10 Minute Tales, Part 2

Sep 15 - Watching, Waiting

(Image Prompt - inspired by https://cdna.artstation.com/p/assets/images/images/012/865/580/large/yu-yiming-.jpg?1536896114 )

He stood at the river's bank. The river was wide and slow, partially overgrown by algae. In front of him towered an old bridge, mossy stone forming towering arches. He could hear the gentle rush of every car that passed over that bridge, see the bobbing heads of every pedestrian. Some passed with animals, riding horses and herding sheep. He sighed quietly. He didn't recognise a single person.

"Still waiting, huh?" a voice echoed in his head. It was the voice of his guardian spirit, a sing-song voice belonging to a songbird. She flew around his head as the two talked.

"She'll come back." he muttered, staring at the bridge. "I know she'll be back."

"It's been half a century already." she warned, flitting down onto his shoulder. "You don't think she's fallen?"

"Not her. She got away from them."

"If you're certain."  the songbird muttered, ruffling her feathers. His red cloak billowed gently in a soft breeze, the rustling leaves and the quiet murmurings from the road offering a pleasant stillness. He sat down and sighed softly. "It's been a hell of a journey, huh?" the songbird commented.

"Mm..." he mumbled quietly, his mind lost in fields of war. Grassy plains basked in a marvellous day. He couldn't remember the breeze, though. He could only remember holding her hand. He could only remember running as fast as they could. He could only remember the Smog rolling behind them. He closed his eyes as he remembered her tripping. He had helped her up, but she had started coughing. A nearby ditch was enough to slow the Smog and let them escape. Her breath was already tinted with the purple gas. He had to leave her at the medical office back in town, leave her in safe hands while he sought revenge. Once he had claimed it he returned, but she had gone. Nobody knew where, but he suspected. Their favourite place, after all, was right here. "She'll come here."

"I don't know." she replied. "But if she is, we'll be here too." the songbird shuffled a bit, getting comfy. He nodded, staring up at the bridge again. She would return.