As Long As I Have You // A. Ghale

Where To Next?

"You can't go alone! It's suicide! You saw what happened to that man!" I yell at Ajay, in hopes of knocking some sense into him. Climbing the radio tower was a very dangerous task, especially since a man had fallen down and gotten seriously injured while doing so.

"I can handle it, Delilah. Just stay here and help Sabal. He's going to need you."

"Just don't get yourself killed, Ghale." I say, as I was unable to stop him from doing such a stupid act. He had saved my life once or twice, I thought I owed him. Maybe he didn't want to be saved.

"I think Amita needs your assistance. Also, I would try to make things right. I know she wasn't in the best attitude earlier..." Sabal tells me, stepping outside of the shaded tree. Wasn't in the best attitude? She pretty much called Ajay and I 'tourists.'

"You really think she'll let me do anything for her? That's funny, Sabal." I ask, getting slightly irritated. As much as I wanted to learn about Ajay's past and mine, I didn't think I'd have to do charity work. Kyrat is in a worse state than I had once thought.

"Yes, but if you need more time to cool down...." Sabal says, reaching for his back pocket, "here's a map of southern Kyrat. Get some air, and then come back when you're ready." I take the map from Sabal and give it a good look.

There were many lakes, ponds, and mountains surrounding almost all of Kyrat. Kyrat was nothing like I had pictured. I had pictured something much different; more rundown, more progressed, and more traditional. But, it is beautiful. The misty, snow covered mountains in the distance were chilling but absolutely stunning. There were white clouds to match, filling the sky with blue streaks peaking from behind the clouds. I had gotten lost in the world of Kyrat.

I decided to suck it up and find Amita. I absolutely hated the feeling of someone not liking me. I spend some time looking through Banapur to find her, but I quickly found her helping a young girl shoot a bow and arrow. 

I walk up behind Amita slowly, and then I cough to gather her attention. 

"Can I help you?" She says, looking back and forth at me and the young girl. 

"That's funny you say that because I was just about to ask you the same thing." She gives me a weary look, like she didn't trust me. I could easily pick up on her unwillingness to tell me anything.

"Actually, I do need you to do something for me. There's a farm. It's not too far from here, ran by a woman who could use an extra hand with her wolf problem." She quickly hands the young girl another bow, and returns back to me.

"What do you mean by a wolf problem?" I ask her,  crossing my arms in front of my chest. A wolf problem? Am I going to have to fight a wolf? That most certainly was not on my bucket list. 

"She has a wolves den beside of her farm, she is far too old to clear it herself. Prove that you're useful by showing me what you can handle." She tells me, and ends the conversation by giving the young girl corrections.

"This is Bhadra. Bhadra, this is Delilah Carver." Amita quickly introduces us before telling me to get on my way. Amita had a way about her that led to things being fast and efficient, meanwhile Sabal wanted things to be done well and to last for a lifetime. You could definitely tell the difference in opinions.

I grabbed a bow and arrow of my own and headed to the farm. Along the way, I couldn't help but be a little distracted by the pure beauty of Kyrat. I could see the infatuation with the land and the  untouched by man scenery. It was absolutely jaw-dropping.

By the time I had gotten upon the farm, I could see a shadow of a person sitting in a chair with some sort of drink in their hand. As I got closer, I could see the woman Amita had described. She had several bottles of Shangri-lager thrown across the grass field and a half-drunken glass. This woman was a little too unsteady to be running a farm, let alone handle a whole pack of wild and hungry wolves.

I found my way around and spotted the den not to far away, I quickly but quietly made my way down closer. I could hear the faint howls and barks of the wolves in the den. I could hear the grunts and growls nearing closer to me.

I tagged all the wolves on my camera and made my way behind the first wolf. I stealthily snuck up behind the wolves and was able to hit it with an arrow right in the head. The wolf instantly fell over on its side. I had always been a lover of animals and I would have never had done this, if it weren't for the lives of many people being at stake.

I take my time taking them out one by one and get the hell out of dodge. Which is probably the best decision I have made since I landed here in Kyrat. I heard the cell phone that Sabal had given me ring. I scrambled to get to it, and saw an unknown number calling me. I accept the call and listen.

"Hello?" I say, quickly. For a second, there is only silence.

"Hey, Delilah. It's me, Ajay. You know, the one guy who saved your life one or two times?" He says, and I giggle at the fact.

"Yeah, thanks for that by the way. So, why'd you call?" I reply, wanting to get straight to the point. I hate wasting time on bullshit that could have been dealt with a lot more efficiently.

"Damn, you're pretty straightforward. But, that's okay. A girl that knows what she wants is a good thing." I laugh again, as I wasn't expecting such a remark.

"That's a good thing, huh?"

"Yeah, anyways the reason I called you was because I need your help." I sigh, realizing that it's probably another death-wish, "I cannot do this without you. You do have a very good hand when it comes to shooting a gun." It was true. My dad had taught me how to shoot a gun at a very young age. I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. He taught me how to survive on my own and fight for myself instead of expecting someone to come to your rescue.

"Okay. I'll be there." Here we go again.