The Shadow Man

The Home Of The Storm

"So, this is Home?"
I ask.
Kaleo smiles as he looks at the village.
"Yes. These are our people. This is what we fight for."
All of us enter the village, each of us is eyed upon as we move.
A woman walks out to meet us, escorted by guards.
They stand at attention as we meet.
"Where is our Guardian?"
She asks.
Kaleo steps forward, and drops to a knee.
He presents a shard of the blade used to kill the Guardian.
"Our Guardian was slaughtered by the Shadow Man, my queen."
He says, sorrow weighs in his voice.
The woman looks up at me.
"You did not originate here."
She observes.
"No, I did not. I am from earth. The world of before."
She reaches out to me, and places a hand on my cheek.
I feel a pull.
"The legends are true. The stories. We would often speak of him to scare the children, but now you have slain him. And he is no longer."
She's an older woman, probably older than I can imagine.
"Our Guardian lives."
She says.
I smile at her, and drop to a knee.
A staff materializes in her hand, one which she places against the back of my head.
"The Strong One Returns."
She calls.
I hear her voice drop.
"How many are with you?"
She asks.
"37 of our own, my Queen. As for the others, 14."
Her guards turn their spears to my friends.
I pull my staff from my back, and shatter a guards weapon.
He falls to his knees in agony as I move on the other.
I land atop him with my sword at his throat.
Suddenly, 20 or so weapons are drawn on me.
Finley, Rone, Grey And JayVett are all back to back holding their rifles to heads.
"I may be one of you, but these people are mine! They are under my protection! My first loyalty lies with them, My Queen."
I growl.
We stare at each other for a long moment.
"Is it heresy?"
She asks.
I look at her.
"Only if you want bloodshed."
Our stare intensifies.
Kaleo lowers his weapon from my throat.
The other warriors lower theirs as well.
I help the guard to his feet and tend to the other.
He lays on the ground, frozen in pain.
I grab both shards of the staff, and unite them.
The shards mend together and within moments, the psychological wound has healed.
The guard looks up at me.
"You United the Shards."
The queen observes.
"It would seem you truly are a New Guardian."
I turn to her.
"Anyone who touches them, will answer to me, and my blade."
I announce.
"My apologies, my Queen."
Says Kaleo, dropping to a knee and placing a fist on his heart.
"Rise, my son. You have done nothing wrong. In fact, you may have brought us a man that can save us all."
She says as she smiles at me.
"What do they call you?"
She asks.
"On Earth, Your home?"
I look up at her.
"They call me The Shift, because I am evasive."
She looks at me in disbelief.
"Let him know no cage, for he has never been bound, capture for him is impossible."
She whispers.
"I'm sorry...?"
"Ture'ad. Our fallen Guardian, spoke of a man who slaughtered a Dark Guardian after his own weapon was shattered. I believe you are the one he spoke of."
I look at her through troubled eyes.
"Show them to their quarters, there is much for me to discuss with our young Guardian."
The guards turn to my friends, and lead them away.
Alice tosses me a fearful look.
"I'll watch over her."
Rone tells me.
I nod.