Oblivion - Kingdom Come

Chapter 8: Fate's Dance

After the intense ordeal, Nyunga and Shamboiyay led the group to a small house on the edge of the desert, where the cold tundra stretched beyond. Here, the group sought refuge and a moment to gather their thoughts. "Carly, I've never seen that side of you before. That shocked me," Bruce confided, still reeling from the day's events.

"I did what I felt was necessary," Carly replied, her voice showing surprise at her actions. "I willed it into existence once I had that thought. It was only fair that he got what he deserved." Shamboiyay, with a newfound respect, chimed in, "I must apologize. It was wrong of me to judge you two earlier. Your virtue, I wonder what else it can do." Nyunga, calm as ever, added, "She will figure it out as time goes on. There is no need to rush."

As they settled into the house, Bruce queried about their current location. The conversation soon turned to the tundra nearby. Carly remembered Ahmik, their friend, who was sent there. They debated whether to venture into the tundra in search of him. Despite Shamboiyay's initial reluctance, Nyunga's convincing argument swayed him.

The group, now committed to finding Ahmik, embarked on their journey into the tundra. As they trudged through the harsh landscape, a bone-chilling wind swept across them. Bruce, unprepared for the cold, exclaimed, "It's fucking brick!" Nyunga, unaccustomed to such frigid conditions, agreed, voicing her displeasure. Carly, more familiar with cold climates, tried to provide some perspective.

Their search took a turn when they were suddenly confronted by an unexpected challenge: red eyes glowing in the dark, fast approaching. Shamboiyay attempted to defend the group with his flames, but the cold rendered his powers useless. Tension rose as the eyes drew nearer.

However, relief washed over them as Genesis, Ahmik's wolf companion, emerged from the darkness. The wolf recognized Ahmik's scent on Bruce and Carly and affectionately approached Bruce. Shamboiyay, ever cautious, reminded everyone that Genesis was still a wild animal.

Ignoring Shamboiyay's warning, Bruce bonded with Genesis. The wolf led them deeper into the tundra, guiding them to a cabin. Inside, they met an older man, X, who rocked back and forth in his chair. X seemed to know more about the group than they expected, speaking of their uniforms and mission with familiarity.

"Genesis, we have visitors!" X exclaimed with surprise, his eyes briefly glancing over their uniforms. "Your uniforms look rather familiar." Looking at Bruce and Carly's uniform, he says. Shamboiyay, ever wary of strangers, questioned, "Who are you?"

"But I'm not familiar with your uniform," X replied, pondering their appearance, "but I'm guessing you're from the African team based on your colors. You can call me X. The last person I met out here called me that."

Bruce, anxious and hopeful, inquired, "Last person? Hey, have you ever met someone named Ahmik? We're his friends, and we are looking for him."

"Ahmik? Yes, I recognize the name. The Native American fellow was hot-tempered. He was here, but I'm not sure where he is now," X answered, his gaze distant as if recalling a memory.

Bruce pressed on, "Where did you last see him? We can go look for him."

"What are you going to do in this weather?" X asked, his voice tinged with concern. "You'll end up like he was before I found him. Let's stay here, and I'll prepare dinner for you all."

The group settled into the living room, their minds abuzz with speculation. Shamboiyay voiced his doubts, "Is this man trustworthy? He claims to know him, but how do we know he isn't lying?"

Bruce considered, "How would he have known his name?"

Shamboiyay countered, "He could've met him and killed him."