Walking With Giants (Completed)

Chapter 6

Eon was parched.

He and Herin had been following the trail of another extraterrestrial when they crossed the border from jungle, hot and humid, to desert - hot and arid. Neither of them had a drop of water to spare. The dunes went on forever, streching into the horizon and disappearing for good. The only things that were not Cacti that were in the desert and alive were the occasional Hornet Lizard, Herin called them, because if you came near they would shoot small black spikes from their rear.

Not exactly company.

They walked for awhile. Then Eon asked, "Who exactly are we looking for? You know a face, or a name?"

"Not a name. But a face."

Eon never questioned how Herin knew a face, or any of his intentions. Herin had never told him any of his powers, but the disdainful cloud that was always in his eyes made him never ask. He wondered what had happened to Herin to make him so unable to trust. Eon knew that Herin trusted him, though.

"Let's stop," Eon said. "For now."

"I... I guess you're right." Herin collapsed onto the dune they walked on, exhausted. Eon joined him. They watched the horizon shimmer with heat, and the stinging sensation of sweat in their eyes.

Finally, Eon knew that a higher form of trust needed to be constructed. "I have water," he said.

Herin jerked up. "Really? Let's down it. We're gonna die if we sit out here much longer."

It's time now, Eon thought. "But..."

"But what?"

"I need to know what happened to you. What really happened."

"What? Eon, I already told you. I came on a shark to a beach full of cheapskates-"

"No." Eon cut him off. "What really happened. Why do you always have that look in your eyes like someone murdured someone right in front of you every day? Please... Herin, if we are going to try to survive, we need to trust each other. I know Ursa really blew it with me, but how am I supposed to know that you are not with Elipse?"

Eon knew that that scentence would make any person furious. He was worried. But he knew that if he could not trust Herin, he'd be better off by himself.

"I feel the same way with you, too. I guess this is necessary. If I tell you what - happened, may I have some water?"

"Yes."

"Here's the twist, though, Eon. You cannot have any water unless you tell me, too."

Eon thought that he should've seen that coming, but if Herin told Eon what he knew, it was only fair for him to return the favor. "Alright. That's a deal."

There was a small silence. Neither wanted to start first, neither wanted to say they would, and neither wanted to tell the other to go first. But Herin broke the silence.

"I was an apprentice to a blacksmith. That was the first thing I got. His name was Thorton, but everybody called him Maggot. I don't really know why, though. I was apprenticed at about eight years old, and my instructor was very... abusive. Some days he would say he was in pain and to leave, and some days, he would be angry because one of his many girlfriends left him, and he would bring his anger out on me through my work. His workshop was made for repairing building tools - he would be in partnerships with other buisnesses. Sometimes he would take me on trips to the other buisnesses' HQs to deliver the fixed tools and would make it seem like he did it all on his own.

"But one day I was delivering a tool when my life changed. I was on my way to the office building when someone put a knife to my throat and said, 'Don't make a noise or I'll slit your throat.' So, with my heart fluttering like a motor, the man lead me to a car and told me to get in without struggling. And so I did. They began driving, a bit recklessly, I recall, and one of the men in the back seat took the tool from me.