The Game Before the Fall

Chapter 59: Elsewhere. (Part 2)

**

What the hell was I doing right now? I sat in the shade of a nearby tree as the Adventurers and traders moved the broken bits of boulder off the road to get past. I would be helping them if not for the small child who was asleep in my lap and cuddled against my chest. After she had hugged me, she had quickly become tired again and after smiling sweetly said she'd take a nap, and basically forced her way into my one free arm.

"So, what are you going to do with her?" Mina asked, ears twitching.

"I... I'm thinking about it," I answered slowly. "I guess I'll take her to Crysis and check if anyone's lost a kid."

Mina's expression saddened, "Yep, plenty of those around. Children looking for parents, parents looking for children, family separated all over the place. No Rift Walkers anymore so that's good..., but plenty of people still affected by them." She stretched her back, tail stiffening straight for a moment, "Sorry I can't be any help. I've got my own kids to get back to."

"All good," I laughed tiredly at the sudden and strange situation I had found myself in. "I'll handle it."

Mina smirked, "Well you've been living with the Old Coot for a month now. If you can stand that crazed mountain man, you can stand a small child."

"We'll see," I smiled and looked down at the small girl in my lap. She felt terribly fragile. With how strong I had become recently, a loss of control would be severe. At the same time, I could feel the vibrant life that emanated from her. The endless potential that a child could have.

I slowly stood up, "Are you alright now? I'll get going."

"We should be fine," Mina signalled to the nearby traders who replied with a thumbs up. "Just don't go too fast and be careful, kids can be delicate."

"I feel that," I smiled wryly.

I began slowly, at first a brisk walk that turned to a run. All the while I continued to check on the small girl curled up in my arm. She was sleeping well and did not notice as I built up speed and began taking long leaps through the air. I was being mindful not to speed up or slow down too quickly and kept to the level roads. It was much slower than my usual pace and the Old Coot would definitely be pissed at my late arrival. I was confident however he would accept my excuse... maybe.

After an hour Crysis city came into sight and the bundle in my arms stirred. I slowed down gently and by the time she opened her eyes we were walking. For a moment she jolted, almost falling out of my arm before looking around and seeing my face. Immediate relief filled her expression, the sudden panic evaporating.

"Daddy, where are we?" the girl asked me, her hands gripping my ragged clothing.

"We're near Crysis city," I replied with a gentle smile.

"And where's that?" she looked around again, spotting the city in the distance. "This doesn't- this doesn't feel like home." Her eyes focused on to mine, "Daddy... you're not going to disappear again, are you?"

The way she looked at me, it was beyond anything I had experienced before. Many people had relied on me, and it wasn't like I had never spoken to a child before. Her eyes were different however, there was trust as much as there was fear. Fear I'd disappear. Her small hand gripped my shirt to the point they turned red. She was pleading me to answer, to say I would be there and I didn't know how to respond.

I stopped and gently set the girl down, she let go, hands now gripping her dress and still looking at me apprehensively.

"Daddy?" a shiver entered her voice and a large part of me just wanted to sweep her back up and tell her what she wanted.