n" 

Miles paused at that thought, but then relaxed as he adjusted in the chair. You were worth changing for, He would do it for you in a heartbeat if you gave him a chance…

Miles chuckled weakly.

He hoped he found you soon. He missed those fiery amber eyes…Hell he missed you whacking him..

His eyes started to drift and he was just about to let them.

"Come in ship 23E-45B. Over." 

Miles' eyes darted open and slid over to the control panel's radio. An unsettled feeling bloomed in his stomach. 

"Ship 23E-45B, We see that this craft has been activated. Is there someone there? over." 

He could leave…He could answer and be taken back to the base. What if things didnt work out with you like he hoped….He was nothing…..

'I was a colonel'

'Monster!' 

Miles shook his head staring at the radio panel in fear. Getting up he looked around on the ship. Eyes landing on an old fallen worker's helmet. Grabbing it he walked over to the radio.

"Come on ship 23E-45B! Respond back. over"

miles lifted the helmet up.

"This is General Ardmore, Please state your name and how you got this wrecked aircraft on." A demand broke out. 

Miles' eyes narrowed as he began to bring down the helmet. 

"Colonel Is that yo-" 

C R A S H 

Miles brought down the helmet several times onto the panel breathing hard he tossed the helmet from him. Backing away his head hit the crafts freezing walls causing him to jump with a hiss whipping around to glare at the wall. Everything felt too small…too cold….to fake….His ears twitched as he could no longer hear the wind, the land calling him. 

Miles turned to the craft's large windows before he ran at it smashing through; he tumbled and rolled down into the sand down its built up dune. His heart racing he ran, Ran far from the craft, his lungs burning with each step. The freezing air of the lands cooled and soothed him but didn't soothed his panicked heart. 

'They knew it was me' 

 He needed to find you.

'They knew it was me! they'll come!'

He had to get you far away from the Lands.

'They'd come for me.'