Kaze: Guardians

Aftermath

     I woke up. Birds flew across the deep blue sky. I pulled myself into a sit-up and looked around. The archway to Hima lay defeated. I got up and wandered into the village. The whispers I heard were frightened.

A city of 2,000

Reduced to around 525

50 or so more died in the aftermath.

How could this happen?

I thought we were safe.

Hey...

Isn't that Jet's son?

     I tensed up at this. The last thing I wanted was to be involved in some interrogation. Some search for corruption when there wasn't. Juno had a saying: If it isn't broken, don't fix it. So, I shoved my hands in my pockets and focused on the sound of my boots slapping the road.
      The whispers continued. "Hey there, wanderer." A man approached me and grabbed my shoulder from behind. "Would you happen to know the Air--"
     "--yeah. He's my dad. What's it to you?" Whispers rippled through the crowd that had surrounded us. I sighed and put my hands on my hips in an innocent-looking position. Not far from the grip on my sword. I turned around and gazed at him. "Look, man. I lost my...friends...in this accident. I'm a being of the wind. If you hate Guardians so much, let me just pay my respects to them. I'll leave. I honestly think nothing is left here."
     "You're a Guardian?"
     "Yeah. I tried telling you not to be afraid. Well, I got arrested for it. Good day, sir." I walked away while the man threatened me. I didn't stop. He didn't follow.
     I walked past Juno's corpse. He was laying in a crumpled ball, probably trampled by fleeing people. I picked up a stone that looked like Kasumi's. I shrugged and put it in my pocket, hoping to find answers later.
     With that beacon of hope gone, I continued to the Fisherman's house. It was burned down. The body was no doubt somewhere in the ashes.
     The palace stood crippled against the garish sun. To Mother Nature, today was just another day. It baffled me. Priestess Yara was found in the road. She wore far riskier clothing than I remember leaving her in. Her spine was crinkled like a crushed can. I turned her over. Her face was fixed in a smile, as if she knew her fate. Another strange stone like Juno's was found, (this one was orange) and like the first stone, I put it in my pocket.
     Seeing Yara woke something up in me, and I clutched her, crying. Why had I been allowed to live on? Is this my fate? Doomed to see everything I ever decide to love burn? Was I supposed to be grateful? Yeah, everything I will ever love will die, but I'm still alive! Yay!
     "Is that what you guys want?!" I screamed, throwing a rock heavens-bound. "Yeah? Well, thanks! Thanks for ruining everything!" Tears welled in my eyes. "You ruined everything..." I muttered.
     "Don't say that!" I turned around and saw a guy who looked like me, but I knew he wasn't.
Shadow me.
     "I don't know you! Get away from me!" I shouted. I started to run, but he reached out and grabbed my hand.
     He sighed. "I won't hurt you. I just have a request." His features were aged with grief.
     I hesitated, but decided to hear him out.
     "In about five hundred years, you will meet a girl named Raven. She's trying to do something you will regret letting her do. Tell her, when you get the chance, 'Don't do it.' Okay?"
     I nodded. He released my hand. I slowly backed away. I went to the docks. I saw the broken skeletons of houses, people... But I saw hope. Compassion. Tax collectors who had lost family were being comforted by the poor. Slaves and their masters were lamenting the loss of their home. Even Guardians and people. I passed a Water Guardian attempting to put out a fire to reach a human. I didn't help. I simply let it occur.
     There was only one boat left. I hopped in and shoved off. I allowed my thoughts to wander.
     What would your parents say? Running away from your mistakes. Your pain.
      Mom would understand.
     Mom isn't here.
     What would they say? How can I go back there and say... What would I say? "Hey, guys. I know that I'm letting you down." I made mistakes. That is undeniable. Should I give Dad a signal? Show him that I haven't given up? Haven't surrendered?
     Yes. Do it. Show them all just how hard it will be to break you.
     I unsheathed my sword and held it to the sky. I wiggled it until the brightest sunshine bounced off of it...