Cuno walked out of the shop, closing the door behind him. He made his way back to the gate, wondering how long it would be before Emera went back looking for 'Joe'. He saw the guards, who were decidedly not talking to each other as he slipped into a shadowy corner.
It wasn't long until a scream rang through the village. The guards turned and ran towards the sound, leaving the gate unattended. Not that it mattered; it was closed. Town's were almost always easy to slip out of, because walls were built to keep things out. Cuno stepped out, climbed up the watchtower, and slid down the other side.
He walked around to the other side of the wall to where he could see the broken remains of the outpost. He thought he saw one of the shadows move, so he walked towards it and stepped into the rubble. A small rat ran out and scurried away from him as fast as it's little legs would take it.
Cuno debated sleeping there. He certainly was tried enough, but he couldn't get that scream out of his head while staring at that wall. Besides, rubble was rarely comfortable, especially without something to drink.
He had met a lot of people during his travels. It wasn't the first time he had been called on to kill a friend. Every day the Scouts picked up more kids who would have to be watched. If Cuno hadn't been picked up when he had, someone like him might have been sent to take care of the brat with the poison skin. It made sense, of course. It kept people safe.
That didn't mean he had to like it.
Still, sometimes the happiest parts of his life had started off in the worst way. If it hadn't been for those bad things, he wouldn't have found the good. It would be easy for him to disappear into the past, to think about what had happened with Thom and Katie and nothing else. But that wasn't who he was. They had had their time together.
Now was the time to meet new people, to make new friends and try to give them some of the happiness her had been blessed with. He couldn't help but feel excited about that.
He walked back towards the road, and towards his home.
YOU ARE READING
Scout Stories: Bruised Beginnings
FantasiMiach is alone now. With her Grandmother's death, she has become the last surviving member of her family. She inherits secrets she knows nothing about. Secrets her Grandmother wished she could bring to her grave. While Miach must face being alone in...
